James Phyrillas makes it big on YouTube

That's James Phyrillas on the cover of the Business Weekly section of the Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020, edition of the Reading Eagle newspaper. The cover story details how a couple of friends at a small Berks County high school started a YouTube channel to post videos they made at school - just for the fun of it. The site, Schaffrillas Productions, has taken off in the past year, with more than 622,000 subscribers and millions of views on dozens of recent videos. Pick up a copy of Tuesday's newspaper and find out how you, too, can become a YouTube star. The article even explains where the name "Schaffrillas Productions" came from. (Spoiler Alert: Chris Schaffer and James Phyrillas are the two Antietam Middle-Senior High School pals who launched the site.) In case you missed it, here's the link to check out the article about James Phyrillas and his growing notoriety on YouTube: https://www.readingeagle.com/business-weekly/irreverent-videos-help-berks-native-surpass-youtube-subscribers/article_6d1b39bc-33e9-11ea-860f-1f8fcdf6608f.html

'Annie' Coming To Mount Penn

Antietam Musical Productions will present the musical "Annie" at the Mount Penn Primary Center, 201 N. 25th St., Mount Penn, on the weekend of March 30-April 1.

The show, featuring students from Antietam Middle School/High School, will be presented Friday, March 30, and Saturday, March 31, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, April 1, at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $10 per person. On Sunday only, children 12 and under will be admitted for $5.

For ticket information, send an email to tschnitter@antietamsd.org

Opinion: Sen. Judy Schwank another tax-and-spender

Schwank another tax-and-spender (10/2/11)

Follow Berks GOP on Twitter

The Berks County Republican Committee is now on Twitter.

You can follow the party at http://twitter.com/victory10berks

Berks County girl: 'I Believe' in Santa

From a story by Eileen Faust in The Pottstown Mercury:

DOUGLASSVILLE — While some parents may dread the moment when their children question the existence of Santa Claus and the questions it brings, one township girl is inspiring everyone to believe again.

"Some people tell me how Santa Claus isn't really real, but he makes the spirit of Christmas real," said Katie Frederick, 9, a "December baby."

"He is my inspiration. I believe that Santa is a very giving person, and he is in the spirit of Christmas."

Katie, along with her father Vic Frederick, wrote a Christmas song about the jolly old elf in 2008 after some of Katie's friends began telling her they no longer believed in him.

"She's at that age where kids are starting to not believe in Santa," said Frederick about his daughter, one of three children he and his wife, Joni, are raising.

"She desperately wants to believe," said Joni Frederick

Read the full story at the newspaper's Web site.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Rep. Joe Pitts Launches Facebook Page

First it was YouTube, then Twitter and now Facebook.

Politicians continue to take advantage of the latest social networking platforms to spread their message.

U.S. Congressman Joe Pitts, who represents Pennsylvania's 16th Congressional District in parts of Berks, Chester and Lancaster counties, is never shy about the latest technology.

From Pitts' office:

Washington – Congressman Joe Pitts (PA-16) announced today the launch of a page on the popular social networking site Facebook. The page, which can be found here, will provide Rep. Pitts an opportunity to better communicate with his constituents.

Congressman Pitts' statement follows:

"Facebook has become an increasingly popular way for people to keep in touch with one another. With this new page, I am pleased to have yet one more way to communicate with the people I represent about my work on their behalf. I encourage constituents to stop by and find information about bills I have introduced, video of speeches I have delivered on the House floor, pictures from events I have attended in Pennsylvania and more."

Check out Pitts' Facebook page here.

Voters toss incumbents

Incumbents typically have the advantage in any election, but not when voters are angry and want change.

Here's a sampling of some of the incumbents in Berks, Chester and Montgomery counties who were kicked out by voters in Tuesday's primary election:

Reading School Board President Pierre Cooper

5 current members of the Owen J. Roberts School Board

Limerick Township Supervisor Renee K. Chesler

2 current members of the Pottstown School Board

2 current Exeter Township Supervisors

Lower Providence Township Supervisor Craig Dininny

Chester County Treasurer Alan Randzin

Chester County Clerk of Courts Teena Peters

Norristown Borough Councilman David Hodo

East Norriton Township Supervisor Lewis McQuirns

1 current member of the Boyertown School Board

1 current member of the Wyomissing School Board

Coatesville City Council members Patsy Ray and Kurt Schenk

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Primary Election candidates in Berks County

Are you getting excited about the May 19 Primary Election?

The Pottstown Mercury has published a list of candidates running for school board and municipal office in eastern Berks County.

Check out the candidates at the newspaper's Web site.

GOP now holds 30-20 PA Senate majority

With the exception of a few left-wing bloggers who thought the Democrat in the race had a chance, Republican state Rep. David Argall easily won a special election Tuesday to fill the vacant 29th District Pennsylvania Senate seat.

The only surprise was the margin of victory. Argall trounced his Democratic opponent by a margin of nearly 2-1. "The numbers are much better than we had anticipated," Argall told The Pottsville Republican.

The seat was left vacant when incumbent Republican Sen. James Rhoades was killed in a car crash last October. Rhoades won re-election in November, forcing a special election to fill the seat.

Unofficial returns show Argall, who represents the 124th House District, with 62.4 percent of the vote to 37.6 percent for Democrat Stephen Lukach Jr., who is the current Schuylkill County Clerk of Courts.

Argall received 20,786 votes and Lukach finished with 12,551.

Argall is a 13-term state House member and former House Republican Whip. He gave up his leadership post to run for the Senate.

Another special election will be held to replace Argall, who also won re-election last November. That special election will most likely be held during the scheduled primary election on May 19, with party leaders choosing candidates for the ballot.

The 29th District includes parts of Schuylkill, Monroe, Carbon, Lehigh, Berks and Northampton counties.

Argall's victory gives Republicans a solid 30-20 majority in the Pennsylvania Senate.

For more on the special election, check out The Clarke Report, Schuylkill County's best political blog.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

'Put Pennsylvania taxpayers first'

While Gov. Ed Rendell is packing for a trip to Florida to watch the Super Bowl, Republican House members held a press conference Tuesday to discuss ways to deal with the state's growing fiscal crisis.

The goal of Republican lawmakers is to "combat the state's projected $2.3 billion budget deficit while protecting taxpayers against new or increased state taxes, new state spending or additional state debt," according to a written statement released after the Capitol Rotunda event.

Rep. Samuel E. Rohrer (R-Berks), a longtime critic of Rendell's spending policies, did not attend the press conference, but issued a statement saying he supports the measures and vows to work with fiscally conservative allies "to return financial discipline to the state budget."

From Rohrer:

"After six years of the governor's tax, borrow and spend initiatives, Pennsylvania faces a monumental budget deficit and a lagging economy. It's time to take the state checkbook and credit card out of the governor's hand. He has proven that, without a doubt, he cannot spend money better than the taxpayers of Pennsylvania."

Topping the list of initiatives supported by Rohrer and other fiscally conservative House Republicans is repeal of Rendell's increase in the state Personal Income Tax (PIT).

When Rendell took office in January 2003, the state PIT was 2.8 percent. Later that year, he signed into law a bill that raised the state PIT to 3.07 percent.

"At a time when our economy is struggling, it is more important than ever to allow Pennsylvanians to keep more of what they earn," Rohrer said. "It's hard for families to pay their rent or mortgage, grocery bills, utility bills and other expenses when state government continues to take more and more out of their paychecks."

Other initiatives supported by Rohrer and his fiscally conservative allies would:

* Call for the enactment of a state budget that includes no new taxes, no new spending and no additional borrowing.

* Empower voters by allowing them to approve or reject local tax increases through a ballot referendum.

* Institute state spending limits to control government’s spending appetite.

* Repeal the law that calls for new tolls to be implemented across Interstate 80.

* Reduce welfare spending by 10 percent and use the money to pay for much-needed road and bridge improvement projects across the Commonwealth.

* Eliminate all state discretionary funding or "Walking Around Money (WAMS)."

* Enact a series of business tax reductions.

"We have outlined a plan that would put Pennsylvania taxpayers first," Rohrer said. "In a little more than a week, when the governor delivers his budget address, Pennsylvanians should ask themselves: Who is the governor putting first? Is he doing what's right for taxpayers, or is he looking out for the special interest crowd in Harrisburg and the people who make a living by feeding at the public trough?"

Democratic school board member cited for assaulting Republican board member

A Democratic member of the Reading School Board allegedly assaulted a Republican school board member after the pair got into a heated discussion at a meeting.

School Board member Pierre V. Cooper was cited Friday by police for allegedly scuffling with board member Keith R. Stamm during an argument over a proposal to replace the high school principal, according to the Reading Eagle.

Stamm is one of only two Republicans on the nine-member school board.

The newspaper failed to mention Cooper was a Democrat. Do you think the newspaper would have mentioned it if a Republican assaulted a Democrat? I guess in the Age of Obama and under one-party rule in the United States, Democrats can do what they want without consequences.

Stamm was treated for injuries at a nearby hospital. He told the newspaper that he is exploring whether Cooper can be removed from the board. Stamm said he also wants Cooper to compensate him for missing work and for hospital and ambulance bills, according to the newspaper.

Read the full story at the newspaper's Web site.

For another perspective, check out the Berks Conservative blog.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Driver charged in death of state senator

The untimely death of Pennsylvania state Sen. James J. Rhoades has taken an even more tragic turn.

The driver of the pickup truck that struck Rhoades' vehicle head-on on Oct. 17, 2008, was driving under the influence of alcohol, according to Pennsylvania State Police.

Thomas Senavitis, 45, Lehighton, had a blood-alcohol level four times the legal limit, police announced Wednesday.

Rhoades, 66, a seven-term Republican from Schuylkill County, died of multiple injuries on Oct. 18, 2008. His wife Mary was seriously injured.

Police have charged Senavitis with DUI, vehicular aggravated assault while under the influence, vehicular homicide, reckless endangerment and several traffic violations.

The Associated Press reports that Senavitis denied any responsibility for the crash at his arraignment Wednesday. Senavitis maintains he was not drunk at the time of the crash, according to the AP. He is being held on $25,000 bail.

Rhoades was re-elected posthumously to an eighth term in November.

A special election will be held March 3 to fill his seat. The Republican candidate is state Rep. David Argall. The Democratic candidate is Schuylkill County Clerk of Courts Steven Lukach.

The 29h Senatorial District includes parts of Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton, and Schuylkill counties.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Say 'Thank you' to American troops

An appeal from Berks Enduring Freedom to send a "thank you" to American troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan:

Have you ever wanted to say "Thank you" in a tangible way to those men and women who serve our country? If so, here is a great opportunity.

Berks Enduring Freedom, a local organization, needs our help. They are sending about 1,100 boxes of donated items to about 550 troops from Berks County who are currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. They have received tens of thousands of new items (food, hygiene supplies, books, CDs, etc. – it is an amazing assortment) from local businesses and individuals, but now everything needs to be packaged for shipping.

It is easy work, and quite unglamorous. Zara and I went on Saturday and Sunday afternoons for a total of about 3 hours, and we spent our time putting small food packages (instant oatmeal, Cheese-It and Goldfish crackers, etc.) and hygiene supplies (tissues, cotton balls, Q-tips, etc.) into zip-lock baggies. They also have a craft room where Zara made cards and wrote a letter to be included in the boxes. Volunteers are needed Monday through Thursday this week to help prepare the boxes, and especially at night on Wednesday and Thursday. The hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

On Friday from 8 a.m. to noon all the boxes must be loaded onto trucks for shipping. Currently they have only a few people lined up to carry boxes.

The warehouse (heated, lighted, wheelchair accessible, with bathrooms) is very easy to get to; it is located in the same building as Grainger, 4201 Pottstown Pike (Route 61) next to Bob Fisher Chevrolet. If you are coming south from Leesport it is on the left after the Tuckerton traffic light; coming north from Reading it is on the right. Everyone (about 8 to 10 people) was very friendly and down to earth. One of the aspects that I really liked was that they put us to work immediately – no wasted time. They also have good food donated by local eateries if you want a snack or meal while you are there.

Additional information can be found at http://www.berksenduringfreedom.com/ or by calling Simone Sauers at 610-682-0428 or Dory at 610-683-8197, or Steve Johnson, Home 610.779.0289 or Cell 610.207.6250

Zara and I had a great time doing this together, and you will too. Please help if you can, even for one hour. Thank you.

Steve Johnson