Pottsville, PA

Indian Cave and Awesome View above Pottsville Trek

2:00-4:30 p.m. with “Porcupine Pat.”

Meets on 26th Street just before the Pottsville Club parking lot. See an authentic Lenape cave and wonderful views of Pottsville and surrounding communities. (two miles – moderate). All hikes are free and open to the public. Poor weather cancels and participants should dress for comfort.

For more information visit: www.schuylkillonthemove.com or email: porcupinepat@yahoo.com or 570.622.4124 x 113.

This weekend it's FREEZING, but hopefully by the 24th we'll have decent weather for this hike.

Mike Narvaez & La Overtoner - Saturday, January 17, 2009 8:00 p.m.

Tickets: $5.00 per person. Mike Narvaez is a singer songwriter from Hamburg Pennsylvania and is very proud of his town. Many of his songs are influenced by love, and small town life. Mike has an affinity for classical guitar. This makes him a very diverse, well rounded player, capable of playing any music, any time, anywhere. He relies heavily on his finely tuned ear, and his soul. He is currently playing out again in many small town bars. He is recording with Dan McKinney in Bethlehem, and Mike Radka in Bernville bordering on completing his debut album which has taken him over two years so far. The alt-folk-pop band, La Overtoner, generously gives melody and lyrics a higher plateau of artistry that can only come with years of experience and musical love. It is with the confluence of multiple influences of rock, folk, and pop that their music is written and arranged. On the heels of an indie EP released in the summer of 2008, the band is currently expanding their fanbase and writing new songs to capture a wider audience.

M&T Movies at the Majestic—Kung Fu Panda Saturday, January 24, 2009 7:00 p.m.

Free Admission and Popcorn. Hosted by the Pottsville Recreation Commission Po the Panda is the laziest animal in all of the Valley of Peace, but unwittingly becomes the chosen one when enemies threaten their way of life.

M&T Movies at the Majestic—Mamma Mia! Saturday, February 14, 2009 7:00 p.m.

Free Admission and Popcorn. Hosted by the Pottsville Recreation Commission The story of a bride-to-be trying to find her real father told using hit songs by the popular ‘70s group ABBA.

Kiwanis Kids Series Sponsored by Pottsville Kiwanis Club and Barefield Development Corporation

Fish Face Saturday, February 21, 2009 7:00 p.m.

Tickets: $8.00 per person. Length of performance: 55 minutes. Fish Face, part of the popular Kids of the Polk Street School series by two-time Newbery Honor-winning author Patricia Reilly Giff, is coming to the stage as an ArtsPower musical. Emily Arrow can do plenty of things well when she has Uni—her toy unicorn—to bring her good luck. She’s one of the fastest runners around, she’s great at math, and she hardly ever gets into trouble. But when Dawn Bosco appears, everything changes. The new girl seems to be good at everything. She even beats Emily in a race. Worst of all, Emily discovers that Dawn has stolen her unicorn! Will anyone believe Emily if she reveals Dawn’s terrible secret? In her efforts to understand why Dawn stole from her, Emily learns a few things about honesty and growing up. Maybe Dawn needs a friend, and maybe Emily doesn’t really need Uni after all. Addressing serious issues with a winningly light touch, this story sparkles with lively wit. Published by Harper Collins, 1956. Presented under an exclusive agreement. All rights reserved.

Sovereign Majestic Theater 209 North Centre Street Pottsville, PA 17901

Phone: 570-628-4647 Fax: 570-628-2860 E-mail: info@pad-co.com Website: www.sovereignmajestic.com

www.move2pennsylvania.com

During the mid 1960's, G. Earl Stevenson, a Pottsville City Councilman and Director of Parks and Public Property, went to St. Paul, Minnesota on business. While he was in St. Paul, he attended the St. Paul Winter Carnival. At that time, the St. Paul Winter Carnival was in existence for over 100 years. There, the Winter Carnival was held every year at the end of January and continued through the beginning of February hosting over 100 events for all to enjoy and participate. St. Paul Winter Carnival had a paid staff including a Public Relations Department, advertising and marketing Department, as well as numerous sales representatives. Mr. Stevenson was so intrigued by this undertaking in St. Paul that when he returned to Pottsville he presented the idea to the Pottsville Recreation Commission.

With his enthusiasm, he sparked an interest among other active citizens such as John D.W Reiley, Marie Murphy, Cye Wachter, William Dirnmerling and Robert Davis This core committee with their dedication and hard work built the foundation for what we know today as the Greater Pottsville Winter Carnival.

The schedule of events for the 2009 Greater Pottsville Winter Carnival includes:

-Jan. 7: Princess meeting, 7 p.m., Terence P. Reiley Community Center

-Saturday: Senior Princess Saturday, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Fairlane Village mall, Pottsville; Snowflake Princess Saturday, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Schuylkill Mall, Frackville; senior princess and snowflake princess candidates sell winter carnival buttons in Pottsville, 1 to 2 p.m.; Snowdrop Princess Saturday Fashion Show, 4 p.m., Boscov’s Auditorium, Fairlane Village mall

-Sunday: Snowflake Fashion Show, 7 p.m., Pine View Acres, Pottsville

-Jan. 14: Snowflake Costume Fashion Show, 6 p.m., Boscov’s Auditorium, Fairlane Village mall

-Jan. 17: Mid-Winter Festival, 8 p.m., Avenues/Agricultural Park, 2 Park St., Pottsville -Jan. 18: Senior Princess Fashion Show, 7:30 p.m., Pottsville Club -Jan. 23: Yuengling Night, 9 p.m. Humane Fire Company, Pottsville

-Jan. 24: Snowdrop & Snowflake Coronation, 7 p.m., Pottsville Area High School Auditorium; Snowdrop & Snowflake Party-After-Pageant, Pottsville Club

-Jan. 31: Senior Princess Coronation Pageant, 7:30 p.m. Pottsville Area High School Auditorium; Queen’s Ball, 10 p.m. Pottsville Club Tickets for all events may be purchased at Murphy Jewelers and 12 Volt Dave’s Audio, Pottsville, or at the door

Some Winter Carnival Facts

GPWC began in 1968.

The first queen pageant was held in the Henry Clay Room at the Necho Allen in Pottsville. 600 attended. And the first queen chosen was Louise Dudick Wachter.

1968, William Landy was chosen "King" by the Board of Directors of the Carnival Association. The main function of the King was to raise funds for the parade.

In 1968, the first parade was held and was based on the Rose Parade of Pasadena, CA. It was the largest parade Schuylkill County had ever seen to date. 25 bands, 25 elaborate floats and 25 princesses. Nearly 70,000 attended.

1968, Pottsville Winter Carnival was held for one week in January. Events for the week included: 1. fireworks 2. ski jumping competitions for adults 3. down hill skiing for school students 4. torch light ski parade 5. ice sculptures in Garfield Square 6. house decorating contests 7. dog sled racing - professional dog sled club from Lebanon came to Branchdale to perform

1969, William Dimmerling was chosen "king" and in 1970, G. Earl Stevenson was selected as "King".

In 1969, the queen pageant was held in the Pottsville Area High School Auditorium because it was too large to be held in the Necho Allen.

1970, queen contestants were only allowed to participate in the pageant if they were single.

1969/1970, first group of Vulcans were formed and they were only allowed to be men.

1970, name changed to the Greater Pottsville Winter Carnival Association.

1970, snowflake pageant began and was held in the Nativity BVM High School. 1971, the first Distinguished Citizen's Award was given. The Distinguished Citizen Award is given to an individual or group who gives of themselves generously and graciously to their community without any monetary reward 1971. a woman was allowed to be a vulcanette. 1975/1976, ski lodge closed. As a result, many of the snow activities were no longer able to take place.

Third Annual Open House and Art Extravaganza

The Greystone Restaurant along with over a dozen local artists will be having an open house and art sale on Sunday December 14th at the Greystone Restaurant. 315 North Centr St. Pottsville.

The doors will open at 11 am and there will be presentations of jewelery, pottery, paintings in many media, handmade yarn goods as well as performances by The Male Byzantine Choir & The Schuylkill County Choral Society. 570-628-4220

If you haven't been to The Greystone, you must stop in and see it. It is one of Pottsville's BEST dining venues.

Check out this article in the Pottsville Republican & Evening Herald about a group of lots in Pottsville that will be developed for low-income housing:

http://www.republicanherald.com/articles/2008/12/09/news/local_news/pr_republican.20081209.a.pg3.pr09pottsville_s1.2147815_loc.txt

At Monday night’s Pottsville City Council meeting, officials said 13 vacant lots on North Second Street are considered “highest need” areas by the Pennsylvania Department of Housing and Urban Development, qualifying them for about $1 million in federal money.

“It’s going to make a big difference in that neighborhood,” City Administrator Thomas Palamar said at the meeting. The money — a chunk of $88.1 million allocated to Pennsylvania — is provided through the 2008 Housing and Economic Recovery Act and meant to redevelop abandoned or foreclosed properties. Money will be provided through the state’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program.

The end result, Palamar said, will be 10 homes refurbished and ready to sell. Palamar said housing and urban development used a one-to-10 ranking scale, assessing each area’s risk of mortgage defaults or home foreclosures. The higher an area scored, the more likely federal dollars could come to the rescue.

“They’re at the top of the list,” Craig Shields, executive director of Barefield Development Corp., which will assist the city in acquiring and rehabilitating the properties, said at the meeting. Palamar said each home — exact addresses were not provided, but are within Census Tract 19, officials said — is either vacant or considered blighted. City officials will have only 18 months to identify projects and begin work, Shields said, urging quick action. The city will apply for $1 million, with all paperwork due by January. The money does, however, come with a few strings.

Twenty-five percent of the homes must be reserved for homeowners earning no more than 50 percent of median household income. Pottsville’s median household income for 2007 is estimated to be $37,639, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures. Also, the remaining homes would be sold to homeowners earning no more than 120 percent of median income, according to neighborhood stabilization program information provided by Palamar.