PV Chamber of Commerce

2011 was a successful year for the Keystone Grange #2. And 2012 is going to be the best year the Grange has had in a long time. Attached is the 2012 Schedule of Events. We are looking to increase membership, roll out new membership benefits, give back to the community and get the community involved in our Grange activities. We want to become an “Action Grange” where we do more than our monthly meetings. We have a chance to make a difference in our community and take pride in where we live. Come to the Grange meetings, get involved with the other events and enjoy the opportunities the Grange has to offer you. If you or anyone would like to volunteer at one of our events please let me know. And on behalf of Keystone Grange #2 Happy Holidays and see you in 2012! List of upcoming 2012 events

To commemorate COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL'S 20th Anniversary, 20 violins have been transformed into one-of-a-kind, unique works of art. Some of the regions most talented artists drew their inspiration from music genres, themes, and compositions - creating an original masterpiece and style. Two of the 20 violins have been signed by members of The Philadelphia Orchestra. You can see all 20 Painted Violins and place your bid on an online auction site - www.biddingforgood.com/communitymusicschool.
Don’t miss your chance to own a commemorative painted violin – a beautiful, one-of-a-kind musical piece of art! The online auction began November 15th. Bids will be accepted through October 2, 2012 then lead into opening bids at our 20th Anniversary Gala event on Thursday, October 4, 2012 at RiverCrest Golf Club in Phoenixville. Proceeds of the auctioned violins, as well as other auction items that will be added later, will benefit the programs and support the mission of the Community Music School. www.cmsmusic.org

COLLEGEVILLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP. invites, "Visit our Collegeville Farmers' Market vendors inside the Longview Farm Store each Saturday from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. through April 28th! The Longview Center for Agriculture is located at the former Willow Creek Farm, 3215 Stump Hall Road in Collegeville. While visiting our farmers and vendors this week, take advantage of Longview's fresh, local vegetable offerings along with an entire line of organic dairy products, including milk, butter, yogurts and cheeses, organic poultry, meats and smoked salmon, artisan pasta, flours, polentas, beans and whole grain rolled oats. The farm store, which is operated by the non-profit Greener Partners, is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and is open Wednesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Directions to Longview: The Longview Center for Agriculture is located at 3215 Stump Hall Road, Collegeville, PA. (From the Collegeville Farmers' Market Main St. site, drive east down Main St. and cross the Perkiomen Creek Bridge. Drive about five miles east on Germantown Pike, then turn left on Rt. 363, and after several miles turn left again on to Stump Hall Rd. Longview is about a mile down on your right.) www.collegevilledevelopment.org

PERKIOMEN VALLEY YOUTH FOOTBALL is pleased to announce they are a part of the ICFL PAC-10 Football League. The PVYF Vikings are the area's first official FEEDER team to the PVSD Middle and High School football programs. PVYF levels include grades K-1 (Flag), Grades 2-3 (Knee High), Grades 4-5 (Mite) and Grades 6-7 (Midget). Details. Registration and additional information, please visit www.leaguelineup.com/pvyf or call 484-938-8PVV.

January 12th thru February 24th - PV School District Kindegarten Registration for 2012-2013 School Year

If your child turn 5 years old by September 1, 2012, he/she is eligible to attend school in the PERKIOMEN VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT starting this fall. Please contact your elementary school by February 24, 2012 to schedule a registration appointment. If you are uncertain which elementary school your child will attend, please call any number listed below.

January 27th thru January 31st - Register TODAY to participate in the PVSD Career Fair

Sign up now to participate in the Annual PERKIOMEN VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL Career Fair on Wednesday, February 15th. This event is your opportunity to speak with over 1,3000 future leaders about your career/business. E-mail Patti Colucci, Career Fair Coordinator, PVHS at pcolucci@pvsd.org to reserve your spot today, or complete and return the attached registration form no later than January 31, 2012.

Perkiomen Valley High School- Today’s Learners, Tomorrow’s Leaders!

FAMILY SERVICES, the Montgomery County Tax Coalition and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) are offering free income tax preparation to low-to-moderate income individuals (who earn less than $50,000) through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Kathy Cael, VITA site coordinator. “By filing your taxes through a VITA site, not only will you save money in filing fees, but you’ll also receive your tax refund quickly. In most cases, tax refunds are deposited directly into your bank account within 7-to-10 days.” VITA appointments are available at two locations: • Family Services’ Pottstown Office, 1976 East High Street, Pottstown. Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 5-7 p.m. and Saturdays, 9 a.m.-Noon. • Trinity Reformed UCC Church, 532 East Main Street, Collegeville. Thursdays, 5-7 p.m. Appointments are required for all VITA sites. To schedule an appointment at the sites listed above, call Family Services at 610-326-1610. More Details

Local artist Mike Hale is pleased to announce his first solo exhibition at LGTripp Gallery in Philadelphia with two events, First Friday, February 3, 6 - 8:30 pm and an Opening Reception, February 4, 5 - 7 pm. Both events are free and open to the public. Mike Hale's work has exhibited locally and internationally and is found in numerous private, corporate and university collections. Letting go of traditional principles Hale invents new techniques and processes for applying paint to his working surface. This unique series of paintings features centrifugal force, gravity and roller techniques that embrace the unpredictable. For additional artist information please visit www.mikehaleartist.com, for additional gallery information please visit www.lgtrippgallery.com. LGTripp Gallery is located at 47 N. 2nd St., Philadelphia, PA 19106.

The LOWER PROVIDENCE COMMUNITY LIBRARY will host The North Penn S Gaugers on Friday and Saturday, February 3-4 from 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. They will set up and operate a portable S gauge layout for our patrons’ enjoyment and education in our Library’s community room. Members of the North Penn S Gaugers will be on hand throughout the weekend to answer questions and discuss the history of the S scale trains and the hobby. The North Penn S Gaugers are a diverse group of S gauge enthusiasts formed in 1998, based in Lansdale. Their interests range from American Flyer through Fine S scale equipment. S scale is considered the ideal size for model trains. It is 25% larger than HO scale for easier operation and greater detail, but 25% smaller than O scale for greater utilization of space. As usual this program is free and open to the public!

URSINUS COLLEGE Job, Internship and Networking Fair is February 8th, 2012. Organizations planning to attend, please click on-line registration. For more information, please contact: Sharon Powers, Associate Director for Employer Relations
spowers@ursinus.edu. If you are an employer wishing to post a vacancy, please call 610-409-3599 or log on to UC CareerNet to post your opening.

Don’t miss the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy’s annual “Mother Nature's Valentine Adventure and Tea Party” Thursday, February 9, 1-2:45 pm! Sponsored by the Conservancy’s education volunteers, it’s a great way to welcome this special time of year with your 3, 4, 5, or 6 year old! Love will be in the crisp winter air as we celebrate with stories, songs, crafts and more! A visit from the “Love Express”, who appears only during this time of year, will bring a smile to everyone’s face. A simple craft and extra time in our Children’s Discovery Room will also be offered. Our grand finale features a nature-themed Valentine Tea complete with a host of yummy treats. All of this excitement takes place at the Conservancy’s historic brownstone barn located at 1 Skippack Pike (just outside of Schwenksville on the corner of Rte. 73 & Skippack Pike). Fee: $10 Members/$13 Non-Members Pre-registration required. 610.287.9383 www.perkiomenwatershed.org/education

The Friends of the Lower Providence Community Library will host the biggest used book sale of the year on Saturday, Feb. 11 from 10 AM-5 PM and Sunday, Feb. 12 from 1 -5 PM in the Library at 50 Parklane Drive in Eagleville, PA.

Load up on bargains at $5 per bag or visit the “Book Boutique” table for nearly new items, collectibles, and more. Select from thousands of gently used books for all ages and interests. The Bag Sale will continue to the end of February. All proceeds will be used to support the library. Visit the library website at www.lowerprovidencelibrary.org or call 610-666-6640 for more information.

On Wednesday, Feb. 15, the PERKIOMEN VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL will host its 2012 Career Fair from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. This is a chance for area business professionals to speak with high school students about their careers while also gaining exposure for their businesses or organizations. To reserve a table or make a monetary donation, please complete the registration form and submit it to the high school by Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012.

KEYSTONE VILLA AT DOUGLASSVILLE, 1152 Ben Franklin Highway East, offers dementia care seminar on Feb. 15th, at 6 p.m. - "Life Skills Helping Techniques in Dementia Care". Light refreshments will be served. This event, to be held in the Personal Care building, is free and open to the public. To make a reservation, call 610-385-5021. Other upcoming seminars in the Dementia Care Educational Series will be; March 21, "Successful Engagement with Residents Who have Dementia." Keystone Villa at Douglassville is a retirement community offering independent living, personal care and memory care residences. Visit www.KeystoneVilla.com for more information.

On Thursday, 2/16/12, at 6:30 pm, the LOWER PROVIDENCE COMMUNITY LIBRARY will host the program Soon Eligible for Medicare? Medicare Programs and Your Options. This class is presented by APPRISE, a program funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA) and other agencies designed to help Medicare beneficiaries understand their health choice options, and make sound, educated decisions about what is best for them. Baby Boomers begin turning 65 this year, which means they become eligible for Medicare. If your 65th birthday is within the next 3-6 months, you should learn about this important benefit. APPRISE counselors are trained volunteers who provide free assistance without bias. Local counseling centers are available throughout Montgomery County. For more information about APPRISE, visit their webpage at http://www.rsvpmc.org/programs_apprise.php. To register for this program, email mmozi@mclinc.org, call 610-666-6640, ext. 0, or sign up at the library circulation desk. The library is located at 50 Parklane Drive, Eagleville, PA 19403. www.lowerprovidencelibrary.org

Musical Way to Enjoy Your Box Lunch! Free! On the third Thursday of every month, visit COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL for the lunchtime concert series featuring a different faculty artist each month. Bring your box lunch, bring a friend and enjoy!

12:10-12:50pm ~BYOL~ Pick up your box lunch at a local eatery* or bring from home. Bottled water and Coffee/Tea will be provided. Free; donations appreciated! CMS is located at 775 West Main Street, Trappe, PA 19426. www.cmsmusic.org 610-489-3676

February 25th - A Little Night Music Concert Series at Community Music School

A Little Night Music Concert Series at Community Music School presents World Premieres by Philadelphia living composers! Network for New Music Ensemble with FELYX-M. Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 8:00pm
775 West Main Street,Trappe 19426. Tickets:$16aduts,$12 seniors/students. For information call 610-489-3676

On Monday, February 27, 2012, at 7:00 pm, the Lower Providence Community Library will host a program on creating a new garden. The class will be presented by Peggy Rastiello, a volunteer speaker and Master Gardener from the Penn State Cooperative Extension of Montgomery County. Learn everything you want to know about putting in a new garden bed – from selecting a site to selecting your plants. Special emphasis on “no-dig” garden beds, for those with bad backs! The class will include handouts and a brief demo. This program is sponsored by the Audubon Women’s Club. Registration is requested. Please email mmozi@mclinc.org, call 610-666-6640, ext. 0, or stop by the library circulation desk. The library is located at 50 Parklane Drive, Eagleville, PA 19403. Check out the library’s website at www.lowerprovidencelibrary.org to see information about more great programs.

GVF TMA Foundation Annual Reception on Tuesday, February 28, 2012 from 5:30 to 8:30 PM. We’re gearing up for our first GVF TMA Foundation Annual Reception at the Philadelphia Country Club. This location will provide the Foundation with a beautiful backdrop in which to celebrate the Foundation’s successful first year. Proceeds from this event will go towards the Peter P. Quinn Scholarship program and programs and outreach pertaining to transportation and sustainability initiative. Tickets are $45, which include light fare, access to the Philadelphia Country Club’s on-site bowling alley and networking opportunities! Memorabilia for Charities (www.memorabiliaforcharities.com) will also have sports and entertainment memorabilia to bid on (Please note – payment is due that night and only cash or check is acceptable). We will also have a cash bar with cocktails and refreshments.

Indian Creek Foundation Celebrity Event Fundraiser featuring Chef Robert Irvine, star of Food Network’s Restaurant: Impossible on Friday, March 9^th, 2012 at 7:30 PM at Calvary Church, 820 Route 113, Souderton, PA, 18964. Ticket information available on our website, www.indcreek.org or at 267-203-1500. All proceeds benefit Indian Creek Foundation programs for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

At this unique time of day we will use all our senses to move from twilight to the black velvet cover of night. We’ll begin with a presentation, which compares and contrasts the world of nocturnal animals with our own. Then, with a Conservancy educator, we’ll move outdoors to hike under the light of the full moon. Saturday, March 10, 2012, 6:30 pm. Fee: $10 Members/$13 Non-Members. Meet at the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy’s Brownstone Barn located at 1 Skippack Pike, Schwenksville, on the corner of Rte. 73 and Haldeman Rds. Contact: 610.287.9383 www.perkiomenwatershed.org

PVSD FOUNDATION'S 3rd Annual Dodgeball Tournament will be held on March 30, 2012. Tournament will be held at the High School Gym. Doors open at 4 PM. Games start at 5:30 PM. Sponsorship packages are availalbe, click here for sponsor details. To register your team, complete attached participant form. More info visit http://www.pvsdfoundation.org/events.php or view flyer.

Walk the trails of the Fulshaw-Craeg Preserve with Susan Munch, Ph.D. to learn about the ferns and mosses indigenous to this spectacular diabase area. Dr. Munch has led nature walks and workshops throughout Pennsylvania and the northeastern region of the United States. She is the author of Outstanding Mosses and Liverworts of Pennsylvania and Nearby States. Saturday, March 31, 2012, 9:30 am. Fee: $10 Members/$13 Non-Members Location: Meet at Fulshaw-Craeg Preserve. Contact: 610.287.9383 www.perkiomenwatershed.org

The Collegeville Rotary RUN AROUND 5-K is scheduled for April 7, 2012, race to start at 9 am at the PV High School. We want to make this your big Perkiomen Valley family event for the early spring. Runners and walkers are invited to participate in this officially timed event (1 and 2 miles) with awards given for 5K run. (Look for news about an Easter Egg hunt to follow the run) http://www.collegevillerotary.org