QCHS Alumni Spotlight: Bill Harr and Ron Heller Class of '52

Jayson has met all his Eagle Scout requirements and is waiting for board review. Jayson put a flagpole up at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Haycock.

After graduation, Jayson plans to continue at Heavy Duty Truck Repair in Sellersville.

BY RAY FOX '66

I hope readers are enjoying reading the QCHS Alumni Spotlight Articles. This month I had the pleasure of meeting with Ron Heller and Bill Harr, both QCHS Graduates in 1952. I will call them Quakertown Icons because of their commitment to the community and their longevity.

They have been friends for 74 years having met in Junior High School. Both have quite a

BILL HARR has worked in the same store for almost his entire life. Most of us in Quakertown have been to Sine’s on Broad Street in downtown Quakertown. The store originally was owned by Bill’s grandfather, Howard Sine. The store has been in the family ever since and is now run by Bill’s son Bill Jr. and his daughter Linda. Bill became the owner in 1974. Through four generations Sine’s has been a part of downtown Quakertown. In 1976, they bought the former Dimmig Electric from Burton Dimmig, thus expanding the store.

While in high school, Bill was very involved in the high school band as well as back stage crew for plays and dances where he oversaw lighting. He was the class treasurer for the Class of ’52 and maintained that position until October, 2016 when the class closed their account by donating their money to the Alumni Association. Until then, Bill was always instrumental in organizing the class reunions for the Class of ’52. He still has many letters and pictures from classmates. While in school, Bill indicated that his favorite teachers were Mrs. Stever and Mr. Strunk. He enjoyed playing the drums in the band and performing at football games. After high school he attended Temple University Extension in Allentown for one semester and then decided to join the Army. While in the Army he was a radio relay operator. He served for three years and spent one and a half of those years in Germany. After his discharge, he came back to the only job he ever had, that of working at Sine’s 5 and 10. Bill retired in 2020 and after a year decided to go back to work at Sine’s. Upon retirement, Bill received a letter of recognition from the U. S. Government.

He enjoys the holidays, especially Halloween and Christmas and still does the ordering of merchandise for Christmas.

In his spare time, Bill has been part of the North Penn Stamp Club since 1958. He has also been an informal collector of Quakertown memorabilia, much of which can be seen on display inside the store. Many Quakertown old timers would remember the model train that still runs through the store at Christmas time. Also, many will remember the model airplanes which were built by Bill Jr over the years. Bill is married to his high school sweetheart, Marlene Hilmer. They have been married for 69 years and have lived in the same house on ninth street for 63 years. They are very proud of their children, Bill Jr. (QCHS Class of 1974) and Linda (QCHS Class of 1975). Bill Sr. has three grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

RON HELLER, Bill Harr’s friend for 74 years, has been best known as a barber in Quakertown for 47 years. However, Ron is much more than that, having been very involved in the Community in several ways.

During High School, Ron was on the basketball and baseball teams for all four years. He was also the manager for the football team. He was also a member of the Future Craftsman of American with his area in metal working and he was a member of the dance club. His fondest memories of high school are sports and Saturday gym. He indicated that, in ninth grade, students were required to choose a career path and that was when he chose metal crafts. While in school, he and his family lived in the building at the corner of Nineth and Juniper Streets. He always had his hair cut at

Trumbauer’s Barber Shop in the same building where he lived. One day, during his Senior year, Clarence (Skeets) Trumbauer asked him what he planned to do after graduation. Ron told him he was not sure. Mr. Trumbauer asked him if he might be interested in becoming a barber. Trumbauer told him that, if he went to barber school, he could do his internship in that barber shop. Ron enrolled in and graduated from the Philadelphia Institute of Barbery and completed his internship with Trumbauer. He continued to work in that barber shop for 47 years: 22 years with Trumbauer as the owner and then 27 more years as the owner himself. He retired in March, 2000, receiving a proclamation from the State Government with the support of then Representative Paul Clymer.

Ron gave much to the community in addition to his business. He was instrumental in the founding of both Quakertown Little League and Quakertown Midget Football. He was among the early founders including Jim Ebbert, Bob Strunk, John Smoll, George Fox, Richard Wisneski, and Aaron Charles. He continued as the Board of Directors of the QCHS Alumni Association. He received a commendation from the Borough of Quakertown for his service to the Community. In retirement, Ron enjoys following Quakertown Sports and the DeSales Women’s Basketball Team coached by QCHS graduate, Fred Richter (Class of ’67).

Ron also married his high school sweetheart and classmate, Jane Cygan. They have been married 69 years and they have three children: Mark (QCHS Class of ’72), Pamela Heller McGovern (QCHS class of ’75), and Matthew (QCHS Class of ’77). Ron and Jane have seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

As I have found with several of the people who I have written these articles about, Ron certainly has followed the Quakertown Community School District motto: “Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve”.

The Quakertown Community Alumni Association encourages alumni to participate in the Association activities. Its mission includes fundraising to provide scholarship opportunities each year for graduating seniors. Please check out our Facebook Pages “Quakertown High School Alumni Association” and the Alumni pages of the QCSD.org website for more information. We are a 501(c)(3) organization and always welcome any contributions toward our scholarship endeavors. If you are interested in donating, please email Qchsalumniboard@gmail.com and you will receive instructions on how to do so. Comments and ideas for future articles can be sent to Ray Fox at rdefox@msn.com.

The Alumni Board is a group of dedicated people who strive to support the students and alumni as much as we can. You could say that we “bleed blue” but more importantly, that we embody the mottos:

“Enter To Learn; Leave To Serve”.

March has been a rainy month with temperatures fluctuating from the 30’s to the high 60’s. With lows still going down into the 20’s it’s not optimal conditions to be outside on a consistent basis. I hope that you have resisted too much spring cleanup. The pollinators have not yet come out to play. They are still hiding among the leaf litter and inside hollow plant stalks. As the days warm up to a consistent 50°F and the pollinator plants start to bloom they will exit their hiding places.

If you want to do some cleanup to lighten your load you can cut plants that do not have seedheads or hollow stems. Leaves can be removed from your lawn, or better yet, mulched and put back into the lawn at first mowing. Avoid stepping on wet ground in your flower beds. Compaction of the soil causes removal of air spaces which carry water and nutrients to the roots of the plants. So, what can you do? We all want to get outside and go to work.• Compost perennials.

• Add organic matter to garden beds

• Feed roses, trees and houseplants.

• Perform a soil test on lawn surfaces to see if fertilizers are warranted.

• Pre-emergents can still be applied to prevent annual weeds from germinating. Crabgrass germinates at soil temperatures of 53-55°. Average soil temperatures

In Bucks County have been averaging in the 40’s. It may already be too late for Japanese Stiltgrass as it germinates between 47-55°.

The Facebook page for Penn State Master Gardeners of Bucks County lists average soil temperature and growing degree days (GDD) weekly.

• Pruning should already have been done in February or early March.

But, you can still trim dead or cross-branching limbs.

• Sharpen mower and tool blades.• Take inventory of tools and supplies. Purchase what you don’t have or need to replace.

• Organize your potting area.

• Clean and sanitize planting containers or hanging baskets. Purchase new soil.

• If you didn’t start your own seeds peruse the local garden centers and make a list of your choices.

If you plant be prepared to cover them if we get a late heavy frost or freeze. Average last day of frost in Bucks County is between May 15th and May 31st.

• Pull weeds from areas where you don’t have to walk into flower bed or gardens. Pest alerts and deterrents – There is still time to inspect your property and vehicles for Spotted Lanternfly egg masses. Scrape into a plastic bag containing alcohol, seal and dispose of in the trash. This Penn State website has descriptions and photos to help you with your hunt. extension.psu.edu/ spotted-lanternfly If you grow garlic it is time to cover the plants to prevent the Allium Leafminer from damaging your crop.

Possibilities

It doesn’t seem possible to me that it is Spring. I am still surprised about how my feelings of grief for my mother are still so strong at times. The other day I cried on and off all day missing her, wishing that I could talk to her and especially hug her. Eventually the mood lifted and I was able to cook dinner and relax for the evening. The following day the sun came out and I felt like I could breathe again.

As I have been writing for the past 18 months, I would have never believed that grief could feel this way, let alone last this long. What gets me through most days is truly the acceptance that death is part of life, whether I like it or not. My mother was not going to be here forever. The facts about life and death help me when I am in the deep throes of my grief.

This tiny (3mm or .118”) insect flies between 6-8 weeks from mid-March to the end of April depending on the weather.

Because we have had periods of warm weather they have already be present. The Allium Leafminer lays its eggs on leaves of onions, chives, leeks, scallions, garlic and shallots by using its Ovipositor. The photo above illustrates the scars from the adult laying its eggs. To help prevent infestation cover your allium crops with a very fine mesh until the adults finish flying. For more information check out this Penn State Publication. 2023 Allium Leafminer Emerging Earlier Than Recent Years (psu.edu)

Contact the Bucks County Garden/ Watershed Hotline for help. Bucksmg@psu. edu or 267-483-2020.

Our Home Garden/Watershed Hotline is open Monday thru Friday, 9-12 and 1-4.

Our new office is being staffed in person on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and some other dates and times. Please call before visiting.

Penn State Extension Bucks County 576 Penns Park Road, Newtown, PA 18940

Please mention that you heard about us in the Upper Bucks Free Press!

I find that more days than not I can think of my mother and smile and genuinely feel the love I have for her. Being able to connect with my mother on a spiritual level has given me peace. I have been processing and feeling my grief for a long time and feel freer than I have felt in months.

I feel more hopeful about my present and future. I am making plans to see my daughter and grandchildren in April for a long weekend. I need to give and receive love in order to continue to heal. I truly believe that the more I am in the company of those who I feel joy and love for that I will fill the void in my heart for my mother.

I have learned so much about myself and my personal/family relationships in these past 18 months. There were things that I knew on some level and others that have revealed themselves organically. I have done my best to be accepting of others and their process of my grief. It is not easy to be in the company of someone who is so sad and vulnerable with their feelings. I myself was just as uncomfortable with the level of grief I was feeling.

I continue to write about my grief because of the misconceptions that some may have about grief. Some of have been taught to move on after a few months or less whether we want to or not. Some of us don’t know that we can grieve for as long as we need. We can’t change what we were taught about grief or what we have experienced in the past about it. We can’t necessarily change who we are either as far as what we think about grief and how we want to deal with grief unless we want too.

There are no wrong answers. My story is for those who lack the support and validation they need in their time of sorrow and grief. For those to know it is okay to take your time and honor who you are and your feelings. I want others who feel alone in their grief to know that they are not alone.

It takes a lot of courage to grieve and to feel your pain and loss. So here is to all of those who are courageous enough to embrace their grief and heal their sorrow and wounds for all to see. My belief is “that all persons are truly greater than they think they are.”

SuSan v brewer iS a Certified life CoaCH and PSyCHotHeraPiSt in tHe uPPer buCKS County area. SHe Can be reaCHed at 215-872-4219.

Well, my dreams of being a star have been crushed. Seems the Wizard of Oz play at the high school doesn’t use a dog. Oh well, I’m sure it will be a great play to see.

Here are the DNA results for my new dog sister Maise. 61% pug (no surprise there), 16% Chihuahua (?), 9% Shi Tzu, 8% toy or mini poodle , and 3% German Shepherd (? LOL!) Her litter mate is going to try it with a different DNA company to see if it’s different. This is a picture of her. She has been going to obedience class at Molasses Creek Dog Training. I’m afraid she might try to outshine me on that subject. I behave, but am not real fond of taking orders or doing tricks. Mom says I lack motivation because I don’t care about treats. Now that it’s warming up I hope to see you all out and about.