Wish Christmas was less about presents and more about family and friends, like in the olden days? Well you can get a taste of that old-fashioned Christmas cheer this Saturday when Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site hosts its Iron Plantation, which will celebrate 100 years of Christmas in America.

Dec. 5, the furnace will offer displays of Christmas through the ages that includes actors in period attire explaining the rituals and habits of Christmas from 1795-1875, the years the furnace was in operation.

There will also be carolers belting out holiday favorites at Bethesda Church, which is open especially for this day. There will even be carriage rides from Hendershot Hitch to the church.

The free event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“This is an opportunity to travel back in time and experience Christmas the American way,” Park Superintendent Edie Shean-Hammond said. “The Belsnickel will be on hand to reward and also scold deserving youngsters. There will be plenty of unique gifts in the Village Store, including pieces of historic charcoal for that perfect stocking gift."

Bethesda Church is located one mile east of the main iron furnace community, on Bethesda Road. Directions on how to reach the church will be available at the park’s visitor center or by contacting the park at 610-582-8773.

Carriages will depart from the visitor center in time for passengers to arrive at the church for caroling at 11:00 a.m., noon, and 1, 2, and 3 p.m. Donations to offset the costs of this transportation will be accepted.

Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site preserves and interprets an early American industrial landscape from natural resource extraction to enlightened conservation. The site is surrounded by the 73,000-acre Hopewell Big Woods, the largest forest in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Several charitable organizations hit a hole in one thanks to Matrix Golf and Hospitality's outing Oct. 1.

The company's Commonwealth National Golf Club hosted the outing which raised more than $78,000 for six charities. About 120 golfers participated in the outing which assisted:

Special Equestrians, a therapeutic riding and hippotherapy program offering services to individuals with disabilities in the Greater Philadelphia area.

HealthLink Medical Center, a free clinic serving the working uninsured of Bucks and Montgomery counties, including offering primary care and dental services to qualifying patients.

Gilda's Club Delaware Valley, one of 26 clubs nationwide founded by the late comedian Gilda Radner to offer programs and emotional and social support to people living with cancer.

Crossing the Finish Line, a Blue Bell-based cancer support that helps provide young families facing late-stage cancer treatments and terminal diagnosis with opportunities to spend carefree and cost-free time together in comfortable and secure travel environments.

Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Montgomery County, part of the national organization to match at-risk youth with mentors to produce a direct and measurable impact on the children's lives.

The Center for Parenting Education, a not-for-profit agency founded in 1997 to help educate and support parents to raise children in an emotionally healthy way.

The Commonwealth National Foundation's mission is to raise money for the support of local charities.

Commonwealth National Golf Club is a private golf club located in Horsham. The club, designed by Arnold Palmer, is owned and operated by Matrix Golf and Hospitality, a division of Matrix Development Group, headquartered in Cranbury, N.J.

So the holidays are here, and as family gathers together to celebrate, why not check out some of the local activities that will take minds off past hurts and gossip?

In Pottstown, the TriCounty Performing Arts Center is hosting Honk, a musical just right for the little ones. The performances begin Dec. 3 and run through Dec. 20. For tickets, times and more information, check out the TriPAC Web site at www.tripac.org

The Pottstown Symphony Orchestra is hosting a sing-in of Handel's "Messiah" Dec. 13 at 3 p.m. in Trinity Reformed UCC Church, Hanover and King streets in Pottstown. Don't worry if you don't have good pipes, you can always just sit back and enjoy the dulcet tones in a grand old church. Cost is $15.

The Center for the Arts at the Hill School is offering several Christmastime productions for the public to enjoy. On Dec. 11 at 7:15 p.m. it will hold a winter instrumental by candlelight. There will be candlelight lessons and carols Dec. 13 at 4:30 and 8 p.m. in the alumni memorial chapel. The Schuylkill Valley Regional Dance Company will perform the Nutcracker in the school's Center for the Arts Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for students and seniors.

Downtown Pottstown's Holiday House Tour is being held Dec. 13 this year, offering trolley and carriage rides to historic homes that are decorated and open to the public on this day. There will also be cookies! And who doesn't love cookies.

Tickets are $12 and include a Victorian Tea by the Doe Club at the Pottstown Elks Club building on High Street, across from the VIP Diner, free trolley transportation and free refreshments. The tours are held from 1 until 6 p.m. with the tea from noon until 2.

Anyone interested in tickets or opening their house up during the tour should call Sue Krause at 610-323-2229.

In Boyertown, the borough is hosting its holiday house tour Dec. 4 from 3 to 9 p.m.

Boyertown Area Multiservice is holding its Festival of Trees the same day from 4 to 9 p.m. The festival is a fundraising effort for the holidays. Businesses and individuals can sponsor a tree for $150. They are then supplied with a prelit tree they can decorate to their choosing. Theme trees are encouraged but not mandatory. On the day of the festival, visitors can purchase raffle tickets and using them to bid on the tree of their choice. The tree with the most tickets will be named the event favorite, and a winner of each tree will be chosen from the tickets.

According to the Multi-Services Web site, "Last year Multi-Service provided Christmas for 327 children from 143 families." Families are supplied with gifts, wrapping paper and food for a holiday meal.

The event also raises enough money for the Multi-Service to buy fuel for those who cannot afford it during the bitter winter months.

The event is free, and open to the public. There will be live music.

There will also be an open house tour at the state theater from 4 to 9 p.m. the same day. The next day, the theater is offering a free screening of "It's a Wonderful Life" at 2 p.m. thanks to sponsorship by local businesses.

A performance of dances with narration from "The Nutcracker" will be held by the Boyertown Community Dance Company at the theater Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 19 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Cost is $5.

The theater will show classic holiday movies throughout the month of December. Check it out on their Web site, www.statetheatreboyertown.com

Santa will arrive in Boyertown Dec. 5 during the Chillin on Main event starting at 10 a.m. and running until 2 p.m. There will be face painting, a Santa’s workshop, interactive activities, entertainment story time at the Boyertown Library (11:30 a.m.), entertainment at the Historic State Theater and more.

Phoenixville will be hosting its Christmas parade Dec. 4. The parade will progress down Bridge Street starting in the 100 block. It begins at 7 p.m. with a tree lighting at 8 p.m.



And don't forget the Firebird Festival, being held this year on Dec. 12.
This event is in honor of Phoenixville's namesake, the Phoenix. The Phoenix myth represents transformation: life, death and rebirth. This community event involves artists who design and
build a 25-foot Phoenix sculpture that will be bonfired at 8 p.m. the night of the event. Inside are over 100 clay birds built by the community which represent rebirth.

The birds will be on display at the Phoenixville Art Center on Jan. 30. The burning in the large bird acts as a kiln on the clay creations.

The night of the event, there will be performances along Bridge Street starting at 4 p.m. There will be a drum procession preceeding the lighting of the Phoenix.

Children can still get in on the fun with a lantern making workshop at the Phoenixville Library Dec. 5, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Making a lantern takes about half an hour and the cost is $5 per lantern. Artists are advised to wear old clothes or bring a smock as this gets messy.

The lanterns are used in a children's Procession of Light that leaves the Colonial Theater at 7:15 p.m. The lanterns are colored papier mache lit with battery operated votives.

With money tight this year, the organizers of the Firebird Festival are asking anyone wishing to sponsor a band or performance call Henrik at 610-933-9199 or e-mail henrik11@verizon.net
Dideridoo players are also sought.

Other towns in the area are also holding holiday tree lightings.
Limerick is holding its holiday celebration at 6 p.m. outside the township building on Dec. 4

Amity, Birdsboro, Robeson, and Union are joining together in hosting "A Christmas to Remember" Dec. 5 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Union Township building. Donations will be collected for Toys for Tots and the Salvation Army, including toys, home goods and used clothing. Santa Claus will make an appearance and there will be cart rides, a dance performance, refreshments and more.

Pottstown's holiday weekends stsrt off Black Friday with the arrival of Santa.

As part of the PDIDA Holiday Spectacular, starting at 6 p.m. this Friday children can get their pictures taken with Santa Claus in Smith Family Plaza for $6, enjoy roasted chestnuts and apple cider, and families can take carriage rides for $5.

There will also be free live musical entertainment and free gingerbread cookie decorating.

The event ends at 9, but families have the opportunity to see Santa again Dec. 4, 11 and 18.

A Boyertown H.S. alumni recently starred in a play at Penn State's Berks campus outside of Reading.

Patrick O'Neill is performing as Dracula in a play by the same name.

O'Neill got into theater at Boyertown Senior High School and is continuing in the art at Penn State.

This week Lowe’s in Oaks sent 10 to 12 volunteers each day, headed by Katie Law and Chris Drumheller, to Sebastian Riding Associates for two days of community giving.

Sebastian Riding Associates is a nonprofit, community-based, therapeutic, horseback riding and hippotherapy facility for children and adults with disabilities.

Lowe’s donated the materials for the construction of cabinets in “Lindsey’s Lounge” and for a new outdoor mounting ramp and the employees completed the work.

Sebastian Riding Associates is located in Evansburg State Park at 3589 Water Street, Collegeville.

South Heidelberg resident Ingrid Rumbaugh created the Girl Scout event 70 Brownies will participate in this Saturday at Conrad Weiser Middle School to obtain their science badge. Brownies from troops throughout the county, including Birdsboro, Douglassville, and Geigertown will experiment with marshmallows, minor chemical reactions, creating rainbows and more.
Rumbaugh created the daylong event as part of her Girl Scout Silver Award project.

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Churchill's is hosting two events to tempt the tastebuds of area wine enthusiasts. A wine and dine tasting seminar will be held Dec. 11 by Dean and Lisa Foster at the coffee shop downtown in Pottstown.
There will be a four-course appetizer meal with cheese and fabulous desserts and the Fosters will introduce great wines that go well with the tempting hors d'ouevres.
The event will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. and reservations are $65 a person. Made by the first week in December, the cost is only $50 a person.
Call 484-941-5100 for reservations.

You can also check out the Women's Wine Club Holiday Dinner on Dec. 16 at 6:30 p.m.
There will be hors d'ouevres, a lobster or pork dinner (your choice) and black walnut cake.

Cost is $48 a person and you will receive four complimentary wines.
Call 610-326-4787 to reserve.

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This weekend you can check out the Melange Dance Company in its performance at the TriCounty Performing Arts Center on High Street in Pottstown.

The group will perform Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.

“A Night at the Folies Bergere”, a diverse mix of music and dance styles for all ages, will be performed.

Tickets cost $17 for adults, $15 for seniors and students with ID, and $13 for children under age 12. Dance students get $2 off per ticket when they mention their dance school at the box office.

The Daniel Boone Area School District 120-member marching band won their first-ever Atlantic Coast Championship on Nov. 8 at Hershey Park Stadium.

Sponsored by the Tournament of Bands and the National Judges Association, the ACC's bring together the top high school marching bands from Delaware, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The event has been held regularly since 1973 and is considered one of the most prestigious marching band events in the country.

Bands are divided into different “classes” based on their overall size - Daniel Boone was in Group IV (the largest with 76-plus musicians). Each band starts during the summer learning their show, and performs numerous times at football games and competitions throughout the area.

Daniel Boone entered the competition ranked third overall in its class, based on qualifying events at the end of October.

Groups are adjudicated based on the individual contribution of each member from a musical and visual standpoint, as well as the overall show design and execution.

Also winning in class IV was Spring-Ford High School, which took second place.

Daniel Boone also won the award for overall visual performance. Spring-Ford won awards for overall music and percussion performance, while Northern York won the overall color guard award.

Boone's score of 97.75 is a school record for the program, and is the highest score in the competitive circuit for the season - a fall that saw close to 200 school marching programs perform at a show.

“This year has really been about conveying a message with our show,” band director Justin A. McAdams said. “The entire program was built around the idea of a musician who is deaf. What if you couldn't hear what you were playing, but could just see someone playing?

"We also have a member of the staff (who is also an elementary teacher in the district) that had a strong background in sign language, so we incorporated that into the program as well. The kids bought into the idea, and really focused on performing to their fullest potential,” McAdams added.

This is the band's second championship, with the last in 2005, but in a lower division.

The Owen J. Roberts 7-Ups, a singing group, has been invited to perform in the Channel 6 Thanksgiving Day parade by producer Todd Marcocci, who saw the group perform at the OJR Cavalcade.

The group will appear in the grand finale of the production on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

The performance is scheduled to air on Channel 6 at 11:50 a.m. Thanksgiving Day. The group will perform a 36-page medley of music, as well as choreography, arranged by Keith Wilson, who works for Disney.

The Pottstown Historic Home and Cultural Show, planned for next March, is looking for a few good vendors.

The show, which offers educational programs on restoration and renovation to interested home buyers, features various organizations offering information on events and points of interest in the Pottstown area.

Planned for Sunday, March 27, 2010 at the Montgomery County Community College West Campus on High Street in Pottstown, the show offers numerous workshops and is produced by the borough.

For more information, you can contact the borough at 610-970-6520 or go their Web site www.pottstown.org

This Saturday will be golden at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Kempton, thanks to the presence of golden eagles.

On this day, Hawk Mountain offers its once-a-year unique opportunity to see North America’s largest predatory bird during three live Golden Eagle programs at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. in the Outdoor Amphitheater. Programs are free, but a trail fee applies for those who visit scenic overlooks. In the event of rain, programs will be held inside the Visitor Center.

During each program, educators from Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center will present live hawk and owl species to show the adaptations that set eagles apart from smaller birds of prey. The bulk of each program will be dedicated to the star of the show, a non-releasable Golden Eagle.

Golden Eagle Saturday coincides with the peak of the species’ migration at Hawk Mountain.

The Golden Eagle is a true rarity throughout the northeast and they nest in very remote areas of northern Canada. There are no documented nests in the entire commonwealth. In fact, in Pennsylvania, a Golden Eagle is normally not seen at all except when passing through on migration. Here at Hawk Mountain, an average 123 soar by each autumn, the bulk during the first two weeks of November.

In flight, the bird’s plank-like wings stretch more than 7 feet as it soars south along the Kittatinny Ridge or “Blue Mountain.” The adult golden eagle can typically be identified in flight by its overall dark coloring and gold "glistening" neck, massive size, and steady, solitary flight.

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is a prime observation point for autumn hawk migration because of its location along the easternmost edge of the Appalachian Mountains. Hawks use ridge currents for uplift like glider pilots on long-distance flights.

In addition to birds of prey, hummingbirds, monarch butterflies, songbirds and waterfowl use the Appalachian Mountain Flyway. Some species follow the Appalachians to their end, before heading south to the coastal plains of eastern Mexico and falling out to the tropical forests of Central and South America.

The official Hawk Mountain Hawk Count runs daily from Aug. 15 to Dec. 15. As the world’s first refuge for birds of prey, the sanctuary boasts the longest-running database of hawk migration in the world.

Visiting hawk watchers should wear sturdy shoes, dress in warm, layered clothing, and bring binoculars, something soft to sit upon, and a daypack. The sanctuary has no trash receptacles on site and follows a carry in–carry out trash policy. Snack food and water are available for sale in the Visitor Center.

Trails to the lookouts at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary are open daily from dawn to dusk. Weekday trail fees are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $3 for children ages 6-12. Weekend trail fees from Sept. 1 through Nov. 30 cost $7 for adults and seniors, and $3 for children ages 6-12. Trail fees includes weekend programs, which continue through Nov. 15.

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is a nonprofit, member-supported organization located just seven miles north of I-78/Cabela’s intersection near Hamburg (exit 29B off I-78).

For more information on weekend programs or for weather forecasts, interested visitors can call the info line at 610-756-6000. For daily hawk counts, visit the sanctuary’s Web site at www.hawkmountain.org.

From Out The Fiery Furnace, a one-act play written and directed by nationally recognized playwright Christine Emmert and performed by a 40-year veteran of the stage and screen, Barbara Hannevig, features the stories of life in the 19th century at Hopewell Village.

Hannevig brings to life several characters of the period including runaway slaves, “fallen” women, indentured servants, orphaned children, and others, according to a press release from the Furnace.

Performances are slated for 4 p.m. at the Villa at Morlattan and 7 p.m. at the 1801 Chapel of St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church on Friday, Nov. 13. These adjacent facilities are located on Route 422 East in Douglassville. The program is free and open to the public.

“We are pleased to be able to bring the stories of Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site to the community in an exciting new way,” said Superintendent Shean-Hammond. “This is an original drama and Hannevig is riveting to young and old alike.”

The play premiered during Hopewell’s Harvest Time event on Sept. 19 to two full house audiences. Emmert and Hannevig volunteered to take the show on the road to connect new audiences to their local national park .

The National Park Service chose St. Gabriel’s as an appropriate venue as it was the church of Mark Bird, who founded Hopewell Furnace in 1770. Future performances are scheduled in Phoenixville and Radnor in 2010.

The National Park play showcases how a woman’s life and love could be singularly tracked through her relationship with a Hopewell Stove.

“Hopewell Furnace was famous for not only supporting George Washington in the Revolutionary War, but also for its proliferation of perhaps the most important innovation of the 19th century: the 10-plate cooking stove.,” said Shean-Hammond. “We should never take for granted how this important innovation and the industry that created it freed women both black and white to pursue their just place in American Society."

Playwright/director Christine Emmert has a long resume of work. She has been published in three countries and performed throughout the English speaking world. In addition to directing and writing, Emmert has had an extensive stage career. She has appeared with Barbara Hannevig at Village Productions in "Lettice and Lovage," "Quilters" and "Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge."

She lives in Valley Forge with her husband, Richard, who often joins her in her theater adventures.

Barbara Hannevig studied at the Goodman Theatre School in Chicago and worked professionally for over 40 years. In addition to her stage work, she has performed in videos and voiceovers. She has graced the stage of Village Productions in such diverse pieces at "Jake's Women", "Almost Maine" and, of course, "Lettice and Lovage."

Pottstown's holiday cheer will get a boost from PDIDA, the Pottstown Downtown Improvement District Authority, when the 2009 Holiday Spectacular begins on Nov. 27. The Holiday Spectacular is held every Friday between Thanksgiving and Christmas and features family entertainment downtown as a way to get people into the borough and visiting its businesses.

The Spectacular runs from 6-9 p.m. with the Santa House, featuring a chance for children to visit with Santa and give him their wish lists, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Pictures with Santa cost $6 this year.

There are also horse and carriage rides for $5, along with roasted chestnuts and apple cider.

There will also be free gingerbread cookie decorating for children under age 12.

PDIDA is always looking for volunteers to help out with downtown events. If you are interested, call 610-323-5400 or e-mail mainstreetmanager@
downtownpottstown.org

In case you were interested, or even if you weren't, here's an interesting fact:

Wayne Deegan of Pottstown finished the New York City Marathon on Sunday with a time of 3 hours 19 minutes and 7 seconds, placing him No. 3,014 among the finishers.

Also making their way to the finish line was Elizabeth Ramsay of Royersford, Krista Calvin of Schwenksville, George Gray of Collegeville, Emily Koepsell of Phoenixville, Jim Mandanci of Collegeville, Susan Landry of Collegeville, Thomas Chobot of Reading, Geoffrey Hasker of Reading, Sebastian Niezgoda of King of Prussia, Jacob Malikkal of Collegeville, Christopher Chamberlain of Collegeville, Bethany Pluger of King of Prussia, Holly Ramsay of King of Prussia, Robyn Jasko of Kutztown, Mike Reese of Reading, Kathleen Schulz of Phoenixville, Stephen Tolbert of Jeffersonville, Samantha Newbold of Phoenixville, Colleen Fitzpatrick of Boyertown, and Brian Dunn of Collegeville. All runners received a medal for crossing the finish line.

(Picture at right shows runner Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain being high-fived by Women's marathon winner Derartu Tulu, left, of Ethiopia.)

Pennsylvania runners came from as far away as Pittsburgh to compete in Sunday's event.

Congratulations runners!