Month: May 2011

Pottstown News from Post papers

Why re-invent the wheel? Below are two links from the Post papers that showed up in my inbox this morning. One article reports on the success of yesterday’s Memorial Day parade, replete with great photos. The second article tells about the extended deadline for registering for summer art classes at The Gallery School in downtown Pottstown. Thanks, Joe Zlomek!

The Sanatoga Post: Sanatogans Honor Their Fallen in Memorial Ceremonies

The Pottstown Post: Time Extended for Pottstown Arts Class Enrollment

Memorial Day observances – Pottstown’s parade is on!

World War II Memorial

Line up for Pottstown’s Memorial Day Parade begins at 9 am at Goodwill Fire Company, 714 E. High Street. the parade is set to start at 10 am and will continue down High Street to Manatawny Street, then head down Manatawny to Second Street and Memorial Park.

A memorial service will also be held at 11 am at Highland Memorial Park, 701 Farmington Ave, featuring music by the Pottstown High School Band and several speakers.

Today is a day for us to reflect on the ideals of democracy and freedom, and publicly acknowledge the sacrifices made by those who serve and have given their lives to protect those ideals.

Pottstown’s Memorial Park gives the community the opportunity to keep those who have served in our hearts every day of the year with its World War II Memorial, All Veterans Walk of Honor, and Blue Star Memorial By-Way, by the Pottstown Garden Club.

All Veterans Walk of Honor Gazebo

Blue Star Memorial By-Way

Electronic music artist at BMX event in Memorial Park tonight

Boston-based, electronic music artist Ali Berger will entertain visitors at the BMX Memorial Classic in Memorial Park tonight, beginning at 6 pm. Full disclosure: This is my kid!

Bring a lawn chair and come hang out near the BMX track, where Gruber Pool used to be. HUGE shout-outs to Cathy & Glen Knapper for organizing the Memorial Classic and for letting Ali play, and to the Pottstown Parks & Rec Department for the sound equipment.

Ali’s Facebook page describes his music as, “sometimes chilled out, sometimes heavy, but always glitchy, electronic, and above all, funky. His live shows incorporate on-the-fly mashups and remixes of his own original tunes, which range from glitch-hop to electrofunk to drum & bass. You can catch him rocking shows around Boston and on Lost in Bass on Glitch.FM every Monday night.”

Some of his tunes can be found at BandCamp.com or at Sound Cloud. Here’s a clip from “Spring Break.” See you in the park!

Pottstown’s Justin Knapper sprints to national BMX title

Did you know that Pottstown is the home of a current national BMX champion?

Meet Justin Knapper, #1 in the nation in the Boys’ 14-year-old Expert class of the National Bicycle League (NBL). Oddly enough, because there are not very many BMX facilities in southeastern PA, Justin is also the 2010 New Jersey State Champion.

Pottstown resident Justin Knapper
In order to compete in the 2010 Grand Nationals in Louisville, Kentucky last September, Justin had to compete in a minimum of six national races and place high enough to earn enough points to even qualify for the title of national champion. That was no problem because over the past two years, he’s gotten to the finals of every event he’s entered. Last year, that amounted to about 15 national events.  So, how does he do it?

“I’ve been racing since I was three years old,” he said, rocking back and forth on his bike at Pottstown’s Trilogy Park. “I bike every day, mainly doing sprints in a parking lot, or going to the gym and lifting weights.”

Justin, who is sponsored by Rennen/Intense, can often be seen working out with his older brother Jeremy, who placed 12th in the nation in the 19-25 Expert class and is also the reigning 2010 New Jersey State Champion in his age bracket.

For those who have never seen a BMX race, eight riders line up in a standing position at the top of a hill. When a green light goes on, a gate drops and the riders take off, sprinting over small hills and around a few curves before crossing the finish line. The whole race is over in about 30 seconds. The qualifying heats in an event are called “motos,” and the top 8 finishers from the motos end up in the main event or final. There are three levels – Rookie, Challenger and Expert. A rider can’t move up to the next level until they have a minimum of 15 first-place finishes in a main event.

Unfortunately, area residents attending this weekend’s Memorial Classic at Memorial Park will not get to see their hometown champion in action. This past March Justin took a spill and broke one of his legs in 5 places. But he’s still in the hunt to defend his title inLouisville on Labor Day weekend. He’s been doing physical therapy three times a week, and hopes to compete again in New Paltz, New York in mid-June. We’ll be rooting for you, Justin!

For this weekend’s schedule, see here.

Check out our other stories about this weekend’s BMX fun and places for visitors to get a bite to eat around town!

Ride the Nation Meets Trilogy Park BMX: The Warrens are here!

TrilogyParkBMX Memorial Classic Visitors: Where to dine in Pottstown

BMX Family Rides the Nation

BMXers: Welcome toPottstown & check out this special offer!

Trilogy Park in Pottstown hosts national BMX event Memorial Day weekend

Ride the Nation meets Trilogy Park BMX-the Warrens are here!

After logging over 1700 miles since April, the Warren family made a grand entrance into Pottstown today.  They stopped at the Pottstown Memorial Medical Center where there was a bit of a media frenzy (at least by small town standards) and I got the chance to meet this amazing family and hear a bit about their adventure so far. 

If biking is contagious, then this family is definitely spreading the bug.  Tammy, mother of the BMX rider and author of the Ride the Nation blog, seems more like the kind of person you would sit and have coffee with than someone who just rode over a thousand miles in a month.  And, I think that’s just one part of the appeal of this family. 

In fact, one of the goals they set for themselves before heading out on this trip was to inspire the occasional biker to ride more often.  They seem to be having so much fun and have so much enthusiasm for the whole endeavor that I am sure they are far exceeding that goal along the way. 

The Warrens led the way, with Borough Manager Jason Bobst, employees from Pottstown Parks and Recreation Department and BMX racers following them to Memorial Park where all the fun will take place this weekend. 

You can follow the family’s progress as they keep riding till Memorial Day on their blog and you can get more information about our hometown BMX track at www.trilogypark.org

Trilogy Park BMX Memorial Classic Visitors: Where to dine in Pottstown

CASUAL DINING

Argento’s
Pizza, subs & pasta
201 E. High Street, Pottstown, PA 19464
610.970.9677

The Brick House
Full service restaurant and bar in the heart of downtown.
Sunday & Monday Patriot Special: Hot dog, potato salad, baker’s chips – $7.99! USA Special: Hot dog topped with kraut & potato salad – $7.99!
152 E. High Street, Pottstown, PA 19464
610.906.3527

Brunish’s Deli
Legendary hot sausage sandwiches! Family-owned since 1949.
577 Lincoln Ave., Pottstown, PA 19464
Hours: Monday-Saturday 7am-8pm; Sunday 7am- 6pm
Read our review here!

Burger King
1515 E. High Street, Pottstown, PA 19464

Company Cakes
26 N. Charlotte Street, Pottstown, PA 19464
610.705.9450
Open Saturday, 8 am-4 pm
Read our review here.

Dunkin’ Donuts
1495 E. High Street, Pottstown, PA 19464

Frank’s Flamin’ Grille & Pizzeria
149 High Street, Pottstown, PA 19464, across from Smith Plaza & Borough Hall 610.323.9777

Grumpy’s Handcarved Sandwiches
Homemade soups and sandwiches in the Pottstown Farmers’ Market
300 E. High Street, Pottstown, PA 19464
Get a coupon here.
See our review here.

Jack Cassidy’s Irish Pub
990 East High Street, Pottstown, PA 19464
610.326.5880

McDonald’s
1428 E. High Street, Pottstown, PA 19464

Mike’s Brick Oven Pizza
601 N. Charlotte Street, Pottstown, PA 19464
610.327.4042

Positively Pasta
115 E. High Street, Pottstown, PA 19464
484.945.1007

Pottstown Diner
99 W. King Street, Pottstown, PA 19464
610-327-1630

Pottstown Farmers’ Market
Fresh fruit & vegetable, deli, seafood and Grumpy’s Handcarved Sandwiches
300 E. High Street at Charlotte Street in the heart of the downtown
Free WiFI!

The Pour House, tap room and sports bar
636 East High Street, Pottstown, PA 19464
610.327.0516

Rita’s: Ice-Custard-Happiness
808 N. Charlotte Street, Pottstown, PA 19464
610-970-5152

The Very Best, oldest continually operating restaurant in Pottstown, since 1921. Offering hot dogs, burgers, cheesesteaks, homemade desserts by Company Cakes.
252 E. High Street, Pottstown, PA 19464
Take-out orders: 610. 323.5224
Read our review here.

VIP Diner
80 E. High Street, Pottstown, PA 19464
484.624.3349

CASUAL ELEGANT DINING

Funky Lil’ Kitchen
BYOB Center City-style dining with a modern American menu.
232 King Street, Pottstown, PA 19464
610.326.7400
Read our review here.

Henrys Cafe
BYOB, near the Farmers’ Market
20 South Charlotte Street, Pottstown, PA 19464
610.326.0069

Juan Carlos Fine Mexican Cuisine
235 E. High Street, Pottstown, PA 19464
484.624.4931
Read our review here.

BMX Family Rides the Nation

The Memorial Classic, Pottstown’s annual BMX race, is scheduled for this weekend, but it started over a month ago for the Warren family of Tampa, FL.  This adventurous threesome, consisting of a 12 year old BMX rider and her parents, have already logged over 1500 miles since leaving their home in late April. 

The Warrens aren’t super star athletes; if anything they are almost the opposite, calling themselves “two fat forty somethings.”  But what they are is determined, and it’s easy to get caught up in their enthusiasm reading the blog they are keeping about the journey, the BMX races, and life in general.  They lovingly refer to their daughter as “the beast,” which seems fitting since this family is logging over 50 miles on their bikes most days. 

Their goals for the trip, which is scheduled to continue through the summer as they ride through the BMX circuit and end at The Grand National Championship in Louisville, KY on Labor Day weekend. 

You can follow the Warren family’s progress yourself on their blog, ride the nation, and you can even follow them in nearly real time on Google. 

They are scheduled to arrive here in Pottstown on Thursday afternoon, sometime between 2 and 3pm at the Pottstown Hospital and they will be here for the Memorial Day Weekend festivities at Trilogy Park.

BMXers: Welcome to Pottstown & check out this special offer!

Welcome to Pottstown! Just print this ad and take it to Grumpy’s, downtown in the Farmers’ Market, for your discount and delicious sandwich!

*Positively!Pottstown has received no payment of any kind for running these ads. *

Pottstown Business Owners: if you’d like to offer a discount to visitors coming to the BMX tournament this weekend, send a .jpg or other image file to positivelypottstown@gmail.com ASAP. We’ll run coupons through Sunday.


Trilogy Park in Pottstown hosts national BMX event Memorial Day weekend

 Did you know that Pottstown is home to Trilogy Park, a BMX, inline, and skateboard park that hosts a national event each Memorial Day weekend?

Trilogy Park is in Memorial Park at the site of the former Gruber Pool. This year the Memorial Classic is expected to bring between 3,000-5,000 visitors, depending on weather, from as far away as Florida and the Midwest. Each year this event has grown because of the tireless efforts of Pottstown residents Cathy and Glen Knapper and other parent volunteers, and it has gained a reputation as one of the premier events on the National Bicycle League (NBL) circuit.

This is an awesome opportunity for Pottstown to showcase its incredible Parks and Recreation Department and the equally amazing Memorial Park.

I had seen the BMX track last year when I was investigating and writing the parks blog series for the Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation. Even afterwards, though, I didn’t quite know what it was all about, never having gone to a race.

BMX stands for Bicycle Motocross Racing. It involves biking over a dirt course with jumps and turns. Riders wear a helmet, long pants, long-sleeved shirt and closed-toe shoes. Bikes are inspected before each race for safety. Competitors practice the course as much as they can before the race so they’re familiar with the starting gate, obstacles and the turns. Each track posts moto-sheets on a moto-board; this is where riders can find out their number and gate lane for a race. BMX is open to all ages, from toddlers to the over-55 crowd.

The schedule for the Memorial Classic can be found here.

In general, bike inspections and practices by age group begin at 1:30 pm on Friday. A pre-race for local riders who will not be competing in the national races will take place at 6:30 pm.

On Saturday, inspections and practices begin at 6:30 am; opening ceremonies take place at 10:45 and races begin at 11 am and will run until about 4 pm.

On Sunday, there will be NO bike inspections or registrations. There are a few practices scheduled by age group, beginning at 7:30 am. Then racing gets underway at 8:30 am and will run until about 1:30 pm. 

A really special part of this year’s event will be the arrival of the Warren family from Florida in Pottstown on Thursday, May 26th. Neva“The BMX Diva” and her parents, Tammy and Jay, are biking to all the National BMX events this year and blogging about it at www.ridethenation.org. They started their journey on April 20th inTampa and will keep going until they get to the Grand National Championship inLouisville, Kentucky on Labor Day weekend. We’ll be featuring them in an upcoming post and talking about BMX and the Memorial Classic for the rest of the week, so stay tuned! “Like” Trilogy Park on Facebookto keep up with all the latest news, or call the TRACK HOTLINE at 484.363.0592.

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