WZAR News

The ink wasn’t dry before members of Building a Better Boyertown’s committee on creating the 2007 pictorial history book began to plan the second book.

Titled The History of the Boyertown Area in Pictures: Special People Create a Special Place, the 168-page book includes a two-hour DVD featuring interviews from 16 men and women from the community recalling their memories of people, places, activities, and events unique to this special kind of place.

The combination book and DVD will be released on November 27, 2009, as a feature of Boyertown’s Premiere Art Show/Sale to be held at Good Shepherd Church in time for holiday giving.

Farms and orchards, civic and service organizations, and a focus on volunteers who have devoted countless hours to the betterment of the community since it was chartered in 1866 became the core of the vision for the second book along with off -Main Street businesses, everyday life, and scenes of the area not included in the first book.

Chapter titles featured in the 169-page volume are Main Street Revisited, Scenes of the Area, Area Farms and Orchards, Civic Organizations, Off-Main Street Businesses, Renowned Citizens, and Celebrations. Each chapter, authored by different individuals, provides a variety of “voices” and writing styles to the effort. Each “Chapter Chair” involved his or her own network in collecting information and photographs. An assortment of proofreaders added expertise and information to the project.

Featuring the human angle to focus on the people who have created and maintained this special community inspired a call for names of citizens through letters-to-the-editor. These “nominations” plus Boyertown’s unique Citizens of the Year event served as the basis for the “Renowned Citizens” chapter.

Authors include Jim Jannotti, Off-Main Street Businesses; Gordon Moser, Area Farms; Richard Frecon, Area Orchards; Margaret Harner, Civic Organizations; Diane Van Dyke, Renowned Citizens; and Linnette Hulbert, Celebrations. Jane Stahl served as editor.

Proofreaders include Dan Bause, Kim Frain, Margaret Harner, Jim Tribbett, Kitty Reese, Linette Hulbert, Gordie Moser, Dick Frecon, Athena Jones, and Barbara and Daniel Johnson. Gene Rothenberger served as layout artist and designer of the book.

The DVD included with the book, features the work of the members of WZAR-TV–Zach Reinert–a special young entrepreneur, owner and operator of WZAR-TV, and student of video production at Kutztown University; Bethanne Reinert; Mary Kent; and Joy Rhude. Reinert, known locally for his cable TV show entitled Boyertown Live, preserves in video the present Boyertown scene for future generations.

Narrating the DVD are long-time residents Linnette (Ott) Hulbert and Margaret (Leidy) Harner, along with Boyertown teacher Jeff D. Stahl and Kutztown University senior Christiana Weidner. Both Stahl and Weidner, born and raised in Boyertown, love the community and represent voices of Boyertown’s future.

The book and DVD, sponsored by Building a Better Boyertown, will be released on November 27, 2009, as a feature of Boyertown’s Premiere Art Show/Sale to be held at Good Shepherd Church. A book signing is a planned feature of the event.

Tickets ($25) for the Premiere Art Show’s catered “Meet the Artists” opening and book signing scheduled for Friday, November 27, 2009, from 7:00-9:00 pm will be available at Studio B, 39A East Philadelphia Avenue; Twin Turrets Inn, 11 East Philadelphia Avenue; and Bause’s Super Drug Store, 42 East Philadelphia Avenue–strong supporters of the arts in Boyertown. Artists and authors are eager to meet and celebrate the many artistic talents and efforts of this special community at the Friday opening/book signing.

Call Heather Oxenford or Sharon Kistler at Building a Better Boyertown 610-369-3054 to reserve copies of the book and DVD. Soft-cover + DVD–$29.99 plus tax; Hard-cover +DVD– $49.99 plus tax.

Copies of the pictorial history book and DVD will be available at the following locations: Bause’s Super Drug Store, 42 East Philadelphia Avenue; Crown Card and Gift, Gilbertsville Shopping Center; Twin Turrets Inn, 11 East Philadel;phia Avenue; Gracefully Framed, 135 East Philadelphia Avenue; Studio B, 39A East Philadelphia Avenue; and the office of Building a Better Boyertown, 12 North Reading Avenue.

The art show/sale is a new venture for the community in celebration of the first anniversary of Studio B, the home of Boyertown’s Arts and Activities Alliance, a committee of Building a Better Boyertown.
Studio B has as its mission the promotion of the visual and literary arts and artists of the area and enhancing creativity along with the health and wellness of the community.
Over 50 artists will showcase their work during the weekend art show; an opening reception is planned for Friday, November 27, 2009, from 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. featuring the culinary arts of Linda Ross’s Food Muse. Tickets for the opening can be purchased at Studio B, 39A East Philadelphia Avenue, Twin Turrets Inn, 11 East Philadelphia Avenue, and Bause’s Super Drug Store, 42 East Philadelphia Avenue, strong supporters of the arts in Boyertown.

A special feature of the Premiere Art Show is a contest with prizes for those works of art featuring “Scenes of Boyertown”–areas within the four Gateway Signs. First place cash prize–$500; second place–$300; third place–$200 will be awarded at the opening reception along with purchase awards.

The show is open and free to the public Friday, November 27, 2009, from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 28, 2009, from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m

November Boyertown Live 2009
Boyertown Live On-Demand is now presented in a higher quality stream, which means a clearer picture for our online viewers!

WZAR TV | MySpace Video

To watch in full screen, click the “square” button in the lower right corner of the player.

Phil Haddad interviewed Boyertown High School Athletic Director Tony Palladino about his career shift to Phoenixville High School.

Don’t worry!  You can still watch on our live stream or in the player to your right!  —>
~A brand new book about the history of Boyertown is being released, and WZAR has one of the creators in the studio to tell you what it’s all about - plus our two-hour documentary “Coming Together” DVD is included with each one!
~A fatal accident takes the lives of two on Rt. 73 in Earl Township.
~Is the new restaurant in Boyertown here to stay? WZAR talks with the new owner to see what he has in store.
~Lots of Halloween and Fall traditions and activities took place in the area over the last month, WZAR shows what was happening.
~Some improvements at the State Theatre of Boyertown are yielding good results just days after they are made.
~See what’s been going on as part of the Sunday Series at Studio B.
~Lots of sports news at Boyertown High School… Several PAC-10 wins and a new athletic director on the way.

Building A Better Boyertown (BBB) is urging the citizens of Boyertown to unchain themselves on November 21—to do any business they plan to do on that day only at local independent businesses. Boyertown Unchained! is part of America Unchained, a national campaign of the American Business Alliance (AMIBA).

BBB aims to reach every citizen of the Boyertown area to come together in support of Boyertown through demonstrating that their personal spending decisions affect the whole community, both now and for the future.

If every Boyertown citizen does their planned business, shopping and dining out on that day with only locally-owned businesses this year, we can inject thousands of dollars into our local economy. Of course, we hope the residents of Boyertown and the surrounding area will think about this not only on November 21, but every day—and particularly with holiday shopping upon us.

Sometimes seemingly small acts have an impact bigger than you ever imagined. Take family spending, you may think you’re just fulfilling your family’s wants or needs when you shop or dine out. Think again!

The choice of where you spend your money makes a big difference to your community. Spending your money with locally-owned independent businesses puts it to work directly helping your local economy-just one way your community benefits from its independent businesses.

These businesses use goods and services of other locally-owned independent businesses — re-circulating your money 3 or more times longer locally than if you spend it at a chain*.  This creates greater community health and prosperity.

Now imagine the impact on Boyertown if everyone shopped locally owned. You can stop imagining and help make it a reality!

On November 21, communities around the continent will be urged to “unchain” for just that one day-to maximize the impact of their dollars and inject potentially millions more into the local economy through joining other residents to do their shopping, dining out and other business only with locally-owned independent businesses.

Boyertown stands to gain in every way by supporting our independent businesses. They provide us with essential goods and services, well-paying jobs, and continued opportunities for citizens to own their own business here. They are critical parts of Boyertown’s social, cultural and economic health. Supporting them is good for us personally and our community.

BBB has timed this important message to reach the citizens of Boyertown before they are inundated with a clutter of holiday ads and events.  We hope they will carry this message with them as they do all of their holiday purchasing and other business.

Join our campaign and show Boyertown what a difference a day can make!

Resources: Website of the American Independent Business Alliance: AMIBA.net

Studies referenced located at: http://amiba.net/recommended.html#studies

For more information about Downtown Boyertown please visit www.boyertownpa.org or contact BBB’s Main Street Manager, Heather Oxenford at 610-369-3054 or manager@boyertownpa.org.

By Phil Haddad, Photo by Dave Segal

Dave Tokarski, a Gilbertsville resident, coaches football through the Optimist Club of Boyertown and his midget gold team had their end of the season party at Little Italy Pizza and the Porterhouse with one very huge surprise for the players. Tokarski’s brother in law works at St. Gabe’s Hall in Audubon and was able to have former Eagles player Randy Logan speak to Tokarski’s players.

Two individuals that work with Logan (Jeff Bidell and Dave Robinson) mentioned something to him about speaking to this group of football players. Logan then called Tokarski about speaking, and said that he would be able to speak to his players if his schedule was clear.

“It just so happens he works with my brother-in-law, and I asked if he would be interested in coming and speaking to our team,” said Tokarski. “I am very grateful that he took time out of his busy schedule to come spend a couple hours signing autographs and taking photos.”

Logan was excited about being able to speak to the Optimist football team and share some of his experiences and memories. He felt that this gives him the opportunity to express to the players his experience at their age. He tried to get them to understand that the Lord has put desires in their hearts, and to do certain things.

“I strongly believe that this is a gift that He has given me to pursue and have the opportunity to give back,” said Logan. “This was awesome.”

Tokarski was very excited about having a former player like Randy Logan come and speak to his team. “It is very exciting to see the kids faces and their eyes light up to see someone that played in the NFL for many years speaking and giving his time to our team,” said Tokarski.

Logan did have a memorable message for the gold midget players, and something that they will hopefully remember for a long time. “I wanted them to realize that God has placed a gift in their hearts,” said Logan. “If you diligently seek it, you can find it and mine was football. You apply certain dynamics to that desire. One is humility to listen to someone who is your coach along with having a certain attitude and humble yourself to listen to the coach telling you what you have to do to be successful.

“I also talked about setting your priorities to work and study and don’t think that it’s going to be given to you. I told them that you have to set your priorities and things that are right to help you be the champion not only on the field but in life as well. The main thing I talked bout was integrity, working hard trying to achieve your goals, and honesty and integrity is the best way. Not by cheating or doing things that were illegal.”

Several people inspired Logan to play football when he was a young child; mainly, he feels that football is a God given desire. Ever since he was little he wanted to play football. He watched the games on television, seeing players like Bart Starr, Jim Brown and Willie Davis play. That was his motivation.

“Being able to be on the field and rip and run and feel the breeze in the air and dare someone to tackle me - that’s what inspired me to play football,” said Logan. “I wanted to keep going and make a career out of it.”

Coming from the inner city of Detroit Michigan, he never had people come and speak to him or his teammates when he was a youngster playing football. It was a neighborhood where husbands, next door neighbors, came out because they wanted to help the kids learn the game. Older brothers, who used to play, would come back and help coach. They were the type of people that wanted to encourage Logan and kids his age when he was little.

“They gave back and did the best they could,” said Logan. “I just feel that I owe the same thing whenever I can.”

Being a former football player himself, there were many reasons why Tokarski got into coaching football through the Optimist Club of Boyertown. “I grew up playing sports, and I thought it was my time to give back,” said Tokarski. “I love the game, coaching, and making an impact on these kids’ lives.”

When his high school playing career was over, Logan went to the University of Michigan where he played under legendary coach Bo Schlemchler. That was a great experience and was unique because of the style of coaching that Schlemchler had, which helped Logan prepare for the National Football League with a preset and conditioning which made playing in the N.F.L. not that difficult. Logan is appreciative of what Coach Schlemchler did for him and helped him prepare to play professional football.

“We called him the General George Patton because of how hard Patton was on the solders, Coach Schlemchler was the same way on us,” said Logan. “We would practice for a number of hours out there in the cold which really paid off. Under his tenure we only lost four games in four years. We had the opportunity to play in the rose bowl and we won two Big Ten championships. We were co-champions one year with Ohio State and the other year we won it out right. We had a real successful football program under Bo Schlemchler.”

Logan was the Philadelphia Eagles 35th pick in the N.F.L. draft but the draft was a lot different and there wasn’t a lot of hoopla that goes with the draft when Logan played compared to today’s standards. He was grateful to be drafted and it didn’t matter to Logan what round he it was in. The biggest thing that Logan wanted to do was play football. Logan was in his dorm room when he received a telephone call telling him that he was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles.

He was a little bit surprised that he was drafted to play in the N.F.L. “I was hoping to be drafted and I had my hopes up,” said Logan. “I had received several letters from various teams which gave me a sense of hope. I would have been highly disappointed if I wasn’t drafted. I was real happy to get that call.”

Logan’s best memory of playing with the Philadelphia Eagles came in 1974 during a Monday night game against the Dallas Cowboys. He notes that the Monday night games were very popular. Logan had the opportunity to play a key part in that Eagles victory when he intercepted Roger Staubach’s pass. That then led to a Tom Dempsey field goal to give the Eagles the victory. Logan knew that Dallas was always great competition with the eagles since they were in the same division.

Logan also played on the 1980 Eagles team that played in the super bowl in 1981 against the Oakland Raiders. That was the first time that the Eagles played in a super bowl but couldn’t describe how it felt to be able to play in a game of that magnitude. They defeated the Dallas Cowboys to advance to the super bowl. “I wish we would have won that game,” said Logan. “It was still a unique experience to have the opportunity to play in it. That team in 1980 was a unique and special team. You always admire the players who were on that team.”

Phil Haddad is a free lance writer for WZARTV and all comments can be sent to sports@wzartv.com.