Before deciding on a college major make sure it is not going to Bombay.

Millions of U.S. jobs will be exported in the coming decade, forecasters say. Here are the jobs that are especially vulnerable, plus 5 that aren't."MORE

By Merav Bushlin
Reading Eagle
Some Berks County superintendents in school districts without senior tax-rebate programs said they have never considered the idea.
But with property-tax reform a hot topic these days, administrators said it's time to find new ways to help local residents on fixed incomes.

Rebate programs allow seniors to volunteer in district schools in exchange for a break on property taxes.

“I don't recall that there's been any discussion among the board members about that,” said Dr. Nicholas J. Corbo, Exeter School District superintendent. “It's just something that's never come up.”

The Wilson School District does not have a tax-rebate program for seniors partly because of cost concerns, said Dr. Lee T. Fredericks, Wilson superintendent.

The school board dismissed the idea when Fredericks suggested it several years ago.

The business office raised concerns about losing tax revenue and allocating staff to run the program, he said.

But this may be the time to revisit the issue.

“We certainly want to take a look at it again,” Fredericks said. “We have an awful lot of volunteers.”

Dr. Robert L. Urzillo, Conrad Weiser School District superintendent, said the idea of a senior tax-rebate program was only recently presented to him.

Though he would consider discussing the issue with the school board, Urzillo said he did not know the pros and cons of such a program.

“I haven't done enough investigation at this time,” Urzillo said.

Sandy M. Kassel, Upper Perkiomen business administrator, said she does not know why her school district does not have such a program. Located primarily in Montgomery County, Upper Perkiomen includes a small portion of eastern Berks.

Kassel said the district recently tried to offer residents on fixed incomes tax relief in a different way by adopting a real estate tax-deferral program.

Both seniors and disabled people can qualify to have the school freeze their taxes at the current rate, Kassel said.

The district would place a lien on the property for the amount of any increase in taxes, she explained.

So far, two people have applied for the program, she said.

Because Upper Perkiomen limited its millage increase to 1.04 percent in Berks County for this school year, residents may not feel a need to apply for a tax deferral, Kassel said.

Contact reporter Merav Bushlin at 610-371-5014 or mbushlin@readingeagle.com

"In Everyday Graces: A Child’s Book of Good Manners, Karen Santorum has produced for parents and teachers a wonderfully rich and instructive anthology. Her volume speaks to the regrettable fact that the subject of manners is not much discussed anymore, and good manners seem practiced even less. Yet, good manners are a prerequisite for the growth of moral character; they are the habits of conduct and behavior by which we express in the most ordinary circumstances our fundamental respect for others, whether parents, friends, colleagues, or strangers. It is evident, then, that when we fail to instill good manners in our youth we invite a decline of civility and a coarsening of our common life. " More



Thought the author's name looked familar Karen Santorum is the wife of Senator Rick Santorum.

Top Stories - Isabel Leaves at Least 15 Dead: ... "Lambert said the sun was likely to come out in eastern Pennsylvania on Friday afternoon and create conditions for thunderstorms and possibly small tornados. Philadelphians awoke to blue skies and warm, blustery winds.
'The worst is over as far as Pennsylvania is concerned,' John Repetz, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, said Friday morning." ....

"At Arlington National Cemetery, soldiers who guard the Tomb of the Unknowns were given — for the first time ever — permission to abandon their posts and seek shelter, Superintendent John Metzler said. But they stood guard anyhow."

1. Accuse the other party of your worst faults.
2. Insist that you are an avatar of the Truth and that the other person is Falsehood incarnate, or at least 'misled.'
3. Dwell on errors. Correct them in others at every opportunity.
4. Never apologize unequivocably. If forced to apologize, justify yourself in a way that makes it sound like the other party was responsible for your actions.
5. Write in such a way that the other party looks stupid if they don't respond.
6. Try to be many things at once, so that you can deny everything that is said about you.
7. Say the same thing over and over again.
8. Always strive to get the last word.
9. Never let a debate rest. Never allow the other party to withdraw without making it clear that they have lost.
10. Insist that you are misunderstood.
11. If you can't find something to flame the person about, make something up. Convince yourself that you see the 'real' motives.
12. Remember: Winning is everything."

In general these rules should be used for any internet discussion group especially ones focused on sports and politics.

Rules for Flame Wars:

WASHINGTON - Given its investment in education, the United States isn't getting the return it expects when compared with the performance of other nations, a report shows.
Among more than 25 industrialized nations, no country spends more public and private money to educate each student than the United States, according to an annual review by the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
But American 15-year-olds scored in the middle of the pack in math, reading and science in 2000, and the nation's high-school graduation rate was below the world average in 2001." MORE

With all the news about American students not faring well against foreign competions here is some good news:
2003 Physics Olympics: "First in the World in Physics' — U.S. Physics Team Fulfills Goal in 2003 "

The regional planning meeting gave a well attended public hearing on their preliminary land use plan for District, Longswamp and Rockland townships along with the Boro Of Topton that comprise the Brandywine School District. The plan in its current form turns Rockland and District Townships into Yellowstone Park. All the industry and housing development along with Agriculture will be in Longswamp and Topton. By combing their resources each individual township does not have to set aside land for industry, housing, agriculture... This is a good ideal to promote the entire school district. The plan was generally well received but with complaints about specific issues. The main complaints were from Rockland and District not having any land set aside for agriculture.

The presentation was given by the consultant that advised on the plan. It was just his style but he often came across as a former member of the Soviet Agricultural Planning Commission. Just because millions of Russians starved while sitting on some of the most fertile crop land in the world is no reason central planning couldn't work in Berks County. There was no mention at all that people actually owned the land he was showing on his colored maps.

Is there any reason that property owners couldn't have selected how they wanted their land zoned within reason? Property owners could have just gone down to their township office and colored in their property. Some land is mandated as protected water sheds and swamps (can't have too many mosquitoes and it is Longswamp not Longwetland) for the public good but surely in an area where people have ties to the land for over 200 years know more about what there property is good for and what the want for their children then an expert from out of town. I don't think old Thomas Jefferson would have been a happy camper last night. He had this quaint notion that private property rights were the basis of a free county. He also thought that some people were property but having conflicting ideals makes us human.

The growth projections were based on the years that Rockland and Longswamp were growing. Now if development in Rockland is severely curtailed and Longswamp is designated mostly farm land that has to effect the future growth in the area. A family who moves into the area buying an old farmhouse on several acres of land in Rockland is probably not going to buy a home in a high density area. They will just look elsewhere. That is the trouble with planners they become so enamored with their graphs they forget that people have choices. At least for the time being.

Overall it is a good start on planning for the future of this area. The planing commission members deserve our support and out input in future meetings to make this a success. The complete plan can be seen at any of the township offices or can be downloaded be forewarned it is a big plan. REPORT





Agricultural Zone Summary:
1. A deliberately worded purpose statement that cites the valid public purpose to
protect and preserve prime agricultural soils and valuable farming operations in
compliance with Section 604.(3) of the Municipalities Planning Code;
2. A “hands-off” and “by-right” regulatory approach to farms conducting normal
farming operations;
3. Severely restricted development potential (say 1 lot for every 20 acres of lot area);
4. A minimum and maximum lot area of 1 and 2 acres, respectively, for nonfarm
uses;
5. Liberal accessory use regulations that specifically include farm occupations,
roadside stands and other rural pursuits, provided that these uses have little
impact and that adequate provision is made for the safe disposal of wastes;
6. Separate provisions of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) that
ensure proper siting, operation and disposal of wastes;
7. Siting standards for future dwelling units proposed that protect sunlight
easements/equipment turning radii onto adjoining farms and locate homes so as
to minimize land use conflict;
8. Language that specifically authorizes existing homes as permitted uses; and,
9. An Agricultural Nuisance Disclaimer that informs prospective residents of
potential impacts associated with normal farming practices that are protected
under the PA Right to Farm Law.
10. Although effective agricultural zoning ordinance can preserve farmlands in the short run,certain legal principles on accommodating growth can threaten their long-term integrity.Therefore the Region should continue to support the County’s Agricultural ConservationEasement Program and the respective Township’s Agricultural Security Area programs.Certainly easement funds are limited and all prime lands cannot be purchased immediately.Therefore, local officials should commit to the preservation of farmlands through zoning until easements can be purchased through this program.
11 , It is critical that deliberate actions be taken by local officials to prevent surface water degradation in these areas. Local officials should employ a variety of techniques that encourage farmers to install riparian buffers along the creek and its tributaries. Therefore, local officials should adopt
and implement a riparian buffer ordinance in this Zone and others. Then compliance should be required whenever a zoning permit is needed. The Region should also lobby the County Agricultural Preserve Board to revise its conservation easement eligibility prerequisites to include installed riparian buffers, particularly in high-quality or exceptional value watersheds. Required NRCS Conservation Plans should also be fitted to include riparian buffers. Tax assessment officials should be required to reduce assessed values of lands within riparian buffers. Farmers should also be educated about the Federal CREP program and income tax deductions that are made available to property owners who place conservation easements upon their properties for riparian buffers. Local watershed groups should target important farms that can offer the best improvement to surface water quality. These sitesshould become local priorities for fund-raising and actual riparian buffer construction.. In addition all farms
should at all times conduct their operations in compliance with approved
Conservation and Nutrient Management Plans, as applicable. Local officials and staff
should quickly notify the Berks County Conservation District when suspected
problems or violations arise.


Conservation Zone Summary Recomendations:
1. A deliberately worded purpose statement that cites the valid public purpose to
protect and preserve important natural features in compliance with Section 604.(1)
of the Municipalities Planning Code;
2. A “hands-off” and “by-right” regulatory approach to farms conducting normal
farming operations;
3. Severely restricted development potential (say 1 lot for every 5-10 acres of lot
area);
4. Flexible lot design standards that enable new homes to tuck into the “nooks and
crannies” of the rugged terrain;
5. Provision for flag lots and shared driveways to facilitate efficient lotting and
access;
6. Required environmental impact report that details important natural conditions on a site and presents a strategy for their protection;
7. Regulations governing the conduct of forestry operations in all areas of the
Region;
8. Regulations governing the use of riparian buffers throughout the Region;
9. Requirements for 2 on-lot sewers and a domestic well prior to establishment of
new homes;
10. Liberal accessory use business regulations that specifically include home, rural
and farm occupations, provided that these uses have little impact and that
adequate provision is made for the safe disposal of wastes;
11. Separate provisions of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) that
ensure proper siting, operation and disposal of wastes;
12. Siting standards for future dwelling units proposed that protect sunlight
easements/equipment turning radii onto adjoining farms and locate homes so as
to minimize land use conflict;
13. Language that specifically authorizes existing homes as permitted uses; and,
14. An Agricultural Nuisance Disclaimer that informs prospective residents of
potential impacts associated with normal farming practices that are protected
under the PA Right to Farm Law.

After viewing the near completion of the middle school office and Superintendent remodeling job, a person can quickly become frightened. If the amount of drywall and two-by-fours used in the construction can add up to $500,000 then an average home in the area should have a replacement insurance for at least $20,000,000. Maybe it was the cost of the used Star Trex transporter in front of the Superintendent's office. Those things can't be cheap. If not congress should quit worrying about gas prices and investigate the run up in the price of drywall.

On the second anniversary of 9/11 the following is from a speech by Jeff Jacoby a columnist for the Boston Globe. The speech was given after visiting Auschwitz with his father the only family member to leave Auschwitz alive.

When we were in Auschwitz — in the huge section called Birkenau, the part of the camp where the trains pulled in, where the selection took place, where the gas was — my dad and I saw a large group of Israeli students. They had come on some kind of school program, and as we walked along a path near the crematoria, these Israeli kids overtook us. Like school groups everywhere, they were loud and boisterous, joking and laughing with each other

I can't tell you how offended I was. "Shut up!" I wanted to tell them. "Have some decency! You're in Auschwitz. This is the biggest Jewish graveyard on earth. Don't you realize how many people were murdered here? How many Jews died just for being Jews? You're laughing here? In Auschwitz?"

And then, suddenly, I had a change of heart. And I said to my father: "Who do you think would be more appalled to know that all these Jewish kids are running around and laughing in this place — your mother? Or Adolf Eichmann? Who would be more revolted? Who would feel more defeated?"

***********
The laughter of students on their way to and from school will send a more powerful message to people hiding in caves then any hand-wringing speech the politicians will give at the site today.

Quiz - Could You Pass 8th-Grade Math: Math Quiz:

"Now that the D.C. school-choice bill has been passed by the House of Representatives, in no small part due to the dedication and leadership of Reps. Tom Davis, John Boehner, and Rodney Frelinghuysen, attention turns to the Senate. Despite strong backing from within the D.C. community, opponents of this provision still want to lock the District's poorest children into a school system that all too often robs them of a future. I find their opposition perplexing — and troubling. "
........

"Without choice, caring parents who don't believe their children are being well served by their school have only one option: try to fix the school themselves by pushing the principal as they try to adjust the school to fit their needs. While parental involvement in their child's education is of utmost importance, imagine how disruptive it is when hundreds of such parents, each with children of different needs and with different problems, bang on the principal's office door. I know from my experience as superintendent in Houston that this is a prescription for continuous upheaval in the school. " MORE

Prays the Lord for the spelling chequer
That came with our pea sea!
Mecca mistake and it puts you rite
Its so easy to ewes, you sea.

I never used to no, was it e before eye?
(Four sometimes its eye before e.)
But now I've discovered the quay to success
It's as simple as won, too, free!

Sew watt if you lose a letter or two,
The whirled won't come two an end!
Can't you sea? It's as plane as the knows on yore face
S. Chequer's my very best friend

I've always had trubble with letters that double
'Is it one or to S's?' I'd wine
But now, as I've tolled you this chequer is grate
And its hi thyme you got won, like mine.

—Janet E. Byford

Telephonic Youth: "A survey of Italian children between the ages of nine and ten found that, incredibly, 56 percent owned cell phones. This was the finding of a study published on 8 July 2003, coordinated by Francesco Pira, a lecturer at the University of Trieste.

Ownership is even more prevalent among teenagers attending the equivalent of upper high school, according to research presented on 24 May 2003 by Eurisko on behalf of the Giovani-Editori watchdog association. Some 90 percent owned a cell phone, up from 87 percent in 2001. " MORE

Article In Today's Reading Eagle: With no incumbents in the race for Brandywine Heights School Board, the district is in line for a dramatic shift in leadership after the November election.
School board members Geoffrey Chase, Sue Koch, Sonya Hughes, Edwin Hosterman and Louise Olsheski opted not to run, lost in the primary or dropped out of the race since winning the primary in May.

That means seven newcomers are left to vie for five seats on the nine-member board.

They are cross-filed candidates Michael Grossman, Robert F. Lowry, and Janice McDermott; Democrats Richard H. Rau and George Kovarie; and Republicans Elizabeth Stehman and Laurie Anne Yocco.

...

“Some of the people no longer have a son or daughter in school or something else had come up in their life and they chose a different avenue at this point,” he said.

Incumbent Louise Olsheski lost the primary election, and fellow board member Sonya Hughes won the primary but withdrew her candidacy in late August.

Bellman said the Berks County Democratic Steering Committee nominated Kovarie as a substitute in the Brandywine race.

Even though newcomers will occupy more than half of the board seats after November, Mabry said a shortage of experienced members does not worry him.

“It's going to be a learning curve for everyone at that point,” he said. “As for stressful, I'm a paramedic so stress is second nature.” MORE

Today In History: The First "Computer Bug" was recorded but not the last

"Moth found trapped between points at Relay # 70, Panel F, of the Mark II Aiken Relay Calculator while it was being tested at Harvard University, 9 September 1945. The operators affixed the moth to the computer log, with the entry: 'First actual case of bug being found'. They put out the word that they had 'debugged' the machine, thus introducing the term 'debugging a computer program'.

In 1988, the log, with the moth still taped by the entry, was in the Naval Surface Warfare Center Computer Museum at Dahlgren, Virginia. "



One of the computer operators was Lieutenant Grace Murray Hopper (1906 - 1992). She had a very interesting life retiring in 1986 with the rank or Rear Admiral. The USS Hopper is named in her honor. US People--Hopper, Grace Murray.:

Educational Software: " In a world of violent video games, where dexterity of the thumb and index finger is infinitely more important than the flexing of the cerebrum, there must be a place for children and their parents to interact and actually learn something from that overpriced multimedia computer/gaming system.

Homework just got a whole lot more exciting for elementary school children with JumpStart Study Helpers. Now available for mathematics and spelling, each CD-ROM program allows children or educators to incorporate weekly school problems into gaming environments to practice the sometimes boring task of interacting with numbers and words. " MORE :

PROPERTY COMMITTEE AGENDA WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 10, 7:00 P.M. MIDDLE SCHOOL LARGE GROUP ROOM

High School Outstanding Punch List GC Retainage $343,368
PC Retainage $118,963
EC Retainage $300,760
MC Retainage $225,142
Sinkhole Repair (What Sink Hole??)
Sign Placement
Television Studio Equipment
Electric Bill Review

Middle School Outstanding Punch List
GC Retainage $331,083
 
Oil Tank Replacement Outstanding Punch List
GC Retainage $76,310

Boiler, Water Tank, Electric Panel Project Outstanding Punch List
GC Retainage $26,578

Other Topics
Obsolete/Damaged Furniture and Used Furniture Placement
Herbicide Use
Student Bussing
Custodial & Maintenance Staffing

Where Was Microsoft When We Needed Them: A $46 million high school dazzling with the latest technology - from interactive digital textbooks and computerized tablets to electronic play diagrams for the basketball team - will be built by the Philadelphia School District in partnership with the Microsoft Corp., officials announced today

Microsoft plans to work with textbook companies that have begun making interactive digital textbooks that students can highlight and write notes in...

"We want to take advantage of simulation and gaming technology to enrich learning," added Miles.... MORE


Any student bringing an Apple to the teacher will be suspended.

Outside The Box Puzzle: In one room there are three switches. These switches are connected to three incandescent light bulbs in an adjacent room. The room with the lights cannot be seen from the room with the switches. How can you determine which switch is connected to which light by making only ONE trip to the room that contain the lights. You can flip the switches as many times as you wish.

A math puzzle: There are 100 doors, all closed. In a nearby cage are 100 monkeys. The first monkey is let out, and runs along the doors opening every one. The second monkey is then let out, and runs along the doors closing the 2nd, 4th, 6th,... all the even-numbered doors. The third monkey is let out. He attends only to the 3rd, 6th, 9th,... doors (every third door, in other words), closing any that is open and opening any that is closed. The fourth monkey does the same for the 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th,... doors, opening the closed ones and closing the open ones. The fifth monkey does the same to the 5th, 10th, 15th,... doors, and so on. After all 100 monkeys have done their work in this way, which doors are left open?

A Quiz for the French Club: "Two six-letter words, one English and one French, have precisely the same meaning and are directly descended from the same Latin root that derives directly from Greek; yet they have not a single letter in common. No letter that appears in the English word can be found in the French word."

D.C. Vouchers Clear Senate Panel: "The Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday approved a $13 million school voucher plan for the District, as Republicans easily advanced President Bush's initiative with support from Democrats who said the time had come to experiment with taxpayer-financed alternatives to public schools.

By a vote of 16 to 12, the panel endorsed what would be the country's first federally funded voucher program and accepted changes sought by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who along with ranking Democrat Robert C. Byrd (W.Va.) crossed party lines to vote for the plan. Among Republicans, only Sen. Arlen Specter (Pa.) voted against it. " MORE :

Kutztown Approves Parade: From the Reading Eagle " The ordinance passed by a 4-0 vote. Council members Jan M. Crooker and Archie L. Follweiler Jr. were absent. Council member James W. Schwoyer also was absent but took part by speaker phone. He is recovering from injuries suffered in a recent traffic accident.

Marino challenged the validity of Schwoyer's vote.

“Is he in his right mind?” Marino asked. “Does he have a doctor's note?”

Proof of mental health is not a prerequisite for any council member, Solicitor Timothy G. Dietrich said.

Ely asked Schwoyer to acknowledge his presence at the other end of the line.

Schwoyer's voice emanated from the speaker phone on the council table and he identified himself.

He then asked Ely to tell the mayor to shut up. More

Gotta love "Mental Health is not a prerequisite for council member"

How Stuff Works - Learn how Everything Works! Well almost everything.

Why are we sending Gilly to this: 2003 NCTE Annual Convention Fact Sheet:
"Join a community of the best minds in English language arts education at the NCTE Annual Convention. Each year, English language arts professionals K-University gather together, share ideas, listen to renowned speakers, and reflect on the latest theories and research in education. You'll have the opportunity to participate in workshops, interactive sessions and discussions on a variety of topics. You'll bring solid educational theories and ideas back to your school while at the same time rejuvenating your teaching. Interactive sessions, top-notch speakers, and networking with peers are the reasons many attendees come back year after year."

A couple of weeks ago Gilly was a man of science now thanks to our generosity he will be part of "the best minds in English language arts education ". Seems we have a real renascence man in our midst.

Didn't any board member besides Mike Sacks read the convention information. He is the Superintendent not the head of the English Department. Just how is the district going to benefit by his attendance? It would be inhumane to make the teachers listen to him give a Gillytation* on what he learned at the convention.

*Gillytation- 1. A long and rambling presentation that covers everything but the intended subject matter. 2. An answer in great depth that has absolutely no bearing on the question asked but is stated in a manner to make the person look good.

September Board Meeting: Approved hiring Raymond Riggs Appraisal Service for $2,000 and $100/Hour for expert testimony in the ongoing harassment case against Mountain View properties

In a mixed decision approved $1,415 for Mr. Gilly to attend boondoggles in Pittsburgh and San Francisco to broaden his knowledge. Now we will have a superintendent that knows how to teach readin' and ritein' the modern way. The Board is concerned about his continuing education but doesn't insist that he obtain his PhD like every other superintendent in the county as well as the vast majority in the state. The excuse was he was busy building the new school. Well the school is finished.

Once again school board candidates in attendance Lowry, McDermott, Stehman and Yocco. As usual Grossman, Rau and the one appointed by the "Democratic" Commission were no shows. Really guys if you want to be on the board you should really come by sometimes and see what is going on. Only maybe stopping by right before an election is really a disservice to the community.

There Is A Meeting: Education/Co- Curricular Agenda September 2,2003 6:15p.m.
1. Update on PSSA Scores
2. Textbook Adoptions
3. Opening in-services activities
4. Update on Strategic Planning

Power Politics: Last May eight people ran for the five available positions to represent the Democratic Party for Brandywine Heights School Board. It was a very close election and initially the fifth position ended in a tie.

Last week Sonya Hughes the only successful current board member announced her withdrawal from the Democratic slot at an August 25 board meeting. Whet she failed to mention was that the Democratic Leadership Committee had previously met and selected a replacement candidate who never attends board meetings.

This manipulation of the will of the voters was accomplished without even notifying the people that actually went to the effort and expense to campaign in the spring. What happen to the "count all the votes" and the "people are being disenfranchised" protesting we heard in 2000. If the leaders of political parties wonder why people are cynical about politics they have only themselves to blame.

Removing teachers against the parents wishes, handing out merit raises with no documented reason, granting salaries increases in special meetings.... and now this. It is truly sad that people who were granted the privilege of overseeing the education of the students in this district continually act in such underhanded ways. It is time that the board members start doing things that are right as well as legal.

One reason Ms Hughes gave for resigning because the voters were just not aware of the cost of unfunded mandates that had to be implemented. Once they are aware of the situation people can understand these problems, it is the reasons behind these continuing shenanigans by members of the school board that people can't understand.

No New Sinkholes Here:

If you ride this bus you may be delayed Tuesday:




Students urged to use extreme caution when riding bicycles to school.

SEPTEMBER BOARD MEETING: 7:30 tomorrow night. The meeting should be preceded by an optional Educational/Co-Curriculum committee meeting at 7:00 PM. Since the committed meeting only deals with educational issues it is not very important in the views of the current board and the administration. Last year it met for the last time in November.

As for the meeting agenda who knows. The board members have a copy but it doesn't appear to be a priority with the administration to have it posted for the public as they said they would. This is not rocket science one click and it could be a done deal. Maybe we should pay big bucks to hire a person to administrate the technology. Oops I forgot we have already done that.