You're on your own N-town.
Monday, December 11, 2017
Hiatus
You're on your own N-town.
Friday, December 8, 2017
Free Holiday Crafts, Music, and a Movie
Saturday, 8 pm-midnight at Five Saints Distillery (E Main and Green Sts.). Jazz-180 will perform.
Sunday, 10:45 am at Christ Church, corner of W Marshall & Noble. Special music performance: Cantata "7 Joys of Christmas." Choir with special guest, Ellen Tepper, harpist. FREE (part of service). All welcome.
Tuesday, 3:30-5 pm at Norristown Library Community Room. Create Club for Teens. This month: origami gift ideas. Make your own origami gifts for family and friends. Teens can also draw on your own time, chill out with coloring, and more. We'll supply what you need. Each month, we have a different featured event. Drop in. For info, contact Asha Verma 610-278-5100 x0 or averma@mclinc.org.
Tuesday, 7 pm at Municipal Hall. Planning Commission Meeting.
Wednesday, 1-3:30 pm at Norristown Library (Powell and Swede) Board Room. Mary's Matinee. This week is the movie "Maudie." Drop in. Contact for info Mary Motta 610-278-5100, x111, mmotta@mclinc.org.
Friday, December 1, 2017
FREE Art Show, Music, Craft Classes and More this week
Saturday, 4:30-8:30 pm at Eisenhower Science and Technology Learning Academy, 1601 Markley. Marathon Sports presents Norristown Alumni Games hosted by Khalif Wyatt. Admission $5.
Saturday, 7 pm at Five Saints Distillery (E Main and Green Sts.). Danielle and Jennifer will perform.
Sunday, 1 pm-5 pm at Norristown Arts Building (619 W. Washington). 21st Annual Exhibition & Open Studios. Attend a reception for the artists, tour the studios. Live Music by Guitarist Charlie Martini. Refreshments. FREE event. More info at www.nabarts.com or contact 610-272-8484.
Sunday, 2-5 pm, Elmwood Park Zoo. FREE admission to Norristown Borough residents who present a valid photo ID.
Tuesday, 9:30-noon at the Montco Intermediate Unit (2 West Lafayette) Valley Forge Room. Screening and discussion of film "Resilience"--about the impact of childhood trauma.
Tuesday, 2-3:30 pm at Norristown Library in the Conference Room. Mystery Tuesdays Book Club. This month's book is “The Beekeeper's Apprentice," by Laurie R. King. Copies of the book are available at the Front Desk. We encourage registration. Call Asha Verma at 610-278-5100, x0 or drop by the Front Desk to register. Monica D'Antonio of Montgomery County Community College hosts this group. The Mystery Tuesdays Book Club explores a new mystery on the first Tuesday of each month.
Tuesday, 7:30 pm at Municipal Hall. Council Meeting.
Thursday, 6-8 pm at Municipal Hall. The Budget Workshop that was on the schedule last week is on this week's schedule again, but still no explanation on Norristown.org of what this is about.
A reminder that December 11 is supposedly the last day for leaf collection in Norristown. I don't know about your neighborhood, but half our trees still have leaves on them here. But anyway, get out there and rake soon, or better yet, put the leaves on your garden beds or lawn, or in a compost bin. Better for the soil, plus beneficial insects like woolly bear caterpillars will have a place to stay (under the leaves) over the winter.
On Wednesday, December 13, the Lt. Patty Simons Food Drive will be gathering at Elmwood Park Zoo and they'll need volunteers anytime between 8 am-11 pm to help collect, sort, and box donated nonperishable goods for this years drive. Heated tents, food and a DJ will make the volunteer time enjoyable. Please come and help.
Friday, November 24, 2017
Shopping Season Begins (and other doings around town)
Tuesday, 6 pm in Council Conference Room, Municipal Hall. Budget Workshop. No explanation on the website of what this entails. And interesting that it's the same night and almost the same time slot as the Riverfront Public Meeting. Clone yourself.
Also next Friday, the deadline to register for GN PAL's Family Holiday Carnival which will be Friday Dec 8, 6:30-8 pm (for children 4-12 years old, and at least one parent or guardian). Games, crafts, music, photo with Santa, giveaways, prizes, food. Call 484-808-4810 to register.
On Wednesday, December 13, the Lt. Patty Simons Food Drive will be gathering at Elmwood Park Zoo and they'll need volunteers anytime between 8 am-11 pm to help collect, sort, and box donated nonperishable goods for this years drive. Heated tents, food and a DJ will make the volunteer time enjoyable. Please come and help.
Friday, November 17, 2017
St. Pat's Bazaar, Sweet Charity, and ways you can help your town for the holidays
Friday, November 17, 11 am-1 pm at Norristown Library. Make your very own Thanksgiving table decoration from local, natural materials. Artist Gary Fischer will help you make your own table decoration with locally-sourced natural materials including dried leaves, vines, grasses, seed pods and beautiful bittersweet. We'll provide everything you need. Call or drop by the Front Desk to register. SPACES ARE LIMITED. Contact Cliff Hirst, 610-278-5100 x0, cliffhirstmnl@gmail.com.
Friday, 6-8 pm at Alfredo's Restaurant. Norristown Welcome Committee meeting. The Committee is developing a Welcome Packet to be given to all new residents. If you're interested contact Denise Hall at poboxhall@gmail.com.
Tuesday (and all Tuesdays in November), 6-7:45 pm, Norristown Library. Career Workshops. Local career coach Lynn Carroll will share her expertise and enthusiasm with you in a series of workshops that will be helpful to job seekers at all skill levels and in all industries. This week Build Your Network. Register at www.lynncareercoach.com/events.
Tuesday, 6:30 pm, Council Workshop. Municipal Hall.
Thursday and Friday, Municipal offices closed for the Thanksgiving holiday. Library is closed on Thursday.
Next Saturday, November 25, is Small Business Saturday. Please give Norristown's small businesses your patronage for your holiday food, spirits, gifts, holiday hair-dos, etc. Remember, spending your bucks within N-town's borders boosts our town's economy. Going to the mall doesn't.
The Norristown Police Department will once more be doing Seven Days Before Christmas, where they donate to the neediest families in Norristown. You can nominate a family at this link. Monetary donations can be made by mailing your check to the Norristown Police Foundation, 235 E. Airy St, Norristown, PA 19401. Donations of toys and other gifts, and gift cards can be brought to the Police entrance in the rear of 235 E. Airy. DEADLINE is December 1.
On Wednesday, December 13, the Lt. Patty Simons Food Drive will be gathering at Elmwood Park Zoo and they'll need volunteers anytime between 8 am-11 pm to help collect, sort, and box donated nonperishable goods for this years drive. Heated tents, food and a DJ will make the volunteer time enjoyable. Please come and help.
Friday, November 10, 2017
Craft Fair, Theater, FREE stuff
Friday, November 10, Municipal offices will be closed (for Veterans Day).
Saturday, 9 am-3:30 pm at Selma Mansion (1301 W Airy) Norristown Preservation Society's Annual Holiday Craft Fair, featuring gifts and decorations for Thanksgiving, Christmas and other December holidays, such as jewelry, candles, homemade items, candy, bath items, baked goods, and more. Raffle baskets. Santa! Historical Harmonies will sing carols (and maybe some drinking songs!) from 10 am to noon. The event is free and open to the public. All profits from the sale of vendor spaces go towards the restoration and maintenance of Selma Mansion.
Saturday, 8 pm-midnight at Five Saints Distillery (E Main and Green Sts.). Brian Horoho will perform.
Monday, 4 pm and 7 pm, Eisenhower School, Markley and Coolidge. 2018-19 NASD Budget Process Forum. Come participate in the process of setting the schools budget for next year. Learn how your schools get funded. Attend either session.
Tuesday (and all Tuesdays in November), 6-7:45 pm, Norristown Library. Career Workshops. Local career coach Lynn Carroll will share her expertise and enthusiasm with you in a series of workshops that will be helpful to job seekers at all skill levels and in all industries. This week Tell Your Story. Info at this link.
Tuesday, 7 pm, Planning Commission meeting. Municipal Hall.
Wednesday, 5-8 pm, Municipal Hall. Public Hearing for Septa Regional Rail to King of Prussia. 5-6 pm Open house and refreshments, 6 pm presentation, 6-8 pm, public comment.
Thursday, 6-8 pm at Municipal Hall, Council Chambers. Law Enforcement Explorers Program Open House for students ages 14-20. Come learn about a career in law enforcement. Questions: Captain Rich Clowser, NPD, at 610-270-0496 or rclowser@norristown.org.
Next Friday, November 17, 11 am- 1 pm at Norristown Library. Make your very own Thanksgiving table decoration from local, natural materials. Artist Gary Fischer will help you make your own table decoration with locally-sourced natural materials including dried leaves, vines, grasses, seed pods and beautiful bittersweet. We'll provide everything you need. Call or drop by the Front Desk to register. SPACES ARE LIMITED. Contact Cliff Hirst, 610-278-5100 x0, cliffhirstmnl@gmail.com.
A month from now, on Wednesday, December 13, the Lt. Patty Simons Food Drive will be gathering at Elmwood Park Zoo and they'll need volunteers anytime between 8 am-11 pm to help collect, sort, and box donated nonperishable goods for this years drive. Heated tents, food and a DJ will make the volunteer time enjoyable. Please come and help.
Friday, November 3, 2017
Election, Theater, Comedy, FREE Library Programs
From Nov 1 through 15, Stewart Middle School will be collecting wearable clothing, shoes, belts, handbags, linens, stuffed animals and hard toys. They'll receive money for each pound of goods they collect. Place items in tightly tied plastic bags drop off in the rear of the building. A sign will be posted on the drop-off door.
Friday and Saturday, Nov 3 and 4, 8 pm at Centre Theater. "Sweet Charity" by the King of Prussia Players opens. Will run weekends through Nov 19. Info at this link.
Saturday 9-10 am at Norristown Library. NCIA (Norristown Citizens in Action) is forming a Welcome Committee. The goal is to create a cost-effective, useful, welcome package that is thoughtful, intentional and informs newcomers to Norristown. The scope of this initiative is for homeowners, renters and businesses and will be implemented in phases. Bring your enthusiasm, ideas, and "can do" spirit.
Sunday, 2-5 pm, Elmwood Park Zoo. FREE admission for Norristown residents with ID.
Tuesday, 2 pm at Norristown Library. Thanksgiving Craft Fun for children, grades K-6. Make some festive holiday-themed crafts. Kids under age 8 must be accompanied by an adult. Drop in.
Tuesday (and all Tuesdays in November), 6-7:45 pm, Norristown Library. Career Workshops. This week Find Your Dream Job. www.lynncareercoach.com/events.
Wednesday, 7:30 pm, Council meeting. Municipal Hall.
Thursday, 9-10:30 am, Human Services Center (1430 Dekalb St). ICN presents Opiod Update. For info, contact Vivian Schorle, icn@icnconnections.org
Next Friday, November 10, Municipal offices will be closed (Veterans Day).
Next Saturday, 11 am-1 pm at Cecil and Grace Soup Kitchen, 521 Church St. A November to Remember Event. We will be offering a healthy hot lunch, warm hats, gloves, and socks (adults and kids) as well as hot chocolate, FREE. Sponsored byAlpha Kappa Alpha, Advocates Against Hunger and Einstein Medical Center.
Thursday, November 2, 2017
Common Pleas Court Judge Candidates
Judges of the Court of Common Pleas are the ones who try most criminal and civil cases. If you’re called for jury duty in Norristown, those trials are handled by these judges. They serve 10-year terms. You’ll vote for no more than 2 candidates.
All three candidates are lawyers, of course. I put them in alphabetical order by their last name.
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Questions on the Ballot
THOMAS SAYLOR – Currently chief justice of the PA Supreme Court, which he’s served on for 20 years. Republican, age 71 in December.
DEBRA TODD - Democrat, age 60. Has served 10 years on the PA Supreme Court.
JACQUELINE O. SHOGAN – Republican, age 64. Has served on the PA Superior Court for 10 years.
THOMAS M. DELRICCI has been a Judge of the Common Pleas Court of Montgomery County for 20 years. Currently President Judge. Age 62. I couldn’t find his party affiliation anywhere, but both parties are endorsing his retention.
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“Shall the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended to permit the General Assembly to enact legislation authorizing local taxing authorities to exclude from taxation up to 100 percent of the assessed value of each homestead property within a local taxing jurisdiction, rather than limit the exclusion to one-half of the median assessed value of all homestead property, which is the existing law?”
If you’re like most of us, you didn’t understand a word of it. There’s supposed to be a “plain English” explanation posted in all polling places next Tuesday. I’ve heard though, that the “plain English” wording isn’t much better. And do you really want to be trying to wrap your brain around the meaning at the last minute?
Here’s what I think it does and doesn’t mean.
* It absolutely DOES NOT mean your property taxes will be lowered or eliminated. *
The current law says that local authorities (that is, counties or school boards or townships) can grant homestead property tax exclusion on your assessment, up to 50%. Most homeowners get one. Look on your school tax bill under “Homestead”. Mine lowers my assessment about 8.5% and I have a fairly modest home. I don’t know who, if anyone, gets 50% off. If anyone does, I hope they’re poorer than me and not richer.
The ballot question asks whether the percentage should be changed to 100%. That is, should your local authority be allowed to lower assessments by up to 100%. Does this mean this would actually happen? No.
The main reason this probably won’t happen is that lowered property taxes MUST be made up elsewhere. You might get higher income taxes, with a portion going to school tax, or a new local sales tax in addition to the state sales tax. Think about how this shifts the tax burden.
A higher income tax would shift it off seniors and onto working people. You might think that’s fairer and maybe it is. Working people tend to be the parents with kids in our schools, or in charter schools supported by our district. But there are lots of single working people with no children living in the district who might move to get away from a higher income tax, thus lowering other tax income. And you might end up with the same homestead exclusion on your house while others get a better percentage, PLUS having to pay a higher income tax.
What would be better, I think, is if the PA General Assembly raised funding for education back to its old levels and quit playing these sorts of games, trying to appease PA’s wealthy estate owners, setting rich folks against the poor and middle class. And putting the burden of ultimate blame on local authorities instead of on the state legislature, who created the funding mess in the first place.
I’d recommend voting NO on this question, because it’s too misleading, too hard to understand, and smacks of political manipulation.
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
School Board Candidates
JOHN C. HOLLAND, Republican, said that drugs and gangs were the major issues, which he says he knows because he can see them from his house on Freedley St. (He seemed unaware that the police are in charge of these issues, not the NASD board, and that the NPD has juvenile officers in the schools.) He also said that students should be required to create peace posters for the Lions Club Contest. He’s retired.
That’s it for School Board Candidates. The election is November 7, one week from today.
UPDATE: Jamila Winder sent me an email with this statement:
"While you are correct that Laureate Education is a
for-profit education company, it will not be a conflict of interest because we
do not recruit high school students. Walden University, who I work for, is
designed to help working adults achieve the ultimate dream of earning a
degree... I personally work to develop strategic partnerships with
employers who wish to partner with Walden to support professional development
initiatives."
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