School Board Candidates

Here are the seven candidates running for School Board, listed on the ballot as Norristown Area School Director. You’ll vote for no more than four. Their comments below came from the candidate’s forum last spring. They were all asked what issues they believed most important for the position. Here are their answers (alphabetical order, to be fair). Remember, you can also write-in candidates.

SHAE ASHE is running as a Democrat. He listed three issues that he wants to work on: special needs funding, which Congress keeps threatening to cut off every time they talk about healthcare; the NASD budget; and the false perception that NASD schools are not as good as other districts. Shae, as most of you know, founded The Norristown Project and has worked most of his life in some way or other with the Montco OIC. He now works for Congressman Brendan Boyle and has a degree in finance.

KATHLEEN BELLO is running as a Republican. She also listed false perceptions and poor attitudes as a main issue, as well as poor healthcare and nutrition effecting the ability to learn. She was very positive about the district. She believes NASD’s diversity of staff, students and administration is our greatest strength. Her background is nursing, but she also taught at Central Montco, so she’s been in a classroom.

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.

TUREA HUTSON, Democrat, is currently on the School Board. Her issues were funding and educational mandates from the State and Federal levels, that the board and community needs to have realistic expectations given current funding, and that collaboration is important. She was an assistant teacher for 7 years and now is a manager for Living Beyond Breast Cancer.

JOHN MAXEY, Republican, said the main problems were lack of community support for the schools, lack of communication with the community, and high property taxes. He graduated Norristown High School a year ago and is currently a full-time college student at Temple.

MATT RIVERA, Democrat, is currently on the school board. He said he couldn’t “hyper-focus on any one issue.” Instead he told us, at length, that we should vote for his “team” (he, Shae Ashe, Turea Hutson and Jamila Winder are running as a team, which only means that they’re sharing campaign expenses ~ they still appear separately on the ballot and should be considered by the voters to be separate candidates. There are no running mates on the School Board). I wish I could tell you how he feels about issues facing the schools, but I can’t.

JAMILA WINDER, Democrat, also listed the poor perception of NASD as an issue, as well as the career and college readiness of the graduates. Said the School Board needs to advocate for the students. She’s an Executive Director at Laureate Online Education (part of Laureate Education Inc, the world’s largest for-profit college company, which operates colleges mainly outside of the US, according to Forbes). I personally believe her employment creates a conflict of interest that voters ought to question (that is, she earns money at an institution that recruits students from schools like Norristown High. Like a car dealer applying for a job on the board of a drivers’ school).

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."

Council-At-Large Candidates

Election Day is a week and a day away. Here is information about the candidates for Norristown Council-at-large. Two seats are up for grabs this time around and two candidates are on the ballot. If you live in District 1 or 3, you’ll also see your local district council rep on the ballot. All of them are running unopposed.

This doesn’t necessarily mean you ought to vote for them without giving any thought to their qualifications or experience. If you’re don’t think the incumbents have done a good job or don’t think the new candidate is qualified, don’t give them your vote. You can write in candidates for any office. Push the “Write-In” button in the far-right column beside the office (make sure you select the correct button ~ look at the numbers), then type in the name on the keypad below. Be careful you spell the name as close to correct as you can.

How do you know if the incumbents are doing their jobs? Here’s how I measure my council reps:

1. If I have a problem in my neighborhood, can I get hold of my council rep or one of the council-at-large reps? Does action follow my communication or do I just get unreasonable excuses? (I’m willing to consider reasonable explanations, but I can also recognize a run-around when I hear it.)

2. Does my council rep or any of the others make any kind of effort to communicate or get to know their constituents even when we don’t have a specific complaint? (for instance, well-publicized Town Hall meetings, social media communications (and not only the day before or day of the event), etc.) Do they show up at town events? Do they make a real effort to update us on big projects (and not only after they’re a done deal)? Personally, I prefer honest updates from the reps themselves, not dog-and-pony shows from developers where questions and concerns are always glossed over or even lied about.

3. Do my council reps ask questions at their meetings? Do they seem to make an effort to truly understand what they’re voting on? Do they educate the public about the issues? (Frankly, this current council, other than to put out meeting agendas (which are usually so late, you can’t plan to get to a meeting for an important issue)—no, they don’t always communicate what they’re doing and don’t try to reach the widest audience when they do try to communicate. I miss the days of regular 3rd district newsletters and meetings.) I want council reps who don’t simply allow non-elected municipal employees to dictate policy and tell them how to vote, but who understand the issues themselves and make up their own minds.

That said, here are the candidates for Council-at-large. They’re both Democrats. No Republicans ran in the primary. The information beside each candidate was gleaned from their remarks at a candidates’ forum last May.

DERRICK PERRY: Derrick is the current Vice President of Council. He would like to change the attitudes about Norristown, work on economic development, keep our AA Bond Rating, and get residents to be involved more, both in voting and in “showing up” (I think he meant for meetings). One thing I will say for Derrick, he’s one of the only council reps I can consistently get hold of. When I had 2 separate Public Works problems in my neighborhood the last 2 years, I let Derrick know and the problems were each addressed within 24 hours. He’s on Nextdoor.com and Facebook, and lets residents on both venues know he can help if they have a council-related problem. And I’ve frequently seen him (and his son) around town at events.

REBECCA SMITH:  She said would focus on development of vacant properties. She talked about creating a sustainable tax base and encourage homeownership by shifting taxes from residents to businesses, but then said she’d support small businesses (not sure how you can support them, yet raise their taxes at the same time). She said she supported safe neighborhoods through community policing, but then went on to quote crime stats that didn’t sound right, saying Norristown was one of the most dangerous communities in the country. I fact-checked her. One erroneous Patch article made this claim a few years ago, quoting questionable sources that didn’t cite their own sources. It’s fake news, but unfortunately, it's the first result you get if you google Norristown crime statistics. Ms. Smith apparently read only that article and never checked with Crime-Mapping (actually statistics, not hearsay) nor did she check Norristown.org which now lists real trends in our crime statistics based on Crime-Mapping, nor did she talk to Chief Talbot. My own opinion is that I don’t think I’d vote for anyone who repeats false rumors about Norristown at a public forum. We have enough trouble with our image.

There are your Council-at-large candidates. Tomorrow, School Board.

FREE Halloween Events, Theater, etc.

FOUR FREE Trick-or-Treat events for kids in town Saturday afternoon and Tuesday night. The Norristown.org website also lists a Halloween Spooktacular event from 1-3 pm on Saturday, but doesn't say where or what, so I recommend the Halloween event at Selma (2-5 pm) or the Fall Festival at MLK Park (3-6 pm) instead.

Friday, 8 pm at Theatre Horizon (401 Dekalb). LAST weekend for "2.5 Minute Ride" ~ Saturday at 8 pm, Sunday at 3 pm. Full schedule and tickets at this link.

Saturday,  10 am-noon, new Life Internet Cafe (19 W Marshall). Photo ID Clinic. If you need a photo ID, bring any of the following: SS Car, old photo ID, driver license, military ID, marriage or divorce papers, passport, school ID, birth certificate, naturalization/ citizenship papers. Also bring proof of residence. Info at 610-945-6398.

Saturday, 10 am-2 pm, Norristown Police Department, 235 E Airy, Take Back Day. Make your home safer by cleaning out your medicine cabinets and dropping off unwanted or expired prescription and over-the-counter medicines.

Saturday, 11 am-5 pm at Selma Mansion (1301 W Airy). 1st Annual Psychic Fair. Variety of talented readers, healers and workshops available. Tickets are $10 at the door, which includes attendance to all workshops offered during the day. Separate charges for all readers, healers and other vendors. Vendors fee for tables, $20 (supply your own table). Space is limited for this event, and all proceeds will go directly to the preservation of Selma Mansion.

Saturday, 2-5 pm at Selma Mansion (1301 W Airy). Bring your kids Trick or Treating at Selma. FREE admission. Costume Contest at 3 pm. Cheap kids games (25 cents/ticket). Benefits the upkeep of Selma Mansion.

Saturday, 3-6 pm at Martin Luther King Park (Oak St). Fall Festival. FREE for kids. Games, food, raffles, lots of candy. Positive costumes allowed.

Saturday, 8 pm-midnight at Five Saints Distillery (E Main and Green Sts.). Pat's Run will perform.

Sunday, 9:30 am, Christ Church (corner of W. Marshall & Noble), Naylor Hall. Special breakfast, recognition and worship honoring our local police and firefighters. Everyone in the community is welcome to attend.

Sunday, Noon-3 pm, Theist Temple COGIC (535 E Marshall), PLATTERS, Mother's With Sons Fundraiser, $15 gets you chicken wingettes, potato salad or mac and cheese, string beans, corn bread, homemade peach cobbler or pound cake, iced tea or water. Dine in or take out. For info call 610-275-4571.

Tuesday, 4-7 pm, Roosevelt School Parking Lot, CADCOM's Trunk or Treat. Community organizations, Police Dept, nonprofits will decorate their car trunks and greet trick or treaters. Candy, Prizes. For info, call Heather Lewis at 610-277-6363 x166.

Tuesday, 5-8 pm, Selma Mansion (1301 W Airy). Children's Trick or Treating. Candy and prizes. Open house for everyone. FREE.

Next 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.

Nov 7 Election: Judges, Council, School Board, Questions

The election is Tuesday, November 7, less than 2 weeks away.

Are you one of the majority of voters who, if you show up at elections at all, only come out for presidential elections? And if you didn’t vote last year, are you liking the result of that election? If you like the way the country’s headed, then fine, stay home on the 7th. We won’t miss you.

But seriously, if you want to be a citizen of a democracy, you’ve got a responsibility to vote in elections, twice a year, every year. Not only for president, but for Congress in 2018, and for local offices and judges this year. Frankly, I don’t understand people who wrinkle up their noses in distaste when I suggest they should vote every election. It’s easy. It hardly takes any time (no lines in off-year elections). You can bring your kids and teach them how to vote. You can even get a sticker that says “I voted.” It’ll make you feel good about yourself, like giving blood but without the needles.

You can find your polling location at this link. Scroll down until you find Norristown.

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

Most of your district 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. 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.

Okay, that’s what you need to know about how to vote. You’re not done yet. Next week, I’ll post information about the candidates and ballot questions. But in the meantime, share this with your neighbors, family, and friends.

FREE Fair, Halloween Happenings, and Other FUN

I think October in Norristown has had more activities than the entire summer combined. You'll find a variety of kids' and adult events this week, and next weekend on the lead-up to Halloween. And many are FREE.

Friday, October 20, 5:30-7 pm, Musselman Learning Center, 1020 Sandy Hill Rd. Fire Safety Fair. FREE and open to all.

Friday, 5-6 pm at Greater Norristown PAL (340 Harding Blvd). Tell It Like It Is. New program for Teen Girls (13+). Open discussion. Bring a friend.



Friday, doors open 5:45 pm at First Presbyterian Church (Airy & Dekalb). Norristown Rec presents Movie Night. Kung Fu Panda 3. FREE. Also an open gym and craft room.

Friday, 8 pm at Theatre Horizon (401 Dekalb). "2.5 Minute Ride" continues (runs through Oct 29). Other performances this week: Saturday at 3 and 8 pm, Sunday at 3 pm, Monday at 7:30 pm, Thursday at 8 pm. Full schedule and tickets at this link.

Saturday, Noon-7 pm at St. Patrick's Church Hall (in the basement, enter to left of church at 714 Dekalb St.) Soul Food Day. The Davis Family will cater a special fundraiser for St Pat's Church. $14 per person gets you a choice of fried or baked chicken, fried fish or barbecued spare ribs, choice of sides: Mac and cheese or potato salad; collards or string beans or sweet potatoes. Variety of pies and cakes for dessert. BYOB. No reservations, just stop by.

Saturday, 3-5 pm at Elmwood Park Zoo's Pavillion. Climate change Is Not A Myth. PennEnvironment will show how climate change is effecting our community and what you can do about it. FREE admission. For info, contact Angelique Hinton, 610-952-2282, Angeliquehinton03@gmail.com.

Saturday starting at 7 pm at Diva's Kitchen (9 W Main). Pre-Halloween New Wave Show. $10 for admission and finger food. BYOB. For info, email philadu8007@gmail.com or call 610-202-5064.

Saturday, 8 pm-midnight at Five Saints Distillery (E Main and Green Sts.). Jazz 180 will perform.

Tuesday, 5-7 pm at the Carver Center. Expungement Clinic hosted by Senator Daylin Leach and LegalAid of Southeastern PA. To attend, you must RSVP to chad.hoffmann@pasenate.com or call 610-768-4200.

Tuesday 6-8 pm, Historical Society of Montco (1654 Dekalb). Understanding Style in Early America. New workshop will take a look at various styles in the arts and architecture of early America. $10 Members/$15 Nonmembers. Contact Barry Rauhauser, 610-272-0297, contact@hsmcpa.org.

Tuesday, 7 pm, Zoning Board Hearing at Municipal Hall. Agenda at this link.

Wednesday, 4:30-6 pm at Norristown Library, Spooky Scary Slime Making. For ages 10+. Learn how to make your own safe slime for Halloween.

Wednesday, 4:30-6:30 pm at First Presbyterian Church (Airy and Delkalb). Volunteer Tutor Orientation. Find out how to become a tutor for an adult needing help with reading, writing, math, GED prep or English as a Second Language (ESL). Free 1.5 hour Orientation offered by the Literacy Council of Norristown. To register, call (610-292-8515) or visit our website: www.LcnLit.org. Contact Theresa Oliver, 610-292-8515, executive.director@lcnlit.org.

Thursday, 11 am-2:30 pm on East Main in front of the Courthouse. LAST DAY for the Norristown Farmers Market this year. Fall seasonal veggies and apples, farm fresh, plus baked goods.

Next Saturday, October 28, 10 am-noon, new Life Internet Cafe (19 W Marshall). Photo ID Clinic. If you need a photo ID, bring any of the following: SS Car, old photo ID, driver license, military ID, marriage or divorce papers, passport, school ID, birth certificate, naturalization/ citizenship papers. Also bring proof of residence. Info at 610-945-6398.

Next Saturday, 10 am-2 pm, Norristown Police Department, 235 E Airy, Take Back Day. Make your home safer by cleaning out your medicine cabinets and dropping off unwanted or expired prescription and over-the-counter medicines.

Next Saturday, 11 am-5 pm at Selma Mansion (1301 W Airy). 1st Annual Psychic Fair. Variety of talented readers, healers and workshops available. Tickets are $10 at the door, which includes attendance to all workshops offered during the day. Separate charges for all readers, healers and other vendors. Vendors fee for tables, $20 (supply your own table). Space is limited for this event, and all proceeds will go directly to the preservation of Selma Mansion.

Next Saturday, 2-5 pm at Selma Mansion (1301 W Airy). Bring your kids Trick or Treating at Selma. FREE admission. Costume Contest at 3 pm. Cheap kids games (25 cents/ticket). Benefits the upkeep of Selma Mansion.

Next Saturday, 3-6 pm at Martin Luther King Park (Oak St). Fall Festival. FREE for kids. Games, food, raffles, lots of candy. Positive costumes allowed.

Haunted House, Car Show, Music Fests

Quite a bit going on Saturday around town. Plus Norristown residents with ID can get into the Philadelphia Museum of Art FREE this weekend, Friday through Sunday. Great expereince. Take the kids.

Friday, October 13th, 7-11 pm at Selma Mansion (1301 W. Airy), the Norristown Preservation Society will hold a special Friday the 13th Haunted House. The mansion will be filled with all your favorite worst nightmares. Only $5 for adults, $3 for seniors, vets and children 5-12. All children under 16 MUST be accompanied by an adult. Proceeds benefit the restoration and maintenance of Selma Mansion. Come to the best Haunted House in the area.

Friday, 8 pm at Theatre Horizon (401 Dekalb). "2.5 Minute Ride" continues (runs through Oct 29). Other performances this week: Saturday and Thursday at 8 pm, Sunday at 3 pm. Full schedule and tickets at this link.

Saturday, 9 am-1 pm, Stewart Middle School Flea Market. Support SMS PFC by buying space/table or shopping at the Flea Market. For information, email stewartpfc@gmail.com.

Saturday, 9 am, Norristown Farm Park, 4th Annual Sole Harvest 5K. Pre-registration required. All details at this link.

Saturday, 10 am-3:30 pm, 2 W Main Street, Norristown Car, Truck, and Bike Show. Pre-Reg $15, $20 day of. Benefits Norristown Parks & Rec.

Saturday, Noon-11 pm, Five Saints Distilling, 129 E Main St. Norristown Music Fest. Live performances by: Danielle & Jennifer, Coupe 'De Ville, Wildflower, Pat's Run, Ken Pierson, Lenny Martelli, and more. There will also be opportunities to adopt pets and enjoy a beer garden.

Saturday, 8-11 pm, August Moon (300 E Main). Jazz night with The Michael Andrews Quartet. Doors open at 7 pm. Entertainment Fee: $15, 2 Drink Minimum. By Crying Sam Entertainment.

Sunday, 3-5 pm, Centre Theater (208 DeKalb), Latin Fiesta. Doors open at 2, show starts at 3. Tickets start at $20 at this link.

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

Thursday, 11 am-2:30 pm on East Main in front of the Courthouse. The Norristown Farmers Market still continues every Thursday through Oct 26. Fall seasonal veggies and apples, farm fresh, plus baked goods (even gluten-free).

Thursday, 5-6:30 pm, Historical Society of Mont. County (1654 Dekalb), Historic Barns of Southeastern PA. For anyone who has ever admired a barn on an old country lane, this is the story of that barn and many others in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Part of Making History Greater Series. FREE and open to the public.

Next Friday, October 20, 5:30-7 pm, Musselman Learning Center, 1020 Sandy Hill Rd. Fire Safety Fair. FREE and open to all.

Theater, Ghosts & Free Dental

Another play is opening at Theatre Horizon this week, plus the Halloween season arrives with Selma Mansion's infamous ghost tours on Saturday. You can also get FREE dental work, run a 5K, go to a potluck, gamble at Centre Theater, or enjoy some music this weekend.

Friday, October 6, 8 pm at Theatre Horizon (401 Dekalb). "2.5 Minute Ride" opens and runs through Oct 29. Friday's performance is Pay What You Decide. This week's performances: Saturday at 8 pm, Sunday at 3 pm, Tuesday at 6:30 pm (Norristown Night), and Wednesday at 7:30 pm. Full schedule and tickets at this link.

Saturday, 8 am - 5 pm at the Laborers' Intl Union, 740 Sandy Hill Rd, The Norristown NAACP will be providing FREE dental screenings, cleanings, fluoride treatments and sealants, for those who do not have insurance. Family activities, pony rides, food and more. To pre-register please contact Renee Golden 610-513-1732, Susie Buchanan 215-896-9390, Ethel Matthews 267-664-2645.

Saturday, 9 am at Norristown Area High School. Pump N Run 5K to benefit Norristown Athletics. Come at 7:15 am for Pump option. They're looking for sponsors, too. More info at this link.  Or email Carolyn.nickels@verizon.net.

Saturday, 4-10 pm, at Coffee Talk (507 W Marshall). Potluck and Art Show at Coffee Talk. Open Mic. Bring a dish or donate to the art.

Saturday, 6-10 pm at Selma Mansion (1301 W Airy). Candlelight Ghost Tours. Quiet guided tours of the mansion will cover both its history and infamous ghost stories. (If you don't like Haunted Houses, this is the event to come to.) Tours will be continuous. Come anytime. Tickets at the door only. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children aged 5-12. All children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Active military and members of the Norristown Police and Fire Departments get free admission with ID. On-street parking. All proceeds will go toward the restoration and maintenance of Selma Mansion.

Saturday, 7-11 pm, Centre Theater (208 DeKalb St). Mark Twain Returns To Norristown. Monte Carlo Night. Fundraiser for Centre Theater in Norristown. Tickets are $50 per person and include hors d'oeuvres, open bar and $100 in chips. (I don't understand what Mark Twain has to do with it either.)

Saturday, 7-11 pm, Five Saints Distilling (Main and Green). Music by Sons of Thunder Acoustic Duo.

Tuesday, 3:45 pm at Stewart Middle School (Selma and Marshall), Football: Stewart vs. Eisenhower. Cross-town rivalry. All welcome to attend.

Tuesday, 7 pm, Planning meeting at Municipal Hall.

Thursday, 11 am-2:30 pm on East Main in front of the Courthouse. The Norristown Farmers Market still continues every Thursday through Oct 26. Fall seasonal veggies and apples, farm fresh, plus baked goods (even gluten-free).

Next Friday (October 13th), the Norristown Preservation Society will hold a special Friday the 13th Haunted House at Selma Mansion. The mansion will be filled that night with all your worst nightmares. Continual walk-throughs. Come anytime. Great date night. Only $5 for adults, $3 for seniors, vets and children 5-12. All children under 16 MUST be accompanied by an adult. Proceeds benefit the restoration and maintenance of Selma Mansion.

Next Saturday, Oct 14, 9 am-1 pm, Stewart Middle School Flea Market. Support SMS PFC by buying space/table or shopping at the Flea Market. For information, email stewartpfc@gmail.com.

Next Saturday, 10 am-3:30 pm, 2 W Main Street, Norristown Car Show. Pre-Reg $15, $20 day of. Benefits Norristown Parks & Rec. Info at this link. Or email fpileggi@norristown.org.

Next Saturday, Noon-11 pm, Five Saints Distilling, 129 E Main St. Norristown Music Fest. Live performances by: Danielle & Jennifer, Coupe 'De Ville, Wildflower, Pat's Run, Ken Pierson, Lenny Martelli, and more. There will also be opportunities to adopt pets and enjoy a beer garden.