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.

Winter Sports, Senior Fair and More

First, someone tell me what's up with the town calendar at Norristown.org. Hardly anything is listed on it, not even Municipal meetings like Council and Zoning. The one event that IS there--the ICN Senior Fair--is listed on the wrong days and as a repeating event, which it isn't (it's listed as the right day on the home page, but if you click through to the calendar, it's wrong). This gives visitors to the site the impression that our town drunk is in charge of updating the calendar. Not a good look for the town and not a positive way to start off the year. Can we fix it, please?

Thanks to Shae Ashe for keeping a dependable calendar of Norristown events on The Norristown Project site.

Saturday, January 7 at Noon, 1:30 pm and 3 pm. Tour Five Saints Distilling (Green and E Main). Tours are 1.25 hours and include the firehouse, distillery and a tasting. Tickets $10 per person.

Saturday, 8-10 pm, Five Saints Distilling. Peggy Kellar performs live.

Mondays from January 9 through Feb 27, 6:30 pm at Eisenhower Middle School, Norristown Recreation Winter Baseball Clinic for ages 4-7 and 8-12. Cost $25. Participants will attend an off-site hitting clinic at an indoor batting cage. For info, call call 610-270-0467.

Tuesday, 2-3:30 pm at the Norristown Library (Swede and Powell), Great Books Group. Come for an engaging book discussion. This month's book is The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. The Great Books group meets every second Tuesday of the month. New members are welcome. For more information, contact Shirley Miller at 610-272-4179.

Tuesday, 7 pm, Municipal Hall. Planning Commission meeting.

Wednesday, Indoor Soccer at Eisenhower Middle School. Ages 4-8 starts at 6:15 and 9-13 at 7 pm. Register at 610-270-0467.

Wednesday, 6:30 pm, the Norristown Riverfront Community will meet at Alfredo's Restaurant (Hamilton and W. Main). This month Carrie Barron from the Audubon Center at Mill Grove will be on hand to discuss the possibility of partnering with NRFC for some programs and projects starting in the spring. What would you like to see at Riverfront Park? Activities where kids can learn about the river and nature? A native plants garden? Bird walks? It's important that Norristown residents are involved in the process. Come Wed night and give your input. For info, contact Elena at missmaggieandpat@verizon.net

Thursday, 9-10:30 am, the ICN Senior Fair will take place at the Human Services Building, 1430 Dekalb. Representatives from various agencies will be on hand and there will be a presentation about Power of Attorney. For info, contact Vivian Schorle, 484-919-2614, icn@icnconnections.org

Next Saturday, January 14, 8-11 pm, August Moon, 300 E Main. Second Saturday Jazz features the Dylan Taylor Quartet. Dine in during the show to enjoy August Moon's Korean/Japanese cuisine and sushi. Jazz doors open at 7 pm. Sets on the hour.

The Sewing Club of Ebenezer Methodist Church (234 E Spruce) is organizing a bus trip to the National Museum of African American History & Culture in Washington, DC. The trip will be Saturday, April 22. $80 per person. If you're interested, call 484-674-5479.

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.