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See a Full “Blue Moon” In Canal Walk, Jan. 31
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ake this special opportunity to experience the magic of twilight along the Delaware Canal and the spectacle of a full “Blue Moon” at Wells’ Falls on the Delaware River in New Hope. On Wednesday, January 31, join in a 4-mile, round-trip walk along the towpath sponsored by the Friends of the Delaware Canal. The trek will begin at 5:00 p.m. and will start in the upper section of Washington Crossing Historic Park across Route 32 from Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve. The entrance drive is at the intersection of Aquetong Road and Route 32/River Road, two miles south of New Hope. Katie Martens, Delaware Canal State Park Educator, and Susan Taylor, Executive Director of the Friends, will lead the way from Bowman’s Hill to Lock 11 in New Hope listening for owls and keeping an eye out for other nocturnal critters. At Wells’ Falls, walkers will take in the grandeur of the River and watch the full “Blue Moon” rise above the hills of New Jersey. On the way northward, Locks 8, 9, 10 and the canal outlet to the River will come into view. Waiting at Lock 11 and the Locktender’s House will be hot cider, snacks, and a place to warm up before heading back to the starting point. The Twilight Trek is free and will be held weather permitting. It will be cancelled in the event of rain, total cloud cover, or dangerous driving conditions. Check the homepage of www.fodc.org for a Go/No Go message that will be posted by 12:00 p.m. on January 31. Registration is required for this event by calling the Friends at 215-8622021, or by emailing friends@fodc.org, For more information about this and other Friends’ activities, call 215-862-2021, e-mail friends@fodc.org, or visit
www.fodc.org. The Friends of the Delaware Canal is an independent, non-profit organization working to preserve, improve, and interpret the Canal and its surroundings. Its primary goals are to ensure that the Canal is fully watered from Easton to Bristol and that the towpath trail is useable over its entire length. ■
Annual Photo Contest T
he Churchville Photography Club invites photographers to enter its 27th Annual Photography Contest. Winners will be featured in exhibition at the Churchville Nature Center April 15th through April 29th. An opening reception will be held on Saturday evening, April 14th from 7-9 pm at the Churchville Nature Center, 501 Churchville Lane, Churchville, PA. Prizes will be awarded at that time. Entry forms and contest rules can be downloaded from www.churchvillephoto. club under Contests and Critiques/Annual Contest, available at local camera shops and the Churchville Nature Center, or by emailing info@churchvillephoto.club. Entries will be accepted at the Churchville Nature Center from 10 am to 4 pm on March 17th and
March 18th only. A cash prize of $150 will be awarded for Best of Show. Additional prizes and ribbons will be awarded in each of the following categories: Landscape, Black and White, Flora, Wildlife, Bucks County, Architecture, Body of Work, Night Time, and Children’s Open. The category “Body of Work” will display four images as one entry comprising a common theme. The entry fee is $5 per photo, $3 for students aged 14-18 and free for children ages 13 and under. A “Body of work” entry of four images is $15. This event is sponsored by The Churchville Photography Club in affiliation with the Friends of the Churchville Nature Center and the Bucks County Department of Parks and Recreation. ■
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Lower Makefield Police Arrest Suspected Heroin Dealer
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he Lower Makefield Township Police Narcotics Unit arrested ALEX McINTOSH (DOB: 6-231989 / 28 year-old B/M) of the 100 block of West Bridge St., Morrisville, PA on January 3rd, 2018. This investigation was initiated when the Lower Makefield Police Narcotics Unit received information in early December 2017 that McIntosh was selling heroin along the West Trenton Ave corridor. The LMTPD Narcotics Unit along with the Detective Division, the Falls Township Police Department, Morrisville Borough Police Department and the Bristol Borough Police Department conducted extensive surveillance and conducted four (4) controlled purchases of heroin from McIntosh in December 2017. Forty bags of heroin were purchased during these buys. During one of these deals, he drove two children (ages 7 months and 2 years old) along with him. On January 3, 2018 the Narcotics Unit, Detectives and assisting agencies arrested McIntosh and executed search and seizure warrants on his residence. At the time of his arrest McIntosh was
in possession of 20 bags of heroin which were immediately recovered. Additionally, 30 bags of heroin and 22 grams of crack cocaine were discovered upon conducting a
strip search of McIntosh at Lower Makefield Police headquarters. He had concealed these additional drugs in his underwear. During the search of his residence, investigators recovered a Taurus .45 caliber handgun, approximately 8 grams of powder cocaine, a small amount of marihuana, three (3) Suboxone strips and a small amount of liquid codeine. McIntosh was charged with possession with intent to deliver cocaine (F), dealing in proceeds from unlawful activities (F1), criminal use of a communication facility (F3), endangering the welfare of a child (M1), possession of heroin, cocaine, and marihuana (M), and possession of Drug Paraphernalia (M). He was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Jan Vislosky and sent to Bucks County Prison in lieu of $950K (10%) bail. A 2000 Pontiac Bonneville and $360 USC were forfeited to the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office. ■ —Authority: Kenneth D. Coluzzi, LMT Chief of Police
“Star Search” Talent Show at Parx Seeks Local Talent of All Ages
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o you sing? Do you dance? Do you have a special talent? The Morrisville Senior Servicenter isn’t just for seniors anymore. The Center is looking for talent, lots of it, any age and any type. The Center will host its second annual Star Search Talent Show on April 7th, 2018. Recently crowned Olivia Suchko, Miss Pennsylvania USA 2018, will be the Mistress of Ceremonies. This year’s Star Search Talent Show is being sponsored by Parx Casino & Racing and will be held at
Parx Racetrack in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. According to Scott Mitchell, Center Manager, “Our 2017 talent show was huge. We had a capacity crowd at the senior center and had to turn people away at the door. We are thrilled to partner with Parx Casino & Racing for the 2018 talent show to be held at Parx Racetrack. Parx is able to accommodate a much larger crowd.” There will be three top prizes: First Place - $1,000, Second Place - $500 and Third Place - $250. There is a $25 registration fee per act. This competition is open to everyone regardless of age, so enter your 5 year old nephew or your 80 year old grandmother! For more information, please visit
www.MorrisvilleSeniorServicenter.org and click on the “Talent Show” tab. There you will find a flyer and registration packet. Completed registration forms must be received no later than March 2, 2018. Only the first 50 registrations will be accepted, so please don’t delay and send in your application early. Admission tickets may also be purchased on the website or at the senior center. Additional information can be obtained by calling the Morrisville Senior Servicenter at 215-295-0567 between the hours of 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM. The proceeds of this event benefit the Morrisville Senior Servicenter. ■
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Give the Gift of Warmth!
A remote starter lets you step into a nice warm car on cold mornings—and makes it a lot easier to clean ice from your windshield.
Call Stu’s EZ Auto Remotes
215-486-7040
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Moving and storage: Cross country Moving, Long distance Moving Company out of state move $799 Long Distance Movers Get Free quote on your long distance move. Call 800-863-6081 To Advertise, call 215-669-7350
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Polar Plunge at Neshaminy State Park
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n Saturday, January 20 at Neshaminy State Park, the Eastern Polar Plunge will be celebrating 10 Years of “Freezin for a Reason!” Funds from the Plunge help to enrich the lives of nearly 20,000 Special Olympics athletes. Registration opens at 9:30am, with a Costume Contest starting at 11 and plunge at high noon. ■ th
About the Cover
—Photo by Alan J. Micklin
The acrylic painting shown on this issue’s cover, entitled “Between Two Worlds,” is by Dar James, a Bucks County artist. She describes herself as “A painter of trees and circles, a writer and illustrator of children’s picture books, a designer, a teacher of both children and adults, a speaker on creativity and education and a creativity coach.” She now resides in New Hope “with a sweet man and two lazy house cats... in a quaint, old house, surrounded by many pretty trees and lots and lots of frogs.” Visit darsworld.com to view galleries by Dar James. ■
“Virginia Woolf” at Newtown Theatre
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ho’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,” starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, comes to the big screen at the Newtown Theatre on Thursday, Jan. 25 at 7:30 p.m. This 1966 classic features history professor George (Burton) and his boozy wife, Martha (Taylor), as they return late one night from a cocktail party. Martha announces that she invited another couple, newly appointment instructor Nick (George Segal) and his timid wife, Honey (Sandy Dennis), over for a nightcap. When the younger couple arrive, the night erupts into a no-holds-barred torrent of marital angst and verbal tirades. All four major actors were nominated for Oscars, with Taylor winning for Best Actress and Dennis winning Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and students and $5 for members of the theatre. This movie is part of the theatre’s monthly Classic Film Series, which is supported by presenting sponsor Harris Comfort. For the latest news about the Newtown Theatre visit TheNewtownTheatre.com. The theatre is located at 120 N. State Street in Newtown Borough. ■
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Play Ball! Time to Sign Up for Spring 2018 Youth Baseball
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Langhorne Athletic Association www.langhorneaa.org
egistration for Spring 2018 youth baseball is in full swing. Registration dates and instructions vary from one organization to another, along with rules, age group divisions, and geographical jurisdictions. This list of websites covers most of the youth baseball leagues in our readership area. Each site offers contact instructions for more information.
Morrisville Little League www.gomll.org Pennsbury Athletic Association For Lower Makefield Township, PA; Yardley Borough, PA; Morrisville Borough, PA and the portions of Falls Township, PA that lie west and north of Route 1 and Business Route 1 (Old Lincoln Highway). www.paaball.com
Levittown Continental Little League www.LevittownContinental.com Levittown United (formerly Levittown Pacific and Levittown International, now merged) levittownunited.org Levittown American Athletic Association http://www.levittownaaa.com/ Fairless Hills Athletic Association http://www.fhaa.org/ Middletown Athletic Association http://middletownaa.com/ Bristol Borough Little League https://www.facebook.com/BristolLittleLeague/
Council Rock Newtown Athletic Association (CRNAA) http://crnewtown.org/ Lower Bucks County Athletic Association (home of District 21 Bristol Twp. National Little League and Babe Ruth Softball) Based in Croydon www.leaguelineup.com/Lbcaa Neshaminy Wildcats Athletic Association (includes Penndel and Neshaminy areas) www.neshaminywildcats.org
Valley Athletic Association Bensalem area Main Complex: 5895 Hulmeville Road, Bensalem, PA 19020 www.leaguelineup.com/valleyaa
Bensalem Ramblers Baseball Leaguelineup.com/bensalemramblersbaseball
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Cradles to Crayons: Gearing Up To Keep Kids Warm in Winter
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radles to Crayons, a nonprofit organization that equips children from birth through age 12 living in homeless or low-income situations with the essential items they need to thrive, is conducting its annual Gear Up for Winter initiative. This yearly program seeks to provide children in need with the essential items to stay safe during the blistering winter temperatures. For the thousands of local children living in poverty, staying warm in winter months is a struggle, both indoors and outside. Cradles to Crayons intends to provide 20,000 children in need with winter coats, hats, gloves, shoes, and warm clothing for this winter season. C2C’s individually tailored ‘Winter KidPacks’ equip children with warm outerwear and clothing for a week so that they can safely step outside into the cold. Philadelphia winters are cold and unforeseeable, reinforcing C2C’s need for assistance from the community to help struggling families provide for their children during harsh weather. “Winters in Philadelphia are a constant struggle for low-income families. If a child cannot safely go outside due to a lack of proper clothing it puts them at a disadvantage both academically and socially,” said Michal Smith, Executive Director of Cradles to Crayons Philadelphia. “This year we are aiming to get ahead of the frosty temperatures and make sure these children are adequately prepared for the cold. These ‘Winter Kidpacks’ prep children with the essential items needed to stay warm at home and safely travel to school in the below freezing temperatures.” Snow and below-freezing temperatures put children without adequate protection at risk for cold weather illness and injury. Health experts report that even a 2-degree drop in body temperature results in reduced heart
rate, loss of coordination, and confusion. Adults cannot work effectively and children find it difficult to learn. For most, a warm coat solves the problem. But, for the nearly 15% of Americans living in poverty, a warm winter coat is a budget “extra.” About Cradles to Crayons Cradles to Crayons launched in 2002 and has operations in Boston, Philadelphia, and Chicago. The nonprofit provides children from birth through age 12 living in homeless or low-income situations with the essential items they need to thrive—at home, at
school, and at play. They supply these items free of charge by engaging and connecting communities that have with communities that need, recycling and reusing high-quality children’s goods and engaging thousands of youth and adults in tangible service activities each year that benefit local children. For more information go to www.cradlestocrayons.org/ philadelphia. Photo: Executive Director, Michal Smith, speaking with a group of volunteers from the Philadelphia 76ers charitable arm Sixers Strong
Snow Guard. Help prevent dangerous snow slides, Damaging gutters, etc. Stainless Steel & Close out colors snow guards $2.25 ea. Colored $3.25. Free Shipping 50 or more 717 445-5222
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Home Buying: For First Timers At Grundy Library, Jan. 25
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hinking of purchasing a first home? Join us for Home Buying: For First Timers at 6:30 pm on Thursday, January 25, 2018 at the Margaret R. Grundy Memorial Library, 680 Radcliffe Street for an overview of the home buying process along with tips from professionals. Presenting with extensive real estate and financial knowledge are Holly Chase, from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency; Ed Karpinski, from Inspire Federal Credit Union; and Angela Marchese, from RE/ MAX Properties. Seating is limited for this free event and is required; register online at www. grundylibrary.org, or by calling the Library at 215.788.7891. This program is offered by Margaret R. Grundy Memorial Library in support of the PA Forward | Pennsylvania Libraries initiative. Libraries are key to powering progress and elevating the quality of life in PA by fueling the types of knowledge essential to success: Basic Literacy, Information Literacy, Civic and Social Literacy, Health Literacy, and Financial Literacy. ■
Winter Survival Program at Nature Center
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hurchville Nature Center will present “Winter Primitive Survival Skills: Fire Program” on Saturday, January 27th from 9am-4pm. Join Lenape Village Educator Joseph Boyle for a full day of primitive skills for wintertime. The day will be spent making fire from scratch with natural materials. We will learn about and make fire bows, coal extenders and fire structures. Includes an introduction to building shelter and basic cordage. You will go home with your own handmade fire bow kit. Sit around the fire with tea afterwards.
This program is for ages 13 and above; must be able to do moderate physical work. Please dress warmly and bring a knife for carving wood, safety gloves and glasses, and a notebook. The program is $75 per person, or save $10 each if you enroll two or more people at the same time. Rain/ snow date is Saturday February 3rd. Churchville nature Center is located at 501 Churchville Lane, Churchville PA 18966. Call 215-357-4005 or visit churchvillenaturecenter.org for more info. ■
Wash Xing Brewfest Ticket Sales Begin Feb. 1
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ickets for the 8th annual Washington Crossing Spring Brewfest go on sale Thursday, Feb. 1 at a special, two-week-only price of $40. After Feb. 14, the price increases to $45. The brewfest, which sells out every year, will be held on Saturday, May 5 from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. in a wooded, riverside section of Washington Crossing Historic Park. The event features sampling of at least 130 beers from more than 60 regional and national breweries, live music and multiple food vendors. The brewfest is held by the Friends of Washington Crossing Park and supported by the First National Bank
of Newtown. All proceeds are directed to educational and historical programming in the park. Tickets will be sold at WashingtonCrossingBrewfest. com and the park Visitor Center near the intersection of River Road and Rt. 532. A limited number of designated driver tickets will also be available online only for $10. The brewfest is held in the upper part of the park (1638 River Road, New Hope, Pa.), behind the Thompson-Neely House and across the street from Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve. To stay up-to-date on the latest news about the brewfest, “like” the event on Facebook at facebook.com/washingtoncrossingbrewfest.
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Leader Lottery Winner: Rosemarie Quaranta Leader Lottery winners receive $100 for Rosemarie Quaranta, of Dawes Drive in Yardley, was themselves; they also get to choose a charity, our Leader Lottery winner for the December issue of community cause or organization that has special The Lower Bucks Leader. She picked up her copy of meaning for them, for which The Lower Bucks The Leader at Fairless Hills Produce Center, at 636 Leader provides a free promotional ad or fundraising Lincoln Highway. “I truly enjoy reading The Lower message. Rosemarie Quaranta chose the Philadelphia Bucks Leader,” she said, “because I learn something, branch of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, which or pick up tips, or find community events to attend.” supports research toward a cure for breast cancer. By checking the 3 questions for that issue, ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Rosemarie saw that her lucky number was O97. She Leader Lottery is a feature found a matching number of every issue, in which in the ad for Pro Line A lucky number for a teacher who readers can win money Music, a Fairless Hills believes in lifelong learning. for themselves and free music store that recently publicity for their favorite won “Best of Bucks” for charity or community cause. It’s free, it’s easy, and its music lessons. She filled out her lottery ticket all you need is the paper you’re holding in your hand. online at LowerBucksLeader.com and it was drawn at You’ll help our community just by playing. Do you random from a small pool of finalists. have the lucky number? See page 2 to find out! Rosemarie, who grew up in Bristol Boro, has Lottery tickets for this latest issue must be received been a resident of Lower Bucks County her whole by midnight on Friday, February 9th. You can simply life. “I have been a Family and Consumer Science teacher in the New Hope Solebury School District take a picture of your ticket and email or text-message for 30 years,” she said. “Recently, I retired and enjoy it to Editor@LowerBucksLeader.com. Tickets can taking additional courses, as I believe you never stop also be sent by regular mail; or you can go to www. learning. I raised three daughters with my husband LowerBucksLeader.com, click on “Leader Lottery” Joe, and we have two lovely grandchildren.” and fill out a ticket online. ■
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Tips from Leader Readers When you are cooking certain dinners, like roast chicken or lasagna, it’s almost as easy to make two dinners worth. Just put the excess in the freezer and you’ll be all set for those nights when you don’t feel like cooking. —Dana S. If you buy jarred pickles, save the pickle juice! A little splash of it goes great in homemade salad dressings with ingredients like lemon juice, mustard, garlic, grated cheese or honey. — Regina Vallanova / Bristol Every homeowner should know where to find the main shutoff valve for the water supply. It will come in handy if you ever have a major leak —like your pipes freezing and bursting. Quickly shutting off the valve will at least limit the problem to the water that’s already in the lines. —Donald Chenier / Langhorne Dog booties may look silly and it may take some time for your dog to adjust to them, but they’ll be one of your best winter safety investments. Booties keep paws warm and dry, offer traction on slick icy surfaces (especially important for old or arthritic dogs), and protect pads from cracking due to snow, ice, rock salt and chemical ice melters. When you come indoors and take off the booties, you remove those chemicals along with them, so your dog won’t have to lick his paws clean and ingest something poisonous. —Jessica Sugrue / Yardley
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If you buy paper plates on a regular basis you’ve probably noticed how expensive they’ve gotten in the past 5 years. We have teenage boys in our house and they go through a lot of paper plates. The problem is, the plates stick together so they end up using 2 or even 3 at a time. So now I take a few minutes to separate the whole pile. It saves a little money and the stack of plates lasts longer. —R.S. If you own a laptop, keeping it on a small, flat piece of wood or any hard surface is a good idea. (I use a half-inch thick plastic cutting board, $1 at the Dollar Store.) If you spill a drink, the board keeps the laptop safely above the mess. And the little heat-exhaust vents on the angled undersides of your laptop won’t get blocked as they would if you set it down on a soft surface like a bed or sofa. —Greg W. / Newtown
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Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County: Building Communities, Empowering Families
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t Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County, we’ve seen how homeownership strengthens our communities—adding stability, wellness and better opportunities to people’s lives, while increasing community engagement. Through our mission, Building Communities, Empowering Families, Habitat Bucks not only provides a pathway to affordable homeownership, we provide tools to ensure our homeowners’ longevity in their homes. Habitat Bucks builds and renovates houses with stability in mind, maximizing energy efficiency and incorporating sustainable design features. Homebuyers assist our construction staff and volunteers in building or renovating their future homes (sweat equity), while connecting to educational opportunities. Our free, homebuyer-readiness program, Almost Home, also empowers future homebuyers to learn crucial skills to prepare for the short- and long-term costs of purchasing and owning a home. Participants learn how to tackle debt, improve credit scores and build practical spending plans with professional guidance and coaching. To purchase a home through Habitat Bucks, households (individuals/families) must: currently live or work in Bucks County; complete sweat equity hours and participate in media coverage; have stable incomes and satisfactory credit histories
Helping people become homeowners strengthens communities. (credit counseling referrals available); and demonstrate a need for an affordable home (such as unsafe living conditions; overcrowding; the inability to purchase a home in the county due to high home prices; etc.). Our homebuyers purchase their houses with affordable mortgages, paying taxes on the full values of their homes.
Habitat Bucks serves all of Bucks County; current home opportunities are available in the Levittown, Bristol and Morrisville communities. Through all of the work and dedication of our homebuyers, the most exciting part is when we hand over the keys. Our most recent homeowners, Omar and Martha, were living in a cramped, two-bedroom basement apartment. Their sons didn’t have a quiet space to do homework, recharge, dream and grow. Through the Habitat Bucks’ homeownership program, this family now has a house of their own. Several homes are currently available in Lower Bucks County: Bristol, Levittown and Morrisville. For more information, contact Stefanie Clark at (215) 822-2812 x307 or s.clark@habitatbucks.org. Visit us online at www.habitatbucks.org/home-ownership/. Since 1990, Habitat Bucks has partnered with 109 households in Bucks County for homeownership. Our Home Repair program makes exterior home repairs such as porch repair and installation of wheelchair access ramps, and interior home modifications to help aging and individuals with disabilities remain safe in their own homes. Revenue from Habitat ReStores provides a source of sustainable funding for the construction and repair of homes. ■ Photo: Habitat Bucks newest homeowners with Habitat supporters at their Home Dedication. —Photo by Michael Tontoni
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COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
Open Houses at Model Railroad Club —The Abington Lines Model Railroad Club will host Open Houses in February, to be held at their clubhouse in Richboro, PA. Each Open House is scheduled from 12 Noon to 4 PM on the weekends of February 3 & 4; and February 10 & 11. Come marvel at the 20’ x 60’ HO scale railroad set in the Pennsylvania mountains with a two-track mainline that is more than 1000 feet in length. The layout includes a circus display, two operating roundhouses, a narrowgauge branch line, waterfront complete with rail car ferries, four industrial switching areas and a picturesque old time town with stores that have realistic interiors, animated neon signs and trolleys that run the whole length of the city. Admission to the Open Houses is free. Donations to help us grow and improve will be appreciated. In addition, two complete train sets will be offered for raffle ($1 per ticket). The railroad clubhouse is conveniently located at 2066 Second Street Pike (PA Route 232), Richboro PA 18954, two miles north of PA Route 332, on the right, across the road from “Bryan’s Farm,” just before the Neshaminy Creek. For information, call the club at 215-598-7720 Tuesday evenings between 7 PM and 9 PM or during show days. ■
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• “The Subject is LOVE!... A Concert of Love Songs the Sunday before Valentine’s Day” by singer/ songwriter and guitarist Amy Duckett Wagner (Amy Dee) Sunday, February 11th, 6:30 PM at Fallsington Quaker Meetinghouse Social Hall, 9300 New Falls Road, Fallsington PA 19054. (214) 736-1277. Free and open to the public, optional goodwill donation for the Bucks County Homeless Shelter. www.amydeesongs.com •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Playwicki Farm Artisans Market, second and fourth Saturdays January through April from 10 am - 1 pm. 2350 Bridgetown Pike, Feasterville PA 19053. •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• St. Michael the Archangel Church and Our Lady of Guadalupe Ladies Auxiliary presents “A SOUP 4 YOU COOK-OFF” at St. Michael’s Church Hall on Monday, January 22nd from 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Local Restaurants competing with their award winning soup!! $10.00 per person / Children 8 years old and under are free. Need a ticket, contact Janice LaFleur 215-945-6142 or Meg Martin 609-781-3956. Tickets will be available at the door if we are not sold out. Tickets are nonrefundable. Snow date is January 29th. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Wild Animal Signs of the Woods, Saturday, January 27th, 1 pm – 2:30 pm at Silver Lake Nature Center. Wild animals leave behind all types of signs that give us clues to their behaviors. During this expedition participants will learn how to examine animal signs and even how to make a plaster cast of a footprint to take home with them. All ages welcome. Fee per Person: $2 Friends of Silver Lake Member; $3 Non-member. Silver Lake Nature Center is located at 1306 Bath Road, Bristol PA 19007. Call 215-785-1177 or visit silverlakenaturecenter.org for more info. •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Ethnic Food Sale , Saturday February 3, 2018 at St. Mark’s Orthodox Church, Rt. 413 - 452 Durham Road, Wrightstown, PA between the hours of 10 AM and 1 PM. Items include pirogies, stuffed cabbage, halushky. beef & barley soup and sweet & spicy meatballs. Check our website at www.stmarksoca.org to advance order. Advance orders must be received by January 26. Call 215.788.2106 for further information.
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Student Writing of the Month
Is the World Ready for the Next Pandemic?
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ver the course of the 20th century, many events transpired that shaped the world: major wars including World War I and World War II took a drastic toll on the world population. But in between those two events came an occurrence which killed more people than World War I —the Spanish Influenza. Regarded as the “the greatest medical holocaust in history,” the Spanish Influenza had two deadly properties unprecedented for that time: high communicability and high mortality rate. The combination wiped out 50-100 million people. Even though the Spanish Influenza was eventually controlled with quarantining and vaccination, another pandemic or worldwide disease could easily occur despite our advancements in vaccination and quarantining. As the recent outbreaks of Ebola and Zika have demonstrated, a pandemic is more likely than ever to occur because travel has become more common. A recent study of human dispersal called “Where’s George?” tracked dollar bills and found that “humans disperse according to a power-law distribution over distances of up to hundreds of kilometers and exponentially over even longer distances.” As a result of readily available travel, epidemics within a country can become pandemics in no time. Entrepreneur, philanthropist, and tech genius Bill Gates stated in an interview with Business Insider, “I rate the chance of a nuclear war within my lifetime as being fairly low. I rate the chance of a widespread epidemic, far worse than Ebola, in my lifetime, as well over 50%.” In the last few years, the small tropical African island of Madagascar has seen an alarming number of cases of bubonic plague. This relic of pathology, once thought to be
dead, has rejuvenated; it has claimed the lives of over 200 people, according to a World Health Organization report. In addition, the plague in Madagascar has mutated to a form of pneumonic plague, where coughing can spread the bacteria; its potential to infect is drastically increased as a result of this change. The recent surge has been linked to poor hygiene as well as a lack of medical
A worldwide epidemic is more possible than ever as humans travel more. infrastructure within Madagascar. While more than 400 cases of the plague are reported in Madagascar each year, “the current outbreak has affected more areas and started earlier than usual,” according to Charlotte Ndiaye of the World Health Organization. Furthermore, the cause of concern for this epidemic seems to be the abnormal nature of the disease as well as the lack of support. The World Health Organization has only been able to provide 5,000 people with treatment compared to the hundreds of thousands of people who need the medication. Without early prevention and treatment, the
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problems within Madagascar could become the problems of the world. The problem is only exacerbated by budget cuts to vital organizations such as the Center for Disease Control and the National Institute of Health. In early 2017, the National Institute of Health lost a fifth of its budget, ultimately leading to the removal of research associations like the National Institute of Health’s Fogarty International Center. Moreover, it took more than eight months of congressional debate to allocate $1.1 billion to fight the already spreading Zika virus throughout the United States, according to an article from Time magazine. Lack of concern for the next pandemic could result in the end of humanity. While seeming like an event ripped right from the pages of apocalyptic literature, the pandemic that wipes out the human race could be at our doorsteps as vaccines and medications lose their efficacy. Now more than ever, monetary resources, public concern, and medical innovation are essential for the survival of the human race. ■ —Sutirth Mannikeri Sutirth Mannikeri is a 10th grade student at Pennsbury High School and an editor of its student newspaper, The Pennsbury Voice. “If there is one common problem shared among teens, it is the lack of sleep. Way too much of my bedtime is spent reading the news and writing. I am a sophomore at Pennsbury High School. I am also a part of our school’s Speech and Debate team, Mathletes team and Marching Band. I have competed in State level Mathcounts and have won quite a few state level essay contests. I am also a proud owner of all the Star Wars movies (even the prequels)...so be prepared for the nerd jokes.”
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Dealing With Frozen Pipes
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rozen water pipes and leaks can quickly lead to disaster. Water damage can result in costly repairs, some of which may not be covered by home insurance policies. Therefore, prevention is essential once the mercury starts to dip. Water expands when it freezes, and if it expands enough, it can cause pipes to burst. Yet, burst pipes do not usually occur directly where the ice is forming. Rather, the ice increases water pressure buildup elsewhere in the pipe, typically between the faucet or spigot and the ice blockage. Therefore, adequately protecting the entire length of pipe during cold spells can be necessary. Any home built in colder climates should have its pipes located on the inside of building insulation. However, pipes in crawl spaces, attics and basements, as well as those located on outside walls, are vulnerable to freezing. To prevent frozen pipes and bursting, follow these tips.
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Senior Softball League Seeks Players
The Bucks 65+ Senior Softball League in Langhorne, PA seeks players for winter indoor softball workouts January-March at the SMG Sportsplex (www. warminstersportsplex.com, fees apply) on York Road in Warminster, T & TH 10-12. Games in May through October are played on the manicured Middletown Community Park fields on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Registration now open for the 2018 season. Contact Bill Krieger: kriegisin@msm.com or Jim Mahoney (267-566-2919) campyhits@aol.com ■
• Drain water from outdoor hoses and close inside valves supplying water to outdoor faucets. Keep the external hose bib open to let water drain and to allow for expansion should any water become trapped. • Inspect pipes in areas that are unheated. Insulate any pipes located in these areas. • Heat tape, pipe sleeves, heat cables, and similar materials can be used to protect exposed water pipes from freezing. Even newspaper can help insulate pipes. • Keep garage doors closed when water supply lines are located in the garage. • Open cabinets indoors to allow heat to reach pipes underneath sinks. • Seal leaks that allow cold air inside. Also, look for air leaks around electrical wiring and vents that are in close proximity to pipes. • Keep water trickling out of a faucet when temperatures are very cold. This will relieve pressure inside of the pipe and could prevent bursting if an ice blockage occurs. • If you suspect a pipe has frozen, warm air from a hair dryer can help thaw it out. Never try to thaw a pipe with an open flame. • If a pipe bursts, turn off the water from the main shut-off valve. • Call a plumber if pipe problems are beyond your expertise. ■
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Danny and the Home Run Tree The Story of a Star Local Athlete
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hen Danny Elko was a kid growing up in the Red Cedar section of Levittown, he loved to play baseball with the neighborhood kids in the field across from his house at 8 Rocky Pool Lane. There was a big tree in center field. If you hit the ball over the tree, it was an automatic home run. Danny hit a lot of them. The athletic genes had come from his father, Pete “Piccolo” Elko, who had played third base for the 1943 Chicago Cubs. He registered his son in the Levittown Pacific Little League, where Danny played for six years.
Danny Elko’s left hand—the cannon hand—was nearly severed. “My favorite coach was Nick Williams,” Danny told a Leader reporter. “Coach Williams made me come out to the game even when I felt like slacking off. He once caught me sneaking out the back window of my own house when he came to pick me up. But as a result, I got better as a player.” Danny Elko became a star player for Woodrow Wilson High School (now Harry S. Truman High School) and was voted to the East/West All-Star Game at Veterans Stadium. He was drafted by the New York Yankees in 1972. After a couple of minor-league seasons he went to spring training with the big-
league Yankees, but was eventually cut. “Steinbrenner had just bought the team,” he said. “And he cleaned house.” Danny went back to the minors. By 1974, Danny was homesick and weary of the nomadic minor-league life. “I was riding buses and eating at White Castle every day,” he said. But then fate intervened, and Danny Elko was picked up the Philadelphia Phillies. “I had a good spring training camp in Florida,” he said. “I hit around .300 and I had a cannon for an arm.” Danny made the team. “Lee Elia told me to come over to the hotel in Clearwater to meet some of the bigwigs. Ruben Amaro was there, and Jim Bunning. They all laughed at how skinny I was. Lee handed me $20 and told me to go across the highway to get myself a pizza and some beer.” It was April 10, 1976. On his way across Highway 19 on foot, Danny was hit by a speeding truck. He crashed through the windshield; his left hand— the cannon hand—was nearly severed. He was rushed unconscious to Morton Plante Hospital, where doctors were able to reattach his hand. But Danny Elko’s baseball dreams had come to an abrupt end. Aimless and depressed, he eventually wandered north to Buffalo. He went to college, graduating at the age of 26. Years passed before he made his way back to Bucks County, where he found work in the landscaping business. One recent day, Danny Elko stood once again in the Red Cedar field of his
youth (see photo). “I don’t remember that tree being so tall,” he laughed. “But back then, I guess it wasn’t.” He talked about getting the old gang together again for an over-50 home run derby. “I’m grateful for all the good people I’ve had in my life,” he said. “My Mom and Dad. My coaches. Dave Christian, who grew up in Appletree and was like a big brother to me.” What advice would he give to a promising young athlete? “Play your sport, but get an education. It can all end so suddenly.” ■ —John Antoine
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Valentine’s Day: A Chocolate Box of Fun Facts & Trivia Some historians say that the X symbol came to signify “love and kisses” because in Medieval times, when most people were illiterate, they would sign papers with an X and then kiss it to indicate their sincerity.
Nearly one billion Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged every year in the U.S. alone, more than for any other occasion besides Christmas.
Women buy about 85% of all Valentine’s Day cards, but men spend twice the amount of money on Valentine`s Day gifts than women spend. The average amount an American man spends is $130.
Red roses became the symbol of romantic love because they were the favorite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess of love.
At least 9 million people buy their pets a gift on Valentine`s Day. The most popular pet gifts are chew toys, sweaters and personalized food/water bowls. In 1861 the Cadbury Chocolate Company produced the first heart-shaped box of chocolates specifically for Valentine’s Day. Today, more than 36 million heartshaped boxes of chocolate are sold for the occasion and more than a billion dollars in total is spent on chocolate.
Doctors in the 1800’s often prescribed chocolate as a “painkiller” for patients suffering from lost love.
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Approximately 8 billion candy hearts (as shown in the photo) are produced each year, and over half are purchased for Valentine’s Day. In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who would be their Valentine. They would wear that name pinned onto their sleeves for one week for everyone to see. This was the origin of the expression “wearing your heart on your sleeve.”
Over 100 million roses are sold each Valentine’s Day in the U.S. and men purchase about 75% of them. About 15% of women say they have sent themselves flowers on that day.
A medieval superstition held that if you were single, you would end up marrying the first single person of the opposite sex that you met on Valentine`s Day. Over 200,000 wedding proposals are made each year in the U.S. on Valentine’s Day. ■
Join Lower Bucks Genealogy Club
he Lower Bucks Genealogy Club is a growing membership of individuals who share a common interest in genealogy. Whether you’re a beginner, a professional or somewhere in between, LBGC can assist you in your research into the past! The Club is dedicated to assisting others in the preservation of their family history, and to promote interest in genealogy. While located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, our goal is to connect families worldwide. We warmly invite you to join us. Your membership in LBGC will help you to gain more enjoyment from your hobby. It also places you among a group of genealogists that came together to promote recording family histories and the enjoyment of finding past generations! Meetings are held the 2nd Saturday of every month, from 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM, at the Team Toyota Service Center (NOT the dealership!), 407 East Lincoln Highway, 2nd Floor Community Conference Room, Langhorne, PA. 19047. Call Barb (215) 630-5301 or Hope (215) 817-3529 for directions and/or additional information. Visit lbgc19047.webs.com ■
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The Joys of Feeding Birds in Winter
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atching birds in the winter is enjoyable and fun to do. During dreary days, we can lift our spirits by watching the little creatures flitting around the feeders and seed heads of perennials, and in and out of evergreen trees and shrubs. Our feeders are located outside our living space and we can watch the activity for quite a long time as the birds visit different feeders. Having a field guide close by helps when wondering what those little birds are – identifying them is half the fun. Many types of birds visit in any given period of time. Red-bellied and downy woodpeckers, chickadees, juncos, whitethroated sparrows, house finches, cardinals and tufted titmice grace us with their presence. An assortment of feeders and feed will attract a larger variety of our flying friends. We can supplement the natural food source by providing seed through bird feeders. Many styles of feeders are available, from tubes and platforms to nets and hoppers. The more variety of feeders you provide, the more variety of visitors you will have. Tube feeders typically attract finches, while the platform feeders will attract larger birds like cardinals and blue jays and the netting can be filled with suet for the woodpeckers. Probably the most versatile feeder is the hopper. At our hopper, we have finches, juncos, titmice and chickadees visiting daily. We keep it full of black oil sunflower seed. Another feeder that we use is a suet feeder. This feeder allows the birds to feed on the underside as the holes are below the suet cake. Mostly woodpeckers hang out at this feeder, literally. It’s really enjoyable to watch them! We also have a net that we fill with suet or a peanut butter mixture that includes sunflower seeds. This attracts the woodpeckers, but we get flickers and jays flitting around as well. A piece of a wooden post with holes that we spread the peanut butter/sunflower mixture provides cardinals and blue jays as well as finches and titmice a feast to partake. Gold finches love the tube feeders. The gold finches will feed upside down, making this an interesting watch. Just as there is a variety of feeders, so goes the types of feed. Millet, sunflowers, corn and peanut butter can all be a food source for birds. The most versatile seed is the black oil sunflower seed. This seed can be mixed
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The more types of feeders you provide, the greater variety of birds you will attract. with peanut butter and put into the suet feeders, and it can be used in hoppers as well as platform feeders for the cardinals, chickadees and titmice. The least useful type of feed is millet. Typically when buying a bird feed mix, the millet is what the birds will scratch to the ground and discard. It’s mostly just a filler to add weight for the bag. Niger (thistle seed) is used in the tube feeders for the gold, purple and house finches. These are tiny seeds and are typically on the pricier side, but the finches just love it! Peanuts, whether in the shell or shelled, broken or whole, will attract birds like blue jays, chickadees, titmice and woodpeckers. When locating the feeders, whatever type you choose, remember one important element: shelter. The birds need to feel protected and have a quick get-away from any potential hunters, like hawks and cats. Be sure to locate the feeders near evergreen trees or near brush or plants that they can quickly fly to when danger is in their midst. Our feeder on our deck has evergreen trees to one side and a dense, deciduous tree to the other. This allows them cover from potential predators. For best bird activity and bird health, not
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only should you provide a food source (whether with plants or store-bought bird feed) and shelter, but you should also provide water. A heated birdbath can provide that. There are many types of bird baths and heaters on the market. Small fish ponds, or just a clean dish of shallow water set out each morning can provide this source of water as well. Take advantage of the winter months to plan for a bird habitat. Research the sizes of shrubs and trees, study the best locations to plant bird attracting shrubs, trees and perennials. Understand and see the beauty of a less than tidy garden, as the dead stems and thick brush are the reason bird activity will happen in any given area. Keep in mind the visibility of the feeders from inside your house so you can properly locate the plants for your view of the bird activity. When planning for winter visitors, plant things that have seed heads that can remain through the winter months. Common perennials such as black-eyed susans, coneflowers, and asters will provide seeds. Evergreen shrubs and trees, like inkberry holly, American holly and white pines will provide shelter for the birds. Deciduous shrubs like viburnums, winterberry holly and sumac provide berries. Allow old, dead trees to remain standing if safety is not an issue. These will provide nesting holes in the summer, but also the woodpeckers and other birds like blue jays love to use the trees to break open seeds and nuts. As we watch the birds on our deck, we observe the woodpecker taking a sunflower seed, flying to the deck railing and cracking it open. We watch the bluejays bully the chickadees and snatch up a lot of the food, and see the titmice grab a seed and fly to the nearby tree to eat it. My guess is when spring comes, you’ll be more aware of the bird activity around you and checking out that field guide even more frequently than you have during the winter. Enjoy the quiet of the winter and the flurry of bird activity. When we get “snowed-in” again this winter season, remember to take the time to relax and watch the birds. ■
Reprinted by permission of Penn State Extension & College of Agricultural Sciences. www.extension.psu.edu
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Beautiful Flowers = Happy People Flowers by Yvonne Has Built a Legion of Repeat Customers
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for,” Yvonne says. “Flowers are a luxury and most ho doesn’t love flowers? A beautiful people don’t have a lot of extra money for luxuries arrangement of wild flowers, a single stem these days. I want to make sure my customers rose or even a vase of the tropical sort? Flowers consider it money well spent.” by Yvonne offers all of your favorite varieties and And they do, judging by the numerous glowing then some. testimonials on social media, including… Flowers by Yvonne, on Woodbourne Road in Levittown, is family owned and operated by “My flowers for my wedding were beautiful! Just Yvonne Carman and her husband Don, both perfect! Great prices! And Yvonne is a pleasure! So Levittown natives, who established the business nice and helpful!” —Nicole G. in 2000. Yvonne attributes the shop’s success to her schooling at Bucks County Technical High “Flowers by Yvonne creates beautiful School, where she studied Horticulture and arrangements and has the nicest staff! I was discovered her love of floral design. "By the end unhappy with flowers from another florist, and of my first year in the program I knew this is what Yvonne fixed them within a few hours and made I loved and wanted to do for a living,” she says. them perfect for our event! Will definitely be She has high praise for the training she received returning for future events, and would recommend at BCTHS and remains a big supporter of the to everyone in the area.” — school. "My daughter is a Laura E. The online reviews are student there now, and my son recently graduated.” Yvonne’s numerous and glowing “Thank you so much for the assistant floral designer is also beautiful flowers for our gram’s a BCTHS alumnus. funeral! They were gorgeous and she would have Extraordinary customer service is a way loved them. I think you got every shade of purple of life at Flowers by Yvonne, starting with the you could! Everyone in the family loved them! personalized care that goes into every order. Thank you for making such a hard time go easy. “When customers request certain flowers, we You’re the best!” —T.R. always assume that those particular flowers have special meaning for them. We take care to provide “Best place, best quality best owner! Creative, the freshest, most beautiful ones available. When a beautiful and highest level of customer service.” customer isn’t sure what flowers to give, we guide —Ray Y. them along. They tend to love what we come up with.” What does Yvonne enjoy most about her work? Flowers by Yvonne offers gourmet gift baskets, “The little notes, phone calls and thank-you cards breads and fruit as well as flowers. Secure, that arrive, sometimes months after the wedding convenient online ordering can be easily done at or whatever the event was, thanking us for helping flowersbyyvonnepa.com, and same-day delivery to make the occasion really special. That’s always is available. “We deliver to just about all of Lower my goal, whether it’s a big event or just a little Bucks County, Northeast Philadelphia, and even surprise gift from a husband to his wife. the nearby areas of New Jersey.” “Flowers are supposed to make people happy,” The shop’s long record of dedication to she says. “At Flowers by Yvonne, our goal is to quality has built a legion of repeat customers, make sure they do.” ■ including other local businesses. “We’ve enjoyed an excellent longtime relationship with James J. Flowers by Yvonne is located at 932 Dougherty Funeral Home,” Yvonne proudly noted. Woodbourne Road, Levittown PA 19057. Open Why does Flowers by Yvonne go to such Mon-Fri 9-5 and Saturday 10-2. Call (215) 547lengths for their customers? 7270 or visit flowersbyyvonnepa.com “I just believe you should get what you pay
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Out With The Old Roof, In With The New Local Contractor Steps Up for a Neighbor
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ettemarie Bond’s life depends on and financially. Bette tires easily. And being connected to an IV tube her out of pocket medical expenses 24 hours a day, seven days a week. last year exceeded $18,000. Investing money and energy in major home She suffers from a gastrointestinal disorder that has shut down her repairs, for instance, has been out of digestive process. “My gut doesn’t the question. work,” she says, with her trademark But when squirrels began burrowing through the old and good-humored candor. The IV tubes weathered roof of her single-story to which she has been permanently connected for the past 27 years home in the Goldenridge section supply nutritional fluids directly to of Levittown, Bette’s mother knew her heart. something had to be done. “Bette had Bette, now 47, was born with the water damage to her house because condition but it was not until her of the shingles,” said Elizabeth Ann. teenage years that it changed the “She was told two years ago that the course of her life. By then she was roof needed to be replaced.” already an accomplished gymnast, Elizabeth Ann had learned of training with renowned coaches A. Brooks Construction Kanga including Jim St. Clair of Bucks Roof’s annual “Holiday Giveaway” Gymnastics Center II. She became program, in which the local roofing a Pennsylvania state gymnastics contractor provides a totally free roof replacement for a Bucks County champion in 1986 and dreamed of owning her own gym. family in need. She nominated her Instead, the disease became much daughter and Bette was chosen as the Bette, permanently connected to IV tubes, worse and incapacitated her. She recipient. was rushed to Children’s Hospital Just before Christmas, Abe had squirrels nesting in her leaky roof. of Philadelphia, where she lived for Brooks, owner of Kanga Roof, appeared at Bette’s home on Gridiron Road with a skilled crew and set to months at a time during her teen years. The doctors were not sure what the problem was or how to treat it. Bette was told she would never be able to work work. Within 24 hours the home had a new, weathertight, worry-free roof. or even walk like a healthy person. “I try so hard to hold back the tears every time I think of Abe and Kanga With the tough spirit of a champion, Bette proved the doctors wrong Roof,” said Bette. “My roof had been such a worry, to have that lifted is the over the ensuing years. She put herself through college, earning a Bachelor best gift ever! I could never thank them enough. No words can express how of Science degree from Temple University, and worked for Bucks County much it means and what a relief it is not to be worrying if my roof would Intermediate Unit #22 as an occupational therapist. Today, she remains active fall in with rain or snow. I no longer worry about having to choose between as a volunteer and advocate for Oley’s Foundation, a national nonprofit paying for medical stuff and fixing the roof!” organization dedicated to enriching the lives of those living with home IV tube “This is what Christmas is all about,” said Mr. Brooks. “At Kanga Roof, we are committed to the communities that we live in.” ■ feeding. She serves as a liaison, helping to get expensive equipment that is donated by people who no longer need it to those who do, at minimal cost. Photo, L-R: Abe Brooks of Kanga Roof, Bettemarie Bond, Frosty the She can walk for short periods before becoming fatigued, with her IV Snowman, Elizabeth Ann, and crew members in front of Bette’s Levittown pump concealed in an ordinary-looking backpack. “Her father and I are so home. proud of Bette,” said her mother, Elizabeth Ann. “She has overcome so much, though she is limited in so many ways.” Her parents and brothers live nearby A. Brooks Construction Kanga Roof is based in Bristol and has been and help out as much as they can, though suffering medical conditions of their serving Bucks County for over 30 years. Call (215) 710-1633 or visit own. kangaroofpa.com. Still, the disease has progressed, and it has taken its toll both physically
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It All Began With a Crate of Pocket Watches I
That started it all. He ordered more watches f you were in the market for a watch in 1880, from the watch company and encouraged the would you know where to get one? You telegraph operators to set up a display case in would go to a store, right? the station offering high quality watches for a Well, of course you could do that, but if you cheap price to all the travelers. It didn’t take wanted one that was cheaper and a bit better long for the word to spread and, before long, than most of the store watches, you went to the people other than travelers came to the train train station! station to buy watches. Sound a bit funny? Well, for about 500 Richard became so busy that he had to hire a towns across the northern United States, that’s professional watch repairman to help him with where the best watches were found. the orders. That man’s name was Alvah. Why were the best watches found at the And the rest is history, as they say. train station? The railroad company wasn’t Richard and Alvah left the train station selling the watches. The telegraph operator and moved their company to Chicago —and was. it’s still there. The business took off and soon Most of the time the telegraph operator expanded, selling diamonds and jewelry as was located in the railroad station because the well as many other lines of dry goods. Their telegraph lines followed the railroad tracks mail-order catalog became a staple of American from town to town. It was usually the shortest households. distance and the right-of-way had already been The manufacturer refused to pay the freight for Yes, it’s a little know fact in American secured for the rail line. the unclaimed watches and asked Richard to try business history that for a while in the 1880’s, Most of the station agents were also skilled the biggest watch retailer in the country was at telegraph operators and it was the primary way to sell them instead. the train station. they communicated with the railroad. They load of watches arrived from the East. It was a huge It all started with a telegraph operator named would know when trains left the previous station crate of pocket watches. No one ever came to claim Richard Sears and his partner Alvah Roebuck! and when they were due at their next station. them. And that’s how Sears & Roebuck got started. They And it was the telegraph operator who had the Richard sent a telegram to the manufacturer and became the largest retail operation in America, and watches. As a matter of fact, they sold more of them asked them what they wanted do with watches. stayed that way for over 100 years—until Walmart than almost all the stores combined for a period of ©toSteven M.the Richman The manufacturer didn’t want to pay the freight back, surpassed them in 1989. about 9 years. so they wired Richard to see if he could sell them. Bet you didn’t know that! OK, maybe you did but This was all arranged by a man named Richard, So Richard did. He sent a wire to every agent in I sure didn’t! ■ who was a telegraph operator himself. He had come the system asking them if they wanted a cheap, but from a wealthy family but lost his fortune through good, pocket watch. He sold the entire case in less reckless investing. He was on duty in the North —Sent in by Beth & Allen W., Leader Readers / than two days and at a handsome profit. Redwood, Minnesota train station one day when a Lower Makefield
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SENIOR EVENTS & BULLETINS The Falls Township Senior Center will host two trips in February: To Rainbow Comedy Theatre to see “Death at the Garage Sale” on February 8th ($95 per person); and to Sugarhouse Casino on February 20th ($30 per person). For more information, call 215-547-6563 or stop in at the Falls Township Senior Center, 282 Trenton Road, Fairless Hills, PA 19030. •••••••••••••••••••• Senior citizens get a discount of 25% off their entire purchase every Wednesday at Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore, located in the Langhorne Square Shopping Center, 1337 East Lincoln Highway. A wide range of items is available, from furniture to clothing to small knick-knacks. •••••••••••••••••••• ST. JOSEPH ITALIAN FEAST. St. Mark School’s Advisory Committee, Bristol, is sponsoring a trip on Wednesday, March 21 to Doolan’s Shore Club, Spring Lake, NJ, for their “St. Joseph Italian Feast.” Price is $100 pp which includes transportation, complete luncheon with wine & soda, 1-hr. cocktails/open bar, and entertainment. Call 215-788-9408. •••••••••••••••••••• Martha Washington Gardening Club is offering a program titled “Who doesn’t love a beautiful rose?” presented by Nicole Juday Rhoads, on February 28th at 1 PM. Nicole comes to us from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and will speak to us about the fascinating history of the rose. Nicole’s love of roses began as landscape curator of Wyck, the oldest rose garden in the country. She has worked in the horticultural profession for more than a decade and she is a passionate backyard gardener at her home in Germantown, where she collects antique plants and roses. The cost for a guest is $5.00. The Garden Club meeting starts at 12:30 with the program following at 1:00 at the Yardley Masonic Hall, 1600 Edgewood Road, Yardley. •••••••••••••••••••• Thursday, March 8: CELEBRATE SAINT PATTY’S DAY @ Doolan’s Shore Club, Spring Lake, NJ. Lunch, Cocktails, Green Derby Irish Band, Comedian & Bagpiper. $95 per person. Leave at 9:30 am, return at 5:15 pm. Buses depart from Parx Casino 2999 Street Road (Lot # J 1) Bensalem, PA 19020. Make checks payable to 55 Bradford Land Conservation, Inc. MAIL TO: 424 West Lincoln Highway, Suite 205, Penndel, PA 19047. Call for further details 267-549-3722 or email BradfordMCT@gmail.com.
The Lower Bucks Leader
•••••••••••••••••••• At 2 p.m., Sunday, January 28, actor/director/ educator Neill Hartley will bring his one-man show entitled “A New Deal for America” to the headquarters of the Bristol Cultural and Historical Foundation, 321 Cedar Street in Bristol Borough. Hartley will portray FDR in a presentation set against the background of the 1930s and the Great Depression, and will re-create FDR’s famous “fireside chats.” Light refreshment will be served at the conclusion of the program. A donation of $4 per adult is requested; students are admitted free. For info call 215-788-9408. •••••••••••••••••••• Saturday, February 10th at 1 PM at Levittown Library —Heartful Harp Love Songs will be presented through romantic melodies of beautiful harp music by Gloria Galante, professor of the West Chester University harp program, A professional harpist for over 30 years, she will delight with a history of Valentine’s Day. Program is free. Levittown Library is located at 7311 New Falls Rd. More info: 215-943-8270. •••••••••••••••••••• Churchville Nature Center will host a series of winter nature walks on January 27, February 17 and March 17, all at 2 PM. Join our staff as we explore the changing seasons. Winter is a quiet time when much of nature is dormant, but there’s still plenty to explore. Let’s see what interesting things we can find. $3 per person/ members free. Churchville Nature Center is located at 501 Churchville Lane, Churchville PA 18966. Call 215-357-4005 or visit churchvillenaturecenter.org for more info. •••••••••••••••••••• Davis Marable, curator of Levittown Exhibit Center North, is interested in collecting stories, photographs and memorabilia of Levittown and Fairless Hills. Please contact him at 215-945-4558.
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Loving Homes Wanted: Local Animals in Need
My name is Chase and I’m a handsome male tabby. I’m a friendly guy, but a bit shy in these surroundings at the shelter. I’m confused as to how I ended up here. Who wouldn’t be? I would really love some one on one attention so I could show you that I am a loyal companion. Make an appointment to meet me and some other wonderful cats! Contact Bingos Foundation at 215-781-0378 or go online at www. bingosfoundation.org.
Fred is an adorable 2 year old orange and white sweetheart who nearly froze outdoors. We are so happy he came to a feral colony where we saw he was not feral at all. Fred is a healthy cat but tested positive for feline leukemia. He has no symptoms but should be an only cat or with other positive cats. He’ll be retested in a month. Hopefully 1st test was a false reading. He can lead a happy life for however long he has, he deserves to be out of the clinic and in a loving, warm home. His adoption fee is waived and if you need it, food will be supplied. If you would like to meet this special baby, contact Joyces Voice For Cats. Yardley, Pa. 215 321 1967.
Sydney would love to find a home! He was rescued from ACCT Philly back in April 2017 by Four the Paws. Sydney is very sweet and loves to be around people. He was already neutered when we rescued him but has been tested negative for feline leukemia/FIV, updated on his vaccines, dewormed and had a dental cleaning. Sydney is around 5 years old. He is currently being fostered in a garage and would love to have a warm home to call his own! Please contact Carreen at 215-962-3499 if you are interested in adopting/meeting Sydney.
Meet Pretty Kitty, a pretty tabby who finds herself looking for a home due to her owner’s medical issues. She likes to sleep in boxes, is very calm and loves to cuddle. Pretty Kitty is now living at the Petco adoption center in Hamilton, NJ on Rte 33 and all the volunteers love her. All this beautiful girl needs now is someone to give her a second chance at a loving forever home. If interested in more info, please contact Mari at Lalasi42@gmail. com or 732-996-6324.
Duffy loves people and is highly affectionate and full of silly antics to amuse you. He enjoys playtime, but as he can get a bit ‘exuberant’ he would do best with older children or adults. Duffy enjoys having a laid-back cat companion, but would be perfectly content as an only cat as well. Duffy is neutered, current on vaccinations, and has tested negative for FIV and Leukemia. We celebrate his birthday Jan. 2014. nar.rescuegroups.org
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SNOW DRIFTS ACROSS 1 “Aeneid” poet 7 Show ___ 10 GI-free area 13 Requiring decryption 14 Only 15 Heating alternative 16 Maine park 17 Cork’s country 18 “Xanadu” group 19 “In all likelihood” 21 “Over here!” 22 Curses 25 Keeps at it 27 One studying saucers 29 Breaks off 30 Creative 31 Acapulco gold 32 Letter abbr. 33 Sneak a peek 34 Melodious 36 Did too much 39 Sparks grp. 41 Terse question 42 Agrippina’s slayer 43 Kind of salami 45 Squeezes (into) 47 Grading aid
49 It’s a plus 50 Frat boy types 51 Hides out 53 Singer Rawls 54 Unix scripting language 55 Locations 59 Long stretch 60 Laptop co. 61 Trattoria dessert 62 Criterion: Abbr. 63 AOL rival 64 Off the mark DOWN 1 Itinerary word 2 Mag for execs 3 Major TV brand 4 1966 Beach Boys hit 5 “You’d better believe it” 6 Its symbol is Pb 7 Lebanese port 8 Like some vbs. 9 End of a series 10 Makes something better in a big way 11 Country singer Ronnie 12 Polish bread
14 Food delivery service for the homebound 20 VP Agnew 21 Comedian who is the narrator on TV’s “The Goldbergs” 22 Kind of income 23 60’s do 24 Berry Gordy Jr. pioneered it 26 Boom source 28 “___ light?” 32 Soothing plant 35 Nautical calls 37 Coastal eagle 38 Biblical verb 40 Significant other 43 Some roof ends 44 Implant deeply 45 Vail trail 46 Oahu outsiders 48 Like a Boston accent 52 Women’s links grp. 54 Cook’s spray 56 Elevator ___ 57 J.F.K. posting 58 Non-dairy milk —Solution on page 2
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The Lower Bucks Leader
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Page 28 of 2018, #1
To Advertise, call 215-669-7350
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