October 2016 • Upper Bucks Free Press •
9
Trick or Treat – Eeek!
HAALLL-OOO-WEEN!!!! That’s one of the things we associate with October. I remember Halloween well when I was a child. It was a fun time, especially in elementary school. Where I lived in the country, there were not a lot of younger children, so we never got trick or treaters from our neighborhood, nor did I go out. When I got older, my cousins would bring their children to our house for treats. One of the parents would drive to the end of the road, and they would walk to our house. My mother always pretended that she could not identify the little ghosts and goblins. I, on the other hand, had to wait until I had children to go trick or treating on Halloween. But, we did have a pumpkin patch, so I got to decorate pumpkins. What I remember as a child was the fun we had in elementary school, particularly, in our fifth and sixth grade, one room schoolhouse, with a basement. Sunnyside School was located in East Rockhill Township, on Old Bethlehem Road in the little Village of Wiesel. Our teacher, Mrs. Ildah Fluck, had her very own thrift shop boutique in the basement. I don’t know where she got the house dresses, bib overalls, gowns, hats, and shoes, but we had a blast choosing outfits for our Halloween Parade. We would get dressed up and then march around the schoolhouse. Those were the days when kids used their imagination to dress up for Halloween. The boys would borrow their dad’s or uncle’s bib overalls and roll up the legs, along with his long-sleeved plaid shirt, his big straw hat pulled down over their face so they were not recognizable, and a pair of his big clunky work shoes. The girls would, of course, go to their mother’s closet to find an old party dress that their mothers had worn to a high school dance, or maybe a prom dress that no longer fit Mom. And, how grown up did they feel wearing her high heel shoes? Some girls would even
dress up in one of their Dad’s old suit jackets with a tie and his hat. No one could possibly guess that she was a girl. Of course, it was not Halloween fun without Casper, clowns, scarecrows, soldiers, witches, pumpkins, cowboys, and Indians. The only thing that may have been bought was a mask, but many times they were made also, as in a paper bag over your head. By the time I had children in the mid-seventies, Halloween had changed. You could go to a store and purchase a costume for any cartoon character that ever existed. As the years passed, those costumes became quite expensive. Since I believed in developing a child’s imagination, I refrained from – no, I refused to purchase costumes. We were always original. Taking my children out for Halloween was such a fun time for me because I got to do what I did not do as a child. Since I didn’t give my children sweets, they would carry a sign that said, “No Treats. Just Tricks if you can’t guess who we are.” Before they rang the doorbell, I would hide at the side of the house that had a window. When my friends could not guess who they were, I would appear, but not before I had soaped their windows. If there were no windows, the shrubs or tree trunk got wrapped in bathroom tissue. You see, having children will allow you to do so many things that are not acceptable for an adult under normal circumstances. For many years, on the Tuesday evening before Halloween, my children and I were stationed at the corner of Third and Broad Streets, by the Friendly Book Store, waiting for the parade to make its way onto Third Street where it ended. Eventually, I stood on the corner without my children because they had become participants. What memorable days they were from childhood to adulthood – mischievous, exciting, and enjoyable. Have a safe and fun Treat or Treating night with your kiddies this Halloween. You can contact Jacque at: jacque@ubfp.org
Think Local. Buy Local. Be Local.
Land Preservation Board Aims to Continue Efforts BY KATHLEEN FEDOROCSKO In Richland Township, the most dramatic changes have occurred over the past 40 years, as developers transformed hundreds of acres of farm fields into new residential and commercial developments. The Richland Township Preservation Board, a volunteer group of residents, was formed in 1999 to administer the Open Space Plan, which was created in response to these new growth demands. In 2002, the voters of Richland overwhelmingly voted for the township to secure a $3.2 million dollar bond for the purchase of open space and conservation easements. The bond is being paid through a 15-year 0.1% Earned Income Tax (EIT). This fall, the voters in Richland will be asked to extend their current 0.1% Earned Income Tax for an additional five years for the preservation of Open Space. It will be a referendum question on the ballot. This is NOT a tax increase, it is the extension of the current tax residents have been paying since 2003, and is only on income, not a real estate tax. It does not affect those who are living on retirement income, social security, pensions, interest or stock dividends. Over 1000 acres has been preserved in perpetuity through conservation easements and purchases. The Preservation Board has concentrated on preserving township farms, thereby saving a significant portion of the character and almost 300-year history of Richland Township. Not only are the valuable agricul-
tural soils protected, but also the scenic rural landscape remains for all to enjoy. The Preservation Board has also protected valuable natural resources: woodlands, meadows, wetlands, wildlife and open land for groundwater recharge. The Preservation Board has targeted areas to preserve in the Upper Tohickon Watershed, the source of your water. We have been able to work with Heritage Conservancy, a nationally accredited not-forprofit conservation organization, and have significantly extended our financial resources by utilizing the Bucks County land preservation programs. After 13 years of hard work, the original funds have almost been spent. There is still more work to do! Hundreds of acres in Richland are still at risk of development. There is still a lot of interest from rural landowners in preservation. Preserved farmland and natural areas require few public services and is a means of limiting urban sprawl. Urban sprawl is one problem that residents have the power to control by preserving Open Space. Land preservation benefits the whole community, keeping development at bay, which keeps our school and local taxes down, as well as providing a better quality of life. Open Space brings balance to our rapidly urbanizing community. This November 8, Please vote YES for Open Space Kathleen Fedorocsko is the Chairwoman of the Richland Township Preservation Board.
Think Local. Buy Local. Be Local. Sellersville Museum to Host Star Wars Exhibit
The Sellersville Historical and Achievement Authority announces that the Sellersville Museum will be open Saturday and Sunday, October 8 and 9, 2016 hosting a special exhibit, “STAR WARS COLLECTIBLES”. In observance of the 39th anniversary of the release of the first Star Wars Movie, the Museum will be filled with hundreds of Star Wars collectibles and memorabilia. The exhibit will courtesy of members of the Pennsylvania Star Wars Collecting Society. This is the fifth annual Star Wars Collectibles exhibit at the Sellersville Museum displayed by the Collecting Society. Vintage and modern Star Wars toys, games
and collectibles will be on display including R2-D2, authentic screen-used props, autographs, artwork, foreign and rare collectibles from a Galaxy far, far away. The Museum will be open from 12:00 Noon until 4:00 PM each day. As always, admission is free. A fun and educational family afternoon is guaranteed. The Sellersville Museum is wheelchair accessible and has a chairlift to assist visitors to the second floor. The Museum is located next to the Sellersville Borough Office at 120 East Church Street, Sellersville. Call (215) 2575253 for more information. “May the Force be with you.”