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* Conshohocken celebrated its 53rd Edition of the annual Soap Box Derby held on Fayette Street. When the day concluded and the 48 cars were done racing the winners were: Melissa Phipps age 13 (stock division), Jennifer Bokoski, age 14 (superstock division) and Melissa Ricciutti age 14 (masters division).
* Semi-pro champs Conshohocken Steelers return fully loaded and began the 2006 season in mid-July. The team was coming off their 2005 season where they never experienced a loss before winning the Eastern Seaboard championship.
* West Conshohocken Borough Manager Michael A. Leonard submitted his letter of resignation at a July borough council meeting which became effective Aug. 29, 2006. Leonard was borough manager for six years before moving to nearby Royersford to act as their borough manager. "I'll be employed outside the borough; (I) will always strive to do my best for my hometown," said Leonard.
August
* A 47-year-old Conshohocken man who admitted to having indecent contact with a 14-year-old girl in Upper Merion fought to reduce his jail sentence. Ralph Manoppello who lived on the 400 block of West Tenth Avenue, argued that the judge who sentenced him to at least five months in jail didn't consider that he had no prior criminal record and that he had expressed remorse for the incident. Manoppello reported to jail on Aug. 2.
* An extensive effort was made Aug. 2 to recover an 18-foot air boat that capsized after going over a dam in the Schuylkill. Members of the Gladwyne Volunteer Fire Company found themselves in the unusual position of being rescued rather than being the rescuers.
Two Gladwyne volunteers were on the Schuylkill River with the company's Marine Craft 24, an 18-foot air boat designed for shallow water, ice or snow, to complete a training maneuver near the low head dam, a quarter mile upriver from the Matsonford Bridge. The boat was pulled into the turbulent waters of the dam and capsized, tipping the volunteers into the river.
* Helen Morris a volunteer puppy raiser for Canine Companions for Independence gave a lesson to 40 audience members at the William Jeans Memorial Library in Lafayette Hill on Aug. 2. The company provides trained dogs to assist adults and children with disabilities.
* The TIAA-Cref Cycling Team won the U.S. Professional Criterium Championship two months to the day after being declared Conshohocken's Official "Home Team" by Mayor John Boccella.
* West Conshohocken "Streetscape" project moved forward when a crosswalk was installed at Ford and Front Streets. "The Streetscape is out for bids," said Conshohocken Borough Engineer Tom Beach at an Aug. 2 session. "It will include improvements at the intersections of First, Second and Seventh Avenues of Fayette Street; including new crosswalks and bump-out curbs."
* Student Vincent Bernardo died suddenly Aug. 8. He graduated from Plymouth Whitemarsh High School in the spring and had earned a football scholarship to Shippensburg University. During football practice on Aug. 8, Bernardo experienced trouble breathing after doing 110-yard sprints. An ambulance arrived and paramedics performed CPR, but, less than an hour later, Bernardo was pronounced dead at Chambersburg Hospital in Central Pennsylvania.
* The Colonial School District helped its students learn "How to stay safe in cyberspace" and avoid Internet dangers at a "NetSmartz Workshop" held at Colonial Middle School on Aug. 28. The workshop was divided into two age groups-kindergarten to fifth grade and sixth to 12th. The Technology Academy put on a huge virtual slide show in the school auditorium.
September
* The area is the scene of the 2006 Pennsylvania State Fireman's Convention that was held Sept. 27 to 30. Several thousand firefighters and state officials participated in the meetings, training sessions and dinners that took place during the convention.
* SS. Cosmos and Damian Parish had its 93rd annual Italian Festival Sept. 22 to 24. A procession of the statues of SS. Cosmos and Damian took place on the 24. The festival honored its patrons with food, carnival, block party, procession of the statues of the saints and a healing ceremony.
* Conshohocken Native Scott Hunsicker is named the new general manager of the Reading Phillies, the class AAA minor league affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies.
* At the West Conshohocken Council meeting Sept. 12, State Rep. Daylin Leach (D-149) presented a check of $5,000 for the borough's "Beautification Program.
* The Whitemarsh Township Senior Center and the Masonic Village of Lafayette Hill presented "Americana," a performance of songs, scenes and poems on Sept. 21 at the Masonic Village, 801 Ridge Pike, Lafayette Hill. The show celebrated our nations' great spirit and was performed by the Hedgerow Theater.
* Conshohocken Catholic School began the school year with new principal Patricia Kaeser. Kaeser assumed the position and replaced Jacqueline Kerrigan, the school's principal for the past 10 years.
* Conshohocken Borough remembered the lives of those killed on Sept. 11, 2001 with a prayer ceremony that was hosted by local clergy, firefighters, police and Veterans of Foreign Wars at Borough Hall. Members of West Conshohocken also hosted a candlelight service on Sept. 11 after the prayer ceremony. Mayor Donna Frankenfield spoke at the service.
October
* The Conshohocken Idol Contest took place on Second Avenue and Fayette Street and festivities took place along First through Third Avenue on Oct. 7 at the Conshohocken Annual FunFest this past year. All proceeds for the event were given to the Special Olympics of Pennsylvania Montgomery County and the Conshohocken Fellowship House. The event is sponsored and organized by the Greater Conshohocken Merchants and Professional Association and Sovereign Bank.
* The Montgomery County Commissioners announced new alarm systems for school safety Oct. 19 at a press conference on the steps of the courthouse in Norristown, their Countrywide Law Enforcement Alerting and Safety System (C.L.A.S.S.). "Installation of the panic buttons and today marks our first step in this journey to protecting our children," said Montgomery County commissioner Ruth S. Damsker. Damsker along with school officials and local Montgomery County police forces recognized that a new system was needed to better protect the schools.
* Hundreds flocked to the Plymouth Meeting Mall as the Firemen's Association of the State of Pennsylvania and the Women's Auxiliary teamed together for a joint memorial service. "Pretty much, what we are today comes from who they were," said Chaplain George Coleman.
* Officer in Charge for the Conshohocken Post Office John Delgado and Congressman Curt Weldon (R-7) and U.S. Postal Service Regional Manager Frank Neri came out to celebrate the new changes made to the post office at 425 Fayette Street on Oct. 23. "The ribbon cutting marks the restoration of the building. We updated the paint in the interior and outerior of the post office. Plus, we added a walk way to the handicapped area, said Delgado.
* Conshohocken Steelers beat Baltimore Jaguars and win Conshohocken Football Association title Oct. 28.
November
* Plymouth Whitemarsh High School gains a new turf field Victory Fields Number One with help from Chestnut Hill College (CHC). The contract benefited both schools in many ways. Firstly, it was outfitted with an artificial surface that enabled a more modern approach for sports that both the college students and high school students enjoyed. Secondly, PW students were allowed to take selected courses at CHC for college credit. Lastly, it allowed CHC Men's and Women's soccer and lacrosse tams to play "home" events closer to campus.
* The General Election began Nov. 7 at 7 a.m. when polls opened. Among the officials up for reelection were state representatives for the 148th and 149th districts. Both State Rep. Michael Gerber (D-148) and State Rep. Daylin Leach (D-149) retain their seats as state representatives.
* Steelers qualify for the final four on Nov. 4 and defeat the Baltimore Warriors with a score of 20 to 0.
* The Conshohocken Steelers traveled north into New England where the team won a 7-0 victory over the Connecticut Giants on Nov. 11. This earned them a spot in the championship game held on Nov. 18 against the Carolina Heat. Both teams had 13-1 records.
December
* Train Station revitalization workshop is held on Dec. 14 at the Fellowship House to talk about the possible plans for improving the Conshohocken station. Borough officials and representatives of the planning firm of Kise Straw & Kolodner were at the meeting to discuss the thoughts and comments of borough residents and workers regarding the train station.
* Plymouth Fire Company accepts donations for new, unwrapped toys for the Children's Hospital. Many Plymouth Firemen got together to help the drive held on Dec. 16 when Santa arrived at the firehouse by helicopter.
* Hanukkah began on Dec. 15 this year and continued until Dec. 22.
* Dec. 9 was a day of Christmas festivities in West Conshohocken at the George Clay Fire Department auditorium and children came out to watch the magic and juggling by Rich Andrews as he performed for them.
* The Conshohocken United Methodist Church at Sixth and Fayette Street presented its annual Live Nativity from Dec. 21 through 23. Residents came out to the event with their children to teach them the true meaning of Christmas with live presentations and a Christmas Eve Service.
* The Spring Mill Baptist Church at 80 Cedar Grove Road in Conshohocken offered a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service on Dec. 24 at 7 p.m.
* Major work for Phase Two of the I-476 roadwork project is completed. "Part of the finishing touches in the project was concluded on Dec. 15 and Dec. 18, when construction closed some parts of the East and West Schuylkill Expressway. However, "All the roadwork is done," said Gene Blaum, a spokesperson for PennDot.
* Plymouth Township Council passes a budget with no tax hike. Council adopted its $19,079,855 Fiscal Year 2007 Budget with no increase in taxes to the residents.
