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!

In case you were wondering, Phoenixville's benches, currently missing from the downtown area, are just on a temporary hiatus as they get fixed. According to a press release from the borough, the benches had to have their foot pedestals fixed because they were corroding.

Keystone Designs in Butler, Pa., originally built the benches and is in charge of fixing them. The benches were put in place in the downtown during both phases of the recent streetscaping and benches from both phases were affected, according to the borough.

As part of the reconditioning, protective feet will be added to the benches to prevent damage from the brick sidewalks.

All this is being done at no cost to the borough since the benches were still under warrenty. When they return they will be placed exactly where they once sat, according to the borough.

The Boyertown School District is no longer accepting applications for the Superintendent's position, which is being vacated by Harry Morgan, who is retiring. According to a notice on the school district's Web site, the board will begin reviewing the resumes of those who have applied already.

According to a story in Friday's Reading Eagle, the most recent school board meeting on Tuesday became heated when Al Turchanik asked why the board was footing the bill for Gilbertsville Elementary Principal Ronald W. Christman's tuition. Christman is studying for a doctorate degree. The tuition costs are more than $2,500 a year, according to the Eagle's report. The board has already approved the expense. Christman gets paid $118,000 a year.

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Pottstown's High Street is seeing more life lately. The dollar store that was burned out in a massive fire two years ago that also damaged the Lastick Furniture store is getting ready to reopen. Shelves and the interior were being put in place and a new sign has been hung on the awning.

A Cricket mobile phone store has also opened up in the 300 block, next to a soon-to-be ice cream parlor that once housed a nail salon, and across from the National Penn Bank.

A sheriff's sale sign appeared on the Pottstown Farmer's Market doors. Word is the building was seized for lack of a mortgage payment and is being auctioned off by a bank in November. It was not certain what would happen to the vendors still inside, though they are all still open for business. Unfortunately the Italian Market was closed when the building was taken over by the bank.

The old Norco Auto Group building is also up for auction, according to a placard outside of the building.