Limerick Township and Lower Pottsgrove have planned a joint meeting Tuesday, May 12, at 2 p.m. in the township municipal building at 2199 Buchert Road. The townships have been trying to develop a joint plan for the land at the Sanatoga interchange, which straddles both townships.

The purpose of the meeting is to hear presentations from consultants who would be hired, if their proposals are acceptable to both townships, on how to properly develop the area.

According to the Sanatoga Post, at their recent commissioner's meeting, the Lower Pottsgrove board announced it was negotiating an agreement with Limerick on developing a comprehensive strategy for the area.

“The details aren’t quite worked out yet,” board Vice President Jonathan Spadt said, “but we want to look at the interchange together as one big project area," the post reported.

View Sanatoga Interchange in a larger map

The interchange has been a point of contention for some time as the townships have tried in the past to work together on improving traffic and development in the area of Route 422 and Evergreen Road. When a Costco proposal was first announced in January, residents turned out to complain about existing congestion issues in the area. A development called Sanatoga Springs has been proposed near the Philadelphia Premium Outlets by O'Neill Properties.

In October of 2008, Lower Pottsgrove turned down the chance to be represented by lobbyist Delta Development Group (which would have charged the township $10,000 along with other fees to obtain federal money to improve the interchange) citing a tight budget. Limerick is represented by the lobbyist which is also charging $35,000 for every $1 million awarded by the government.

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Trappe borough has put on hold an innovative "Do Not Knock" list which would have allowed people in the borough to place their names on list indicating they do not want solicitors coming to their homes, according to What's the 422.

Solicitors would be require to honor the list or face a $300 fine per incident.

Concerns about the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts running afoul of the ordinance while trying to raise funds was the main cause for the reconsideration. A suggestion was made by Council Member Nevin Scholl to create an exempt list including such service organizations, churches and those running for political office.

The borough's township solicitor advised against the ordinance, saying choosing between groups could violate First Amendment free speech rights.

Borough Manager Tommy Ryan said he would survey residents about the idea through the borough's Web site and newsletter.

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The Pleasantville Bridge Fest is coming back to Oley. The community fundraiser, which will kick off Friday, May 29, with a bonfire at 7 p.m. next to the Pleasantville Diner, has been held for six years by the Pleasantville Covered Bridge Festival Committee.

This year local ghost stories author Charles Adams III will entertain at the bonfire with tales of the spirit world in Berks County. Food will be available and attendees should bring their own lawn chairs to the bonfire.

On Saturday, May 30, a kids fishing rodeo will be held behind the diner. Registration is at 7 a.m. with the fishing from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. A 6K run will take place that day with registration starting at 7 a.m. at Salem UCC Church. Breakfast and lunch items will be sold and a flea market will be held.

From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., there will be another flea market and crafters at the diner or in Sheeler's Grove near Route 73. Food will also be sold there.

New this year will be helicopter rides, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. There will also be horse and wagon rides over the historic Pleasantville Covered Bridge, built in 1856 over the Manatawny Creek.

Special events for kids include a visit from Santa (it's never too early), games and music by Ray Owen from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Owen is famous for writing Pennsylvania's state song.

At 2 p.m., judges will chose their favorites in the art contest with the covered bridge as the subject. A Mr. and Miss Pleasant will be chosen and the fishing rodeo awards will be given out at this time.

On display will be a memory quilt, designed and sewn by Gail Kessler from Lady Fingers and quilted by EstherBrintzenhoff, that will be raffled off. There will also be a cell phone collection for soldiers in Iraq.

The festival will conclude with a chicken barbecue from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Bridge Inn in Pleasantville with music by Pat Garrett.