If you've ever dreamed of being on the open road on your own motorcycle, now's your chance - and for a good cause.

A Shelter Friend, Inc., a nonprofit organization, is offering chances to win a 2009 Triumph Thruxton motorcycle, valued at more than $8,500, to raise money for their animal rescue efforts.

The motorcycle was donated by Boyertown's Martin Motorsports and will be raffled on Sept. 5 with the help of Diane's Discount Pet Supplies & Adoption Center, Route 100, which places animals the group rescues.

"A Shelter Friend sends daily e-mail messages for pets in shelters whose time is running out. If no one commits to rescue the pets, then they are destroyed in a gas chamber, which is a very cruel method of euthanasia," said Diane Dietch, owner of Diane's. "We take in as many pets as we can, often meeting the transport van in other states and many times in the middle of the night so we can find homes for these pets in Pennsylvania."

In 2008, A Shelter Friend helped rescue more than 1,000 pets and hopes to increase the number saved by raising awareness and funds for their cause.

"Many of our customers, staff, as well as my wife and I are animal lovers," said Dennis Martin of Martin Motorsports. "After talking with Diane about this issue and how she and her staff are involved, we felt that raffling a motorcycle would be a great way to raise money for a worthy cause."

The new Thruxton features low-rise bars, a sporting riding position, spoked wheels, and megaphone style silencers on the iconic Bonneville chassis.

Those interested in seeing the motorcycle or buying a ticket can visit Martin Motorsports at 1037 Unger Lane in Boyertown, or www.martinmoto.com. Tickets, which may also be purchased at Diane's, are $10 each or three for $20. The drawing will be held at Martin Motorsports.

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The Ringing Hill Fire Company celebrated the housing of its new 2009 International KME tanker and its 2007 KME fire police unit with a parade around town Saturday.

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The Pottstown post office will be collecting for the Annual National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive this Saturday (May 9).

If you want to participate you must leave nonperishable food at your mailbox and your carrier will pick it up on their daily rounds.

Please do not include items that are expired or those in glass containers. All the food collected goes to local food banks in Pottstown.

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Lower Pottsgrove approved a law that restricts where registered sex offenders can live in the township, according to the blog The Sanatoga Post.

The approval followed creation of an $8,000 map showing in detail where sex offenders could and could not live. Under the new law, sex offenders cannot reside within 1,000 feet of a school, child care facility, public park, open space or recreational facility.

The township could not ban sex offenders outright as this would be deemed unconstitutional.

The idea of creating such a law developed last August after a resident came before the board about a sex offender living on his street, Oak Drive.

The law would also aid police who need to prove an offender is residing in a forbidden area.

Under Megan's Law, sex offenders must register their address with local police.

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Next Monday, North Coventry will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. on changes to its timber harvesting ordinance, which does not affect housing developments.

The township supervisors will also be considering changes to the township zoning ordinance at the meeting that involve a minor language change, from having the Code Enforcement Office recommend approval or disapproval of special exceptions to the zoning hearing board to the Zoning Officer making the recommendations, and reaffirming the Wellhead Protection Overlay
Ordinance.

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Alumni of Pottstown High School will soon be called to verify themselves.

Pottstown has partnered with Harris Connect to produce a current alumni directory of all former graduates. Included in the directory will be recollections and stories of the 129-year history of the school along with photos from days gone by.

The phone call alumni will receive will be for the purpose of verifying contact information.

Or alumni can make the call themselves at 1‑866‑515-0841.