Question: "Why are you choosing to rebuild and stay?"

The church demolition is almost complete, with little left to do. It has exposed more of our home, and thus the details of what is driving the rebuild and the financial stress we are still dealing with. Yesterday we met with our PA, Insurance person (I'll leave out the company's name for now, Lord knows I don't need them to get upset with me because my opinion is "YOU SUCK"!

But I've been doing a lot of thinking lately and figured I'd take this moment and explain one of the most common questions asked of us - "why not just move out?" The house has had multiple break-ins since the fire (If you can believe it!). The town continues to go to hell.

If you know us at all, then you know we opened Grumpy's on a song and a prayer. We gave our mortgage check to the landlord to cover first and last month's rent, then I went to what was the Brickhouse with two friends and told them, "If this doesn't work out, we will be living at the shop!" There were no backers, no money stuffed in a mattress, just the few pennies we were able to save in the 18 months prior while Grumpy was unemployed. My family was not wealthy, no inheritance was falling into our lap, and we didn't win the lottery! And for the next 15 years, we had our business, but it was not a million-dollar one for sure. We worked hard for every penny and did our best to keep everything going, including our 5 kids. Needless to say, the banks looked at our credit score (well over 700), but the debt-to-income ratio was their problem. It didn't matter that we paid our bills; they wanted us to have more money than we'd ever need, and THEN they would lend us money.

So, back to the question, why stay? Where in today's market can we get a 2,900 SF home that wouldn't add a 30-year mortgage (and a huge one at that!)? We have about 10 years remaining on this mortgage. We bought the house on a short sale during the recession, but not when banks were willing to help if you were upside down on the house you currently owned.

Then there's my fight for a better community; let's not forget this piece. Pottstown is saturated with social services, few tax-based businesses, and a terrible school district. It is run by a local government that doesn't care. And as a community, many are scared to go beyond the keyboard and speak up. So yeah, this is why we stay, and this is why we will continue to fight for a better community so our children will want to bring their children to visit. A place where the townhomes being built where the church once stood will bring in people who work hard and raise their kids by teaching them respect, the kind of neighbors we all want to live next to. It doesn't matter if you are rich or not, white, black, or anyone in between, just good and respectful of the neighbors.

This weekend, we will hear our neighbors talk about the people who, at 2am, set off M-80s and then run; these are NOT the neighbors we should settle for. The number of bad rentals far outweighs the good. The fact that crime is rising in Pottstown while declining in other areas of Montgomery County shouldn't be ignored. And before you speak, "crime is everywhere", yes, but the type of crime we see is dramatically different than what other areas are seeing. A teenager being stupid and shoplifting is a far cry from the teenager who is beating up another kid and pulls a gun. The schools in many

towns have lower taxes, lower salaries, and more kids. Laws work best for the criminals, but we don't have to keep accepting this - it's time to start saying enough is enough. If the people in charge will not, then WE need to! So this is why we will stay. Our only option is to work for a better community and continue doing what we do to support it.

Happy 4th of July, everyone. Please stay safe and remember the rules set for fireworks! Call the police if someone ignores these rules. Their presence will eventually exhaust the perpetrators, and they will stop. But ignoring them will get you nowhere, and they will continue!

PA LAWS are: 

Not within 150 feet of a building or vehicle

Not on public or private property without express permission from the property owner

Not while under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance or another drug (not ever likely!)

Not in a way that endangers people, pets or property

Not directed at another person

Not from or at a building or vehicle

BORO LAWS: 

In the Borough of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, consumer fireworks are legal to use but are effectively banned in almost all residential areas due to strict state-mandated distance requirements. By law, you must be at least 18 years old and set off fireworks at least 150 feet away from any occupied structure or vehicle. [1, 2, 3]

Prohibited Noise Disturbance.

(2)(J) Use of fireworks as permitted and defined by Pennsylvania State Law shall be limited to the following days and hours:

July 4th and July 4th weekend (including Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) until 10:00 p.m.

New Year’s Eve into New Year’s Day– use of fireworks prohibited after 12:30 a.m.

Memorial Day weekend (including Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday) until 10:00 p.m.

Labor Day weekend (including Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday) until 10:00 p.m. All other days, use of fireworks is prohibited after 9:00 p.m