I received a letter this week that I'd like to share with you:

Dear Friends ~

Please join us on Saturday, August 30 for a Unity Celebration as an alternative to the anti-immigration rally being held across town. This weekend, a group called Voice of the PeopleUSA/PAPundits plans an 'anti-immigration' rally in Shenandoah. Although they claim not to be a white supremacist group, they have a very strong following of neo-Nazis, skinheads, white supremacists, and other such hate groups who will be here with them.

This is already drawing national press attention whether we want it or not, and our image to world will be unfairly associated with a swastika. VOP makes speeches that are meant to stir up fears, create hostility between neighbors and divide us, at a time when we are trying to come to terms with the tragedies that have struck at our hearts. They attract violent and hateful people.

Our Mayor, Thomas O'Neill, has publicly stated that he is very concerned about the impact of the rally on our town. Their aim is to gain a foothold here, returning again and again until they are a permanent part of our community. We cannot allow this to happen. We have a choice. Most of us wish it would all stop so we can try to get back to normal, but wishing won't make that happen. As much as we might want to ignore it, stay out of it, let it quiet down, be neutral and go back to our everyday lives, we can't yet. People like VOP make that impossible. Our silence will look like approval.

So, in response, Shenandoah is doing one of the things we do best: We're throwing a party! The only proven way to counter their effect is to hold a positive, safe, meaningful and uplifting event at the same time. Stealing their thunder is the ONLY way to get them out and keep them out. They are using us and our misfortunes for their own agenda .

So this Saturday, August 30th, 6 -7 :30PM, Kahillat Isreal Non-Denominational Christian Church, 213 W. Oak St, Shenandoah the Unity Fest is ON! Bring yourselves, your families, your buddies, your co-workers, your neighbors....well, you get it. Bring your musical talents, instruments (kazoos are good!), food to share and your peaceful, positive, uplifting spirit! We will have fun stuff for the kids, music, food, movies and a message of hope, inclusivity, and peace within ourselves and our town.

Remember this poem, written about Nazi Germany? First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out-- because I was not a communist; Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out-- because I was not a socialist; Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out-- because I was not a trade unionist; Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out-- because I was not a Jew; Then they came for me-- and there was no one left to speak out for me.

Today, they say they are here because of Hispanics. That is a lie. They are really here for your teenagers, your family, your neighborhood.

We must stand now and be counted, affirming our values of community spirit, our affection for our hometown, our neighbors, and our hopes for our future. It is the only way to keep these groups out and clear up any misconceptions about who we are, people who care, people whose spirit makes wonderful things happen, like our Heritage Day Parade and Festival, the SV Alumni Band and so many more fantastic events. This will be a secure, non-violent event, a gathering of good people who want peace and prosperity for our town. Please forward this to your family, friends, neighbors, churches, scout troops, volunteer groups, fire companies, co-workers, businesses... Have some fun while making an important difference. The more the merrier! The stronger our numbers, the stronger our impact.

Saturday, August 30th, 6 to 7:30PM, Kahillat Isreal Non-Denominational Christian Church 213 W. Oak St Shenandoah, PA The Unity Fest is ON! We'll see you there!

Please Join Us on Thursday, September 4 - starting at 4 pm

Lake Wynonah Broker Open Tour Showcasing 2 Lake Properties!

1. Start at a roomy, almost brand new ranch at 1593 Stag Drive - $269,000 MLS# R36057A

2. Then over to an exquisite Lakefront Dream Property 2615 Wynonah Drive - $995,000 MLS# R35768A

Afternoon Appetizers & Drinks Served + we'll be giving away Sheetz Gas Cards & a special door prize!

RSVP requested via email to enter your name in a special drawing.

Come for the food & drinks - the special prizes - and to preview a million dollar home!

Michelle Moraski, mmoraski@realtyexecutives.com

Erica Ramus, eramus@realtyexecutives.com

www.move2pennsylvania.com

Here is a great article, for those of you who are interested in statistics and the economy. Recent polls show the average American thinks he is NOT better off now than in the past. This article enforces that train of thought. We're working harder, for less. If you click on the link below, you'll see a chart. Looks like our prime glory days for income were around 1999-2000.

Compared to 1990s, middle-class working families lose ground in the 2000s

by Jared Bernstein

The economy expanded over the 2000s, and working families were highly productive, as output per hour rose 18% from 2000 to 2007. But despite their contributions to the economy's growth, middle-income, working-age households—those headed by someone less than 65—lost ground over these years. Their median income, after adjusting for inflation, fell $2,000 between 2000 and 2007, from about $58,500 to $56,500 (2007 dollars).

The trend was very different in the 1990s. After declining in the recession (and the jobless recovery that followed), the median income of working-age households reversed course and rose consistently up through 2000. In fact, over the 1990s (1989-2000) median income was up almost 10%, or about $5,200. Had this 10% growth rate prevailed in the 2000s, the median income of working-age households would have gone up $3,600 instead of falling $2,000.

For the full article, click here

  "Savor the Flavors of the World" in Shenandoah Sponsored by Downtown Shenandoah, Inc.

Enjoy the old world charm of Shenandoah while you savor food and music from around the world. Dine indoors or al fresco while listening to your favorite ethnic music. Have an entire meal at one of our featured restaurants or visit several for appetizers, entrees or dessert.

then move on over to “Cork, Fork, and Barrel” Sponsored by Girardville PRIDE. Come out and mingle with your friends and neighbors while enjoying live soothing smooth jazz and cocktail music. Kick back and enjoy beer, wines, cheeses, savory appetizers like crab and artichoke dip, shrimp, mushroom tartlets and desserts. The event is from 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm at St. Joseph’s School Hall. Tickets are $20 each. Only 150 tickets will be sold.

Contact Upper Schuylkill at 570-773-1688 for more information or visit our website www.upperschuylkill.com

Looking for MUMS this time of year? Check out two of my favorite places to buy plants/flowers in Schuylkill County:

Lessie's Garden & Gift Shop is operated by trained individuals who are either physically or mentally challenged. These individuals learn all types of planting skills through a greenhouse coordinator, supervisors, and program specialist. Lessie's Garden & Gift Shop offers a variety of plants and gift items. They have beautiful plants, and also sell balloon bouquets, snack baskets planters, seasonal items, seasonal flowers, dried arrangements and many other creative items.

2 Park Street, Agricultural Park, Pottsville, PA 17901

Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Saturdays 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. in April, June, Sept., Oct. and Nov. 570-622-7368

Trail Gardens 154 Gordon Nagle Trail Pottsville, PA 17901 PHONE (570) 385-1277

STORE HOURS Mon. - Sat. 9 am - 8 pm - Sun. 10 am - 6 pm

www.move2pennsylvania.com

I got my August phone bill from Verizon (house land line) and there's a strange charge for OAN SERVICES, INC. on there for $5.49 + taxes = $7.57.

The phone call was made at 11 am, when nobody was at home. I checked my datebook to see if one of us was home.

I am fighting this charge with Verizon, but the only way to stop these "pay per call" charges is to put a BLOCK on your phone line against them. Otherwise, this can happen to anyone at any time.

And good luck arguing with the phone company. They say SOMEBODY in my house made the 1 minute call to the number.

Pennsylvania has some of the nation’s oldest housing stock, but new estimates released today by the Census Bureau show that the state continues to add new houses, apartments and mobile homes.

According to the new estimates, the total number of Pennsylvania’s housing units grew to 5,477,864 in 2007, ranking the Commonwealth 5th among all states in number of housing units.

Read more about this recent release in the PaSDC’s Research Brief, available online at:

http://pasdc.hbg.psu.edu/pasdc/data_and_information/briefs/RB082108.pdf.

With the current economic conditions, it'll be interesting to see what 2008 numbers are, compared to 2006 & 2007. Here in Schuylkill County, we saw a very slight increase in new housing, but nothing phenomenal (254 units between the studied years) for a 0.4% increase.

http://www.move2pennsylvania.com

I ran the numbers for January-July 2008, and compared the stats to 2007 for how our residential property sales are doing here in Schuylkill County. We're about 20% off in number of properties sold, to date.

A year ago, we averaged 100 transactions a month. So far, we're at 80/month in 2008.

Interestingly, in 2007 our average sale price was $94,000 and we've edged up over $100,000 this year.

So property sales are down, it's taking longer to sell this year, and the inventory is very high (we're listing 3 properties for every 1 we're selling). But values are holding steady, at least for now.

We see some pockets doing better than others. Pottsville, Minersville and northern Schuylkill are in a slump.

Schuylkill Haven, Blue Mountain, and Pine Grove aren't so bad. Or at least aren't as bad as the other parts of our area!

www.move2pennsylvania.com

There's a great editorial this morning in Philly.com... it makes an excellent point. They're so worried about us getting out of state wine, and the state not getting their taxes... don't we have bigger worries to contend with out there? My glass of wine at the end of the day is frequently the best part of the day!

LET THEM DRINK WINE

PA. SHOULD BACK OFF GRAPE EXPECTATIONS

IN OUR SCARY world of housing foreclosures, killer fuel prices and a faltering economy, the issue of where Pennsylvania residents can buy their wine seems like cake-eating at the Bastille, but the issue deserves discussion - if for no other reason than it's a chance to scrutinize the Legislature's overall behavior. A bill pending in Harrisburg would prohibit direct shipping of wine to individual customers. Instead, wine-lovers who want to join a wine-of-the-month club or buy directly from vineyards would have their shipments diverted to the Liquor Control Board, which, in turn, would ship the wines to the customers for a fee. ....

read the rest here

My glass of wine at the end of the day is frequently the best part of the day!

The high cost of energy is not just hitting us at the pump. See this article:

Consumers have about a year or two before the price of power in Berks starts to soar, and there's little relief in sight For years now Berks County consumers have been warned that caps on electricity rates will end in 2010. In 16 months, local utility bills are expected to skyrocket, and there appears to be little hope of a reprieve. PPL Electric Utilities Corp. prices will jump by about 35 percent on Dec. 31, 2009. Met-Ed customers are expected to see an increase of about 55 percent a year later. .... read the entire article online at the Reading Eagle.