COMMUNITY CONNECTION JULY 2023

19 years. That's how long I have been attempting to grow grass in my backyard. Of course, having a bevy of large dogs never helps things, but one can never argue that I haven't done my fair share of seeding, overseeding, raking, rototilling, laying sod from big box stores, fertilizing and watering . I was about to give up when I found Sod Works. I gave owner Justin a call, left a message, and he got right back to me. He explained the process, and set me up for sod in less than a week. To say I was excited is an understatement! ACTUAL GRASS! I was pumped!

As you can see in the photo to the left, the spot I wanted to sod wasn't huge. I loved that Sod Works was willing to tackle even a smaller job like this. Now don't be fooled, it might look green, but that lovely green patch at the base of our deck steps is actually Astroturf! With dogs comes mud, and every time it rained, we would have to bathe two German Shepherds! NOT FUN!

The day of the install, Sod Works truck pulled up right as scheduled. Omar and Angel were on the job, and they jumped out and set off right to work. In no time, they had prepped what was once a barren wasteland

The Astroturf before photo - Desperate!

Angel and Omar get right to work

into something worthy of growing actual grass! They removed the old tufts of half dead grass, rocks, and dry compact soil. They brought in rich topsoil and laid it in, taking the time to level everything off perfectly. Then it was time for the main character - The SOD!

As I had mentioned earlier, we were no strangers to attempting to grow sod in this area. But we had always purchased the sod at one of the many big box retailers and laid it in ourselves. Let me tell you, all sod is definitely not created equal! The sod that Sod Works laid down that day was deep green, not dry in the least, and so fresh looking! It was Kentucky Blue Grass and it was just gorgeous. Omar and Angel did a professional job, taking care to fit it in perfectly and by the end of the day, I have a beautiful lawn to be proud of. I would highly

recommend Sod Works for any job, no matter how large or small. Justin and his crew were professional, courteous, and so pleasant to work with. Give Justin a call at 610.533.0064 if you want a great lawn this season! You'll be glad you did!

Astroturf - Gone!

Prepped & Ready

Cutting out the old New Topsoil ready for sod to be laid.

The finished job - SO Beautiful!

Fun and flavorful recipes from our kitchen to yours!

Spatchcock Chicken

Grilling weather continues, and this is almost becoming some sort of series on grilling, but I don’t mind! I love grilling, and I hope I can inspire even one person to try these amazing recipes! One of my very favorite ways to cook chicken is Spatchcock. It is sort of flattening of an entire chicken, so that it cooks more evenly while still remaining juicy and tender. I picked up this beauty from Cedar Hollow Farm, located at 2475 Quakertown Rd. in Pennsburg. This family owned farm processes their own farm fresh free range chicken, and when I tell you, you can TASTE the difference! BONUS - They will even spatchcock it for you, so all you have to do is throw it on the grill! This was so simple - I marinated it for 24 hours in Chiavetta’s BBQ marinade, also available at Cedar Hollow! DELISH!

If you make this recipe, drop a photo on our Facebook page. We would love to hear from you!

Active Time: 20 minutes Total Time: 8 hrs Servings: 8

Spatchcock Grilled Chicken

INGREDIENTS:

1 Spatchcock chicken from Cedar Hollow • 1 Bottle Chiavetta’s BBQ marinade

METHOD

1. Prep: Remove Chicken from wrapper, rinse. Place in a bowl or large bag, pour in Chiavetta’s BBQ marinade. Refrigerate at least 6 hours and up to 8 hours. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes. Remove from marinade. Discard remaining marinade.

2.Grill: Heat grill to medium-high, or set up for indirect heat. Grill chicken, breast side down, covered with vent open, until nicely charred, 10 to 15 minutes. Flip; cook 30 minutes more. Flip again; grill until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees in thickest part of breast, 5 minutes more. Let rest 10 minutes.

Remove from grill, and serve. Enjoy!

Maintaining independence and dignity for your loved ones since year 2000.

At family caregivers, we believe that with the right support and care, anyone can overcome obstacles in their lives to live with dignity and independence. For 23 years, Family Caregivers has made it their purpose and mission to bring dignity to their aging community, and awareness to others about the truth of aging. “We believe that any everyone should have the opportunity to live out their lives independently despite the many obstacles of aging. Our aging loved ones are an integral part of our community, and with the right tools they can thrive with independence.”

Independence begins with safety at home. Family Caregivers Network’s comprehensive home safety assessment will identify any possible hazards in your home to prepare you with a safe home environment for living. Additionally, our trained home care aides provide much needed support and care, giving your loved ones time to do things that bring them joy, like reading, being creative, staying involved in the community, and spending time with loved ones. At Family Caregivers we advocate for the rights of older individuals and provide resources to help families and individuals make the right decisions. We offer community education on aging and disease management, and provide families with a caregiver support group so they can speak with others going through the same challenges of caregiving.

Our home care aides and staff are ready to help you maintain independence with intermittent or 24 hour care. To learn more about how Family Caregivers Network Can help your loved ones, please give us a call or visit our website!

JULY 4th Fireworks Events

Please be sure to check ahead of time for location and accuracy, as we can not be resposible for cancellations or errors.

Friday, June 30 - 5:30pm – 9:30pm

Community Celebration & Fireworks

Morning Star Fellowship, 100 Limekiln Rd. Bechtelsville

Event by Morning Star Fellowship and MSTAR Kids. Morning Star Fellowship.

MSTAR is inviting our community to join us for a very special evening of fun. From 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm we will have FREE yard games, carnival games, inflatables, petting zoo, music and more! We will have several Food Trucks to purchase dinner/ snacks for your family. At approximately 9:15 pm we will close the night with our annual fireworks! Bring a chair or blanket for the event! Invite a friend and join us for a family night of fun and fellowship

Saturday, July 1 - 6:30pm

Shady Brook Farm Fireworks

Shady Brook Farm, 931 Stony Hill Rd. Yardley

Fireworks Show with Buzzerband

Tuesday, July 4 - 5pm - 10pm

Pottstown GoFourth Fireworks Festival 2023

MemorialPark, Pottstown

Join us for the Pottstown GoFourth Fireworks Festival on July 4th at Memorial Park.

Tuesday, July 4 - 8am - ?

Hometown 4th of July Celebration

New Goshenhoppen park East Greenville

Event by Rotary Club of Upper Perk

Below are the confirmed events, times will be added in the near future.

-Annual Fireman’s Water Battles

-Breakfast sandwiches sold by the Rotary Club of Upper Perk

-Pet Contest with Logan’s Heroes

-Bike Decorating Contest with Bike & Sol

-Car, Truck and Bike Independence Cruise with the Poor Bastards Car Club

-Games and Bake Sale with Pennsburg UCC & Red Hill Fire Company

-The Hawg House Food Truck

-Funnel Cakes by the Rotary Club

-Swing Shift Band

-The Red Hill Band

-The Evening will wrap up with the Annual Independence Day FireWorks.

Tuesday, July 4 - 5pm - 9pm

FreedomFest Firework & Foodtruck Festival

9100 North Delaware Ave, Philadelphia Pleasant Hill Park

Join us for our fourth annual freedom, fest food, truck, and fireworks festival in Pleasant Hill Park! Enjoy over 15 food trucks, Vendors, live music from philly heart & soul, fireworks on the river and (3) moon bouncers for kids!

Friday, July 7th, Raindate - Sat. July 8th

Kiwanis Club of Ambler

Annual Carnival & Fireworks

521 Houston Rd, Ambler

We hope you can gather up lot’s of friends and join us for a fun carnival and fireworks event!

Sunday, July 9 -12pm

51st Annual Community Day

Lenape Park, 520 Constitution Ave, Perkasie Event by Pennridge Community Day

Join us in celebrating the 51st Annual Community Day! Spend the day with your family and friends by shopping with so many amazing vendors, kid friendly activities, the cutest baby parade, food trucks, and of course the fireworks!

ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE FREE!

Email: DonnaO@ccmonthly.com

August deadline is July 10.

The Importance of Fresh Local Produce Celebrations!

You’ve always been told that fruits and vegetables are an important part of your diet, which is true. However, it’s beneficial to take it one step further and specify the importance of fresh and local produce. These may seem like slight distinctions, but their benefits are not slight in the least. Here’s why fresh, local produce is so important:

Good for Your Body - Local produce is fresher because it doesn’t have to travel as far before it is consumed and can be picked at its peak ripeness. Once plants are picked, the important nutrients they contain, like Vitamins A, B, C, and E as well as Calcium, Fiber, and Potassium, begin to deteriorate. Furthermore, during transportation produce can also be exposed to air, different temperatures, and artificial lighting, all of which can impact the nutritional value of the plants. This means that local, fresh produce is more nutritious than produce grown in other parts of the country and, therefore, better for your body.

Good for the Environment - Another reason fresh produce is important is that it is good for the environment. Many local farmers grow their food without hormones or pesticides, making sure the environment stays clean and safe from pollutants. The success of local farms is also important for the environment because they help protect the land they occupy, which is also full of other plants and wildlife. If the farms were failing, the land would most likely be sold to developers who would build on the land, eliminating the natural habitat many species rely on.

Good for the Community - Fresh produce also provides jobs on farms in your local area, which boosts the local economy. The farmers also need to sell their crops at places like farmer’s markets, which help to support other local businesses as well. Farming fresh, local produce also helps provide food for those in need as farmers often donate some of their produce to local food banks and other organizations feeding the hungry.

The Essential Farmer has been providing custmers with fresh local produce for the past 4 years. The work with local farms and farmers to bring you the best localy grown produce delivered right to your doorstep! Give them a call at 215-679-GROW today and sign up to recieve weekly fresh locally grown produce and help your community thrive!

Please specify Celebrations in the subject line. Word limit: 25.

July 22

Happy 18th Birthday! Love, from MomMom

July 2 Our first date 40 years ago!

Congratulations to Kylee on committing to play soccer at North Carolina Wesleyan University! We are so proud of you!!

July 19th

Happy Birthday to a talented, kind wonderful son!

Marina Jane Dawson

The DeVoes

Kylee

Jess Mink Congratulations to Jess on graduating with her Masters degree! Way to go!

Bryan Fioriglio

HANDY HINT

They say the key to the heart is through the stomach, and that may be the key to keeping your dog calm, too. Get the peanut butter or other treats that your dog loves ready when the fireworks go off. It will help distract them and give them a little bit of positive reinforcement for staying calm

Answer to June Puzzle

MONTHLY EVENTS ccm

TUESDAY, JULY 4, 8AM - 10PM

2022 UPPER PERK HOMETOWN 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION

NEW GOSHENHOPPEN PARK, EAST GREENVILLE , PRICE: FREE

Donations accepted for parking

-Annual Fireman’s Water Battles

-Breakfast sandwiches sold by the Rotary Club of Upper Perk

-Pet Contest with Logan’s Heroes

-Bike Decorating Contest with Bike & Sol (more info to follow)

-Car, Truck and Bike Independence Cruise with the Poor Bastards Car Club

-Games and Bake Sale with Pennsburg UCC & Red Hill Fire Company

-The HAWG HOUSE Food Truck

-Funnel Cakes by the Rotary Club of Upper Perk

-Swing Shift Band

-The Red Hill Band

-The Evening will wrap up with the Annual Independence Day fireworks Display

Additional Events are being discussed, stay tuned for more!

THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2PM

MY KIDS DON’T WANT IT, HERE’S WHAT TO DO

UPPER PERK VALLEY LIBRARY 350 MAN ST. RED HILL

My Kids Don’t Want It, Here’s What to Do!

You have all this stuff but your kids don’t want it. Michael Ivankovich will provide tips and strategies designed to help you deal with your “stuff” and help you make some money selling it. Mr. Ivankovich has been in the antiques and collectibles business for more than 40 years and is the host of the radio program ”What’s It Worth? Call 215-679-202 to reserve a seat.

SUNDAY JULY 23, 11AM - 1PM

WOMENS WELLNESS EVENT

ROOT TO RECOVERY, LLC 80 GRAVEL PIKE, RED HILL

This is an early afternoon of nourishing the body and mind. Event is is open to the community. Nutrition Consulting, Massages, Yoga, Meditation, Card Readings, Intuitive Flower Essences Blends

Personal Training, Postpartum Support and Consultations, Advice from a Doula, Coaching Consultations, Yummy healthy treats.

Local vendors and sponsors participating:

Gabs Health Coaching

KD Coaching

Balanced Mind and Body

Get Jacked Fitness Studio

Gwynn White Walker McGroggan

Milk Flows Lactation Counselor

Jalecia Reichart, JR Doula LLC

Tosi Snacks

Suja Drinks

If you would like to be a vendor or offer a service on the day of event please e-mail Christina at Christina.snyder@roottorecoveryllc.com

Advertise your event FREE! Submit your event(s) before the 12th of the month. E-mail: donnao@ccmonthly.com

· Affordable Cremation & Burial Plans

· Pre-Planning & Financing

· Veteran Discounts

Cook Books - $10!

Order your very own copy today! Supplies are limited so don’t delay!

“Cooking Around the Upper Perkiomen Valley” is a collection of recipes from our readers. A portion of the proceeds will go to help community programs in the Valley.

Send check to:

Community Connection Recipe Book, PO Box 201, East Greenville, PA 18041.

Family Owned and Operated

612 Main Street · Red Hill 215-679-6400

www.monaghanfuneralhome.com

John J. Monaghan, F.D., Founder, Deceased Bridget Monaghan Wible, Esq., F.D., Supervisor

Cook Books - $10!

Tor’s Taste

Name: Address: City: State: Zip:

Phone:

Number of Copies: x $10.00

(amount enclosed)

Cook Books - $10!

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Order your very own copy today! Supplies are limited so don’t delay!

“Cooking Around the Upper Perkiomen Valley” is a collection of recipes from our readers. A portion of the proceeds will go to help community programs in the Valley.

Order your very own copy today! Supplies are limited so don’t delay!

“Cooking Around the Upper Perkiomen Valley” is a collection of recipes from our readers. A portion of the proceeds will go to help community programs in the Valley.

With Victoria Barndt

Send check to:

Community Connection Recipe Book, PO Box 201, East Greenville, PA 18041.

This month here at Tors’ Taste Tour we’re trying something new. I’m switching out my taste testing hat and putting on a chef’s cap. Don’t worry now, I won’t make y’all try my cooking, I’ll spare you from that experience! What I will share with you is the most convenient and easy way to shop for your local produce this summer. Okay, you ready? Here’s how. Step one: Pick out a cold drink. Step two: find a comfortable chair and relax. Step three: pick up your phone and message The Essential Farmer. That’s it! You get a box full of LOCAL produce straight from local farms!

Send check to:

Community Connection Recipe Book, PO Box 201, East Greenville, PA 18041.

I don’t know about you, but I find produce so much more delicious when I know it’s coming from hard working farmers in my area. The Essential Farmer delivers a fresh box of local produce to your doorstep each week! When you subscribe, every week a box brimming with fresh goodies like local strawberries, corn, potatoes, spinach, beans, onions, etc. shows up on your porch. It’s been my absolute favorite thing to see what surprises have been in my box these past two weeks! As I get older it’s shocked me to see how excited I am over vegetables! The strawberries were out of this world!!

Name: Address: City: State: Zip: Phone:

Number of Copies: x $10.00

Name: Address: City: State: Zip: Phone:

Number of Copies: x $10.00

I highly suggest checking out The Essential Farmer on Facebook or call them at 215-353-2358 and let them bring the cookout to you this summer! Yum! Tell them Tor sent ya!

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