Berks County

Beware the day the water heater dies and disgorges a pool of hot, steaming liquid on the floor. Showers go cold. Spouses and children become grumpy. Chaos ensues. So Hank Leipert and his colleagues at Performance Metals Inc. in Berks County invented and patented a device they say can indefinitely prolong the life of a water heater, sparing the environment, saving money, and preserving domestic tranquillity. Who wouldn't want such a useful device? Most water-heater manufacturers, it seems.

No more than 50 semifinalists will advance after today's second and third rounds of testing in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in the nation's capital. Yesterday, all 273 contenders - including one apiece from Philadelphia, Camden, Lancaster, Bethlehem and Margate, as well as Montgomery, Delaware, Chester and Berks Counties - used computers to take a 50-word test. Today, the students - ranging from age 8 to eighth grade - will spell onstage in two rounds, the first under way this morning, the second televised on ESPN3 starting about 1:15.

She was known to children as Miss Wendy and to parents as "the smile behind the wheel" who drove their little ones to and from Ringing Rocks Elementary School in Lower Pottsgrove Township. But unbeknownst to everyone, Wendy Pethtel, 59, was "an accident waiting to happen," Montgomery County Coroner Walter I. Hofman said. On Wednesday, it did. Pethtel was driving her Pontiac Vibe east on West High Street in Pottstown when she veered into the oncoming lane, striking a Chevrolet Malibu driven by Richard Decker, 77, of Douglassville, Berks County.

She was known to children as Miss Wendy and to parents as "the smile behind the wheel" who drove their little ones to and from Ringing Rocks Elementary School in Lower Pottsgrove Township. But unbeknownst to everyone, Wendy Pethtel, 59, was "an accident waiting to happen," Montgomery County Coroner Walter I. Hofman said. On Wednesday, it did. Pethtel was driving her Pontiac Vibe east on West High Street in Pottstown when she veered into the oncoming lane, striking a Chevrolet Malibu driven by Richard Decker, 77, of Douglassville, Berks County.

It looks increasingly as if Democrats have a dogfight on their hands in suburban Philadelphia's Sixth Congressional District. Rep. Chris Carney (D., Pa.) announced yesterday that he was endorsing Manan Trivedi, a Reading doctor and veteran of the current Iraq war, in the primary. Carney is the first member of the state's congressional delegation to back Trivedi. Carney praised Trivedi's "admirable dedication to service. " Former Inquirer editorial writer Doug Pike declared his candidacy in April, hoping to cinch the nomination with personal wealth and a pile of endorsements.

For a second helping of vintage regional foods, try these sources: Ice Creams Reading Terminal Market, 12th and Arch Streets 215-864-2771, bassettsic.com 116 Market St., 215-627-1899, franklinfountain.com Butter Cake / Baked Goods 4164 Barnett St., 215-624-0117 Smoked Meats / Pies Krumsville, Berks County, 610-756-6344, dietrichsmeats.com Candies 110 Market St., 215-922-1048, shanecandies.com Historic brews 901 N. Delaware Ave., 215-634-2600, yardsbrewing.

In the backyard patch (it's actually nearer the side of the yard), the tomatoes remain - as September dawns - resolutely hard and green, except for the ones that have turned pouchy, or split, or developed ulcerous, oozing sores. It has been a particularly rough season for tomatoes. For the most part. Too much June rain. An early appearance of late blight, the same one that brought us the Irish potato famine. But for this patch, in this backyard, it has been pretty much business as usual.

Like the Continental Army 232 years ago, the Brandywine Battlefield Historic Site has suffered a major setback. This time, it is Harrisburg that has been cast in the role of redcoat. With budget cuts looming, five employees will be laid off, and the site's museum, two farmhouses, and visitor center will be shut indefinitely when the park closes tomorrow, officials said yesterday. "The grass will be available for picnics, but there will be no history available," Linda Kaat, president of Brandywine Battlefield Park Associates, said yesterday.

Berks County remained undefeated in the Carpenter Cup softball tournament and advanced to today's championship game by beating Delaware South, 1-0, yesterday at FDR Park. Third baseman Steph Graver had two hits, and catcher Rachel Trupp scored the only run of the game as Berks pitchers Jess Elper, Carissa Harris and Samantha Denlinger combined for the seven-hit shutout. Berks County (4-0) will play the winner of today's 11 a.m. semifinal game between Delaware South (3-1) and Suburban One League American/Continental (3-1)

Winning pitcher Jess Elper also had two hits and two RBIs yesterday as the Berks County team beat the Olympic Colonial team, 5-4, in the Carpenter Cup softball tournament at FDR Park. The win left Berks County 3-0 in the double-elimination tournament and advanced it to Monday's second-round game against Delaware South, also 3-0. Berks County also defeated the Inter-Ac team and the Suburban One American/Continental team yesterday. Also advancing from yesterday were Olympic Colonial, Suburban One League American/Continental, Delaware North and Mercer County.