ONGOING:
What’s Going On in Upper Bucks?
November 14 to January 5 – Festival of Trees at Pearl S. Buck Museum, 520 Dublin Rd, Perkasie. Reservations required. Tickets: 215-249-0100 x110. Candlelight Tours available on select dates.
November 29 to December 8 – Pearl S. Buck Juried Craft Show, 10am-4pm, Gifts, decorations, food, jewelry, apparel. Professional crafters/artists/chefs. Pearl S. Buck Estate, 520 Dublin Rd, Perkasie. pearlsbuck.org/events/holiday-events
Now to November 17 – Thanksgiving Food Drive for Quakertown Food Pantry. Donate a bag of canned goods or non-perishable food items & receive an entry to win $50 in Market Bucks at Qmart, 201 Station Rd, entrance #4, in Quakertown
Now to November 30 – Exhibit: Alexandra Schnabel, artist/teacher/graduate of PA Academy of Fine Arts. Vivid oil paintings including landscapes. Richland Library Co, 44 S Main St, Quakertown. Weds 1pm-4pm, Sats 9am-12noon. Handicap accessible. Now to November 30 – Winter Coat Collection, new or gently used, all sizes. Drop off at St. Paul’s Lutheran Blue Church, 5900 Applebutter Hill Rd, Coopersburg. 610-965-9500
November 1
Order Hoagies by today for pickup Nov 11 at Trumbauersville Fire Co. To order call Karen at 267-372-1404
“Death on the Nile” Free Movie Matinee every Friday 2pm-4pm at Perkasie Library, 491 Arthur Ave, Perkasie. 215-257-9718. Peanut-free snacks & beverages in lidded containers are welcome.
November 1 to 3
“Women in Jeopardy!” performances at DCP Theatre, 795 Ridge Rd, Telford. Fri/Sat 8pm, Sun 2pm. 215-234-0966 or boxoffice@dcptheatre.com Also Nov 7, 8, 9, 10
Winter Coat Drive at Qmart, 201 Station Rd, Quakertown. Collecting gently used & new winter coats in good condition for local families in our community. Bring bagged donations to Market Office, Exit #4. November 2
Holiday Bazaar 9am-2pm at Trumbauersville Fire Co, 142 Main St. Local Crafters & Vendors. Light refreshments available. Pork & Sauerkraut Dinner 4pm-7pm. $15/ adults, $12/age 6-12. St. John’s Lutheran of Spinnerstown, 1565 Sleepy Hollow Rd. stjohnsofspinnerstown.org
Shredding Event 10am-2pm at Richland Township Police Dept, 229 California Rd, Quakertown. Shred your sensitive documents to prevent identity theft.
Fall-A-Palooza all day at the Trolley Barn Public Market in Quakertown. Chili Cook Off, Craft Vendor Show, Trolley Barn Vendor Specials and more. Check back for more as they occur. https://bit. ly/2024TBPMFallapalooza
Book Bingo 2pm at Quakertown Library, 401 W Mill St. Join us for classic Bingo and you may win a book. Children & adults of all ages are welcome.
Penny Party! Door opens 12noon, play begins 1pm. Bring the family. Faith UCC, 5992 Route 378, Center Valley Quarter Auction! Open 12noon, play 1pm at Benner Hall, Cherry St, Quakertown. Visit Facebook for details.
Sunset Social 4pm-7:30pm at 5th & Broad St, Quakertown. Chili Cook Off, Music, Bake Sale, Food Trucks, Crafts & Artisans, Petting Zoo, more. Visit FB for details.
Bingo Night! 6pm at St. Andrews UCC, 615 E Walnut St, Perkasie. Benefits Mission Projects, food for purchase. Ticket info: Karen 267-664-0231. $35/door.
November 3 Daylight Saving time enDS
Low-Cost Vaccine, Microchip & Heartworm Prevention at Hometown Pet Center, 702 W State St, Coopersburg. 11:30am-1:30pm benefits Logan’s Heroes Animal Rescue. 610-282-5435
8th Annual Designer Bag Bingo Fundraiser 1pm-4pm at Benner Hall, 1260 E Cherry Rd, Quakertown. 267-227-0186 or quakertownoutreach@gmail.com
Heritage House Museum Open House 12noon-4pm at James Memorial Park, 1027 Ridge Rd, Sellersville. FMI westrockhillhistoricalsociety.org
November 4
Crafty Play every Monday 11:30am (also Nov 11, 18, 25) at Perkasie Library, 491 Arthur Ave, Perkasie. Explore different materials each week as kids craft their own creations. Best for ages 3-6. All ages welcome.
November 5 election Day
Hoagie Sale 9am to sold out at First UCC, 4th & Park Ave, Quakertown. Cost $7, Italian or Turkey. Supports our free monthly community lunch.
Family Storytime every Monday & Thursday 10:30am at Perkasie Library, 491 Arthur Ave, Perkasie. Active family story program. Best for ages 2-5. All ages welcome.
Crafty Play every Tuesday, 11:30am at Quakertown Library, 401 Mill St. Best for ages 3-6, but all are welcome. Kids choose their supplies, then create from their own imagination. Also Nov 12, 19, 26
November 6
FREE Holiday Email Marketing Workshop, 8:30am, Upper Bucks Chamber of Commerce Office, 21 N Main St, Quakertown. Learn to craft email marketing campaigns for holiday season. Register: Free Holiday E-Mail Marketing Workshop (ubcc.org)
Socrates Philosophy Café every Wednesday 6pm at Quakertown Library, 401 W Mill St. Want to learn about philosophy? Come to learn & discuss! Also Nov 13, 20, 27.
November 7
Crafternoon every Thursday 2pm at Quakertown Library, 401 W Mill St. Bring your current project & spend an hour working with fellow crafters. Also Nov 14, 21, 28
“La La Land” Free Movie Matinee every Thursday 5pm at Quakertown Library, 401 W Mill St, Quakertown.
FREE Changes to Medicare Seminar, 1pm at Generations, 259 N Second St, Souderton. PA Medi Counselor shares info on Medicare open enrollment. Must register: Call Emily at Generations 215-723-1930. efilice@generationsofiv.org
November 7 to 10
“Women in Jeopardy!” performances at DCP Theatre, 795 Ridge Rd, Telford. Thu/ Fri/Sat 8pm, Sun 2pm. FMI 215-234-0966 or boxoffice@dcptheatre.com
November 8
“Crooked House” Free Movie Matinee every Friday 2pm-4pm at Perkasie Library, 491 Arthur Ave, Perkasie. 215-257-9718. Peanut-free snacks & beverages in lidded containers are welcome.
November 9
Quakertown Lions Hoagie Sale (must be pre-ordered by Nov 2). Italian & Turkey hoagies $6 each. Call Mike to order at 267-374-0128. Pick up at QNB, 3rd St, Quakertown between 9:30am-11am. Limited number of extra hoagies available until sold out.
Reading Goes to the Dogs 11:30am at Quakertown Library, 401 W Mill St. Kids are invited to drop in at the library & read to certified therapy dogs.
39th Annual Christmas Craft Fair 9am3pm, Sellersville Firehouse, 2 N Main St, Sellersville. 60 Craft Tables, Light lunch available all day, 60 craft tables, Raffle of crafted items. Visit Santa 11am-1pm. Handicap accessible.
Ask a Teen-Tech Help 2pm and 3pm at Quakertown Library, 401 W Mill St. Local teens help with Word formatting, email, laptop, tablet, Social Media & phone app tutorials. Register: 215-536-3306. Walk-ins helped based on availability.
Annual Penny Auction at Perseverance Fire Co, 266 N 2nd St, Souderton. Open 5pm, Auction begins 6pm. Donations: $5/adults, $3/children. Buy “penny” ticket bags ($10 or $20) to bid. Refreshments, door prizes, NO alcohol permitted.
Holiday Craft Show 9am-2pm at Dublin Fire Co, 194 Main St. All handcrafted items and homemade candy. Lunch for sale by Ladies Auxillary. FMI: 215-249-3099
November 9 & 10
Last Chance Ranch Wine Tasting & Holiday Craft Fair, 12noon-4pm both days at Benner Hall, 1260 E Cherry Rd, Quakertown. Wine Shopping, On The Go Grille, Bake Sale, Basket Raffle, Petting Zoo, Music. $5 donation per person.
November 10
FREE Quakertown Band Concert 7pm at Raymour and Flanigan, 110 S West End Blvd, Quakertown. Patriotic music celebrating our Veterans. Come show your support! Donations accepted to benefit American Legion Post 242.
Zion Choral Concert: singing together in praise & worship since 1929. Join us 3pm at First UCC, 151 S 4th St, Quakertown. Free will offering. Full schedule at zionchoral. com
‘No Muss No Fuss Bingo’ 12noon-2pm inside Trolley Barn, 116 E Broad St, Quakertown. All prizes worth $100, you get
to pick. Bonus when you leave: $10 Trolley Barn gift card. Tickets $20 at 267-800-4347, may not be available at door. NO outside food or drink.
Hurricane Helene Relief Concert 1pm-5pm Forrest Lodge, 2118 Old Bethlehem Pike, Sellersville. “Willie Nelson” and “Conway & Loretta” look-alikes perform. Vintage folk rock, Classic country music. $10 cash donation benefits Samaritan’s Purse Disaster Relief. Cash Bar & food available to buy. No advance tickets. FMI 267-227-7669.
November 11 veteranS Day Veterans & their families are invited to our 36th Veterans Day Program 10am at Pennridge High School, 1228 N 5th St, Perkasie. Event is held to share the patriotic spirit and enthusiasm of the school children. Public is invited.
November 12
‘Ask a Teen Technology Help’ at 2pm4pm, Quakertown Library, 401 W Mill St, Quakertown. Need some help understanding how technology works? Questions? 215536-3306. Register: tinyurl.com/askateen November 13
Thanksgiving Party 11:30am, Upper Bucks Senior Activity Center, 2183 Milford Square Pike, Quakertown. $17/person includes Buffet, 2 ½ Hours Dancing with DJ, Door prizes, Basket raffle, 50/50. MUST sign up by Nov 7. FMI 215-536-3066
Woman’s Club of Indian Valley meets 1pm at Telford Community Building, 125 Hamilton Ave, Telford. “Honoring Our Vets” with Clyde Hoch, Founder/President of Veterans’ Brotherhood. FMI: our FB page or 862-251-3076
Member of Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick's office will be at 10 S Third Street, Quakertown to answer questions about veterans' services, IRS, Social Security, etc. from 2:15pm-4pm November 14
“Hairspray” Free Movie Matinee every Thursday 5pm at Quakertown Library, 401 W Mill St, Quakertown.
Annual Open House 5:30pm-7:30pm at Upper Bucks County Technical School, 3115 Ridge Rd, Perkasie. Tour school, explore programs, meet instructors. Studentrun bakery will also be open. Ubtech.org or 215-795-2911
Pearl S Buck International Members invited to a special holiday reception to preview Festival of Trees and a free tour of the House, 520 Dublin Rd, Perkasie. November 15
Golf Bingo, open 6pm, games 7pm at West End Fire Company, 1319 Park Ave, Quakertown. Tickets $40. Also 50/50 and Raffles. Food & beverages for sale. BYOB “Murder on the Orient Express” Free Movie Matinee every Friday 2pm-4pm at Perkasie Library, 491 Arthur Ave, Perkasie. 215-257-9718. Peanut-free snacks & beverages in lidded containers are welcome.
November 16
Book Page Pumpkin Craft 3pm at Quakertown Library, 401 W Mill St. Learn to craft a unique pumpkin centerpiece using recycled books. All materials provided. Program designed for teens & adults. Ham Dinner/Full Salad Bar, all you can eat, served Buffet Style 4pm-7pm or sold out. Trinity Great Swamp UCC, 9150 Spinnerstown Rd, Spinnerstown. $15/ adults, $10/ages 4-12, Free/ages 0-3. FMI 267-374-0590
FREE INFO SESSION
Knee and Hip Pain Treatments and Surgical Advancements
Is chronic pain slowing you down?
Join Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute for a free educational session on knee and hip pain and surgical treatment options. Participants will learn about new kinematic versus traditional knee replacements, robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery, replacements versus resurfacing, lifetime joint replacements, what to expect pre- and post-surgery and more.
Wednesday, Nov. 13
Bucks County Free Library, Quakertown Branch
401 W. Mill St. Quakertown, Pa.
4:30 p.m. | Registration required
Register today
Visit LVHN.org/kneesession or scan the QR code.
Pyrenesia “old-timey sound that is just funky enough…” at 7:30pm at Perkasie Patchwork Coffeehouse, 320 W Chestnut St, Perkasie. $15/Adults, $12/Seniors, $8/13 +, Free/0-12. Open 7pm. Desserts/drinks available. All sales at door, no reservations. PerkMenno.net or 215-257-3117
November 17
Autumn Craft Fair 11am-4pm at West End Fire Co, 1319 Park Ave, Quakertown. Refreshments for sale, gift baskets for raffle. Vendor spots $35, 215-536-6130 Craft & Vendor Show 10am-2pm at Tylersport Fire Hall, 125 W Ridge Rd, Telford. 45 unique vendors of all sorts.
Fall Soup Sale Drive-Thru 11am-3pm, Sellersville Fire Dept, 2 N Main St. Prepackaged by Quart. Soup Info & Pre-orders due by Nov 10 at Kate 215-694-1321. Pick up pre-orders by 2pm. Drive-thru until 3pm. Annual Purse Bingo at St. Isidore School, 603 W Broad St, Quakertown. Open 12:30pm, games 1pm. $30/advance ticket, $35/at door. Raffles, auction items, hot dogs/drinks/snacks for purchase.
Special screening of the award-winning Fries Rebellion movie 2pm-4pm at Schwenkfelder Heritage Center, 105 Seminary St, Pennsburg. FREE! Register: info@schwenkfelder.org or 215-679-3103
November 18
Free Take-out Dinner 5:30pm at Presbyterian Church of Deep Run, 16 Irish Meetinghouse Rd, Perkasie. If you need more than 4 meals, call 215-249-3689.
November 18, 19, 20
Come see Miss Cindy’s School of Dance performers as live mannequins, 4pm -6:30pm at the Parlour, 241 W Broad St, Downtown Quakertown
November 20
Hunterdon Hills Playhouse Christmas Show with Upper Bucks Activity Center. Depart 10am, $129/person. Holiday & Dance Fest with caroling, fun skits, live onstage orchestra. Includes driver tip and a meal. 215-536-3066
“The Wizard of Oz” Free Movie Matinee every Thursday 5pm at Quakertown Library, 401 W Mill St, Quakertown.
November 22
“A Haunting in Venice” Free Movie Matinee every Friday 2pm-4pm at Perkasie Library, 491 Arthur Ave, Perkasie. 215257-9718. Peanut-free snacks & beverages in lidded containers are welcome.
November 22 & 23
Holiday Craft Show by Woman’s Club of Quakertown, Fri 4pm-8pm and Sat 2pm-8pm at Quakertown Fire House, 505 W Broad St. Apple Dumplings, Bake Sale, Food Court, Raffle & Crafts. Questions? 610-513-0770
November 23
Free “Lunch and Learn” Seminar 11am, Quakertown American Legion Post 242 at 610 E Broad St, Quakertown. Two speakers from Veterans Affairs. No cost-but must register. Must be a Veteran or attending for a Veteran unable to attend. Lunch provided. Email Karen at kspencer6568@gmail.com
Holiday Market 11am-3pm at Penn Valley Church, 320 N 3rd St, Telford. Live music, vendors, food trucks, meet Santa & Mrs Claus. FREE Indoor Event. Follow us at telfordhappenings.com for event updates
Holiday Craft/Vendor Fair 9am-3pm at Haycock Twp Community Center, 1014 Old Bethlehem Rd. All kinds of holiday gifts and decorations. Food and drinks available to buy. Benefits Haycock Fire Company
Christmas Tree Lighting Festival 4pm7pm in downtown Quakertown. r/d 11/24. Santa & Mrs Claus & tree lighting at 6pm. Carolers, gift & food vendors, kids’ rides, QCHS Varsity Singers, live nativity, more. Trivia Night by QCHS Baseball Booster Club, 6:30pm-10:30pm at Benner Hall in Quakertown. BYOB & Snacks. Tickets: $25/adv, $30/door. See players, Coach Pallone or call AnneMarie 484-919-8092, amtaylor1022@yahool.com
November 25
Keystone Quilters Meeting at St. John’s Lutheran Activity Center, 26 First Ave, Richlandtown. Opens 6:30pm, meeting at 7pm. Guest fee $10. Program: Round Robin of 4 techniques by Guild members. November 28 thankSgiving Day
November 29
Thomas Meade, MD LVHN.org/TDMeade
Eric Lebby, MD LVHN.org/EBLebby
Order Hoagies by today for pickup Dec 9 at Trumbauersville Fire Co. To order call Karen at 267-372-1404
“Witness for the Prosecution” Free Movie Matinee every Friday 2pm-4pm at Perkasie Library, 491 Arthur Ave, Perkasie. 215257-9718. Peanut-free snacks & beverages in lidded containers are welcome.
November 29 & 30
Craft Fair 11am-4pm both days at Bishop Estate, 2730 Hilltown Pike, Perkasie. 100+ vendors. Food trucks & Live music. FREE event! FMI 215-249-3559, email Wine@BishopEstatePa.com
November 30
Springfield Twp Historical Society’s Church School Open House 9:30am-12noon at 2165 Rt 212 in Pleasant Valley (GPS Coopersburg). View documents, albums, etc. FREE event! Tom 484-308-1510
Indoor Flea Market 8am-2pm at Upper Bucks Senior Activity Center, 2183 Milford Square Pike, Quakertown. Kitchen will be open. FMI 215-536-3066
23rd Perkasie Rotary Habitat 5K, Quakertown United Methodist, 1875 Freier Rd. 9:30am-12noon. Supports Habitat for Humanity. Also a ¾ mile fun run at 9:30am. Awards, raffle & after race pizza. Register info: runtheday.com/register/315056 or day of race.
Visit with Santa 11am-1pm at the corner of 7th & Market, Perkasie
December 4
20th Annual Hometown Christmas Parade (3-mile parade route) A non-motorized animal parade. Any animal welcome if under control & friendly. Meet at Red Hill Fire Co, East 4th St by 11am. Parade at 1pm. FMI Tom 484-955-5100
December 6
Holiday Tack Sale 4pm-9pm at North Ridge Farms, 120 Lonely Rd, Sellersville. Perfect time to clean out & update your horse-related inventory. Vendor space/$25. Reserve at 215-694-1321 or kategerhartnrf@gmail.com
December 7
‘The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” by Miss Cindy’s School of Dance, 11am and 3:30pm at Pennridge Central Middle School, 144 N Walnut St, Silverdale. Call for reserved seating at 215-536-6755
Christmas in Quakertown Concert 7:30pm featuring the Festival Choir, Quakertown Band, Sanctuary Bell Choir & QCHS Varsity Singers. FMI: 215-536-4447 or cedge50@gmail.com
Ride with Santa 12noon-5pm at the Perkasie Carousel in Menlo Park, Perkasie. Everyone rides free!
America's Oldest Tree Lighting. Town Center, Perkasie 5-8pm. Santa lights the tree at 7pm.
December 8
7th Annual Holiday Basket Bingo, open 11:30am, games 1pm. Sellersville Firehouse, 2 N Main St. Filled Longabergers. $25/ advance, $30/door if available. Call 215-257-4028 x305 or LadiesAux@ sellersvillefd.com Not BYOB.
December 11
Member of Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick's office will be at 10 S Third Street, Quakertown to answer questions about veterans' services, IRS, Social Security, etc. from 2:15pm-4pm December 13
Telford Tree Lighting 6pm-8pm at Telford Train Station, Penn Ave & Main St, Telford. Tree lighting at 7pm, Holiday music, Visit from Santa. TelfordHappenings.com
December 14
QMPO Holiday Fest & Craft Fair 9am2pm at Quakertown High School, 600 Park Ave. Music ensembles by students, 140+ vendors, Scavenger ‘Holiday Hunt’, Prizes for kids & adults. FMI: qmpo.org Winter Market 9am-12noon at the Perkasie Fire Department, 100 N 5th St, Perkasie Visit with Santa 10am-12noon and also 1pm-3pm at the Santa House at the corner of 7th & Market, Perkasie Horse & Carriage Rides 10am-12noon. Carriage stop/line forms at Perkasie Borough Hall, 620 W Chestnut St, Perkasie
Introduction to “Elk Country”
On our many trips to Wyoming, both to tour and mostly to hunt Mule Deer, we were acquainted with the magnificent Elk in that state. Later on, we took a side trip to view the few Elk that survived in Pennsylvania from an early reintroduction (early 1900’s) as we drove up to McKean County. In the town of Benezette in Elk Country we saw our first Elk wandering in a slight draw at the far end of town. We drove up the hill known as Winslow Hill and saw a few more in an open area near a small parking lot. Little did we know that in our Senior years we would so love this area and Elk Herd that we would devote hundreds of hours to preserving it for future generations.
This sparsely populated area of true mountains (Appalachian Range) would prompt us to purchase a residence some 15 years ago. We drive 225 miles one way between homes to enjoy the beauty and peacefulness of these true mountains and wildlife.
We were invited to “Go Up” to this little-known resource in a virtually untouched area of state-owned land (State Game Lands and land owned and managed by DCNR) shortly after Wayne McConahy expanded his cabin into a home along a rare 300+ acre strip of land nestled along a top-quality trout stream. Wayne had a sensor outdoor light that lit when movement set it off. My first evening up there, I slept very little as I just had to look out the upstairs bedroom window at what set
off the lights. ELK wandered through between his front porch and the Wykoff Run in dribs and drabs. The place we were staying was a good distance from the well-publicized Benezette area.
Previously we drove all the way to Wyoming to view these regal animals. How could I waste my time sleeping! The next evening when we went “Elking” we observed a Black Bear and her cub. I WAS SOLD! I told Wayne to let me know when one of the sites in the association would come up for sale.
The governor of the state back then was Ed Rendall. He had a vision of increasing tourism and supporting a little-known Elk herd in our state. The plan for the area around the town of Bennezette in Elk County involved developing a world class Elk Center to educate the public about this wonderful asset to the area. The area where the proposed Elk Center is located in one of the most mountainous, scenic areas in what he called “The Pennsylvania Wilds.” Since the elk herd was shipped by rail in the early 1900’s it had its ups and downs with illegal killings, various diseases, and crop damage problems. The Pa. Game Commission had special game management officers assigned to keep the Elk herd healthy and continue to grow in an environment agreeable to public safety, resident acceptance, habitat friendly, and the ability to adapt. At the time of this proposal to preserve what was called and still is called, “The Pennsylvania Wilds,” we were fortunate to have such a game specialist employed. His name was Rawley Cogan.
This venture to increase the information
center from a house-trailer type unit set at an observation area with a mounted Elk and a person to answer questions to the Elk Center we have today was accomplished by a 50-50 split of funds. 50% of the funds came from the state and 50% came from funds from donations from fund raising organizations and private donations. This world class center was built on a parcel of about 250 or so acres owned by DCNR (Dept of Conservation and Natural Resources). A special lease was given to a new area non-profit named KECA (Keystone Elk Country Alliance).
We were fortunate that this new organization was composed with Mr. Cogans as CEO and a chosen board of directors and officers of some of the finest residents who cared about and had a vision for the future.
Now they were to face the fact on how a young organization such as they could raise the funds to not only pay for the upkeep of the center, its education programs, its 4D theater and over 200 acres of open land to attract the elk for viewing and conservation. Besides the gift shop where “American Made” was important, the nominal fee for the theater program, something big was needed. The idea of having banquets around the state and having a traveling display to let the people know about Pennsylvania’s Elk Herd was approved. Wayne McConahy, who was from that area and now lived here in Milford Twp. approached them early on and offered to form a “Chapter” for such activities here in southeast Pa. You guessed it! I was in the discussions out at the Elk Center on what was required of “The Lenape Wapiti Chapter,” have worked many hours at meetings, getting prizes, ads, and donations for the banquet, and worked setting up and have been at all the banquets. The businesses in our area have been very supportive and with their help I am proud to say last year
we raised in the $60,000.00 range for OUR Pennsylvania Elk. Also last year a local family was instrumental in giving supporting funds for a wonderful education and reception building, “The Butch Clemens Center”.
From first seeing Elk on our hunting trips to Wyoming, to our side drive to see the small Elk Herd in Pennsylvania on our way to McKean County, to our purchasing a second residence in that Pa. Wilds area 15 years ago, my priorities have changed. I have met a lot of wonderful people, including the present CEO Jeff Gauger and his wife, have experienced many wonderful moments communing with nature in a scenic part of our state, and have met a lot of wonderful people at our banquets and attending the KECA Booths at fairs and education events in the Lehigh and Tohickon Valley. On one of our trips this year we had a mother bear cross in front of us while we drove and, in a row, properly spaced apart behind her were THREE cubs! Almost every year we stop and coax a rattlesnake to the side of the road with a rake we have in the back of the truck.
We drive up Mason Hill on a clear dark night and observe the full Milky Way in its magnificent colors. Yes, on the same hill on a brisk, cool evening while standing in the parking of area of this open Elk food plot, we saw over 30 satellites. Just two weeks ago we say the pink hues of the Aurora Borealis.
Welcome to the Pennsylvania Wilds and Elk Country. I hope this article will entice you to drive that four-hour trip, stay in a B&B or motel, and listen to the sound of Elk Bugling or see the milky way. It is here for your enjoyment and nature supplies all this at no cost!
Dick Helm is a long time Quakertown area resiDent anD regular contributor Here at ubFP. reacH Him at rbH9@verizon net
Fall Maintenance Guide
Tackle these recommended tasks now to ensure your home is in good shape inside and out for Fall and Winter, and protect your investment, too!
DOORS AND WINDOWS
• Inspect caulking for deterioration at the openings and joints, especially at the top
• Check weather stripping and replace if necessary
• Remove screens, if possible, clean and store in a dry place
HEATING AND COOLING
• Clean or replace furnace filters
• Lubricate fan and motor bearings (only where indicated)
• Vacuum dirt and dust from around the unit
• Have the system serviced prior to the start of the season
FIREPLACE & CHIMNEY
• Have the fireplace and chimney professionally inspected
• Have chimney cleaned if needed
• Use binoculars to check chimney for loose, deteriorated or missing mortar or bricks
• Have gas fireplaces serviced FOUNDATION AND EXTERIOR
• Clear gutters and downspouts of leaves and other debris
• Check for moisture or leaks in crawlspace or basement
• Check that water will flow away from the foundation
• Inspect wood surfaces for weathering and paint failure
• Check brick and stucco surfaces for cracks
If you need any recommendations of people to help with any of these items, please give me a call! I’d love to chat with you!
sue Deily Has been a realtor
For over 35 years, resiDes in tH
uPPer bucks county area anD enjoys serving Her clients in bucks, leHigH anD montgomery counties contact Her at suesellsHouses@gmail com
Ponderings by Palma
BY PALMA MOYER, RN
As a citizen, I am concerned about the horrible video games where people are encouraged to kill other players in a dehumanizing manor. Showing how easy it is to kill without a thought of death being final. These games should be regulated the way cigarettes and alcohol are monitored, young children often have trouble distinguishing fact from fiction.
This may also be a way to help prevent mass shooting and killing of our children. Please think about who you vote for this November. Do you want someone who encourages violence as a way of solving disputes or someone who is level headed and considerate. Someone who takes life seriously or someone who plays games with people’s lives.
Palma is a 1957 graDuate oF temPle university HosPital scHool oF nursing sHe sHares Her exPeriences anD PersPectives on nursing anD on liFe sHe enjoys Hearing From you at DontHelPmemoyer@aol com
*Annual Percentage Rate (APR) accurate as of 11/1/24 and is subject to change without notice. Applications are subject to credit approval. The monthly payment per $5,000 borrowed at 5.50% APR for 60 months is $95.51. Payments do not include amounts for taxes and insurance premiums, if applicable, total payments will be greater. $5,000 minimum loan amount. $500,000 maximum loan amount. Borrow up to 80% of your home’s equity. No closing costs apply. To be eligible for 5.50% promotional APR, automatic payment from a QNB
“One
DonalD W. "Rip" ackeRman, 89, of Quakertown, passed away peacefully with his family present on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at Rockhill Mennonite Community in Sellersville.
Born on November 2, 1934, in Quakertown, he was a son of the late Harold W. and Mabel K. (Wieand) Ackerman.
A graduate of Quakertown High School’s Class of 1952, he went on to serve in the United States Army and was stationed in Nuremberg, Germany, where he served in the office of the General’s Attaché.
Following his Honorable Discharge from the military in 1959, Donald began a decades-long career in plumbing, retiring as a Commercial Plumbing Project Manager. His noted projects included the Philadelphia Airport and Philadelphia Marriott.
Outside of work, he found joy in fishing and hunting, traveling to the Canadian outback, Alaska and west to Montana, Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. In the 1950’s Don was a member of the American Casting Association. He was associated with the Hellertown Casting Club sponsored by Schaefer Brewing Company and was known for his unique “under and up” cast. The team competed in locations such as Madison Square Garden, the NY Coliseum, Washington DC, the Phila. Convention Center and the Toronto International Casting Championships, where the team attained first place and at that point was declared both a national and international champion.
Donald was also an avid Penn State football fan, traveling to games and tailgates with friends and a line of proud family alumni.
He was a long-time member of the Trumbauersville Lions Club and was awarded the “Lion of the Year Award” in 2004-2005. Donald chaired several fundraising events such as the club’s annual golf outing, annual game dinner and helped coordinate the yearly Easter egg hunt and Community Day.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife of fifty-nine years: Betty A. Ackerman, who died in 2019; and a daughter: Kelly A. Ackerman.
Donald will be lovingly remembered by his daughter: Cindy A. Sullivan (Kevin); grandchildren: William Sullivan and Morgan Sullivan; brother: Stewart Ackerman (Nancy); and sisters: Dorothy Merkle (Bill) and Linda Funk (Ron).
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Trumbauersville Lions Club, P.O. Box 33, Trumbauersville, PA 18970, St. John’s Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 120 Spinnerstown, PA 18968 or St. John’s Lutheran Church, 4 South Main St., Richlandtown, PA 18955. Interment will follow at St. John’s Church Cemetery, Spinnerstown. Arrangements are under the care of the C.R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc., Quakertown. (crstrunk.com)
DoRothy helen "Dot" BReisch, 90, of Richlandtown passed away on September 24, 2024. She was born in Sellersville on October 11, 1933 to the late Frederick and Helen (Cressman) Fels. Dorothy was married for 71 years to the late James Breisch Sr. Dorothy grew up in Quakertown and
graduated from Pennsburg High School. She worked for the local tax collector but will be best remembered as a loving homemaker. Dot enjoyed crocheting, sewing, and all kinds of other crafts.
Dorothy will be dearly missed by her children Sandra Rodenberger and James Breisch Jr. (Debbie); her grandchildren Kathy Brewer (Nathan), Joseph Breisch (Xandria), Adam Breisch (Sara), Ryan Rodenberger (Jessica), Christopher Rodenberger (Tessa), and Ashley Rodenberger; and 11 great-grandchildren; siblings Myrtle, Frederick, and Darlene; and many other loving family and friends. Dorothy is predeceased by her parents; husband; and son Jeffrey Breisch.
Arrangements by Naugle Funeral & Cremation Service, (nauglefcs.com).
BeveRly "Bev" FRances catanese, age 70 of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania sadly left our world on Tuesday October 1, 2024. Beverly was a beacon of love and kindness to all those who took the time to get to know her. An avid reader, movie lover and listener of various music, Bev had an appreciation for beautiful art and creativity. Along with her many skills Bev was always the backbone of her family and knew how to take care and provide for her loved ones. Preceded in death by her husband John and survived by her three sons Christopher, Peter and Andrew. Beverly's memory will be a guiding light and inspiration that will live on forever.
Beverly Frances Catanese a truly special and beautiful soul.
Arrangements by Naugle Funeral & Cremation Service, (nauglefcs.com).
Joyce ann collins, 69, of Quakertown, passed away on September 24, 2024. She was born in Lansdale on June 12, 1955 to the late John and Rose (Statuti) Treichler. Joyce loved spending time with her grandchildren, getting on cruises whenever possible, and perfecting her amazing lasagna.
Joyce is survived by her son Sean (Ayisha) Collins; grandchildren Rehman, Sahrina, and Maihra; brothers Kenneth and John; and many other loving family and friends. She is predeceased by her parents; daughter Michelle Collins; and siblings Howard and Sherry.
All are invited on Saturday, October 5 to Naugle Funeral & Cremation Service, 135 W. Pumping Station Rd., Quakertown, PA 18951 for a visitation from 10-11am, and a memorial service at 11am.
Arrangements by Naugle Funeral & Cremation Service, (nauglefcs.com).
Joseph G. costello, proud father of 2 children, 85, of Philadelphia, PA, passed away peacefully on Tuesday October 22, 2024, in Bethlehem.
He was born in Philadelphia on May 8,1939, to George and Agnes Costello, and was raised with his three brothers in the Kengiston section. He then married the love of his life, Lori, and raised his family in Northeast Philly.
Joseph worked at the Jefferson Building on Chestnut Street in Center City for 44 years before he retired.
Joe was a devoted and loving father to Joseph and Christina, who dearly miss him and the life lessons he imparted to them. Among them were “Never give up when times get tough. And remember I will always be here for you!” He always had a smile on his face and was willing to help anyone.
He took great pride in being a parent, especially taking his family to Disney World, grilling and family get-togethers at the house. As they got older, Joe was proud to see both his children graduate college and start families of their own. He enjoyed old cars, collecting Elvis mem-
orabilia, the Doo-Woops, and had a soft spot for all animals. One of his big joys in life was spending time and making memories with his grandchildren, who he loved to joke around with and lovingly tease.
Joseph was preceded in death by his parents, George and Agnes Costello, as well as his wife, Lorraine Costello.
He is survived by his three brothers, George (Penny), John (Jeanne), and Richard. And his two children, Joseph (Nicole), Christina (Robert), and grandchildren Ashley, Christopher, Nicholas. And many nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held at the C.R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc., 821 West Broad Street, Quakertown, on Saturday November 2, 2024, from 10:00am until the time of the service, in the funeral home, at 11:00am.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his name can be made to the Alzheimer's Association at act.alz.org.
hilDa Julia DeFlavio, 95, of Perkasie, formerly of Quakertown, passed away on Friday, October 18, 2024, at Independence Court, Quakertown.
Born on June 26, 1929, in Milford Square, she was a daughter of the late Frank and Julia (Koch) Landsberger.
Following her formal education, Hilda held employment with various companies over the years: Olean Tile, Allegheny Ribbon Mill, Free Press, Hosiery Factory on Tollgate Road, and Thermco.
Outside of work she found enjoyment in spending time with her family, shopping, and taking day trips.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband of seventy-three years: Anthony DeFlavio, who passed away on September 30, 2023; one son: James DeFlavio; sisters: Anna Koch and Frances Brown; and brother: Frank Landsberger.
Hilda will be lovingly remembered by her daughter: Joanne Oberacker; son: Jerry DeFlavio; granddaughter: Lisa Oberacker; grandson: Jason Oberacker (and his wife Michelle); and ten nephews and five nieces.
Interment is at St. John Neumann Cemetery, Chalfont.
Arrangements by C.R. Strunk Funeral Home Inc. (crstrunk.com)
chRistine J. Foulke, 56, of Quakertown, passed away on Thursday, October 17, 2024, at her home.
Born on December 25, 1967, she was the daughter of the late Earl C. and Mary Jane (Moyer) Foulke.
A graduate of Quakertown High School, Christine went on to enter banking. She was presently serving as the Loan Participations Officer with Univest.
Outside of work, she found joy in cross-stitching, baking (especially Christmas cookies), collecting Longaberger baskets, and reading. Above all, she loved spending time with her beloved dog, Violet.
She is preceded in death by her parents.
Christine will be lovingly remembered by her aunts: Beverly Reno (Michael), Dorothy Beller (Francis), and Marian Fox (Robert); her uncle: William Moyer (Pear); as well as many friends.
Services will be announced at a later date.
Arrangements by C.R. Strunk Funeral Home Inc. (crstrunk.com)
John GiBson, 81, of Richlandtown, passed away on Sunday, October 13, 2024, at Pennsburg Manor.
Born on January 17, 1943, in Ayr, Scotland, he was the son of the late William and Marion (Kirk) Gibson.
~Obituaries~
Following his move to the United States, and naturalization as a citizen, he served in the United States Army until receiving his Honorable Discharge.
In his spare time, he found joy in deep sea fishing, traveling, gambling, and sports. Above all, though, he loved being with his life-partner of forty-six years, the late Patricia Corral, who passed away on August 4, 2023.
John will be lovingly remembered by a son: Tom Corral; two daughters: Diane Stahl (John) and Lori Barndt (Scott); five grandchildren: Dan Westcott (Cyeria), Kelly Westcott (Dylan), Nick Nogradi (Jess), Brandon Barndt, and Breanna Barndt (Mike); and seven great-grandchildren: Rayna, Savian, Dayton, Teagan, Kasen, Wyatt, and Maverick.
Services will be private.
Arrangements are under the care of the C.R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc., Quakertown. (crstrunk.com)
Wayne BaRnDt GoDshall, a long-time resident of Sellersville, entered peacefully into eternal rest at his residence after a two and a half month illness on Sunday, October 6, 2024. He was 86.
He was the loving husband of Hermine (Leenes) Godshall, with whom he had celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in July.
Born in Franconia Township on February 21, 1938, Wayne was the son of the late Henry B. and Lillie (Barndt) Godshall.
Mr. Godshall was a veteran of the U. S. Army, having been stationed in Okinawa.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter Heidi; four grandchildren: Justin McMenamin (Amber), Valerie Schuett (Cristofer), Anneke McMenamin (Christopher Bremer), and Giano Falco; a great- grandson, Aiden McMenamin; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Mabel (Godshall) Gehman.
Arrangements by Naugle Funeral & Cremation Service, (nauglefcs.com).
Joyce D. John, 81, of Pennsburg, PA and formerly of Canarsie Brooklyn, NY, passed away on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at LifeQuest Nursing Center.
Born on September 18, 1943, in Antigua, she was a daughter of the late CJT and Edna B. (Sago) Anderson.
Following her graduation from Ampha Academy in Kingston, Jamaica, she went on to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Notley Hospital in Essex, England.
Upon becoming a Registered Nurse, Joyce began her career--of over forty years--as a Labor and Delivery Nurse in England. She continued in Labor and Delivery when she moved to Brooklyn, New York, working at Maimonides Medical Center. She later moved to cardiac care nursing, specifically working with patients who received open-heart surgery, which she found fulfilling until her retirement in January 2010.
Outside of work, she found great joy in knitting, visiting casinos, traveling, music, dancing, and cooking. She also loved bowling—she belonged to a league while living in Brooklyn. In recent years, she took great pleasure in spending time with family in the Outer Banks, especially during Christmas.
She was a member of St. Philip Neri Catholic Perish in Pennsburg, as well as St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Brooklyn.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband of 42 years: Edwin C John, who passed away in September 2010; and a sister: Carol Anderson in 2023.
Joyce will be lovingly remembered by her son: Edward C. John; sisters: Evadne Anderson, Rosmond Squirwell, Rosalie Blair, and Patricia Anderson; brother: Arthur Anderson; four grandchildren: Christopher C. John, Alexandria John, Denise D. Hernandez, and Kaylise D. John; four great-grandchildren: Christian C. John, Ayden John, Kinley Griffin, and Kha’leyah Smith. She is also survived by two nieces: Ashanta and Stephanie; a nephew: Kwesi; a great-nephew: Anderson; and three great-nieces: Olivia, Cierra, and Talya; as well as many cousins and loving friends.
Joyce was the embodiment of her name: A generous and joyful soul who loved and welcomed all.
Funeral services and interment will take place in Brooklyn, New York, at a future date.
Arrangements are under the care of the C.R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc., Quakertown. (crstrunk.com)
RoGeR heacock born on January 7, 1941 rolled his last dice on September 27, 2024.
Arrangements are under the care of the C.R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc., Quakertown. (crstrunk.com)
Juliana manGala kamana, 46, of Quakertown, passed away on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at St. Luke’s Hospital, Fountain Hill.
Interment is in Quakertown Union Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the care of the C.R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc., Quakertown. (crstrunk.com)
GeoRGe a kauFman, of Quakertown, passed away on Thursday, October 10, 2024, at St. Luke's Hospital--Upper Bucks Campus.
Services will be private.
Arrangements are under the care of the C.R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc., Quakertown. (crstrunk.com)
James “Jim” c. kenna of Ottsville, PA, passed away Thursday, October 17, 2024, in his home surrounded by his loving family. He was 82.
Jim was born October 3, 1942, in Philadelphia, PA. He was the elder son to Charles William and Violet Hadden Kenna.
He was the owner operator of Jim Kenna Livestock for 63 years.
Jim had 2 loves in his life – his business and his wife.
Jim is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 43 years, Jeanne, his daughter, Kimberly Welsh (Tommy), “sons” Andrew (Debby) Labant and Darren Haich, his brother-in-law, Dave Wolfinger (Judy), his sister-in-law, Nancy Kenna, 5 granddaughters, 5 great-grandchildren, 2 nieces, and 7 great nieces and nephews. He will also be missed by their kitties, Benny and Betsey. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Gerald (Jerry).
Arrangements by Naugle Funeral & Cremation Service, (nauglefcs.com).
eRnest e. kully, 89, of Pen Argyl and formerly of Telford and Quakertown, passed away on Sunday, October 6, 2024, at Chandler Estates.
Born on August 14, 1935, in Newark, New Jersey, he was the son of the late Ernest A. and Charlotte M. (Klode) Kully.
A graduate of North Coventry High School in Pottstown, he went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Pennsylvania State University in 1957, followed later by an MBA from New York University. Notably, in his youth Ernest
was an active member of the Boy Scouts and earned the rank of Eagle Scout.
Following his education, Ernest pursued his dream of working in finance and began working for Lehman Brothers. After being laid off in 1963, he accepted a job with the United States IRS as a Certified Public Accountant. He enjoyed his career of thirty-two years, which focused on handling reviews of corporate finances, until his retirement in 1995. He then engaged in private investing and stock trading for several years.
Outside of work, he found joy in square dancing with the Melody Lakes Belles and Beaus, as well as the Quaker 8’s. He was also an active member of the Quakertown Lions for forty years, having served as Treasurer and Tail Twister. Ernest was an active member of the First United Church of Christ in Quakertown, serving as an usher and Sunday School Treasurer. Ernest had a love of sports, which he shared with his children. He was a volunteer coach for Little League, Connie Mack Baseball, and girls’ basketball. To his family and friends, he was also known for telling his jokes, often checking with his late wife, Sylvia, to see if they were “funny.”
In addition to his parents, Ernest is preceded in death by his wife of fifty-three
years, Sylvia E. (Rapp) Kully, who passed away in 2022; and a son, Ernest Kully, Jr., who also passed away in 2022. Ernest will be lovingly remembered by two sons: Roger Kully (Michele) and Kevin Kully (Tara); daughter: Karen Mackewicz (Jimmy); daughter-in-law: Mary Beth Kully; sister: Jeanette Kramer (Frank); and nine grandchildren: Natalie, Adrienne, Damian, Jacob, Alexander, Grace, Hope, Ryan, and Roger. He is also survived by a brother-in-law James Rapp (Diane) and sister-in-law Marianne Rapp (Allen).
In lieu of flowers, Ernest’s family requests that donations be made in his memory to the First United Church of Christ, 151 South 4th Street, Quakertown, PA 18951.
Arrangements are under the care of the C.R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc., Quakertown. (crstrunk.com)
BenJamin R. lacey sR , 81, of Quakertown, PA, passed away on October 5, 2024. He was born in Philadelphia on November 28, 1942 to the late Ruth Lacey and Benjamin Moody. Benjamin was the loving husband of Evelyn (Figueroa) Lacey for 18 years.
He started his career as an auto mechanic and became the service manager of the first black owned auto dealership in the country. During the course of his work, and with his inventive mind, he ended up with two patents to his name.
Benjamin is survived by his wife Evelyn; children Benjamin (Angelique) Lacey Jr., Christopher Lacey, and Ruth Barra; grandchildren Lacey, Damian, Benjamin III, Ariana, and Brittanie; great grandchildren Luvangelie and Xavier; brother Ronald (Barbara) Moody; nieces; nephews; and many other loving family and friends. He is predeceased by his parents; grandson Craig; and brother Anthony Moody.
Arrangements by Naugle Funeral & Cremation Service, (nauglefcs.com).
staFF sGt michael “Diesel” lanDes, 38, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, September 18, 2024.
Born January 7, 1986, in Philadelphia, PA, a proud Veteran, Michael was an Infantry Paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC. He was a beloved son, brother, grandson, nephew, friend, true warrior, and a hero to his country.
Michael graduated from ITT Technical Institute in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.
He was a great lover of sports, especially football and baseball, supporting the Philadelphia Eagles and Phillies. Michael also loved music and animals. He selflessly gave his time to helping local homeless communities.
Michael was preceded in death by his grandfather: Peter Hudec; and uncle: Robert Hudec.
He is survived by his devoted, loving mother: Mary Hudec; brother: Christopher Young; grandmother: Frances Hudec; aunt: Robin Hager; cousins: Laura Elizondo (Mainor) and Ryan Hager; and countless friends and comrades.
Michael will be greatly missed by all who were fortunate enough to know him. Donations may be made, in Michael’s honor, to the Wounded Warrior Project. Arrangements are under the care of the C.R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc., Quakertown. (crstrunk.com)
JeRRy R. linFoot of East Norriton, PA, was called into eternal life on Sunday, September 22, 2024, after a prolonged illness. He was the beloved husband of the late Janice Linfoot and stepfather to the late Donna (Ford) Mang and Doreen Ford for over 43 years.
Born in Montrose, PA, he was the son of the late John Henry Linfoot and the late Evelyn (Greene) Cokely.
In addition to his stepdaughter, Doreen Ford, he is survived by three granddaughters, Lauren Pierce, Jenna Chase, and Elizabeth Mang; seven great-grandchildren; his nephew, Michael Linfoot, great-nephew, Michael Linfoot Jr.; and great-niece, Megan Draughn; numerous treasured nieces and nephews; and two sisters-in-law, Kay Bowen and Mary Bowen. He was preceded in death by his cherished wife Janice Linfoot, stepdaughter, Donna (Ford) Mang and her husband, Raymond Mang Jr., and brother, Richard Linfoot. Arrangements by Naugle Funeral & Cremation Service, (nauglefcs.com).
maRGueRite mann mcDoWell, age 82, of Quakertown, PA passed away peacefully on October 7, 2024. Born in Sellersville, PA Marguerite was the daughter of the late Joseph Griffo and the late Rose (Coscia) Griffo. Marguerite is predeceased by her husband, Paul Mann; together they shared 22 years of marriage.
Marguerite grew up in Perkasie and attended Pennridge High School, where she graduated from in 1960. After graduating from high school, Marguerite devoted herself to her family as a loving mother and wife.
In 1982, Marguerite began her career at Grandview Hospital, making lasting connections with both colleagues and patients. Marguerite will be dearly missed by her son David Mann, his wife Donna, her son Thomas Mann, his wife Karen, her grandchildren Lauren Mann, Derek Mann, his wife Ann Marie, Tyler Mann, and great granddaughter Mary Rose, along with her sister Teresa Koffel.
Arrangements by Naugle Funeral & Cremation Service, (nauglefcs.com).
michael miGlioRino, age 63, of Coopersburg, Pennsylvania, formerly of Alexandria Township, New Jersey, passed away on October 9, 2024 at St. Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem, PA.
He was the spouse of Alison Migliorino, with whom he shared 40 years of marriage. Born in Hoboken, NJ he was a son of the late Michael Migliorino and Connie Caltigirone Migliorino of Little Ferry, NJ. He was the Director of Finance for Business Development for Pfizer until his retirement.
He was the most selfless person you'd ever meet. Mike was a constant presence of love and support for friends and family.
He is survived by Alison Migliorino (Spouse), Marissa Szczerba (Daughter), Matthew Migliorino (Son), Thomas Szczerba (Son-in-law), Zion Szczerba (Grandson), Joseph Migliorino (Brother), Anthony Migliorino (Brother), Mandy Migliorino (Sister-in-law), and many other loving family and friends.
Arrangements by Naugle Funeral & Cremation Service, (nauglefcs.com).
shaWn c. moyeR, age 52, of Quakertown, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully on October 2, 2024. He died surrounded by loved ones after a courageous battle against cancer. He was the husband of Melona L. Moyer.
Shawn was born on November 20, 1971, in Quakertown Hospital to Barbara L. Stoneback (wife of James) and Kenneth E. Moyer (husband of Carol). He graduated from Quakertown Community High School, Bucks County Community College, and Arizona State University. During his high school years, he developed a love for cooking and held positions at several restaurants in Quakertown and Danville, Pennsylvania. He spent the last eight years working for CURA Hospitality as the short order cook at Meadow Glen Personal Care at Phoebe Richland in Richlandtown, PA.
Those who knew Shawn well enjoyed his quick, satirical sense of humor. Shawn loved watching and critiquing Philadelphia sports teams, fishing, dogs, and the outdoors.
In addition to his wife and parents, Shawn is survived by his stepdaughter Dharcy Farrow, sister Kelly P. Jaxheimer (wife of Marc), and nephew and niece Kyle and Stephanie Jaxheimer. He is also survived by Uncles Kenneth Hoffman, Terence Weikel (husband of Karen), and Aunt Deborah Bargione (wife of Chris Bean), as well as seven cousins.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents H. Stanley and Velma Weikel and paternal grandmother G. Ruth Moyer, Aunt Bonnie Hoffman, Uncle Philip Bargione, and his dearly loved Rotties, Pepper and Jodi. Services were private.
Online donations may be sent to Outcast Rescue PA, a 501c3 tax deductible organization that rescues misjudged dogs like Rottweilers at outcastrescue.com Donations can also be made by check and sent to: Outcast Rescue, P.O. Box 12, Catasauqua, PA 18032.
Arrangements by Naugle Funeral & Cremation Service, (nauglefcs.com).
kaRen Jean novak It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Karen Jean Novak. She went home to be with her Lord on October 12, 2024, surrounded by loved ones.
Karen was born on April 19, 1956, in Cumberland, Maryland, the fourth of five daughters born to William "Asher" Schoonover and Ruth (Ott) Schoonover. She is survived by loving husband Nick Novak, daughters Nikita Poland (Adam Murabito) and Jennifer Poland, sisters Diana Fritts, Mary Wilt, Sylvia Carr and Linda Harrison, as well as 8 nieces and nephews and 14 great nieces and nephews.
Karen graduated in 1974 from Ridgeley High School in Ridgeley, West Virginia.
Karen lived simply and loved deeply. She won the heart of almost everyone she met. She will be dearly missed, but it's not hard to imagine her now brightening the day of those up in heaven.
Arrangements by Naugle Funeral & Cremation Service, (nauglefcs.com).
hazel peteRson poDRaza passed away on September 17th, 2024, surrounded by her family. Born on May 5, 1935, in Dubois, PA, Hazel was a twin to her brother Howard Peterson, sister to her late brother Robert, and daughter of the late Mentry and Lucile (Rouse) Peterson. Syracuse University, Hazel met football player James Podraza, with whom she would share a life and a love of sports. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts in 1957, she married James. They raised their family in Sherrill, NY, while she continued her studies at Syracuse University and earned her master’s degree in Library Science.
Hazel began her career as an educator and school librarian in Canastota, NY. Beginning in 1975, she helped develop the 4-H Career Exploration Project, a program that offered courses aimed at guiding young people to become inquisitive and creative thinkers. In 1979, the family moved to Oxford, NY, where she coordinated the school library system for the Delaware-Chenango Board of Cooperative Educational Services and served on the Oxford Memorial Library Board of Trustees. She later took on the role of high school librarian in Sydney, NY. In addition to her library work, Hazel was involved with the Professional Education Organization, where she provided scholarship support to aspiring students.
For Hazel, education extended far beyond the confines of the classroom or pages of books; it was a journey that unfolded in the world around her. She firmly believed that travel opened one’s mind to diverse perspectives and experiences. Hazel traveled widely with James throughout their 53-year marriage. She embraced new cultures and was always eager to share her experiences with family and friends.
Hazel’s worldview guided her passion for education and woman’s rights. She was a dedicated member and local leader of the League of Women’s Voters. Her commitment extended to serving as a workshop chair for the Oneida Literacy Volunteers and as president of the Women of the First United Methodist Church, where she also
shared her voice in the choir.
Hazel will be remembered for her love of music, art, and culture, as well as a remarkable wit that made her a fierce Bridge player. Her memory is carried in the hearts of her friends, community, and remaining family: brother Howard and wife, Laurie; daughter Ellen and partner, Michael; son Robert and wife, Laurel; daughter Diane and husband, Christopher; grandchildren, Victoria and Robbie, Rachel and John, and Claire, Alex, and Morgan; and great-grandson, Arlo.
Arrangements by Naugle Funeral & Cremation Service, (nauglefcs.com).
Joyce savaGe, 72, of Quakertown, passed away on Sunday, October 6, 2024. Born on May 6, 1952, in Sellersville, she was a daughter of the late Lamar and Joyce Schlemmer.
A graduate of Quakertown High School’s Class of 1970, she went on to enter the workforce. She held employment as a Nurse’s Aide at Phoebe in Richland Township, as well as Valley Manor in Coopersburg. Most recently, she was part of the housekeeping team at LifeQuest in Quakertown.
She was a good woman, a great mom, and cared about everyone.
Joyce will be lovingly remembered by two sons: David and Timothy Savage; grandchildren: Hayden, Jonothon, and Axel Savage; brother: Lamar Schlemmer; and sister: Linda Schlemmer.
Services will be private.
Arrangements are under the care of the C.R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc., Quakertown. (crstrunk.com)
susan kay scott, 75, of Quakertown passed away at home on September 25, 2024. She was born in Sunbury, PA on November 29, 1948 to the late Delmar and Alma (Linderman) Lytle. Susan was married to Philip Bilbay Sr. for over 20 years, and has spent the last 17 years as the loving wife to David Scott.
Susan loved spending as much time as possible with her grandchildren. She was a long-time member of American Legion Auxiliary, Post 242 in Quakertown.
Susan is survived by her husband David; children Tami (George) Botticher, Dawn Bilbay, Philip Bilbay; step-sons Nicholas Scott, Brandon Scott, and David Scott; grandchildren George Jr., Xena, and Eric; brother James (Cora) Lytle; nieces and nephews Barbara, Sherry, David, and Ralph; and many other loving family and friends. She is predeceased by her parents and sister Carol Groner.
Arrangements by Naugle Funeral & Cremation Service, (nauglefcs.com).
thomas B. sRoka, 67, of Quakertown died September 28, 2024, in his home. Born in Quakertown, he was the son of the late Thomas and Ellen (Berninger) Sroka.
He is survived by a brother: Andrew J. Sroka of Quakertown, and many cousins. Services will be at the convenience of the family.
Arrangements are under the care of the C.R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc., Quakertown. (crstrunk.com)
RoBeRt “BoB” RonalD Walz, 82, of Coopersburg, PA, passed into the loving arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on October 1st, 2024, at Lehigh Valley Cedar Crest Hospital. Born in Philadelphia, Bob was the son of the late John Walz and the late Ruth (Moore) Walz.
Bob enjoyed gardening, reading, and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was an active member of Grace Bible Fellowship Church for forty-nine years.
LACEY continued from
~Obituaries~
Bob will be dearly missed by his wife, Elaine Walz, together they shared sixty-three loving years of marriage; his children, Ronald (Rebecca) and Bryan; his grandchildren, Cassandra (Kevin), Aaron, Bradley (Melinda), Nicole (Tony); his great-grandchildren, Kinzley, Arista, Layla, Olivia, and Brielle; along with other extended family members and friends. Bob is predeceased by his parents, John and Ruth, his brother, John, and sister-inlaw, Charlotte, his brother, Charles, and his sister-in-law, Martha.
Arrangements by Naugle Funeral & Cremation Service, (nauglefcs.com).
paul J. tRacey, 81, of Quakertown, passed away on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at St. Luke’s Hospital—Upper Bucks Campus.
Born on September 9, 1943, in Philadelphia, he was a son of the late Paul V. and Rita (Martin) Tracey.
A graduate of Father Judge High School’s Class of 1961, Paul entered the workforce. He spent forty years in the corrugated industry, having worked as a General Manager for Owens-Illinois and Stone Container.
He was an active member of St. Isidore’s Catholic Church, Quakertown.
Outside of work, he found joy in singing—whether in the church choir or at karaoke. Paul was also a huge Phillies fan, a classic car enthusiast, and loved spending time with family while vacationing in Ocean City, NJ.
Paul will be lovingly remembered by his wife of sixty-one years: Patricia Tracey; children: Trisha Tracey, Paul Tracey (Marianne), Karen Tracey, Kathy Tracey, and Michael Tracey (Jennifer); granddaughter: Erin Tracey; sister: Mary Anne Hutter (Joe); brother: Jerry Tracey (Kathy); brother-in-law: Mike O’Brien; as well as many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Paul’s memory to the American Diabetes Association online or at P.O. Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116-7023.
Arrangements are under the care of the C.R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc., Quakertown. (crstrunk.com)
anna helen WolFinGeR, 96, of Quakertown, passed away on September 25, 2024, at Saucon Valley Manor in Hellertown.
She was the beloved wife of the late Harold “Jake” Wolfinger with whom she shared 63 years of marriage before his passing in 2015.
Born at the Diehl Farm in Quakertown, she was the daughter of the late Vernon and Helen (Diehl) Hartzell.
Anna worked at the former Sapphire Hosiery Mill in Quakertown for 21 years before becoming a beautician and working out of her own home. Most recently, she worked as a secretary for her late husband’s painting and papering business, H. Wolfinger & Son Inc. in Quakertown.
She was a faithful member of Quakertown United Methodist Church, Quakertown West End Women’s Auxiliary #2, and member of the Eastern Star Lenape Chapter No. 339 of Sellersville for over 50 years.
Anna had a passion for cooking and baking, often preparing meals for friends, family, and the church. She was an avid bingo player and loved playing the piano for church services. Most of all, she cherished her family and adored spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.
She was preceded in death by her great-grandson, Maddox.
Anna will be lovingly remembered by her son: Richard A. Wolfinger and wife June of Quakertown; a daughter: Teena Derkosh and her husband William Corry of North Wales; three grandchildren: Jason Derkosh, Keith Wolfinger, Janel Derkosh; and six great grandchildren: Camryn, Mara, Meela, Leighton, Caden, and Max.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Anna’s name can be made to her late great grandson’s non-profit organization: Trucks for Maddox P.O. Box 14862 Pittsburgh, PA 15234 or online at trucksformaddox.org
Arrangements are under the care of the C.R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc., Quakertown. (crstrunk.com)
For more than a decade something very special has happened on the Monday before Thanksgiving on West Broad Street in Quakertown.
That’s the day that Bob Zirinsky’s Classic Staffing Services employment agency has been loaded with turkeys! 100 of them! What a sight! And one by one those turkeys found their Thanksgiving homes!
Bob offered his business as the pickup location for the annual “Quakertown Cares” turkey giveaway. And he loved every minute of it. One by one people, sometimes entire families, would come to Classic Temps, a quaint downtown business, to pick up their turkeys. And Bob was even known to throw in his own apple pies and dumplings!
“Bob had the best time,” said Lisa Green, a “Quakertown Cares” committee member who has always been present during the Turkey distribution. “He would just sit back in his chair and give us a little wave when people were coming and going.”
The number swelled to 150 recipients during the Covid 19 pandemic, during which each recipient was given a generous supermarket gift card sponsored by Bob and his family business, and that tradition will continue this Thanksgiving.
Bucks County Opportunity Council Earns 4 Star Rating
Bucks County Opportunity Council (BCOC) is proud to announce that its strong financial health and ongoing accountability and transparency has earned a Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator. This rating designates BCOC as an official “Give with Confidence” charity, indicating that our organization is using its donations effectively based on Charity Navigator’s criteria. Charity Navigator is America’s largest and most-utilized independent charity evaluator. Since 2001, the organization has been an unbiased and trusted source of information for more than 11 million donors annually.
Charity Navigator analyzes nonprofit performance based on four key indicators, referred to as beacons. Currently, nonprofits can earn scores for the Impact & Results, Accountability & Finance, Culture & Community, and Leadership & Adaptability beacons.
“We are delighted to provide Bucks County Opportunity Council with thirdparty accreditation that validates their operational excellence,” said Michael Thatcher, President and CEO of Charity Navigator. “The Four-Star Rating is the highest possible rating an organization can achieve. We are eager to see the good work that Bucks County Opportunity Council is able to accomplish in the years ahead.”
“Our Four-Star Charity Navigator is further validation that our supporters can
Sadly, Bob passed on suddenly last spring, but his giving to “Quakertown Cares” continues through his family.
Every year Bob donated $1,000 for the turkeys, that were distributed to Quakertown area residents in economic distress.
“He would take the money to the bank and deposit it,” Green said.” Then he would tell me to ask for
trust our commitment to good governance and financial health,” said Erin Lukoss, BCOC CEO/Executive Director.
“We hope that it will introduce our work to new supporters who can help us advance our mission to reduce poverty and partner with our community to promote economic self-sufficiency.” Bucks County Opportunity Council’s rating and other information about charitable giving are available free of charge on charitynavigator.org.
BCOC is the lead anti-poverty, non-profit organization in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, dedicated to ending poverty by connecting people with the resources they need to thrive.
BCOC has five major program areas: Housing, Food, Weatherization, Volunteer Income Tax Preparation (VITA) and the Economic Self-Sufficiency (ES) Program. Housing includes street outreach, rental and move in aid, and utility shut-off prevention. Food services supply food directly to families through a network of 75 food pantries and distribution sites. Weatherization services help families in reducing their energy costs. VITA provides free income tax preparation assistance. The ES Program assists individuals and families to leave poverty permanently through case management, education, and employment.
Mary (at the bank regarding the deposit, so the turkeys could be purchased). That Mary would help me out.”
And his daughter, Jill, is seeing to it that the donation continues. She has also helped her dad by making sure that the turkey distribution has continued over the last four years.
When Bob died, the Zirinsky family asked that mourners send donations for “Cares” in lieu of flowers to honor Bob’s steadfast support of directly aiding neighbors. They kept a spread sheet, and Bob’s wife, whom he met in elementary school, wrote thank you notes to the donors.
Contributions totaled well over $1,000. The family contributed an additional $1,000 in appreciation of Chris and Becca Lynde.
Bob’s longstanding commitment exemplifies the local focus of “Quakertown Cares,” one of neighbors helping out neighbors.
Described as caring, supportive and humble, Jill said,
“He probably would never want this article. He wouldn’t want the spotlight.”
But Bob Zirinsky doesn’t need a spotlight. His light shines on today as his tradition of giving continues through his family.
The 17th Annual Upper Bucks Foodie, organized each year by the Upper Bucks Chamber of Commerce delighted ticket holders this year with a wide variety of local eateries, distilleries, and wineries from across the Upper Bucks area. This annual event supports scholarships for local high school students to attend Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week at Lycoming College and the Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, PA. : Shelby Krans, Barbara Soltysiak, Jessica Althouse, Tracy Kline, Leanna Knight, Jarod Sands.
Clarisol Rivera, Danielle Bodnar. Pictured to the right: UBCTS student Natalia Yondura shows off her flair with a torch on a delicious creme brulee cake pop. Natalia placed gold in the employment application division of the annual Skills competition. She is headed back to the District competition in January. photos by michele buono
photos by michele buono
AWARD-WINNING MEMORY CARE
Meadow Glen in Richlandtown has apartments immediately available for both Personal Care and Secure Memory Support.
• Companion, studio, and 1-bedroom apartments
• Rates starting at $5,670 per month
• Nursing staff available 24 hours
• Amenities such as a café, library, salon, meditation garden, and chapel
Live your best life at
• Activities and trips for residents to enjoy
• All utilities, housekeeping, maintenance, cable TV, and phone included
• Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
The answers to the puzzles on this page are found elsewhere in this issue.
Think Local. Play Local. Be Local.
Christmas Tree Lighting Festival
“November comes, and November goes. With the last red berries and the first white snows.” - Clyde Watson
Digital Assets and Estate Planning
BY ROBERT E. FRAVEL, ESQ.
Digital assets have now become a part of everyday life. (whether we like it or not). Almost all of us own some sort of digital assets. And the fact is, the tech industry doesn’t appear to be going away any time soon. This means that digital assets will become increasingly integral in our society moving forward.
So, what are “digital assets”? Pennsylvania’s Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (The Act) which went into effect in January of 2021, defines digital assets as “an electronic record in which an individual has a right or interest”. Under this definition, digital assets include email accounts, cloud-based storage or photos, social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.), cryptocurrencies, audio/video files, and much more.
You’re probably wondering how this all relates to estate planning? The Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act provides fiduciaries such as Trustees, Executors and Agents under powers of attorney, with the legal authority to manage the digital assets of a deceased or incapacitated person. But this
does not mean that the fiduciaries have immediate access to digits assets – rather the Act only provides a statutory procedure for the custodians of the digital assets to follow in order to disclose digital assets (which can be quite complicated, involve a court order and permit the custodian to charge a fee for the disclosure).
The Act also changed an Agent’s authority under a power of attorney to access digital assets, whereas now, the power of attorney document must specifically grant the authority to access digital assets. This authority is no longer covered by a simple general grant of authority.
In summary, if you own “digital assets”, you should strongly consider updating your estate planning documents to ensure that this issue is properly handled. Leaving these digital assets unaddressed could lead to some major headaches for you and your loved ones down the road. robert e. Fravel, esQ is a bucks county attorney locateD at 123 n main street, suite 208, in Dublin, Pennsylvania He sPecializes in estate Planning & Probate, orPHans’ court litigation business law anD civil litigation to set uP a consultation, call His oFFice at (267) 227-9138 or visit His website at www Fravel-law com
Advocates for the Homeless Seeks Volunteers for Winter Season
Volunteers are needed to support the mission of the Advocates for the Homeless of Upper Bucks (AHUB). AHUB is a non-profit organization which serves the needs of the homeless of the Quakertown, Pennridge, and the Palisades areas. One program under AHUB is a volunteer staffed community ministry called Code Blue which provides shelter and a warm bed and meal to the homeless of Upper Bucks County on cold winter nights when the temperature is 32 degrees or below.
from November 15, 2024 to April 15, 2025. Please consider volunteering with AHUB. Contact ahubpa@gmail.com to learn about opportunities.
Each month, you settle down to pay bills. You pay your mortgage lender. You pay the electric company. You pay the trash collector. But do you pay yourself? One of the most basic tenets of sound investing involves the simple habit of “paying yourself first” – in other words, making your first payment of each month a deposit into your savings account.
The saving patterns of Americans vary widely. And too often, short-term economic trends can interrupt long-term savings programs. For example, the U.S. Personal Savings Rate jumped from 2.9% in April 2008 to 7.3% in May 2008 during the housing and banking crisis. It then rose and fell sporadically as the economic environment appeared to stabilize. As of 2023, the average rate has fallen significantly from COVID-era highs of 33.8% in April 2020 to 4.3% as of June 2023.1
Putting Your Money to Work
What will you do with the money you save?
If retirement is your priority, consider taking advantage of tax-advantaged investments. Employer sponsored retirement plans, such as 401(k)s, can be a great way to save because the money comes out of your paycheck before you even see it. Also, as an added incentive, some employers offer to match a percentage of your contributions.2
For money you may want to access before retirement, consider placing the funds in a separate account. When the balance hits your target, you may want to move the money into investments that offer the potential for higher returns. Of course, this may mean exposing your money to more volatility, so you’ll want to choose vehicles that fit your risk tolerance, time horizon, and long-term goals.
This homeless shelter is located at the Masonic Lodge in downtown Quakertown, PA. After a very successful eleven years for the program, we hope to broaden our volunteer base for this upcoming winter. Opportunities include: Shelter Admissions staff, Overnight staff, Morning Aide, and more. Season runs
Code Blue Sheltering Ministry, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, officially opened in Quakertown on December 1, 2013 after three years of development and provides warm shelter, food, and respectful overnight care for homeless people in Upper Bucks County during times of life-threatening cold weather. We partner with churches, volunteer agencies and individuals in the Quakertown, Pennridge, and Palisades school districts to provide this ministry. AHUB’s mailing address is P.O. Box 232, Quakertown, PA 18951. Their email is upperbuckscodeblue@ gmail.com. The Code Blue hotline is 267450-5191. Like Upper Bucks Code Blue on Facebook!
The Genius of Pay Yourself First
Anyone who’s ever managed their own finances knows that saving can be a challenge. There seems to be an endless stream of expenses that demand a piece of each month’s paycheck. Herein lies the genius of paying yourself first: you get the cream at the top of the bucket, and not the leftovers at the bottom.
The trick is to prioritize. Make it a point to put your future first. At first, saving may mean a small lifestyle change. But most individuals want to see their net worth increase steadily. For them, finding ways to save becomes more of a long-term commitment than a short-term challenge.
In the pursuit of growing wealth, sound habits can be your most valuable asset. Develop the habit of “paying yourself first” today. The sooner you begin, the more potential your savings may have to grow.
1. FreD stlouisFeD org, 2023 2. in most circumstances you must begin taking reQuireD minimum Distributions From your 401(k) or otHer DeFineD contribution Plan in tHe year you turn 73. witHDrawals From your 401(k) or otHer DeFineD contribution Plans are taxeD as orDinary income anD iF taken beFore age 59½, may be subject to a 10% FeDeral income tax Penalty tHis article was submitteD by bob PoDraza oF robert james investments at 1313 west broaD street, Quakertown He can be reacHeD at 215-583-5013 or at robertjamesinvestments com
The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this
St. John’s of Spinnerstown Hosting Pork & Sauerkraut Dinner to Benefit Food Pantry
St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Spinnerstown will host a Pork & Sauerkraut Dinner November 2, with proceeds benefitting the Quakertownarea food programs the church supports. Dinner will be served from 4 to 7 p.m. at the church, 1565 Sleepy Hollow Road, Spinnerstown, in Milford Township (for GPS, Quakertown, 18951). On the menu is slow-roasted pork, two types of sauerkraut (“regular” and Bavarian), mashed potatoes, gravy, applesauce, dinner rolls, homemade desserts, and hot and cold beverages.
Cost of the dinner is $15; $12 for children 6 to 12; free for those 5 and under. Pay
at the door for both dining in and takeout. Proceeds will benefit the FEAST food pantry at Christ’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Trumbauersville which serves Bucks County families, the church’s participation in two Quakertown-area community dinner programs for food insecure individuals and families“Food for Friends,” and “Loaves and Fishes” – and for classroom snacks for those students unable to provide them at Pfaff Elementary School, St. John’s neighborhood school. For information or directions, stjohnsofspinnerstown.org or call the church at 215-536-0734.
Employment Opportunities
Jackson Hewitt Tax ServicesQuakertown Office. Flexible schedule, hourly pay and bonuses, tax preparation training, continuing education, Friends & Family discounts. Visit quakertown.net/jh
Krause Home and Lawn CareSeeking 2 or 3 individuals to expand business. Construction experience is helpful. Wage will be based on experience. References requested. Clean driving record and driver’s license required. 267-261-7671
Spors General Store - Hiring Full & Part Time. Competitive Pay, Health Insurance, 401K, Family Contact Becky at bspor@sporsgeneralstore. com or 215-536-6754
Pool Pro - Hiring various positions in store and office, pool technicians and cleaners. Apply in person or send resume for interview. 201 S. Third Street, Coopersburg. Email: poolpropa@verizon.net
Proper Brewing Company - Hiring Bartender, Dishwasher, Cook. kris@theproperbrewing.com or stop in at 117 W. Broad Street,Quakertown Think Local. Work Local. Be Local.
Is it a Spider Invasion?
There have been reports in the press lately about the Jorō spider (Trichonephila clavata L. Koch, 1878) “invading” Bucks County. According to Dr. Michael Skvarla, Ph.D, Penn State Department of Entomology, there has been at least one site where six jorō spiders were discovered and identity confirmed. What is a jorō spider and how concerned should we be? While these introduced (non-native) spiders in the orb-weaving family are large and the impact on our environment is unknown, their venom is weak and they pose very little medical risk to human interaction. However, since the environmental impact is not known, they should be destroyed when found. Since some of our native species are often mistaken for the jorō spider, it is important that we know how to identify them. Female jorō spiders have very distinct yellow banding on their opisthosoma (abdomen) and are 1” long with a 4” leg span while males are much smaller and brown. Golden silk orb-weavers (Trichonephila clavipes) are closely related to jorō spiders. Golden silk orb-weavers are similar in size to jorō spiders. They can be distinguished based on the coloration. Female golden silk orb-weavers have a prosoma that is similarly covered in silvery hairs but the opisthosoma is dull orange to tan and covered with yellow spots. Additionally, the legs are brown with orange bands and have exaggerated hairbrushes on legs I, II,
and IV that look like fuzzy leg warmers. Garden spiders (Argiope spp.) are somewhat similar to jorō spiders and may be confused with them. Black and yellow garden spiders (A. aurantia) and banded garden spiders (A trifasciata) occur across the United States, including Pennsylvania. Photos and descriptions can be found in this Penn State Publication: extension.psu.edu/joro-spiders
If you are unsure of the identification, you can submit photos to: jorowatch.org
Our native spiders are a beneficial part of our eco system. They eat mosquitoes, gnats, flies, aphids, and other bothersome pests. When a delectable insect gets caught in the sticky web, the vibrations alert the spider that dinner has arrived. The prey is injected with venom from the spider’s fangs and rapidly wrapped in silk. The spider will wait until the prey liquefies, so it can easily drink the fluid from its victim. Know before you destroy! Our Home Gardening/Watershed hotline is closed for the season. However, emails will still be answered by our trained Master Gardeners and Master Watershed Stewards remotely but wait times may be a bit longer.
You can call or email. Weekend emails or calls after hours will be answered on our next available day.
267-483-2020 • BucksMG@psu.edu
Penn State Extension Bucks County 576 Penns Park Road • Newtown 18940
Please mention that you heard about us in the Upper Bucks Free Press!
“Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy”
- EphEsians 4:28 (nrsv)
As I was reading from the scriptures a few weeks ago for my daily devotions, I was struck by this verse and the simple and profound message of what the good news of Jesus does to a person in this life: When we come to Christ, he not only changes our heart, but our direction.
Some folks had allowed greed to harden their hearts to the point where they wouldn't care about the needs of others, and so they stole from them. Paul wrote that Jesus would redeem their heart so that they learn to be content with what they work to have. But then he gives them a new direction by revealing the purpose of the change - “so that you have something to share with the needy”.
Christians are meant to be people who bear the light of Christ in our words, and in our actions, to those around us. We are not meant to ignore the needs of those around us, to steal from those who have something that we want, or to keep what we have been given to ourselves. Thanksgiving is supposed to remind
us to be thankful for the blessings we have been given, and to bring friends, families, and communities together. It shows us the goodness of passing the plate, not just taking from it. Many of us spend way beyond our budget for the food that we provide to others, but it ends up not mattering because of the warmth that we aim to create.
And yet, before we get to Thanksgiving, we have to go through the election. We have to go through the ads, the arguments that break out with those we care about deeply, and we have to deal with so many things taking our time and energy away from what we are called to do, who we are called to serve, and who alone is to be our Lord and Savior.
I am not saying that we do not have a civic responsibility to care about the politics of our world, but we cannot allow THAT to change our identity, purpose, and direction as Christians called to love one another, to provide for the needy, and to point the broken to the great physician as we seek to address their struggles in the here and now.
The thieves in this passage are not meant to go back to stealing, but to become givers from what they have earned and have been given. The election should not make us become people who make the thought of gathering for
Thanksgiving seem tense and stressful for those who are set to gather at the table with us. And it should not make us seem unapproachable to those we are called to serve.
Some questions to ponder:
How have we been changed by Jesus?
What direction is he calling us toward?
How can we set the table of thanksgiving all month?
How can we embody the Kingdom of God that we seek to come?
An Invitation to Pray
For those of you who would like an opportunity to pray for our nation, for your loved ones, or for anything on your hearts, I invite you to our sanctuary at First UCC on Thursday November 7th from 6 - 8pm for a time of silent reflection and prayer. jon bauman is tHe senior Pastor at First uniteD cHurcH oF cHrist in Quakertown He can be reacHeD at jbauman@Firstucc net
Upper Bucks Area Places of Worship
Bible Baptist Church
Meets at HIghland Park Dining Hall
415 Highland Park Road
Sellersville, PA 18960
484-523-3333
www.biblebaptistcares.org
Pastor: Tom 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 218 East Broad Street Trumbauersville, PA 18970
215-536-3193
christselca@verizon.net
www.christslutheran.com
9:00am Worship, 10:15 Sunday School, Handicapped accessible, Family Friendly Church. Find us on Facebook! Church of the Incarnation 44 S. 8th Street Quakertown, PA 18951
215-538-3787
Ardores@verizon.net
www.IncarnationQuakertown.org
Pastor: Most Rev. Thomas J. Kleppinger
Traditional worship, Biblical faith Sunday 10:30am, Holy Days as announced. Emmanuel Episcopal Church 560 S. Main Street Quakertown, PA 18951
215-536-3040
emmanuelchurch11@yahoo.com www.emmanuelquakertown.org
Sunday service at 10am, Visitors and new members always welcome!
First United Church of Christ 151 S. Fourth Street Quakertown, PA 18951
215-536-4447
info@firstUCC.net www.firstUCC.net
Senior Pastor: Rev. Jon C. Bauman
Pastor of Visitation: Rev. Elaine Ely
Sunday worship 9:15 am. Sunday School
Classes for all ages at 10:30 am. 2nd Saturday Free Community Lunch Pickup 9:00 am. 3rd Thursday Free Community Supper 5:30 pm (eat in).
Good News Church 424 Juniper Street Quakertown, PA 18951
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.
Grace Bible Fellowship Church 1811 Old Bethlehem Pike N. Quakertown, PA 18951 215-536-6096
grace@quakertownbfc.org
www.quakertownbfc.org
Sr. Pastor: Ron Kohl
Sunday School for all ages. 10:10am Morning Worship, Small group meetings 2nd & 4th
Sundays 6:30pm; Tues: Ladies Bible Study 9:45am; Wed: AWANA (2 yrs - 6th grade) & Teens for Christ 6:30pm, Adult prayer meeting 6:45pm Juniper Street Bible Church 317 Juniper Street Quakertown, PA 18951 267-373-9115
Pastor: Derrick Thompson www.juniperstreetbiblechurch.org
Worship Sunday 10 am; also live on Facebook and Youtube. Bible study Tuesday 7 pm. We pray you will join us in worship and study. Morning Star Fellowship 429 S. 9th Street Quakertown, PA 18951 215-529-6422
Pastors: John & Theresa Decker www.mstarqtown.org
Sunday Services at 9 am and 11 am. Our cafe is open with free coffee. Children’s Ministries provided. Celebrate Recovery on Tuesdays at 7 pm. Student Ministries on Wednesdays at 6:30 pm. Weekly Connections. For updates and schedule changes, check our website. Pennridge Christian Fellowship 720 Blooming Glen Rd, Blooming Glen 18911 215-257-7309 pastor@pennridgecf.org www.pennridgecf.org
Pastor: Thomas Vargis
Multicultural Charismatic church worshipping God in a casual, friendly atmosphere. Our service consists of song service, testimonies, and teaching of the word. Live Spanish translation & children’s service at 10:30 Sunday worship. Livestream: fb.com/pennridgechristianfellowship
Quakertown United Methodist Church 1875 Freier Road Quakertown, PA 18951 215-536-4992
barb@qumc.com www.qumc.com
Pastor: Rev. Graham Truscott
Sunday schedule: Worship 8:30 am, Sunday School 9:45 am, Worship 11 am Communion first Sunday of each month. St. Isidore Roman Catholic Church 2545 West Pumping Station Rd Quakertown, PA 18951 (215) 536-4389
Pastor: Rev. Kenneth C. Brabazon izzyparoff@comcast.net www.stisidores.org
Sunday Masses - 5:00pm Saturday evenings; 7:00am, 9:00am, & 11:00am on Sunday mornings; 1:00pm in Spanish Sunday afternoons
St. John’s Lutheran Church 4 South Main Street • PO Box 458 Richlandtown, PA 18955 215-536-5027 Admin@stjohnsrpa.org www.stjohnsrpa.org
Pastor: Rev Dr. David A Genszler
In person worship service Sunday at 9:30 am, Watch our Worship Service anytime on stjohnsrpa.org/sermon or on Facebook. Activity Center Rentals Open, Capacity 125, call 215-536-5027 to book.
St. John’s Lutheran Church of Spinnerstown 1565 Sleepy Hollow Rd, Spinnerstown 18968 (GPS Quakertown 18951) Mailing:PO Box 120, Spinnerstown, PA 18968 215-536-0734 stjohnsspinnerstown@gmail.com www.stjohnsofspinnerstown.org
Interim Pastor: The Rev. Susan Lang Worship Service: 9:30 a.m. Service also is live-streamed on Facebook (St. John's Lutheran Church, Spinnerstown, PA) and video available on the church website.
St. John’s Lutheran Ridge Valley 910 Allentown Road, West Rockhill Twp 215-257-9643
stjohnsridgevalley910@gmail.com www.stjohnsridgevalley.com
Pastor: Rev. Lauren Bruno 8:30am Traditional - 10:15am w/praise band. Grape juice & gluten-free wafers available. Adult Forum 9:40, Handicapped accessible. All invited and welcome to Share the Joy! St. John the Baptist Parish 4050 Durham Road, Ottsville 18942 610-847-5521 pastor@stjohnsottsville.org www.stjohnsottsville.org
Pastor: Selvaraj Lucas, MSC St. John the Baptist, the first Catholic parish in Bucks County, has served the pastoral needs of Catholics since 1743.
St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Applebachsville 837 Old Bethlehem Road, Quakertown 215-536-5789 stpaulsqtown@gmail.com www.stpaulsqtown.org
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, PA 18960 215-257-7268
Pastor: Rev. Trudy Irving secretary@stpaulsucc.net www.stpaulsucc.net
Sunday Worship 10:15 in Sanctuary Springfield Mennonite Church 1905 Pleasant View Road
Coopersburg PA 18036
267-999-1404
Pastor: Robert W. Gerhart
www.springfieldmennonite.org
Join us at 10:15 am Sunday Mornings for a Blended Worship Service, Multigenerational, loving congregation. Biblically and Doctrinally Sound.
Trinity Lutheran Church 102 N. Hellertown Avenue Quakertown, PA 18951 (215) 536.4345
www.trinityquakertown.org
Pastor: Rev. Rachel Scheible
9 am Traditional service, Handicap accessible, Family Friendly, Dynamic Music Ministry, Living God’s Love for All
Bucks County Opportunity Council Adopt-a-Family Program Kicks Off
The Bucks County Opportunity Council has been helping residents of Bucks County struggling financially during the holiday season for over twenty years with their Adopt-a-Family program. The program provides financial assistance for the holidays to people already enrolled in BCOC programs by pairing client households with a donor to purchase gifts and gift cards for the holidays.
Community members can sign up now to make this holiday season special for a family in Bucks County. Donors decide how many families and/or individuals they would like to sponsor, sign up on the BCOC website, and are sent the names and ages of all family members and a donation form with instructions via email. The suggested donation value is $100 per family member and up. These are families who are actively working with a coach on the BCOC team to achieve economic self-sufficiency. Adults with no family or children are also available to sponsor, including seniors.
The program is open and ready for sponsors with all donations due by December 11, 2024. For questions, please reach out to Danielle Bush, Volunteer and Community Connections Manager, at dbush@bcoc.org.
BCOC is the lead anti-poverty, nonprofit organization in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, dedicated to ending poverty by connecting people with the resources they need to thrive.
“This program saved the holiday for my family, and greatly reduced the stress I normally feel,” said single mother Elizabeth last year when she came to pick up her donations. “I can’t thank the generous people who get involved enough!” Donors tend to return year after year, often expressing their sense of fulfillment and community when they participate.
BCOC has five major program areas: Housing, Food, Weatherization, Volunteer Income Tax Preparation (VITA) and the Economic Self-Sufficiency (ES) Program. Housing includes street outreach, rental and move in aid, and utility shut-off prevention. Food services supply food directly to families through a network of 74 food pantries and distribution sites. Weatherization services help families in reducing their energy costs. VITA provides free income tax preparation assistance. The ES Program assists individuals and families to leave poverty permanently through case management, education, and employment.
For over 59 years, the Opportunity Council has served low-income families in Bucks County by helping them to stabilize when in crisis, garner resources to achieve a livable wage, gain additional education and training, and work towards economic self-sufficiency.
This message is for those of you who get your Free Press, “Hot off the presses.” For those of you who wait my message will be too late. I heard many of you are undecided about who to vote for this month. I have put my hat in the ring. Doesn’t matter what position it is if you are in doubt you can vote for me. I am willing to fill any position. I also hope all of you are doing what you can to help those organizations who are helping the people from the hurricanes. I am sad for all the animals who got separated from their families. They have no way of finding them by themselves. Let’s love each other all year long but especially now. It’s great to see many of you caring for those less fortunate. ~ Love Peanut
photos by michele buono
Quakertown BPW Supports National Business Women’s Week
The Quakertown Business and Professional Women’s Club was busy sharing the focus of National Business Women’s Week. NBWW is held annually during the third week of October. The members decided to spotlight “volunteerism within the community.” Assisting the Quakertown Alive on October 19, members were able to contribute their time to helping where needed at various locations. Two members had the joy of judging the animal pet contest while some were busy manning booths with other organizations or handing out the free t-shirts to the many visitors. The BPW members shared what they do bestgiving back to the Quakertown Community with their time and talents.
It wasn’t until 1938 that the week became officially recognized and celebrated every year since. The work of BPW members call attention to the leadership of working women and local women entrepreneurs, facilitate discussion on the needs of working women, share information about successful workplace policies and raise awareness of resources available for women in their communities. NBWW was celebrated by BPW local organizations across the country. Quakertown BPW is open to all women whether in the workplace or not. We meet at the Brick Tavern Inn on the fourth Wednesday of the month but in November, it will Nov. 20 due to Thanksgiving the
My Mummy's Dead
A mummy is “a dead human or animal whose soft tissue and organs have been preserved by intentional (anthropogenic—manmade), or accidental (spontaneous), exposure to chemicals, extreme cold, very low humidity, or lack of air, so that the body does not decay further if kept cool and dry.” Spontaneous mummies have been found worldwide. The oldest mummified human found is Spirit Cave Man. Discovered in 1940 near Fallon, Nevada, a desiccated middle-aged man, completely dressed and lying on an animal skin blanket, was radiocarbon dated at over 9,000 years old. That’s 3,000 years older than Otzi, the alpine Iceman. Egyptian anthropogenic mummies are the best known, but other cultures preserved their dead through mummification, too.
As a kid, I got interested in mummies for a while after my ‘live-mummy’ took me to see King Tut’s traveling show at Philadelphia’s Penn Museum. It inspired me to read about Egypt and mummification, but it was complicated and boring so I moved on. After seeing “the best-preserved Egyptian mummy in the world” at the (now closed), Niagara Falls (Canada), Museum when we vacationed there with the kids—he was perfect, looked like he was sleeping—my interest re-kindled. Since they were so famous for it, I always assumed mummification of the dead started in Egypt. But, like
so many other things I believed for most of my life, I discovered it’s not true.
The oldest man-made mummies were not found in Egypt. Nor were they found in the arid highlands of central Asia or buried under ziggurats in Mesopotamia. To my surprise, they were found overlooking the Pacific coast in South America’s Atacama Desert, near Arica, Chile. Nearly 300 mummies were found there and over 70% of them were anthropogenic. They were ‘produced’ by the Chinchorro Culture that occupied the region between about 7,000 BCE and 2,000 BCE. The earliest Egyptian mummies are from around 3,000 BCE, but Chinchorro-made mummies have been dated to as early as 5,050 BCE. The oldest spontaneously produced Chinchorro mummy dates to 7,020 BCE.
The Chinchorros were a hunter-gatherer Stone Age culture that lived in the arid valleys along the South American west coast. They gained sustenance primarily from the sea. They may have practiced primitive farming of native plants, but mostly they relied on fish, sea mammals, crustaceans, shell fish, birds and kelp for their food. Chinchorro means "small boat", in a more recent Native American language. The culture lasted almost 5,000 years. They mummified their dead for most of that time. In the driest place on Earth, they probably observed it occurring spontaneously and mimicked it. Chinchorro skeletons display the oldest evidence of work-related injuries. Their inner ear bones are distorted or damaged (symptoms of repeated deepwater diving), and most of the males have hairline fractures in their pelvises. It’s speculated the
injuries are a result of falls on slippery rocks as they foraged the shoreline. Many of the women’s skeletons display bone damage from abscesses or other abnormalities that anthropologists suggest were incurred by regularly handling decomposing corpses during the mummification process. Uniquely among cultures who mummified their dead, the Chinchorros prepared all bodies the same, unlike in Egypt where there were various complexities to the process based on the individual’s status or wealth. Children are the only ones that seem to have received special attention. The Chinchorros produced two types of mummies. Black mummies, which are up to 7,000 years old; and Red ones, which were made only in the last 500 or so years of the culture. Because of the vast period of time, most specimens are the more recent Red mummies. The process used to produce Chinchorros mummies is also unique. The skin was removed from the body and dried. The head was removed and skinned, with particularly careful attention paid to preserving the face. The skull was then cut in half horizontally at the eye sockets and the contents removed. The entire skeleton was disassembled, the flesh removed with stone tools, and the bones dried in hot ash. Then, the skeleton was reassembled and reinforced with sticks. Flesh was simulated by affixing bundles of grass, hair, and other vegetable matter. This ‘body’ was then ‘rebuilt’ with a white ash paste. When possible, the whole skin was put back onto the effigy. Seal or other animal skin was often needed to ‘fill in the blanks’. The head was then re-attached and the face, with a wig of black human hair sewn on, was replaced like a mask. The entire mummy was then covered with black magnesium paint. Red mummies (2,500 BCE to 2,000 BCE), were
more simply prepared. Many incisions were made to remove organs rather than the complete disassembly of the body. A black clay hat held the wig in place and all but the face was painted with red ochre. There is evidence that mummies’ facial muscles were rebuilt with ash paste and the skin repainted several times. This indicates that they did not bury the mummies, but kept them 'among the living'. It is believed to be associated with ancestor worship. There is evidence of the mummies being kept in the home, traveling with the group, and being placed in positions of honor during rituals. Elaborately decorated and colored, the mummies were always in an ‘extended’ position and reinforced and stiffened, making transporting them on litters (or standing them up in a corner), easier. That some mummies were reworked and repainted several times (particularly the faces), indicates that they were ‘on display’ for extended periods of time.
The Chinchorro mummies are kept at the Museum of San Miguel Azapa at the University of Tarapaca, Chile. I’ve seen photographs and they’re pretty grotesque, unlike like that handsome Egyptian in Niagara Falls. They look like oversized horror movie dolls. Those repainted faces and spliced together pieces of skin, or just the idea that they were kept ‘close at hand’ and brought out for festivals, gives me the creeps. Egyptian mummifications are much ‘neater’—if they don’t resurrect or come with curses—but they are not the first mummies. And again, a lifelong conviction lies dashed. We’ll wrap up with that. jack scHick is a long time Quakertown area resiDent anD regular contributor Here at ubFP. reacH Him at sjckscHc@aol com
“Don't wait until the fourth Thursday in November, to sit with family and friends to give thanks. Make every day a day of Thanksgiving!” - Charmaine J. Forde
American Legion Post 242 November Update
November 2024 once again is a very important month. Election Day every year is important and one of the rights that so many of us gave a part of our life to defend.
This year is important because of the cycle for the U.S. Presidential election. We urge you to take time out to cast your vote for that office as well as the other offices up for election this year. When someone complains to me about a certain elected office and the performance of the individual whether a Federal, state, or local official, I always ask if the voted. If they didn’t, I’d rather not listen to their objections! Vote! Many young men gave their life so you can enjoy the privilege to vote.
appreciated. This year the program is in the Pennridge School District starting at 10:00 AM sharp because the children are brought in from other schools and must be back promptly and on time at the home school.
This month is always very important to Post 242 as a member of joint American Legion Posts in the area. We help to put together a program at one of the three public school districts to honor “Veteran’s Day.” I have written about how important it is to take time out to say “Thank You” to my fellow veterans. This program is your opportunity to come out and be a part of a presentation doing so. It is also a means of introducing a special spirit of Patriotism to our youth. I am always impressed on the love and true “Thank yous” expressed by the students after the program. This exposure by the schools in our area is unique and much
We suggest that the public (We encourage you to attend and experience this event) arrive no later that 9:45 or 9:50 so the program starts on time. The school auditorium being used is at Pennridge High School, 1228 North 5th Street, Perkasie, Pa. 18944. Hope to see you there! Other important events are our Youth Drawing at the end of the month. Legion members should have received tickets and we encourage you to take the tickets, fill them out, and send them in. Our youth are our future, one of the 4 pillars of Legionism is our youth. Let us do all we can for them. Incidentally I wish to remind you that the local Legion Baseball team was once again State Champs! Great Job Team!
While you write a check for those tickets; don’t forget to also send in your dues payment. Our Post is “on the move” and we need your membership support and most important encourage you to come on out to the meetings and help your Post to keep growing as a positive group in the Quakertown Community.
~ For God & Country, Dick Helm
2024 Lexus GX 550 SUV
While Lexus is known for quality luxury sedans and crossovers, Lexus debuted a true off-roader in the form of their 4WD GX 550 Overtrail that has all the chops and prowess of a 4WD Jeep Wrangler Rubicon or Land Rover Defender. The GX 550 is a bona fide outbacker and creek forder.
The GX 550 is not the first SUV for Lexus as there’s the GX 460, LX570, LX500 Ultra Luxury models. But the GX 550 Overtrail adds extra’s in the form of 11 drive modes, rear locking differential, skid
disconnect for the front and rear stabilizer bars for rocky, uneven terrain. Plus, it has adaptive dampers to cushion the ride.
For many years, Toyota offered their similar Land Cruiser that was discontinued but brought back this year and the GX550 shares the same platform but otherwise it’s completely different. It also shares the platform with the Lexus LX.
GX550 is offered in Premium, Premium Plus, Luxury, Luxury Plus and Overtrail, Overtrail Plus models.
We tested the Overtrail model and starting with the exterior, GX 550 has a boxy, sculpted, rugged look with squared fender flares and a non-Lexus traditional grille. Instead, Overtrail has a spindle type grille and multibeam LED high-mounted headlights and taillights. The only way to know this is a Lexus is by the large “L” on the front grille.
One super nice feature is that the cargo hatch opens separately from the powered
liftgate. This makes retrieving small or lengthy items that extend out of the gate or to quickly stow gear if it’s raining.
GX 550’s interior is typical Lexus upscale design and quality. With an easy 16-inch step in onto the fixed running boards, there’s a 25-inch stretch straight in for those in a hurry and with long legs.
While upper trim levels get leather seats, Overtrail gets adorned with a mix of suede and NuLuxe faux leather that feels like the real McCoy and is equally as comfy and long wearing. Heated/ventilated front seats are nicely padded to absorb rough terrain and have ample lumbar support that is not confining so heavy coats can be worn in winter months.
Back seats have an appreciable amount of leg room and ample head room. And with a low-profile transaxle hump, a short-legged passenger can be seated in the middle seat.
GX 550 Overtrail comes with a huge 14-inch touchscreen infotainment display and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. The touchscreen offers Wi-Fi connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto connectivity, rearview camera display, navigation, HVAC, Sirius radio and much more.
But there’s one feature that is annoying. And that’s the safety sensor centered on the steering wheel column. For example, when approaching a “T” intersection and turning the head to check for oncoming crossing traffic, or if seeing children playing roadside to insure one of them doesn’t run out onto the road, it annoyingly gives out an audible and “Driver Inattention Detected Look Forward” warning. It annoyed me so much that I put a piece of black electrical tape over it. But that didn’t solve the problem as it now displayed a “Sit Up Driver’s Face Not Detected” warning.
On the favorable side, the GX 550 had an excellent auto braking feature that autonomously applies the brakes when sensing a possible collision situation. The feature will save lots of crunches, especially when backing out of a parking spot between two tall vehicles.
Another neat feature and in place of a console box, Lexus installed a Cool Box there. It’s a refrigerated compartment to keep water or soft drinks cool. In front of it is a pad that appears could have been used
Veterans Small Business Week Honors “Vetrepreneurs”
BY JOHN FLEMING
SBA REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR
Each year, the U.S. Small Business Administration celebrates National Veterans Small Business Week in November. In our part to support the brave men and women who’ve served our country in uniform and are now major contributors to the nation’s economy, the SBA and our partner organizations empower veterans and their family members by equipping them with business counseling, training, access to capital, and contracting opportunities.
Veterans are integral to the growth of America’s small businesses Veteran-owned businesses in the United States employ more than five million workers and generate $1.1 trillion in receipts. Numbers like these reflect an economic power in veterans that cannot be ignored.
The road to business ownership can be challenging, especially for vets who often lack the resources and institutional knowledge necessary to start, run, and scale a thriving business. At SBA, we help ease that burden so that military entrepreneurs can thrive without facing inordinate barriers to success. SBA’s efforts are critical to the successful transition process for service members exiting the military and considering entrepreneurship as their next move. To learn more about other SBA veterans’ programs
and resources, visit www.sba.gov/vets.
The SBA is ready, willing, and able to be part of your team. Vetrepreneurs are encouraged to explore what local assistance is available, such as Veterans Business Outreach Centers that provide services tailored to military entrepreneurs and their families. We also offer several programs to help veterans secure capital, such as SBA Lender Match, 7(a) reduced fees, and the Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan (MREIDL).
for a cell charging pad, but surprisingly it didn’t have one.
Below the vivid infotainment display is a Mode selection switch for Custom, Sport S, Sport Plus, Normal. Comfort and Eco modes. There’re also additional modes for Deep Snow, Mud, Sand, Dirt and Auto. The 4WD switches, residing behind the 10-speed automatic transmission gear selector, offers H4, L4 along with center and rear locking differential switches for when the going gets really tough.
The 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster has a combined speedometer and tachometer in a single gauge. This turns into a driver information display for alerts, functions and features.
GX 550’s back seat has ample head room and generous leg room for two adults or a third with short legs for the middle position. The rear seat bottoms flip forward to increase cargo space.
Back in the cargo area, its spacious and with the rear seats upright, the area measures 44 inches deep, 44.5 wide and 35 high. Flip the rear seats and loading depth increases to 78 inches or 64 inches with the entire seat flipped up against the front seats for a flat load floor.
GX 550 gets its grunt from a 3.4-liter turbocharged V6 that generates 349-hp and 479 lb/ft of torque for EPA mileage estimates of 15 city, 21-highway when coupled to a 10-speed automatic transmission (a hy-
During NVSBW, veterans should also look into our Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) and SDVOSB certifications, which are vital for securing lucrative federal contracts and many other benefits. The establishment of the VetCert Program has been extremely beneficial to tens of thousands of veterans across the U.S. who have received their certifications with a significantly reduced processing time.
Visit www.sba.gov/vetbiz or contact your local SBA district office to learn more and follow us on Twitter at @SBAgov where you can share your Vetrepreneur journey with the #VetBiz and #MyVetBiz hashtags.
To learn more about the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Veterans Business Development (OVBD) and its offerings, visit sba.gov/ovbd.
brid version is reportedly forthcoming). It moved the 5,170-pound SUV with ease and it felt like a V8 under the hood. So powered, it carries an 8,000-pound tow rating. This proven engine also powers Toyota’s Tundra pickup, Toyota Sequoia’s 3-row SUV and the Lexus LX600.
Shod with Toyo 18-inch, deep cleated, 9-inch wide Open Country tires, a double wishbone front suspension along with a four-link coil rear suspension plus Lexus’s Electronic Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System, and the GX 550 has an assuring, smooth and typical Lexus quiet ride. Its heft can be felt but it remains planted in sharp turns with no tippy feeling. It also came with Intuitive Parking Assist with Auto Braking so the lady of the house should not have any trouble parking it in tight spaces.
GX 550 came with Lexus’s Safety System 3.0 that includes pre-collision system with pedestrian detection and intersection support, road sign assist, lane tracing assist, all-speed dynamic radar cruise control w/ curve speed management, lane departure alert w/steering assist, blind spot monitoring w/rear cross traffic alert and more. Of course, all this capability, comfort and luxury comes at a price. The GX 550 Overtrail had a base price of $67,900 exceptionally loaded, but after adding Bi-Tone paint ($350), Cool Box ($170), Head-Up Display ($900), Tonneau Cover ($110), Traffic Jam Assist ($840) and delivery ($1,350), the Overtrail bottom-lined at $71,620. A bit less than the Land Rover Defender and considerably less than a Jeep Rubicon with similar features. But neither possess Lexus renowned quality and build. The GX 550 Overtrail is the ultimate, luxury SUV..
nick Hromiak is an automotive entHusiast anD Freelance writer. He can be reacHeD at nHromiak@verizon net
Getting Older
As I get older, closing in on another new decade, I have become acutely aware that much of my time talking with others now concerns health issues.
Instead of sports talk, the first five minutes are recitation of current and/or past maladies.
I begin each day by ingesting a massive amount of prescribed and over the counter tablet/capsules/caplets than ever imagined. Just a few years ago it was simply some ibuprofen for a headache or back pain.
How did this happen?
My wife, who is actually a year older than me (cradle robber), takes only some supplements for her stomach.
It’s easy to understand why…she stands five hours every day for her work (could sit, prefers to stand), walks the long steep hill which leads down to the Delaware from our house for two hours, and then swims or heads to the gym for an hour afterward. And she eats very healthily…just had her one burger/year last week.
I, on the other hand, have had two knee replacements, one foot surgery, and another next week, so I have been relegated to sitting on my now sore ass for the last two years.
That’s my excuse, but in reality, except for a few brief periods, I have always been exercise adverse. On our first date, Shelli stated that she could never be with a man who sat all day.
I’m sorry sweetheart. That’s where we ended up. Was never the plan…
So I sit here washing down this pile of pills with a cup of tea and glass of water, longing for the days when I could walk at length with no limitations.
Hopefully, in a few months, I will again be able to. That would be a great Christmas gift for both of us.
And then, I might even race her down to the river and back!
Hopefully, I don’t injure anything…. joHn scHaninger is a liFelong resiDent oF Pennsylvania anD Has liveD in uPPer black eDDy For over 15 years reacH Him at m12string@aol com
UBCTS Names Rice, Siegfried October Students of the Month
Pennridge Senior Austin Rice, who is studying machining and engineering technology, is one of two of Upper Bucks County Technical School’s Students of the Month for October. Interestingly, Austin didn’t originally choose machining as his career path. He initially leaned toward construction or mechatronics. However, life sometimes takes unexpected turns.
at Upper Bucks County Technical School inspired by his sister, Sarah, an enthusiastic alumna who consistently shared her positive experiences. Her stories sparked Jacob's interest, leading him to explore the many opportunities that UBCTS has to offer.
Jacob chose to pursue machining
and it didn’t take long for him to develop a genuine passion for it. Eventually, an opportunity arose for him to switch to construction, but by then, he was already hooked on machining. His parents have always supported his decisions and this was no different.
Mr. Canceliere, the machining instructor, has a remarkable ability to connect classroom lessons to real-world experiences and challenges, showing Austin how practical and essential machining is in solving everyday problems. It is the practical critical thinking Austin excels in. Austin’s dedication has already earned him remarkable honors. He is a SkillsUSA District Gold Medalist in Automated Manufacturing and a member of the National Technical Honor Society. Along the way, he’s also made valuable friendships with like-minded individuals in his class.
A highlight of Austin's UBCTS career was his involvement in the NASA HUNCH program, which fuels his excitement for hands-on, cutting-edge projects. Mr. Canceliere notes that Austin has been an asset to the underclassmen, by demonstrating strong role model behavior.
In September of 2024, Austin took another significant step in his journey, joining Arch Medical Solutions in Quakertown as an employee. Mentor, Alex Kern joins us here tonight. After graduation, he plans to continue his career with Arch Medical Solutions, seeking to further expand his knowledge and experience in the field.
Outside of his work in machining, Austin has another passion: baseball. He’s been an umpire with the Towamencin Umpire Associates Youth Baseball for the past six years. His knowledge of baseball regulations mirrors his commitment to machining. Austin has begun the process of being involved in the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, which is one of the nation's most prestigious academic honors. This program was established to celebrate some of the nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors.
The process begins with an invitation to apply, extended to students who excel academically, perform well on standardized tests, or demonstrate exceptional talent in the arts, career, and technical education fields. Students complete applications and submit essays, transcripts, and other documentation to be considered for the award.
Quakertown Senior Jacob Siegfried is also a UBCTS Student of the Month for October. He embarked on his journey
technology, problem-solving, and handson work. He thrives on the challenge of transforming raw materials into precise, tangible products, while leveraging advanced computer systems and stateof-the-art machinery. This combination of technical knowledge and practical application makes machining a fitting career path that aligns with both his skills and passions, providing him with a sense of accomplishment and purpose in his work.
One of Jacob's standout moments at UBCTS was his performance at the SkillsUSA competition. Despite battling illness, and complications at the competition, he displayed incredible determination, earning the Gold Medal in CNC Turning at the district level. His resilience didn’t stop there; he won a Silver Medal at the state competition. Jacob is motivated to compete again, driven by a desire to help his instructor, Mr. Canceliere, achieve victory over a rival technical school.
Additionally, Jacob has made a significant impact by participating in the NASA HUNCH program for two years, showcasing his dedication to innovation and continuous learning. Through this program, he has been able to apply his skills to real-world challenges, fueling his passion for machining and proving his ability to contribute to cutting-edge projects in meaningful ways.
In September 2024, Jacob began working at Bracalente Manufacturing Group, where he embraced the opportunity to apply his skills professionally. Jacob will be exposed to the tool room, machining, the quality department, and maintenance. Looking ahead, he hopes to continue his journey at Bracalente after graduation, aiming to deepen his knowledge and ultimately pursue a career in engineering. Beyond academics, Jacob is an enthusiastic member of Quakertown’s bowling team. He loves sharing stories about bowling techniques and his perfect game, showcasing his competitive spirit and engaging personality. (Ask him about his tattoo.)
Jacob's interests extend into nature too; he enjoys hunting deer and geese and fishing for trout and bass. His active lifestyle reflects his adventurous spirit and love for the outdoors.
QCHS Senior Designs New Safety Feature for School Buildings
With plans to study engineering in college, Quakertown Community High School senior Jaxon Torres is taking his studies to the next level through the creation of a door lock block plate – a small device to provide increased security during a school emergency.
Torres is participating in a field study at the high school taught by Christopher Polk, Tech-Ed and Pre-Engineering Teacher. The project is also part of the Career Pathways program at the high school which prepares students to positively contribute to and lead a competitive global workforce.
Torres was inspired by the project of former student Emelia Graham, who created a device that allowed the double doors in the high school classrooms to be kept open with the lock engaged. When Adam Schmucker, Principal of Trumbauersville Elementary School, requested a similar design specific for his school doors, Torres enthusiastically took on the redesign and 3D fabrication of the door lock solution to fit the new application.
“At first, I was worried about taking measurements and then drawing and printing a solution. I was definitely nervous about checking the first prototype to see if it worked,” Torres said. “I was very excited when the first prototype worked as expected, and this experience has definitely helped me to become more confident in my abilities to solve problems.”
QCHS Alumni Spotlight: Robin Davis Detweiler, Class of 2001
BY RAY FOX '66
This month’s QCHS Spotlight Article is about Robin Davis Detweiler, Class of 2001. I want to thank Pete Jarrett who was Robin’s science teacher in eighth grade as well as the former Spotlight subject and a QCHS Board of Director for recommending Robin for this article. When he contacted me, my immediate thought was, wow, she would be a great candidate for a Spotlight Article. I have found that it is best to listen to the suggestions for articles from readers who were also QCHS graduates.
During her four years at QCHS Robin was an active participant in the athletic programs. She participated in varsity basketball and soccer for all four years and in girls’ cross country. She was captain of the girls ‘basketball team in her Junior and Senior years and captain of the girls’ soccer team in her Senior year. She achieved honorable mention all Suburban One status for basketball in her Senior year. She was chosen to participate in the girls Suburban One All Game where she won MVP Honors. During her Senior year, Robin was honored by the Pennridge/Quakertown Sports Hall of Fame as the Most Courageous Female Athlete. Her fondest memories from high school revolved around athletics and her teammates were her closest friend. She said, “we laughed, we cried, and we competed together. We were never the biggest but we fought the hardest. I valued my coaches and the lessons learned on the court and on the field. My passion for sports fueled my future and that is a direct result of my athletic experiences in high school.”
Robin indicated that her two favorite teachers in school were Mrs. Donna Correll Butz and Ms. Anita Serge. Mrs. Butz was her first-grade teacher and Robin stated they she was a very caring person. “She was loving, accepting, and made school fun. She found tine to connect with each of her students and still to this day I don’t know how she did it.” Robin wanted to become a teacher because of the impact that Mrs. Butz had on her. Ms. Serge was Robin’s homeroom and math teacher in sixth grade. She was also her high school basketball coach. Robin said, “ she pushed me to be a better person, student, and athlete. She held me accountable and never let me give anything but my best in all I did.”
It was Serge’s “tough love” approach that helped Robin develop her leadership skills and enforced the idea of standing up for what she believed in. Much of what Serge taught her is carried over to her own coaching today. Robin is still on contact with both teachers and is forever grateful and thankful for both.
After high school, Robin attended Wesley College for two years majoring in Education. She then transferred to Clarion University to finish her bachelor’s degree. Several years later she completed her master’s degree in kinesiology and sports management at Georgia Southern Robin’s success has brought her a variety of awards. She was the rookie of the year in women’s basketball at Wesley. She was chosen as coach of the year in girls’ basketball at Redbank Valley High School in western PA. She has eclipsed the one hundred career collegiate wins in women’s basketball at Warren Wilson College. She has successfully guided Warren Wilson College through the NCAA Division III membership process to becoming a full member starting this fall. During her master’s degree at Georgia Southern she graduated with honors. In January, 2022, Robin became the first female in NCAA Division III history to coach and win a men’s college basketball team when she took over the men’s basketball team at Warren Wilson College.
She has worked in a several jobs as an educator or social worker. After graduation from Clarion, worked as an aide with children on the autism spectrum. She also coached high school soccer and basketball. She took a position as case worker for Family Services in Western Pennsylvania. In this position, she helped families connect to resources in their community and helped them develop healthy habits to grow as parents. She later took the position of Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Penn State Lehigh Valley. Today, Robin is the Athletic Director and Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Warren Wilson College in North Carolina. Robin and her family live in Swannonoa, NC. She has four children. Her oldest, Ellie, is a freshman at Warren Wilson College and will be playing basketball for her this year. She will be one of the very few college coaches who are a parent/ child coaching combination in the NCAA.
The device created by Torres is a small orange plate that attaches to doors to secure the classroom faster in case of an immediate need. With these devices, the classroom doors can remain locked but still allow students and staff to flow in and out of the classrooms during the school routines. Then, when needed, the door lock block plate is removed in one quick motion and the classroom doors are quickly locked and secure – without having to take time to use keys to lock the doors. The lock block plate is not a lock itself, but it holds the door, so the actual lock system of the door doesn’t engage.
Torres was on-site at Trumbauersville Elementary School in early September to measure doors and test out a prototype of his design to determine the next steps in the creation process.
Her son, Asante, is a junior at Owen High School and plays both basketball and baseball. Daughter, Raeya is four years old and is attending preschool. Just two months ago, Robin gave birth to her youngest daughter, Ariya.
Jay Detweiler and Jan Detweiler, Robin’s parents recently retired from the QCSD. Many will remember her mom as the secretary at Quakertown Elementary School. Jan, formerly Jan C. Worthington, graduated from QCHS in 1974. Her dad will be joining her as an assistant basketball coach at Warren Wilson this coming season. Robin’s brother Bryan, graduated from QCHS in 1999. He has the distinction of kicking the winning field goal in a Panther victory over Hatboro Horsham in 3-0 win in 1998. Today, Bryan lives and works in Salt Lake City with his wife and their four children. He also coaches at the basketball at the high school level.
“It was a fantastic start to the school year to see a young person so capable, passionate and driven to use his schooling to help others,” Schmucker said.
Torres’ initiative aligns with Quakertown Community School District’s mission to prepare all students with the knowledge, habits and skills they need to graduate ready for college or career and for engaged citizenship. By taking on this project, he engages with and supports his local community.
“Trumbauersville Elementary School and the whole Quakertown Community School District community are fortunate to have Jaxon and his engineering abilities in our community,” Schmucker said.
hundred bridges and many roads were destroyed. Only one of the three ways to get on to campus was left. She and her family stayed in their home from September 27 until October 2, when they decided they had to evacuate. She brought her family and two of her basketball players here to Quakertown where they are staying with her parents. The rest of the students on campus either went home or have found alternative places to live. As of October 15, they now have electricity on campus but the water supply is still not potable. Her present plan is to try to return to North Carolina on October 28. The town near the campus and most of Ashville are wiped out by the devastation. Ashville, which relies heavily on tourism, will have an extremely difficult road to recovery. Many houses and stores are gone. There are two rivers near Swannanoa are the Swannanoa River and the French Broad River. The Swannanoa reached a flood stage of 26.1 feet and the French Broad River hit a record flood stage of 24,67 feet. Records indicate that neither of these rivers has reached that flood stage since at least 1916. Fortunately, there were no injuries on campus and Robin’s home is safe. If any readers would like to contribute to help recovery efforts at the college, visit Warren Wilson Post Helene - Recovery and Renewal, warren-wilson.edu/giving/make-a-gift If you would like to contribute specifically to the women’s basketball team, the site is warren-wilson.edu/giving/athletics
Robin recently experienced a life changing event when Hurricane Helene caused extensive damage in North Carolina. Living on campus at Warren Wilson in Swannanoa, NC and about ten miles from Ashville, most of the area was inundated with flood waters from the Hurricane. The area had already had considerable rainfall before the Hurricane hit. The Hurricane itself dropped about thirty inches of rain in that area over a brief period of time. On September 27 alone, they received 14.9 inches of rain. The College itself incurred slight damage except for trees being knocked down. But the entire campus and towns was left with no electricity and no water. Due to debris and flooding over one
The Quakertown Community Alumni Association encourages alumni to participate in the Association activities. Its mission includes fundraising to provide scholarship opportunities each year for graduating seniors. Please check out our Facebook Pages “Quakertown High School Alumni Association” and the Alumni pages of the QCSD.org website for more information. We are a 501C3 organization and always welcome any contributions toward our scholarship endeavors. If you are interested in donating, please email Qchsalumniboard@gmail.com and you will receive instructions on how to do so. Comments and ideas for future articles can be sent to Ray Fox at rdefox@msn.com.
The Alumni board is a group of dedicated people who strive to support the students and alumni as much as we can. You could say that we “bleed blue” but more importantly, that we embody two commonly known Quakertown mottos:
“Enter To Learn; Leave To Serve.”
Valuable 1970s TV Collectibles
1970s television offered viewers some of the most memorable characters in American TV viewing history: Arthur “the Fonz” Fonzarelli from Happy Days, Mork from Ork of Mork and Mindy fame, Tattoo from Fantasy Island, the entire Brady Bunch, Jack Tripper from Three’s Company, to name a few. A quick mention of these characters reminds us of some of the popular programs and actors of the era. These shows also prompted the production of objects that have become, more than 50 years later, highly collectible, sought-af ter, and valuable.
In the 1970s, lunchboxes were at the height of their collectability and printed images from TV shows were among the most popular. TV show characters offered recognizable visuals for these noon time catch-alls. Some of the more popular collectible 1970s lunchboxes include a Happy Days lunch box featuring the Fonz and Richie Cunningham. The show focused on the social life of teenagers in the 1950s. Another family show that was illustrated on a lunchbox was the Munsters, ghoulish residents of 1313 Mockingbird Lane, who highlighted the life of a mysterious monster family. Other sit-com lunchboxes featuring shows like Laverne and Shirley range in value from $50 t0 $85 each on today’s collectibles market.
could bring the set to friends’ houses for playdates. The playset consisted of five action figures, a vinyl classroom floor and walls that folded into its carrying case. The playset also featured rarely read textbooks, notebooks, and binders, student desks covered in graffiti, a teacher’s desk, and globe. Today, the Welcome Back Kotter classroom playset from the long running TV sit-com commands $250 from collectors.
1970s action figures derived from TV shows that aired on Saturday mornings like animated cartoons such as Batman, Scooby Doo, Josie and the Pussycats, Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels, The Pebbles and BammBamm show (an offshoot of The Flintstones), Hong Kong Phooey, Jabberjaw, and others. For instance, a Captain Caveman action figure in its original packaging by Hanna Barbera is valued at $85 on the collectibles market now.
Why Do Dogs Beg?
It may seem obvious, but dogs tend to repeat behaviors that are rewarded. If your dog frequently begs at the table, it's likely because this behavior has been reinforced in the past. This usually happens for one of two reasons: either a family member has intentionally fed the dog from the table, or someone has accidentally dropped food. Young children who often spill, drop, or throw food can complicate this situation as well.
tempting food. You might also consider crating them, especially if you have a puppy.
Other than lunchboxes, television shows also prompted the manufacture and marketing of numerous collectible action figure toys, too. A 1976 classroom playset made by Mattel Inc. from Welcome Back Kotter featured the classroom teacher, Mr. Gabe Kotter and his less than stellar students, the Sweathogs. The characters in the group of lovable Sweathogs were Vinny Barberino, Freddie “Boom Boom” Washington, Juan Epstein, and Arnold Horseshack. They were featured as action figures along with their teacher in the collectible classroom toy playset complete with a carrying case so 1970s kids
As I’ve explained many times, Americans collect in 50- and 100-year cycles, so the 1970s vibe is back with collectors looking for all types of 1970s memorabilia. The 1970s TV collectibles market is showing collectors a good investment. When it comes to value, these middle-aged collectibles are holding their own in this age of YouTube TV and so many streaming services. As new characters emerge on the visual landscape, the characters and shows from a half century ago are still, as Freddie “Boom Boom” Washington would say, “looking good”.
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“The month of November makes me feel that life is passing more quickly. In an effort to slow it down, I try to fill the hours more meaningfully.” - Henry Rollins
I once had a client who would summon the dogs after the baby was done eating by calling for the “clean-up crew,” and the dogs happily obliged. So, how can we discourage this behavior? Simply saying “no” may only provide a temporary solution; your dog might back off for a moment but will likely return when you're not paying attention. Getting angry doesn’t help much either, as most dogs will risk your displeasure for a chance at "forbidden" food.
The first step is to stop reinforcing the begging behavior, whether intentionally or accidentally. Dogs that have been fed from the table will struggle to learn that begging is unacceptable unless everyone in the family is consistent with training. Teaching your dog the “Leave It” cue or can be very effective for managing spills or redirecting their attention away from
It’s generally easier to teach a dog what to do rather than what not to do, and this approach can be quite effective in helping reduce begging during mealtimes. Focus on teaching your dog an alternative behavior. One helpful cue to teach is "go to place." This instructs your dog to lie down or sit in a designated area away from the table, such as a crate or a dog bed. To expedite the training process, consider providing a stuffed food puzzle or a tasty chew treat as an incentive. If you have a baby or toddler, it might be best to wait until they are past the stage of throwing food before starting this training.
Hiring a certified professional dog trainer (CPDT-KA) or attending a forcefree, fear-free, and pain-free group dog training class can greatly benefit you, your family, and your dog by helping everyone acquire essential skills. For instance, using commands like "Go to Place" when guests arrive can help prevent your dog from jumping on them.!
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‘Quakertown Cares’ Begins 30th Campaign!
BY JANE THOMPSON-SMITH
How could it be 30 years?!
In some ways it seems like yesterday that “Quakertown Cares” began. I remember it well. I was the editor of the original Free Press at the time, and my job was to write stories on the campaign, along with a few other duties like attending “Quakertown Cares” Committee meetings, and helping out with the breakfast fundraiser, which was held at the old Quakertown Senior Center, Quakertown United Methodist Church and for a number of years at Quakertown Community High School.
Oh, the memories of slaving over the sausage with Ruthann Seibert, before Lisa Green and her family took over with the help Carmen at the high school.
Lisa and I were also given the honor of personally delivering gift cards to community residents. I took my young children with me, and it was something none of us will ever forget. What a privilege.
The original Free Press is now gone, and this paper rose from the ashes of the old one to keep local news coming. It also continues to spread the word about “Cares.”
Thank you, publisher Christopher Betz, for continuing to provide local news to the community, and for running these articles on “Quakertown Cares!”
The “Quakertown Cares” Committee, a small community group, still has some of its original members, along with some new additions. All of them have strong connections to the Quakertown Community, whether it be through the school district or a local business.
Retired Quakertown Community School District Assistant Superintendent Jim Newcomer has been on the committee
since day one, and has been a real driving force for the campaign. Craig Gillahan, of the accounting firm Hutchinson, Gillahan and Freeh, has also been on the committee for decades, as have QNB and the Quakertown Community School District.
The longevity of committee members can be linked to the name of the committee. They care. They really do. They care about Quakertown and the people that live there.
“Cares” is a grass roots local charity that provides assistance to families that have children within the Quakertown Community School District, and Quakertown area senior citizens and veterans in economic distress.
The Free Press, the Quakertown Community School District, Quakertown National Bank (now QNB), and veteran and business groups organized “Quakertown Cares” in recognition of the reality that some neighbors were not sharing in the community’s general prosperity and were often in economic crisis.
As a result, “Cares” called upon the community to help its own over the holidays. And the community has consistently answered the call to help.
Over its first 29 years, “Quakertown Cares” has distributed an estimated (conservative estimate) $875,000 to neighbors in need, one supermarket food card or check at a time. During the last five years alone, “Cares” provided aid well over 2,200 times.
Referrals for those who need help come from school and community social workers, guidance counselors, veteran representatives, senior advocates and officials, partner charitable organizations, and other trusted sources.
Recipients have experienced unemploy-
ment, family tragedy with the death of breadwinners, homelessness, house fires, elder abuse, evictions and a wide variety of other setbacks that undermine family and individual stability and food and housing security.
“Cares” is a completely volunteer-run organization with no administrative expenses, and every dollar contributed goes to recipients in need.
As a 501(c)(3) charity, all contributions are tax-deductible.
Contributions to the 2023-2024 (through May) campaign totaled a record $54,006 from 100+ contributors.
Spring contributions included: Quakertown United Methodist Church
Missions ($1,949), additional contributions in memory of Reverend Cheryl Stoneback ($400), contributions in memory of Robert Zirinsky ($1,025), and a contribution in appreciation of Becca and Chris Lynde by the Zirinsky family ($1,000).
Early contributions to the 2024-2025 campaign (from June) include: Quakertown United Methodist Church Missions ($1,286), and an anonymous retired school district administrator ($2,500).
Contributions may be dropped off at any branch of the QNB bank or be mailed to Quakertown Cares, c/o QNB, P.O. Box 9005, Quakertown, PA 18951.
