Goodbye Ben!

Photo by Heather Tassmer
Ben Dalton looks at some Berks-Mont pencils he received in his gift bag. Editor of the Boyertown Area Times Matthew Reichl sits to the right of Ben.



Ben Dalton, our other intern, just went back to school. Ben is a student at Brown University.

Ben kept busy this summer just like Mark did. We sent him to municipal meetings as well as fun assignments like an art gallery and church carnival.

He also had the chance to cover bigger stories like when Rendell came to Reading.

Ben also helped us proof our pages on production days and was a big help. It’s always great to have a fresh set of eyes on a page.

We took Ben to the Boyertown Cafe on Aug. 21 and presented him with some goodies on his next to last day.

Ben did a terrific job this summer and will be missed! We wish him well with school and future work adventures!

A goodbye to one of our interns

Mark Eddinger, a student from Penn State, recently just finished his internship with us here at Berks-Mont Newspapers in Boyertown.

Mark mostly wrote sports stories but he also helped in other departments writing features and news stories. He experienced some photojournalism also, taking pictures to accompany his stories.

We enjoyed having Mark here and hope he enjoyed his time at Berks-Mont. By reading his work, you can tell he is very passionate about writing and is having a great start to a career in journalism.

We took Mark out to lunch on his last day and hooked him up with the A.P. Style Guide (a journalist's bible) and some Berks-Mont goodies.

(Photos above By Heather Tassmer)
Top: Mark takes a look at his new A.P. Style Guide.
Bottom: The Connection editor Toni Colon hands Mark a giftbag. haha


Enjoy the rest of your summer, Mark! Good luck with school!

Yay for summer interns!!

Another production day has passed at The Southern Berks News.

“Production Day” is journalism jargon for the process of putting the paper together-formatting pictures, editing, and laying out the paper.

This week I decided to spotlight Exeter Township yet again.

Our new intern, Ben Dalton, talked to the Concerned Citizens of Exeter Township and a township supervisor about a fund to restore trees cut down for the Exeter Commons project. Citizens are concerned the money won’t be spent on the environment. Township officials are offended that people don’t trust them and are in the process of deciding how the money given to them by the Exeter Commons developers for the trees will be spent.

Ben also did a great job on writing about two church anniversaries. One church celebrated its 215th anniversary and another celebrated its 10th anniversary. Ben snapped a great picture of a child competing in a pie eating contest.

Mark Eddinger is another college student interning at Berks-Mont’s Boyertown office. Mark has also been doing a phenomenal job for us. We are definitely going to miss both of the interns when they go back to school in August.

I’m probably going to be tackling the economy/gas price issue in the near future. If you would like to share how you’re coping with gas prices, send me an e-mail htassmer@berksmontnews.com or call 610-367-6041 ext 225. You can also write a letter to the editor and send it to Heather Tassmer, 124 N. Chestnut Street, P.O. Box 565 Boyertown, Pa. 19512.

I hope everyone has a great and safe holiday for July 4th. I’m headed back to Lancaster County for mine and am looking forward to a cookout.

For some reason, Ben's awesome photo won't load:( so I'm headed out.

A lesson about drinking and driving

Sometimes seeing is believing.
The Daniel Boone High School Students witnessed a mock drunk driving accident May 22 in the school annex parking lot.
Several students who serve as volunteer firefighters for the Monarch Fire Company helped organize the "accident."
Hopefully this will teach students that drinking and driving doesn't only affect the driver but the other people in an accident.

Daniel Boone High School students learn dangers of drinking and driving
By Heather Tassmer
News Editor


Daniel Boone High School seniors watched as a teen exited a smashed up car while crying hysterically because her boyfriend was dead.
She walked over to the unharmed drunk driver who had smashed into her boyfriend’s car and screamed, “This is your fault! What were you thinking?!”
Luckily the students were watching a mock drunk driving accident held at the high school’s annex parking lot on May 22.
The event was originally planned for the day of prom, May 9 but was rescheduled due to rain but still occurred in time to make students think twice about drinking and driving during graduation and senior week celebrations.
“The purpose of the mock accident is to make the students aware of the dangers of drinking and driving,” said Dane Miller, a principal at the high school.
He said that the mock accident showed that other drivers and passengers can be affected from the accident and not just the driver.
The mock accident was coordinated by sophomore Mike Jolley and senior Rodney Wagner, who both serve as volunteers for Monarch Fire Company in Amity Township. The mock accident was an early senior project for Jolley and took the students about two months to plan.
“Some kids don’t know any better to not get behind the wheel of a car after drinking.” Jolley said. “Hopefully when they saw the cars they will think ‘this could happen to me’ and it will stun them enough to not drink and drive.”
“I think it had a big impact on students especially with the victims being bloody,” Wagner said.
In addition to Jolley and Wagner, Korey Ellwanger, also a volunteer with Monarch Fire Company, assisted with the mock accident. Ellwanger is using the video as a scholarship project.
The students organized the mock accident with help from Miller, Kulptown, Birdsboro and Monarch fire companies, Southern Berks Emergency Medical Services, PennSTAR Helicopter and state police from Reading.
Cars were donated from A.E. Minotto, a junkyard in the Pottstown area and Douglassville Autobody helped tow the vehicles.
After seeing the victim’s reaction, fireman from the local area arrived at the scene to rescue the other victims “trapped” in the cars.
Firefighters used the “Jaws of Life” or special equipment to cut open the car doors and had to remove a roof of one of the cars to extract the passengers and driver.
Representatives from Southern Berks EMS and PennSTAR Helicopter also responded to the “incident” and hooked victims up to stretchers. One of the victims was taken to the helicopter.
Corporal Wayne Elser from the Reading State Police Barracks conducted sobriety tests with Christian Kriebel who played the drunk driver. Then he handcuffed Kriebel.
Seven students, who have participated in school plays, served as actors for the scene and wore ripped clothes and fake blood to make the scene more realistic.
They also said they were hoping to make an impact on their peers.
“We were excited to show the effects of drinking and driving,” said senior Rebecca Wattenmaker, who played the girlfriend of the driver who “died.” “It’s scary how real it all seems to me.”
“This will show students that this is a real situation that people can get into,” Kriebel added.
Elser said this mock accident was very beneficial for students to see to help them make wise decisions in their futures.
“A lot of the time kids don’t see the consequences of an accident caused by a drunk driver,” Elser said, adding that he hoped this would leave a lasting impression on the teens.
Elser said 10 to 15 percent of the accidents state troopers respond to in the local area are alcohol related.
Robert Erb, deputy chief of Kulptown Fire Company, added that the firefighters have been responding to more and more alcohol related accidents each year.
Erb said that he hoped students would not only learn not to drink and drive but not to drink at all.
Samantha Emerick was one of the many students watching the mock accident.
“It’s so scary,” Emerick said. “I would be so upset if one of my family or friends had to go through something like this.”
Jill Eigenbrot added, “This will teach people to not drink and drive and to have a designated driver.”
Assistant Principal Phil Repko who attended the mock accident in behalf of Miller who couldn’t make it, said he was proud of the students who organized the accident.
“I think the kids who set this up did an outstanding job,” Repko said. “The emergency personnel who came out also did a great job and were very generous to donate their time.”
“Students who got to witness the accident were able to see things they never thought about,” he added.

Tough Economy

In the May 7, 2008, issue of The Southern Berks News, there was a story about how the increasing gas and food prices are affecting local residents.
I talked to people at a Wawa gas station to get their opinions on the economy. This was challenging of course because at 8:30 a.m. people were on their way to get to work and it's understandable some didn't want to take the time out to talk with me.
The humorous part of the morning was a response of an older, cranky man. I asked him what he thought about gas prices and he answered "Ah they suck! I don't want to talk about it!"
During a school board meeting this week, I was reminded of how schools are being affected by gas and foods going up in price. School meals will be going up in price for Exeter. I wouldn't be surprised to see other schools raising their meal prices.
In other Tassmania economic news, I received my economic stimulus check the beginning of May and had to spend most of it the same day to get an oil change for the car and an inspection. But oh well. My car treats me well so I must spend money to maintain it.

Idol contestants mediocre so far

A few weeks ago, I told myself as well as other people I wasn’t going to get drawn into this season of “American Idol.” I was sucked in last season and well, I have to admit I was sucked in again.

As I’ve been watching the show this season, I’ve been disappointed with a lot of the performances. Like Simon Cowell said last week, the judges are looking for someone who would be a good recording artist. There are maybe three people out of the new bunch that have that potential.

I watched the guys perform last night and I enjoyed David Hernandez's “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” the best. He looked like he was enjoying himself and he had charisma. It’s definitely a song that you can get into or jam out to.

Jason Yeager’s “Long Train Running” turned out to be like something you would hear from a cruise ship singer or karaoke in my opinion.

I think Chikezie is a good singer but the song he chose to sing was really boring. He needed to choose something different that would show more of his range and charisma.

Jason Castro’s “I want to be your everything” was boring. I agree with Paula...it would be good to see him without the guitar.

David Cook, who sang “All Right Now” was leaning on guitar playing too much. I wanted to hear more singing and the band seemed like they carried him I thought cook was overstepping his bounds with telling Simon that he had to win the crowd over.
Luke Menard sang Queen’s “Killer Queen.” I see him as someone that would be in a musical instead of someone who would have an album out.

Robbie Carrico sang “Hotblooded.” I agree with Randy. “Didn’t have that umph.” To be a rocker, you need to have a lot of power in your songs and have confidence. I didn’t see either.

Michael Johns sang “You can go your own way.”Again, the singer needed to have more power, especially while singing a Fleetwood Mac song.

Danny Noriega sang “Superstar.” It was kind of forgettable and just average.

David Archuleta's "Imagine" was decent. I think he's a good singer but I didn't like the song choice for him.

Life of Crime for a 76-year-old?

This week's issue of Feb. 6 features a story about some burglary victims getting their belongings back. Well, some of their items. Their high-end jewelry was not found. Big surprise there.

According to police, a 76-year-old man, Kermit Gabel, allegedly stole these items that Exeter Police displayed on Feb. 1 and Feb. 2 for victims.

If Gabel, a.k.a. "The Silver Burglar" (for allegedly taking silverware) had been a burglar all of his life, do you realize how sad that is? It's sad choosing to do things that mess with people's feelings and memories instead live a life of freedom. It makes me think about the decisions that people make that shape their lives. And how people fall into this lifestyle of crime.

I was happy to find out that a lot of burglary victims were able to find their belongings. I'm sure it gives people a lot of relief too.

Welcome to TassMania

While you read the title of my blog/look at my profile picture, you will see I am a fan of Taz.

My nickname has been Taz since middle school because of my last name being pronounced “Taz-mer.” Hence the reason I chose to name my column in The Southern Berks News “Taz’s Tidbits.”

I figured since so many people share their lives with us for the paper, in turn this blog will let me share my life and thoughts with you.

I’ve been the editor of The Southern Berks News since the end of October, and let me tell you, has it ever been a ride so far.

Before working for Berks-Mont newspapers, I was a reporter/photographer for an Army newspaper, APG News, at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., where I was responsible for my stories and chipping in with copy editing other stories in the paper.

Since I started working as the editor of The Southern Berks News, I’ve been challenged with making decisions that affect the paper as a whole: what will be printed on the front page, locations of other stories and which pictures will be used to accompany the stories.

Other challenges I’ve been faced with is understanding the issues that affect the municipalities in The Southern Berks News coverage area and learning to write about taxes.

One of the most exciting and darkest days on the job was Jan. 9 when I covered the stabbing at Antietam Middle-Senior High School.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get the scoop of what was happening until about 9:30 or 10 a.m., and by the time I arrived at the school, the students had been transferred to the Mt. Penn Primary Center and their parents had taken them home.

Although it was depressing to hear about a student taking out his anger in this manner, I was glad I had the opportunity to cover the story that day and the meeting between the school administration and parents the same week. It was very interesting to hear what the parents thought about the incident and it gave me the perspective of what the community was like.

Even though Antietam was interesting to cover, I do not want bad news on the front page of the paper every week. Then it will feel like the news on TV and I will hate that. Every time I turn on the TV, I hear about murder, death, the economy crumbling, adults acting like children.

My goal is to try to balance out the good with the bad. If negative things happen in the coverage areas, it is still my duty to get it in the paper. I’m just saying that there is no reason of why we shouldn’t get some good news in when it happens too.

I’m always open to hearing story ideas so if you have one, feel free to give me a call at the office 610-367-6041 ext. 225, or send me an e-mail htassmer@berksmontnews.com.