Get-In-Touch-With-Your-Community Events, All Week

Did everyone see our first snow of the winter last night? And have you noticed that West Marshall and downtown are now are decked out with big lighted snowflakes on the light poles?  But it IS still fall, which means leaf collection--don't forget, if you want to get rid of your leaves, rake them to the curb for your regular street cleaning day (or put them on your garden beds to compost over the winter).

You can tell the holidays are close, though, because all of a sudden, N-town's event schedule is jam-packed. When you begin holiday shopping, remember that shopping at Norristown's local small businesses is the best gift you can give your community's economy this year.

Tonight from 8:30 to 11 pm is Movie Night at the George Washington Carver Community Center, 249 E. Jacoby St, 610-277-7480. $5.

Saturday from 9 am to noon, Norristown Council will hold a Budget Workshop, Municipal Hall, Conference Room.

Saturdays at 10 am and Thursdays at 6 pm, get in shape at the Step It Up Fitness Boot Camp at the Carver Center (249 E Jacoby) with professional trainer Blayne Pierce. $10. Continues through Dec 13.

Saturday begins open enrollment for health insurance again (frankly, I think it's cruel that they tell you the premium increases right before the holidays--or that they increase the premiums at all). You can get help at an Open Enrollment Event from 10 am to 2 pm at the Norristown Regional Health Center, 1401 Dekalb St, 610-278-7787. Please bring proof of household income, ID and SS cards, legal immigrant documents, employer coverage info, username and password if you already have a Marketplace account.

Saturday, 11am-12pm at the Montgomery County Norristown Public Library (Powell and Swede). Come learn about Diabetes. Dr. Paul Schick, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson Medical College, will present information related to Type 1, Type 2, and Pregnancy Diabetes.  610-278-5100

Monday at 6 pm, Norristown Council will host a Town Meeting at the Norristown Public Library, 1001 Powell Street. The agenda will cover the Montgomery Hospital demolition and development, Luxor at Sandy Street, the Kennedy-Kendrick Project, Lafayette Street Project, the Condominiums at Courthouse Square, Five Saints Micro-Distillery, police update, street paving and Markley St, the budget, etc.

Tuesday from 1:30 to 5 pm at CADCOM, 113 E Main, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s bank examinations staff will provide an overview of the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), which encourages depository institutions to help meet the credit needs of local communities, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. All are welcome to attend. To register, click on this link

Tuesday night at 6:30 pm is the monthly Council Workshop, which will include a presentation of the 2015 budget. Budgets will be distributed to the public for their review (Public Comment for the budget will be on Dec 2).

Wednesday from 9 to 10:30 am, Latino Collaborative meeting at the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit, 1605 Main St. Jennifer I. Rodriguez, Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of Immigrant and Multicultural Affairs for the City of Philadelphia will speak. Please register via email at Advolifeline@aol.com .

Wednesday, 6-7 pm at the Montgomery County Norristown Public Library--Artful Arrangements for the Holidays: Genuardi Florists will be on hand to demonstrate various ways of arranging your centerpiece for the holidays. 610-278-5100.

Thursday from 6:30 to 8 pm at Montco OIC (Arch and Basin), 2nd floor, the Norristown Arts Council presents an Art on Our Trails Mixer. The Montgomery County Planning Commission will lead a discussion about the role art could play along the Schuylkill River Trail in Norristown, and how it could help the economic growth of downtown.

Also Thursday night beginning at 6:30 pm, the Norristown Police Department will hold a public COMPSTAT meeting  in the Norristown Municipal Council Chambers. I went to the last one in August. This is a fascinating look into how our top-level cops analyze crime trends in the borough and come up with effective strategies to fight them. The meeting will likely run at least 3 hours. To submit anonymous tips on crime, call 610-278-TIPS(8477) or at NPDTips@norristown.org.

Every Monday through Thursday, 3:30 to 6:30 pm, NASD students, grades 5-8, can get FREE tutoring and homework help, plus do creative projects and activities at The Incite Institute on the Roosevelt Campus, 1161 Markley. Sponsored by the Men of Excellence. To register, contact Hakim Jones, hjones@nasd.k12.pa.us or call 610-630-5048.

Spread the word to your favorite Norristown businesses: The Norristown Business Association is hosting a "Light Up The Dark" holiday lights contest from December 1 to January 1. Just put lights (any holiday--Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwaanza, Solstice, etc--or more than one) in one of your store/business windows from 5 to 9 pm (or longer) every night during the month. If you want your display judged, you can read the rules at this link. Prizes will be given for most artistic design, most creative concept, most humor, and the display that projects the best image of Norristown. To enter your business, send an email to info@norristownba.org with the Subject Heading “Light Up The Dark.” Include your business name, address and phone #.

One last note: Jus' Java has reopened at their new location (317 Swede, across from the Courthouse). Stop by and welcome them back. (We missed you, JJ!)