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To further its mission of promoting good business conduct in the building trades in the greater Pottstown area, the Building Industries Exchange (BIE) of Pottstown & Vicinity Inc. provides consumer advisories to the public free of charge.

The following brochures are available at the BIE at 801 N. Charlotte St. or will be mailed to consumers upon request:

"Looking for a Builder? Pick the Right One," from the Pennsylvania Bureau of Consumer Protection, Office of Attorney General Mike Fisher.

"Avoid Home Improvement Headaches." Don't get nailed by an unscrupulous contractor. Before you hire or sign a contractor for home repair, review this BIE publication.

"Tips for Hiring a Contractor." Keep your project on the level by following the guidelines in this BIE publication.

The BIE screens its membership to provide the public with an assurance of quality craftsmanship and ethical business conduct. The BIE directs consumer complaints with the performance of contractors to the Pa. Attorney General's toll free consumer protection hotline 1-800-441-2555.

According to the BIE, complaints frequently involve consumers who have hired a contractor without having obtained excellent references or a complete written understanding.

Now observing its 58th year of operation, the BIE is a professional trade association dedicated to promoting integrity in and providing service to local building industries.

It operates a plans room that is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to noon, and 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free to BIE members and consumers who have jobs for bid. A nominal fee is attached to guest contractor use.

The BIE sponsors the annual Pottstown Home Show, awards scholarships to aspiring tradesmen and women, provides referral services and consumer advisories to the public, and publishes a handsome annual directory of construction information. Brochures and directories are available, at the BIE at 801 N. Charlotte St., Pottstown, free of charge.

It offers contractors regional project summaries; discounted cost data; plan copying services; bimonthly news; business, technical and safety programs; social opportunities; job banking; preferred employee banking; local TV exposure; conference room use; and optional association-rate health, life, disability, dental and vision insurance via Independence Blue Cross and its preferred providers and brokerage firms.

Visit the Exchange on line or find a contractor at www.pottstownbie.org.

A Code Blue is issued by Montgomery County when the wind chill factor is expected to be 20°F or below. If you are without shelter during a Code Blue emergency, you can contact the following organizations that can help:

Central Montgomery County Families
Norristown Salvation Army
533 Swede Street
Norristown, PA 19401
(610)275-9225
Single Adults – Over 18 years of age.

Resources for Human Development
(Shelter)
Bldg. 53, Norristown
State Hospital
Norristown, PA 19403
(610) 292-9244

Pottstown Area Families
Pottstown Salvation Army
137 King Street
Pottstown, PA
(610) 327-0836

Pottstown Area Single Adult
Main Street Ministries Church-based shelter
Pick-up from Pottstown Consumer Center at 10 P.M. and driven to church
Open December through April
Contact Still Waters Ministry - Paster Kork Moyer
(610) 970-2444

Voucher Information
During a declared “Code Blue”, dependent on voucher availability, hotel vouchers
may be available by contacting the following agency in this area of the county:
Area Organization Phone After Hours
Lower Merion Eldernet (610)-525-0706, (610)642-3218

Below are the telephone numbers for transportation during a Code Blue.
Transnet is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The other
transportation companies should be contacted only if Transnet is not open.

Norristown Transportation 610-277-1234 7 days/week-24 hour/day

BuxMont Transportation 215-659-8865 Mon.-Fri. 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
(Eastern Montgomery County) Sat. 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sun. and holidays 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Closed Christmas

Tri County Transit 610-495-5500 Mon.-Fri. 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
(Western Mont. County) Saturday 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Closed Christmas/New Years Day

Mid County Transportation 215-699-0603 Mon.-Sun. 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
(Lansdale area) Closed Christmas/New Years Day

Main Line Transit 610-277-8606 Mon.-Sat. 6 a.m. -5:30 p.m.
Closed Christmas/New Years Day

Valley Paratransit Service 215-679-6215 Mon.-Fri. 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
(Pennsburg/E. Greenville area) Sat. 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Closed Christmas/New Years Day

Some local towns collect leaves to compost as part of regular trash and recycling collection. See the times below for the next leaf collections.

Pottstown: You must put leaves in a designated or brown paper bag that is biodegradable. Bags are available at Borough Hall, the library and some area stores. Cost per bag is 50 cents. Collection is same day as recycling collection. Bags should be placed at curb. Collection runs from Oct. 20 to Dec. 17. Leaves should not be raked into the streets! This is a violation of borough codes.

Lower Pottsgrove: Leaves collected the first Monday of each month. Next collection is Nov. 2. Leaves must be in brown paper bags and should not be put out until the night before.

Phoenixville: Yard waste is picked up on the same day as trash. It must be put in biodegradeable bags and placed at the curb. Your address must be printed on the bag. Collection is from first week of March to last week of November. The next pickup days are Nov. 9 and 23.

Collegeville and Trappe: Residents are allowed to drop off yard waste at the shared compost site Nov. 1 to Dec. 19 on Wednesdays, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. I.D. must be presented. The compost facility is located on West Seventh Avenue in Trappe at Township Line Road. Grass clippings, leaves, Christmas trees (without the trimmings), etc., are accepted. Residents are free to take mulch from the site. There is no scheduled borough pickup of leaves.

Limerick: Individual trash haulers handle leaf collection. Check with your trash hauler for pickup. Leaf pickup is mandated once a month in May, October, November and December. Leaves must be placed in biodegradeable bags. Yard waste dropoff is also available Saturdays at the public works facility from 8 a.m. to noon Nov. 14.

Senior Citizens over age 65 can ride public buses for free through a program paid for by the Pennsylvania Lottery.

Senior passes can be obtained on the third floor of Pottstown borough hall between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. You must present a valid form of ID that includes your birthdate.

The disabled can get reduced fare passes at borough hall as well if they are younger than 65 and have a valid red, white and blue Medicare card. Forms for this pass must be picked up at Borough Hall and filled out then certified by the individual's medical professional if no Medicare card is available.

HARRISBURG — The newest student aid guide has been made available from the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, according to a press release from PHEAA.

The guide, which is free, offers information on federal student aid and the process for application, as well as detailed information on all state student aid programs, including the need-based State Grant, according to PHEAA.

A print and online version of the guide are available and copies of the 2009-2010 guide will be sent out to all guidance counselor offices in the state. To obtain a copy of the online guide, which includes links to helpful Web pages and online aid applications, visit PHEAA.org.

High school counselors can order extra copies of the guide at PHEAA.org/counselors

Supplies of the printed version are limited.

PHEAA also recommends families with students interested in higher education visit EducationPlanner.org for college planning guidance. The Web site can assist with identifying a solid career path and the education necessary to enter it, and offers one of the largest scholarship searches on the Internet.