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• Upper Bucks Free Press • January 2019
What’s Going On in Upper Bucks? January 5
Badge Squad: Just Like Real Life, 10am4pm at Perkasie Library, 491 Arthur Ave. Make your own book out of recycled materials, draw a comic, etc. Best for K-8, all ages welcome! 215-257-9718 All-U-Can-Eat Roast Chicken Dinner 3:30pm-7pm or sold out. $9/adults, $5/ ages 5-12, free under 4. Take-out available. Zion Lutheran Fellowship Hall, 2966 N Old Bethlehem Pike, Zion Hill. Info: 215-538-7911 day of. Soup Day 11am-2pm at Dublin Fire Co, 194 N Main St. $7/quart, also eat-in meals available. Order quarts of soup only on Soup Day from 9am-11am at 215-249-3740.
January 6
S.V. Lions Breakfast 8am-12:30pm at SeWy-Co Fire Company Social Hall, Rte 378, Lower Saucon Twp. Prices range $7-$9. Sauconvalleylions.org Springtown Firehouse Breakfast 8am12:30pm. $7.50/adults, $4.50/ages 5-8, free under 4. Springtown Fire Co, 3010 Rte 212.
January 8
‘Half Price Everything Sale’ 9am-1pm at Pennridge Commun. Ctr Thrift Shop, Rtes 152 & 113, Silverdale. 215-453-7027.
January 10
Badge Squad: Just Like Real Life, 6:30pm7:30pm at Perkasie Library, 491 Arthur Ave. Make your own book out of recycled materials, draw a comic, etc. Best for K-8, all ages welcome! 215-257-9718 Who were the Mummers? (for kids, $5/child) 1:30pm-3pm, snack included. Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Ctr in Pennsburg. Register your child at 215-679-3103 or alyssa@schwenkfelder.com ‘Gingerbread Story Hour’ 10am. Come for stories & help us finish our gingerbread
playhouse. All ages welcome! Indian Valley Library, 100 Church Ave, Telford. 215-7239109, lvpl.org
January 12
Gi Gi Entertainment Presents – “Drag Me to the 80’s Show” 7pm-10pm at Quakertown Farmers Mkt, 201 Station Rd (Dept #201), Quakertown. $15/door. Adv. tkts info: 215-536-4115 Vole Quest, searching for the Wild Hamster, 1pm-2:30pm. No fee, pre-regis. required. Naturalist-led hike at Peace Valley Nature Ctr in Doylestown, 215-345-7860, peacevalleynaturecenter.org Designer Bag Bingo (open 6pm) 7pm at St. Isidore School, 603 W Broad St, Quakertown. Tkts: $30/adv, $35/door if available. Tkts: 215-536-6052. Pork & Sauerkraut Dinner 4:30pm until sold out. Meal is by donation at St. Andrew’s UCC, 615 E Walnut St, Perkasie. Info: Ken 215-257-7063.
January 14
“All About Clocks” AARP meeting 1pm at Upper Bucks Activity Ctr, 2183 Milford Sq Pike, Quakertown. Speaker: Ashley King (proprietor of Clock Trader in Qtown) 215-536-3066 ‘The Walking Purchase’ 7pm at West Rockhill Histor. Soc meeting at West Rockhill Twp Bldg, 1028 Ridge Rd, Sellersville. Westrockhillhistoricalsociety.org
January 17
The Making of Disney’s “Beauty & the Beast”by The Laymen Playmen community theater group at 10am. Info/regis. at 215-7235841. Free, informational presentation. (snow date Jan 24 at 10am)
January 18
Ott’s Silent Auction-Live Auction 5pm (Dept 201) at Quakertown Farmers Mkt, 201 Station Rd. Info: 215-536-4115. SCORE Business Launchpad Workshop 8:30am-11am at Homewood Suites, 250 Kelly Rd, Warrington. Make your business dream a reality! $20, Info/regis. at buckscounty.score. org
January 19
Llama Llama Pajama Party 11am at Perkasie Library, 491 Arthur Ave. Wear your pajamas to this special storytime & craft program celebrating Llama Llama books. Best for ages 3-6, all ages welcome. 215-257-9718 Antique Appraisal Fair 12noon-2pm at Quakertown Farmers Mkt, 201 Station Rd. Appraisals are verbal only, given on first come first serve basis. $6/one item or $10/two items, cash only. Two item max for appraisals. 215-536-4115. Nature Story Time 11am at Churchville Nature Ctr, 501 Churchville Ln, Churchville. Join us for an hour of stories while enjoying a warm fire in the woodstove. Children are free, must be w/adult. churchvillenaturecenter.org
January 20
‘American Girl Tea Time’ at Schwenkfelder Library, Pennsburg (Mary-Ellen Larkin 1954), 1:30pm-2:30pm, $3/child w/adult. Each tea features a different character. Call Alyssa to register for the Tea at 215-679-3103 or alyssa@schwenkfelder.com “Chart a New Course” Evening Vespers 5pm-6pm at St. John’s UCC, 538 E Thomas St, Coopersburg. Music by Craig Thatcher & David Cullen. Free Will offering. 610-2823310 or 267-221-8915.
January 24
Badge Squad: Crafty Creator, 6:30pm7:30pm at Perkasie Library, 491 Arthur
Ongoing Events & Resources Jan 9, 16, 23, 30 & Feb 6, 13, 20, 27- Naturalist Walks 1:30pm, free Wed events at peacevalleynaturecenter.org. Call 215-345-7860 if weather conditions are questionable. Free Dog Adoptions for Veterans & Active Military Members! Harley’s Haven Dog Rescue waives adoption fees. Ck website for more on Pups for Vets program. HarleysHavenDogRescue.com Morning storytime activities for infants thru age 6 at Samuel Pierce Library in Perkasie. Call 215-257-9718 for specific days, times & age group for your child. Allentown Art Museum is Free every Sunday, 12noon-4pm. Located at 31 N Fifth St, Allentown Job Seekers No Cost Workshops 1st & 3rd Monday every month, 7pm-9pm at Thompson Memorial Presbyterian, 1680 Aquetong Rd, New Hope PA. Contact Len Deane Jr. at DeaneL70@ Verizon.net. All are welcome! Hoagie Sales 2nd Mon of month (except July/ August) Trumbauersville Fire Co, 142 North Main St. Advance Orders Only due Wed. before. $5.75-$6.00, Order: Kim 215-536-1998 or bucks58fire.com Petco Adoption Day, 1st Sat of month, 1pm4pm. Petco, 242 N West End Blvd, Quakertown, 215-892-9007, lastchanceranch.org PetSmart Adoption Day, 2nd Sat of month, 11am-2pm. PetSmart, 620 N.West End Blvd, Quakertown, 215-538-2843, lastchanceranch. org Last Chance Ranch Volunteer Orientation/ Tour, 1st Sat of month, 10am-11am in front of Horse Barn, 9 Beck Rd, Quakertown, 215-5382510, lastchanceranch.org “Words Come Easy” Drop-in Writing Workshops at Haycock Community Ctr, 1014 Old Bethlehem Rd, Quakertown. (Tues 7-9pm) (Thurs 1-3pm) Cost/$10. More info at lyndagene@goblinfarm.net
Veteran Organizations & Activities
Forrest Lodge VFW, 2118 Old Bethlehem Pike, Sellersville. All veterans invited to join. Call Frank 215-679-7770 John Rivers Memorial VFW Post 11322 meets 1:30pm, 2nd Sun of month, 41 Belmont Ave, Quakertown, All Vets welcome, 67-371-9636 (bring DD 214 for proof eligibility) American Legion Post 210 meets 7:30pm, 1st Mon of month at Albert R Atkinson, Jr. American Legion Post 210, 315 North St, Doylestown. All Vets welcome, doylestownpost210.org Meghan’s Foundation Yoga Class for Veterans meets 6pm every Wed at Albert R Atkinson, Jr. American Legion Post 210, 315 North St, Doylestown. All Vets welcome, meghansfoundation.org VFW Post 175 meets 7pm, 2nd Mon of month at Albert R Atkinson, Jr. American Legion Post 210, 315 North St, Doylestown. doylestownpost175vfw.org Central Bucks Detachment Marine Corps League (MCL) meets 7:30pm, 2nd Wed of month at Albert R Atkinson, Jr. American Legion Post 210, 315 North St, Doylestown. All Marines welcome. American Legion Post 210 Auxillary meets 1pm, 3rd Sun of month at Albert R Atkinson, Jr. American Legion Post 210, 315 North St, Doylestown Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) meets 7:30pm, 3rd Mon of month at Albert R Atkinson, Jr. American Legion Post 210, 315 North St, Doylestown Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter 17 meets 6pm, 4th Mon of month at Albert R Atkinson, Jr. American Legion Post 210, 315 North St, Doylestown. davmembersportal.org/ chapters/pa/17/default.aspx
Support & Service Groups
Singles Connection for Adults meets 7pm Thursdays for social evening at Silverdale Brethren in Christ Church, 165 W. Main St, Silverdale. 215-593-9995, Sisters U Monthly Meetings 3rd Thurs of
month, 7pm-9pm in Perkasie. 267-429-3196, stef@sistersu.com AARP meets 1:30pm, 2nd Mon of month at Upper Bucks Activity Ctr, 2183 Milford Sq Pike, Quakertown. 215-536-3066, upperbucksac.org Family Education Program on Addiction meets 1st three Mondays monthly, 7pm at Presbyterian Church Deep Run, 16 Irish Meetinghouse Rd, Perkasie. Facilitators provide guidebook on understanding addiction, impact on family, next steps, support networks. Regis: 1-800-221-6333 SOS Survivors of Suicide Family Support Group at St. Luke’s Quakertown Hospital first Wednesday of month in Taylor Conference Room A, 7:30 - 9pm. 610-657-0811 Compassionate Friends Support Group (loss of children, siblings) meets 7:30pm-9pm the 2nd Tue of month. St. Luke’s Hosp, 1021 Park Ave, Quakertown. (Taylor Conf. Rms A & B) tcfquakertownpa.org or 267-380-0130 Brain Injury Family/Spousal/Partner Support Group 6pm-8pm the 3rd Monday of month. First UCC, 4th & Park Ave, Quakertown, 215-538-3488 Caregiver Support Group meets last Thurs. of month. Independence Court of Quakertown, 1660 Park Ave. RSVP: 215-541-9030 to attend a meeting. Ann Silverman Community Health Clinic (for uninsured eligible residents), 595 W State St, Doylestown. Call to schedule an eligibility appt. 215-345-2260. aschealthclinic.org Alzheimer’s Support Group at Phoebe Richland Health Care Ctr, 108 S. Main St, Richlandtown. Free, details: Social Services 267-371-4517, nkoval@phoebe.org NOVA (Network Of Victim Assistance) Support Groups, NOVA hotline 1-800-6756900, NOVABucks.org Bedminster Nar-Anon meets Tues 7pm, Deep Run West Mennonite, 1008 Deep Run Rd, Perkasie, (family/friends of those struggling w/ addiction) Bedminster.naranon@yahoo.com A Woman’s Place (support for domestic abuse/violence) 24-hour Hotline 1-800-2208116, www.awomansplace.org
Ave. Best for grades K-8, all ages welcome! 215-257-9718 ‘Toddler Time’ 10am-11am at Schwenkfelder Library in Pennsburg (enjoy a story, museum, make a craft & a snack) Free, but donations welcome. Details/register: Alyssa 215-6793103 or alyssa@schwenkfelder.com
January 26
QYBA 12U Coopersburg Team Beef & Beverage 6pm-10pm at Benner Hall, Cherry Rd, Quakertown. Tkts: $25/adv, $30/door. Info/tkts: Contact Steph at 215-518-4301. WWWA Wrestling at Quakertown Farmers Mkt, 201 Station Rd. Bell Time 6:30pm. Info: 215-536-4115.
January 27
Red Cross Blood Drive 10am-3pm outside Entrance #18 at Quakertown Farmers Mkt, 201 Station Rd. Appts preferred, walk-ins welcome. Register: redcrossblood.org (enter sponsor code: qmart) or call 800-RED CROSS St. Isidore Open House 10:30am-12noon at 603 W Broad St, Quakertown. For PreSchool age 3 to Grade 8. Bring the whole family! Meet our staff & students! 215-536-6052 or stisidoreschool.com
January 29
Yoga Storytime w/Jess 10:15am-11am at Perkasie Library, 491 Arthur Ave. Yoga & storytime class!. Bring water & wear comfy clothes. Mat or towel recommended but not necessary. Best for ages 4-6, all ages welcome. 215-257-9718.
February 8
“Art of Seating: 200 Yrs of American Furniture Design” (mid 1800s-today) 11am-1pm sneak peek! RSVP: cmeler@michenerartmuseum.org, 138 S Pine St, Doylestown. Exhibition runs Feb 9 to May 5, 2019. UB Kiwanis meets 1st Wed of month 7:30am at Panera Bread, 4th Wed of month 12:30pm at Dominick’s Pizza, Quakertown Quakertown Lions Club meets 2nd & 4th Wed of month, 7pm at John’s Plain & Fancy Restaurant, Quakertown Quakertown Rotary Club meets (1st & 3rd Tues 7:30am at John’s Plain & Fancy Restaurant) (2nd, 4th, & 5th Tues 6pm at Spinnerstown Hotel) Business Networking International (BNI) meets Thurs 7am-8:30am at John’s Plain & Fancy in Quakertown. Membership info: James Dodson – jamescovie@yahoo.com
Community Meals
Free Community Meal 2nd, 4th, & 5th Wed of month, 6pm. Richland Friends Quaker Meeting, Mill Rd & Main St (off Rte 309) Quakertown, 215-538-7555 Free Community Meal 3rd Thurs of month, 5:30pm-6:30pm. First UCC, 4th & Park, Quakertown, 215-536-4447 Free Community Meal 1st Thurs. of month (Oct-June) 5:45pm. Yerger Bldg across from Trinity Lutheran, 102 N Hellertown Ave, Quakertown Free Community Meal 3rd Mon of month, 5:30pm-6:30pm. Presbyterian Church of Deep Run, 16 Irish Meetinghouse Rd, Perkasie. Call 215-249-3689 for possible ride.
Bingo
Bingo - Milford Twp Fire Hall every Thur, 12:15pm (1st Thur. of month $50 Jackpot), 2183 Milford Square Pike, Quakertown, 215-536-3066 Bingo - Richland Twp Fire/Rescue every Tues, open 5:30pm, 64 Shelly Rd, Quakertown. 215-536-7226 Bingo - Great Swamp Fish/Game every Sat, open 4pm, (kitchen open) 2650 Schukraft Rd, Quakertown, 215-536-8820 Bingo - Sellersville Fire Co. every Thurs (except July) open 5pm, 2 N. Main St, 215-257-4028 Bingo - Tylersport Fire Co. every Tues, open 5:30pm, 125 Ridge Rd, 215-257-5900 Bingo - American Legion Post 397, 1st & 3rd Fri of month, open 6pm, 935 Main St, Hellertown, 484-851-3624
January 2019 • Upper Bucks Free Press •
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Miller Recognized for 25 Years of Service with Toys for Tots Program Retired Marine Kevin Miller of Richlandtown is still on Active Duty… with Toys for Tots. Miller’s involvement with the Marine Foundation program began when he was young and went with his father to drop off gently used toys to the YMCA and servicemen would fix them up before donating them to children in need. Miller officially started with Toys for Tots when he was active duty in the Marines because, according to him, “service is just what we do.” When he moved to the Quakertown area in 1994, they didn’t have much of a program here but certainly had a need. He went from two volunteers and three businesses then to about 45 volunteers now and this year 256 businesses east of the 309 corridor from North Wales to
Coopersburg. Miller says the requests continue to grow each year, and they had 7,700 kids needing toys this past Christmas. Each child receives 4-5 toys. The total number of toys collected in the region Miller coordinates topped 30,000 this past year. Miller was recognized by the Marine Foundation this past September for 25 years of service as a Toys for Tots Campaign Coordinator. Miller is a father of four, and a grandfather to two. Both of his sons are in the Marine Corp and plan to someday take their dad’s spot with the Central and Upper Bucks Toys for Tots programs. They have helped since they were children. Miller says he will finally retire when they take over one day.
Retired Marine Kevin Miller stands proudly with his son Lt. John Miller and brother Sgt. Major Keith Miller with some of the 30,000 toys that were rounded up from our community with Toys for Tots.
UBFP Monthly is made possible by the businesses and organizations you see on these pages. Remember to thank them for supporting your community’s voice.
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• Upper Bucks Free Press • January 2019
Trolley Barn Public Market STILL Growing, Welcomes 3rd Anchor Business Hewn Spirits BY CHRISTOPHER BETZ The word STILL is an important factor here. The Trolley Barn Public Market has just signed an agreement with its third anchor tenant, Hewn Spirits of Pipersville, to relocate its distilling operation to the Market on East Broad Street in Quakertown. The family owned business, founded in March 2014 by Sean Tracy, also has a retail location at Peddler’s Village in Lahaska. Developer Chris LaBonge is very excited to add Hewn to the growing mix of independent businesses setting up shop at the Public Market. “One of the things we were looking for from the beginning for our venue was a vendor who would come in and actually ‘produce’ on site. Not only will Hewn have a tasting room, but also another area where we can tell the story of what he does and how he does it. Customers who really want an experience will get exactly what we provide. Two Rivers [Brewing] and Black River Winery are also aiming to provide experiences with their pairings and tasting events.” LeBonge is working with a number of potential and likely vendors that match his vision for the unique ‘flavor’ of the Market, though not necessarily all food and drink. “You’re not coming in for a product. You’re coming for an experience, but you’re leaving with a product because you like the experience you had.” Sean Tracy certainly aims to provide that experience and plans to be a big part of helping others to do the same. “This is a fresh start that is going to blossom in town! What we [the Market vendors] are doing is not only going to benefit us, but also benefit the community. We’re going to feed off of each other. There is a great group of other tenants coming along that we believe in and that have a track record… very symbiotic sorts of businesses. It’s exciting, and at the end of the day, the excitement is not just for us, but for the whole community. Hopefully
we’ll become a destination. The building is clearly incredible with lots of character and history. That is a huge part of where I come from and what we’ve wanted to do in the next chapter of Hewn’s life… incorporate our sort of vibe in the building that just enhances the entire experience for us as well as our customers and neighbors.” Tracy refers to the property developers, fellow vendors, and the folks in the borough fostering economic development as a team working together. “There’s a lot of energy here with the team and it’s just a lot of exciting stuff.” Quakertown Borough’s economic development consultant, Ed Scholl, could not agree more. “This project has been a long time in the making. A lot of successful and dedicated people are reshaping the business landscape in Quakertown, and the Trolley Barn Public Market is shaping up to be a huge part of that effort. Between Chris LaBonge, Andy [Warner] at Black River [Winery], and Troy [Reynard] and the guys at Two Rivers [Brewing], this is definitely a team to be excited about. These guys all make great things happen!” Hewn Spirits will occupy 2300 square feet of space inside the Market which brings the total leased space thus far to roughly 6000 square feet. The main building measures about 14,000 square feet. While not a lot of actual physical activity has taken place over the past several months at the Market site, there has been a ton of work being done to put all the puzzle pieces together to make the Trolley Barn Public Market a truly unique destination full of experiences to be had. Stay tuned for a few more exciting announcements to come in the next several weeks. Expect the Market to be open, at least in part, by early to mid-2019. Visit trolleybarnpublicmarket.com to stay up to date on the entire project, and visit hewnspirits.com to learn more about Sean Tracy and the folks at Hewn Spirits.
Church of the Brethren Prepares Christmas Aid All Year Long At First Church of the Brethren in Quakertown, preparing for Christmas is a year-round process. Since 2000, members and friends in the community have partnered with Operation Christmas Child to share God’s love by providing simple gift-filled shoeboxes to children around the world who are affected by war, poverty, natural disaster, famine and disease. The boxes are filled with school supplies, hygiene items, clothing and other fun items such as stuffed animals, balls and dolls. Operation Christmas Child is a project of the international relief organization Samaritan’s Purse. Since 1993, more than 146 million boxes have been distributed in more than 160 countries and territories. Each year, the world’s largest Christmas project mobilizes more than 100,000 volunteers in theUnited States. Members of the community are invited to join the activities at First Church of the Brethren to prepare items which will be shipped during National Collection Week, which is the third
week of November each year. Missions Workshops are held on the first Thursday of each month at 7 pm in the church basement. People of all ages meet to have fellowship and open packages, assemble kits or make craft items to be included in the boxes. Sunshine Stitchers meets on the third Thursday of each month at 7 pm in the church library to knit, crochet or craft items. Everyone is welcome to bring their own project, or supplies can be provided as we visit with other stitchers who share a passion for blessing others with their handiwork. Our annual Packing Parties are held each fall. Many hands are needed to help fill the shoeboxes, which are packed according to gender and age. Last year we held six Packing Parties and filled over 2500 shoeboxes. Donations are always appreciated and welcome at any time. For more information, please visit quakertowncob.org or samaritanspurse.org/occ or email qtownocc@gmail.com.
Sean Tracy (right), owner and founder of Hewn Spiritsof Pipersville, has just signed an agreement with Trolley Barn Public Market developer, Chris LaBonge (left), to bring his distilling company to the Trolley Barn on East Broad Street in Quakertown. Hewn Spirits will occupy 2300 square feet of the 14000 square foot building. This photo shows some of the grandeur of the building and the space where Hewn will set up shop. (That wall is nearly 30 feet high!)l photo by christopher betz
Protecting your Collections All of us have art, antiques, and collectibles that we have acquired over the years. No matter what family heirlooms we have or what antiques we like to collect, there are few things we should all know about our collections and protecting them. Here are some tips about donations, obtaining insurance, and tax implications. You want to make a donation? Here are some of the rules for making charitable donations according to the Internal Revenue Service. Before you make decisions about donations or financial matters, it is always wise to consult with a tax professional or accountant. This information should not be used in place of a consultation from a professional financial advisor or other expert in the field of tax preparation, accounting, etc. Tax Deductions You may receive a tax deduction for a donated item’s full value up to 30% of your adjusted gross income. If you donate a collection while you are still alive, you must be sure to make the donation properly. It is a little-known fact but in order to command the biggest tax deduction for your donation, your donation must be for related-use. What’s that? If you are gifting a work of art to an organization that is typically not in the business of displaying art, then your donation may not be considered related-use. So, you cannot get the full benefit for your donation if you donate your art to that charitable organization. But, if you donate your art to an organization or charity that displays art on a regular basis like a museum, then that is related-use and you can expect a higher tax deduction for your donation. Donations are complex but insurance is pretty straightforward. The deal with insurance for your art, antiques, or collectibles is simple. If something you’ve collected is valuable—based on monetary or sentimental value—then, you’ve got to protect it with insurance. If you don’t insure it and something happens to it, you are out of luck. I think it is worth paying the premium to protect your valuables.
Insurance How do you get insurance? You need a current appraisal of value for your collection which meets the standards set by the insurance industry. Accordingly, personal property appraisals for art, antiques, and collectibles should be updated every 3-5 years. Insurance coverage should be considered for your valuable collections, fine art, collectible objects, books, antiques, couture, historic documents, jewelry, wines, spirits, etc. Today, the appraisal process can be started online with a photograph and some basic information or with a video chat conference using FaceTime, Skype, Zoom, Google Duo, etc. Inheritance When it comes to inheritance and you are thinking about leaving your collection to an heir like children, grandchildren, or friends, then you need to know this new information. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 offers tax savings and changes to the inheritance laws. The new law doubles the estate tax exemption to $11.2 million for an individual ($22.4 million for a couple) and this will expire in 2025. Check in with your financial advisor and tax professional to see how this may impact your planning. Seasoned financial advisors tell their clients to collect those objects that are likely to appreciate the most in value. That’s good advice. But, do you know what items are most likely to increase or appreciate in value? History shows us that investing in fine art, antique furniture, historic documents, specialty wines and spirits, and jewelry will bring a good return on investment in most cases. Those types of items have historically maintained their value or increased in value over time. When it comes to protecting your collections, consider donations, insurance, and inheritance wisely. Dr. Lori Verderame is the author and award-winning TV personality who appears on HISTORY channel’s #1 show, The Curse of Oak Island as the artifacts expert for the popular treasure hunting program. With a Ph.D. from Penn State University and experience appraising 20,000 antiques every year, Dr. Lori presents antique appraisal events to worldwide audiences.
DrLoriV.com (888) 431-1010
January 2019 • Upper Bucks Free Press •
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3 Reasons Americans Count on Their Homes after Retirement Retirees who own their homes outright are often at an advantage over their renting—and retired— counterparts. There are two reasons for this: their housing costs are generally lower, and they have access to safety-net cash in the form of home equity. However, all homeownership is not created equal, explains Russ Thornton, financial advisor at Wealth Care for Women in Atlanta. For example, if you move often, owning a home outright by age 62 can be challenging. For most people, a 30-year mortgage is the norm. If you plan to retire by 65, then you would have to buy a home by 35 and stay in it to retire mortgage-free. “Those who keep their homes for years and years and years tend to grow equity, which can be a wealth-builder,” says Thornton. “If there’s a reasonably high likelihood that you’re going to stay in the same home for 10 years or more, then you should probably buy. If you move every few years into more expensive houses, then you might not get the same benefits from homeownership as those who stay in one place.” Devising a long-term plan, including what homeownership looks like in retirement, is important, Thornton says. Since the big goal for retirement is to eliminate as many expenses as possible, erasing a monthly housing payment is optimal. In essence, renters who plan on staying in the same general area for years to come should consider buying. 1. They can say goodbye to mortgage payments. When people retire, the money coming in usually shrinks, which means so should the money going out. A mortgage payment is one expense soon-to-be retirees should try to retire before they do. “If you can be mortgage-free by the time you reach retirement, you’ll be in a good position. Retirees need to reduce their cost of living and owning a home is a good way to do that,” Thornton says. Mortgage-free retirees can save hundreds or thousands of dollars each month. Even with property insurance, which costs an average of $93 per month, and taxes, the cost of owning a home is often less than renting. Not only can retirees save on their housing costs; they can also make money on their homes. Retirees who travel can earn money while they’re on vacation through sites like Airbnb. Another option to get extra cash flow is to rent a room, Thornton says. Downsizing can also save you money. Going from a large family home to a cozy condo or smaller house can reduce utility costs as well as allow you to cash out some equity in your home to fatten your nest egg. For people not ready to sell, there are other options that allow you to tap the equity while keeping the house. 2. They can access home equity, if needed. With working years behind you, having a backup generator of cash is a good thing. There are several ways homeowners can tap the equity in their home without putting up a for-sale sign; two of the most common ways are a cash-out refinance and a home equity line of credit, or HELOC. Equity-rich homeowners who want to lower their mortgage interest rate might consider a cash-out refinance. This increasingly popular option hit peak numbers in the second quarter of this year, reaching $16 billion of equity cashed out, the highest since 2008, according to a report by Freddie Mac. A cash-out refinance is almost like selling your house to yourself. The bank would cut you a check for the equity, which is the difference between what you owe on the house and the market value. If your home is worth $200,000 and you owe $100,000, then you have $100,000 of equity in the home. Banks usually limit the amount you get to 80 percent of the total equity. That means with $100,000 in equity, the bank might give you $80,000. The amount you qualify for is usu-
ally based on income, credit score and other determining factors. Now comes the tricky part: When you do a cash-out refinance, you’ll get a new mortgage. If your interest rate is high because of poor credit or market conditions and you think you have a chance of getting a lower interest rate with a new mortgage, then a cash-out refinance might be an appealing way to access your equity; however, if your mortgage interest rate increases with a new mortgage, then you should consider other options, such as a HELOC. Something else to keep in mind is the fact that a new mortgage usually means going back to square one if you choose a longer term. If your house is a few years away from being paid off, restarting the clock is probably not a good financial move. You’ll end up paying years more in interest and increasing your debt burden. 3. Even with a mortgage, they have liquidity options. For people who want to keep their homes and existing mortgages while tapping their home equity, one alternative is a HELOC. HELOC lenders use the equity in your home as collateral to extend lines of credit over a fixed amount of time. Like a cash-out refinance, lenders typically cap the credit amount at 80 percent of the total equity. Some places, like Navy Federal Credit Union, go up to 95 percent of the total equity. The benefits of HELOCs are that you only pay on what you use and the interest is tax-deductible if you use it to repair or upgrade your home. For retirees who want to retrofit their homes to make life easier, such as installing stair lifts, grab bars and handrails, a HELOC could be a good way to fund those upgrades and get a tax break. Before you decide on a lender, make sure you understand the terms of the HELOC and any associated fees, says Johnna Camarillo, assistant vice president of Equity Processing and Closing at Navy Federal Credit Union. Some lenders might charge a service fee or a fee if you have a zero balance. Likewise, some lenders require a balloon payment at the end of the loan, which could put some borrowers in hot water. Balloon payments are typically large payments owed at the end of a loan. If a borrower hasn’t sufficiently prepared for that payment, then the loan could go into default and you could risk losing your home. “Before you get a HELOC, ask yourself: ‘Can I afford the payments if I max this thing out?’ Every person is different, so it’s important to look at your budget and not overspend,” Camarillo warns. Retirees who own their home are going to qualify for a HELOC easier than someone who holds a mortgage, which is beneficial if emergencies come up and you need to borrow a chunk of cash. HELOCs normally have lower interest rates than credit cards or personal loans, making them an attractive option for homeowners. It’s important to remember that once you use that equity, it will likely take years and even decades to rebuild it. Plan Ahead for Retirement For folks nearing retirement who still owe on a mortgage, paying off that loan should be high on your list. If you plan on retiring in 10 years, then try to put more money toward your principal or even consider refinancing from a 30-year mortgage into a 15-year mortgage to lower your interest rate and repay the loan faster. The dual benefits of lowering your living expenses and having access to cash in emergencies are great reasons to sail into retirement without a home loan springing a leak in your budget. Sue Deily has been a Realtor® for 33 years, resides in the Upper Bucks Area and enjoys serving her clients in Bucks, Lehigh and Montgomery Counties. Contact her at suesellshouses@gmail.com or 215-872-9865.
Sellersville Seeks Volunteers for Borough Revitalization Commitee The Borough of Sellersville is seeking volunteers to serve on the Borough’s Revitalization Committee. The committee will be tasked with providing ideas to improve aesthetics, expand business and encourage economic development in Sellersville. Interested parties are encouraged
to write a letter of interest by January 18, 2019, stating any relevant experience along with contact information to : Sellersville Borough Manager, 140 E. Church Street, Sellersville, PA 18960 or at sellersville@sellersvilleboro.org.
Homa Joins QNB Bank
Jonas Homa was recently named Vice President, Commercial Lending Officer at QNB Bank. He is responsible for business development of commercial loans, traditional banking and cash management services, and loan portfolio management. Jonas has been in banking for 17 years. In his previous employment, he served as Vice President, Commercial
Lender for OceanFirst Bank. Jonas earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Jonas lives in Perkasie, PA with his family. He remains active in his community where he serves as a volunteer and coach for Pennridge Little League Baseball as well as Pennridge Yellow Jackets Soccer.
Here Today, Gone Tomorrow Farewell, 2018. Welcome, 2019! I am trying to wrap my mind around the fact that we are already nineteen years into the 21st century. My thoughts travel back to the year 2000; remember, the “millennium bug” aka Y2K? For those of us who had been born in the 20th century, it was an adjustment. We were used to saying 1950 or 1993, and suddenly we are in the year two thousand. So, what do we say? The previous year was nineteen ninety-nine. Was the first year in the 21st century twenty-00, or was it just two thousand? And then, was 2001 two thousand one, or was it twenty-01? After nineteen years, I believe each of us have chosen how we express the 21st century year. My preference is twenty-nineteen, but however we convey the year, the fact is – as my mother used to say – time is here today, gone tomorrow. I often think back to my twenty-seven years living in rural East Rockhill Township, before I moved “Uptown.” They were the days when events occurred in the world, but they did not consume every second of our daily lives. The media kept people abreast of major events such as the Korean War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Bay of Pigs. I remember when Sputnik 1 and 2 were launched by the Soviet Union, and a few years later Explorer 1 was launched by America. I heard it on the radio. Those three events were difficult for the older generation to grasp. Their sentiments were, “Why in the world are they spending money to send missiles into space when there are hungry children in America?” I also remember a month or so after Sputnik 1 was launched, there was a period of rainy weather. My mother insisted that it was caused by ‘those missiles’ interfer-
ing with the atmosphere. Those missile launchings remind me of the threat of a nuclear attack on America by Russia, and the weekly air raid drills we would have in elementary schools in the 1950’s. We were taught to “duck and cover.” Our oneroom schoolhouse had two grades and thirty students. When we heard the siren, we would duck under our desks and cover our heads. That was to prevent any flying debris from hitting and injuring us; however, we would not be protected from radiation and radioactive fallout. As children, we did not know that. We just trusted our teacher who had told us that we would be safe. Thankfully, that worst fear of destruction never occurred. We did not have a television in our home, so the news of the day was captured by our 1950’s Motorola radio. Children knew that something important or extreme had happened when the adults would gather around the radio intently listening to the news anchor. The difference in reporting events during that era is that there was no Internet and no social media. You had to rely on radio, black and white television (if you were lucky enough to own one), the daily newspaper, and the party-line telephone to discuss what was occurring. I remember those 20th Century days fondly, and today, in 2019, I continue to collect 21st Century memories that will be here today and gone tomorrow. Thank you for reading “The World as I See It” in 2018. I appreciate your feedback via email and in person. I wish you a blessed New Year. Jacque Holliday is a long time freelance contributor to UBFP. She always welcomes your comments via email at jacque@ubfp.org
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• Upper Bucks Free Press • January 2019
Upper Bucks Area Places of Worship Bible Baptist Church
First United Methodist Church
dl in Strayer Middle School Cafeteria 1200 Ronald Reagan Drive, Quakertown 267-772-0288 www.biblebaptistcares.org Pastor: Tom Harris Bible Study Hour 9:30 am, Morning Worship 10:30 am, Services interpreted for the deaf
501 Market Street, Perkasie 215-257-4626 fumcperkasie@verizon.net www.fumcperkasie.com Pastor: Scott Dorn Sunday Worship Schedule: 9am Contemporary service; 10:30am Traditional Worship
Christ Church United Church of Christ
101 N. Main Street Trumbauersville, PA 18970 215-538-0142 christchurch10@verizon.net www.christchurchisalive.org Pastor: David Heckler A friendly, welcoming church. Change fear into hope, doubt into faith. God is calling. Join us at 11am Sunday. Halleleujah!
Christ’s Lutheran Church
1 Luther Lane, Trumbauersville 215-536-3193 Pastor: Carolann Hopcke 9:00am Worship, 10:15 Sunday School Free Drive-in Movies Friday evenings June through August, Handicapped accessible, Family Friendly Church
Church of the Incarnation
44 S. 8th Street, Quakertown 215-538-3787 Ardores@verizon.net www.IncarnationQuakertown.org Pastor: Most Rev. Thomas J. Kleppinger Traditional worship, Biblical faith Sunday 10:30am, Holy Days as announced.
Emmanuel Episcopal Church
560 S. Main Street Quakertown, PA 18951 215-536-3040 emmanuelchurch11@yahoo.com www.emmanuelquakertown.org Sunday service at 10am, Visitors and new members always welcome!
Evangel Assembly of God
401 Arch Street, Perkasie 215-453-1565 Where God’s Love Changes Lives
First United Church of Christ Fourth Street & Park Avenue, Quakertown 215-536-4447 info@firstUCC.net www.firstUCC.net facebook.com/FirstUCCQuakertown Co-Pastors: Douglas & Joyce Donigian Traditional worship Sunday 9:15am, Alternative worship Sunday 5:15pm, Community dinners every 3rd Thursday 5:30pm
Good News Church 424 Juniper Street, Quakertown 215-536-4393 Pastor: David Markey, Jr. An alternative to the ultra-contemporary Sunday Worship and Children’s Church 10:30 am, Wednesday Bible Study 7:30pm, World Evangelism Fellowship affiliate.
Good Shepherd Church (Episcopal) 1634 Hilltown Pike, Hilltown 215-822-3930 Pastor: The Rev. Catherine Kerr 10:00am Sunday Eucharist
Grace Bible Fellowship Church 1811 Old Bethlehem Pike N., Quakertown 215-536-6096 grace@quakertownbfc.org www.quakertownbfc.org Sr. Pastor: Ron Kohl Sunday School for all ages, 10:10am Morning Worship, Evening 1st & 3rd Sundays 6:30pm; Small group meetings 2nd & 4th Sundays 6:30pm; Tues: Ladies Bible Study 9:30am; Wed: AWANA (2 yrs – 6th grade) & Teens for Christ 6:30pm, Adult Bible Study 7pm.
Morning Star Fellowship 429 S. 9th Street, Quakertown 215-529-6422 Pastor: John Decker www.mstarqtown.org Services at 9am & 11am, Children’s Ministry provided, EastWest Cafe open with free coffee. Celebrate recovery Tuesday 7pm. Check website for more info.
Richland Friends Meeting (Quaker)
Trinity Great Swamp UCC
Ridge Valley UCC
Trinity Lutheran Church
Main St at Mill Rd & Park Ave, Quakertown 215-538-7555 Friends@RichlandQuakers.org www.RichlandQuakers.org Clerk: Jack H. Schick Non-Denominational guided meditations Wed, 7pm Sunday worship 10:30am “Absolute freedom of thought and worship is our faith and practice.” 905 Allentown Road, Sellersville 215-257-7244 rvucc.pastor@verizon.net www.ridgevalleyucc.org Pastor: Rev. Steve Myren We are a vibrant, welcoming Family of Faith. Worship: Sundays 9:30am. Ridge Valley: Growing Together in God’s Love.
St. John’s Lutheran Church of Spinnerstown
1565 Sleepy Hollow Rd, Spinnerstown 215-536-0734 stjohnsspinnerstown@gmail.com www.stjohnsofspinnerstown.org Pastor: The Rev. Axel Kaegler Worship service 9:45am, Sunday School 9 – 9:45am – 3 years through 6th grade, Nursery: 6 mo through age 8.
St. John’s Lutheran Ridge Valley
910 Allentown Road, West Rockhill Twp 215-257-9643 stjohnsridgevalley910@gmail.com www.stjohnsridgevalley.com Pastor: Amy Hotter 8:30am Traditional - 10:15am w/praise band. Grape juice & gluten-free wafers available. Adult Forum 9:40, Handicapped accessible. All invited and welcome to Share the Joy!
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Applebachsville
Quakertown United Methodist Church
837 Old Bethlehem Road, Quakertown 215-536-5789 stpauls@netcarrier.com www.stpaulsqtown.org Pastor: Rev. David Heckler We believe in sharing God’s love in joyful service. Come and see. All are welcome.
1875 Freier Road, Quakertown 215-536-4992 barb@qumc.com www.qumc.com Pastor: Rev. Dr. Thomas S. Robinson III Sunday morning worship: 8:00am, 9:00am 11:00am Sunday School for all ages 10:00amCommunion on first Sunday of the month at all services.
104 Green Street, Sellersville 215-257-7268 stacey@stpaulsucc.net www.stpaulsucc.net Pastor: Rev. John Steitz 8am Rejoice & Praise Worship in Parlor, 9am Sunday School for all ages, 10:15 Worship in Sanctuary, Prayer Shawl Ministry 1st & 3rd Tuesdays 1 to 3pm.
9150 Spinnerstown Road Spinnerstown 215-679-7710 office@tgsucc.org www.tgsucc.org Pastor: TBD Sunday worship: 9:00am; Sunday School classes (K-Adult) 10:15am; Family activities throughout the year. 102 N. Hellertown Avenue, Quakertown 215-536-4345 www.trinityquakertown.org Pastor: Lynette R. Chapman 9am Traditional Service, 11am; Contemporary Service, 10:30am FaithQuest, 10:15am; Handicapped accessible, Family friendly Church, Dynamic Music Ministry, Living God’s Love for All.
Victory Fellowship Church
120 Ridge Road, Telford 215-453-9988 victoryfellowshippa@gmail.com www.victoryfellowshippa.org Pastor: Dr. Virgil A. Mobley Full Gospel.A friendly, loving, and joyful church where the presence of God is in His house. Check out our website.
To have your place of worship included in this directory, please contact Terri Roger at 215-529-8915 ext 11 or email at terri@ubfp.org
St. Paul’s United Church of Christ
~Obituary~
Charles S. Gambino, Age 92 former longtime resident of Ambler died Saturday, December 29, 2018 at his home in Harleysville. Born in Dresher, PA, he was the son of the late Frank and Josephine (nee De Marco) Gambino. Mr. Gambino attended Ambler High School Class of 1944 and served in the US Army during WWII. He was a Master Plumber and a 50 year member of Plumbers Local 690, Philadelphia
retiring in 1988 and a member of St. Anthony of Padua Church in Ambler. Charles is the beloved husband of Rena “Irene” (nee Zaffarano) Gambino being married for 72 years. He is the devoted father of Stephanie D. Rondinelli and her husband David of Abington, Rita E. Woodward and husband Larry of Hilltown, and Charles S. Gambino and his wife Mary of North Rose, NY. He is the loving Grandfather of 6, Great Grandfather of 7 and Great Great Grandfather of 3. Remembrances in his name to St. Anthony’s Memorial Fund, 259 Forest Ave., Ambler, PA 19002 would be appreciated by the family.
Classic Hair Designs Established salon seeking experienced stylists, nail technician, and massage therapist, shampoo assistant. If you are a motivated & creative artist looking for a new place to express your talents we would like to meet you! Send your resume to classichairdesigns1@gmail. com. We use top quality products and offer education, paid vacation, flexibility and a relaxing atmosphere to work.
Spor’s General Store - Hiring cook and waitstaff PT. Evenings and weekends likely. Respond to bspor@sporsgeneralstore.com or stop in the store at 22 W. Broad Street,Trumbauersville
Kulp Roofing & Construction Seeking a window, gutter, and siding installer. Carpentry skills a plus, reliability a must! Willing to train right individual. Compensation depends upon experience. Also hiring for our sales team. Applications accepted at our office at 216 D Apple Street, Quakertown. Questions? Call (215) 538-0618.
Independence Court - Senior Personal Care Community is seeking part-time evening and every other weekend wait staff to join our team. Responsibilities include setting and clearing tables and serving meals to residents in a courteous and professional manner. Apply in person at 1660 Park Ave. Quakertown, PA 18951 215-538-7050 E.O.E.
Employment Opportunities
New Vitae Wellness & Recovery - Hiring for a variety of jobs from maintenance to client care. Visit goo.gl/e2BRMY to view opportunities. The Proper Brewing Company - Hiring various positions. Email kris@theproperbrewing. com or stop in at 117 W. Broad St., Quakertown Children’s Developmental Program FT Assistant Preschool Teacher. 2 years experience with children, and a CDA. Send resume to CDP_office@cdp children.org Upper Bucks YMCA - Childcare Teacher’s Assistant Group Supervisor Member Service Associate, Asst. Swim Team Coach, Babysitter. All include full Y membership. Call 215-536-YMCA (9622) or stop in to apply at 401 Fairview Avenue, Quakertown. Edible Arrangements - PT Associate: Preparing, designing, and dipping fruit in chocolate, customer service. Must be flexible with hours based on the needs of the store. For more information, please contact Mike Post at: pa1550@dofruit.com Geoff’s Towing & Garage - Professional tow truck operators. Neat appearance, courtesy and professionalism is a must! Rollback operators, Medium and Heavy-Duty Wrecker drivers with Class A. Must have medical card. FT/ PT positions available. Send resumes to geoffstowspeed@ aol.com or call 267-733-2690
Hiring? Let us help you find the right people to join your team! hiring@ubfp.org
January 2019 • Upper Bucks Free Press •
Think Local. Work Local. Be Local.
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some awards handed out. The post handed out scholarship donations to its 2018 Patriots Pen essay winners and its Voice of Democracy award winner. The winners of the Patriot’s Pen essay were 1st place Kiel Magalengo, 2nd place Calla Abel and 3rd place Erica Gildea. The winner of the Voice of Democracy winner was Matthew Bernabei. The Post’s second place winner was Alexandra Brandis. John Rivers Veterans Center would like to thank those that supported our annual Christmas Ornament fundraiser. There were over 70 ornaments made. The John Rivers Memorial VFW Post 11322 would like to thank the places that supported its newsletter called the Rivers Sound in 2018. We are always looking for organizations or people to sponsor this newsletter. To donate to this VFW please send it to 41 Belmont Ave. Quakertown, PA 18951 or call us at 215-529-0500 Thank you to the community for your continued support. Keep your eyes, and ears open in the next couple of months. The post will be having special community events in the months of February and March. The post’s community support was greatly appreciated in 2018. The members of the post wish you a “Happy New Year.” ~ Commander Paul Gerhart, Jr.
VFW Post 11322 Winter Update
“I want to be playing into January for the rest of my career... God willing.” - Carson Wentz
BY PAUL GERHART
The post wants to thank those that donated to our food, clothes and hygiene collection in November. With this support we were able to help support 9 Veterans and families for Thanksgiving. For Christmas we were able to help 11 Veterans and their families. John Rivers Memorial VFW Post 11322 also supported a homeless shelter called “Victory House.” This VFW has been quite active since its last article. In the month of December members of this post visited over 100 Veteran’s in the nursing homes. This was done before Christmas to deliver some Christmas cheer. We delivered Christmas bags with various items. Each Veteran received a special form of a lap blanket. Thank you to various people or organizations that donated their time and talent to make them. The community support was just amazing this year. Some organizations also made handmade hats, hearts, cards and scarves. With the time and talent of those that made them we will be going to other nursing homes in the next couple of months and deliver lap blankets and special cards to Veterans in other surrounding nursing homes. The post held its annual Christmas luncheon. A surprise visit by Santa Claus put smiles on children’s faces. At the luncheon there were
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• Upper Bucks Free Press • January 2019
Helen B. (Bonsall) Preston, 99, of Richlandtown, previously of Cape May, New Jersey, passed away on Thursday, November 29 at Phoebe Richland Nursing Center, in Richlandtown. She was the loving wife to Joseph L. Preston. Born in Philadelphia, she was a daughter of the late Charles & Genevieve (Creely) Bonsall. Helen was a mechanical inspector for Vector, Inc. in Trevose, Pennsylvania. Helen was a very active member in activities at her church, such as the food bank. She was a very intelligent and petite lady. She was so small she would be able to inspect the rivets in the airplane by going inside them. She was a member of Daughters of American Revolution (DAR) and Cape May Patriots, New Jersey. Surviving are her children: Charles, wife Barbara of Quakertown & Daniel, wife Shirley of Blandon, Pennsylvania; 10 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren & great-great grandchildren and sister Marjorie Prentice. She was predeceased by her daughter: JoAnn DeFerdinando and sister Nancy Schultz. Inurnment will be in Sunset Memorial Park, Feasterville-Trevose, Pennsylvania. www.nauglefcs.com John M. Kelso, 78 of Milford Township died Monday December 3, 2018 in his home. He was the husband of Lynn M. (Moll) Kelso. They celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary last March. Born in Easton, he was the son of the late Granville and Marion (Matthews) Kelso. John was presently serving as the First Vice President of the Upper Bucks Senior Center. He was also a trustee of the local AARP. He was a lifetime member of the Trumbauersville Fire Co. and a member of First UCC in Quakertown. In addition to his wife he is survived by a daughter Tracy Kelso and her husband Paul Ruocco, a son Matt and a brother, Jim and his wife Gay. In honor of John’s wishes there will be no services. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to First UCC Church, 151 S.
~Obituaries~
4th St. Quakertown PA 18951 or to the Upper Bucks Senior Center, 2183 Milford Square Pike, P.O. Box 46 Quakertown PA 18951. The C. R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc. (www.crstrunk.com), Quakertown, is in charge of arrangements.
Christopher
J. Macort, 52, of passed away on Tuesday, December 4 at Abington Memorial Hospital, Abington, PA. Born on August 29, 1966, he was a son of the late John Macort, Jr. and the late Janice (Mazeal) Macort. He was the husband of Lynne M. (Diener) Macort for the past 24 years. He was a devoted husband, father, and brother. Chris proudly served his country in the Marine Corps. He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans – Post #132 (Mt. Pocono) and the Albrightsville VFW – Post #294 and the Allentown American Legion – Post #576. He attended Calvary Church, Souderton. In addition to his wife, he is survived by three children all at home: sons Ryan and Cohen and daughter Katelyn; and a brother, James Macort of Hellertown. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to https://www.gofundme.com/ make-a-difference-for-the-macorts. Springtown,
Giuseppina Bandini, 95 of Trumbauersville, passed away on Tuesday December 4, 2018. She was the wife of the late Fileno Bandini. There will be no services. Arrangements are in the care of the C. R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc. (crstrunk.com) Quakertown. Gloria J. (Yocum) Moyer, 93, of Upper Saucon Twp., passed away on Tuesday, December 4 at her home. Born February 11, 1925, she was a daughter of the late John R. & Pearl L. (Green) Yocum. She was the wife of the late Edmund A. Moyer, Sr. who passed in 2017.
She was a member of Calvary Bible Fellowship Church, Coopersburg. Prior to retiring, she was an accountant for Safe Guard for 30 years. She took a home decorating course at Temple University – Ambler Campus. She had also attended the Lansdale Business School & Montgomery County Community College. Surviving are sons: Edmund Jr. & wife Faith of Lake Stevens, WA, Bruce & wife Ginger of San Jose, CA, William & wife Patricia of Lansdale, PA; daughter Arleen wife of Patrick Fernandez of West Lake Village, CA; brothers David Yocum & wife Sheila of Canada, Theodore Yocum of Ohio; sisters Patricia Beair of Coopersburg, Ada Rohs of Dublin, PA, Margery Steinklauss of New Mexico; nine grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. She was predeceased by sisters Geraldine, Laurel, June, and brothers John, Robert, and Mark. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Calvary Bible Fellowship Church, 6782 N. Main Street; Coopersburg, PA 18036. www. nauglefcs.com
Joyce Gross Seigel, 69, of Dublin, died on December 5, 2018 at Doylestown Hospital. She was the loving wife of James “Jim” T. Seigel for 45 years. Born in Doylestown, she was the daughter of the late Arthur “Spike” & Erwinna “Winnie” (Ward) Gross. Joyce graduated from Central Bucks High School and earned an Associates Degree from Lansdale School of Business. She was co-owner of Country Travel in Doylestown and she worked alongside her sister Judy at Gross’ Gourmet Foods in Doylestown. Joyce is survived by her husband James T. Seigel and children: Jim Rose and wife Lynn of Murrysville, PA, and Jill (Rose) Tappert and husband Steve of Boulder, CO; grandchildren: Justin, Alyssa, Abigail, and Calvin; sister: Judy McGuire and husband Dennis of Doylestown and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews & extended family. Memorial contributions can be made to the National Kidney Foundation of the Delaware Valley, 111 South Independence Mall East, Suite 411, Philadelphia, PA 19106. www.nauglefcs.com Richard Carl Miller, 76, of Quakertown, passed away on Friday, December 7 at St. Luke’s Hospital, Quakertown, PA. He was the loving husband of Alda Elaine (Young) Miller for 55 years. Born on August 29, 1942, he was the son of the late Marcus Oliver and Elva May (Beahm) Miller of Springtown, PA. He graduated from Palisades High School in 1960 where he proudly played trumpet in both the jazz and marching bands. As a graduate of Penn State University, he began his career as a Structural Steel Detailer at Bethlehem Steel from 1962 until the mid-1980’s. He later worked for Evans’ Steel Detailing until 1992, when he co-founded H&M Detailers, Inc. (Telford, PA). He retired in 2007. He was a Past Master and member of Quakertown Masonic Lodge #512 F & AM for over 50 years and an active member of First United Church of Christ, Quakertown, PA. His favorite hobby was working in his vegetable garden – affectionately known as “Pop Pop’s Hide-A-Way.” In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children: Wendy Slifer (husband John), Audrey Fletcher (husband Jay) and Richard Miller, all residing in Quakertown, and by his seven adored grandchildren, Brett and Alayna Slifer, Liam, Carlie and Simon Fletcher, Erin and Sean Miller. Interment will be at Springtown Cemetery. www.nauglefcs.com Barbara L. (Luby) Hillmantel, 51, of Bally, passed away Saturday, December 8 at Lehigh Valley Hospital – Salisbury Twp after a short illness. She was surrounded by her loving family and friends. Born September 25, 1967 in Doylestown, she was a daughter of Janice (Loux) Luby and the late William F. Luby. Barb graduated in 1985 from Pennridge High School and attended DeSales University. She was employed as an office administrator for Teva Pharmaceuticals for over 25 years. In addition to her mother, she is survived by the loves of her life, son Griffin Hillmantel and daughter Grace Hillmantel, both at home; brother Bill Luby and wife Kelly, of Hatfield; sister Phyllis (Luby) Curry and husband Tracy, of Quakertown; her sweetheart Tom Mosher, Jr.; and her other loving relatives and close friends. Barb’s life revolved around cheering like
crazy at Griffin’s lacrosse games and proudly watching Grace’s dance recitals. Her children were the lights of her life. Barb loved hosting parties with family and friends for the kids and Mother’s Day brunches, and travelling to Cape May and New York with her girlfriends. Barb was an avid Philadelphia sports fan, and was so excited to finally attend a Super Bowl Parade for her beloved Eagles in February. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the children’s education fund, c/o David Hillmantel, 174 Papermill Road, Barto, PA 19504. www.nauglefcs.com
Adelaide Harris, 98, of Dublin formerly of Rockledge and Quakertown died December 11, 2018 in the home of her daughter Mary with whom she resided. She was the wife of the late John J. “Jack” Harris. Born in Glenside, Pa she was the daughter of the late Harold M. & Lillian (Eberbach) Thomas. She retired as the parish secretary at St. Isidore’s Catholic Church in Quakertown. Prior to that she was an accounting clerk for Ronald Williams Tax Accounting in Doylestown. She enjoyed sewing, knitting, and crocheting. She made hats for CHOP and Blankets for Crossroads Pregnancy Care. Adelaide was a member of St. Isidore’s Catholic Church in Quakertown. She is survived by her daughter Mary Shelmire, son in law Ronald Williams, six grandchildren James Harris, John Harris, Gregory Williams, Jennifer Aznarez, Melissa Swartley, and Meghan Hutton. Seventeen great grandchildren, and seven Great Great Grandchildren. Predeceased by a son James Harris, two daughters Barbara Harris, Beatrice Williams and a son in law James W. Shelmire, Jr. Arrangements are in the care of the C. R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc. (www.crstrunk. com) Quakertown. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to St. Isidore’s Building Fund 603 W. Broad St. Quakertown, PA 18951. Noreen H. Bennett, 87, of Quakertown died December 11, 2018 in her home. She was the wife of the late Jack G. Bennett. Born in Cleveland, Ohio she was the daughter of the late Lester E. & Helen (Bouteiller) Symonds. Before retiring she was a Transcriber for Inner Search in Warminster. She enjoyed reading and loved her cats. Noreen was of the Catholic Faith. Survived by a daughter Terry Eck (Dennis), a son Andrew J. Bennett, and seven grandchildren. Predeceased by a son John G. Bennett, a daughter Lesley Ann Bennett, and a grandson Dennis Eck, Jr. Arrangements are in the care of C. R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc. (www.crstrunk. com) Quakertown. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to Paralyzed Veterans of America 5000 Wissahickon Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19144. Leonard Clayton Treadway, Sr.
86, of Coopersburg, PA, passed away on December 15 at Lehigh Valley Hospital Hospice. He was the loving husband to Rose Mary (Hunter) Treadway for 42 years. Born on December 26, 1931, in Ticonderoga, NY, he was the son of the late Ralph & Jane (Davies) Treadway. He served proudly in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He spent his life driving truck, working with heavy equipment and mechanic work. His hobby was working with wood, building tables, benches, etc., and he loved to garden. He enjoyed his life telling jokes, old stories, working for others and spending time with his family. He had a complex personality and a good soul. Surviving with his wife include: 4 children: Judy Stover-End, Leonard C., Treadway, Jr. (Kathie), Bonnie Fratik (Andy), Jimmy Treadway (Janet), step-son Bob Helmick (Patty); 8 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; “many nieces and nephews”; sisters: Edith Mydlarz (Steve), Jane Foss (Rene) and two brothers: Thomas Treadway (Shirley) & Cyril Treadway (Marjorie). He was predeceased by 14 brothers and sisters. In Lieu of sending flowers the family would like you to give to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 8th Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001. www.nauglefcs.com
Elva R. Hillegas, 62, of Wrightstown, NJ died December 17, 2018 in Quakertown Center. She was the wife of the late Edward Hillegas. Born in Pottstown, Pa she was the daughter of the late George & Catherine (Ament) Sowers. She loved to read and spend time with her family. Elva is survived by two sons Shawn P. Fritz of Pennsburg, and David Birney and his wife Deanna McCord-
January 2019 • Upper Bucks Free Press • Birney of Winchester, KY., a sister Robin Grady of Collegeville, Pa, two grandchildren Alex Barlet and Ethan Birney. Many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews whom she loved dearly. She was predeceased by three brothers George Sowers, III, Daniel Sowers, Edward P. Sowers, and a sister Barbara Krauss. Services will be announced at a later date. Arrangements are in the care of the C. R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc. (www. crstrunk.com) 821 W. Broad St. Quakertown, PA 18951. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society Lehigh Valley Unit 3893 Adler Place Bethlehem, PA 18017.
Edna Irene Alexy, 82, of New Castle, died Monday, December 17, 2018 at Edison Manor Nursing Home in New Castle. She was born April 6, 1936 in Hilltown Twp., Pennsylvania a daughter of the late Allen and Virginia (Zimmerman) Leatherman. She was married to the late John Alexy who died in 2008. Mrs. Alexy was a home health aid for a number of years in Bucks County. She enjoyed reading, was very artistic and loved animals. She is survived by four children, Donald Paynkewicz of Bellersville, PA, Cindy Perrone of Burlington County, NJ, Tina Perrone of Burlington County, NJ and Jim Perrone of Burlington County, NJ, two sister, Sara Weaver of Shipshewana, IN, and M. Grace Leatherman of Goshen, IN, seven grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by her daughter Wendy Sherwood. There are no services scheduled at this time. Funeral arrangements are by the William F. & Roger M. DeCarbo Funeral Home, 926 Cunningham Avenue. On-line condolences can be sent to: www.williamrogerdecarbo.com. William H. “Bill” Cramp. 85, of Haycock Twp., died Tues., Dec. 18 in St. Luke’s – Quakertown Hospital. He was married 62 years to the late Joyce (Lewis) Cramp. Born in W. Rockhill Twp., he was the son of the late William M. and Francis (DuBois) Cramp. He received a BS in both biology & history from East Stroudsburg University in 1955 and his masters in education from Lehigh University in 1962. Bill taught science in the Palisades School District for 37 years and served as head of the department for 25 years. He was active in the Quakertown Little League and Connie Mack League baseball for 40 years; he served on the Board of Directors, coached, and umpired. In 2005 he was inducted into the PennridgeQuakertown Hall of Fame. In 2007, the Minor League Baseball Field was named after him. Bill was an active member of the Haycock Historical Society. Surviving are his children Jim of Dayton, WA, Cathy Weibel (Paul) of Quakertown and Tom (Susan) of Quakertown. Grandchildren, Jason, Jennifer, Paul (Caroline), Andrea (Andy), Jonathan (Becky), Jeff (Jackie), Janna, Justin, Jessica (Rich). Great-grandchildren Caleb, Lydia, Miriam, Naomi, Evelyn, Whitney, Alexis, Bradly, Carleigh, Addison; & brother-in-law John Lewis, companion, Jimmy Savercool, in FL. He was predeceased by a great granddaughter, Talitha Ruth Curry. Interment Quakertown Union Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Haycock Historical Society, P.O. Box 715, Quakertown, PA 18951. www.nauglefcs.com Joyce V. Afflerbach, 91, of Quakertown died December 21, 2018 in Belle Haven Nursing Center. She was the wife of the late Walter O. Afflerbach. She was born in Quakertown Joyce was a resident of the Quakertown Grundy House for over 30 years. She was a member of Quakertown Jehovah Witness. She is survived by four daughters Louise Teta, Ellen Long, Karen Nichols (Greg), Diane Mathis (Robert Myers). A sister June Strawn. Eight grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Predeceased by a son Harold W. Services will be private and at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are in the care of the C. R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc. (www.crstrunk.com) Quakertown. Arthur J. Roth, 88, of Dublin formerly of Quakertown died Saturday December 22, 2018 in his home. He was the husband of the late Ethel V. (Gross) Roth. Born in Quakertown he was the son of the late Clayton and Helen (Myers) Roth. He retired as a truck driver foreman from Sommer Maid Creamery in Doylestown. He also was the owner/operator of a flower and vegetable business. He attended Hilltown Baptist Church in Chalfont.
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He is survived by four daughters Pat Reitz (Leonard) of Collinsville, IL, Joyce Paist of North Charleston, SC, JoAnn Morehouse (Daniel) of Doylestown, PA and Lori Strong (Gregory), of Milton, PA. A brother Ken, sisters Ruth Pringle, Emma Richards, and Betty Warnke. 10 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren. Predeceased by brothers Robert, Clarence, Clayton, Jr., Samuel, and Ronald. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to Doylestown Hospice 4259 W. Swamp Rd. Doylestown, PA 18902.
Debora S. Brown, 67 of Quakertown formerly of Newtown, Bucks County, died Saturday December 22, 2018 in St. Luke’s Hospital Quakertown Campus. She was the wife of Frank W. Brown, Sr. They celebrated their 34th wedding anniversary last August. Born in Doylestown she was the daughter of the late Clarence Finney and Alice Winifred (Briggs) Shelmire. She was a former Troop and Senior Leader for the Girl Scouts of America. Debora enjoyed doing crafts, crocheting, gardening and doing puzzles. In addition to her husband she is survived by her children, Shannan Yakamavage (Jude), Dawnn White, Clarence Finney Shelmire, III and Frank W. Brown, Jr. (Vanessa). A sister Sharon Fisher, a brother Mark Shelmire, nine grandchildren and one great grandchild. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Quakertown Food Pantry, 101B N. 3rd St. PO Box 278 Quakertown PA 18951. Donna M. Brader, 76, of Quakertown died December 25, 2018 in her home. Born in Sellersville, Pa she was the daughter of the late David C. & Arlene N. (Shup) Price. She was currently employed at the Quakertown Rite Aid in the Quaker Village Shopping Center. Prior to that she was a Teacher’s Aide with several school districts. She enjoyed traveling with her family and family get togethers especially at the holidays. She was a loving grandmother and always attended her grandchildren’s events. She also enjoyed her many friends, playing cards, bus trips, and dining out. Donna was a member of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Trumbauersville. She is survived by a son David R. Brader (KC) and a daughter Dawn R. Pavlick (Kevin). Four grandchildren Max, Taylor, Branden, & Neesa. Three cousins Beth, Bob, & Sarah. Arrangements are in the care of the C. R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc. (www.crstrunk.com) Quakertown. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105-1942. Marianne V. Grubb, 99, of Lansdale formerly of Hatfield died December 25, 2018 in Abington-Lansdale Hospital, Lansdale. Born in Germany she was the daughter of the late Max Fritz & Frieda (Meiner) Veitel. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Hatfield. Marianne is survived by a son Gordon Grubb, Jr. (Lilia) of the Philippines, two daughters Linda Dees of Tuscan, AZ, and Robin Leavitt of Lansdale. 11 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. Predeceased by a son Herbert Charles Grubb, and a granddaughter, Tammi Nawrocki. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, January 5, 2019 at 10:30 A.M. in Grace Lutheran Church 40 N. Main St. Hatfield, PA 19440. Call 9:30-10:30 in the church. Arrangements are in the care of the C. R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc. (www.crstrunk. com) Quakertown. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the church at the above address. George A. Keefer of Quakertown, Pennsylvania, died at his home on December 26, 2018, at the age of 79. The last days of his life were spent celebrating the Christmas season with loving family and friends. George grew up in Sunbury, Pennsylvania and moved to Quakertown after high school. Shortly thereafter, in 1960, he met and married the the love of his life, Janice Hoffert. George worked at the U.S. Gauge division of Ametek for approximately 42 years, repairing aircraft parts, and making air travel safer for all while working hard to provide for his family. After retiring from “the Gauge,” George opened his own small flag business, Top of the Pole, and donated many U.S. flags over his years in business. If he spotted a flying U.S. flag in distress, he was often known to deliver a new flag to the owner/facility free of charge. George was extremely active in the community, taking on leadership roles in many of the organizations he was part of. He, along with Jan, enjoyed spending time during the summer season at the Ocean Sands seasonal community in Seaville, NJ where George served as President of the association for 12 years. George also liked working with wood and spent a fair amount of time tinkering in his garage, making picture frames and other items for his family and friends when he wasn’t in front of the televi-
sion rooting for various Philly sports teams. George and Jan enjoyed bowling and George served as President of the Gauge bowling league for many years. In 1980, George joined Sellersville Moose Lodge 1539 and remained a member for life. He was especially proud of the Lodge’s support of Mooseheart (for the benefit of youth whose families are unable to provide for their wellness or success); and over the years of his membership, George served in almost every leadership position at the Lodge, including Governor. At the time of his death, he served as the Lodge’s Prelate. This past September, George received the Pilgrim Degree of Merit, the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a member of the Moose, for his extraordinary service to the Lodge. Despite his cancer diagnosis several years ago, George continued to be as active as possible, and he and Jan enjoyed the special everyday moments in life, watching the birds outside their window at breakfast, going to the Moose on Wednesdays for a game of longboard and lunch, bowling on Thursdays, spending time with their children and grandchildren, visiting with their siblings, chatting with the neighbors, attending church on Sundays, and always making themselves available to lend a helping hand to whoever needed one. Son of the late Stella M. (Hamilton) Keefer and George C. Keefer, George is survived by his wife of more than 58 years, Janice; his two children, son Jeffrey G. Keefer and daughter, Michele K. Dietrich and her husband, Thomas; and four grandchildren, Lucretia Seaman, Stephanie Keefer, Kasey Dietrich and Tyler Keefer; and his sister, Virginia Keefer. He was predeceased by his brother, J. Paul Keefer. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends, but remembered for his loving heart, loyalty and willingness to help all in need. George was an active member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church where he served as Vice President of the church council. His memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 5 at 10:30 a.m. at the church located at 4 South Main St., Richlandtown, PA. Friends may visit with family members from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the church at: 4 South Main St, P.O. Box 459, Richlandtown, PA 18955. Funeral home website: www.crstrunk.com.
Elizabeth I. Bair, 93, of Quakertown died December 27, 2018 in Quakertown Center. Born in Mahawk, NJ she was the daughter of the late William Henry & Florence (Dunkel) Derbyshire. She was a machine operator for the former Data Card, before retiring. Elizabeth loved animals and her dolls. She also enjoyed crocheting, shopping, walking, and embroidery. She learned how to play BINGO while a resident at Quakertown Center. She is survived by a son Donald A. and his wife Judith, two daughters Barbara Jean Kulp and Linda Ann Pelfrey. Four grandchildren and four great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the American Heart Foundation 5455 N. High St. Columbus, OH 43214. (crstrunk.com) Arlene (Gross) Kinsey, 98, formerly from Coopersburg & Sellersville passed away December 27, 2018 in The Summit Nursing & Rehab Center, Lehighton. She was married for 55 years to Henry D. Kinsey, Jr. who passed away in 1997. She was the daughter of the late Warren & Rosa (Strock) Gross. She attended Easton Hospital School of Nursing and was a registered nurse at the former Quakertown Community Hospital and private duty until her retirement. She was a past member of the Home and Care Committee of Foulkeways and
a past board member of Richland Library. She has also served on several committees for the Richland Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends of which she was a member for over 75 years. Surviving are her son Henry D. Kinsey, III (Beverly) of Montrose, Pa and daughters, A. Susan Powell (Walter) of Plymouth, MA, and Sarah Michaels (Eric) of Lehighton, PA, 4 grandchildren and 3 great grandsons. She was predeceased by her siblings Kathryn Lowman, Virginia Krizan, Warren Russel Gross and a granddaughter Toby Lynn Kinsey. A Memorial service will be held on January 12, 2019 at 11:00 A.M. at the Richland Friends Monthly Meeting 206 S. Main St. Quakertown, PA 18951. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in her name can be made to Richland Friends Monthly Meeting P.O. Box 444 Quakertown, PA 18951. (crstrunk.com)
Maureen T. “Rene” Grasso, 78, of Telford formerly of Hatboro passed away peacefully, Friday, December 28, 2018 at Telford Lutheran Community Skilled Nursing Unit. She was the devoted wife of Richard S. Grasso for 58 years. Born in the Germantown section of Philadelphia she was the youngest daughter of the late Francis Joseph & Hannah (Zechoski) Kirby, Kreer. She affectionately had a step-father Warren Kreer after her father’s passing at the age of 4. She was a graduate of Little Flower High School in 1958. When Richard began his company NCS Industries with four other partners in 1974, Rene became the Comptroller working side by side with her husband until they sold the company in 2001. She enjoyed traveling with her special clan of girlfriends and other family members to many different destinations including Hawaii, Alaska, and Ireland. Rene also enjoyed going to the beach with her family every summer & enjoyed her many trips to Lancaster. She was John Wayne’s number one fan. She also enjoyed going out to dinner on Friday nights with her friends, playing scrabble, & reading a good book. She will also be remembered for her witty sense of humor. Being a devout Catholic she was a member of St. Agnes Catholic Church in Sellersville for the last 4 years, prior to that she was a member of St. David’s Roman Catholic Church of Willow Grove. Her first and foremost passion in life was her family from her three children Judy Schmauder (Michael), and twins Stephanie Grasso and Stephen Grasso to her cherished grandchildren Jillian, Drew, Jessica, Briana, Mason, & Shane, and a great grandchild Jocelyn. She is also survived by her sister Mary Elizabeth Leidy. She was predeceased by four brothers Francis Joseph, Thomas M., Edward, & Daniel, two sisters Helen Grubb & Johanna Mitchell. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday, January 4, 2019 beginning promptly at 12:30 P.M. at St. David’s Roman Catholic Church 316 Easton Rd. Willow Grove, PA 19090. Interment will follow at Whitemarsh Memorial Park, Ambler. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to St. Jude’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942, or Attn: Katie Pizziketti, Penn FTD Center, 3 West Gates, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Checks payable to “Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania”. “Penn FTD” Clearly stated on memo line. Services are entrusted to the C. R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc. Quakertown, PA. www.crstrunk.com.
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• Upper Bucks Free Press • January 2019
The Vickie Landis Team of Keller Williams Realty Group in Quakertown worked with QCSD for the second y a row to help provide Christmas joy to area children. With the support of many local businesses, as well a residents, Keller Williams ‘adopted’ 23 children and collected more than 130 gifts for these children. Shelby coordinated with Kirstin Cochran on a list of children whose families needed a little more support this h season. Superintendent Dr. William Harner expressed sincere gratitude to everyone that helped. Picture Trumbauersville Elementary Principal Adam Schmucker, QCSD Superintendent Bill Harner, Vickie Landis and Miller of Keller Williams, Kirstin Cochran, and Trumbauersville Elementary Counselor Laura Gordon. submitted
Quakertown Alive! recently presented checks to three business property owners as part of the Design Challenge Façade Grant program. The QA! Design Committee has been working one-on-one with business owners and have reviewed and approved grant applications. Quakertown’s business district has been greatly enhanced as a result of façade grant. Some of the improvements include: the complete transformation of the front of the building at 332 West Broad Street, Always Beautiful Floral Design Studio; an improved entry stair and signage at 600 West Broad Street, Quakertown Integrative Health Center; and new gaslights, paint, and a new access ramp at the Free Press Building, 312 W. Broad Street. Property/ business owners must at least match the money awarded to them through the guidelines set forth by the PA Department of Economic and Community Development. So far, completed work that fell under the matching grant, totals almost $100,000. photos by michele buono
Forty-three officers from nine police departments, dozens of volunteers, generous sponsors, the Quakertown Walmart, and Santa & Mrs. Claus all worked together to make this Christmas special for 109 local kid The first Shop With A Cop program was started in December 2011 by Officer Bob Lee and Officer Ryan Naugle. The program originally started with 15 children, but has grown to include more children each year
year in as local y Miller holiday ed: (L-R) Shelby
d photo
January 2019 • Upper Bucks Free Press •
Three Bucks County 4-H members competed in the 4-H Poultry Judging Competition at the National Poultry and Egg Conference on November 15th. The Bucks County team comprised of Sarah Grace Ferber (Upper Black Eddy), Reilly Monson (Doylestown), and Molly Scheetz (Sellersville) won the Pennsylvania State 4-H Competition back in June. The team placed 6th overall, 3rd in egg production, and 5th in market poultry. Individually Molly Scheetz had the 2nd highest overall judging score and Sarah Grace Ferber placed 5th overall. In egg productions Molly Scheetz placed 1st and Sarah Grace Ferber 8th. In market poultry Sarah Grace Ferber placed 8th. Pictured: (L-R) Reilly Monson, Molly Scheetz, Sarah Grace Ferber submitted photo
ds. It was the 8th annual Shop With a Cop in Quakertown. r since. photos by michele buono
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“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire. It is the time for home.”
- Edith Sitwell, poet
Sixth graders at Penn North Middle School spent a recent afternoon assembling more than 700 Sock Rolls -- a new pair of socks, crackers and a granola bar -- to be distributed to area homeless and needy families before Christmas. The event was organized by teacher Stacy Verespy in partnership with Giving Tree Families, a non-profit charity based in Montgomery County. photos by joe ferry
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• Upper Bucks Free Press • January 2019
Trees of Life
“Look: the trees exist; the houses we dwell in stand there stalwartly. Only we pass by it all, like a rush of air. And everything conspires to keep quiet about us, half out of shame perhaps, half out of some secret hope.” - Rainer Maria Rilke We had several big pin oak trees in our front yard—really big. They were 80 feet tall and two people had trouble reaching around them. They’d been standing there since before I was born, since before the streets were paved in this part of Quakertown, since before there was a school across the street and its yard was still a plowed cornfield. When I looked up at my oaks’ massive crowns this spring I noticed that half the branches on both were dead and the bark was split and peeling on one. Like all living things do, they were getting old and dying. I realized they had to go before a wind storm came and threw them down onto my vehicles or house. The trees were huge. It would be a monstrous project, I thought. But, at the cost of a couple thousand dollars each, the ‘professionals’ had the once majestic oaks felled and disposed of in a single day. All that remained were huge piles of wood chips where the stumps had been and a skinned up yard. Within a week, however, I noticed a residual problem. All the ‘best-for-shady-areas’ grass in my yard withered and died in the, now blazing, sunlight. Crabgrass, unfortunately, seems immune to even severely changing environmental conditions. It flourished. I liked my big trees and miss them. Since my Boy Scouts days, I’ve been sort of an amateur dendrologist. I can probably identify every (North American) tree in your yard, or in any given patch of woods in the township. I’ve always had respect for trees and appreciate what they’ve provided mankind—food, firewood, lumber, a place to hide from saber-toothed tigers. The loss of my pin oaks provoked memories other great trees I’d had ‘personal relationships’ with. There used to be two massive mulberry trees on an empty lot at Court Alley and Hellertown Ave. that, when the berries were ripe, attracted every kid from Ward 3 and beyond. Each spring, the branches hung low and heavy. Some of the delicious fruit were the size of my thumb. Birds swarmed the trees and the ground was scattered with thousands of fallen mulberries. We left purple, berry juice foot prints as we hiked home with our bellies full and hands and clothing stained. Developers won their law suit (hence, Court Alley). They quickly cut down the big, mess-making mulberry trees and built houses, which now have imported, flowering but fruitless trees in their yards. I think of those trees every time I pass by. Those berries were so good. There was a red delicious apple tree on the alley between Ambler St. and Penrose St., in my neighbor’s backyard. Around Halloween, when we young guys were out at night ‘raiding’ (throwing corn and soaping windows), the apples were ripe and falling. They were big apples. They could turn your ankle if you had
to run past the tree while escaping the police. They were the best apples ever; were actually crunchy, red and delicious. The neighbor hated cleaning up the rotten mess the fallen fruit made so, he cut it down. A stack of firewood with a “Free” sign on it sat by his back fence until it was gone. I can still almost taste how good those apples were. I’m not a Celt or some other sort of tree worshiper. I don’t see imps or spirits in vegetation (usually). I don’t imbue trees with mystical, magical powers. I’ve destroyed many more trees in my lifetime than I’ve planted—a sad negligence, I suppose. But, I appreciate trees as life forms. I appreciate them as the resource they are—a renewable one. I appreciate their strength, grandeur and beauty. And, I recognize the symbolism of autumn’s death and spring’s resurrection, and I comprehend the Tree of Life. This fall, up in the Allegheny National Forest in NW PA, I came down off the mountain an old timbering drag trail. I clambered over dozens of trees that had died and fallen across the path in the 40 years since the ‘road’ was last used. As I rested I scanned the second growth, climax forest. It was a blur of thousands of trees; all gray and leafless that time of year. I suddenly gleaned a satisfying understanding--forests’ continual change--no tree, no leaf is the same, one year to the next—yet forests also have an abstract constancy. Year after year, the forest, as a whole, seems the same. I can recognize each tree—the oaks, the beech and black cherry, the maples and hickory. Each is an individual with its own characteristics. But, the forest itself, broadly viewed, is ever unchanging. Today, or next year, I can look across a wooded valley and the it will seem the same. It’s not, of course. It’s as when I scan the stands at the Thanksgiving Day football game: the crowd looks the same as it did when I played, but, it’s not. Every face, like every leaf from last year and every leaf from this, is different. The red bud tree, that’s been in my yard nearly as long as the pin oaks were, is not looking healthy. After all, it’s older than me. The ‘beans’ it scatters every year yield seedlings springing from every sidewalk crack. This year, I dug one out and planted it near where one of the pin oaks used to be. I’ll never see it reach old age but maybe its foliage, in a few years, will provide some shade for my crabgrass. That seedling will have the same experience I had with my oaks. It will, with no concern or thought at all, watch me grow old, watch my branches turn dry and brittle, watch my bark thicken, crack and peel. It will silently watch the sweeping scythe of time, pursuing in it relentlessly harvest, cut me down and leave nothing but a pile of dust and chaff where once a man had stood. I’ll watch it, too--while I cling to these swirling memories that were incubated during this constant struggle for constancy in our continually changing world. Jack Schick is a long time Quakertown
area resident and regular contributor here at
UBFP. Reach him at sjckschc@aol.com
“Cares” Campaign Reaches $38,650! The fund-raiser, run by a small committee of Quakertown locals, has been raising money since 1995 to help area families, seniors and veterans in need purchase much needed necessities. Officially a holiday fund-raiser, donations are welcomed all year long, and, through the generosity of their neighbors, residents are now helped throughout the year! Area individuals, businesses, schools, churches and other organizations have graciously given to the cause for 23 years and counting! Cares is a local, heartfelt campaign. Recent donors (through December 13) include the Strayer Middle School staff ($1,000), QNB ($1,200), an anonymous Milford Township couple ($500), and Steven and Linda Cardell ($100). Anonymous Quakertown borough residents also gave to the campaign ($25, $30, $40, $50, $50, $50 and $100). Reverend Cheryl Stoneback donated $100, Dorothy Bleam once again gave in memory of Ronald Bleam ($100). Also, the Network for Good contributed $85. Diane and Paul Golrick gave $100, and anonymous Richland Township residents contributed $40 and $30. The following Quakertown Community School District staff members made donations to “Quakertown Cares” this year: Stephen Kimball ($500), Inncenzo Martellucci ($250), Nancianne Edwards ($200), Patty Sabol ($100), Kim Finnerty ($100), Brad Mushrush ($100), Cynthia Teprovich ($100), Erica
Henry ($100), Chris Goerlitz($100), Eileen Bruchak ($100), Jacqueline Clymer ($100), Pam Fothergill ($100), Kevin Kelly ($100), Greg Lesher ($100), Rebecca Neitz ($200), Janet Pelone ($100), Andy Scappatucci($100), Zachary Schoch ($250), Kerry Foley ($50), Megan Irick($50), Nicole Jerrom ($50), Heidi Johnson ($50), Jonathan Pallone ($50), Crystal Prine ($50), Terry San Angelo ($50), Kelly Shaak ($30), and the following donors at $25: Corey Beil, Diane Cressman, Jenelle DeNato, Katie Skonier, Wendy Somers, and Elizabeth Coyle. Also, anonymous Quakertown Borough residents gave $375 and $200, Jeanette Landis ($100), and Fay Oeltjen-Bruns ($100). Cares received some help from the north this year as anonymous Bethlehem residents gave $200. In addition, anonymous Richland Township residents contributed $100 and $15, an anonymous Perkasie resident ($50), Jason and Kathryn Anderson ($150), Elaine Donnelly ($30), Neysa Maxwell ($25), and Hayley Stauffer ($100). “Quakertown Cares” provides assistance to people who live within the bounds of the Quakertown School District only, who have school or preschool age children, in addition to the veterans and senior citizens. Every contributed dollar goes to neighbors in need, as Cares has no administrative expenses. It depends upon volunteers and in-kind contributions by founding members and their successors: the Upper Bucks Free Press, QNB, QCSD, and Hutchinson, Gillahan & Freeh accountants.
January 2019 • Upper Bucks Free Press •
The answers to the puzzles on this page are found elsewhere in this issue.
Think Local. Buy Local. Be Local.
Apple Apricot Avocado Banana Blackberry Blueberry Cantaloupe Cherry
Coconut Cranberry Date Fig Grape Grapefruit Honeydew Kiwifruit
Lemon Lime Mango Nectarine Orange Papaya Peach
Pear Pineapple Plum Raspberry Strawberry Tangerine Watermelon
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• Upper Bucks Free Press • January 2019
Harley’s Haven
Easy Resolutions for You and Your Dog Is Fido getting fluffy or fat? It’s important to use an 8-ounce measuring cup to ensure your dog isn’t taking in more calories than he needs. No more eyeballing meals. Try not to free feed by keeping food in the bowl all day. Older pets and those who have been neutered usually have lower energy needs than young, intact dogs. Choosing a diet specifically tailored to your dog’s life stage is a great way to keep them at optimal weight. Yearly examinations by your veterinarian are a key component of good preventive care. Many medical conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, or obesity are common in aging dogs and much easier to manage when detected in the early stages of the disease process. Veterinary visits are also the perfect time to ask questions, for advice or to update your dog’s food intake. Brushing your dog’s coat serves many purposes. It removes excess fur from the coat, reducing the amount you find on your clothes and furniture. Less vacuuming is always a plus for me. It helps distribute oils from the skin to the fur keeping the coat shiny and healthy. Daily grooming is a good way to find bumps, lumps, or boo-boos.
Any brushing is better than no brushing, but daily toothbrushing is the best way to keep tartar and plaque at bay. Be sure to use a toothpaste meant for dogs. Water additives or all natural dental chews designed to reduce tartar can also be a helpful in keeping teeth clean and fresh breath. Studies show that mental stimulation can help reduce cognitive deterioration in aging animals. In other words, keeping your dog’s brain active can actually make it healthier! Teaching your dog new tricks and practicing those they already know are a great way to keep those neurons firing. Puzzle feeders, which force a pet to think through a task in order to be rewarded with a treat, are also an excellent way to keep a pet’s mind engaged. Over the course of a year a lot can change: people move, get new phone numbers, and forget to update their dog’s tags or microchips information. Often, they only remember once the pet is lost. If any of your contact information has changed don’t wait update their tags and microchip information today! It’s the best way to ensure a lost pet makes their way safely home. Submitted by Marion C. O’Neil CPDT-KA, CTDI owner and trainer of Molasses Creek Dog Training of Quakertown, and trainer for Runaway Farm Pet Hospital, Pennsburg
Think Local. Buy Local. Be Local.
Meet Elaina!
This beautiful girl has had a rough go of it - she lived as a stray for almost 2 years before someone was able to gain her trust and get her into a better place! We believe she had puppies, but she was found without them, so who knows what happened. Luckily though, she came to us and is doing awesome! She is about 2-3 years old, and likes other dogs and people. She has a kind, gentle soul, and needs a home to match, to give her a warm, loving place to live to make up for the first 3 years of her life!
Meet Harper!
This adorable hound girl is ready for love! She is from our friends down south, and is a true southern belle! She is about 1-2 years old, and has a playful and outgoing spirit! She likes other dogs and people, and loves to run and play! She would be a wonderful companion for an active family! Check her out today!
Looking for a furever friend? Give Harley’s Haven a call at (267) 354-5204.
New Year’s Resolutions with Your Pet The new year is always a time for resolutions, and your pets are no exception to this! There are lots of healthier, happier lifestyle choices that you can make that incorporate your pet. Check out below for my top
5 resolutions: Get that annual exam on the books – just like us, having an exam done every year is important to screen for early diseases or problems and for routine wellness care, like vaccines! A new year is a great time to review when your pet last had an exam and make an appointment! Get moving – walking, hiking, kayaking…. there are so many ways to get you BOTH moving that will improve everyone’s health! A good way to stick with it is to make an obtainable goal – start with committing to just 3 walks a week, and then go from there! Get brushing – one of the most preventable problems we see in older pets is dental disease! If you can work with your pet from a young age, they are often very accepting of tooth brushing. DAILY should be the goal – get in a good habit, just like yourself! However, if you can brush at least 3 times a week, that has
been proven to slow tartar progression, so get in there! Measure for success – weight is an issue in our pets, just like it is in us! The single most important change you can make to help your pet stay at a healthy weight is to measure their meals! Use a measuring cup every time and discuss the appropriate volume with your veterinarian – but keeping them lean has been proven over and over to help slow or prevent many health issues! Give back – want to help others this new year? Consider fostering a pet in need! There are so many dogs and cats in shelters, that a great way to give back would be donating your time to a pet in need. Fostering saves lives, and there are so many great dogs and cats out there just waiting for you! It’s a great way to help without the longterm commitment of a new pet – contact your local shelters and rescue organizations for more info! Happy New year everyone – now get out there and make 2019 the best year yet! Dr. Mehaffey and partner Dr. Jen Heller own and operate the Pennridge Animal Hospital on Ridge Road in Perkasie and can be reached at 267-272-9996. They also founded Harley’s Haven Dog Rescue.
Home at Last Dog Rescue
Meet Pink!
I am a 2 year old Lab/Pit mix weighing in at about 50lbs. I am super energetic and just adore the toys and bones in my foster home! I live with 2 big dogs now, but I am extremely picky about my dog-friends! My foster mom says I can be a bit mouthy and pushy when I want to play. I, however, prefer to think of it as me being outgoing and confident. I am housebroken and crate trained. I do know some commands, but I do like to challenge on some. However, a snack or the right toy will give me the motivation I need to fully cooperate! If you are looking for an energetic girl to keep you company and snuggle in your lap when I have
Meet Trish!
finally worn myself out, send an application and we can meet!! If Trish had a profile on Tinder this is what it would say. Single, female looking for a comfortable couch and loving family. Hi there my name is Trish and my one wish is to find a family of my very own. My foster mom says I am a good girl, 3-4 years old hound mix, house and crate trained. I love, love, love humans of any age but I am not a fan of other animals. Can you blame me? I want all the love from my humans. If you are looking for a dog that will love you more than anything in the world, I’m your girl.
Need a fuzzy companion? Visit Home at Last at homeatlastdogrescue.com
January 2019 • Upper Bucks Free Press •
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The Flood that Keeps on Giving In May of 2006 I went to my township with my plans and pictures of my property to start my dog daycare. The code enforcer at that time said he would let me know if he needed anything else. Fast forward to August 12th 2018… the day after the flash flood. The new code enforcer stopped in to tell me I need a conditional use permit. The permit cost $1600.00 and since we spent all our money rebuilding I was going to have to wait on this til next year. Six weeks later I received a Code Violation notice demanding this to be
done in 30 days or there will be fines. Doesn’t seem fair since it was their fault it was not done 12 YEARS AGO. A ‘Go Fund Me’ was started and the money was raised in 3 days. THANK YOU DEAR FRIENDS AND CUSTOMERS. Our “hearing” on the permit is on January 7. This has been posted in the papers and notices sent to my neighbors. I will let you know what happens in next month’s column. I think my neighbors all like me so I should be OK. Paws crossed, Mitzi Jo
BuckyGrams: Charlie Brown, Lucy Van Pelt, Linus, Sally, Snoopy, Woodstock, Marcie, Peppermint Patty, Schroeder, Pig-Pen, Franklin, Spike Hidden Message: Have a Peaceful New Year! Bucky Block: Over the river and through the woods
Christmas Club Checks
Remember when! After graduating from Quakertown Comm. High School I started at Berman Sales Company along Geryville Pike just outside of Red Hill, Pa. I worked in the Accounts Receivable section in this trucking firm. Back then there was a separation of Berman Sales and Berman Leasing Companies. Berman Sales Company dealt with the sale and repair of all forms of trucking. Berman Leasing was in the business of leasing trucks and tractor/trailers to small and large companies throughout the United States. Later on I worked for Berman Leasing Company and drove to Pottstown, Pa. everyday. Berman Leasing had a typical retirement plan that was available according to that periods standard employee benefits. Most people back then would contribute on their payday at the local bank to a special account held with minimum earnings capability. That account was known as “The Christmas Club.” I remember having a book of coupons that I gave to the clerk on Friday’s payday stop. My Christmas Club was for $1.00 then later $2.00’s a week. A short period of time before Christmas, the banks would send out the “Christmas Club” checks that also included a nominal interest bonus. Our Black Friday back then was the period when all the banks traditionally sent out those Christmas Club Checks. Many people still ordered from Sears Roebuck and Company from their special Sears Christmas catalogue. Others went directly to Sears Roebuck in Allentown to order from their large store in the center of the city. While up there, it was a must to go back to Hamilton Street and stop by Hess Brothers to see their wonderful display of inside decorations. As a plus they also had models walking around with beautiful dresses. My uncle would take us to the basement for a taste of their Very Large Strawberry Desserts. The waitresses walked around in dresses with Hess Brothers printed all over in different colors. With my meager Christmas Club Check I usually made my purchases in the FW Woolworth store a few blocks back on the same side of Hess’s towards Seventh Street. Quakertown had the Firestone Store on Hellertown Avenue. We always received a unique catalogue from Firestone with all the Christmas items. Sine’s 5 & 10 carried all sorts of toys including Hubley toys from Lancaster, Pa. Remember the American Flyers at Smith Furniture on the 2’d floor. These trains had no center track. It was truly
amazing what you could buy with that $50.00 to $100.00 dollars! In today’s world it would be hard to find these small convenience accounts to be offered to the public because of the cost involved. Back then you had a “Passbook Savings Account that you carried with you with individual deposits entered in it by the clerk who waited on you. When you withdrew money, that entry would be made and in most cases the clerk gave you cash when you made that withdrawal. The clerk kept the withdrawal slip in the drawer for tabulation at the end of the day and for their records. I believe I still have my old Passbook from Bucks County Bank & Trust Company. Today’s generation would not understand that we would have to travel to town, park, stand in the long lines at the bank to cash our check, deposit in our Savings account, and pay our Christmas Club making sure they tore out the stub. Waiting patiently for the Christmas Club check to arrive in the mail was always an anxious moment as you wanted to get at the bargains. After all, things were purchased with Cash as very few people had the exclusive new process called credit cards and most stores didn’t accept these cards. Back then it was customary for companies to have a “Christmas Party” for their employees. These parties were sometimes held at the office or plant one afternoon or at a local firehouse or banquet hall one evening. Some were for employee’s only and others included the spouses. Back then some places gave bonuses and some gave turkeys or hams. Today many of these Christmas functions have gone the way of the Christmas Club. My wife and I are lucky as we still are invited (as a retiree) to a Christmas Banquet that is held at the Hotel Bethlehem by her former employer Insaco, Inc. The sharing of appreciation by these parties or gifts by the employers certainly was and is a great gesture this time of year. As I often mention in my columns, so much is lost in the modern technology we use for our life functions. In all the writings above, (Christmas Club at the bank, Shopping and paying cash, Christmas Parties with fellow employees) the personal contact with other people was involved. Yes, it wasn’t completed in record time so the person can go on with other impersonal functions. When you talked to the Bank Clerk, the Sales Clerk in the Store, or introduced you spouse to your supervisor at the annual party, you could share the Holiday spirit by looking at another person and wishing them “A Merry Christmas!” Dick Helm is a regular contributor. He can be reached at dickhelm@ubfp.org
Review Your Fixed-income Strategy as Interest Rates Rise
When interest rates rise, the value of your fixed-income investments, such as bonds, will typically fall. If this happens, how should you respond? First of all, it’s important to understand this inverse correlation between interest rates and bond prices. Essentially, when interest rates rise, investors won’t pay you full price for your bonds because they can purchase newly issued ones that pay higher rates. So, if you sell your bonds before they mature, you could lose some of the principal value. You may be seeing a price drop among your bonds right now, because interest rates generally rose in 2018 and may continue to do so in 2019. While you might not like this decline, you don’t necessarily have to take any action, particularly if you’re planning to hold these bonds until maturity. Of course, you do have to consider credit risk – the chance that a portion of the principal and interest will not be paid back to investors – but unless the bond issuers default, which is usually unlikely, particularly with investment-grade bonds, you can expect to receive the same regular interest payments you always did, no matter where rates move. Holding some of your bonds – particularly your longer-term ones – until they mature may prove useful during a period of rising interest rates. Although long-term bond prices – the amount you could get if you were to sell these bonds – tend to fall more significantly than short-term bond prices, the actual income that longer-term bonds provide may still be higher, because longer-term bonds typically pay higher interest rates than shorter-term ones. To preserve this income and still take advantage of rising interest rates, you may want to construct a “bond ladder” consisting of
short-, intermediate- and longer-term bonds. Because a ladder contains bonds with staggered maturity dates, some are maturing and can be reinvested – and in a rising-rate environment such as we’re currently experiencing, you would be replacing maturing bonds with higher-yielding ones. As is the case with all your investments, however, you must evaluate whether a bond ladder and the securities held within it are consistent with your objectives, risk tolerance and financial circumstances. You can build a bond ladder with individual bonds, but you might find it easier, and perhaps more affordable, to own bond-based mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that invest in bonds. Many bond funds and ETFs own a portfolio of bonds of various maturities, so they’re already diversified. Building a bond ladder can help you navigate the rising-rate environment. But you also have another incentive to continue investing in bonds, bond funds or ETFs – namely, they can help diversify a stock-heavy portfolio. If you only owned stocks, your investment statements would probably fluctuate greatly – it’s no secret that the stock market can go on some wild rides. But even in the face of escalating interest rates, bond prices generally don’t exhibit the same sharp swings as stocks, so owning an appropriate percentage of bonds based on your personal circumstances can help add some stability to your investment mix. As an investor, you do need to be aware of rising interest rates, but as we’ve seen, they certainly don’t mean that you should lose your interest in bonds as a valuable part of your investment strategy. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor, Bob Podraza in the Edward Jones office on West Broad Street, Quakertown. He can be reached at 215-536-3635 or at bob.podraza@edwardjones.com
American Legion Post 242 January Update
BY DICK HELM
This time of the year finds your Legion planning for all the upcoming events and trying to make sure all the current members send in their membership dues. The year 2019 is a Special Year for the American Legion. One Hundred years ago a group of foresighted leaders of men and government officials met in France and started the new organization to represent the Veterans of the recently ended World War. Look for Special Commemorative Programs to be offered that will also represent the advent of this 100-year celebration. We will incorporate this anniversary in our usual Memorial Day Services; Veteran’s Day Services, and possibly a special get together of the local legions for a special event. All the activities for 2019 require many hours of planning and scheduling. If you are a member, please consider helping us to make these events honoring our fellow veterans a success. If you
are not approached and want to help, stop by the Post on East Broad Street and leave your name and phone number where we can contact you. Don’t forget to consider being part of our Honor Guard. Our Honor Guard serves not only our Quakertown region but all of Upper Bucks and Central Bucks as well as surrounding cemeteries and Funeral Directors in Lehigh and Montgomery Counties. We are hoping that students come forward to participate in the many programs that are funded by our Post. We will try to keep you posted on these programs that usually involve education seminars, special awards, or scholarship funds So please read this column monthly and consider helping. It is very rewarding and the comradeship is similar to what you experienced while serving your country. The few Post members who really do a lot of work would welcome you and guide you in your duties.
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• Upper Bucks Free Press • January 2019
Hyundai Kona Crossover/SUV Hyundai’s new Kona small crossover/SUV can be looked upon as a cute ute. And cute it is. And with it comes loads of competition in its class. But as good as it is, it has gone one-up on everyone but adding an electric version, making it a complete model offering for all new, small car buyers. Kona catches the eyes with its unique and edgy styling. It offers efficient interior space, digital technology, impressive fuel economy, and above all, carries an affordable price. Offered in SE, SEL, Limited and Ultimate and in FWD and AWD, we tested the top-end AWD Ultimate that came loaded with a very long list of standard items. The only extra cost was for carpeted floor mats ($125). And the Ultimate includes the higher powered 1.6-liter, turbocharged inline 4-cylinder that produces 175-hp and 195 lb/ft of torque for EPA mileage estimates of 26 city, 29-highway mpg. A 2.0L, 147-hp inline-4 that generates 132 lb/ft of torque, comes standard on SE and SEL trim models. With AWD, that engine gets EPA estimates of 25 city, 30 mpg. With the 1.6L, that’s coupled to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, acceleration was strong and spirited with loads of low-end torque. Punch the accelerator and when the turbo kicks in, it’s a linear explosion of power. The combination was independently
tested at 7.2 seconds for 0-60 mph. There are also two driving modes. Normal and Sport with the latter tightening things up while offering sportier response from the engine, trans and steering. The dual clutch trans, if you’re not familiar with one, feels a bit different from typical automatics. It seems to be a tad sluggish at low speeds, and when turning off the engine, there’s a slight clicking sound that is a normal system self check. As for handling, there’s negligible body lean in sharp turns and the car remains composed throughout all driving maneuvers. It also parks easily thanks to its small size. Kona’s ride is slightly taut on Goodyear 18-inch tires. Again, because of its short wheelbase that is common in all vehicles of this class. And it’s relatively quiet with supportive leather seats that absorb most minor road imperfections. Step-in into the cabin is a low 16.5 inches. Once in you’re treated to a handsome cockpit with 8-inch touchscreen display with split
screen capability. It also offers Hyundai’s proprietary BlueLink connection, voice commands, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and the navigation screen showing nearby filling stations, restaurants and more. Kona’s HVAC controls are easy to use and a high-five to Hyundai for including as standard on the Ultimate model, a wireless smartphone charger. We’re currently testing an $80K priced vehicle that doesn’t have it. Included too is Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assist Forward Collision Warning and a rather tall Head-Up-Display that shows posted speed limits and vehicle speed. And within the gauge set is a driver’s information display showing various operating information plus 4WD lock notification that is a capability many Kona competitors don’t have. It’s an important feature to have if get-
ting stuck in deep snow or mucky mud. That feature alone makes Kona extra attractive for those in the Snowbelt. Ingress/egress into the back seat is easy thanks to wide opening doors. The seat can accommodate two adults with ample headroom and decent leg room provided the front seats aren’t racked too well rearward. Back in the cargo area, and with the back seats upright, there’s 19.2 cubic feet of space. That too is above average for the class. Those cubes measure out to 28 inches deep, 42.5 wide and 29 high. Flip the seats backs and space increases to 45.8 cubic feet or 58 inches of cargo loading depth. Beneath the cargo floor is a nifty hard foam, five compartment small item storage bin. And beneath it, the space-saver spare tire. Now here’s the real compelling incentive to own a Kona. With an extremely long list of standard features, and as mentioned, the only option was floor mats, Kona bottom-lined at $29,805 with delivery after a base price of $28,700. Affordable and attractive especially with Hyundai’s generous warranties of 5-year/80,000-mile new vehicle; 10-year/100,000 powertrain; 7-year/unlimited anti-perforation (rust); and 5-year/unlimited roadside assistance. Kona is a compelling subcompact, crossover/SUV that should attract all ages of buyers. Nick Hromiak is an automotive enthusiast and freelance writer. We look forward to bringing you his new column each month. He can be reached at nhromiak@verizon.net.
Start the Year Off with the Kids’ 2019 Almanac Years ago, before I ever got into reviewing books, someone gave me a copy of National Geographic Kids Almanac (I think it was the 2008 edition). I remember I loved it, as it was full of facts and pictures and was great for a kid that was interested in a variety of subjects. I loved the book so much, and found it so useful, that I still have my copy to this day. Needless to say, when National Geographic offered to send me a copy of their most recent almanac, I jumped at the chance. I wanted to see if it would bring me the same experience as the edition I had first – and the 2019 Almanac did just that! National Geographic Kids 2019 Almanac by National Geographic Kids 352 pages - ages 8+ Series: National Geographic Almanacs Published by National Geographic Children’s Books May 8, 2018 The publisher describes the book as “the latest information about what’s new and newsy in our world, special dates to anticipate, and fresh topics, and much more.” The amount of eye-catching information they are able to convey within the pages of these books is incredible. I love the fact boxes,
short descriptions, puzzles and games in the almanac. National Geographic’s synopsis is spot on: “Have fun keeping up with our quickly changing world with the New York Times best-selling almanac, curated and created just for kids. It’s packed with incredible photos; tons of fun facts, crafts, and activities; and fascinating features about animals, science, nature, technology, and more. New features include an updated “Fun and Games” chapter filled with all-new games, jokes, and comics; all new weird-but-true facts; “19 Facts for 2019” feature in every chapter; updated reference material; and cool stuff on topics today’s curious kids care about.” This book makes my wish list every year. I am always drawn to National Geographic’s Kids’ publications because of the way they are laid-out. The yearly almanac is a wonderful illustration of the quality of this publisher. The page lay-outs are visually stunning and fun to read. I love the wide variety of subjects in the Almanac each year also. It covers topics like sports, religions, geography, pop-culture, the environment, nature, explorers, animals, and so much more. If this book doesn’t get your kids off their devices and into reading, I don’t know what will! For more on books and reading, visit my blog, ThisKidReviewsBooks.com!
Parenting Essentials after Separation BY ROBERT E. FRAVEL, ESQ. It is not uncommon for a couple to separate after having a child, even if there was no marriage. It is also fairly common for the two parents to decide to try and “work it out outside of court” regarding the custody and care of their child. I have seen this time and time again, and it almost never works. In fact, I have yet to come across a situation where it has worked, without some degree of court intervention. A multitude of things can happen which destroy this informal arrangement. In my experience with these situations, the downfall of the informal arrangement is usually due to one parent becoming less and less involved with the child and thus leaving all the parenting duties to the other parent. This causes a ton of animosity and quite frankly is totally unfair to both the parent and the child. Additionally, custody is only one part of the parenting equation when it comes to parents who are separated. The other part of the equation is child support. When there is no court regulation, the financial obligation that comes with having a child can be thrown to the wayside by the non-custodial parent, leaving the custodial parent to bear the full financial burden of raising the child. Not only does this severely impact the finances of the custodial parent, but it also impacts the quality of life of the child. Child support is not simply a payment to a former partner, it is an investment in the child’s upbringing. In the most basic sense, child support payments provide for that child’s quality of life. If only one parent is financially contributing to the child’s upbringing, then in theory the child will not be provided the same opportunities it would if mom and dad were both providing. This stressful situation can be avoided simply by obtaining a custody order and a subsequent child support order. These documents
will clearly state each parent’s responsibilities with regard to when they will have custody of the child and their percentage of the financial responsibilities. Additionally, it will account for holidays and vacation time so both parents will know in advance and can plan accordingly. In many cases, this is done without a judge rendering an opinion. Once the paperwork is filed with the court, the parents and/or their attorneys, have an opportunity to come to an agreement regarding both custody and child support, that works for both parties and have said agreement entered as an official court order. So how does one go about obtaining a custody or child support order? Each jurisdiction has different local rules, but generally speaking, it begins with a document called a complaint (for custody or support). The best way to go about obtaining a child custody and support order is by hiring a family law attorney. An experienced family law attorney can draft and file all the required documents with the court and represent you in the following court hearings. Embarking on this process without an attorney is a risky endeavor, considering the fact that your child’s future is at stake. If you have an existing custody order or child support order that needs to be changed or adjusted for some reason, an experienced family law attorney can also help you accomplish this goal. If you think your situation requires either a custody or child support order, or calls for changes to your existing order(s), make sure you contact an experienced family law attorney. Robert E. Fravel, Esq. is a Bucks County solo practitioner located at 123 N. Main Street, Suite 208, in Dublin, Pennsylvania who specializes in estate planning & administration, family law and business law. To set up a consultation, call his office at (267) 227-9138. To learn more, visit his website at www.fravel-law.com
“January brings the snow, Makes our feet and fingers glow.” - Sara Coleridge
Rotary Recognizes PHS Seniors The Perkasie Rotary Club recently recognized Pennridge High School seniors Andrea Varkay and Ian Livengood as its Student of the Month for September and October, respectively. Andrea is the daughter of Babu and Lali Varkay of Hilltown. She has been involved in Drama, Mini-Thon, Key Club, National Honor Society, Volleyball, Tennis and Student Government during her four years at PHS. Academically, Andrea has taken AP Calculus BC, AP Psychology and AP Statistics. Andrea has been a member of Girl Scouts since second grade and has been volunteering at The Community at Rockhill since eighth
grade. She plans to pursue a career as a pediatrician. Ian is the son of Joseph Livingood of Perkasie. He has been involved in Water Polo and Swimming, Executive Council, National Honor Society and Students against Destructive Decisions during his four years at PHS. Academically, he has taken AP Spanish, AP Calc BC, AP Environmental Science, AP Psychology and Advanced Art. Ian has been a coach with the Pennridge Aquatic Club since his sophomore year. He plans to attend college and “ultimately find happiness in life” pursuing his passion for coaching.
(L-R) Rotary Club Area 6 Assistant District Governor Phil Janke; student Andrea Varkay; student Ian
Livingood; and Perkasie Rotary Club President Paul Lorenz.
photo by joe ferry
January 2019 • Upper Bucks Free Press •
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Quakertown 2nd Grader Raises $1700 in Quest to Aid Homeless
BY CHRISTOPHER BETZ
A few months ago, eight-year-old Caleb Byelich of Quakertown Borough and his family were visiting Baltimore, MD when they came upon a homeless gentleman sitting on the sidewalk and drumming on a small plastic barrel in front of him. As Caleb is a drummer himself, he got into a conversation with the gentleman that so inspired some passers-by that one of them ended up giving the man a set of real drumsticks to use. The encounter raised questions for Caleb about how the man could be homeless and how he might be able to help homeless people in his own hometown. Inspired by his parents who were familiar with the ministries of the Quakertown Food Pantry and the Upper Bucks Code Blue shelter, Caleb decided to set up a stand in front of his family’s house in November for a day and sell snacks to raise money for the Quakertown Food Pantry. He achieved his personal goal of $50 with that endeavor. Caleb knew he could do even more and so set his sights quite a bit higher. After some brainstorming with his family about just what Caleb could do next, the decision was made. After some viral marketing on social media, on Sunday, December 9, Caleb set up a stand in front of his home, this time selling hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookie bars to raise money for the Upper Bucks Code Blue shelter, hoping to raise at least $100. Word of his enterprise quickly spread with as many as 150 customers showing up. By sundown that day, Caleb had raised $1580 for the Upper Bucks Code Blue shelter. He and his family presented those proceeds, plus another $25 he has collected since, to Advocates for the Homeless
of Upper Bucks (AHUB) on December 18 at the shelter, much to the appreciation of the volunteers of the ministry and shelter program director Lisa Bruno. (Editor’s note: At press time, the total raised has climbed to $1715!) Caleb is quick to give credit for the success of the fundraising campaign to his family, friends, and neighbors who pitched in to help. “When I say WE raised $1600 for the shelter, I mean everyone who helped, including the customers!” Providing musical entertainment that day were Caleb’s brother Jaiden, Elijah and Haunah Thomas, and Mazie Mitchell who also donated 50 soft pretzels to be sold. Additionally, brother Jaiden and Caleb’s friends Ben Gregory and Justin Miller helped with baked goods, running the stand, and promoting the sale with flyers all over town. What successful enterprise doesn’t have a logo for their brand? Caleb’s brother Cameron created the logo for Caleb’s Cocoa Café. Cameron also worked behind the scenes the day of the sale keeping the hot chocolate flowing. Following the great success of his latest fundraiser, young Caleb is already thinking about what is next in his quest to help others. He says he does worry about what happens with the people once they leave the shelter in the morning, so he’d like to do something about sending them off with a packed lunch. He also has Springtime in his sights with plans for a lemonade stand. One thing is for sure. We haven’t seen the last of Caleb and his crew, and that should be an inspiration to all of us.
Second-grader Caleb Byelich of Quakertown presents a check for $1600 to Pastor Dave Heckler, chair of the Advocates for the Homeless of Upper Bucks (AHUB) which operates the Code Blue Shelter in Downtown Quakertown. Brothers Cameron (center) and Jaiden (right) were proud to support Caleb in his efforts to aid the homeless in our area. photo by christopher betz
There was plenty of musical entertainment at Caleb’s Cocoa Café.
photo submitted by alicia byelich
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• Upper Bucks Free Press • January 2019
I received a beautiful holiday flowering plant – now what? So, you read gardening columns in newspapers and your family notices! They buy you a live plant for your holiday gift – lucky you! Now, how to take care of your new plant? First, enjoy the beauty of the plant as presented. Many holiday season plants have brilliant blooms that will brighten your house for weeks. When the blooms fade, you’ll want to take steps to keep the plant alive—and hopefully healthy enough to re-bloom next season. Here are a few pointers for some popular holiday plants. Christmas / Thanksgiving Cactus (Schlumbergera). After the blooms stop and drop, keep the cactus in a cooler location, out of direct sunlight—perhaps a basement with windows or a heated garage. Next summer, it will benefit from being out in part shade until cooler fall weather sets in and you bring it inside. You will notice new shoots forming on the plant. Once buds start to appear, move the plant to a sunny location. If the buds don’t develop into flowers, the plant may need a bigger pot or richer soil—you may consider repotting. Keep the plant’s environment sunny but not above 70 degrees to optimize flowering. If your holiday plant is a Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) you’ll have a little more of a challenge to get the plant to flower again. To extend the blooms, keep the plant’s room temperature consistent. Poinsettias are
very sensitive to spikes or drops in temperature. Watering extremes, or low light will also impact the endurance of this holiday bloomer. For this reason, bringing them home from florist or store on very cold days will be a bane to their existence! Find a warm, sunny window, keep the plant evenly watered to prevent drying, and mist the plant regularly. Avoid temperatures below 55 or above 75 degrees. Following the holidays, give the plant a dose of a soluble fertilizer. When the flowers and leaves fall, cut the plant back to 3-5 inches and move the plant to a cool (sub-60 degree), well-ventilated place until spring. During this time, the plant will not require much water, but again, the soil should not dry out completely.
In late spring, bring the plant out of dormancy with new soil, a warmer location, and increased watering. When summer evening temperatures are above 60 degrees, move the plant outside in moderate shade. Pinch off shoots during the summer to make the plant bushier and give it a nice shape. By late summer, when evenings start to cool, the poinsettia needs to come back indoors in a warm, sunny window. Again—room temperatures between 70-75 are ideal—but cooler evening temperatures in low 60s and darkness is important. Cover it with dark fabric or place in a closet. At this time, the plant should be treated almost every week to a dose of soluble fertilizer . If you’re hoping for Christmas flowers, starting in October the plant requires overnight darkness for eight weeks. Once flower buds are formed (around Thanksgiving), the plant is ready to reward you with holiday brilliance for the second year.
Kalanchoe (K. blossfeldiana) offers abundant bright flowers for holiday enjoyment. It requires a sunny location in the home for flowering, if it is to flower a second year. If you don’t have a sunny window, your plant will become unattractive and spindly. You may have more success by taking root cuttings and placing them in moist sand to restart the process. Like poinsettia, kalanchoe will need to be given the same “dark” period in order to set flower buds. Unlike the poinsettia, it may not need to be cut back in the spring. Nothing keeps a gardener’s spirits brighter in the winter months than beautiful indoor flowering plants—so don’t be discouraged. You can do it. If you succeed in getting a cactus, poinsettia or kalanchoe to bloom a second year, you can pat yourself on the back and award yourself a ‘holiday green thumb’ – and that’s something to be very proud of! Our home gardening hotline and social media center has closed for the season, but you can still call, email, or write us with your home gardening questions. We will be monitoring the communications weekly. 215-345-3283 “Ask a Master Gardener” Penn State Extension Bucks County Neshaminy Manor Center 1282 Almshouse Rd Doylestown, PA 18901 Email: BucksHotline@ag.psu.edu Please mention that you heard about us through the Upper Bucks Free Press!
January 2019 • Upper Bucks Free Press •
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