CCM OCTOBER 2022

by: j. l.

Becoming a Caregiver

You do not need to become a professional nurse in order to be a caregiver. Everyday family members, neighbors, and friends become caregivers to aging loved ones or disabled individuals. Caregiving is as simple as taking someone who suffers from vision loss to the doctor or grocery store, or helping someone around the house who suffers from memory loss.

Most family caregivers do not consider these tasks to be caregiving because they aren’t helping with personal care needs such as bathing, dressing, etc. But you are a caregiver. You became a caregiver when you started to help another person live safely at home. Most individuals didn’t volunteer for the job. They were given the role of caregiving by default.

Caregiving is a challenging job. It takes time and can be emotionally exhausting. When a persons role as caregiver becomes more demanding, they will likely reach out to professionals for help. Though there are many different types of professional organizations to choose from, please don’t base your decision on the price alone. Ask many different questions such as “Are you licensed by the state?” or “Are background checks done, and what training is done for your caregivers?”

Family Caregivers Network, Inc. can assist you in the next steps of caregiving and provide you with support and resources in care. Call 215-541-9030 or visit our website today at www.family-caregivers.com for more information.

If you are interested in becoming a professional caregiver, scan the QR code to apply!

Biking the Perkiomen TRAIL

By: Zach Brown, Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board

Montgomery County, Pa., is home to nearly 100 miles of trails, and we are on a mission to explore all of them. This week, I grabbed my bike for an early morning bike ride on the Perkiomen Trail.

The 20-mile Perkiomen Trail makes up more than one-fifth of Montco’s nearly 100 miles of trails, carving a path northtosouth from Green Lane to Oaks. I wanted just a little more for my my ride so I set my destination a few miles farther south – the Visitor Center at Valley Forge National Historical Park.

Park-to-park, the trail would carry me through small towns, up and down a mountain, and across open fields, always within shouting distance of the Perkiomen Creek that lends its name to the trail.

I started out in the early morning hours from the parking lot on the north side of Deep Creek lake, site of the park’s amphitheater, a playground and picnic area.

The trail loops around Deep Creek Lake, but I took a shortcut across the bridge, through the adjacent parking lot

and onto the trail, which runs along the shoulder of Deep Creek Road for a brief stint before turning off into the trees.

The northernmost sections of the trail are developed, but there are a pair of brief stretches where riders must either share the road or use a widened shoulder before the trail truly comes into its own.

One of the hallmarks of the trail in this early section is the road crossings. The trail meanders through the villages of Salford and Spring Mount before the real fun begins.

Just south of Spring Mount, about five miles into my ride, was the biggest challenge I would face on the day: climbing Spring Mountain.

The warning sign comes one-quarter mile before the climb. A 12% grade takes riders up a 200-foot ascent to the top of Spring Mountain before shooting down the other side.

I couldn’t do it and had to hop off. It was the only climb that I couldn’t handle on the route, but I knew if I was going to make it 22 miles, I couldn’t spend all my energy this early.

As hard as the ascent was, the descent was scarier. The trail is paved going up the north side, but it’s all gravel on the downslope. It’s very easy to build up too much speed.

Jumping a rut or missing a corner are real possibilities if you aren’t watching your speed.

At the bottom of the hill is Schwenksville and flat riding between the town and creek. The trail passes by restaurants and a bike a shop with a convenient trail-facing Coke machine for thirsty riders.

In Schwenksville, you’re riding on a rail trail. It’s flat and straight, except for one awkward detour up to street level and around a pair of homes before returning to the route.

The trail continues south through the community of Graterford, past the trailside Vincent’s Pizzeria & Grill, the Graterford Trailhead and the clubhouse for the Pennsylvania Live Steamers, a group of scale model steam engine enthusiasts.

Just south of Graterford, the trail crosses over Route 29. This is easily the most dangerous crossing on the route as cars speed by on the busy road.

This also marked mid-point in my route, though the symbolic midpoint was just ahead in the town of Collegeville.

Collegeville is home to Ursinus College and is the largest town serviced by the trail. The gravel path gives way to pavement at the intersection of Main Street and Third Avenue.

DaVinci’s Pub sits on this corner, and if you’re looking for a hearty meal or to grab a quick drink, this is the place. If you’re looking for something a little faster – say, pizza – The Pizza Stop also sits along the trail. You’ll also find a diner, fast food restaurants and a variety of sit-down places within a two-block section of trail.

After Collegeville, the trail has the feel of an unpaved driveway – a crushed stone path that backs up to small country homes along the creek.

Many of the homes have the feel of summer cottages that are now year-long residences. I can envision the Perkiomen Creek being the Jersey Shore of its day –a waterfront spot to spend your weekends in the summer, where kids can splash around in the shallow waters while the parents enjoyed drinks in the cooling shade.

The trail winds along in unison with the creek the rest of its way, the only interruption comes when a small gathering of homes splits the two apart just north of Oaks. As the trail detours around them, we get a brief on-road section at Upper Indian Head Road.

From this point on, the trail is paved and fast with a slight downhill grade that carries riders through Lower Perkiomen Valley Park (a great stop if you need a restroom or want to sit down to a picnic lunch).

Here, riders can choose to continue on the Schuylkill River Trail or take a slight detour around the Audubon Loop that continued on next page

The Audubon Center includes seven miles of trails – mostly walking and hiking – as well rotating art exhibits in Audubon’s home-turned-museum.

Guided canoe trips along the Perkiomen Creek are also offered on select days throughout the summer.

For this ride, I skipped the Audubon Loop and made a beeline for Oaks. This is where the Perkiomen Trail ends, connecting with the Schulylkill River Trail as it travels between Phoenixville and Philadelphia.

The former industrial complex in Oaks has become one of Montco’s largest entertainment centers. The intersection sits in the shadow of Arnold’s Family Fun Center – featuring go-karts, laser tag, bowling, an arcade and a bar and bistro. Just a short ride further can take you to the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, the American Treasure Tour, a movie theater, about a dozen restaurants and a pair of hotels.

My ride took me in the opposite direction, across the Perkiomen Creek for the final push eastward to Valley Forge.

This was the fastest part of the journey, and with the trail paralleling the stopped traffic along Route 422, 15 miles per hour felt even faster.

By this point the trail is already in Valley Forge National Historical Park, passing by Pawling’s Farm and Betzwood Picnic Area.

This is where I made the hard right off the SRT, taking Sullivan’s Bridge across the Schuylkill River.

Sullivan’s Bridge was completed in 2016 and includes a built-in viewing area where riders can pull off to the side to take in the sites of the river as it flows At the south side of the bridge, the trail crosses over Valley Forge Park Road (Route 23), a tricky intersection that is immediately followed by an uphill climb to the Visitor Center on the Joseph Plumb Martin Trail.

Anyone who has ever competed in the Valley Forge Revolutionary 5-Mile Run knows this hill well. It’s a quarter-mile climb to the top – one last push before patting yourself on the back for a job well-done and another reminder that this trail is not for beginners.

leads to the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove – the first American home of the famed naturalist and artist.

From here, all of Valley Forge Park is within your grasp. The five-mile JPM Trail carries riders on the ups and downs of the hilly terrain past some of the park’s most-visited spots – the recreated Muhlenberg Brigade Huts, the newly reconstructed Fort John Moore, the United States National Memorial Arch and the line of cannon at Artillery Park.

end of the line – the final landmark on a journey that began 22 miles away. But more adventures remain to be written along the Perkiomen Trail. What will your adventure look like?

Read more at ValleyForge.org/Blog.

October community events

HEY

READERS!

Submit your event to: donnao@ccmonthly.com and we will print it for FREE! Please submit by the 12th of the month prior to the month you would like your event to appear. Event listings are available on a first come first serve basis.

Red Cross Blood Drive

Date: Monday, October 3rd, 1pm - 6pm

Location: Upper Perkiomen Valley Library, 350 Main St. Red Hill Blood shortages are real and the need is constant. Someone needs blood every 2 seconds. You’re somebody’s type, please donate! go to RedCrossBlood.org to schedule your appointment

Farm Fresh Fun

Date: Every Sat. & Sun. in October, 10am - 5pm

Location: Cedar Hollow Farm, 2475 Quakertown Rd. Pennsburg

Come spend the day on our family farm in the heart of the Upper Perkiomen Valley. There is something for everyone, including our interactive Corn Maze, Pedal Tractors, Apple Slingshots, shop our farm market and more

Book Signing with Sean Waller

Date: Sunday, October 9th, 10am - 1pm

Location: Java & friends Cafe, 254 Main St. East Greenville

Come meet Sean Waller and pick up a copy of his second novel, “Mr. Kingston” which he will sign for you. Come learn about his inspiration, his success as an author, and what it is like to meet young readers at events like this. While you’re here, come check out the hippest Cafe in the valley. We are excited to welcome Sean to our Cafe and show him how wonderfully supportive our community is!

Micheal Kropp Live Event

Date: Friday, October 14th, 5:30pm - 8:30pm

Location: The Loft at Sweetwater, 2554 Geryville Pike, Pennsburg

Join us for this special event! Michael Kropp has been performing in the Philly suburbs since 1999! He plays acoustic pop/rock favorites from the 1960s through the early 1990s from the likes of The Beatles, Nick Lowe, Paul Simon, The Kinks, Elvis Costell, Rolling Stones, Tom Petty and many more. From 5:30-8:30pm https://youtu.be/zmxffRsJ1eQ

The event will take place in The Loft. No outside food or alcohol permitted. Come enjoy a bite to eat or just have some fun using our self serve beer wall while listening to great music!

No cost. Reservations required to dine. Call 215-679-8111 to reserve a table.The beer/wine wall and a drink menu will also be available for purchase https://golfsweetwater.rwmco.com/ pub/whats-on-tap

Vineyards Fine Arts & Crafts Fair

Date: Saturday, October 22, 10am - 4pm

Location: Vineyard Community, 1000 Vintage Circle, Pennsburg Handmade Crafts by Local Artisans. Free Admission.

Upper Perk Halloween Parade

Date: October 23, 6PM

The route of the parade starts at the Red Hill Fire Company parking lot on 4th street; proceeding down Main Street through Red Hill, Pennsburg and East Greenville, ending at East Greenville Fire Company’s parking lot on 4th Street. Parade start time of 6:00 p.m.