Auxiliary Presents $140,000 to Support New Hospital Wing

The Grand View Auxiliary presented a gift of $140,000 to Grand View Hospital, bringing the annual total for the Auxiliary’s fundraising to $160,500. The check was presented at the Auxiliary’s year-end meeting to President and CEO Douglas Hughes and Rob Loughery, Chair, Grand View Health Board of Trustees. The $140,000 gift brings the group ne step closer to meeting their $600,000 pledge in support of the new six-story, 190,000-squarefoot Pavilion at Grand View Health. The Emergency and Trauma departments inside the Pavilion opened in April, with new operating rooms and patient rooms set to open this

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A-Plus Mini Market women as they navigate their breast cancer journeys,” said Monique Gary, DO, Medical Director of the Grand View Health Cancer Program.

“Designer Bag Bingo is a signature event for the Auxiliary, and the support from our breast cancer care team, cancer survivors, community partners and Grand View Health employees grows each year,” Barb Matkowski, co-chair of the event said.

Additional items of note from the Auxiliary’s year-end meeting:

Outgoing Auxiliary President Pat Schuck received the Auxilian of the Year award.

St. Luke's Bone & Joint

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BEDMINSTER Weis Markets

Babushka’s

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Dairy Queen

Econo Lodge

The Free Press office

Friendly Book Store

Giant Food Markets

Grocery Outlet

Grundy House

Hampton Inn

Holiday Inn Express

Independence Court

James Michener Library

John’s Plain & Fancy

JP’s Diner

Liberty Thrift Store

Moyer's Shoes

Pep Boys service lobby

Quaker Cleaners

Quakertown Alive!

Quakertown Family Rest

Quakertown Farmers Mkt

Quality Inn

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Rep. Craig Staats' office

Sal's Pizza Randa

Sine's 5 & 10

Spring Hill Suites

Tohickon Campground

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Borough Hall

Earl's Pub & Grill

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How to Pick Valuables at Yard Sales

With the new Barbie movie coming to a theatre near you this summer, complete with a top-secret plot, collectors are ready to buy, sell, trade America’s favorite doll. Get ready because the sales will be active, and the prices won’t be cheap leading up to the premiere of Greta Gerwig’s film. The new Barbie movie is going to help drive market prices up for the popular vintage dolls and all the Barbie paraphernalia that goes along with them.

The Bild Lilli doll, the German fashion doll that sparked Barbie designer Ruth Handler’s inspiration for Barbie dolls in the first place, regularly sells for thousands of dollars on the open collectibles market. The German dolls had fashion outfits, makeup, and a well-known place in the history of doll collecting. I’ve appraised my fair share of Bild Lilli and Barbie dolls and Barbie accessories evaluating them all with high values depending on many factors.

Barbie will be the focus of the movie’s plot, no doubt, but her supporting cast of characters such as Ken, Midge, Allan, etc. will also have roles in the film as they did in the imaginations of children since Barbie’s debut on March 9, 1959, at the American Toy Fair in New York City.

In the Barbie-sphere, Barbie’s friends did not outshine Barbie. However, with collectors, Barbie’s friends are of interest. Ken was Barbie’s boyfriend and vintage examples of the male doll, and his accessories are collectible, but it is Barbie’s female friends that are most popular in the collectible doll market such as Skipper, PJ, Midge, and Francie, Barbie’s British, and very fashionable cousin. For instance, Midge was an interesting addition to Mattel’s Barbie doll line. Midge, Barbie’s best girlfriend early on arrived on the scene in 1963 and her boyfriend, Allan, appeared a year later in 1964. Barbie, Ken, Midge, and Allan would often double date.

Over the decades, Midge married, became pregnant, got cancelled and reintroduced. Midge’s boyfriend, Allan and later husband, as of 1991 when they wed, was featured much less often and less prominently. While Allan was Ken’s buddy, he was later unceremoniously omitted from the Barbie and friends group. Character backgrounds should play a prominent role in the new film. The foursome of Barbie, Ken, Midge, and Allan was not as popular as Barbie and Midge were independently. And, when Midge matured and had a magnetic baby bump that could be removed, controversy ensued. She didn’t share the same wholesome attraction as Barbie, wore less makeup, and wasn’t as fashionable when it came to clothing choices. As a result, Midge didn’t have the same prominence as Barbie either. Midge was discontinued in 1967 and PJ replaced her with blonde pigtails and a closer resemblance to Barbie. Midge returned in the late 1980s as part of the California Dream Barbie set. The 1980s Midge doll is a rare and sought after collectible doll today because she was a limited edition.

Barbie lovers liked her having a girlfriend, but collectors didn’t care who the girlfriend was, Midge or PJ. For the 60th anniversary, in March of 2023, Mattel reintroduced Midge. She featured her original and youthful freckled face, auburn hair, and she wore a two-piece creamsicle bathing suit. Midge did not have any babies or Allan in tow for her reintroduction.

The collectors who are ready to sell will have a good opportunity on the heels of the July 21 movie premiere. As a couple Midge and Allan don’t command the same values as Barbie and Ken, their more popular best friends.

A well-dressed Midge doll in good condition from the 1960s would be worth $400 to $600 today. The best Allan doll example with an original box could command $300. On the other hand, a vintage Barbie doll regularly commands several hundreds to thousands of dollars from the most enthusiastic collectors.

Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, who will take on the roles of Barbie and Ken in the movie, promise to provide excitement to a collectors’ group that spans the globe. As these actors immortalize the beloved dolls, collectors get ready to reach into their pockets to buy new Barbie vintage objects or they’ll cash in on the opportunity that a big budget Hollywood feature will bring new money into a very slow doll market. Either way, it promises to be a cool summer with Barbie and the gang—both vintage in packages and on contemporary movie screens.

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Interesting Dog Facts

Some fun facts about dogs, most of which even I didn't know!

1. In an interview in 2013, Sir Paul McCartney said that he added a frequency that only dogs can hear to the end of the Beatles song “A Day in the Life”. Of course, I had to try it. I played it three times just make sure it wasn’t a fluke. So, watch your dog when you play the song!

2. Three dogs survived the sinking of the Titanic. The dogs were in first class and included a Pomeranian puppy. Her owner wrapped the puppy in a blanket to escape the sinking ship. Everyone thought she was carrying a baby. Another Pomeranian and a Pekingese were also rescued. Move over, Rose and Jack!

3. A Greyhound would actually beat a cheetah in a long-distance race! Greyhounds are excellent long-distance runners and can maintain a speed of 35 mph for up to seven miles. While the cheetah is incredibly fast, it only can keep its speed for about 200- 300 yards. So, they may have the running start but it’ll be surpassed by the Greyhound!

4. A 50-year-old blind man named Bill Irwin hiked the entire 2,000-mile Appalachian Trail with his black and tan German Shepard guide dog, Orient. Orient packed his own provisions and stopped at every signpost which Irwin read with his fingertips. They hiked the Appalachian Trail for eight months in 1990. He didn’t use maps or a compass, just his seeing-eye dog!

5. 30% of all Dalmatians are deaf in one ear and 5% are deaf in both. This is due to the extreme piebald gene which is responsible for their white coat and blue eyes in some Dalmatians. Dalmatians with larger dark patches are less likely to be deaf.

6. Many dog owners haven't heard of this interesting fact, but did you know that your four-legged friend has three eyelids? The third lid is called the “haw” or nictitating membrane, and is responsible for keeping the eye protected and lubricated. I had a dog where I saw this third eyelid often when she was sleeping. I thought she was sleeping with her eyes open!

7. Chow Chows and Shar Peis are the only dogs that have fully blue-black tongues. What is even more interesting, the cause of these blue and black tongues is currently unknown! submitteD by marion c o’neil cPDt-ka, ctDi owner anD instructor for molasses creek Dog training, llc, quakertown anD trainer for runaway farm Pet hosPital, Pennsburg she can be reacheD at molassescreek@verizon net