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• Upper Bucks Free Press • November 2016
What’s Going On in Upper Bucks?
November is “Adopt A Senior Pet Month”
November 1 & 2
Halloween Candy “Give Back” (Tue 3-6pm) (Wed 4-7pm) Will pay $1/lb for candy for Care Pkg for our Troops. Details: Judy Samelski DMD, Quakertown, 267-373-9402, BuildingBlocksDental.com
November 3, 4, 5
Fall Book Sale at Christ Lutheran, 353 E Dark Hollow Rd, Pipersville. Details: 215-766-7880
November 4 & 5
Indoor Flea Mkt/Bake Sale 9am-2pm at St. Luke’s Lutheran, 470 Church Rd, Kintnersville
November 4, 5, 6
Christmas Craft Fair at QMart. Spaces are $50 for the weekend. Contact Sara at 215-5364115 or sara@quakertownfarmersmarket.com to reserve.
November 5
Quakertown Lions Club Hoagie Sale at two Quakertown QNB locations (3rd & W Broad Sts) & (Rte 309 & Mill St) from 9am-12noon or sold out, $5 each, jcotton@qnbbank.com UBACE Fall Rock Concert 7pm-9:30pm (open 6:30pm) at McCoole’s, 10 S Main St, Quakertown. $10/ea., free under age 7. www.ubace.org Indoor Flea Mkt/Craft Show 9am-2pm at Tylersport Fire Co, 125 Ridge Rd. 215-257-5900 x7 Roast Beef & Ham Dinner 4pm-7pm, $12/ adults, $5.50/ages 6-12, (take-out $1 extra). Trinity UCC, Rte 212, Quakertown, 610-346-7114 Pork & Sauerkraut Dinner/Bake Sale 4pm7pm or sold out. St. Peter’s Tohickon UCC, 1071 Old Bethlehem Rd, Perkasie. $11/adults, $6/ages 5-12. Donate a non-perishable food item. 215-257-4633 QYBA 12U Baseball fundraiser, 4-man scramble Golf Tournament at Fox Hollow Golf Club in Trumbauersville. Details: call Terry Feusner at 215-817-0943 “Tricky Tray” at Southeastern Fire Co, 2687 Wassergass Rd, Hellertown. Doors open 4pm, drawing 5:30pm. $10/adv, $15/at door. Info/tkts: 610-838-6007, 610-838-6354 Haunted 3D Archery Shoot, 5pm-9pm at Clover Leaf Archery Club, 2080 Umbreit Rd, Milford Square. Details: Tim Moats 610-308-8279 Vargo Dragway Car Show 8am-3pm at AGA Farms, 1333 Elephant Rd, Perkasie. All makes/models welcome. vargodragway.com
November 6 Daylight Saving Time ends “Prayer Walk for Peace” begins 6:30pm, parking lot of St. John’s Lutheran, near S 9th & W Broad Sts , Quakertown, ends downtown w/singing & candle lighting. Pastor Miller 215-536-3593, stjohnsquak@verizon.net Breakfast 8am-1pm at Springtown Firehouse, 3010 Rte 212. $7/adults, $4/ages 5-8, free 4 & under.
November 8
Election Day
Free Mindfullness Meditation Workshop for Adults, 7pm-8pm at UBYMCA. Info at 215-536-YMCA
November 9
“Ticket Toss” 6pm, Beethoven Waldheim Club, 1984 Waldheim Rd, Hellertown for LCR Animal Rescue. $3 adm., $6.25/25 tkts, doors open 6pm. 25+ prizes! 215-538-2510, lastchanceranch.org “Standing Bear’s Footsteps” (Native American) movie 12:30pm at Encore Experiences, 312 Alumni Ave, Harleysville. Info: 215-256-6900 or encoreexperiences.org “Get Results w/Digital Mkting” 7:30am9am at Souderton Mennonite Homes, 207 W Summit St. $30/mbrs, $45/non-mbrs. Reserve: 215-723-9472, IndianValleyChamber.com
“Rails to Trails: Quakertown & Upper Bucks” 7pm by PA Highlands Trail Network staff. United Friends School, 1018 W Broad St, Quakertown “Role of Women in Native Society, Then & Now” 7pm at Quakertown Library, 401 W Mill St. Free, no registration. Info: 215-536-3306 Community Nights 6pm-8:30pm at Deep Run West Mennonite, 1008 Deep Run Rd, Perkasie. Free Dinner 6-7pm, followed by fun program for all ages, games, stories, nursery. Info: 215-766-8157
November 10
Friends of the James A Michener Library general meeting is 1:15pm at the Library, Mill Street, Quakertown “Animal Homes/Habitats” Preschool Science Program for ages 3-6 w/adult, 1pm2:15pm at Perkiomen Watershed’s Brownstone Barn, Rt 29 & Haldeman Rd, Schwenksville. Info/regis: loltman@perkiomenwatershed.org AARP Meeting 1pm at First UCC, 151 S 4th St, Quakertown. Speaker: Mike Gannon from Consumer Protection for the Elderly. 215-536-7512
November 11
Veterans Day
Purse Bingo at Benner Hall, Cherry Rd, Richlandtown. Open 5pm, games 6:15pm. Tkts $25, call Stacie 215-715-2575 Adult Basket of Cheer Bingo, open 6pm at Quakertown Fire Co, 505 W Broad St, Quakertown. Info/tkts: 267-424-3549 or 215-536-5609. BYOB, must be 21, refreshments available. $25 admission at door.
November 11 & 12
Holiday Bazaar (Fri 9am-6pm) (Sat 9am3pm), Souderton Mennonite Homes Aux, 207 W Summit St, Souderton
November 12
Pork & Sauerkraut Dinner w/homemade desserts 4pm-7pm, St. John’s Lutheran Church of Spinnerstown, 1565 Sleepy Hollow Rd, GPS Quakertown. $10/adults, $5/ages 6-11, take-out avail. Info: 215-536-0734 Penny Auction at Souderton Fire House, 266 N 2nd St, Souderton. Open 5pm, auction 6pm. Refreshments, door prizes. Donations: $1/adults, $.50/children Young Birders Club (age 10+) from 10am-12noon at Peace Valley Nature Ctr, 170 Chapman Rd, Doylestown. Contact Jen at jmconway-ianacone@BucksCounty.org Annual Holiday Craft Show at Dublin Fire Co, 194 N Main St. All handmade items, breakfast/lunch avail. Crafts in two rooms. Info: Karen 215-249-3099 Spaghetti Dinner 4pm-7pm at New Goshenhoppen Church, 1070 Church Rd, East Greenville. $8/adults, $6/ages 3-10, take-out available. Info: 267-446-8898 Quakertown Cares Fall Craft Show 8am3pm at Quakertown HS, Park Ave. (crafters/ vendors please call Lisa 215-536-4972) Fall Artisan/Craft Fair 10am-3pm, Pennridge Community Ctr, 146 E Main St, Perkasie. Info: 215-794-7493 Holiday Bazaar & Café 10am-5pm at River Valley Waldorf School, 1395 Bridgeton Hill Rd, Upper Black Eddy. Free event, hand-made items, delicious food, local musicians. Info: 610-982-5606
November 13
Last Chance Ranch Animal Rescue Benefit 11am-3pm at Perkasie Firehouse, 100 N 5th St. Raffles, prizes, food, fun. (vendors wanted, 484-300-9551) “Purses For Purpose” Bingo at Benner Hall, 1260 E Cherry Rd, Richlandtown. (open 11:30am, bingo 1pm), Tkts: $30/door or $25/ adv. at quakertowncommunityoutreach.org (also collecting non-perish. food items) “The Path of Grief” free workshop, 2pm4pm at St. John’s Lutheran Richlandtown Activity Ctr, 26 First Ave, Richlandtown. Info: 215-536-5027
Hilltown Twp Histor. Soc. presents “Farming in Hilltown Twp” 1:30pm-4pm at Hartzel-Strassburger Homestead, 407 Keystone Dr & Bethlehem Pike, Sellersville. Barn/museum open, free adm., donations welcome, 267-614-9174 Free Mindfullness Meditation Workshop for Adults, 12:30pm-1:30pm at UBYMCA. Info at 215-536-YMCA Breakfast (cooked to order) 8am-1pm at Amer. Legion Post, 610 E Broad St, Quakertown. $6/adults, $4/ages 6-12, free/ under 6. No smoking, bar open for cocktails, all welcome. Painting Party at Ottsville Fire Co, 249 Durham Rd, Ottsville. Doors open 1pm, painting 2pm. Activities info/tkts: Sue 610-476-6731 Cash Bingo at Eastern Upper Bucks Seniors, 8040 Easton Rd, Ottsville. Doors open 12noon. Lunch/snacks available for purchase. Info:610-847-8178 “Joybells” Handbell Concert 4pm at Zwingli UCC, 350 Wile Ave, Souderton. Varied repertoire from classical to Disney. Free admission, Zwingli.org Local Author Luncheon Event with author Rich Jensen, 12:30pm-2:30pm at Deep Run West Mennonite, 1008 Deep Run Rd, Perkasie. Books avail. for purchase. Info: 215-766-8157
November 15
Career Exploration Day in the 5th Grade Classrooms of the Souderton School Dist. & Penn View Christian School. Details at 215-723-9472 or IndianValleyChamber.com
November 16
Upper Bucks Artisans Holiday Show & Sale 4pm-8pm at McCoole’s Arts & Events, 10 S Main St, Quakertown. $1 admission & silent auction. (benefits Tails of Valor/Paws of Honor Program) Quakertown Food Pantry Benefit at Arby’s, 175 N West End Blvd, Qtown. Percentage of purchases from 4pm-8pm will be donated to the Pantry.
November 17
Thanksgiving Luncheon 11:30am ($10, register by Nov 9) at Encore Experiences, 312 Alumni Ave, Harleysville. Info: 215-256-6900 or encoreexperiences.org
November 18
Business Card Exchange 7:30am-9:30am hosted by Quakertown Farmers Market, 201 Station Rd, Quakertown, info/regis: ubcc.org/ events. Light refreshmts, FREE, open to all. Bag Bingo Fundraiser for QSC Travel Soccer at Benner Hall, 1260 E Cherry Rd, Quakertown. BYOB, adults only. Open 6pm, $25/adv, $30/at door. meghans34@gmail.com
November 19
Perkasie Patchwork Coffeehouse presents Beaucoup Blue (father & son duo), opens 7pm, all sales at door, $12, $10, $6 by age. 320 W Chestnut St. Details: PerkMenno.net or 215-723-2010 Christmas Bazaar 9am-8pm at St. Agnes School, 445 N Main St, Sellersville. Details: 215-804-5234
November 20
Benefit Hymn Sing 4pm at Souderton Mennonite Church, 105 W Chestnut St, Souderton. (aid Haiti relief), 215-723-3088 or churchoffice@soudertonmennonite.org Thanksgiving Community Meal, 5pm-7pm at St. John’s Lutheran Richlandtown Activity Ctr, 26 First Ave, Richlandtown. 215-536-5027
November 21
“An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving” (about Louisa May Alcott) movie 12:30pm at Encore Experiences, 312 Alumni Ave, Harleysville. Info: 215-256-6900 or encoreexperiences.org Keystone Quilters Mtg, Quakertown Christian Sch, 50 E Paletown Rd, Qtown. $5/ guests, open 6:30pm, keystonequilters.org (Marsha Heimann, “Antique Buttons”)
November 22
“Thankful Bake Sale” 4pm-7pm (or until gone) at Christ Lutheran, 3230 Rte 212, Springtown. Variety of pumpkin items & more.
November 24 November 30
Thanksgiving Day
“State of the County” Membership Luncheon 11:30am-1:30pm at Franconia Heritage, 508 Harleysville Pike, Telford. $25/mbrs, $40/ non-mbrs. Info/regis. at 215-723-9472 or IndianValleyChamber.com
December 2 Christmas Tree Lighting 6pm-8pm Downtown Qtown. Strolling carolers, gingerbread house contest, live nativity, and much more. Santa arrives 7pm by Quakertown firetruck. Info: quakertownalive.com Holiday Dinner Dance. $22/dinner & dance, $10/dance only. Pennridge Community Ctr, 146 E Main St, Perkasie, 215-453-7027. Buffet 6pm-7pm, Dance 7pm-10pm Annual Trivia Night Fundraiser (for Encore & PEAK Ctr) 7pm-9pm, $15/pp, The Peak Ctr, 606 E Main St, Suite C, Lansdale. BYOB, teams of 4-8, snacks provided, prizes. 215-256-6900, encoreexperiences.org
December 2 & 3 Christmas Craft Show at the Quakertown Train Station. (Fri 4pm-8pm) (Sat 9am-4pm). Local artisans, Bake sale, & Yearly raffle. Sponsored by Woman’s Club of Quakertown. quakertowntrainstation.org Model Train Display by Perkasie Model RR Club at 120 N 7th St, Perkasie. Both days 12noon-8pm. Details: Doug at 215-257-7075. Free admission, donations appreciated “The Nutcracker” Ballet (Fri 7:30pm) (Sat 1:30pm) at Cavalry Church Theater, Rte 113, Souderton. Tkts: $25/adults, $21/seniors & students. Box office 215-822-4640 or online at delawarevalleydance.com
December 2, 3, 4 Kringle Christmas Shoppe in Applebachsville (Fri 1-8) (Sat 10-4:30) (Sun 12:30-4:30), Latvian Baptist, 1142 Apple Rd. 30+ artisans! Free adm. live music, raffle baskets, haycockhistoricalsociety.org
December 3 Holiday Bake Sale/Bazaar 9am-2pm, Trumbauersville Fire Co, 142 N Main St. Local crafters/vendors or reserve own space. Raffles/lite refreshmts, info: Carolann 267-374-7762 or bucks58fire.com Trumbauersville Winterfest 7pm-9pm. Bonfire, warm drinks, s’mores. FREE, Santa by fire engine. Donate hats/scarves/gloves for “Spread the Warmth Tree” at Veterans Park Pavilion, 140 Woodview Dr (behind UCC Church) Generations 5K Reindeer Run, 8am at 259 N Second St, Souderton. (also a 1-mile Fun Walk) Regis/check-in 7:15-7:45am. Breakfast & Prize Ceremony 9am. Details: 215-723-5841, generationsofiv.org
December 4 1st Winter Basket Bingo at Sellersville Fire Dept, 2 N Main St. Open 11:30am, games 1pm. Tkts/$20 adv., $25/door if avail. Includes 24 games & lunch. All must have tkts, sfdbasketbingo@yahoo or 215-257-4028 x58 Christmas House Tours “Classic Quakertown at Christmas” (Reception 2pm, Tours 3pm-7pm), Tkt info: 215-536-2273, quakertownalive.com
Have something to share with your community? Send us the details! info@ubfp.org • fax: 215-839-3421 • 582 S. West End Blvd• Quakertown, PA 18951
November 2016 • Upper Bucks Free Press •
Think Local. Buy Local. Be Local. Small Business Saturday is November 26
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• Upper Bucks Free Press • November 2016
Stauffer Recognized as Best of Quakertown
Linda Stauffer has been selected for the 2016 Best of Quakertown Award in the Artist category by the Quakertown Award Program. Linda owns and operates the Fiddlestix Arts Center on West Broad Street. Each year, the Quakertown Award Program identifies local businesspeople that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local businesspeople that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the Quakertown area a great place to live, work and play. Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2016 Quakertown Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered
both internally by the Quakertown Award Program and data provided by third parties. The Quakertown Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Quakertown area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value. The Quakertown Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community’s contributions to the U.S. economy. Visit www.localawardscenter.org.
Think Local. Buy Local. Be Local.
Exceptional Property Owners Honored
BY MICHELE BUONO
Quakertown Alive! presented the 2016 Properties of Merit Awards at the Palace Room of the Proper Brewing Company on October 20. Local property owners were honored for the exceptional appearance of their homes and businesses. The Properties of Merit program was created to honor property owners who are exceptional in their neighborhoods and is designed to increase pride of ownership within the Quakertown area. Well cared-for and maintained properties contribute to overall to increased property values and a safe, clean, and green environment. Originally begun as a state-sponsored initiative, the state discontinued funding a few years ago. Where other cities and towns have had to do away with similar programs, Quakertown’s Properties of Merit program has thrived. This is due in large part to the members of the Properties of Merit committee, who are dedicated and passionate about the revitalization of Quakertown. Honorees for 2016 include: Preservation Award: Gavin Laboski, Laboski Law Building
Founders Award: Brian and Kris Wilson, The Proper Brewing Company Community Greening Award: Borough of Quakertown – Downtown Trees & Planters Business Award: Drs. Aleta Detwiler & Teresa Stiteler, Beautiful Smiles Committee Choice Awards: Park at 4th Committee, Park at 4th Great Meadow District: • Keith Materas, 120 Park Ave. • Christina & Taylor Hibbs, 157 S. 3rd Street • Bernadine & Anthony Bucafuri, 416 E. Broad Street Great Swamp District: • Eric & Alina Gronalski, 21 South 6th Street • Bill & Pamela Yoder, 12 Pickett Lane • Terry Sloyer, 116 Hellertown Ave. • Mike & Suzanne Armstrong, 25 S. 10th St Richland District: • Lucky & Michele Yerkes, 185 Perkasie Ave (Grand Prize Winner) • John & Lyudmilla Lanzetta, 1149 Presidential Drive • Mike & Amy Zownirow, 258 Station Ave. • Susan Brunner, 1400 Cameo Court
This year’s special award winners: Dr. Teresa Stiteler and Dr. Aleta Detwiler of Beautiful Smiles, Cathy Gillahan of the Park at 4th Committee, Naomi Naylor, Paul Rose, and Jann Paulovitz of Quakertown Alive!, Gavin Laboski for the Laboski Law Building, Becki Wilhelm and Kris Barndt representing the Borough of Quakertown, and Kris Wilson of The Proper Brewing Company. photo by michele buono
November 2016 • Upper Bucks Free Press •
Ongoing Events & Resources Community Outreach Benefit – 10% of all Tues. sales in Nov. will be donated from Brick Tavern, 2460 N Old Bethlehem Pike, Quakertown. Open 11am-10pm. Info: cobcares.org Great Gobbler Giveaway at Quakertown QMart. Win one of ten 20lb turkeys to be given away Sunday before Thanksgiving. Must be 18 or older to enter at Davis Meats (dept 244, exit 10) Now thru November 20 – Fall Food Drive at Quakertown QMart, 201 Station Rd (office at exit 4 inside) collecting canned & dry goods for Quakertown Food Pantry for distribution, 215-536-4115 Now thru November 18 – Thanksgiving Food Drive. UBYMCA will be collecting non-perishable food items for the Quakertown Food Pantry and families in need. 215-536-YMCA Quakertown Farmers Market Auctions 1st & 3rd Fri/month w/Les Beyer, 2nd & 4th Sat/month w/Tom Lorah, call 215-536-4115 for info Hoagie Sales 2nd Monday of month (except July/August) at Trumbauersville Fire Co, 142 North Main St, advance orders due Wed. before. $5.25-$5.75, info/order: Kim 215-536-1998 or bucks58fire.com Saturday Bird Walks 8am on trails at Peace Valley Nature Ctr.in Doylestown. Bring binoculars, suitable for adults & over age 12 w/adult. $2 donation, 215-345-7860, peacevalleynaturecenter.org All Veterans invited to join Forrest Lodge VFW, 2118 Old Bethlehem Pike, Sellersville. Call Frank 215-679-7770 Veterans invited 7:30pm, fourth Monday each month at VFW Post 3405, at 211 E Fairmount St, Coopersburg. Call for details at 610-282-1840 Veterans invited 1:30pm, second Sunday each month at John Rivers Memorial VFW Post 11322, 41 Belmont Ave, Quakertown, 267-371-9636 (bring DD 214 for proof eligibility) PetSmart Adoption Day is 2nd Saturday each month, 11am-2pm, PetSmart, 620 N.West End Blvd, Quakertown, 215-538-2843 or lastchanceranch.org Last Chance Ranch Volunteer Orientation/ Tour, 1st Saturday each month, 10am-11am in front of Horse Barn, 9 Beck Rd, Quakertown, 215-538-2510 lastchanceranch.org
Support & Service Groups
Singles Connection for adults meets Thursdays for social evening, 7pm at Silverdale Brethren in Christ Church, 165 W. Main St, Silverdale. 215593-9995 or email carolonline1@verizon.net Doylestown Singles Soc. Intermediate Bridge Club meets every Tues. 7pm at a private residence in Doylestown. Info at 215-340-7604 or shalstrick@comcast.net Sisters U Monthly Meetings 7pm-9pm the third Thurs every month, stef@sistersu.com The Parent Support Group on Addiction meets 7pm, first and third Wed every month in Red Schoolhouse, Presbyterian Church Deep Run, 16 Irish Meetinghouse Rd, Bedminster Twp. Info: Matt, batchof5@yahoo.com Family Education Program on Addiction meets 7pm the first three Mondays of the month in the Red School House at Presbyterian Church of Deep Run, 16 Irish Meetinghouse Rd, Perkasie. Regis. at 800-221-6333 Bullying Prevention Support Group 6:30pm7:30pm every Wed at UBYMCA in Quakertown. Free. advance registration required: 215-750-7220 SOS Bereavement After Suicide – Family Support Group meets at St. Luke’s Quakertown Hospital 2x monthly, inf: call 215-536-5143 Brain Injury Family/Spousal/Partner Support Group 6pm-8pm the third Monday every month at First UCC, Church Parlor, 4th & Park Ave, Quakertown, 215-538-3488 Caregiver Support Group meetings last Thurs. of every month, Independence Court of Quakertown, 1660 Park Ave, (meal provided), RSVP: 215-541-9030 to attend a meeting. Caregiver Support Group 4pm-5pm, meets 4th Thur. of month, Hidden Meadows, 340 Farmers Ln, Sellersville, 267-429-3931 hiddenmeadows ontheridge.com Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group meets 4pm, 4th Thurs of month, Hidden Meadows on the Ridge, 340 Farmers Ln, Sellersville. RSVP 267-429-3931 Alzheimer’s Assoc. Support Group, 3:30pm5:00pm, meets 2nd Thursday every month, Phoebe Richland Health Care Ctr, 108 S. Main St, Richlandtown. Free, more info: Social Services
267-371-4517 NOVA (Network Of Victim Assistance) Support Groups, Information, Guidance, NOVA hotline 1-800-675-6900. www.NOVABucks.org Overeaters Anonymous meets every Thursday 10am-11am, West Swamp Mennonite Church, 2501 Allentown Rd, Quakertown, No dues, free babysitting, 215-538-3195 Alcoholics Anonymous meets every Sunday at 7pm, Grand View Hosp. info at 215-923-7900 Bedminster Nar-Anon meets Tuesdays 7:30pm-8:30pm, Deep Run West Mennonite, 1008 Deep Run Rd, Perkasie, for family/friends of those struggling w/addiction, Bedminster. naranon@yahoo.com Doylestown Nar-Anon meets Wednesdays 6pm at Summit Behavioral Health, 702 Hyde Park, Doylestown. Call 215-589-7111 for directions and info. A Woman’s Place (support for domestic abuse/ violence) 24-hour Hotline 1-800-220-w8116, www.awomansplace.org AARP meets 2nd Thurs each month, 1pm at First UCC, 151 S 4th St, Quakertown, 215-536-7512 Kiwanis meetings 2nd & 4th Wednesdays of each month, 12:30pm at Dominick’s Pizza, Quakertown Quakertown Lions Club meets 2nd & 4th Wednesdays each 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 every Thursday 7am-8:30am at John’s Plain & Fancy Restaurant in Quakertown, membership info: James Dodson – jamescovie@yahoo.com Believers in Business (Qtwn Chapter) meets 2nd & 4th Friday each month, 7:30am-9am at John’s Plain & Fancy Restaurant in Quakertown, info at 610-762-8054
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Community Meals
“Fourth Sunday” Breakfast every month, 8am1pm, all-you-can-eat buffet, $8/adults, $4/kids, (Easter Egg hunt in April), Lwr Milford Fire Co, 1601 Limeport Pk, Coopersburg Free Community Dinner third Wed. of month. 5:30pm-6:30pm, Christ Community Bible Church, 1830 N. Ridge Rd, Perkasie, 215-257-7318 Free Community Meals 6pm at Richland Friends Quaker Meeting on second, fourth & fifth Weds. every month. Mill Rd & Main St off Route 309, Qtwn, 215-538-7555 Community Meal-every third Thursday of the month, 5:30pm-6:30pm, First UCC, 4th & Park, Quakertown, 215-536-4447 Free Community Dinner first Thurs. of month, 5:45pm at the Yerger Bldg across the street from Trinity Lutheran, 102 N Hellertown Ave, Quakertown
Bingo
Bingo at Encore Experiences, 2nd Saturday of month, 1pm-4pm, lunch available to buy, (lots of $$ specials), 312 Alumni Ave, Harleysville, details: 215-256-6900 Bingo at Milford Twp Fire Hall every Thur, 12:15pm (first Thur. of month has $50 Jackpot), 2183 Milford Square Pike, Quakertown, 215-536-3066 Bingo at West End Fire Co every Wed, doors open 5:30pm, (refreshments avail, smokefree), cash prizes, 1319 Park Ave, Quakertown, 215-536-6130 Bingo at Richland Twp Fire & Rescue every Tues. doors open 5:30pm, 64 Shelly Rd, Qtwn. 215-536-7226 Bingo at Great Swamp Fish & Game every Sat. night, open 4pm, games 6:30pm, kitchen open. Free coffee, 2650 Schukraft & Camp Rock Hill Rd, Qtwn, 215-536-8820 Bingo at Sellersville Fire Co. every Thurs. opens 5:30pm, 2 N. Main St, 215-257-4028 Bingo at Tylersport Fire Co. every Tues. opens 5:30pm, 125 Ridge Rd, 215-257-5900 Jackpot Bingo at Red Hill Fire Co Social Hall 3rd Friday every month, opens 6pm, games 7pm, 82 E 5th St, Red Hill Bingo at American Legion Post 397 every 1st & 3rd Friday of the month, opens 6pm, snacks available, 935 Main St, Hellertown, 484-851-3624
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• Upper Bucks Free Press • November 2016
Shopping Malls and other Sacred Spaces*
BY REV. LYNETTE R. CHAPMAN
Have something to share with your community? Send us the details! info@ubfp.org • fax: 215-839-3421 The Free Press, 582 S. West End Blvd. Quakertown, PA 18951
“It is only the farmer who faithfully plants seeds in the Spring, who reaps a harvest in the Autumn.”
- B. C. Forbes
Bible Baptist Church
God is present everywhere – in streets and stores and markets. God is present in homes and schools and neighborhood bars. We can’t shut God out. We can’t say “this space is sacred, but that one isn’t”. Every space is sacred because God is in every space. The challenge for us is recognition. Can we recognize God’s presence even in what seem like unlikely places? Can we get past the idea that God is only found in church or in worship? Can we see God’s action in the lives of people around us and in our own life as well? Can we allow God’s guidance and power to shape our celebration of the season every day of the week? Can we speak of the beautiful, true message of the Christmas season in word and action weeks before Advent even starts? Can we see the evidence, the “decorations” of God’s activity as clearly as the twinkling lights of the store Christmas tree? I know that I’m writing about Christmas in a November publication. And, yes, that might seem a little out of place. But no more so than the decorations at Kohl’s. So whether it’s November or December, All Saints or Advent or Christmas, spring or fall, there is no place that is not filled with the presence of God. May you see God at work – in all times, in all places and everywhere – and especially in your own hearts. And no matter the season, may you see the “decorations” of God’s presence and love all around you. Merry Thanksgiving!
I was walking through Kohl’s the other day looking for a new winter coat for my daughter, when I nearly tripped over a large red “tree”. The store was already decorated for Christmas! As I write this, it’s not even Reformation (you know it as Halloween…) and already aisles are filled with wrapping paper and shelves are stocked with gift ideas. Signs tell us to buy our Christmas cards even as we save up points for our Thanksgiving turkeys. It’s insane! I grieve the commercialization of a holy time of year. Christmas has become not the celebration of our Savior’s birth, but the threemonth-long buying season that ensures retailers will end the year in the black. I wonder how people even hear the message of Jesus amidst the hoopla of the holiday. It seems like the secular celebration of a jolly red elf bringing presents to good little girls and boys overshadows the sacred observance of the incarnation. And yet, I am also reminded that everything is sacred. There is no place, no time, where God is not present. Even if we don’t see Him, He is there in the card aisles with the grieving mother who’s trying to figure out what to do with the card she’s picked up that would be perfect for the son she’s recently lost in Iraq. Even when we don’t perceive Him, God is present with the child being dandled on Santa’s knee, comforting her fears that, despite what Santa says, Christmas will still be cold and bleak at her house because her parents can’t make ends meet on minimum wage. Even when we don’t believe it, God is present in the bubbling jubilation of the grandfather buying presents as he eagerly anticipates another holiday with his beloved grandkids.
Lynette Chapman is the pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Quakertown. She can be reached at lynettechapman@comcast.net.
Quakertown United Methodist Church
St. John’s Lutheran Ridge Valley
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 10:00am.
910 Allentown Road, West Rockhill Twp 215-257-9643 stjohnsridgevalley@verizon.net www.stjohns-ridgevalley.com Pastor: Amy Hotter 8:30am Traditional - 10:30am w/priase band. Grape juice & gluten-free wafers available. Handicapped accessible. All invited and welcome anytime to Share the Joy!
*Barbara Brown Taylor wrote a wonderful book by this title that explores these ideas in greater depth. I am inspired by it often and highly recommend it.
Upper Bucks Area Places of Worship
meets at Strayer Middle School Auditorium 1200 Ronald Reagan Drive, Quakertown 267-772-0288 www.biblebaptistcares.org Pastor: Thomas Harris Bible Study Hour 9:30 am, Morning Worship 10:30 am, Services interpreted for the deaf
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 services at 8am and 10am, Visitors and new members always welcome!
First United Methodist Church
501 Market Street, Perkasie 215-257-4626 fumcperkasie@verizon.net www.fumcperkasie.com Pastor: Scott Dorn Mission: Share God’s love, Make and nurture disciples of Jesus Christ, positively impact our community and world.
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 Pastor: Ron Kohl, Sr. Pastor Sunday School for all ages, 10:10am Morning Worship, Evening 1st & 3rd Sundays 6:30 pm, Small group meetings 2nd & 4th Sundays 6:30 pm, Tues: Ladies Bible study 9:30am; Wed: AWANA (2 yrs - 6th grade) & Teens for Christ 6:30 pm, Adult Bible study 7 pm.
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 Wednesday 7pm. Check website for more info.
Ridge Valley United Church of Christ 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. Matthew’s Lutheran Church 3668 Ridge Road, Perkasie 215-795-2965 office@kellerschurch.org www.kellerschurch.org Worship 7:45 & 10:15 am, Sunday School 9 am, Koinonia Cafe 8:#0 pm, Holy Commnion 1st & 3rd Sunday, Children’s Church 2nd & 4th Sunday
St. John’s Lutheran Church 19 South 10th Street, Quakertown 215-536-3593 stjohnsquak@verizon.net www.stjohnsquak.org Pastor: Ray Miller Sunday Worship 8 and 10:30am, Sunday School 9:15am. Welcoming, Reaching Out, Serving. Elevator available
Pennridge Christian Fellowship
St. John’s Lutheran Church of Spinnerstown
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
720 Blooming Glen Road, Blooming Glen 215-257-7309 kallebach@pennridgecf.org www.pennridgecf.org Pastor: Thomas Vargis Sunday worship 10:30am, Sunday School after song service (infants to age 12), Wed evenings 7pm w/ prayer, Crossroads youth & (Sep-Apr) boys and girls clubs. All are welcome.
401 Arch Street, Perkasie 215-453-1565 • www.perkasieag.org Pastor: Rev. Gary Saul Where God’s Love Changes Lives
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.”
MorningStar Moravian Church
610-282-1908 234 S. Main Street, Coopersburg coopmoravian@aol.com Pastor: Jay Petrella Sunday services 10:00am. Small, friendly Protestant church. Community mission: Serving free dinners once per month. All are welcome. Call for information.
Evangel Assembly of God
Richland Friends Meeting (Quaker)
1565 Sleepy Hollow Rd, Spinnerstown 215-536-0734 stjohnsspinnerstown@gmail.com www.stjohnsofspinnerstown.org Pastor: The Rev. Axel Kaegler Worship service 9:45 am, Sunday School 9 9:45 am - children 3 years through 6th grade
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Applebachsville
837 Old Bethlehem Road, Quakertown 215-536-5789 stpauls@netcarrier.com www.quakertown.net/stpauls Pastor: Rev. David Heckler We believe in sharing God’s love in joyful service. Come and see. All are welcome.
St. Paul’s United Church of Christ
104 Green Street, Sellersville 215-257-7268 stacey@stpaulsucc.net www.stpaulsucc.net 8:00 am Rejoice & Praise Worship in Parlor, 9 am Sunday School - all ages, 10:15 Worship in Sanctuary
Trinity Great Swamp UCC
Spinnerstown Rd & County Line Rd Spinnerstown 215-679-7710 tgsucc@verizon.net www.tgsucc.org Pastor: David R. Ellis / Matt Gorkos Sunday School classes for all ages (preK adult) 9:15 am. Family activities throughout the year
Trinity Lutheran Church
102 N. Hellertown Avenue, Quakertown 215-536-4345 www.trinityquakertown.org Pastor: Lynette R. Chapman 9 am traditional services, 10:15 Sunday School, 11am Contemporary service, Handicapped Accessible, Family Friendly Church, Dynamic Music Ministry, Community Service Oriented
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.
November 2016 • Upper Bucks Free Press •
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American Legion Post 242 Update BY DICK HELM
November 2016
A few years back a small number of service companies (mostly restaurants) offered a “Free” dinner to Veterans for their service. This generosity has mushroomed to other service companies such as barbers and beauticians, and car service centers for oil changes. We Veterans are so appreciative of this generosity. It helps heal the scars of walking through airports after returning overseas to be discharged and having our service uniforms on, back in 1967, and receiving curt remarks and nasty stares instead of “Thank You for Your Service.” When I was a youth back in the ‘50’s we not only had the World War II Veterans in their 30’s and 40’s we also had the returning Veterans from the Korean War after the cease fire who were in their 20’s. These gentlemen from the Second World War are dwindling from attendance at our Veterans Functions and the Korean War Vets are in their 80’s are also are dwindling in attendance. Take advantage of being able to thank them before it is too late! Come to our Veterans Day Program outlined below. I was glad that I as a youth could honor the few remaining Veterans of World War I when I was a teenager. They are all gone now and just a remembrance. The Veterans Day Program will be held at Strayer Middle School at 1200 Ronald Reagan Drive (Promptly starting at 10:00 AM). This
year we will have John “Gunny” Sandle of VFW Post #11322 telling about the 50th + year anniversary of the Vietnam War where so many of my friends and fellow students of our area were lost. We are having the 9th District Commander of the Pa. American Legion, Craig A. Wilhelm, as our guest speaker give the main address to the students and public guests. Regretfully “The Public” usually SPARSELY attends this Veterans Day Service. Surprise me as you, the public, did on September 11th by taking a few minutes of that day to come to Strayer Middle School to honor our Military Veterans. You can share with all the attendees including the Veterans and students of Palisades, Pennridge, Quakertown, and Various Parochial Schools, a program involving vocalists, speakers, choral groups, and musicians in honoring those who served. I am impressed with the awe and appreciation shown by these students who will be the leaders of tomorrow. Show them that you support them and the Veteran’s by coming to the program. Once again I wish to emphasize to all “Freedom isn’t Free” and those who served paid their dues to continue the Freedoms we so cherish. Tell them “Thanks” while they are still here to thank. Come out on THEIR day— Veterans Day—the anniversary of the end of World War I nearly 100 years ago.
Quakertown Halloween Parade Results
Individuals 10 & under 1st Lee Ford ‘Grim Reaper’ 2nd Joseph Klaumenzer and car Couples 1st Megan Stecker ‘Donald & Hillary’ 2nd Jack & Barbara Coulter - 57 Chevy Belair Best Appearing Group 1st Lifespan School & Daycare 2nd BSA Troop 55 ‘Scouts to the Rescue’ 3rd John Rivers VFW Post 11322 4th Daisy Troop 2806 ‘Girl Scouts are Purrfect’ Large Groups 1st Upper Bucks Alliance for Creative Expression 2nd Brownie Troop 2803 3rd Cub Pack 55 4th Quakertown BPW Commercial Floats 1st Coopersburg Kenworth 2nd Miss Cindy’s School of Dance ‘Grease’ 3rd Haller Enterprises Non-Profit Floats 1st Jodi Curtis What a Trip inTugboat Mickey 2nd Terry Feusner ‘Monkees 50th Anniversary’ 3rd Operation Christmas Child Shoebox 4th Quakertown Education Foundation Fire Companies 1st Quakertown Fire Department 2nd Milford Twp. Fire Company 3rd Richland Twp. Fire & Rescue 4th Trumbauersville Fire Company Equestrian 1st Haycock Stables ‘Sleepy Hollow’ 2nd Shadow Hill Equestrians ‘Vintage Halloween’ Small Group 1st Hunsberger Family ‘Pirates’ 2nd Daisy Troop 2778 ‘Candy Land’ 3rd Belly Dance Princesses Judges Prizes 1st Windy Springs Farm 2nd Bikers Against Child Abuse 3rd Power & Grace Gymnastics
Put Thanksgiving Lessons to Work in Your Financial Plans Thanksgiving is almost here. Over the years, this holiday has taken on a variety of meanings, most of them centered on family, caring and sharing. You can carry these same values past Thanksgiving into your daily life – and you can certainly incorporate them into your financial strategies for taking care of your loved ones. So, here are a few suggestions: • Protect your family. If something were to happen to you, could your family pay the mortgage? Could your children still afford to go to college someday? To protect your family’s current lifestyle and long-term goals, you may well need to maintain adequate life and disability insurance. Your employer may offer these types of protection as employee benefits, but the coverage might be insufficient for your needs. Consequently, you might need to supplement your employer-paid insurance with additional policies. • Invest in your children. If you have young children, and you’d like to see them go to college someday, you may want to start putting money away toward that goal. You can save and invest for college in a variety of ways, but one popular method is through a 529 plan, which offers high contribution limits and potential tax advantages. Plus, a 529 plan gives you significant control and flexibility: – if you establish a plan for one child, but he or she decides not to go to college, you can name another child as the recipient. • Be generous. You don’t have to be a millionaire to make meaningful financial gifts to your family. For example, if you have grown children, consider helping them fund their IRAs. You can’t contribute directly to a child’s IRA, but you can write checks to your children
for that purpose – though, of course, they are then free to do whatever they want with the money. It’s not always easy for a young person to “max out” on an IRA, which has an annual contribution limit of $5,500 for workers under 50, so any help you can give your children in this area should be greatly appreciated. • Safeguard your own financial independence. Almost certainly, one of the most undesirable outcomes you can imagine is to become financially dependent on your grown children. Even if you save and invest diligently throughout your working years, you could still be vulnerable to financial dependency if you need an extensive period of long-term care, such as a nursing home stay. These costs can be enormous, and Medicare typically pays only a small percentage, and usually for just a limited time. To protect your financial freedom, you should explore ways of addressing long-term care costs. A financial professional can explain those alternatives that may be appropriate for your situation. • Communicate your wishes to your family. At some point in your life, you will need to draw up your estate plans, which could include a will, a living trust, a durable power of attorney, a health care directive and other documents. To be fair to your children and other family members, and to avoid hurt feelings, you should clearly communicate your plans and your wishes while you are still around. Thanksgiving means more than turkey and football. And if you can successfully apply the lessons of this holiday to your financial plans, both you and your family will have reason to be thankful. submitted by 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
Did you know?
The Guinness Book of Records states that the greatest dressed weight recorded for a turkey is 39.09 kg (86 lbs), at the ‘Heaviest Turkey’ competition held in London, England on December 12, 1989
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• Upper Bucks Free Press • November 2016
Fixing Your Own Car
Trinity Lutheran Church Celebrates 125th Year Trinity Lutheran Church in Quakertown celebrated its 125th Anniversary on Sunday, October 30. Trinity is a congregation that seeks to “Live God’s Love for All” and rejoices in the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ now and into the future. The Rev. Lynette Chapman, current pastor of Trinity, as well as several former pastors and musicians from
Trinity led the worship. Leading the singing and offering special music was a 50-voice choir from Trinity and a sister congregation, St. John’s Lutheran, Quakertown. The local group, “Suite Brass” accompanied a new hymn, “O Blessed Trinity”, written especially for this occasion.
(left) Pastor Lynette R. Chapman presented Bishop Claire S. Burkat with a gift for the Southeastern Pennsylvania’s “Forward Together in Faith” Campaign. (right) Kenneth and Dolores Cressman examine some of the photos and artifacts laid out at the dinner following Trinity’s 125th Anniversary Celebration. submitted photos
Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action. - W.J. Cameron
When we were kids, my brother got things like Mister Machine or an Erector Set for Christmas. I got King Zor the Dinosaur or a The Alamo set of plastic solders. His toys led him to be mechanically inclined and not afraid of machines. I turned out to be a good with a gun, knowledgeable on military history and always ready to step forward if there’s dinosaurs or dragons that need killed. Most of my life I’ve been leery of machines and kept my distance, whenever I could. I figured out how to use the ones I absolutely had to without getting hurt a lot, but that’s about all I was interested in learning about them. If a power tool quits, I get a new one. I won’t risk another hair raising shock. Since the big fire, I always take my lawn mower to a specialist. I let the experts change my oil. The last time I tried, I had to have it towed to the garage, anyway. The machine we can hardly avoid is the automobile. It’s not as complicated as a washing machine. You don’t have to be real smart to use a car (I could give you a thousand examples to prove that). Like a lot of people, I know all you really need to know: turn on the key-- it starts, step on the right pedal--it goes, step on the left pedal and it stops . . . if you’re lucky. I learned some other things, too, like, turn it off and put it in gear if you stop on a hill, and get out (that was a close one). You learn most things about cars at the ‘school of hard knocks.’ For example: if there’s is a hard knocking sound under the car. . . stop! Things could be ready to fall off or blow up. Once, I had an experience with my fourwheel-drive out in Wyoming that made me believe I might be a better mechanic than I am. I was way out in the middle of nowhere. Nowhere means something in Wyoming. It’s over twice the size of Pennsylvania with less than 5% the population. I drove about 15 miles north of Sinclair then off into the hog-backs ridges another ten miles on rarely used dirt roads. I was combining a fossil and rabbit hunting trip. It wasn’t until later the locals warned me that nobody ever goes back in there, and if I got stuck I was on my own. Well, I got stuck. My truck broke down. Well, it didn’t exactly break down. I broke it. I decided to drive over a big rock that had rolled onto the narrow road, rather than try to turn around. I was going too fast. There was a big bump and a loud noise then, a little way down the road, my engine started to overheat. I turned it off right away. I learned to always do that after my wife had that engine fire.
I opened the hood. Everything looked the same as it looked the last time I had it open-when the oil light came on back in the spring. Then, I noticed something funny. My battery was hanging by wires down next to the fan blade. It took me a while to figure it out, but was proud when I did. When I hit the rock my battery mount broke. The battery fell down and broke my fan belt. The fan belt turned the water pump, so it over heated. Ha! I knew more about cars than I thought I did. “What now, though?” I thought. It would be dark before I could walk back to town—no, it would be several days later, actually. I kept a box of emergency junk in the back of the pick-up like the locals told me too. I re-secured the battery with a bungee cord. There was no fan belt, though. First I tried one of the big rubber bands they give you to tighten tire chains. It worked! The engine cooled down and I got a couple hundred yards down the road before there was a funny ‘whomping’ sound and it started to overheat again. The rubber band had slipped off and the fan cut it into pieces. I rooted through the emergency box again and found a spool of twine. It was thin but pretty strong. I threaded it around the pullies and used the knot I use to tie canoes onto my roof. It worked! I made it all the way back to the paved road. But, when I headed for town it started to overheat again. Like an experienced auto mechanic, I figured that out too. I was going too fast and the twine got hot and broke. I put another piece on and took my time. I was feeling pretty good about myself by the time I pulled into the garage in Sinclair. I was just going to buy a new fan belt and put it on, all by myself. Then I’d be off on my confident way. I had the tools. I had the skills. Be damned, Mister Machine. But, they didn’t have a fan belt in my size. I had to get one that was too long. I had to be real careful on the interstate, couldn’t go too fast or it would fly off, and I was out of twine. It slipped a lot and the engine got pretty warm before I got home, but I made it. I told everybody I knew about my emergency car repairs. I was proud and happy. Maybe I wasn’t so inept after all. But, that was before the hard knocking sound, when all that expensive stuff fell off and blew out my tires when I drove over it. It was even before the lawnmower caught fire, spread to the forsythia bush and scorched the side of the house. I soon changed my mind. They wouldn’t have Triple A cards if they didn’t want us to use them. There wouldn’t be a million garages if we were supposed to fix our own cars. More articles by Jack H. Schick can be found at Searchwarp.com or Soulofwit.com
Last month, the Upper Bucks YMCA received a gift of 600 new kids’ coats from the Auto Dealers Caring for Kids Foundation’s Driving Away the Cold Program and the 176 participating new vehicle dealers in Greater Philadelphia. The Y will work with community groups to distribute the coats to area children in need. “Unfortunately, the reality in Upper Bucks County is that many children need a warm winter coat,” said Pat Edwards, Upper Bucks YMCA Executive Director. “We are thankful to be a part of this wonderful program to help provide necessity and warmth to so many children.” Volunteers will be distributing the coats at the Y, 401 Fairview Avenue, Quakertown,
on Thursday, November 17 and Friday, November 18, from 4:00 – 6:00 pm, and on Saturday, November 19, from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. The Y has also contacted representatives at the Quakertown, Pennridge and Palisades School Districts who will assist in coat distribution at their locations. Driving Away the Cold is donating 45,070 new coats this year throughout the five-county Philadelphia area, including the 600 distributed through the Y. Driving Away the Cold is an initiative of the Auto Dealers CARing for Kids Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Philadelphia Auto Show. Since its inception in 2008, the Foundation has donated 265,252 new coats to area children.
Quakertown Community Outreach Now Official Charity Upper Bucks YMCA Distributes Coats to Drive Away the Cold BY JENNIFER REHRIG Quakertown Community Outreach is proud to announce it is now officially a public charity with tax-exempt status under Section 501(c) (3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. Contributions donated to Quakertown Community Outreach in 2016 are fully tax-deductible. The nonprofit status opens many doors for us to expand fundraising activities and fully realize our goals as a charitable organization. Those fundraising efforts are greatly needed as we shift into the colder months of the year where housing becomes a greater issue for our
homeless and at risk residents. These homeless and at risk residents often include children, mothers, and the elderly. We will also be holding our first designer handbag bingo “Purses for Purpose” on November 13th. Tickets are available for $25 (in advance) and $30 (at the door). For more information on our organization or bingo event visit quakertowncommunityoutreach.org. General donations can also be made by check payable to Quakertown Community Outreach. Our address is PO Box 929, Richlandtown, PA 18055. Visit our website, for updates like us on Facebook, and become a partner in the fight to end homelessness in our community.
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November 2016 • Upper Bucks Free Press •
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Remember and Celebrate Here we are nearing the end of 2016 – twelve months that will be packed away into that box of archived history. And, how is it so that this is the second last month of the year? I ask myself that question at the end of each month. As I grew up, there were certain magical ages in life that I could not wait to attain; however, they came on a slow boat from the Caribbean. It took a lifetime for me to become a thirteen year old adolescent. That was an exciting age though because in only three years, I would be a sixteen year old girl who would know more than her mother (or so I thought). Well, that didn’t work out too well for me, so I looked forward to the next milestone of my life which was graduating from high school at eighteen. That went well, and after a very long three years, it was official; I was a twenty-one year old adult. Adulthood did not bring all the perks I had expected because I was still living at home, and there was a rule – that there were rules, no matter what age the calendar stated. I did not know that this anticipation of magical numbers would continue to age twenty-five, and finally age thirty. When I reached thirty, everyone reminded me that I was headed in a direction that was the opposite of up. They neglected to advise me how quickly those years come and go. When I discovered that, the magical ages ceased to exist in my life. Rather, I embraced every age, no matter how quickly they came. What I learned is that everything in life comes and goes as a flash of lightning – birthdays, anniversaries, seasons, and especially holidays. One of my favorite holidays was Thanksgiving. That was the day my mother had prepared a feast, and we would sit down and enjoy delicious food with our family. When I moved from the country to “Uptown” Quakertown, I wanted to keep that family tradition, so I started preparing my own holiday feasts. As I think about those days, I realize that Thanksgiving 2016, is almost here, and it
is time to think about the turkey menu. I remember the first turkey that I ever roasted. I was terrified that it would not be moist and tasty like my mother’s. The company I worked for at that time always gave the employees a Jaindl turkey for Thanksgiving. That became my name brand turkey because it roasted perfectly, and I became the Chef du jour. After many years of the perfectly roasted turkey, I decided that I didn’t even like turkey. So, I changed the menu to other meats including seafood, and even duck one year. Whatever meat I have used, the most important parts of Thanksgiving Dinner are the ‘fixings.’ Number one is the stuffing/filling inside the bird, or dressing (for some) outside the bird. I always do outside the bird, but call it stuffing or filling because dressing is what I put on my salad. As I think about Thanksgiving, I visualize the table that we had at my childhood home, and later at my home. Everything was fresh, and homemade: Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Candied Sweet Potatoes, Macaroni and Cheese, Creamy Coleslaw, Cranberry Salad, Green Beans, Collard Greens, Carrots, Brussel Sprouts, Fresh Salad, and Homemade Rolls right out of the oven. And of course, there was the dessert table with my mother’s infamous Sweet Potato Pie, Pumpkin Pie, and Apple Dumplings. It was truly a day to give thanks for food, family, and friendship. But, most importantly, it was a day that we reflected on the past year and gave sincere thanks for the many blessings that we had received. Yes, just like those magical ages during my youth seemed to linger from year to year, but forged ahead as I aged, so it is with Thanksgiving. Has it really been twelve months since I last planned and prepared a Thanksgiving Feast? The Gregorian calendar says, “Indeed, it has been!” I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving! You can contact Jacque at: jacque@ubfp.org
Think Local. Buy Local. Be Local.
Think Local. Buy Local. Be Local.
Remembering ‘Noises’ Some would think this an odd subject, but many doctors and health care people caution friends and family to “Watch what you say around a person that seems unconscious as the “hearing” is one of the last things to go. Hearing is a wonderful sense that too many of us take for granted. Imagine a life of silence—I can’t. Even as I take my daily walk with our dog I hear the changing of the seasons in the singing of the birds and the mating call of what we call “peepers”. The sounds of the nearby turnpike even change as the foliage of the trees change. Yes, this subject of hearing also reflects the changes of our lives. The sounds of our youth certainly are different than the sounds we now hear in our area. When this area was rural and we lived in “The country” we would hear the sounds of the 2 cylinder John Deere tractors as the farmers took the manure out to be spread. You see they would spread manure more often as they did not have the storage areas they have today. The manure was shoveled by hand on a pile then loaded when a full load for the manure spreader was ready. At noontime most town or village fire companies sounded the fire whistle letting those out in the field know it was time to think about lunch. Dirt roads in the area were being converted to macadam roads and usually somewhere in the area could be heard the sound of the diesel graders and the clanking of bulldozers pushing the years of oiled surface to a smoother surface. Piper cubs flew overhead more often from the airport located in Milford Township and the Prop and Turbo-Jet planes made a lot more noise as they left Allentown and Philadelphia. They also seemed to fly lower as they ascended and descended to their airports. We did not hear too many diesel trucks back then. We called them “Smokers” as they usually emitted a smelly black smoke as they went up and down the hills a lot slower than today. The sound of the School Bell summoned us in from recess at the one-room schools. When a funeral took place the church bell was sounded to let those in the immediate area know of the funeral and later on was “tolled” in a certain way to let the non attendees know the age of the deceased. Some of the local factories had different buzzers sound to let the workers know the either break or lunch was over. Later on they had speakers to summon their managers for special needs. The laughter of children was heard at the schools as they went out to “play” at recess. The church bells rang at the many services held throughout the week and especially on Sunday mornings. Later on Carillons played or loudspeakers played hymns at certain times of the day. I might add at this time that when I came home from Germany in 1967 after being there for 19 months, I really missed the loud ringing throughout the day of all the church bells
in the city. When we went back in 2000 and I heard these familiar daily carols it brought back pleasant memories of the year 1965-67 when I lived there. Today the farms are nearly all missing, the factories are empty and many are now apartments, the children are not seen too much out playing as back in the day, The churches do not have many extra weekly services, funeral services are held more frequently in the Funeral Homes, the airport is not nearly as busy as it was, passenger planes fly much higher and have had their engines silenced since back in the day. thus the sounds have changed as we knew them. Remember the sound of “Glass Pack” mufflers on the muscle cars that were so popular back then? Now you can see why I chose this subject. What are the sounds of today? Seldom do we hear the sounds of tractors and if we do they are Diesel Tractors and sound similar to the trucks on the new highways. Of course they do not use what is known as “Jake Brakes” that the trucks frequently use. With all the development in the area and the need for garbage trucks, we now hear the compactors on the trucks crunching the garbage in early morning hours. No more school bells or factory P.A. systems-we now hear the sounds of the weird rings on the cell phones of the people walking past our homes for their morning or afternoon walks. Children are very seldom seen playing outside as they are occupied with the hand held phones and video games. One wonderful new sound is that of the additional songbirds we have today compared to back in the day because of the ceasing of spraying of DDT. So next time you are out for a walk or visiting the local park listen to the “Noise.” Is it pleasant with the laughter of children and the singing of birds or is it full of traffic or new technology noise? I hope you hear the sounds of the first Robins chirping in late March or the Cardinals rhythmic calling to woo their mates in April. Perhaps the first chatter of the House Wrens scolding everyone that nears their nesting areas in early May. If you hear no birds, listen carefully for the shrill call of the Red Tailed Hawk as it hovers overhead causing all birds to keep silent so they do not become prey. During the winter months you will hear the scolding of the Blue Jays at the feeders and their cousins the crows and occasional Raven cawing as they circle overhead. Listen for the scolding of the squirrels or the squeaking of the chipmunks. Listen and maybe you will still hear the sounds of children playing. Please take your cell phone for emergency use only and leave it in your pocket so you can enjoy this “Noise” that can be so pleasing. If you are in an area where the pleasant Noise is difficult to hear drive out to an area in the country so you can hear the “Noise” that will change from noise into Pleasant Sounds. Nature meant it to be that way; only man created offensive noise! Dick Helm is a regular contributor. He can be reached at dickhelm@ubfp.org
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• Upper Bucks Free Press • November 2016
2nd Grader Says No to Birthday Gifts, Feeds the Hungry Instead On October 6, 2016, Liliyana Beck, 8, of Bedminster Township, donated food and household goods to Pennridge FISH. Lili collected the items by asking for donations rather than presents for her 8th birthday. Lili’s friends and family donated cans, boxes, and bags of food along with grocery store gift cards, which Lili used to buy more food for her donation. After everything was collected and purchased, Lili’s donation amounted 170 pounds of food and other items. Lili, a second grader at Bedminster Elementary School and member of Brownie Troop 2309, came up with the idea of donating to Pennridge FISH when she was helping her parents clean the house and discovered some unopened toys she had received for her last birthday. Realizing she had so much that she did not get a chance to play with her presents, or remember she even had them, Lili decided to do something for people who have needs beyond her own. While Lili and her family had
previously donated to Pennridge FISH through their church, Peace-Tohickon Lutheran Church, this donation meant a little more to her. After dropping of her donation, Lili was given a tour of the facility by Barb Faust, FISH Pantry Chairwoman, and Harry Tucker, FISH President. Lili was shown how her donation, along with others, is used to help feed, clothe, and provide for 600 families in the Pennridge School District. Lili’s donation was enough to benefit 3 families for a week. Pennridge FISH, an acronym for Fellowship In Serving Humanity, is a volunteer service provider to those in need in the Pennridge School District. Located at 800 West Chestnut Street, Perkasie, FISH maintains a food pantry and clothing outlet. Items are donated by local churches, businesses, social organizations and individuals, like Lili. To find out how you can help, contact FISH at 215-257-7616.
The Upper Bucks Free Press is made possible by the businesses and organizations you see on these pages. Remember to thank them for supporting your community’s voice. (left to right) Barbara Faust, FISH Pantry Chairwoman, Liliyana Beck, Harry Tucker, FISH President
photo by deb beck
November 2016 • Upper Bucks Free Press •
Indecision
Each day we are faced with many decisions. Our decisions may be easy, tough, simple, complicated, routine, unique, enjoyable, burdensome, welcome, and the last thing we would ever wish to be confronted with. Some of the insignificant decisions we make each day include what to eat for breakfast, what clothes do we wear, what to do at work or school, when to handle particular tasks, how we approach or react to an individual or circumstance. We make decisions most often without thinking about them because they are part of our daily routine. Other decisions require a lot of thought. Some situations even lead us to indecision. For decisions involving healthcare most people are apprehensive when it involves them personally. In situations where there are things that are life-threatening such as cancer, cardio-vascular, and the like, the decision becomes a forced choice. There is no thinking about making the decision. It just happens. Most people really don’t know what the process entails to handle their hearing problem. That indecision can be turned into a decision, a successful decision. The first decision to be made is to schedule an appointment to see a private practice audiologist for a complete audiological evaluation. During this office visit the professional audiologist will take a case history. This includes asking pertinent medical questions, inquiring about your complaints, performing an evaluation of your hearing, reviewing the results and providing recommendations. If the patient has a documented hearing loss,
amplification may be recommended. Your audiologist will discuss the levels of technology, how digital amplification processes speech and sound to maintain intelligibility, and appropriate style of device best suited for you. The decision for you, the patient, is to take the necessary step forward in acquiring the make, model, style, and level of technology to address your communication requirements. Once a patient is fitted with their new digital hearing aids the audiologist will create a customized counseling and aural rehabilitation program to ensure successful daily use. The decision the patient makes is to actively follow the program. When experiencing difficulty in some listening situations, it is required that the patient return to their audiologist’s office for additional professional services, troubleshooting, and listening strategies. The decision for any person to confront their hearing difficulty and find out more about it shouldn’t be intimidating. To do nothing and travel down the avenue of indecision will only make things worse. If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulty hearing, schedule an appointment today to see a private practice audiologist and get your hearing checked. You’ll be glad you did! Dr. Murphy has had a bilateral mild-to-moderate sensor-ineural hearing loss all his life and is a binaural in-the-canal hearing aid user. Dr. Murphy has been in practice in Pennsylvania since receiving his Master of Education in Audiology from University of Virginia in the Spring of 1987. Dr. Murphy is affiliated with a number of hearing related national and international organizations.
He
can be reached at hearingdoc@aol.com and by phone at
215-230-9000.
If you made a list of all the things you could be thankful for, the list would undoubtedly be longer than your misfortunes. - Catherine Pulsifer
China Tips for your Thanksgiving Table In the autumn of 1621, the Plymouth community and the Wampanoag Indians celebrated a harvest feast. A longstanding event in Native American culture, the harvest feast was also known as the Thanksgiving celebration. The 1621 harvest feast offered lots of meat and very few vegetables. Forks were not used and the most prominent person at the table was seated at the head of the table and was positioned closest to the food. For your Thanksgiving meal, you’ll want to invite friends and family and offer turkey with all the fixins. You may even serve it on your best china or your grandmother’s beloved serving pieces. If you are displaying vintage china, here are some tips for making the event special. Beware of lead Some antique and vintage china may contain lead and lead leaching can be toxic. Some of the old glazes used on pre 1900 china may contain lead. Often, highly decorated or multi-colored china may have lead glazes. Damaged, chipped, cracked or crazed (that funny zig zag pattern in the colorless glaze) china may allow lead to leach and contaminate food. So, if you have damaged pieces, don’t use them in the preparation or service of food. It is better to use them for display purposes only. It is common knowledge that grandma’s antique china should not be used in the microwave or dishwasher, but it is also a bad idea to place an old piece of china in the refrigerator
piled high with leftovers. Why? Storing your leftovers in the refrigerator on an old decorated china plate is not good for the life span of the antique nor is it good for you once you re-serve those leftovers. The plate is fragile and cooling will impact its overall condition. Also, lead can leach from china in the refrigerator that is hosting foods high in acidity. Thus, a piece of lead glazed or lead decorated antique china that experiences a significant temperature change (as with cooling) may leach. If you must eat off of your antique china or vintage ceramic dishware, don’t do so regularly. Basic white china may be the safest type for your family and pets. It is not wise to eat off of china with painted or metallic decorations--like gold leaf or silver banding. And, if you are in the practice of using an old ceramic bowl to feed your pets, make sure these antique or vintage ceramic pieces are not damaged in any way. You want to protect our furry friends too! So, if you want to highlight your grandmother’s china, it is best to display the lovely pieces as a holiday centerpiece, in a china cabinet, or on the Thanksgiving buffet table hosting flowers. Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving! Ph.D. antiques appraiser, author, and award-winning TV personality, Dr. Lori presents antique appraisal events nationwide. Dr. Lori is the expert appraiser on the hit TV show, Auction Kings on the Discovery channel and has shared her expertise with the History channel, CNN’s Anderson Cooper, and Today show. Visit www.DrLoriV.com, www.Facebook.com/ DoctorLori, or call (888) 431-1010.
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• Upper Bucks Free Press • November 2016
Quakertown High School Class of 1951 Celebrates 65th Reunion
photo by christopher betz
Broadening the Horizons of Quakertown, PA Now a Great Time to Improve Your Energy Efficiency
Summer has faded. Cooler, more comfortable temperatures are here. It’s time to get out those flannel shirts and hoodies. Autumn – before the snow flies and the weather grows cold -- is a great time to improve the energy efficiency of your business or home. Put in some time and investment now, and you can get the work done before really cold weather sets in. Then, save energy and money all winter. Over the past six years, PPL Electric Utilities customers have saved more than 2 billion kilowatt-hours a year by taking advantage of our energy efficiency programs – the equivalent of taking more than 206,600 homes off the grid for a year. If you’ve been part of that, good work. If not, now’s a great time to join the team. To learn more about home rebates and improvements, visit pplelectricsavings.com. Available programs, to name a few, include discounted, PPL-funded LED lights available at participating stores; mail-in rebates on ENERGY STAR-certified refrigerators and heat pump water heaters; and our popular appliance recycling program. If you own a multifamily property, you can visit the same website to learn about programs available specifically for your needs. Businesses can also get help with the up-front cost of making energy efficiency improvements with our rebates. If you want to know how your business or facility can benefit, here are some questions to get you started:
1. Are your lighting levels adequate? Have you upgraded to LEDs? Upgrading lighting can improve safety, productivity, and employee and customer experience, in addition to saving on your electric bill. 2. Are controls installed or updated for your requirements? Adding occupancy sensors and other types of controls can help you save. 3. Is your HVAC equipment close to the end of its life? If you’re in the market for new HVAC equipment, higher efficiency models are widely available and many qualify for rebates. 4. Do all your employees shut down their computer at the end of the day? Nearly half of employees in the United States fail to shut down before they head home for the night. Rebates are available for PC power management and smart surge protecting power strips. (Of course, this is great advice at home as well.) 5. Are you using equipment qualified as ENERGY STAR® or DesignLights Consortium (DLC)? If not, consider these qualifications during your next purchase because most of these products qualify for rebates. For more info on business-specific programs, visit pplelectricbusinessavings.com. These programs and rebates are there to help you save energy and money – just like flannel shirts and hoodies are there to keep you warm. So before the birds fly and the leaves join them, why not take a look? Carol is the Regional Affairs Director for PPL Electric Utilities in Allentown, PA. Reach her at CObando-Derstine@pplweb.com
BY SARAH EDMONDS
Quakertown, Pennsylvania is a quiet little town that has an understated part in American history and has an overstated negative connotation within the minds of the town’s young adult population. Why is this? Is the town really that disliked among the youths living there? As a part-time resident of the town myself, I do in fact love Quakertown; however, I asked several other graduates of the local high school to see just what it is that gives this town such a bad reputation with the young adults living there. A major complaint that runs among many high school students is that there’s nothing to do in town. Personally, I commend Quakertown for its various events such as Arts Alive! and many parades and community celebrations for various holidays. Yet, when these festivals are not occurring, the only real things to do are to go bowling (my personal favorite), see an overpriced movie, or go out to eat. Yes, there are places to visit if you are able to drive to the Promenade or to Bethlehem, but this doesn’t help the lack of interest that young adults have in exploring their hometown. How can we change that? Now, let me first say that almost every single person I spoke to about things to do in town loves the Q-Mart. I agree. The Quakertown Farmer’s Market is an eclectic collection of small stores of every kind run, for the most part, by independent business owners. Young adults love independent businesses! As Quakertown Community Senior High School graduate Alex Land (21) stated, “I really dislike how Quakertown is mainly large businesses. We really don’t have a large small business setting there, which is super lame.” People love the Q-Mart because they love small businesses! I’ve seen so many interesting independently owned businesses come and go through town such as antique stores, music stores, and studios teaching spirituality; I must say, it’s disheartening to see them go. The town of Westminster, MD (where I currently attend college) has a program where potential small business owners can pitch their idea and existing businesses can choose to give them storefront space to try out their idea for a short period of time. I believe that if we employed a similar practice within Quakertown we could create a more interesting and creative place that people who live there and pass through
would want to explore and be involved in. Also, allowing a more hospitable environment for small businesses will also open up the door for people of different backgrounds and cultures to share their ideas, hobbies, and dreams. Without beating around the bush, Quakertown has a diversity issue. When asked about the diversity of the community, I was answered (and agree) with a resounding no. Quakertown graduate Kate Robeson-Grubb (20) made sure to stress that, “Quakertown has a mostly white population.” In general, this seems to be changing, but very slowly. A lack of diversity in the community also tends to make people, such as graduate Courtney Clark (20), see the people of the community as being “really stuck in the past. They never leave Quakertown. If they do leave, most of them come back and they’re stuck there forever.” This pairs with the idea that Quakertown shelters its youth. Intentionally or not, the fact that the community is not very diverse and that the same families have lived in town for generations leads the young adults of the community to want to escape and explore in order to experience new events and cultures. The best thing we can do for the youths of our community is to broaden our horizons. Welcome diversity! Invite creative new businesses and ideas! Support exploration of our youths by bringing the “outside world” to Quakertown! By supporting different cultures and worldviews that already exist in our community we can open the door for a more diverse community to flourish in Quakertown. Instead of this town being somewhere that people “get stuck” in, why not make it a place where people can explore and learn about acceptance and diversity? Giving opportunities to small business owners will help bring interest to the town; but, if we make a point to celebrate different cultures and views in our community, especially by expanding Quakertown’s fantastic community celebrations to practices and festivities of a wide variety of cultures, we can teach our children to love this town, to love this community, to love people in general, and to be proud of where they came from. We can help them be proud to grow up in Quakertown Pennsylvania.
BuckyGrams: falling leaves, beautiful colors, clocks go back, harvests, thanksgiving, scarecrows, indian corn, gourds, pumpkins, birds migrate, football, cooler temps Hidden Message: Time to feed the birds! Box Puzzle: Just between the two of us.
November 2016 • Upper Bucks Free Press •
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Diabetes in Pets
Diabetes is unfortunately one of the most common chronic conditions diagnosed in our pet population, including both dogs and cats!! Diabetes is also on the rise – the number of diabetic pets has tripled in the past few decades! It’s hard to say if it is truly occurring more often, or if it is being diagnosed more often, but either way it is becoming more prevalent and is certainly worth being familiar with. Some of the risk factors for diabetes are similar to humans – age, genetics, breed, and finally obesity. One of the only factors we can control is obesity, and this also on the rise in our pets! From statistics this year, over 50% of both cats and dogs are considered overweight – 50%!! That is a HUGE number, and seems to worsen every year. Monitoring their weight is as important as it is for us, and making sure you are not giving excessive treats and that you are providing good exercise is very important! How do you know when your pet may have diabetes? Ultimately, you will need a visit to your veterinarian and some bloodwork and urine samples to truly diagnose, but there are
some warning signs you should look out for at home!! The first is weight loss – if your middle aged pet suddenly is looking much thinner, and you have not changed their food or amount fed, that should be a red flag! The other major change that is noted is increased drinking, and therefore increased urination too. Excessive drinking is a coping mechanism that the body uses when diabetes is affecting its normal functions – so they will seek out extra water, and stand and can down a whole bowl! Often it is a dramatic increase in water intake, and is clearly noticed by an owner. Other changes can be lethargy, increased appetite, thinned fur coat, and hind limb weakness. If you see any of these signs – contact your veterinarian to get more information so we can help your pet! The good news is diabetes is treatable – the vast majority of pets respond wonderfully to starting them on daily insulin, and can live a long, happy life even as a diabetic! Happy November! 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.
Harley’s Haven Pennridge Chamber Hosts Pig Roast
Meet Blue! Handsome Blue is a 1 year old terrier/mix who had to be surrendered by his family when they fell on hard times and couldn’t care for him....they were heartbroken, and he was well-loved. But luckily we scooped him up and he is doing great in his foster home! He likes other dogs, but is a little shy so needs a little time to warm up! He is also great with kids and cats, and would make a great family guy! He is house trained, crate trained, neutered, and up to date on vaccines - he is a sweet all around guy who is waiting for you!
Thank you Mr. Chris for reminding me to get my column done. I was so happy to see so many of my fans at the author booth at Autumn Alive in Quakertown. I was excited to hear that you look forward to my canine wisdom. I happen to know that in Dec. there will be 2 free concert by the Valley Choral Society. Normally they are ticketed concerts but this year they are hoping that everyone in the area will want to come. They will ask for free will offering but the goal of these concerts is to bring wonderful music to people who don’t normally get to go to concerts. It’s their Christmas gift to all of you. St Marks in Pennsburg on the 10th at 730PM and Trinity Lutheran on Dec 11 at
Meet Sarina!
Sarina is a 9 month old dalmatian/terrier mix who is full of life!! She LOVES to play and does awesome with other dogs - she is high energy, and would do best in a home with another active doggy playmate, or a very active family and home! She is super sweet and snuggly too, and loves nothing more than a good snuggle with a blanket and some love. She does wonderful with other dogs and all people, and is interested in cats, but could easily learn to live with them! She is very trainable and wants to learn - so just needs someone to continue to work with her on her puppy manners! She is spayed, vaccinated, and is also house and crate trained! She would love a family of her very own for the holidays! If you are looking for a furever friend, give Harley’s Haven a call today at (267) 354-5204.
400PM. Hope you all go and have a great time. These concerts get my human out of the house so I can get some sleep. Love to all M.J.
The Pennridge Chamber of Commerce needed an event in October and didn’t have much time to plan and organize. We were fortunate to have a member who is a caterer who does Pig Roasts. So off we went with our idea. We had a facility donated to hold the event and our caterer was awesome and helped us pick the menu. We had a whole pig, and yes there was an apple in his mouth! To accommodate those who do not eat pork we had the best barbecued chicken! Because we were concerned it might be cold we added wonderful hot mashed potatoes and gravy to the normal BBQ fair. No one went away hungry! There was beer on tap and refreshing drinks available. We did some research about the Chamber
and we gathered some facts to share with our guests. In the past, way back in 1924, when we were a Board of Trade they had a picnic inviting all the service clubs to the event. We went further and invited our not-for- profits as well. We hoped they would all network and get some ideas what was going on in our community and how we all could work together. We did share that in the past women would not be invited and also that cigars were provided. This is a good building event for us to work on for next year! We had door prizes and decorated with mums and pumpkins! Everyone encouraged us to repeat this next year and they will pass the word. What a great event this was for the Pennridge Chamber! submitted by Betty Graver, PCC Director
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• Upper Bucks Free Press • November 2016
Deborah L. Crouthamel, 67 of Quakertown died Wednesday September 21, 2016 in GrandView Hospital, Sellersville. She was the wife of John W. Crouthamel. They celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary in July. Born in Bedford, PA she was the daughter of the late W. Russell and Evelyn A. (Robinette) Leamer. She was an administrative assistant for JBS Packerland in Souderton. Deb enjoyed boating on the Chesapeake Bay. She also was an avid reader especially enjoying mystery novels and loved playing Words with Friends. In addition to her husband she is survived by children Sean M. (Tammy) of Lancaster, Daniel I. of Irvine, CA., Nicole M. (Jayne) of Palmerton, Jon of Sellersville and Jamie (Pam) of Chicago, IL. Grandchildren Ashley, Michael, Jonathon, Evan, Madelyn, Collin, Anthony, Nicholas, Jayne and Gage. Great grandchild Caiden. She is also survived by two brothers I. Russell Leamer of Quakertown and H. David Leamer (Janice) of Midwest City, OK., a sister in law Lois Leamer of Quakertown, and an aunt Deborah Lucas of Atlantic Beach, FL. She was predeceased by a brother W. Robert Leamer. Sarah E. Rummel, 81, of Quakertown, PA, died at her home on Tues., Sept. 27. She was the wife of the late Stanley A. Rummel. Born in Orange, NJ, she was a daughter of the late Earl W. and Mary E. (Lindemann) Hance. Sarah was in the first class to graduate from Palisades High School in 1953. She worked as a banquet manager for the former Meyers Family Restaurant until her retirement in 2001. Sarah was a member of the Quakertown Train Station Historical Society. Surviving are her son, Donald A. Rummel, wife Brenda, Quakertown; step-daughter, Sharon Rose, Sarasota, FL; grandchildren: Erik, Rebecca, Alison and Alexa; great-grandsons: Colin, Xander and Holden; brother, Peter Hance, wife Shirley, Fogelsville; sister, Debra “Deb” Samsel, husband Richard,
~Obituaries~
Perkasie and sister-in-law Lucille HanceGehman, husband Donald, Quakertown. She was preceded in death by her son, David E. Rummel and brother, William Hance. Memorial contributions can be made to the Quakertown Train Station Historical Society, 15 Front Street, Quakertown, PA 18951. Jeffrey A. Naugle Funeral & Cremation Service in charge of arrangements.
Marshall “Buddy” Lee Lane, 70, of Quakertown, PA, died Wed., Sept. 28, 2016 at Quakertown-Genesis Health Care Center. He was born Dec. 14, 1945 in Jefferson County, AL. Marshall’s family moved to Montgomery County, MD where he grew up and was a graduate of University of Maryland. He then relocated and worked in the insurance industry in the Philadelphia area until he retired in 2001. Marshall is survived by his son, Jeremy and his wife, Shalon; their three children: Jacob (16), Ethan (5), and Hailey (3) of Quakertown; two brothers: Hite Lane, wife Judi of Brandon, MS; David Lane, wife Amy of Berkeley Springs, WV; and his sister, Sheila Wren, husband Andy of Boonsboro, MD. His son and his family were Marshall’s greatest source of pride and truly the light of his life. A private memorial service will be held in Boonsboro, MD at a later date to be determined. Donations may be made to the ALS Association, Greater Phila. Chapter: 321 Norristown Rd., Suite 260, Ambler, PA 19002 or the ASPCA: aspca.org/donate. Jeffrey A. Naugle Funeral & Cremation Service, Quakertown, is handling arrangements. Frank (Dutch) Loew, 87 born in Philadelphia moved to Little California at two and one half years of age, died on October 13, 2016. Together with his parents, his wife and family he owned and operated the largest commercial egg production farm east of the Mississippi River in the 1950’s. After graduation from high school in 1946 Frank joined the U.S. Naval Reserves where he served for six years.
After high school he became an apprentice at the Budd Manufacturing Co. in Philadelphia and was rated as a tool and die maker after 4 years. He then returned to the farm full time with his parents and wife. He accepted a part time commission job in sales for a national poultry breeding organization and rose through the ranks to become Vice President of sales and a member of the board of directors. In 1980 he left the company to form his own company for the purpose of producing a higher quality laying hens. This business gradually evolved into producing fertile eggs which were used to produce Influenza vaccine for humans. He retired at the age of 70. He was a member of St. Isidore’s Catholic Church in Quakertown. Having five sons he was extensively interested in sports, serving the little league as umpire and coach. for many years. He was also active with the Connie Mack and Legion baseball teams as well. He is survived by his wife Ida Mae and their five sons Frank (wife Teresa), Michael (wife Deborah), James (wife Lori), Joseph (wife Therese) and David (wife Joanne). He is also survived by 12 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. 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 Catholic Church 603 W. Broad St. Quakertown, PA 18951.
Peter R. “Pete” Schulberger, Jr., 78, of Quakertown, died at his home Mon., Oct. 17. He was the beloved husband of Virginia “Ginny” (Bauer) Schulberger for 58 years. Born in Ottsville, he was a son of the late Peter R., Sr. and Pauline (Schlener) Schulberger. Pete worked in the plumbing and heating industry, and was employed with Worth and Company, Pipersville for many years. He was an avid hunter; a life member of the North Penn Gun Club and a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Betterment Club. Pete was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Ottsville. Surviving in addition to his wife are 3 sons: Scott Schulberger, wife Sally, Pennsburg; Derek Schulberger, wife Kerry, Quakertown and Todd Schulberger, Ottsville; 4 grandchildren; 2 step-grandchildren and a great-grandson. He was preceded in death by 3 siblings: Jean, Marie and David. Memorial Contributions: Grand View Hospice, 700 Lawn Avenue, Sellersville, PA 18960. www.janauglefcs.com Jean I. Grant, 85, of Quakertown, died Wed. Oct. 19 in the Hospice House of the VNA of St. Luke’s. She was the wife of William A. Grant. Born in Palmerton, she was a daughter of the late Stephen & Mabel (Beers) Nagy. Jean worked as an LPN in the office of Dr. Shoemaker & Dr. Chai for many years. Surviving are her son, Chris;granddaughter Chelsie; great-grandchildren Arianna & Xavier; brother Stephen, wife Susan & sister Constance Clymer. The Jeffrey A. Naugle Funeral & Cremation Service assisted the family. www.janauglefcs.com Susan Weikel, 72, of Perkasie, died at her home on Fri., Oct. 21, 2016. She was the loving wife of James R. Weikel for the past 35 years. Born in Germantown, she was a daughter of the late James and F. Geraldine (Bitner) McDonnell. She was a 1962 graduate of Pennridge High School. Sue started working as a teller for First Savings Bank of Perkasie at the age of 18, and worked her way up to the trust dept. before retiring with 47 years of service. She also tutored at Deibler Elementary School, Perkasie. She loved traveling and spending summers at Ocean City NJ, but her greatest joy was spending time with her grandchildren. Surviving in addition to her husband is her son, Gregory Lippincott, wife Angela; step-children: Cheryl Hauck, James Weikel, Jr. and John Weikel; grandchildren: Zachary and Meadow Lippincott; sister, Linda Babington, husband David; and brother, James. Sue was preceded in death by an infant sister, Sandra. Memorial contributions may be made to the church or Grand View Hospice, 700 Lawn Ave., Sellersville, PA 18960. Jeffrey A. Naugle Funeral & Cremation Service is in charge of arrangements.
Debra J. Bordner, 64, of Milford Twp., died Fri., Oct. 21st at home. She was the beloved wife of Craig Bordner for the last 40 years. Born in Kingston, NY, she was a daughter of Gerald and Shirley Mae (Schermerhorn) Hanley. Debi was a devout Christian who truly practiced and lived her faith. She enjoyed watching Reverend Murray on Shepherd’s Chapel and studying the Bible to better learn the true meaning of its verses. She was also a very proud Republican with a passion for politics. With her husband, she is survived by daughters Christine (Mike) Rieker and Suzanne (Mark Smith) Kehoe; grandchildren Jordan, Cody, Devon, and Mekenzie; sisters Kathleen (Alan) Rice and Cindi Albright; and brother Jerry (Colleen) Hanley. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Debi’s memory to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or to The Shriners Hospitals for Children at 2900 N. Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607. Kenneth L. Heckler, 85, of Pennsburg, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 22, 2016. He was the beloved husband of Phyllis (Alderfer) Heckler. Born in Perkasie, he was a son of the late George and Helen (Pudliner) Heckler. He served his country honorably in the Army during the Korean War. Kenneth worked as an Accountant and Assistant Treasurer for Harleysville Insurance for 42 years. He was a member of Christ’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Trumbauersville. He was also a former Cubmaster. Surviving with his wife are his sons: Scott and his wife Denise of Trumbauersville, and Timothy and his wife Barbara of New Berlin, NY; his step-children: John Smink and his wife Michaelann of San Antonio, TX, and Karen, wife of Matthew Schmoyer of Hedgesville, WV; his grandchildren: Becky, Rachel, Michael, Austin, Cody, and Joshua; and his great grandsons: Stephen, Hunter, and Levi. Along with his parents, he was predeceased by his first wife, Lorraine F. (Seifert) Heckler, and a brother, George R. “Dick” Heckler. A Celebration of his life will be held at 11 AM, on Friday, October 28, at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, One Luther Ln., (200 E. Broad St for GPS), Trumbauersville, PA 18970. A reception will follow the service in the church Fellowship Hall. Interment with full military honors will follow the reception at 2 PM in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Rt. 212, Pleasant Valley, PA for those wishing to attend. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to either Christ Lutheran Church, PO Box 569, Trumbauersville, PA 18970; the Parkinson’s Research Foundation (parkinsonhope.org); or Grand View Hospice (gvh.org). His arrangements are in the care of Falk Funeral Homes & Crematory, Pennsburg. For more detailed information and to offer your condolences on-line, please visit his “Book of Memories” at falkfuneralhomes. com. Beverly Carol Pypniowski, 66, of Quakertown formerly of South Bound Brook, NJ died October 24, 2016 at St. Luke’s University Hospital, Bethlehem. She was the wife of Kenneth R. Pypniowski. They were married 40 years in September. Born in Plainfield, NJ she was the daughter of the late Brady & Mary McInville. She was last employed in the security department of BJ’s Warehouse in Quakertown. She enjoyed sewing and quilting. In addition to her husband she is survived by two brothers Lenny and Fred. A sister Kathy. Two grandchildren Jayden & Haley. She was predeceased by a son Matthew.
November 2016 • Upper Bucks Free Press •
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~Obituaries~
C. Louise Stover, 77, of Hellertown, and formerly of Williamsport, died at her home on Oct. 28, 2016. Born in Williamsport, she was the daughter of the late Richter V. and Catherine Louise (Brown) Watkins. Louise was an animal lover, especially of cats and Tennessee Walking Horses. She was a member of Swamp Mennonite Church, Quakertown. Surviving are 4 children: Ken Stover, Coopersburg; Abby Mason, husband Dan, Pottstown; Liz DeMeyer, husband Paul, Seattle, WA and Kelly Stover, companion Karri Sioux, Houston, TX; 4 grandchildren: Ricky, Rachel, James and Sammi; three brothers: Terry “Rick”, wife Mary; Norman, wife Sue and Stephen, wife Terri; and a dear friend, CarolLynn Herzog. Memorial contributions may be made to Swamp Mennonite Church, 2125 Rosedale Rd., Quakertown, PA 18951 or to Animals in Distress, 5075 Limeport Pike, Coopersburg, PA 18036. www.janauglefcs.com
Ralph K. Loux, 82, of Ephrata, formerly of Quakertown, died Thurs. Oct. 28th at Fairmount Homes Retirement Community, Ephrata. He was the husband of Mildred (Herstine) Loux for 58 years. Born in Quakertown, he was the son of the
late Ralph H. and Marie (Maugle) Loux. As a young man, he enjoyed hunting and fishing with his father, grandfather, and uncles, and learned to play the accordion and guitar. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War Era and was stationed in Schweinfurt, Germany. He took classes at Philadelphia College of Bible and served as a lay preacher on numerous occasions at local churches and nursing homes. He worked as a dedicated and meticulous bookkeeper for several companies over many years. He was a faithful member of United Mennonite Church, Quakertown, serving in various capacities. After moving to Ephrata, he was a member of Grace and Truth Fellowship, Morgantown. Ralph’s life was marked by faith, optimism, perseverance, a gracious spirit, tender heart, and quiet sense of humor. He loved his wife and family. He enjoyed reading, walking, jigsaw puzzles, bluegrass music, teaching Sunday School and Bible studies, singing in the Fairmount chorus, and spending time with family. Surviving with his wife is his daughter, Brenda Loux of Phoenixville. Memorial contributions can be made to the church and/or Fairmount Homes, 333 Wheat Ridge Drive, Ephrata, PA 17522 (Sharing Fund). Jeffrey A. Naugle Funeral & Cremation Service, Quakertown, is in charge of arrangements.
Should I Sell My Home Now or Wait Until the Spring? Many homeowners believe selling a home during the fall or winter months is not a good idea and that spring is the only time a house should be sold. This is the furthest from the truth. There are many questions homeowners ask themselves during the selling process. “How much will my home sell for?” “How much should I list my home for?” “Who should I select as a real estate agent to sell my home?” “What if the real estate agent overprices my home?” Last but not least, “Is this a good time to be selling a home?” is also a very common question that real estate agents are asked. As with every decision in life, there are pros and cons, and choosing when to sell a home is no different. There are many factors that need to be taken into consideration before deciding when to sell a home. Many homeowners believe selling a home during the fall or winter months is not a good idea and that the spring is the only time a house should be sold. This is the furthest from the truth. Certainly most real estate markets across the United States experience a “spring market rush” every year. There is no doubt that the “spring market” is a great time to be selling and buying real estate, however, the fall and winter seasons may be the best fit for you for many reasons. Here are several reasons why choosing to sell your home now may be a better decision than waiting until the spring: Less Competition One way that you can tell the spring real estate market has arrived is by driving down a street in your local community. In all likelihood there will be For Sale signs up all over the neighborhood! One great reason to sell your home now and not wait until the spring market is there is sure to be less competition. The fewer number of comparable homes for sale, the greater the probability that a buyer will look at your home. Simply put, it’s the supply and demand theory. If there are less homes for sale, there are less homes that a potential buyer can choose from, therefore increasing the demand for your home. Not only will less competition increase the probability for showings, but it will also increase the probability that an offer will be received and you will get the maximum amount of money for your home. Serious Buyers Are Out There Homes are sold and bought 365 days a year, period! Many homeowners believe that buyers aren’t out there during the fall and winter months. This simply is not the case. Serious buyers are always out there! Some buyers may stop their home search because it is the fall or winter, but serious buyers will continue to look at homes, no matter what time of year it is. The fall and winter months are also a great time for a potential buyer to see what a specific neighborhood is like. Do your neighbors have pumpkins on their front step? Are there lots of Trick-or-Treaters wandering the neighborhood on Halloween? Do any of your neighbors have any light displays for the holidays? There are buyers out there who will look at these types of things when determining whether your home
is in the right neighborhood for them or not. The Best Agents Are Always Up To The Challenge Any real estate agent who tells you that the fall or winter months are a bad time to sell is not someone you want selling your home! A great real estate agent will know how to adapt to the current season and market their listings to reflect that. A great real estate agent can make suggestions and give some of their tips on how to sell a home during the fall or winter seasons. If a real estate agent doesn’t have any suggestions on making your home more desirable for the current season, you should be concerned about the creativity they are going to use when marketing your home. Staging For The Holiday Season Many sellers believe staging a home is the main reason a home sells. While staging certainly helps sell homes, some buyers have a difficult time envisioning themselves in a home no matter what you do. However, there are some buyers who can easily be “sold” on a home because it is staged. Simple “seasonal” staging such as adjusting the color of the decor or having an aroma in the air that is relative to the time of year can go a long way with some potential buyers and possibly be the difference between a home selling or not. Mortgage Rates Are Low If you’ve read about real estate in the past year, it’s likely you’ve read that the mortgage rates are very low. You also probably read that there is an expectation that the rates will increase very soon. Since mortgage rates are so low right now, buyers are able to afford more expensive homes. If mortgage rates increase over the fall and winter months while you’re waiting for the spring market, it could cost you thousands of dollars as it could eliminate many buyers from the real estate marketplace! Less demand for your home will mean less money. Bottom line: take advantage of selling your home while the rates are this low. Quicker Transactions Right now, there are fewer real estate transactions than there will be in the spring. The fewer number of transactions means the mortgage lenders have less loans to process, attorneys have less closings to do, and home inspectors have fewer inspections to do. All of these factors should lead to a quicker transaction and closing for all the parties involved. One of the most frustrating things for a seller to deal with while selling their home is not getting answers in a reasonable amount of time. A quicker transaction is going to be less stress for you. By considering all of the reasons above, you will be able to determine whether now is a good time to sell or if you should wait until the spring. I would like to take this opportunity to say “Thank You” to all my past and present clients for their business. I truly appreciate working with you! Sue Deily has been a Realtor® for 31 years, resides in the Upper Bucks Area and enjoys serving her clients in Bucks, Lehigh and Montgomery Counties. Sue has been featured in Bucks County Real Estate Trendsetters. Sue is happy to answer your real estate questions and can be reached at suesellshouses@gmail.com and at
215-872-9865.
Did you know?
A “Harvest Moon” is the full moon closest to the Autumnal Equinox. Before artificial lighting, such moonlight was essential to a farmer’s successful harvest.
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• Upper Bucks Free Press • November 2016
VFW Post 11322 Appreciates Support, Local Father Writes Children’s Gives Back to Community Book About Daddy and Daughter Adventures
Glen Dick, a father living in Chalfont, PA, never lets the fact he is in a wheelchair stop him from going on grand adventures with his daughter Elaina. He recently wrote a compelling story about how he and Elaina incorporate his wheelchair in the games they play. In fact, the wheelchair becomes a necessary part of the games. The picture book Mr. Dick wrote is called “We Can Go Anywhere: My Adventures on Daddy’s Wheelchair” was published this past August by Black Rose Writing Publishers. It is a heartwarming story that shows how the family not only sees past his disability, but also embraces it as part of life. The book’s illustrations by Linda McManus are surreal, which is perfect for a story where imagination is the focus. The story is a retelling of the author’s experiences with his daughter, and all of the things they do together. I was lucky enough to get an interview with Mr. Dick about why he decided to write this book. Erik: Can you tell us about what your life was like after your spinal injury, and how it changed when Elaina came into your life? Glen: After my spinal cord injury in 1995 there were many transitions that I went through. The first was returning home and getting comfortable in my new skin within my old surroundings. Emotionally I had to let go of my old self, hold on to what I had left to offer and concentrate on even on the most minute positive aspects of my life. What got me through was the unconditional love and attention I got from my nieces and nephews who were all very small children at the time. They did not see my limitations and made me realize I still had a lot to offer. I had to adapt to my new limitations and find ways to get back to a sense of normalcy in my life. I returned to work as a landscape architect within the year and also learned to drive a specially equipped van. After some time doing what I used to, I found that my life had taken on new meaning and I wanted to find a way to spend my time doing something more meaningful or giving back. After volunteering at an elementary school I was offered a full-time position as a teaching assistant. I loved working with children since I had none of my own at the time. It wasn’t until 2005 that I got married and my life began to change for the better once again with the hopes
of having a child of my own. When Elaina was born four years later I felt I have truly found my purpose. I had always loved encouraging and teaching children and being a child at heart I love spending time with them. Watching Elaina look past my limitations and incorporate them into her life made me forget about my disability and only focus on what we could do together. Erik: What amazes you the most about the imagination and curiosity of your daughter? Glen: I think what amazed me most about Elaina was her ability and willingness to incorporate my limitations into her play through her imagination my chair was not something that held us back it was something that added an element to her play. We would make up games that incorporated the chair. Erik: When did you get the idea to write a book about the adventures that you and Elaina have? Glen: I got the idea for the Book after realizing the uniqueness of our relationship and how much we could accomplish together as a team. From the time of her birth she all ready had more function in her hands than I and so with me as the brain and her as the hands the two of us became a team. Whether we were playing together or doing a task if we used our imagination there wasn’t much we could not do together. Erik: Did you write the book more for your family or are you hoping to reach other people who may be in similar situations? Glen: I wrote the book purely as a keepsake for Elaina. After a rough copy was printed friends and family encouraged me to put it out there believing it had value to help others in my situation. The thought about being able to encourage others with limitations or even just open up a conversation amongst children and their parents motivated me to seek publication. Erik: What is your favorite thing to do with Elaina? Glen: My favorite thing to do with Elaina is go for long rides with her on my lap we’ve been doing it since she was a baby and I had to strap her into a carrier on my chest. Now she is at the age where she gets to drive the chair and she loves doing that. I dread the day that she outgrows my lap. I guess I’ll just have to put on the side car at that point. To learn more about the book, visit BlackRoseWriting.com For more on books and reading visit my website at ThisKidReviewsBooks.com
Seriously?
BY COMMANDER PAUL GERHART The month of November is the month of giving thanks. If you know of a Veteran that may need our support over the holidays call 215-0500 or 267-992-4973 and leave a message. The post will be doing a food, hygiene and new clothes collection on November 19 from 3-6. The clothes and hygiene products will be distributed to Veterans homeless places. On the same date, the post will be collecting new toys for “Toys for Tots.” Please do not bring any unwrapped stuff toys. The post accepts unperishable items all year long to help those veterans in need. In the last two months the post has helped support four people with food or monetary support. In the month of September the post had a 911 ceremony. Normally we do not have one but this year it fell on the same day as our meeting. After the meeting we had the opening ceremony which was lead off by the National Anthem being song by Rose Hirsoik- Riveria. The program consisted of reading of names that passed away from the state of Pennsylvania that horrific day. The bell was tolled and a candle was lit for each name read. There was a guest speaker named Robert Ross that was in one of towers that day. Following the dessert break there was patriotic music played be Mathew & Leo Bernabei. Thank you to those participated in this program. With our TEAM SUPPORT
we can do what ever we put our minds to. The desserts and salad donated by a local restaurant really helped the day. In the month of September the post made donations to the Diabetes Foundation and a Veteran that needed our support. The post would like to thank the owners of Eco Domani for allowing us to have a fundraiser in their restaurant. The month of October was a little busier for donations. The post made several donations to organizations. The post made a donation to Shop with a Cop which includes the Quakertown and Richland Police . This program takes children out to shop for Christmas with a Police Officer. Other donations were made to Grand View Tree of Lights, Quakertown Fire Company downtown and the Veterans Day School program. The post was involved in the Halloween Parade. Thank you to those that were able to come out and enjoy the day. With the support of Lehigh Defense and its staff we had a Military Truck in it again this year. Thank you to Lester Schaeffer for driving his car in the parade. The children were treated with goodies. In the month of November the post will be busy doing various things. On November 4-6 we will be collecting donations at various places. Those donations will help us support Veterans and other programs that the VFW Bylaws say that we can support.
John Ford, nephew of John Rivers for whom the Quakertown VFW Post is named, and his family visited recently from Arizona.. submitted photo
Quakertown Panther Marching Band Named 2016 State Champions
Turducken, a turkey stuffed with a duck stuffed with a chicken, is apparently becoming more popular in Thanksgiving. A turducken is a deboned turkey stuffed with a de-boned duck, which itself is stuffed with a small de-boned chicken. The cavity of the chicken and the rest of the gaps are filled with, at the very least, a highly seasoned breadcrumb mixture. Some versions have a different stuffing for each bird.
Saturday, October 29 at West Chester University, The Quakertown Panther Marching Band competed in the USBands Group IV Open State Championships. The band earned a score of 96.025 and won captions of High Music, High Visual, and High Overall Effect. The Quakertown Panther Marching Band is the 2016 USBands Group IV Open Pennsylvania State Champions! There are only three more opportunities to see their award winning show. The Panther Band will perform a preview show at 7:45pm on Thursday November10, 2016 at Alumni Field. The admission is free. They will also perform at the home football game on Friday November 11 and at the USBands National Championships at Met Life Stadium on Saturday November 12. submitted photo
(left) St. Isidore School Principal Robin Conboy shows off her ‘detention cell’ at the school’s Halloween Trunk or Treat event. submitted photo (right) The Dads of Power & Grace gymnastics show off their synchronized swimming act at Quakertown’s Fall Festival last month. photo by michele buono
November 2016 • Upper Bucks Free Press •
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The answers to the puzzles on this page are found elsewhere in this issue.
Think Local. Buy Local. Be Local.
Where Can I Get my UBFP?
Beauty Blessings Clean water Family Fauna
First
responders
Flora
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Sleep Starry skies Sunshine Support Time to relax Veterans Volunteers
QUAKERTOWN A-Plus Mini Market Borough Hall Beer City Caitlyn & Cody’s Diner Classic Staffing Chick Fil-A Dairy Queen Dominick’s Pizza Edible Arrangements First UCC Church Friendly Book Store Giant Markets (309/313) Grocery Outlet The Grundy House Hampton Inn Holiday Inn Express Independence Court James Michener Library JoAnne’s Frame Shop John’s Plain & Fancy Let’s Steep (Q-Mart) Liberty Thrift Store McCoole’s Red Lion Inn Moyer’s Shoes Penn Community Bank Pep Boys Service Center Quality Inn & Suites Q’town Family Restaurant QNB Bank Quaker Cleaners Quakertown Alive! Quakertown Farmers Mkt Redner’s Market
Rep. Craig Staats’ office Sal’s Pizza Randa Sellersville Auction Sine’s 5 & 10 St. Luke’s Bone & Joint St. Luke’s Hospital Spring Hill Suites Swann’s Pantry The Souper Bowl (Q-Mart) Top Star Express Upper Bucks Senior Center Upper Bucks YMCA Upper Bucks Chamber Yum Yum Donuts TRUMBAUERSVILLE Borough Hall Christ Lutheran Church Fino’s La Cantina Spor’s General Store RICHLANDTOWN Seven-Eleven Penn Community Bank Phoebe Meadow Glen SPINNERSTOWN Spinnerstown Hotel E J’s Barber Shop PLEASANT VALLEY Country Kitchen SELLERSVILLE A & N Diner Grandview Hospital Hidden Meadows Roy Ann Diner
PERKASIE Dam Good Cafe Giant Food Markets Landis Food Markets Olde Towne Convenience Pennridge Chamber Pierce Library QNB Bank TELFORD Indian Valley Library Landis Food Markets SOUDERTON Care & Share Shoppes SILVERDALE Green Street Barber Shop DOYLESTOWN Main Street Book Store DUBLIN QNB Bank Shop ‘N Bag OTTSVILLE NAPA of Ottsville Wehrung’s COOPERSBURG Coopersburg Diner Giant Food Markets The Inside Scoop QNB Bank Turkey Hill Market Last Chance Ranch Store SPRINGTOWN Reflections Hair Studio Village Center Automotive
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• Upper Bucks Free Press • November 2016
A Grateful Heart
photos byby michele buono photo jennifer rehrig
So here we are again the start of another holiday season. It will be Thanksgiving in just a few weeks. It always amazes me how quickly time goes by and we are celebrating the holidays. It seems only natural to talk about gratitude this time of year. So, what is gratitude you may ask? It has been defined as, “the quality of being thankful; a readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.” Robert Emmons, a world leading expert on gratitude describes it as, “an affirmation of goodness. We affirm that there are good things in the world, gifts and benefits we’ve received. We recognize the sources of our goodness is outside ourselves: meaning other people or a higher power gave us gifts to help us achieve the goodness in our lives.” like the way he describes it as goodness. It is so true and simple. Because most of us when we express gratitude we feel good about the action and reaction to whom is the recipient of it, even if it us. What I mean by this is when we are saying or writing down things that we are grateful for in our lives we feel good about these things. It provides a sense of calm, happiness and empowerment. For some of us the daily action of expressing gratitude allows us to move forward with our day especially when we are not feeling so good about our life that day. The question sometimes will arise; “Why practice gratitude?” It is quite simple it brings happiness. It creates a feeling of optimism. It has been linked to reducing anxiety and depression. It can strengthen relationships we have with others by making us feel closer and more committed to our friends, family and significant others. When we feel and express gratitude to others we tend to become more satisfied with our relationships. Gratitude has often been said to be a choice we make. It is an attitude of or a state of being that some consider to be essential in living a full life or a well-lived life. If you are won-
dering how do I express gratitude? One of the most common things people do is to write a gratitude list every day. Some people will write five things every morning when they start their day so that they feel more grounded, hopeful and positive for the day. Others will write at the end of the day so they can detach from their long day and realize that there are things to be grateful for even if you had a bad day. You can show gratitude towards others by saying the simple words of “thank you” with a smile of true appreciation for what they have done for you or said to you. Like when someone compliments you most people do not always say thank you because they do not feel worthy of the compliment; however even if you don’t necessarily trust the compliment saying thank you is an acknowledgement and validation to yourself that you are deserving; thus, will feel gratitude. Even if we are consciously thinking about the things we are grateful for it will lift our spirits. For instance, I am grateful for my family, friends and home. I am grateful for who I am and what I have to offer to others. I am grateful for all the lessons good or bad that I am learning and have learned. I am grateful for my ability to be empathetic and caring. I am grateful for the confidence I have to write every month in the newspaper. Gratitude can cover many topics. It truly can help us get out of a negative space in our head. If we are so focused on all the “bad” things that are happening to us or we believe are happening to us than we can’t see all the good that is in us or around us. Which is why gratitude can save us and our soul and provide a profound sense and feeling of “goodness”. So, do your best to appreciate your life and all that it has to offer. “Be grateful my friends!!” only good can come from it and your heart will be full. My belief is that “all persons are truly greater than they think they are.” Susan V. Brewer is a Certified Life Coach and Psychotherapist in the Upper Bucks County Area. She can be reached at 215-872-4219. Visit her website at www.balancelife4u.com.
November 2016 • Upper Bucks Free Press •
2016 Volvo XC90 T6 AWD R-Design Crossover
From its slick headlight design to its long vertical taillights, Volvo’s XC90 T6 AWD R-Design crossover is both elegant and sexy. And the 2016 version is loaded with an array of the latest safety features to perpetuate this impressive label of being one of the safest cars on the road. The 2016 XC90 is the crossovers first redesign since it debuted in 2003. And this goes not just for the exterior, but its interior has a melding of sumptuous leather, wood, carbon fiber inlays, a third row seat and a huge 9-inch touchscreen display that sits vertically on the stack that resembles an iPad or smaller version of that found in a Tesla electric sedan. Among other things, it serves audio, nav, and rearview camera with 360-degree view. This seven-passenger crossover (five passengers if opting for the T5), is offered in trim levels of Momentum, R-Design and posh Inscription. There’s also the pricy T8 Twin Engine Plug-In Hybrid version. Tested was the sporty R-Design that comes with Recaro type front bucket seats that are overly supportive, but comfy as they hug the torso ever so tightly and feature powered thigh support. (Center bulge folks may want to shy away from this model.) In addition, the R offers 22-inch wheels, sport steering wheel with paddle shifters, illuminated step plates, aluminum accents and special lighting items. Interestingly, and instead of a push button or keyed ignition switch, the XC90 uses a twist knob. Unlike Volvo’s smaller XC60 that uses Volvo’s traditional man-form switches to direct HVAC functions, mostly everything is swiped on the XC90’s display. Some of these require two swipes so a session of learning and acclimating with the owners’ manual is required. The screen also offers a host of popular apps including weather that shows hourly and weeklong forecasts. There’s even an app where you can share your location with another, record verbal notes and see pull up maps. As for the audio system, its Sound Experience feature lets you tailor the audio for Concert Hall, Studio, and Individual Stage. The Concert Hall, for example, provides a hollow, echo effect. To suit your driving needs, a console mounted Drive Mode switch allows selecting Eco, Comfort, Off Road, Dynamic and Individual, settings. But the system reverts back to Comfort mode upon restarting the engine. Second row seats are comfy while the third row is surprisingly suitable for two, small
statured adults. Behind those, cargo space measures 21 inches deep 43 wide and 31.5 high (15.8 cubic feet). Flip the third row and depth extends to 48 deep, and 77 inches (85.7 cubes) when folding the second row. Since the test car came with an air suspension system, the body could be lowered 28 inches or raised 32 to facilitate easier loading/unloading by pressing a button in the cargo area. The XC90 T6 AWD is powered by a turbocharged and supercharged 2.0L four cylinder that puts out 316-hp and 295 lb/ft of torque. When routed through an 8-speed automatic transmission, the combo gets EPA mileage ratings of 20 cities, 25-highway mpg. Volvo claims it can do 0-60 in 6.6 seconds, however the numbers don’t tell the whole story. For its weight (4,595 pounds), the vehicle feels heavy and exhibits sluggish acceleration both from a standing stop and during highway merging. With its stop-start fuel conservation feature at stop lights and signs, the latter seems too quick to shut-down and tardy to start-up. We did notice the Dynamic mode offered livelier acceleration over all the other modes. The T5 incidentally, uses the same engine but only turbocharged with 250-hp and 258 lb/ft of torque for a 0-60 time of 7.9 seconds. Of course FWD versions are a tad quicker. As for the T8 Plug-In Hybrid, it uses the same engine but combines it with an 87-hp electric motor fed by a 9.2 kWh battery pack for 400-hp and 472 lb/ft of torque. It’s quick at a claimed 5.3 seconds but comes at an upcharge of $18,300. Driving wise on Scorpian 22-inch tires, XC90 offered a smooth ride on smooth roads, but was a bit jiggly on bumpy roads. Smaller tires could improve the ride a lot. As for handling and despite its heft, the vehicle feels planted and secure in sharp turns and when passing. Aside from such safety features like blind spot and cross traffic alert, frontal braking, there’s Run-Off Protection whereby the cars’ computer senses when the car is drifting off the road. It provides a host of inputs to put the car back on-road like when a driver dozes off or becomes inattentive while driving. With all the aforementioned, plus auto parking, there’s also a very long list of safety and convenience options. Starting at a base price of $49,800, the options list includes R-Design features ($4,000); Vision Package ($1,800); Climate Package ($1,700); Convenience Package ($1,800) Bowers/Wilkins audio ($2,650); Metallic Paint ($560); 2nd row center booster seat ($250); 22-inch spoke wheels ($1,000); Carbon Fiber Inlays ($800); 4 Corner Air Suspension ($1,800); and a delivery ($995) brought the bottom line to $67,155. That puts it among the top tier in the luxury crossover class shared by Mercedes’ GL Class, Land Rover Range Rover Sport, BMW’s X5, Lexus GX and Infiniti’s QX80. All of which don’t possess all the safety goodies offered by the XC90, but some of which offer more interior capacity. 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.
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Think Local. Buy Local. Be Local. Q: I’ve found some great bargains at my local nursery recently. Is it too late to plant these discounted plants? A: Late fall is not the ideal time to plant, but with some extra effort, you may be able to score a great deal as your nursery is reducing stock for winter close outs. Of course, not all plants are suited to late fall planting, but many will do well if you take some extra steps to plant carefully and protect them. If a mild November and late frost works for you as well, your chances of success are pretty good! Before you select bargain plants, be sure the roots are still active—look in the pot for new ‘white’ growth on root ends—if the roots appear to be dried up (already dormant or dying), forego the bargain! Most shrubs and trees with shallow, fibrous roots will be able to settle in pretty well. However, conifers like spruce and pine do not do well because their leaves and needles transpire water over the winter, making them more moisture-needy. Trees like maples, honey locust, crabapple and buckeye are best suited to the quick adjustment needed. Indeed, if a tree can establish some root system before the soil freezes, it may have a great head start for spring! Most deciduous shrubs (but not broadleaf evergreens like rhododendrons also with leaves transpiring over winter) are likely to prevail if planted in late fall. . Once woody plants shed leaves and store their energy, they are putting their efforts into root growth; this reality will also work in your favor Because of the imminence of cold weather, frozen soil, and a dry winter, it is important to plant healthy trees and shrubs and pay extra attention to your planting process. In order to encourage root establishment, provide plenty of water and try to moderate soil temperature. A 2-3” layer of mulch (leaf, pine boughs, straw, shredded wood or even layers of paper) help to keep warmth in the rooting area and moderate temperature changes. If soil temperatures fluctuate too often, the newly planted specimen may heave out of the soil and expose the roots; heaving may be deadly to the new plant because the roots will dry out quickly.
Monitor your new plantings for heaving in the weeks following—if you detect heaving, tamp the plant into the soil to get the roots back into the protection. Also, as long as the soil is not fully frozen, you can continue to water if Mother Nature if not helping your new plant with needed moisture. While you’re thinking of fall planting, scour your garage, planting shed, and basement for those bulbs you saved from spring potted plants—you must get spring-blooming bulbs into the ground before the ground freezes. It is necessary for these bulbs to go through a cooling period to set their clock for spring blooms—so even if you have to chisel through a frozen crust, get those bulbs in the ground now! If hungry critters (mice, voles, squirrels, etc) are waiting for those bulbs to be set out, you may want to protect them with a bulb cage. These cages are available commercially—or you can design one yourself, check out this helpful information to safeguard your newly planted bulbs from being a critter’s lunch! http://bit.ly/2e1q6hQ Whether or not you’re thinking of adding plants to your landscape now, these are the final days to do your fall clean-up! Consider using fallen leaves, grass clippings, and frozen garden plants to start or add to your compost pile. If you have tender bulbs (elephant ears, dahlias, cannas, callas, gladioli) in the ground, they should be dug and stored to prevent rotting in frozen ground. But, in your clean-up effort, consider leaving some seed heads, sturdy perennials, and anything still ‘green’ in your garden for winter interest, a shelter for valuable insects, and food for wintering birds. A white layer may be adding new beauty to your garden soon! Have questions? Contact us! “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!