Lower Providence Township provided 15 township families with holiday care packages thanks to the overwhelming community support of its food drive. The township was aided in the effort by local residents, the Lower Providence Fire Company and Superior Tube Company. Preparing the items for delivery are township parks & recreation employees Karen Barron, left, and Angela Johnson.

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A LITTLE MORE LIFE ON HIGH STREET

Driving down High Street in Pottstown, you may have noticed the old Bechtel's Sporting Goods seems to be open again. Well it is, but not as Bechtel's. A new business selling sports team memorabilia, clothing and more has opened in the spot.

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HELP FOR PARENTING YOUR TEEN

It’s no secret that trying to raise teenagers in Montgomery and Chester counties can be a challenge to even the most well-intentioned parents. Help, however, is not too far away.

Identity questions, emotional turmoil and rebellion are just a few of the challenges teenagers face in their world today, and one local church is doing its part to help those who feel like all hope might be lost.

Launched in 1999, Christ’s Church of the Valley is one of the fastest growing churches in the suburban Philadelphia area, growing from a handful of people meeting in Pastor Brian Jones’ living room to more than 1,300 in attendance every weekend. One of the church’s main goals is simply to help people make life work.

Parents of teenagers face many unique struggles. They have to play the roles of counselor, cop and crisis manager all rolled into one. Good parenting means using one’s head, heart and faith. The great news is that starting this January, parents can stop feeling like they are doing it alone. Christ’s Church of the Valley is offering a four-week class designed to help parents of teenagers not just survive the teenage years, but to thrive. The best part is, the class is completely free.

Dates for the "Parenting Your Teenager" class are Jan. 10, 17, 24 and 31 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. each night. The class is held on the campus of Christ’s Church of the Valley, 1560 Yeager Road in Royersford.

For additional information and to register for the free "Parenting Your Teenager Class," visit the church’s Web site: www.moviechurch.com.

(Thanks to Dan Reischel, director of Student Ministries at Christ's Church of the Valley, for the above information.)

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

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