Science, Food, Music and Summer Plans

Today's N-town's birthday and the last day to apply for the Citizen Police Academy. Quite a variety of happenings this weekend and into the week. Maybe spring is finally here.

Friday, March 31 is the deadline to get your applications in for Citizen Police Academy. The Academy is a 10-week course on Wednesday nights (6:30 to 9 pm) beginning April 19. The purpose of the Academy is to give the community a better understanding of what the NPD does, how they do it, and why they do it. Class size is limited. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and be a resident of Norristown.  Applications can be picked up at the station located at 235 East Airy or can be requested via email NorristownCPA@norristown.org. Any questions about the CPA can be directed to Community Affairs Liaison Gina Davies (610)270-0490.

Friday, 6:30-8 pm at Greater Norristown PAL (340 Harding Blvd). Tooling Around With Science. For students grades K-4. Registration at 610-279-8040 or email educationcommittee@greaternorristownpal.org.

Saturday, 9:30-11:30 am at Norristown Library. ICN Summer Resource Fair. Come and find out what opportunities are open for your children this summer. 10 camps and programs will be present. For info, contact Viviann Schorle, icn@icnconnections.org.

Saturday, 6-10 pm at Diva's Kitchen (9 W Main). Caribbean Game Night. Live music, games, and all-you-can-eat buffet. $15 per person. BYOB

Saturday, 7-11 pm at Five Saints Distilling (Main and Green). CJ Steinway performs.

Sunday, 2-5 pm at Elmwood Park Zoo. Residents of Norristown that present valid photo ID may enter the zoo free of charge.

Monday, 9 am-1 pm at Norristown Library (Powell and Swede). AARP Tax-Aide Tax Preparation Assistance (only 2 more sessions before the tax deadline). Tax-Aide is available free to taxpayers with low and moderate income, with special attention to those 60 and older. For info, contact Asha Verma at averma@mclinc.org or call 610-278-5100 x0. For more information on the documents you will need to bring with you, visit the Tax Aide website at AARP.org/taxaide, or call the toll-free number at 888-227-7669.

Tuesday, 2-3:30 pm at the Norristown Library (Powell and Swede). Mystery Tuesdays Book Club (1st Tuesday of each month), led by Monica D'Antonio. This month's selection is “The Bone Collector” by Jeffrey Deaver. Copies of the book are available at the Front Desk. Pre-registration is encouraged. Stop by the Front Desk or call to pre-register.

Tuesday, 7:30 pm at Municipal Hall. Council Meeting.

Starting Wednesday, 5:30-7:30 pm, and continuing the 2 Wednesdays after that (4/12 and 4/19), the NPD will conduct Neighborhood Watch Training at the Norristown Library. For information, contact Gina Davies (610)270-0490.

Ongoing through April 29, The Historical Society of Montgomery County (1654 DeKalb) is running the exhibit: Norristown Remembered, The Art of Frank Batson. Norristown native Frank Batson’s paintings are inspired by his memories of Norristown and the surrounding area from the 1940’s, ‘50’s, and ‘60’s. Exhibit is FREE and open to the public daily, Monday and Thursday 10 am-4:30 pm, Tuesday and Wednesday 1-7:30 pm. Saturday hours vary. For info, contact 610-272-0297 or contact@hsmcpa.org. The Society is handicapped accessible.

Next Saturday, April 8, 9:30 am-3:30 pm at Selma Mansion (1301 W Airy). Spring Craft Fair. FREE and open to the public. Easter and Mother's Day gifts. Jewelry, baked goods, candy, bath soaps and bath items. Jewelry in candles, handmade crochet items. Autism Awareness crafts. Profits from the sale of vendor space benefits Norristown Preservation Society and the restoration of Selma Mansion.

Next Saturday, 8-11 pm at August Moon. Second Saturday Jazz.

How Far Has N-Town Come In 205 Years?

Tomorrow is Norristown turns 205 years old, so today I’m resurrecting part of an old Diary entry from 2014, telling of our town’s founding, updated for this year.

In 1681, King Charles II of England gave a New World land grant to William Penn. Penn named the land "Sylvania." The king called it Pennsylvania, after Penn's father, who'd been an admiral and who'd also lent Charles loads of money. Pennsylvania was the king's way of paying back the debt to the family, and also of getting rid of William, who was a Quaker and considered a troublemaker.

Penn set aside land parcels for his family and friends. His son, William Jr., received 7,000 acres, roughly from what we today know as Saw Mill Run, up the river past Barbados Island (West Norriton Township), inland to include what today is East Norriton. Junior never lived on this land, in fact, he seems to have sold off the parcel fairly quickly.

Isaac Norris, Jr.

The next owners were Isaac Norris and William Trent, who set up a plantation and reaped the profits. Trent sold his share to Norris so he could go off to New Jersey to found Trenton. Norris passed his land down to his sons. His son Charles got the 500+ acres that’s now Norristown’s downtown. On his death, Charles’s widow put the land up for public auction and the University of Pennsylvania bought it. 

So, for more than its first hundred years, none of the owners of the lion's share of Penn Junior’s land lived on it. That's right, Norristown was begun by absentee landlords.

When the Pennsylvania legislature decided to split Philadelphia County and call the northwestern part Montgomery, the UPenn parcel was perfectly situated for a county seat, so the university's provost sent his son, William Moore Smith, to design the community in 1784. He laid out the first streets, plotted out where the courthouse and public square would go, and called the place "The Town of Norris" (after Charles or Isaac, or the whole family, or maybe simply because the area was called Norris Plantation). William Moore Smith is the closest thing to a real founder that we have, but no one remembers him for that.

Apparently, everyone thought the town name was too pretentious or too long. They called us Norristown. We applied to the state to become a borough and the governor signed the incorporation charter on March 31, 1812. Why that date? Possibly that was just when the charter ended up on his desk. It was a Tuesday, if anyone cares.

The first council was elected May 1st--8 members named Swaine, Coates, Hahn, Schrack, Hamill, Thomas, Holstein and Winnard (an interesting mix of English and German names—I wonder if THEY had squabbles about which nationalities belonged here and who didn’t). One would assume some or all of these men were involved with sending the charter to the governor, so they could be called founders, too, but we don't remember them either.

So, Norristown essentially began with absentee landlords and other outsiders, who made most of the decisions that would effect the residents and shape our town.

In some ways, we don't seem to have evolved much beyond that in 205 years.

Music, Dance, Comedy, and Free Coffee

Some great events this weekend and many more in the next month. Stay tuned. Only one more week to get your application in for Citizen Police Academy. I highly recommend this course for all Norristown residents.

Friday, March 24 from 6:30 to 9 pm at Norristown High School Gym. Basketball: Harlem Wizards take on NASD teachers and principals. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Fundraiser for NAEF. Email Norristownnaef@gmail.com to order tickets. Info at this link.

Saturday, March 25, 10 am-noon, at Dekalb Day School (1215 Dekalb). Elizabeth Luff, noted children's Creative Movement specialist, will lead a training workshop entitled "Singing And Dancing Together" aimed specifically at teachers of 3-5 year olds. Satisfies 2 hours of required Pa Keys training. Any teacher, however, is welcome. For more info feel free to call Elizabeth at 484-687-7880.

Saturday, 7-11 pm at Five Saints Distilling (Main and Green). Jazz 180: Lyndsey Piecyk performs.

Saturday, 8:30 pm at Centre Theater (208 Dekalb). Jared Bilski's Obituary, featuring Norristown-based comedian Jared Bilski. Doors open 7:30 pm. $20. Tickets at Bilski.brownpapertickets.com.

Sunday, 9-11 am at Eli's Bakery (324 W Marshall). Coffee With A Cop returns. Stop by to meet our police officers and enjoy a free cup of coffee and goodies from Eli's Bakery.

Sunday 3-5 pm at Centre Theatre. Schuylkill River Towns presents "Cast Away-Freshwater Fishing in the Schuylkill and Beyond." FREE seminar by Gerry Waterfield, an experienced fisherman and Fisheries scientist. More info, contact Peter at 267-939-8114, peter@eastwicksolutions.com or go to this link.

Monday, 9 am-1 pm at Norristown Library (Powell and Swede). AARP Tax-Aide Tax Preparation Assistance (only 3 more sessions before the tax deadline). Tax-Aide is available free to taxpayers with low and moderate income, with special attention to those 60 and older. For info, contact Asha Verma at averma@mclinc.org or call 610-278-5100 x0. For more information on the documents you will need to bring with you, visit the Tax Aide website at AARP.org/taxaide, or call the toll-free number at 888-227-7669.

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

Ongoing through April 29, The Historical Society of Montgomery County (1654 DeKalb) is running the exhibit: Norristown Remembered, The Art of Frank Batson. Norristown native Frank Batson’s paintings are inspired by his memories of Norristown and the surrounding area from the 1940’s, ‘50’s, and ‘60’s. Many of the buildings and places are long gone, but through his art, they are brought back to life. Exhibit is FREE and open to the public daily, Monday and Thursday 10 am-4:30 pm, Tuesday and Wednesday 1-7:30 pm. Saturday hours vary. For info, contact 610-272-0297 or contact@hsmcpa.org. The Society is handicapped accessible.

Next Friday, March 31 is the deadline to get your applications in for Citizen Police Academy. The Academy is a 10-week course on Wednesday nights (6:30 to 9 pm) beginning April 19. The purpose of the Academy is to give the community a better understanding of what the NPD does, how they do it, and why they do it. Topics include policing strategy, dynamics of patrol, crime investigations, emergency communications and dispatch operations, as well as riding along with patrol. Participants must attend 75 percent or more of the scheduled classes in order to be eligible to graduate and receive a certificate. Class size is limited. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and be a resident of Norristown. Applications can be picked up at the station located at 235 East Airy or can be requested via email NorristownCPA@norristown.org. Any questions about the CPA can be directed to Community Affairs Liaison Gina Davies (610)270-0490.

Next Saturday, April 1, 9:30-11:30 am at Norristown Library. ICN Summer Resource Fair. Come and find out what opportunities are open for your children this summer. 10 camps and programs will be present. For info, contact Viviann Schorle, icn@icnconnections.org.

Also next Saturday, 6-10 pm at Diva's Kitchen (9 W Main). Caribbean Game Night. Live music, games, and all-you-can-eat buffet. $15 per person. BYOB

Starting Wednesday, April 4, 5:30-7:30 pm, and continuing the 2 Wednesdays after that, the NPD will conduct Neighborhood Watch Training at the Norristown Library. For information, contact Gina Davies (610)270-0490.

Music, Frogs, Art and Council

Hopefully, you've managed to free your car from the ice and can get out to enjoy this week's events. Remember, Spring begins Monday. Happy St. Patrick's Day. 

Saturday, 7-11 pm at Five Saints Distilling (Main and Green). Folk duo Pat's Run performs.

Sunday, 10:30 am-noon, at Elmwood Park Zoo. Frog Watch Training Session. FrogWatch USA is a citizen science program of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums that provides people an opportunity to learn about wetlands in their communities and report data on the calls of local frogs and toads. Come to a special training session to learn how to distinguish the calls of Norristown's native frog species and help Elmwood Park Zoo contribute valuable frog population data to a national database.

Monday, ACPPA's 8-week spring session begins. Art, music, and theater classes meet during the school week in the evenings and our preschool dance classes meet Saturday mornings.  Students participating in the spring 8-week session will also be invitied to display their work in the Spring Art Exhibition and/or perform in their Spring Concert in late May. To register, click on this link. For questions or assistance with class placement and registration, contact Stephanie, at sland@acppa.net or 610-277-2270.

Tuesday, 6-7:30 pm at the Norristown Library. Gallery Night Celebration. NASD District Art Show, featuring the art of talented Norristown students.

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

Wednesday, 1-3:30 pm at the Norristown Library Board Room. Mary's matinee. This week's free matinee is “Keeping up with the Joneses.” Comedy rated PG-13. 105 minutes. For info, contact Mary Motta 610-278-5100 x111 or mmotta@mclinc.org

Wednesday, 6-7 pm at the Norristown Library Community Room. Container Gardens For Your Home. Learn how to plan, assemble and maintain container gardens that will brighten your outdoor spaces. Registration is encouraged but not required. Call or stop by the Front Desk to register. Contact Asha Verma 610-278-5100, x0  averma@mclinc.org

Ongoing through April 29, The Historical Society of Montgomery County (1654 DeKalb) is running the exhibit: Norristown Remembered, The Art of Frank Batson. Norristown native Frank Batson’s paintings are inspired by his memories of Norristown and the surrounding area from the 1940’s, ‘50’s, and ‘60’s. Many of the buildings and places are long gone, but through his art, they are brought back to life. Exhibit is FREE and open to the public daily, Monday and Thursday 10 am-4:30 pm, Tuesday and Wednesday 1-7:30 pm. Saturday hours vary. For info, contact 610-272-0297 or contact@hsmcpa.org. The Society is handicapped accessible.

Next Saturday, March 25, 10 am-noon, at Dekalb Day School (1215 Dekalb). Elizabeth Luff, noted children's Creative Movement specialist, will lead a training workshop entitled "Singing And Dancing Together" aimed specifically at teachers of 3-5 year olds. Satisfies 2 hours of required Pa Keys training. Any teacher, however, is welcome. For more info feel free to call Elizabeth at 484-687-7880.

Also next Saturday, 8:30 pm at Centre Theater (208 Dekalb). Jared Bilski's Obituary, featuring Norristown-based comedian Jared Bilski. Doors open 7:30 pm. $20. Tickets at Bilski.brownpapertickets.com

Next Sunday, March 26, 9-11 am at Eli's Bakery (324 W Marshall). Coffee With A Cop returns! Stop by to meet our police officers and enjoy a free cup of coffee and goodies from Eli's Bakery.

Also next Sunday 3-5 pm at Centre Theatre. Schuylkill River Towns presents "Cast Away-Freshwater Fishing in the Schuylkill and Beyond." FREE seminar by Gerry Waterfield, an experienced fisherman and Fisheries scientist. More info, contact Peter at 267-939-8114 peter@eastwicksolutions.com or go to this link.

Norristown Police Department's Citizen Police Academy begins April 19th. The 10-week program will expand citizens’ knowledge and understanding of the law and explore police procedures.  Approximately 25 hours of instruction, taught in two and a half hour segments. Topics: NPD policing strategy, dynamics of patrol, crime investigations, emergency communications and dispatch operations, as well as riding along with patrol. Participants will meet every Wednesday from 6:30p.m. to 9 pm. and they must attend 75 percent or more of the scheduled classes in order to be eligible to graduate and receive a certificate. Class size is limited to allow greater interaction between students and instructors. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age to apply and be a resident of Norristown. Applications for the Norristown Citizen Police Academy can be picked up at the station located at 235 East Airy Street, Norristown, PA 19401 or can be requested via email NorristownCPA@norristown.org. Deadline for application submission: March 31, 2017. Any questions about the CPA can be directed to Community Affairs Liaison Gina Davies 610-270-0490.

Norristown Municipality is seeking proposals from qualified vendors to provide, operate and manage food and beverage concession operations and recreational activities (like kayak rentals) year-round at Riverfront Park. Go to this link if you're interested.

Norristown: Your Ad Here?

I don’t usually make Diary entries on a Saturday, but this concerns a Planning meeting scheduled for Tuesday (assuming we aren’t dealing with a major winter storm that day) and I wanted to give everyone the chance to share this issue with their friends and neighbors. Please do share.

I’ve blogged before on the entry points to our town and how unwelcoming they are. Most people enter Norristown at either end of Main or Markley Streets or the south end of Dekalb. The largest welcome sign is on the Schuylkill River Trail overpass over the Dannehower Bridge, and frankly, that sign needs a  touch-up.

Of all our entry roads, coming off the Dannehower onto Markley likely brings the most traffic into Norristown. It’s the first view of our town for some of those folks. What sort of impression do they get in the first 2 blocks from Main to Elm?

This is one of the ugliest stretches of road in Norristown. I admit, we can’t do much about the railroad. It would be nice if we could landscape it a bit more -- plant more trees or and low-maintenance shrubs along the curbs. PennDOT is eventually supposed to widen the part of Markley between Elm and Marshall, so perhaps new curbs and streetlights will help (though I suppose our old-growth trees will go).

But what people probably notice more are the many billboards, and the vacant or unkempt buildings in that stretch. Long-time residents have been calling these blocks “Billboard Row” since the 1970s or 80s, and not as a compliment.

We actually have less billboards now than a few years ago, due to the advent of digital billboards like the one in the photo above, where one board that changes ads several times a minute can be much more profitable than many boards on one piece of property.  So far, the owners of these boards have been landscaping around them. Still, they don’t do much to improve Norristown as a whole. Billboards will always make an area look depressed. There are, I think, 6 billboards now between Elm and the Dannehower, 4 of which are between Elm and Marshall.

This week at the Planning meeting on Tuesday night (7 pm at Municipal Hall), Richard Mina of Ramco LLC will ask for conditional use approval for the placement of six 6x12 foot outdoor advertising signs on the wall of 750 Markley, which most of us know as the old Maaco building, between Elm and the Stony Creek Office Center.

Do we need more ads on that block?

The building is an eyesore as it is. It’s ironic that Municipal Hall keeps approving the demolition of historically important buildings in N-town, yet we’ve got to put up with the sight of derelict structures that should have been levelled long ago. Can’t we somehow hook up the developers with the buildings we WANT demolished?

But back to the ad signs. I asked residents what they thought on Nextdoor.com. Not only did I get a flood of opinions within 24 hours, the residents were, for the most part, angry.  No one wanted what was essentially more billboards in Norristown. Several residents expressed the opinion that their view wouldn’t be listened to—that Municipal Hall would do whatever they wanted regardless of the taxpayers’ desires.

Still, several residents made constructive suggestions. Many wanted a mural on that wall. One said to level the building and make a park. Another thought was, instead of 6 ads, have 6 pieces of art the same size, sponsored by businesses, with the sponsors’ names under the art. That way the owner gets revenue from it, and no tax money needs to be spent.

If you don’t want to see more ads on that stretch of Markley Street, and have better ideas about what could be done with that building, please attend the Planning Commission Meeting Tuesday night. If you can’t attend, call the Planning Department (610-270-0450) before Tuesday, 5 pm and make your views known. If we DO get a big snowstorm Tuesday, hopefully the Planning meeting will be postponed to a day when we can all attend.

The Lion King, Music, History, and More

Winter weather has finally arrived, but despite that, people are starting to think "spring" and fun activities are picking up around town. But also, if you're a resident, read the agendas for the Planning and Design meetings this week at Municipal Hall.

Friday, March 10, from 6-8 pm at First Presbyterian Church (Airy & Dekalb). Winter Game Night for kids. Movie, soccer, dodgeball, art & crafts. Call 610-270-0467 for info.

Friday, 7-8 pm, Stewart Middle School (1315 W Marshall) presents Disney’s The Lion King JR.  60-minute musical, designed for middle-school aged performers, is based on the Broadway production directed by Julie Taymor and the 1994 Disney film. The 5th-8th grade cast contains approximately 60 students led by Ms. Moscovici and Ms. Russo. Admission is free, but audience members are encouraged to make a donation at the door. Second performance on Saturday, March 11 at 5pm.

Saturday, 8-11 pm at Five Saints Distilling (Main and Green). FireWater (signer/guitarist Scott Dinolfi) performs.

Saturday, 8-11 pm, Second Saturday Jazz at August Moon, featuring the Jimmy Coleman Quartet. Doors open at 7 pm. Sets on the hour, starting at 8 pm.

Monday, 9 am-1 pm at Norristown Library (Powell and Swede). AARP Tax-Aide Tax Preparation Assistance. Tax-Aide is available free to taxpayers with low and moderate income, with special attention to those 60 and older. For info, contact Asha Verma at averma@mclinc.org or call 610-278-5100 x0. For more information on the documents you will need to bring with you, visit the Tax Aide website at AARP.org/taxaide, or call the toll-free number at 888-227-7669.

Tuesday, 2-3:30 pm at the Library (Swede and Powell). Great Books Group. This month’s classic is “Catch 22" by Joseph Heller. Contact Shirley Miller 610-272-4179. The Great Books Group meets the second Tuesday of each month

Tuesday, 7 pm at Municipal Hall. Planning Commission meeting. Agenda at this link. One notable item is a request to place 6 12x6 foot billboard ads on the side of the old Maaco building on Markley St between Elm and Marshall (photo at right). If you don't want more ugly on that stretch of road, make your thoughts known to the Planning Commission in writing or in person at the meeting.

Wednesday, 6:30 pm at Alfredo's Restaurant. Meeting of the Norristown Riverfront Community. This month, they'll be planning the Earth Day Celebration at Riverfront Park on April 22. Anyone interested is welcome.

Wednesday 6:30 pm at Municipal Hall. Design Review Committee. Agenda at this link. This seems to be a new committee that works in tandem with Planning. I guess the thought is, if the project is approved by Planning, it then goes before Design. Some of the same projects as on the Planning agenda.

Thursday, 5-6:30 pm at the Historical Society of Montgomery Co. (1654 Dekalb St). Presentation on the History of King of Prussia Mall, presented by author and historian Michael Shaw. free and open to the public. For more information contact the Historical Society at 610-272-0297 or contact@hsmcpa.org or visit: hsmcpa.org

Next Sunday, March 19, 10:30 am-noon, at Elmwood Park Zoo. Frog Watch Training Session. FrogWatch USA is a citizen science program of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums that provides people an opportunity to learn about wetlands in their communities and report data on the calls of local frogs and toads. Come to a special training session to learn how to distinguish the calls of Norristown's native frog species and help Elmwood Park Zoo contribute valuable frog population data to a national database. Members $5, Non-members $15 (zoo admission is included).

Ongoing through April 29, The Historical Society of Montgomery County (1654 DeKalb) is running the exhibit: Norristown Remembered, The Art of Frank Batson. Norristown native Frank Batson’s paintings are inspired by his memories of Norristown and the surrounding area from the 1940’s, ‘50’s, and ‘60’s. Many of the buildings and places are long gone, but through his art, they are brought back to life. Exhibit is FREE and open to the public daily, Monday and Thursday 10 am-4:30 pm, Tuesday and Wednesday 1-7:30 pm. Saturday hours vary. For info, contact 610-272-0297 or contact@hsmcpa.org. The Society is handicapped accessible.

ACPPA's 8-week spring session will start the week of March 20th. Art, music, and theater classes meet during the school week in the evenings and our preschool dance classes meet Saturday mornings.  Students participating in the spring 8-week session will also be invited to display their work in our Spring Art Exhibition and/or perform in our Spring Concert in late May. To register, click on this link. For questions or assistance with class placement and registration, contact Stephanie, at sland@acppa.net or 610-277-2270.

The Norristown Police Department will be hosting a Citizen Police Academy starting April 19th, 2017. The 10-week program will expand citizens’ knowledge and understanding of the law and explore police procedures. The CPA involves approximately 25 hours of instruction taught in two and a half hour segments--instruction on topics such as policing strategy, dynamics of patrol, crime investigations, emergency communications and dispatch operations, as well as riding along with patrol. Participants will meet every Wednesday from 6:30 pm to 9 pm  and they must attend 75% or more of the scheduled classes in order to be eligible to graduate and receive a certificate. Class size is limited. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age to apply and be a resident of Norristown.  Applications can be picked up at the station located at 235 East Airy, or can be requested by email NorristownCPA@norristown.org Deadline for application submission is March 31, 2017. Any questions about the CPA can be directed to Community Affairs Liaison Gina Davies 610-270-0490. (Note from Elena: I took this last fall and HIGHLY recommend it for all N-town residents.)

Norristown Municipality is seeking proposals from qualified vendors to provide, operate and manage food and beverage concession operations and recreational activities (like kayak rentals) year-round at Riverfront Park. Go to this link if you're interested.

Music, Free Zoo and More

A fairly light week, event-wise.  But for those of you who want to brave the return of winter this weekend, you'll find music at 2 venues, and free admission to the Zoo.

Saturday, March 4, 7-11 pm at Five Saints Distilling (Main and Green). Brian Horoho performs.

Sunday, 2-5 pm at Elmwood Park Zoo. Free admission for residents of Norristown who present valid photo ID.

Sunday, 1-4 pm at Coffee Talk (507 W Marshall). Open Mic. $5.

Monday, 9 am-1 pm at Norristown Library (Powell and Swede). AARP Tax-Aide Tax Preparation Assistance. Tax-Aide is available free to taxpayers with low and moderate income, with special attention to those 60 and older. For info, contact Asha Verma at averma@mclinc.org or call 610-278-5100 x0. For more information on the documents you will need to bring with you, visit the Tax Aide website at AARP.org/taxaide, or call the toll-free number at 888-227-7669.

Tuesday, 2-3:30 pm at the Norristown Library (Powell and Swede). Mystery Tuesdays Book Club (1st Tuesday of each month), led by Monica D'Antonio. This month's selection is "The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie," by Alan Bradley (which I highly recommend ~ one of my favorite books). Copies of the book are available at the Front Desk. Pre-registration is encouraged.  Stop by the Front Desk or call to pre-register. For info, contact 610-278-5100, x0 or averma@mclinc.org.

Tuesday, 5:30 to 8:30 pm, Guys For Good Fundraiser at Five Saints Distilling. Tours of the distillery, Happy Hour. $20.00 donation at the door. Silent auction and a 50/50. Donations for the silent auction are welcome (no instructions or contact info given, but try the police station). Proceeds to benefit the Norristown Police Foundation that funds NPD community outreach projects like Citizens Police Academy.

Tuesday, 7:30 pm at Municipal Hall.  Council Meeting.

Next Friday, March 10, from 6-8 pm at First Presbyterian Church (Airy & Dekalb). Winter Game Night for kids. Movie, soccer, dodgeball, art & crafts. Call 610-270-0467 for info.

Also next Friday, 7-8 pm, Stewart Middle School (1315 W Marshall). Disney’s The Lion King JR. is playing at Stewart Middle School on Friday, March 10 at 7pm and Saturday, March 11 at 5pm. 60-minute musical, designed for middle-school aged performers, is based on the Broadway production directed by Julie Taymor and the 1994 Disney film. The 5th-8th grade cast contains approximately 60 students led by Ms. Moscovici and Ms. Russo. Admission is free, but audience members are encouraged to make a donation at the door. Second performance on Saturday, March 11 at 5pm.

Next Saturday, March 11, 8-11 pm, Second Saturday Jazz at August Moon.

Ongoing through April 29, The Historical Society of Montgomery County (1654 DeKalb) is running the exhibit: Norristown Remembered, The Art of Frank Batson. Norristown native Frank Batson’s paintings are inspired by his memories of Norristown and the surrounding area from the 1940’s, ‘50’s, and ‘60’s. Many of the buildings and places are long gone, but through his art, they are brought back to life. Exhibit is FREE and open to the public daily, Monday and Thursday 10 am-4:30 pm, Tuesday and Wednesday 1-7:30 pm. Saturday hours vary. For info, contact 610-272-0297 or contact@hsmcpa.org. The Society is handicapped accessible.