The Color Purple and Holiday Crafts (both in 2 places) and More

Not much going on this week. Or, if there is, no one is publicizing their events in the usual places (Norristown.org, Nextdoor, Facebook, etc).

Friday, November 30, 8 pm, Theatre Horizon (401 Dekalb). The Color Purple. Other shows this week: Saturday at 3 pm and 8 pm, Thursday, 7:30 pm. Tickets and complete schedule at this link.  Info at 610-283-2230 or email ticket@theatrehorizon.org.

Sunday, 8 am-3 pm at Timshel Coffee (104 E Main). Holiday Card Crafting. All crafting materials supplied. Make your own card. $4. Timshel will even mail it for you.

Sunday, 6:30 pm, Coffee Talk (507 W Marshall). Purple, The Color of Love. Jam Session with the cast of Theatre Horizon's The Color Purple.

Tuesday, 2-3 pm, Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library Youth Services Department. For kids in grades K-6. Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult. Snow Much Fun at the Library. Stop by the children's department and make a hanging snowman snow globe to take home. Norristown area schools early dismissal day activity. Contact 610-278-5100 x205.

Tuesday, 7:30 pm, Municipal Hall (235 E Airy). Council meeting.

Tuesday, 6:30-7:30 pm, Historical Society of Montgomery County, 1654 DeKalb. Introduction to Using DNA Testing in Genealogy, presented by Sydney F. Cruice Dixon, member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and has been actively researching family genealogies since 1995. Members $10; Nonmembers $20. For information or to reserve a seat: 610-272-0297. Contact Barry Rauhauser, 610-272-0297, contact@hsmcpa.org.

Next Friday, Dec 7, 2 pm. Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library. A Different Look at Pearl Harbor. Learn through a visual presentation the events leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor. Michael Baron, professor at Temple University, also explores the commanders, tactics, intelligence, and blunders that precipitated America’s involvement in World War II. Contact Erin Corry, 610-278-5100 x0, erin.b.corry@gmail.com.

Next Saturday, Dec 8, 1-5 pm, Norristown Arts Building, 619 W Washington. Open Studio Tours & Reception for the Artists in the Annual Art Exhibition. Admission is FREE and Open to the Public.

Next Saturday, 8-11 pm, Five Saints. Jay and the Jury perform. No cover.

Holiday Shopping, Color Purple, and Norristown's 2019 Budget

Saturday, November 24, is Small Business Saturday. Please shop Norristown's small businesses Saturday and throughout the holiday season. Remember, we've got a lot of great food places in N-Town (restaurants, bakeries, a distillery, and specialty stores) for all your holiday catering and entertaining needs.

Saturday, 8 pm, Theatre Horizon (401 Dekalb). The Color Purple. Other shows this week: Sunday 3 pm, Thursday, 7:30 pm. Tickets and complete schedule at this link. Info at 610-283-2230 or email ticket@theatrehorizon.org.

Monday, 6-8 pm, Municipal Hall. 2019 Proposed Budget Workshop. Meeting of the Municipal Council regarding revenues for the 2019 Budget for the Municipality of Norristown. All interested residents may attend.

Tuesday, 6-11 am. Norristown Transportation Center. The SEPTA KEY truck will be at the Norristown Transportation Center on November 27th from 6 am to 11am. Customers will have the ability to purchase a KEY card as well as the ability to load and register existing KEY cards. Giveaways. Feel free to stop by and ask any SEPTA KEY or SEPTA related questions.

Tuesday, 11 am-noon. Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library, Board Room. Finding Employment after 50. Explore new job opportunities as Ginny Neumer, former Job Developer and Career Counselor, presents a FREE program designed to put people 55+ back to work. Practical solutions for achieving gainful employment and answer questions about how to achieve that goal in a 1-hour interactive session. In addition, helpful handouts will be distributed. Registration is not required, but encouraged at the library's front desk. For info, contact Asha Verma 610-278-5100 x0.

Tuesday, 7 pm, Municipal Hall (235 E Airy). Zoning Board Hearing.

Wednesday, 1-3 pm and 6-7 pm, and Thursday 1-3 pm. Municipal Hall. 2019 Budget Hearings. 3 public hearings for individuals interested in providing comments/feedback on the proposed 2019 Municipal Budget.

Thursday, 6 pm, Municipal Hall. Municipal Council of Norristown will hold a Special Meeting to hear the Proposed Budget Presentation for the 2019 Fiscal Year. NO ACTION WILL TAKE PLACE DURING THE MEETING.

Bingo, Music, Theater, and TURKEY!

A light schedule this week, but still a few events to keep you and your family entertained.

Friday, Nov 16, 6 pm, St Francis of Assisi Church (600 Hamilton). Designer Bag BINGO. Doors open at 6 pm, BINGO starts at 7 pm. $25 in advance; $30 at the door for 10 Regular Games. Also Available:  3 Special Games $5/pack and includes all 3 games.  Cover All Game is $5 for one game. 50/50 and Door Prizes. Refreshments for purchase. For tickets and information contact Julie Fusco Schad, 484-686-9813 or David Fusco 610-389-2086.

Saturday, 7-10 pm, Coffee Talk (507 W Marshall). The Great Fall Songwriters and Performers Event.

Saturday, 7-11 pm, Five Saints Distilling, Jazz 180 performs. No cover.

Saturday, 8 pm, Theatre Horizon (401 Dekalb). The Color Purple. Other shows this week: Sunday 3 pm, Monday, 7:30 pm. Tickets and complete schedule at this link. Info at 610-283-2230 or email ticket@theatrehorizon.org.

Tuesday, 6:30 pm, Municipal Hall (235 E Airy). Council Workshop.

Wednesday, 9 am-4:30 pm, Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library Youth Services Department. Thankful Squares. Ages 5-12. Design your own thankful square with any words or designs that you choose to convey what you’re thankful for. Black construction paper and colored chalk will be provided. The squares will be assembled together and hung on the wall for a display. Drop in. Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult. For info, contact 610-278-5100 x205.

Thursday, HAPPY THANKSGIVING. (Municipal offices closed, no trash collection). 

Next Saturday is Small Business Saturday. Please shop Norristown's small businesses. Remember, we've got a lot of great food places in N-Town (restaurants, bakeries, a distillery, and specialty stores) for all your holiday catering and entertaining needs.

Christmas Bazaar, Victorian Holiday, The Color Purple, and More

Start your holiday shopping at St. Pat's Christmas Bazaar and Norristown Preservation Society's Victorian Holiday at Selma Mansion this weekend.

Friday, Nov 9, 5-8:30 pm, St. Patrick's Church Basement (Dekalb and Chestnut). Annual Christmas Bazaar. Wreaths, Attic Treasures, Jewelry, Children and Teen Booth, Tombola, Craft Booth, 50/50 Raffle, Raffle Baskets, Spirit Wheel, Entertainment, and amazing soul food and Mexican food, plus a bakery table. All are welcome. Bazaar continues Saturday 11 am-8 pm.

Friday, 8 pm, Theatre Horizon (401 Dekalb). The Color Purple. Other shows this week: Saturday 8 pm, Sunday 3 pm. Tickets and complete schedule at this link. Info at 610-283-2230 or email ticket@theatrehorizon.org.

Saturday, 9 am-3 pm, Selma Mansion (1301 W Airy). Victorian Holiday at Historic Selma Mansion. Stop on by to celebrate the upcoming holiday season. Admission fee is a donation of a non-perishable item which will benefit the Patrician Society Food Bank. Make an ornament for our tree, learn some history, purchase baked goods, take a chance or two on our Raffle Items, shop our vendors on the 2nd floor of the Mansion. Info, contact Michaelene Walski, 484-516-6357 or Michaelene320@gmail.com.

Saturday, 7-11 pm, Five Saints Distilling. Pat's Run Album Release Party. No cover.

Tuesday, 7 pm, Municipal Hall (235 E Airy). Planning Commission.

Wednesday, 1-3:30 pm, Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library Board Room. Enjoy a free movie in our boardroom the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. This showing: "Ocean's 8." Drop in.  Contact Mary Motta 610-278-5100 x111, mmotta@mclinc.org.

Thursday, 6-9 pm, Municipal Hall, Special Economic Development Meeting. ELON Presentation on Phase 2 of the Montgomery Senior Housing Project, 1 West Main Street Project Update, HOW Group Proposal for a Residential/Commercial Project at Kennedy Kenrick, Riverfront Feasibility Study Update, 200 East Logan Presentation on a Proposed Townhome Development Project, Norriswood Apartments Upgrades Presentation & Request for Letter of Support for State Funding, 412 DeKalb Proposed Mixed Use Development Presentation, and Updates on On-going Development Projects.

Next Saturday, 7-10 pm, Coffee Talk (507 W Marshall). The Great Fall Songwriters and Performers Event.

My not-so-usual Election Blog

Usually I write a series of blogs the week before election day summarizing the candidates on the ballots in Norristown. This election I didn't have the stomach for it, literally. I tried reading the Republican candidates websites and reviewing their public statements but they were making me ill.

They all seem to wholeheartedly support Trump, McConnell and Ryan, and therefore support their policies of putting innocent young children in detention camps, taking away preexisting condition protections from healthcare, stealing from Social Security and Medicare, supporting the racist leanings of some police departments, encouraging Neo-Nazis and White Supremacists, giving tax cuts to the richest people while creating tariffs that destroy our farmers, ignoring the climate change that's bringing severe storms, heatwaves and wildfires to our states, taking safeguards away from pollution restrictions from our water and air, etc.  They all seem bent on hurting people so they and their cronies can make a buck. The candidate for governor, Wagner, has said that he's delighted to be endorsed by the AltRight, and that he'd "stomp all over" Governor Wolfe's "face with golf spikes." No thanks. I'd rather have a quiet, reasonable, sane governor for my state, not someone who talks like an eighth grade bully.

I've had it. I'm voting straight Democrat. There are candidates on the Green and Libertarian Party slates, too, if that suits you better.

This election, EVERY citizen needs to get out to VOTE. You can help stop the cruelty in America. You can turn around the direction the country is headed. You can help begin to bring the country back together. Don't assume your vote won't count. Don't leave these problems to your children's generation to solve.

ELECTION DAY (and other events this week)

Saturday, November 3, 8-11 pm, Five Saints Distilling. Tru-Blu's Tribute to the Blues.

Sunday, 11 am - 5 pm, Eisenhower Middle School (Rescheduled from last week). Pitching for Unity. Come out to watch the Norristown Police Force take on the Carver Center staff at softball. Vendors, food, live DJ, 50/50 raffles.

Tuesday: ELECTION DAY. Go Vote! Polls open 7 am-8 pm.

Wednesday, 4:30-6 pm, First Presbyterian Church (113 E. Airy). Volunteer Tutor Orientation. Learn all about a volunteer tutor opportunity that can change the lives of adults needing help with reading, writing, math, GED prep or English as a Second Language. Attend a free Orientation by the Literacy Council of Norristown from 4:30 to 6:00 PM on November 7. For details or to register, call 610-292-8515 or visit our website: LcnLit.org.

Wednesday, 7:30 pm, Municipal Hall. Council meeting.

Thursday, 5-6:30 pm, Montco OIC (Arch and Basin). YouthForce Roundtable Discussion for ages 13-18 (parents are invited to attend as well). Join Montgomery County OIC and Norristown YouthFORCE for a roundtable discussion surrounding workforce and career readiness for youth in our community. During a light dinner, we will host a conversation on the following topic: How do we make our community a better place to live, work and play?

Next Friday, 8 pm, Theatre Horizon (401 Dekalb). The Color Purple. Tickets and complete schedule at this link. Info at 610-283-2230 or email ticket@theatrehorizon.org.

Next Saturday, 9 am-3 pm, Selma Mansion (1301 W Airy). Victorian Holiday at Historic Selma Mansion. Stop on by to celebrate the upcoming holiday season. Admission fee is a donation of a non-perishable item which will benefit the Patrician Society Food Bank. Make an ornament for our tree, learn some history, purchase baked goods, take a chance or two on our Raffle Items, shop our vendors on the 2nd floor of the Mansion. Info, contact Michaelene Walski, 484-516-6357 or Michaelene320@gmail.com.