Wawa Brews Support for Educators: Free Coffee and $50,000 for Classroom Projects in September!

Wawa is serving up some educational brew for teachers this September. Starting Friday, the iconic convenience store is offering free hot coffee every day for teachers and school staff. Yep, that's right – it's an everyday caffeine fix, not just limited to school days!

Under the banner "Cheers to Classrooms," Wawa is tipping its hat to the incredible educators who mold young minds. When these heroes step up to the counter, they just have to let the staff know they qualify, and voila! Free coffee in hand, be it large, medium, or small.

This jolt of generosity is available for educators not just in Lehigh Valley, but also in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

But wait, there's more! Wawa isn't just stopping at coffee. They're pledging a whopping $50,000 in partnership with Donor's Choose, a platform that supports schools. If you're a teacher, you can float a project idea on the Donor's Choose website. If Wawa thinks it's a match, you might just see some matching funds.

A quick note on Donor's Choose: They've been connecting kind-hearted donors with resource-needing teachers since 2000. They've rallied $1.51 billion and supported over 2.69 million projects.

As per Dave Simonetti, Wawa's senior director of store operations, the goal is simple: make teachers and school staff smile. After all, they work tirelessly to bring joy to our young ones.

For those new to the Wawa phenomenon: it's a privately-owned gem from Delaware County, Pennsylvania, boasting over 950 stores and employing a small army of more than 35,000 people.

Local Pottstown Police Amplify DUI Checks: 'Drive Sober or Face Consequences'

Police forces from the Pottstown vicinity are intensifying their efforts against impaired driving with the campaign, "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over."

In the upcoming week, the collaborative DUI enforcement unit will establish at least one sobriety checkpoint. The primary objective is to curb the number of DUI-related incidents by dissuading potential intoxicated drivers.

Known as "Team DUI," this unit will robustly enforce all alcohol-related laws, emphasizing issues like underage drinking and the illegal purchase of alcohol by minors.

The drive will involve officers from Pottstown, Douglass (Montgomery County), East Coventry, Lower Pottsgrove, New Hanover, North Coventry, Upper Providence, and West Pottsgrove.

Authorities urge those intending to drink to arrange for a sober driver in advance.

Birdsboro's Dance Night: Time-Travel to the 1700s, No DeLorean Needed!

Alright folks, Birdsboro is doing its version of "Dancing with the Colonials!" Who knew that aside from the hip-hop and the moonwalk, our eastern US ancestors were shaking a leg with parlor dancing, square dancing, and that catchy jig known as contra dancing? If you're in the mood to kick it old school, literally, then Birdsboro is your place this Saturday!

Plan for the night at Birdsboro Community Memorial Center:

• 7 p.m.: A crash course on contra (aka "Don't trip over your feet 101")

• 7:30-10:30 p.m.: Let's dance like it's 1799!

Admission? $13, and if you're a student, they'll give you a break at $8. Probably to buy some colonial boots.

Enjoy the sweet jams from Box and String, headlined by Bill with his banjo shenanigans, Sarah strumming away, and Laura... on a cello. Yeah, they're eclectic like that.

Got snacks? Bring 'em. We're going colonial, but we're not starving.

Contra dances: where the music's hot and the chances of you finding a date for the next colonial gathering are high. In fact, word has it many grandparents met, twirled, and flirted their way into marriage at these things.

Dance callers will guide you through, so don't worry about those two left feet. And a fun fact - since ladies were sometimes in short supply back in the day, some dudes dressed up in drag. Yup, that’s how committed they were to this dance!

Even if you've got the dance skills of a wooden plank, the tunes and historical fun are worth your coins.

This jig is brought to you by the Conestoga Dance Association Board. They're the keepers of the contra flame, ensuring our funny bones and dancing shoes are well-acquainted with the past. So, polish those shoes and see history shimmy and shake!

Muhlenberg Woman's $4K 'SNAP Slip': Food Stamp Faux Pas Lands Her in Hot Water!

A Muhlenberg Township resident is facing charges for allegedly obtaining close to $4,000 in food stamp benefits under false pretenses. Kiara Lopez, 34, from Rivervale Road, is accused of neglecting to disclose her income for several months after she resumed her duties at a Berks County factory.

On August 23, the Pennsylvania Office of State Inspector General slapped Lopez with charges related to food stamp deception. Post-charges, Lopez is out and about, awaiting her day in the Reading Central Court with District Judge Kim L. Bagenstose.

Here's the scoop:

Lopez tapped into the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – the fancy name for food stamps – on August 4, 2022. This was while she was off work from July 5 to September 23, 2022. And, just to spice things up, her signature on the application pretty much said, "Yep, I know I've got to spill the beans if there are changes in my job or money situation."

Fast forward to March 12, and Lopez, while filling out her bi-annual SNAP paperwork, conveniently left out her work return details. This "oversight" led her to enjoy a cool $3,890 in benefits from January 23 to May 31 – funds she wasn't actually eligible for.

But wait, the plot thickens! In May, the ever-watchful Department of Human Services, during one of their routine data-comparison jaunts, spotted the discrepancy. After some detective work, they handed the case over to the top sleuths at the Office of Inspector General. Stay tuned!

Norah Jean Schweitzer Comedy Fundraiser at SoulJoel’s

Norah Jean Schweitzer Comedy Fundraiser at SoulJoel’s

Proceeds will go to help fund Norah Jean’s liver transplant

Thursday August 31st @ 7pm

Doors open at 6pm, show starts at 7pm

General admission only $20

VIP tickets only $30

50 Sunnybrook Road Pottstown, PA 19464

Upcoming Local Events

• Norah Jean Schweitzer liver Comedy Fundraiser at SoulJoel’s - AUGUST 31ST, 7 PM

• Trivia Thursdays at Gatsby's Pub - AUGUST 31ST, 7 PM – 9 PM

• Trivia Night at Iron Gate Biergarten - AUGUST 31ST, 7 PM – 9 PM

• Gianmarco Soresi debuts at SoulJoel’s INSIDE Sunnybrook - SEPTEMBER 1ST, 7PM

• Friday Night Cash Bingo - SEPTEMBER 1ST, 7 PM – 10:15 PM

• MR. NICE GUY / FREE OUTDOOR SHOW AT RIVET COURTYARD BAR! - SEPTEMBER 1ST, 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM

• The Ty Faherty Band at Rivet! / FREE Outdoor Show on High Street - SEPTEMBER 2ND, 3PM

• Disney Junior Live On Tour Costume Palooza - SEPTEMBER 2ND, 3PM

• Alan Massenburg headlines inside at SoulJoel’s - SEPTEMBER 2ND, 6PM

• Ludwig's Corner Horse Show & Country Fair 2023 - SEPTEMBER 3RD, 12 PM – 4 PM

Got an upcoming event you want us to share?

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PHILLIES

Drury's Ninth-Inning Heroics Seal Angels' Win Over Phillies, Despite Harper's 300th Homer

In an intense game with multiple lead changes, the Los Angeles Angels emerged victorious against the Philadelphia Phillies with a 10-8 win. Bryce Harper's 300th home run briefly gave the Phillies an edge, but a ninth-inning two-run homer from Brandon Drury sealed the deal for the Angels.

Despite Craig Kimbrel's unexpected performance, Carlos Estévez ended the game perfectly for the Angels. The game witnessed standout performances from players like Ohtani and Renfroe, contributing significantly to the Angels' win.

UNION

Philadelphia Union's Rough Night in Toronto: A Loss, Two Suspensions, and One Unhappy Return Home

On Wednesday night, the Philadelphia Union seemed poised for an epic fail against Toronto, and as if the universe was playing a prank, it took a turn for the worse during the dying minutes.

Despite kicking off with a lackluster vibe and an unusually shaky defense, the Union's woes escalated with a 3-1 loss to Toronto FC. Topping that off, they received two suspensions: a red card for Jesus Bueno and a yellow for Jose Martinez.

To put this in perspective, this match saw Toronto FC - who had been on an eight-match losing streak without a win since May - celebrate their first victory in months, especially under the guidance of their freshly appointed manager, John Herdman.

A dynamic duo, Deandre Kerr and Jonathan Osorio, exploited the Union's defensive hiccups to help Toronto - the bottom dwellers of the Eastern Conference - claim the win. The Union had a glimmer of hope with Julian Carranza leveling the scores, following Lorenzo Insigne's initial goal. But, mistakes from Jack Elliott and Jakob Glesnes snowballed into a rather forgettable defensive display from the Union.

To put the cherry on the Union's disaster cake, a tangle in stoppage time saw Bueno lash out at TFC's Raoul Petretta. Although initially branded with a yellow card, a video review deemed it worthy of a red, pushing the Union further into the abyss. Adding insult to injury, Martinez's yellow means he'll be benched alongside Bueno during their next face-off against the New York Red Bulls. Quite the night, Philly!

Pottstown Senior High School Football Schedule

Varsity Football

Pottstown Senior High School takes on Interboro Senior High School this week.

• Thursday - August 31st at 7:00 PM vs Interboro Senior HS (AWAY) Interboro Senior High School

  16Th & Amosland Road Prospect Park, PA 19076

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