Events and Advice to Open The Season

Before I get to the week's events, here are some tips for the season from the Norristown PD.

1. If you're expecting packages to be delivered to your house and your porch/doorstep is visible from the street, either try to be home when they're delivered or have a friend or neighbor take them in. Thieves ride around this season looking for packages they can easily snatch.

2. Also, don't put empty boxes for electronics, small appliances or other expensive items just sitting on top of your trash. You're telling thieves what you've got in your house. Break down the boxes and put them out of sight in your recycling bin.

3. Lastly, make sure ALL your house doors and easily accessible windows are LOCKED whether you're in your house or away. Also lock your car doors and don't leave packages visible in the front or back seats.

As for events, the norristown.org calendar had NOTHING on it this coming week, the Montco OIC calendar is down, and the only event on Nextdoor.com is the Dragon Boat's Winter Wonderland. If you've got holiday events coming up, make sure you put them on the norristown.org calendar and/or Nextdoor.com (a great place to publicize events), or send the info directly to me at missmaggieandpat@verizon.net if you want me to list them on my Friday Diary (I check Facebook, but don't always see the listings unless you tag me). For my Friday blog, the event MUST be open and of interest to the general public and take place within Norristown's borders.

Carolers at last year's Winter Wonderland

This Monday through Friday, November 28-Dec 2, 6 pm at 660 Washington St., volunteers will be helping to craft decorations and blow up balloons in preparation for the Winder Wonderland Festival at Riverfront Park on December 3. They need more volunteers. Everyone, young and old, is welcome. For info, contact Robin Parker, rparker@dragonboatclub.org.

Next Saturday, December 3, 6 pm at Riverfront Park (1 Haws Ave), Santa will once again come to Norristown by Dragon Boat. Come to the Dragon Boat Club's Winter Wonderland and Christmas Caroling celebration. Riverfront Park will be decked out for the occasion and luminaria will light your way to the festivities. Norristown's High School Jazz Band will provide music. FREE to everyone. For information, contact Robin Parker, rparker@dragonboatclub.org.

Register your child NOW for the Norristown Recreation and First Presbyterian Sports Club "Christmas Around The World" which will take place Friday, Dec 16, 6-8 pm at First Presby Church (Airy and Dekalb). Food, games, open gym, crafts, snacks, and Santa (arriving by fire truck this time). All pre-registered kids get a gift from Santa. To register, call 610-272-4961 or email fpileggi@norristown.org.

Vance Community Partners is beginning their 2nd Annual PJ Drive. Please drop off winter weight pajamas sized infant through toddler, school-age and teens at one of these locations before December 31: Vance Center, 212 Cherry St (Mondays and Wednesdays only); Municipality of Norristown (235 E Airy, main lobby, weekdays); Prothonotary Office in the Courthouse (weekdays); Centre Theater, 208 Dekalb. For info, contact Jill Adelman, 610-277-9125, x 307 or jadleman@vancecp.com.

The Norristown Fire Department's Santa Express will take place Saturday, December 17. If you'd like Santa to stop at your house to deliver a present to your kids (Norristown residences), go to http://norristownfire.org/3rd-annual-santa-express/ and download the form.

Holiday Events Begin (Snow Plans too)

Just a few events in Norristown this weekend. Come out to Selma Mansion Saturday to start your Holiday Shopping. Santa will be there, and I will be, too, singing carols with Colonial Revelers. Then on Tuesday, an important Town Hall Meeting before snow season begins..

Friday evening, November 18, at 6 pm at Eisenhower Middle School Gym. Basketball, indoor soccer, dodgeball, kickball. Games for the entire family and of course FREE snack included to those who preregister with Bill or Frank (no contact info given on the site where I found this). You can also show up on the day of the event, but you might miss out on the snack.

Saturday, 10 am-3 pm at Selma Mansion (1301 W Airy). Selma's 1st Annual Holiday Craft Fair. FREE admission. Over a dozen vendors, including handmade jewelry, homemade treats and Christmas novelties. Santa will arrive, and at 1 pm, Colonial Revelers will serenade with Christmas carols. Please park on the street. For more information, call or text Dee Kirkpatrick at 484-860-2533. All proceeds from vendors benefit the Norristown Preservation Society for the upkeep and restoration of Selma Mansion.

Tuesday, 6 pm, Municipal Hall, Town Hall Meeting. Public Works Director, Thomas Odenigbo will explain this winter's plan for snow and ice removal and snow emergency routes. If you live on one of the streets listed as a Snow Emergency Route at this link, you might want to come to this meeting or you're likely to have parking problems in the first snow of 6 inches or more. For more info, see or call the PW director at 610-270-0437 or email todenigbo@norristown.org.

Also Tuesday, 7 pm, also at Municipal Hall, Zoning Board Hearing.

Thursday, THANKSGIVING. Municipal offices are closed.

Saturday, December 3, Santa will once again come to Norristown by dragon boat. Come to the Dragon Boat Club's Winter Wonderland celebration at 6 pm. Riverfront Park (1 Haws Ave) will be decked out for the occasion. Norristown's Middle School Jazz Band will provide music. And it's FREE to everyone. If you want to help get the park ready for the event, volunteers will be meeting at 660 Washington St each evening at 6 pm from Monday, November 28-Dec 2, to blow up balloons and fashion other decorations. For information, contact Robin Parker, rparker@dragonboatclub.org.

Vance Community Partners is beginning their 2nd Annual PJ Drive. Please drop of winter weight pajamas sized infant through toddler, school-age and teens at one of these locations before December 31: Vance Center, 212 Cherry St (Mondays and Wednesdays only); Municipality of Norristown (235 E Airy, main lobby, weekdays); Prothonotary Office in the Courthouse (weekdays); Centre Theater, 208 Dekalb. For info, contact Jill Adelman, 610-277-9125, x 307 or jadleman@vancecp.com.

The Norristown Fire Department's Santa Express will take place Saturday, December 17. If you'd like Santa to stop at your house to deliver a present to your kids (Norristown residences), go to http://norristownfire.org/3rd-annual-santa-express/ and download the form.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

Cleaning Up Crime in N-Town

In September and October, I participated in Norristown's first Citizen's Police Academy. I signed up for 2 reasons. As a resident, I wanted to know more about the NPD and what they're currently doing to reduce crime in our community. And, well, no self-respecting mystery writer turns down a golden opportunity to do research by hanging out with cops. I've gone to workshops and seminars before on the subject, but I learned more in the last 10 weeks than I did in the last 20 years as a writer and in my lifetime as a Norristown resident.

I want to share some of what I learned in a few Diary entries. I'm going to begin with graffiti. Most residents consider it a nuisance more than anything~something kids do when they're bored. I'm guessing many cases aren't even reported, especially those on empty or public properties, or in out-of-the-way areas not visible from the street. A lot of it is never cleaned off. But let me tell you how dealing more effectively with graffiti might help us reduce more serious crimes.

The map shows 34 reported cases of vandalism in Norristown in the last month (per Crimemapping.com). We had 6 reported cases last week. In both time frames, the incidents were reported all over town, and pretty much on any day, at any time. Now, vandalism doesn't necessarily mean graffiti. Any kind of willful destruction of property~slashing tires, breaking windows without entering, etc~is also vandalism, but graffiti is the most common form here.

Graffiti isn't always harmless tags done by bored teens. Much of it is gang-related, and not only teenaged gangs. We have some serious adult gangs in N-town as well as school gangs. The Los Angeles Police Department has this on their webpage:

"The purpose of gang graffiti is to glorify the gang. Gang graffiti is meant to create a sense of intimidation and may increase the sense of fear within a neighborhood. Gang members use graffiti to mark their territory or turf, declare their allegiance to the gang, advertise a gang’s status or power, and to challenge rivals. Graffiti is used to communicate messages between gangs using codes with common meaning."

Not cleaning gang graffiti off a wall is bad for your neighborhood. It invites not only more graffiti, but possibly more drug activity and maybe gang violence as well. As the LAPD goes on to say "A rival gang identifies everyone in a neighborhood [with gang graffiti] as a potential threat."

Example of gang graffiti

Officers in our NPD, though, know how to read gang graffiti. By reporting graffiti to them, they can track gang activity around town. In fact, graffiti can be a useful tool for them. And here's the best part, they'll help you remove it for FREE, because the faster it's cleaned, the safer the neighborhood.

What should you do if you find a tag on your property? Call 911. You might ask, "Isn't 911 only for emergencies? Is graffiti an emergency?" By calling 911, you create a report for the incident, which lets the NPD map where they occur. An officer might not be able to come right out, but when they're done with higher priority calls, someone will come. The officer will take photos of the graffiti and if it's on a surface that can be power-washed, they'll send someone to clean it off for you if you want (after you sign a waiver).

If you'd rather do it yourself, that's okay, but you have a set amount of time to remove the graffiti before you get fined. You can also contact Shea Ashe at The Norristown Project for help at http://www.norristownproject.com/contact-us/  If you pay for the cleaning/paint supplies, TNP will help with graffiti removal.

What if you see other graffiti around town, especially on public buildings or empty houses, but even on the property of a neighbor who hasn't reported it? The trash can above, for instance isn't on private property, yet it does have gang graffiti, which you definitely don't want in your neighborhood. If you have a smartphone, you can easily let the NPD know about it. Simply take a photo of the graffiti and send it to the police tipline at 610-278-TIPS. Tell them the address so they can find it. Even if you don't have a camera or smartphone, call and report it. If it's gang graffiti, the NPD will remove it.

By cleaning up the graffiti around town, we'll not only make our community look better, but help reduce gang activity and other crimes. But Norristown cops can't do this alone. They want to work with residents and business owners. If we all meet them halfway, we can have a better community.

Church Bazaar, Children's Theater, Music and More

Norristown's North End had a power outage yesterday, just as I was working on this list. I lost some of the postings, but I think I replaced them all. If I missed some, I apologize. A good variety of things to do in town this weekend, but not so many that choosing will be difficult. You should even be able to get to more than one if you want.

Friday, November 11, 5-8:30 pm and Saturday, 10 am-8 pm, St. Patrick Church (Dekalb and Chestnut) Christmas Bazaar in the church basement. Food, raffles, baked goods, gifts, games, visit with Santa, silent auction, Tombola. Delicious soul food from the Davis family and authentic Mexican menu items. (I can highly recommend the food at this bazaar. Go for lunch or dinner.)

Friday, 7 pm at Centre Theater (208 Dekalb), children's play "The Perfect Dog" by B Sharp Productions. A special reading of the bedtime story followed by the performance. Youngsters are encouraged to wear their pjs and bring a blanket. Free popcorn, cookies and juice. General admission $10. Also performance Saturday, come at 2 pm to meet adoptable dogs from Mostly Muttz, then show at 3 pm. www.bsharpprod.com

Friday, 7-11 pm at Five Saints Distillery (Green and Main), Friday night Karaoke. Different DJ each week.

Saturday, 11 am-1 pm at Norristown New Life Church (Marshall and Swede). A November to Remember.  AKA Sorority, Norristown CTC and Norristown Hospitality Center will offering a healthy hot lunch, and distribute warm gloves, hats and socks (for adults and kids). For more info, contact Yvonne Platts, 484-213-3088.

Saturday, 2-3 pm, Norristown Library. Free Creative Writing Workshop for National Novel Writing Month. Preregistration is encouraged so they know how many supplies to get. To register, call the library at 610-278-5100, ext 0.

Saturday, 6:30-10:30 pm, Five Saints Distilling. Hal Cohen performs live.

Saturday, 8-11 pm at August Moon, 300 E Main. Second Saturday Jazz with The Michael Andrews Quartet, presented by Crying Sam Entertainment. Sets begin on the hour.

Sunday, 1-7 pm at Five Saints Distilling. Dale Roberts Encaustic Art Gallery & Show. Dale is a Norristown resident whose artwork has been featured in prominent galleries in the US and abroad.

Monday, 5:30-7:30 pm at Greater Norristown PAL (340 Harding Blvd), PECO will present an Energy Workshop, including info on their Customer Assistance program, Smart Ideas Program, and how to save money and energy.

Monday, 7-9 pm, at Montgomery County Human Services, 1430 Dekalb. Free Money Management Class sponsored by Genesis Housing. Learn how to: Setting Up a Working Budget, How Current Spending Impacts Future Financial Options, How to Prioritize Spending.

Tuesday, 6:30 pm, Municipal Hall, Council Workshop Meeting.

Wednesday, 6:30-7:30 pm, Alfredo's Restaurant (Hamilton and W Main), Norristown Riverfront Community meeting. All welcome who are interested in improving Riverfront Park and other recreational opportunities, and creating more park space along our riverfront.

Wednesday, 7 pm, Municipal Hall. HARB meeting. Agenda is posted at http://www.norristown.org/event/760/harb-meeting.html (for properties at 310 East Basin and 547 Barbados).

Thursdays, 5-10 pm at Five Saints Distilling. Open Mic.

Next Saturday, November 19 at Selma Mansion (1301 W Airy). 1st Annual Holiday Craft Show. FREE admission. Over a dozen vendors, including handmade jewelry, homemade treats and Christmas novelties. Santa will arrive, and at 1 pm, Colonial Revelers will serenade with Christmas Carolers. Please park on the street. For more information, call or text Dee Kirkpatrick at 484-860-2533. All proceeds from vendors benefit the Norristown Preservation Society for the upkeep and restoration of Selma Mansion.

Go VOTE Tomorrow!

One last list of what you need to know to make sure you show up at the right polling place tomorrow and know what you're doing. If you come into Norristown 3-3 and you're not on our list, I'm going to ask you why you didn't read this.

You can find your polling location and other voting info at this link. The photo below shows the Norristown locations. Remember, if you live in Norristown 2-3 and voted at St. Pat's last time, you'll be voting at Gotwals School this time.

Your sample ballot can be found at this website. Find your town on the list, then click on your district. Info about the candidates can be found at Vote411.org.

Messages are being sent around social media saying that our state now has online voting. This is a lie designed to keep people from actually going to the polls. There is NO online voting in PA. You MUST go to the polls to vote.

Most election officials live in your local neighborhood and know regular voters by sight. They're your neighbors and they're there to help you vote. Be nice to them. First time voters or voters who've changed districts since the primary will be asked for photo ID (it will be printed under your name in the book whether you need to present ID, so don't feel the official is picking on you). Otherwise ID is NOT required and you won't be asked for it, but some people feel more comfortable presenting it. That's fine, too.

If your name isn't in the book, the officials will ask questions to assure you're in the correct polling place (usually that's the problem). If it's not that simple, the Judge of Elections will call the courthouse to see if you're registered in the county and take other steps to solve the problem. No one can simply walk in and vote anywhere. You can help by making sure you know which polling place you should go to. Use the link above to double check if you've never voted before or if you've recently moved.

You may not use your cell phone or other electronic devices inside the polling place. No selfies in the booth, no texting, no talking on phones, especially no taking photos of anyone else. NOTHING. Polling places preserve the privacy of every voter and need to assure that no one is intimidated by having their photo taken. Talking on phones distracts voters and officials. Please respect this rule ~ you're only inside (hopefully) a few minutes.

Anyone campaigning outside the polling place must not be within 10 feet of the door and shouldn't block your way. Poll watchers MUST register beforehand at the Courthouse, and only a limited number can observe one polling location at a time. On election day, they must NEVER interfere with any voter or the voting process. If anyone tries to interfere with your right to vote tomorrow, report that person to the Judge of Elections at your polling place. Any election official in the polling place can point you to the Judge of Elections. Don't let anyone stop you from voting no matter who you support.

Remember this ~ depending on your gender, race or economic status, it's a good bet that at some point, people like you didn't have the right to vote in the US. That right was won for you. Make tomorrow a celebration of that right. Celebrate it with your neighbors at the polls, regardless of who's voting for who. Let's have a great turnout.

Theater, Bazaars, Paranormal Events (which could also describe the Election ~ Go VOTE this week!)

The calendar at Norristown.org seems to be working now, though hardly anyone is listing their events there at the moment. If you have an event that's open to the public, please go list it at http://www.norristown.org/town-calendar.html. All you have to do it fill out the form. Just be careful to put in the correct dates and don't list the event as repeating unless it actually does. You can also list events at The Norristown Project/Montco OIC site at this link.

Friday, Nov 4, 5-9 pm and Saturday, Nov 5, 10 am-4 pm at St Francis Church (Buttonwood and W Marshall), Christmas Bazaar in the school gym. Visit with Santa Saturday from noon-3 pm.

Friday, 7-11 pm at Five Saints Distillery (Green and Main), Friday night Karaoke. Different DJ each week.

Friday, 8 pm at Theatre Horizon (401 Dekalb). Last weekend for the musical "A New Brain."  Other performances this weekend are Saturday (2 and 8 pm), Sunday (2 pm). Tickets on sale at this link

Saturday, November 5, 9:30-11:30 am, Coffee With A Cop at Greater Norristown PAL (340 Harding). North end residents, come meet your neighborhood cops. Ask question, express concerns. The NPD will also distribute the gloves and hats they collected at this event.

Saturday, 11 am-5 pm at Selma Mansion (1301 W Airy), Paranormal Day. All sorts of vendors and presenters in the realm of the paranormal. Admission tickets at the door: $10 for all those above the age of 12, $5 for children (ages 5-12), seniors /veterans, and FREE for kids under 5, Norristown PD and Fire Dept personnel and active military. All proceeds from admission goes to the Norristown Preservation Society for the restoration and upkeep of Selma Mansion. Lectures will run from approximately 11:30 am to 4:30 pm. and are included with admission. For an extra fee, you can get a psychic reading. 

Saturday, 1-5 pm, Five Saints Distilling. Finding Shelter Animal Rescue Fundraiser. Come out and meet Finding Shelter volunteers and dogs and Metropolitan Veterinary Associates & Emergency Services to learn more about their veterinary services and their Paws of Promise foundation. A portion of ALL drink sales will benefit Finding Shelter. Painting with a Twist of Skippack will do a live painting of Debbie, a Bernese Mountain Dog, who is looking for a forever home. www.findingshelter.org  (Finding Shelter is, I think, located near Valley Forge.)

Saturday night from 8 pm-2 am at Selma Mansion. Public paranormal investigation. $30 per person. Contact 610-597-3619 or pupsteam@gmail.com for info and to make a reservation. Space is limited.

Saturday, 6:30-10:30 pm, Five Saints Distilling, Bobby Jara performs.

Sunday, 2-5 pm at Elmwood Park Zoo. FREE admission to Norristown residents who present photo ID. It's also Bubby's Birthday (EPZ's mascot)

Monday,  6:30-7:30 pm, Norristown Library. Unofficial NaNo Write-In. November is National Novel Writing Month. Are you up to the challenge? Whether you’re a seasoned writer or a first timer, hone your skills with others like you. Join us for a guided writing workshop featuring: warm-ups, story prompts, genre-specific exercises, and group editing. Preregistration is suggested but not required. Call 610-278-5100 ext. 0

TUESDAY, November 8, ELECTION DAY.  Find your polling location and other voting info at this link.  Find information on the candidates at Vote411.org

Tuesday, 7 pm, Municipal Hall, Planning Commission Meeting. (Usually when there's an election day, meetings are Wednesday, but this is listed as Tuesday. You might want to call Municipal Hall Monday to double check before going.)

Wednesday, 1 pm at Norristown Library (Powell and Swede) Board Room. Matinee. The movie will be "Mother's Day."

Thursdays, 5-10 pm at Five Saints Distilling. Open Mic.

Thursday,  the Norristown Police Dept will hold an Open House for young people (18-20) interested in the Law Enforcement Explorers Program. I didn't get details in time for this blog. Check the NPD's facebook page or call the station at 610-270-0977.

Next Friday, Nov 11, 5-10 pm and Saturday, 10 am-10 pm, St. Patrick Church (Dekalb and Chestnut) Christmas Bazaar in the church basement. Food, raffles, baked goods, gifts, games. Soul food and Mexican dinners.

Next Saturday, November 12, 11 am-1 pm at Norristown New Life Church (Marshall and Swede). A November to Remember.  AKA Sorority, Norristown CTC and Norristown Hospitality Center will offering a healthy hot lunch, and distribute warm gloves, hats and socks (for adults and kids). For more info, contact Yvonne Platts, 484-213-3088.

Next Saturday, 2-3 pm, Norristown Library. Free Creative Writing Workshop for National Novel Writing Month. Preregistration is encouraged so they know how many supplies to get. To register, call the library at 610-278-5100, ext 0.

The Norristown Preservation Society will be hosting their 1st Annual Holiday Craft Show at Selma Mansion on November 19th. They're looking for vendors. $15 a spot or 2 for $25. Must supply own table. This will be held inside the mansion. Santa and Christmas Carolers will be making a visit. To reserve a vendor space, call or text Dee Kirkpatrick at 484-860-2533. 

Last Candidate Info Before Election

Here are the candidates that are farthest down-ballot ~ some of the most important offices this year ~ that is, the folks who'll represent Norristown in Harrisburg and Washington.

PA STATE SENATOR~17th District. You can find info and a statement from both candidates at vote411.org.

Daylin Leach (D) is the incumbent. He's been our state senator since 2009. Before that he served in the PA House of Representatives. His website is http://votedaylin.com.

Brian Gondek (R) is a small businessman and community volunteer. He has not held office before. His website is http://gondekforsenate.com
_________________________

PA STATE REPRESENTATIVE~70th District

Matt Bradford (D), incumbent since 2008. Before that, he served as an attorney. He doesn't seemed to have a campaign website or Facebook page, nor does he have any statement listed on Vote411. Try Googling his name to find info.

Chuck Springer (R) works in insurance and has been a PAL wrestling coach and kids football coach. His website is http://ChuckSpringer.com (though some of the pages didn't load correctly and were hard to read). He also listed bio info and a statement on vote411.org.
__________________________

US Congressman Brendan Boyle (D) of the 13th District is running unopposed. http://voteboyle.com/ lists where he stands on the issues.
__________________________

This likely will be my last Diary about candidates before election day. Very few people seem to be reading them and I've got better things to do. No one seems interested in issues and policies this time around, or even in checking whether what they've heard on TV or read on social media is anywhere near the truth. When I started voting a few decades ago, the only reliable source for information on candidates was the League of Women Voters information published by the Times Herald. Now we have the internet ~ in just a few minutes you can find out exactly where candidates stand on the issues, and check outlandish statements on social media against reliable news sources and unedited videos. But I haven't met a lot of voters willing to do that. Well, remember, an uneducated electorate gets what it deserves.