Welcome to The Mercury's Media Lab

The Mercury teamed with PDIDA for a grand opening celebration for the Media Lab and the new PDIDA visitor's center. From left, Edward Condra, Journal Register Co.’s senior publisher of Greater Philadelphi; Steve Buttry, JRC director of community engagement; Diane Hoffman, community engagement editor; Sue Repko, TownSquare blogger and PDIDA board member.

After months of preparation, on Friday, July 20, the Mercury had a grand opening celebration to open the new Media Lab, located in the Mercury at 24 N. Hanover St., Pottstown.

You might be wondering, what can I do at the Media Lab? The answer is as simple as stopping by to use the computer to search for a job, help with blog set up, or as complex as having your organization host a webinar or a happy hour.

First visitors to the Media Lab came to use the computers to search for a job.

We welcome you to our Community Media Lab and look forward to meeting all of you. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Diane Hoffman, community engagement editor, at 610-323-3000 ext. 156, or email dhoffman@pottsmerc.com

Poison Ivy, Snakes and Trash, Oh My! Mercury Cleanup a huge success

This passed weekend, members of the Mercury newsroom staff joined community members at Ganshahawny Park in Douglassville, Berks County, in an extraordinary clean up effort.

Armed with bright orange vests, work gloves and trash bags provided by the Great American Cleanup, reporters and editors spent their Sunday morning, which also happened to be Mother's Day, removing trash surrounding the small park while braving wild snakes and an endless field of poison ivy.

Involved in the cleanup was Community Engagement Editor Diane Hoffman, her husband Jonathan Hoffman and children, Sophia and Ryan; Editor Nancy March; TownSquare blogger Mandy March; Online Editor Eileen Faust; Business Editor Michelle Karas; Reporter Evan Brandt and his wife Karen Maxfield; Reporters Frank Otto and Brandie Kessler; Tom Davidock, the Schuylkill Action Network Coordinator at the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary; and community members George Brown, Charlie Long and Gail Watts. 

For the record, only Brandie got poison ivy and the snakes, which were originally suspected as being copperheads, have been identified as "not a copperhead."

Thanks to everyone for their tremendous effort this weekend. Enjoy the slideshow from the day's events.