This Week: Theatre, Sports, History, Music, Food

Besides all the events listed below, remember that the library has lots of activities for kids going all summer long. Click on their calendar link to the right of this column.

Friday, June 24, 8 pm, "Venus in Fur" continues at Centre Theatre, 208 Dekalb. Produced by Starving Artist Prevention and B Sharp Productions. Last weekend: shows on Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday at 2 pm. Mature themes and language. $20. Tickets at this link.

Saturday, 9 am to 3 pm, FREE Football Clinic for ages 6-14 years at Norristown High School. For info, contact Don Milligan, dmilligan@nmoe19401.org

Saturday, 11 am-5 pm at Selma Mansion (1301 W Airy). Annual Day of History, presented by the Norristown Preservation Society. Play colonial card, dice and board games from 11 am to 3 pm. Take a tour of the mansion. View evidence from the Pennsylvania Underground Paranormal Society for ghosts at Selma. And at 3 pm, enjoy a historic fashion show presented by Mary Reynolds of Fort Mifflin. Adults $5, Children, Vets and Seniors $3, NPD and firefighters, free. Proceeds benefit the restoration of the mansion.

Saturday, 7 pm at Coffee Talk (507 W Marshall). Blues & Soul Night. Dennis X and Special Guests of the Dark Continent Band. Donation $5.

Sunday, 7 pm, FREE Summer Concert Series continues at the Elmwood Park bandshell. This week, the Beach Bumz. Bring a blanket or chair to sit on. The snack stand will be open.

NO ZONING MEETING on Tuesday. It's been rescheduled until July 12.

Thursday, 11 am-2:30 pm, on Main Street between Swede and Dekalb. Farmer's Market -- Produce from Lone Wolf Farm. Will continue each Thursday through Oct 28. For info, phone CADCOM at 610-277-6363 x132.

Monday, July 4: The Parade was on, then off, but now it's back on again. If your organization wants to be in it, contact 610-270-0421 or email info@norristown.org ASAP. Here's the schedule of events for the rest of the day:
8:30 AM  Celebration 5K Run (Norristown Area High School)
10 AM  Elmwood Park Zoo, $4 admission all day
12 PM  Food trucks and Beer Garden (Elmwood Park)
12:30 PM  OLD SCHOOL Band, 4th of July Norristown Concert (Bandshell)
1 PM  Free Children’s Activities - Moon Bounce, train rides, face painting, Frisbee Spin Art (Elmwood Park)
2 PM  David C. Perry, Creative Entertainment (Elmwood Park)
6 PM  Wildflower Band (Bandshell)
Dusk, Fireworks display
All events weather permitting. Questions call 610-270-0429.

Norristown Preservation Society will host a flea market at Selma Mansion on July 30. Vendor spaces are available for $10 each (which will go toward the restoration of Selma). Bring your own table. Register by July 24th, pay up front, non-refundable. Contact Dee 484-860-2533 and leave message.

Summer Kick-Off

As we officially head into summer, take your pick of a variety of events: theater, concerts, parties, workshops, etc.

Friday, June 17, 8 pm, "Venus in Fur" opens at Centre Theatre, 208 Dekalb. Produced by Starving Artist Prevention and B Sharp Productions. Other shows this week are Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday at 2 pm. Runs through June 26. Mature themes and language. $20. Tickets at this link.

Saturday, 1-3pm in the Children's Department (2nd Fl) of Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library (Swede and Powell). SUMMER PARTY for ages 4 and up. Squiggles, Wiggles and Giggles comic concert by Mr. David C. Perry, Creative Entertainment. Music, movement and vibrant visuals plus a healthy helping of laughs. At 2 pm, David will draw caricatures for $5 each. More details call 610-278-5100, ext. 205

Sunday, 11 am-7:30 pm at Eisenhower Middle School. FREE Annual Father's Day Softball Tailgate. Lots of games entertainment, food, kids' activities. Community grill. For info, contact Sean Tuggle, 484-686-6217.

Sunday, 7 pm, FREE Summer Concert Series continues at the Elmwood Park bandshell. This week is Sofa Kings. Bring a blanket or chair to sit on. The snack stand will be open.

Monday, 8 am-4 pm at Norristown Area High School, 401 N Whitehall. Lifeguard Classes. Looking for a summer job? Like helping others? No experience necessary. Lifeguards are in high demand during the summer months. Come and learn how to save lives. Call for pricing: Erica Genuardi, Senior Program Director, 610-539-0900, egenuardi@philaymca.org

Tuesday, 6:30 pm at Municipal Hall. Council Workshop Meeting. No agenda yet.

Wednesday, 7 pm, Municipal Hall. Historical Architecture Review Board (HARB) meeting. 

Thursday, 11 am-2:30 pm, on Main Street between Swede and Dekalb. Farmer's Market -- Produce from Lone Wolf Farm. Will continue each Thursday through Oct 28. For info, phone CADCOM at 610-277-6363 x132.

Thursday, 3:30-5:30 pm, at Carson Valley Children's Aid, 1314 Dekalb. Ice Cream Social. Come learn more about the services offered at CVCA Norristown Family Center and about the Parents as Teachers program

Thursday 4 pm at Theatre Horizon (401 Dekalb). Small Business Marketing Workshop. FREE. This session is called "So You Want to be in Retail," and highlights the keys to successfully opening a retail business. Guest speaker: Dan Levin, The Enterprise Center. Refreshments will be served.

Thursday, 7-9 pm at Elmwood Park Bandshell, Summer Sunset Jazz Concert Series. Join the Parks and Recreation Committee for Jazz featuring Miss Justine and Friends.

Next Saturday, June 25, 11 am-5 pm at Selma Mansion (1301 W Airy). Annual Day of History, presented by the Norristown Preservation Society. Play colonial dice, card and board games. Take a tour of the mansion. View evidence from the Pennsylvania Underground Paranormal Society for ghosts at Selma. And at 3 pm, enjoy a historic fashion show presented by Mary Reynolds of Fort Mifflin. Adults $5, Children, Vets and Seniors $3, NPD and firefighters, free. Proceeds benefit the restoration of the mansion.

ACPPA is accepting registrations for their Summer Dance Camp which will be Monday, June 27 through Thursday June 30, 5:30-8pm, at ACPPA Community Art Center (506 Haws Ave). For ages 8 to 14. All levels are welcome. All students will enjoy classes in ballet, jazz/hip hop, and stage make-up & presentation. $72.50 per student (must register in advance)  Go to http://www.acppa.net/#!dance-camp/c1nil to register

Ready For Change?

 

Here's a little 5-minute video from last Saturday's PBS NewsHour, talking about the changes New York City made to fix the traffic problems around Times Square. In short, they made the streets less car-centered and more people-centered. It sounds backwards, but it actually improved travel times AND reduced car and pedestrian accidents. The other thing it did that's worth noting is that it improved commerce in the area until Times Square became one of the 6 top shopping districts on the whole planet.

A Better Block project--bikes lanes and pedestrian seating

Everything that was done at Times Square are changes that were suggested by the Better Block consultant who came to Norristown last August. If you don't remember, he suggested temporarily making changes for a weekend to see what would work in downtown Norristown. One thing was painting a bike lane with water-soluble paint (not only to make room for bikes, but brightly-colored bike lanes give a block more interest--people don't just drive through without looking around). Others included making more spaces for people to sit, and actually narrowing lanes of traffic so people and bikes have more room.

Norristown was supposed to stage a Better Block experiment last September, but the Municipality decided we weren't ready for that. "We'll put it off until the spring," they said. Well, spring has come and gone and I guess they think we're STILL not ready.  Just like they decided we weren't ready for bike racks downtown, nor for better signage for our businesses along the Schuylkill River Trail, and a lot of other changes that might have helped Main Street..

Would someone please explain to me what we have to do to become ready? Conshohocken, Phoenixville and West Chester have tried, and permanently adopted, a lot of these changes. I'm getting tired of constantly hearing those communities used as examples of how towns can be brought back from the brink while N-town sits stagnant, waiting for what I suppose must be divine intervention.

Personally, I'M ready for change downtown, and I think a lot of other residents and business owners are, too.

Lots of Events For Kids This Week

Before I list the coming events, I want to mention that the Youth Dragon Boat Team competed in their first races last Saturday and did really well. So we have another youth sports team in N-town that we can brag about.

Starting Saturday at the Norristown Library and running through Saturday, August 13: Summer Reading Club for children ages 0-12. Win prizes for reading. Pick up a summer reading log in the Children’s Department and keep track of the minutes you read. For every two hours you read or have been read to, you win a free book and a chance to win a bicycle or a $50 Barnes & Noble gift certificate. (Maximum 10 free books per child.) First 100 kids to sign up in the children's department get a t-shirt. For info, call 610-278-5100 x205.

Saturday, noon to 3 pm at Greater Norristown PAL (340 Harding). Norristown Youth Rally. An afternoon of family fun. Food, games and live music.

Also Saturday, 12:30-2 pm at the Montco Historical Society (Dekalb and Roberts), Judy Parrish presents "The History of Willow Grove Park."

Sunday, 7 pm, FREE Summer Concert Series continues at the Elmwood Park bandshell. This week, Mark Reno, Elvis impersonator is featured. Bring a blanket or chair to sit on. The snack stand will be open.

Tuesday, 7 pm at Municipal Hall, Planning Commission Meeting. No agenda yet.

Thursday, 11 am-2:30 pm, on Main Street between Swede and Dekalb, the weekly Farmer's Market has started up again. Produce from Lone Wolf Farm. Will continue each Thursday through Oct 28. For info, phone CADCOM at 610-277-6363 x132.

ACPPA is accepting registrations for their Summer Dance Camp which will be Monday, June 27 through Thursday June 30, 5:30-8pm, at ACPPA Community Art Center (506 Haws Ave). For ages 8 to 14. All levels are welcome. All students will enjoy classes in ballet, jazz/hip hop, and stage make-up & presentation. $72.50 per student (must register in advance)  Go to http://www.acppa.net/#!dance-camp/c1nil to register.

Events for the Coming Week

Today, Friday, June 3 from 10 am to 3 pm at Montgomery County OIC, 2nd Floor, 1101 Arch. The OIC, in partnership with United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, is hosting the first Skills to Succeed Training Workshop. This free event for Montgomery County residents will help give you an advantage over the job seekers as you increase your career exploration skills. To learn more, call 610-279-9700.

Tonight at 8 pm at Theatre Horizon (410 Dekalb), "Fully Committed" enters its LAST WEEKEND. The other shows are Saturday at 2 pm and 8 pm, and Sunday at 2 pm. That's it. Your last chance to see it. (Despite the fact that the Norristown.org calendar says it goes through the end of the month--it doesn't.) Buy tickets at this link.

Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, Independence Blue Cross is sponsoring FREE admission to Elmwood Park Zoo for all Norristown residents. Must show proof of address. Also Sunday from 2 to 5 pm is the zoo's usual 1st Sunday free admission for all residents.

Saturday from noon-5 pm at 340 East Oak St, CADCOM is celebrating its 50th anniversary (the original date of May 21 was rained out). Food, health screenings, music, kid's activities and more. Vendors should contact Heather Lewis at hlewis@cadcom.org or 610-277-6363 ext 166

Sunday, 7 pm, FREE Summer Concert Series continues at the Elmwood Park bandshell. This week, Wildflower is featured. Bring a blanket or chair to sit on. The snack stand will be open.

Monday, 7 pm,     Montgomery County Human Services, 1430 Dekalb. Understanding Credit seminar. Free class sponsored by Genesis Housing on understanding credit and credit scores. Obtain a Free Credit Report from Major Credit Bureaus with Scores. Learn How to Improve Your Credit Score. Register online at www.genesishousing.org

Tuesday, 7 pm, Municipal Hall. Council Meeting. No agenda yet.

Wednesday, 6-8 pm, Municipal Hall. Keep America Beautiful Affiliation meeting. Come hear about the potential benefits and ask questions about Norristown’s Affiliation. Express your interest in attending by calling Municipal Staff at 610-270-0422 or email bford@norristown.org. To find out a little of what this is about (since none of the Municipal notices explain at all--I swear, we must have a new policy against the municipality giving out information), go to https://www.kab.org/. (Frankly, I can't get excited. Even if it's a good program, N-town has a long history of investing our tax dollars, then dropping the ball. Case in point: Better Block. Yeah, I'm getting cynical in my old age.)

Next Saturday, June 11, noon to 3 pm at Greater Norristown PAL (340 Harding). Norristown Youth Rally. An afternoon of family fun. Food, games and live music.

Also next Saturday, 12:30-2 pm at the Montco Historical Society (Dekalb and Roberts), Judy Parrish presents "The History of Willow Grove Park."

Starting next Saturday at the Norristown Library and running through Saturday, August 13: Summer Reading Club for children ages 0-12. Win prizes for reading. Pick up a summer reading log in the Children’s Department and keep track of the minutes you read. For every two hours you read or have been read to, you win a free book and a chance to win a bicycle or a $50 Barnes & Noble gift certificate. (Maximum 10 free books per child.) First 100 people to sign up in the children's department get a t-shirt. For info, call 610-278-5100 x205.