Upper Bucks Free Press • October 2020

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• Upper Bucks Free Press • October 2020

What’s Going On in Upper Bucks? October 3

‘Blessing of the Animals’ 11am-1pm at Grace United Methodist, 295 S Main St, Telford. Drive-by Blessing in church parking lot. Blessings & treats for all! Donations optional, given to local pet adoption agencies. FMI: 215-723-2144 Rite Aid Flu Shot Clinic 10am-3pm at QMart (Dept 353A), 201 Station Rd, Quakertown. No appointments, flu shot is free w/most insurances. Have your current health insurance ID card with you. Outdoor Flea Mkt 8am-12noon (r/d Oct 4) Masks required! Presbyterian Church of Deep Run, Rte 113 & Elephant Rd, Perkasie. Outdoor Flea Mkt 8am-12noon (r/d Oct 4) Socially distanced parking/selling space $10. Bring own table. Presbyterian Church of Deep Run, 16 Irish Meetinghouse Rd, Perkasie. Contact: carolwschmitt@gmail.com

October 4

Decorated Car Show 1pm-4pm to support NAMI (Natl Alliance on Mental Illness), Warminster Community Park, 350 Bristol Rd (special events entrance). Theme: hope, mental health, more. Win prizes. FMI: HoldOnYouMatter.com American Girl Teatime “Josefina” (1824) from 1:30pm-2:30pm at Schwenkfelder Heritage Ctr, 105 Seminary St, Pennsburg. $5/child with one adult. A virtual option is also available. Pre-register at 215-679-3103 and details. “Skip & Chickie” free concert 11am-1pm at Quakertown Farmers Mkt, 201 Station Rd.

October 10

Silverdale Fire Co Drive-thru Chicken BBQ

12noon-4pm. Take-out only, $12. Pre-order encouraged. See our FB page for details. Sold at door while supply lasts. 111 W Main St, SilverdaleFMI: 215-257-9620. BBQ ‘Drive By’ Open House at The Drop, 11am-3pm (orders must be picked up by 3pm), Quakertown Community Ctr, 50 N 4 th St, Quakertown. $10/adults, $5/age 10 & under. FMI: 215-892-2178. 3rd Annual Haunted Campground-Drive Thru, 5:30pm-9:30pm at Green Lane Park, 2144 Snyder Rd, Green Lane. Drive thru our spooktacular campground. (r/d 10/11) Following COVID-19 guidelines. All ages, free. FMI: 215-234-4528. Yard Sale at Passer Community Ctr, 2580 Richlandtown Pike, Coopersburg. $15/unlimited space. FMI: 610-346-7609 Annual Upper Bucks Forum on Aging Expo w/Sen Mensch & Rep. Craig Staats. FMI: call Staats’ office at 215-536-1434 or email cstaats@pahousegop.com Drive-thru Soup Day 11am-1pm at Dublin Fire Co, 194 N Main St. $8/quart. Pre-order soup at 267-718-4838. On Soup Day call 9am at 215-249-3740.

October 11

“Gene Cullison” free concert 11am-1pm at Quakertown Farmers Mkt, 201 Station Rd.

October 12

NO AARP meeting this month!

October 17

“Sunset Skyz Music Duo” free concert 1pm-3pm at Quakertown Farmers Mkt, 201 Station Rd. Quakertown Histor. Soc. Market Day

LWVBC, Bucks Chambers to Host Congressional Candidates Forum The League of Women Voters of Bucks County and the Bucks County Chambers of Commerce will again co-host the Pennsylvania’s 1st Congressional District Candidates Forum. The forum guests will be Republican U. S. Representative Brian Fitzpatrick and Democratic challenger Christina Finello. Although the public will not be able to attend, the forum will be viewable on cable and streaming on Monday, October 12th at 8 AM and will be available to watch afterwards. The public is invited to submit questions appropriate for both candidates to http://bit.ly/2020_Congressional_Forum by October 2. Questions will be reviewed and topics that are most frequently asked and will help voters differentiate the candidates will be asked. How to watch: • Watch LIVE on cable. Find your channel at pcntv.com/channels. • Stream LIVE on the PCN Select App for

free. Download from your mobile app store. • Stream LIVE on PCN’s website for free at pcntv.com/election. The stream will be available on the top of the page. • Stream LIVE and engage in the conversation at Facebook.com/pcntv. The live feed of the forum will be free and at the top of the page. • Watch ON DEMAND, after the fact, for free. Available on the PCN Select app and at pcntv.com/election. Scroll to the bottom of the page to see videos listed as “Free to Watch – Related Content.” Several candidate forums featuring candidates for state legislative districts in Bucks County are close to being finalized. Videos of those forums will be released on the League’s Facebook page on Wednesday, October 14. Check lwvbucks.org for details on how to view the Congressional Forum after it takes place as well as details on the Legislative Forums.

Antique Extravaganza & Car Show 8am-1pm (r/d Oct 18) at Burgess Foulke House, 26 N Main St. Call 267-772-1891 to reserve vender space $20 & register your classic car or motorcycle. ‘Flight of the Falcon-Live Birds of Prey’ 1pm & 3pm at Green Lane Park Amphitheater, 2298 Snyder Rd, Green Lane. Baywing Falconry returns w/birds of prey program. All ages, free. FMI: 215-234-4528 River Spirit Music & Perkasie Patchwork Coffeehouse virtual concert 7:30pm. “Deeper than the Skin” (musical presentation on race). Tkt info: tinyurl.com/yaqeud65

October 17 & 18

Fall Craft Fair at Quakertown Farmers Mkt, 201 Station Rd.Vendors in Event Room 201 and Entrance 19. Handmade crafts, paintings, jewelry, Fall & Christmas, more.

October 19

Community Blood Drive 2pm-7pm at Re:Vivals Outreach Ctr, 4 S Ridge Rd, Perkasie. Sign up at RevivalsOC.com/Events, sponsor code 7769. FMI: 215-257-3375

October 22

NHC History presents first 45 minute free Zoom Livestream event at 7pm. “Artists & Authors” speakers’ series: “Odette’s-An incredible era of music…” Must register! Details: history@newhopecelebrates.com

October 24

Trick or Treat 1pm-3pm at Quakertown Farmers Mkt, 201 Station Rd. No lineup, kids ages 1-12 can stroll thru Mkt & collect candy. Spread out & wear a mask while in the Mkt.

Stop by Dept 353A for candy & tricks. Free Movie Night 7:30pm behind Quakertown Farmers Mkt, 201 Station Rd. Movie is “Goosebumps 2”, come early, space is limited. Social distancing & remain with those you came with. Bring own chairs. Coupons for attendees. Drive-thru DEA National Takeback 10am2pm at Quakertown Borough Hall Parking Lot. Turn in your unused or expired medication for safe disposal.

October 28

“Villages of Hilltown” 7pm program. Share memories, early photographs & maps of longago villages along Hilltown Pike. Hilltown Twp Bldg, 13 W Creamery Rd & Rte 152, Silverdale. 267-614-9174. Check if canceled.

October 31 Halloween

Springfield Twp Historical Society Open House 9:30am-12noon at Church School, 2165 Rte 212, Pleasant Valley (across from Trinity Church). View our one-room schoolhouse! Free, all welcome! Questions call Tom Cline 484-308-1510.

November 8

American Girl Teatime “Joss Kendrick” (2020) from 1:30pm-2:30pm at Schwenkfelder Heritage Ctr, 105 Seminary St, Pennsburg. $5/child with one adult. A virtual option is also available. Pre-register at 215-679-3103 and details. “Hilltown Twp Through Postcards” 1:30pm-4pm w/speaker 2pm. Free, donations welcome! Strassburger Farmstead, 407 Keystone Dr & Bethlehem Pk, Sellersville. FMI: 267-614-9174. Check if canceled.

Ongoing Events

Now to Oct 31 - Scarecrow Contest at QMart, 201 Station Rd, Quakertown. Lined up on stage in back of Market. Vote for favorite until 1pm on 10/31, top 3 announced on Halloween at 2pm. Sellersville Fire Dept’s “Filled Longaberger Basket Lottery” held Nov 1 to 30 based on PA Nightly Pick 3 Daily Drawing. On sale now $10/1 tkt, $25/3 tkts or sold out at sellersvillefd.com. Info: sfdbasketbingo@yahoo.com or 215-257-4028, x305. Great Gobbler Giveaway Oct. 16 to Nov 14 at Quakertown Farmers Mkt (dept 244), 201 Station Rd. Win one of ten 20lb turkeys randomly selected 9am on Sat 11/14. Winners contacted via phone & email. Family Education Program on Addiction, 7pm, first three Mondays of the month. Presbyterian Church of Deep Run, 16 Irish Meetinghouse Rd, Perkasie. Attend to understand the disease, etc. Masks required. Regis: Council of SEPA 800-221-6333. FMI: 215-527-3077.

Now till Nov 15- Annual Food Drive for Quakertown Food Pantry. Drop off at Quakertown Farmers Mkt, 201 Station Rd. Call for hours at 215-536-4115. Doylestown Farmers Market open every Sat. 8am-1pm. Check Covid-19 safety guidelines at bucksfoodshed.org/dfm. Questions? dtownmarketmanager@gmail.com Perkasie Farmers Mkt open 9am-12 noon every Saturday through October (9am-9:45am reserved for seniors & immune compromised) Ck safety guidelines. Questions? Email: events@perkasieborough.org FEAST Food Pantry at Christ’s Lutheran, 1 Luther Ln, Trumbauersville. Every Tues 11am-2pm, every Thur 6pm-8pm, 3rd Sat 11am-1pm. Use door right side at bottom of ramp. FMI: 215-536-3193 Free Dog Adoptions for Veterans & Active Military Members! Harley’s Haven Dog Rescue waives adoption fees. Ck website for more on Pups for Vets program. HarleysHavenDogRescue.com

October 2020 • Upper Bucks Free Press •

The Truth Behind Living Trusts in Pennsylvania

BY ROBERT E. FRAVEL, ESQ.

Recently I’ve had a number of my clients sit down in my office and tell me that they had a living trust set up for them and their spouse years ago, and that “they were all set with their estate plan”. When I probed further and asked why they chose to go with a living trust, their answers ranged from “I want to avoid inheritance tax”; “I don’t want my creditors to be able to touch my assets”; “I want to avoid probate”; and even “I don’t really know”.. As evidenced by my clients’ responses, many people whose estate plan is comprised largely around a living trust, don’t really know what a living trust does. I my personal opinion, I believe a lot of these folks have been duped; either through seminars, unknowledgeable professionals in the legal or financial industry or late night infomercials. I want to attempt to clear up any myths and misconceptions about living trusts. Living trusts can be a very useful estate planning tool, but only if they are used properly. And if you have a living trust and you are unsure why you opted for the LT instead of a will or other estate planning options, chances are your living trust isn’t being used properly. Misconception #1: Living Trusts avoid paying inheritance tax. False. Since living trusts are revocable, meaning the assets can be removed from the trust and placed them back in your own name at any time, the IRS treats trust assets as being owned by the person who set up the trust (you). Which means that the trust is non-existent in the eyes of the IRS. When it comes time to paying estate and inheritance tax, your trust beneficiaries will still have to pay inheritance taxes and file an inheritance tax return, regardless of whether or not you had a living trust. The inheritance tax return will be different than that of an estate (a living trust return will reflect non-probate assets), but the amount paid in taxes will likely be the exact same. Misconception #2: Living Trusts protect your assets creditors. False. A living trust is revocable. If the trust is revoked, then you (meaning the person who set up the trust) get the assets back, And in the eyes of the law (and the IRS), if you can have access to your assets at any time, then they will be treated as your individual assets and are within full reach of your individual creditors. Misconception #3: Living Trusts will avoid probate. This is True. This fact has been repeatedly pitched by many lawyers and financial professionals alike over the last decade. Technically

Hi everyone! Brandy here! I am told that my dog buddies and I cannot go visit our nursing home friends yet. If you want to say Hi to me, I will have my friends with me at the Richlandtown Halloween Pet Parade this month. It’s at Benner Park on the 31st and the parade is 2 to 3 PM. I am so happy there is something for me to do so I can get out and see people. Please remember when you are out and about if you can afford a little bigger tip to people who had been out of work for so long please do it. Hair salons and restaurants really have it hard because even though they are working they are not at full capacity. Have a wonderful Fall month! Love Brandy

a living trust will avoid the court’s probate process. But here is the catch – in order to do so, ALL of your assets need to be titled (or re-titled) in the name of the trust. For example, after you have a living trust drafted, you need to execute a new deed for your house naming the living trust as the owner of the real estate. All your bank accounts, brokerage accounts, etc. all need to be in the name of the living trust. If at any point before you die, you forget or fail to do this for any of your assets, an estate will have to be opened on your behalf and your beneficiaries will have to go through the court’s probate process to take ownership of the assets that were never transferred to the trust. This is a situation that I see fairly often: A couple has a trust drafted for them, but that is the end of the process. They never retitle their assets in the name of the trust. In this situation, when the couple who set up the trust die, their beneficiaries will have to administer both a trust AND an estate, thus totally defeating a major selling point of the trust. Misconception #4: I have a trust so I do not need a will. False. Let’s say you and your spouse set up a trust and properly retitled everything in the name of the trust like you were supposed to do. And you and your spouse also decided that a will was not necessary, because you really did not want to spend more money on lawyers’ fees to have wills drafted. Suppose you and your spouse both died unexpectedly in a car crash, but 4 months earlier you inherited a Potter County mountain house from your recently deceased grandfather. The inherited house would be part of your estate, not the trust. But if you had what is called a “pour-over will”, that house would automatically be transferred to the trust upon your death, and there would be no need for an estate to be opened upon your death. So while you view a trust as a will substitute, a will is also a very important part of an estate plan that contains a trust. There are undoubtedly situations which justify the drafting of a Living Trust, but the large majority of folks who want one, have based their conclusion on bad information. Before you waste thousands of dollars on have one drafted, sit down with a knowledgeable and experienced estate planning attorney who will give you an honest analysis of your situation. Robert E. Fravel, Esq. is a Bucks County attorney located at 123 N. Main Street, Suite 101B, in Dublin, Pennsylvania. He specializes in estate planning & administration, family law, business law and real estate law. To set up a consultation, call his office at (267) 227-9138 or visit his website at www.fravel-law.com.

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• Upper Bucks Free Press • October 2020

Why is my cat peeing in the closet?

4 Easy Staging Tips You Haven’t Thought About Selling can be overwhelming. You’re packing everything up, trying to make the house look pristine when all around you is what feels like chaos. Since buyers want that great first impression, you know it’s important to declutter-often that means cleaning until your home looks like it’s never been lived in. And while you’re rushing around, trying to find a new place for your items, it may seem like an impossible task. It’s actually easier than you think. Here are four staging tips that are so easy they may not have even crossed your mind: Decorate for the potential buyer. You know who this is because you were once this person! If you’re in a starter home neighborhood, the buyer will likely be a younger individual or couple who is looking for more space after cramped apartment living. Pick some trendy paint colors like lilac gray or muted pastels and keep the decor minimalistic and modern. Forget decorating a kid’s bedroom and opt for an office layout in the second bedroom instead. If you’re looking to downsize from a, say, four-bedroom house on a cul-de-sac, you’re probably going to attract the family crowd. Emphasize your space by decorating according to their needs. Have a finished basement? Amp up the recreational feel with some movie theater loungers or make it a game room! Think about your neighborhood as well. If you’re in walking distance to a dog park, you may find that your buyer has a furry roommate. If your home is near a highly-rated school, that’s also an indicator that kids may come with the package for whoever owns your home next. Use resources. You don’t have to take on this process all by yourself. Rent a storage unit so you don’t have to worry about hiding away your must-keeps. This way, these items are already neatly packed away and ready for your new home, and they won’t get in the way of a buyer who isn’t looking to see how bad your shopping addiction is. Additionally, hire a cleaning company. You

can find some relatively affordable options, and this will help you stay stress-free throughout the process. Once it’s clean, all you have to worry about is keeping it that way! Focus on the small accessories. Take a tour of your own home, but with fresh eyes. What do you see that stands out as grungy, old and just a complete turn-off? This can be anything from a sticky, splattered garbage bin that needs a good cleaning to your shower curtain which has a dense layer of soap scum that’s going to scare even the bravest buyers away. Replace any small accessories that won’t cost you a fortune, and clean anything that can look like new with some TLC. Use your nose. Again, take a tour of your home, but this time focus on what you’re smelling. A better option might be to find a friend or family member who can volunteer to do this for you-someone who doesn’t live with you or isn’t over all the time. Identify the sources of odor in your home and figure out a solution. The last thing you want is for a buyer to come in and quickly be hit by an unpleasant smell. The cleaning and decluttering should help with this, but there are other things you can do to ensure your home is a breath of fresh air: • Open up the windows! Let your home air out for an hour or two. • Light some candles to freshen up the rooms. • Bake a cake or some cookies right before a potential buyer comes over. Staging can be easy if you just put yourself in the buyer’s shoes. It is, however, more than just moving around furniture and putting away the excess items. Think back to the tour you took yourself before buying this home. What stood out to you-both good and bad? Think about how it all impacts the senses. Of course, trends change, but the overall feeling of clean and tidy is always the first thing people notice. And customizing your home with some easy staging tricks can make a big difference! Sue Deily has been a Realtor for 34 years, resides in the Upper Bucks County area and enjoys serving her clients in Bucks, Lehigh, and Montgomery Counties. Contact her at suesellshouses@gmail.com or 215-872-9865.

Feline urinary issues are, unfortunately, a very common problem! Inappropriate urination, or having accidents outside of the litter box, is one of the number one reasons that cats are surrendered to the shelter each year….though sometimes it is behavioral, there are lots of medical reasons for cats to urinate where they shouldn’t too! One of the most common reasons is the simplest – a urinary tract infection! Infections happen fairly often in cats, and can happen in males and females! They will often present as accidents outside of the box, or straining in the box, crying, urination frequently, or even seeing blood in the urine! This can be from just a straightforward infection, or an infection secondary to another problem (like kidney disease), or the others listed below! Two other common, and related to UTIs, reasons are cystitis and bladder stones! Cats can have stones develop, just like people and dogs. Though there is a nutrition component to stones, we also believe there is a genetic cause – some stones can be dissolved with a special diet to prevent them, but some need to be removed with surgery! The signs of stones can be very similar to the signs of a UTI.

Cystitis also falls into this category – cystitis is when there is inflammation in the bladder, and is believed to be a sort of auto-immune problem where the immune system is causing inflammation in the bladder! This can be with our without an infection too! If it’s not one of the above medical problems, then it can behavioral too! Cats will have accidents as a marking behavior - sometimes if there is another new cat in the home, or stress between cats in the home, or even a cat outside that is marking and causing stress! Even with stress not related to another cat – like a move, or a new baby, or a new dog! That can cause it too! This can often be managed, with lots of training tips, or even with medications for more severe behaviors! The morale of the story is that there are MANY reasons that cats have accidents outside of the box, and more often it is a medical cause than a behavior cause! And even if it is behavioral, there are lots of things we can do to help! So if your cat is having accidents – give your vet a call to see what you can do to help them! Dr. Mehaffey and partner Dr. Jen Heller own and operate the Pennridge Animal Hospital on Ridge Road in Perkasie and can be reached at 267-272-9996. They also founded and run Harley’s Haven Dog Rescue.

Harley’s Haven Poor Cooper is our adorable, 2 year old, ball of joy and love who is still looking for his forever family! Cooper is looking for a home where he can be the one and only with no other pets, and no young kids - he is a love, and adores his people, but gets very overstimulated and stressed when around other pups, so needs to be the only guy! But he has enough love to fill up a house, and then some! He is fun and playful, and adores his ball, but also loves a good couch snuggle and time to just be with his family! Please consider this handsome guy... he is so sweet and deserves the very best home!

Looking for a furever friend? Give Harley’s Haven a call at (267) 354-5204.

October 2020 • Upper Bucks Free Press •

My Fall Resolution I was having trouble unscrewing the lid of my Snapple bottle and my wife asked...”Do you want me to do it?” So this is what I’ve become... I’m married to an exercise junkie who works out, on average, 2-3 hours per day and is in great physical shape...very fit, rarely tired from exercising, enjoys it tremendously, and has great arm definition which apparently now allows her to ask “Do you want me to do it?” Years ago, when we first starting dating and I realized her workout regiment, my thoughts immediately went to “Shoot, I’d better start going to the gym again because she’s not going to want to be with a fat guy”, immediately followed by “Where is there a gym near me that is cheap and I won’t hate?”, immediately followed by “I hate going to the gym.” For a few months I was diligent...up at 4:00 am, get my clothes out so I look good for all the other dopes going to the gym at 4:00 am to get in a good workout before going to their real job... I even hired a trainer...at least it was one guy at the gym who said he was a trainer...he met me every morning and showed me different machines. I never really got into a routine...I could blame it on Charlie, my “trainer”, but it was probably a combination of him not being very good at helping me set a structure and me not really being into getting up at 4:00 am to go to the gym where everyone could see my complete lack of coordination and muscle tone, and everything else when we step out of the shower. Or, it could have been me...hating the gym and going only so my new girlfriend wouldn’t

start looking at me longingly thinking...”I love him but I wish he wasn’t a chubmeister”. I didn’t even like the stationary bikes with the People magazines. And then one day it happened. Luckily, I pulled something in my back...I mean, “Darn, I pulled something in my back and had to stop going. What a terrible day!” So I went to my doctor who prescribed me some drugs and physical therapy. I was very diligent with the drugs...not so much with the physical therapy torture routines that I was expected to do at home. I tried, sort of, and then my minimal commitment faded and I never really got back to the gym, and guess what? My girlfriend still loved me! Now, we are married a few years, and she STILL loves me...all of me...only now she asks “Do you want me to do it?” when I can’t open my Snapple bottle. A Snapple bottle...she is also good at screw off beer caps... So, yes, this is what I’ve become. Not enough muscles to do much more than work the remote and fill the bird feeder...I love watching television and the birds much more than the studs and studettes at the gym...But, I admit, it’s become completely embarrassing and emasculating to have my wife open my bottles of whatever I am drinking while I watch and ponder how Judge Judy will rule or if that bluejay is going to peck some other bird’s eye out...and I must do something about it! I made myself a commitment...a fall resolution...As soon as the gyms open back to 100% capacity with new magazines I’m in!!! I wonder what Charlie is doing... John Schaninger is a lifelong resident of Pennsylvania and has lived in Upper Black Eddy for 12 years. Reach him at m12string@aol.com

Have something to share with your community? Send us the details! info@ubfp.org • 582 S. West End Blvd, Suite 2 • Quakertown, PA 18951

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• Upper Bucks Free Press • October 2020

Joshua Scott Diehl, age 27, of Denver Colorado passed away on August 12, 2020. He will lovingly be remembered by his mother Germaine T. Diehl (James R. Young); father Kevin S. Diehl; siblings Kaila Fleischman (Andrew Fleischman), Brenton Diehl, Christina Miller, Nikki Diehl, Ava Diehl, Gazelle Diehl and Matthew Diehl; grandfather Matthew Diehl; nephews Liam, Preston, and Xander; niece Sadie; extended family and many cherished friends. Preceded in death by his maternal grandparents Dennis and Elizabeth Guenot and his paternal grandmother Nancy Diehl. Joshua was born on January 25, 1993 in Sellersville, PA. For most of his life he resided in Eastern Pennsylvania. Upon graduating high school, Joshua joined the United States Marine Corps and subsequently climbed the ranks to Lance Corporal. After completing his Marine training, Joshua attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. Shortly after, Joshua moved out to Colorado and adopted his dog, Cache. While in Colorado he pursued various employment opportunities such as truck driving for Shamrock Foods, certified commercial and residential communications technician, secretary for H&R Block, IT Specialist, and much more. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to: GoFundMe: https://gf.me/u/ yqtbqa in Josh’s name and memory. Theresa Marie Beck, age 61, of Quakertown, Pennsylvania, passed away on August 14, 2020 at Belle Haven Nursing Home in Quakertown, PA. She was the loving fiancé to Kenneth Williams. Born in Philadelphia, PA she was a daughter of the late Francis and Grace (Scanlon) Beck. Later in her childhood, she was the proud foster-daughter of Tom and Judy Wuerstle. She proudly served our country in the United States Navy.

~Obituaries~

Theresa loved life and although she had faced many challenges, she was always happy and went out of her way to make others happy. She loved happy faces and M&Ms, especially the green one. She was passionate about helping others. She enjoyed cooking, listening to music, which she called “jamming,” and driving for hours looking at the scenery. She loved God and thanked Him every day for all that she had. She loved her kids and family dearly. Surviving are children: Michael Wayne Trunk, Dana Marie (Hills) Garcia, husband Jason, and Nathaniel Robert Levant Hills, grandchildren: Ethan, Emma, Aubrey, Brooke, Jaiden, Dominick, Jayson, Annabella, Melea, and Kasen, siblings: William, Kathleen, Annamarie, Linda, Denise, Michelle and Robert and many nieces and nephews. To view her online obituary, please visit www.nauglefcs.com. Edward A. Flood, Jr., 89, of Quakertown formerly of Port Richey, Florida and Sellersville, PA died August 26, 2020 in St. Luke’s Hospice House, Bethlehem. He was the husband of the late Claire M. (MacNutt) Flood. Born in Philadelphia he was the son of the late Edward A., Sr. & Mary (Shirley) Flood. He was a machinist for the former Pennfield Industries and the former U.S. Gauge. He was a U.S. Army Veteran serving during the Korean War. He is survived by two daughters D. Sue Fernandez (Mike Loughrey) of Coopersburg, and Karen Jett (Thad) of Telford. A step-daughter Jane Roseboro of Bethlehem. Two brothers John of New Port Richey, Florida and William (Dorothy) of The Villages, Florida. A step-daughter in law Linda Flaherty of Sellersville. Five step grandchildren and four step great grandchildren. He was predeceased by two step sons John Michael Flaherty & Gregory Joseph

Flaherty. Graveside services were held on Thursday September 10, 2020 at Washington Crossing National Cemetery 830 Highland Rd. Newtown, PA 18940. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to American Diabetes Association 150 Monument Rd. Suite 100 Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004. (www.crstrunk.com)

Pauline (Polly) Neidig Sanford, age 100, of Plano, TX, previously of Wescosville, passed away on August 27, 2020 at home. She was the wife to the late Thomas B. Sanford, with whom she shared 50 years of marriage. Born in Quakertown, PA she was a daughter of the late Joseph S. and Marie (Benner) Neidig. Pauline graduated from Quakertown High School and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from West Chester State Teacher’s College in 1941. She taught second grade in the East Penn School District for 22 years. Polly proudly served in the NAVY WAVEs in Hawaii from 1943-1945 during WWII. Surviving are daughters: Janine Sanford, Susan Barnett and husband James, 6 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by her 4 sisters: Florence Friend, Kathryn Feigley, Anna Muehlhauser and Thelma Dewar. Services will be held in Quakertown in the summer of 2021. Arrangements are entrusted to Naugle Funeral & Cremation Service of Quakertown. To view her online obituary please visit www.nauglefcs.com. Ralph Gille, 89, of Quakertown, died August 31, 2020, in The Community at Rockhill, Sellersville. He was the husband of the late Alice Cora (McAllister) Gille. Born in Philadelphia, he was the son of the late Otto & Josephine (Philipsenburg) Gille. He was a retired Electrical Engineer. Ralph enjoyed building and flying radio control airplanes and was a member of the Buc-Le Aero Sportsmen radio control flying group in Milford Square. He also enjoyed RVing throughout the United States, and sailing the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterways. He was a former member, usher, and soundman at First Baptist Church in Doylestown and Bethel Baptist Church in Sellersville. Ralph was currently a member of Calvary Bible Fellowship Church in Coopersburg. He was a U.S. Air Force Veteran serving during the Korean War. He is survived by two daughters Peggy Folk (John) of Siloam, North Carolina, and Kathy Jo Benner (Leon) of Quakertown; three grandchildren Alissa Harris, Joshua Benner (Rebecca), Timothy Benner (Theresa), and four great-grandchildren Hailey, Eliana, Tristan, and Rosalie. Services will be private and at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are in the care of the C. R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc. (www.crstrunk.com) Quakertown. Cathy Jean Scheetz, age 66, of Kintnersville, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully on Friday September 4, 2020, with her husband Rodger and son Jacob by her side. She was the wife of Rodger Scheetz, with whom she shared 22 years of love and marriage. Born in Philadelphia, PA she was a daughter of the late Dr Spencer Bradford and Jean Bradford. Cathy earned her associate of Medical Assistant degree from Bucks County Community College. She worked as a medical assistant for Woodlands Healing Research Center in Quakertown for over 18 years. She attended the Church of Illumination in Quakertown. She enjoyed gardening, traveling out west, kayaking and trips to the ocean. Survivors include in addition to her husband, two sons, Jacob Schollaert and Mark Schollaert and two brothers, David and Paul. She was predeceased by a son Jeffrey and several brothers and sisters. Services and interment will be held privately. Contributions in her memory

may be made to a charity of your choice. Arrangements are by Naugle Funeral & Cremation Service, Ltd. of Quakertown. 215-536-3343. To view her online obituary, post memorials and view family pictures, please visit www.nauglefcs.com Patricia L. Glass, 84 of Quakertown, formerly of Fairless Hills and Doylestown, died Friday September 4, 2020 in her home. She was the wife of Clifford A. Glass, Sr. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary last April. Born in Belle Vernon, PA she was the daughter of the late John and Helen (Schimmel) Turek. She was a secretary for Panasonic Inc. in Langhorne before retiring in 1998. Prior to that, she was a secretary for U.S. Steel. Patricia was past president of the Lower Bucks Professional Women’s Association. She was a member of St. Isidore’s Catholic Church in Quakertown. She enjoyed playing pinochle and was active with her children and family throughout her life. In addition to her husband she is survived by her children Clifford (Patricia) of Chicago, IL., twin daughters Susan Vincent (Lawrence “Bud”) of Doylestown, Sharen Morgan of Sellersville and Donald (Barbara) of Quakertown. Nine grandchildren Amanda (Chris), Edward, Patricia (Chris), Samantha (Daniel), Lauren, John (Lauren), Alyssa, Alexa-Lynn and Donnie. Eight great grandchildren Matthew, Mikayla, Mason, Edward, Tarin, Alana, Ella and Kamren. She was predeceased by a sister Barbara Turek. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Tuesday September 8, 2020 in St. Isidore’s Catholic Church, 2545 W. Pumping Station Rd. Quakertown PA 18951. Arrangements in the care of the C. R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc. (www. crstrunk.com) Quakertown, PA. Memorial contributions can be made to Bucks County SPCA, 60 Reservoir Rd. Quakertown, PA 18951 or to the church 603 W. Broad St. Quakertown, PA 18951. Joseph S. Corona, 76 of Quakertown died Saturday September 5, 2020 in his home. He was the husband of Teresa M. (Waibel) Corona. They celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary October 28th. Born in Philadelphia he was the son of the late Joseph S. and Julia (Nemetz) Corona. He was a self-employed plumber before retiring. Prior to that, he was a plumber for the Plumbers Union Local 690 in Philadelphia. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War serving with the 196th Light Infantry Brigade and a veteran of the U.S. Navy Reserves. Joseph was proud of his military service and his union brotherhood. Many fond family memories were centered on days spent at Nockamixon Park on the weekends, teaching his granddaughter to swim, and spending quiet time with his wife. His lack of social awareness regarding where he often stepped in the yard and then came into the house resulted in his nickname, Poopy Shoes Pop-Pop and a song by the same name. He kept himself busy during his retirement becoming involved in the shortwave radio community (ARRL) and participating in search and rescue operations with his tracking dog, Kody. Kody and Joseph were proud members of both the Blue Mountain and Lehigh Valley Rescue Teams. Kody eventually became Joseph’s service dog. In addition to his wife he is survived by two sons, Joseph W. and wife Rebecca of Cazenovia, NY and Michael W. of Quakertown. A granddaughter Fern. Two sisters Theresa Knipe and Rose Morton both of NJ. He will also be missed by his pet dogs Max, CiCi, Ginger and Baby Girl, and family cat, Tiger. A memorial service will be announced at a later date. Arrangements are in the care of the C. R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc. (www.crstrunk.com) Quakertown PA. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to Pets for Vets (www.petsforvets.com). Doris N. (Smith) Hieter, age 90, died Tuesday, September 8, 2020. Daughter of the late Allen H. and Edna

October 2020 • Upper Bucks Free Press • (Schoch) Smith, and wife of 69 years of Harold C. Hieter. Survivors: daughter Susan Gross; son David Hieter; granddaughter Megan Gross Sauter; brothers Robert and Ronald Smith; and sisters Betty Bach, and Lucille Hance. She is preceded in passing by: brother Alan Smith; and son-in-law James Gross. A funeral service was held September 14, 2020 at Naugle Funeral and Cremation Service, 135 W. Pumping Station Rd., Quakertown. Contributions: St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church - 81 Main St. Pennsburg, PA 18073. www.NaugleFCS.com. Sarah Jane Schiefer, age 65, of Spinnerstown died Tuesday, September 8, 2020 in her home. She was born December 2, 1954 in Atlantic City, NJ to Thomas and Elizabeth Talpey. A caring and giving spirit, she took a position as a caregiver for Aveanna Health and took her role to heart. She cared for her clients the same way she would if they were her own. Her grandchildren were her favorite people, and she constantly thought of them and did special things for them. She rarely came to her daughter’s home without some sort of surprise for TJ and Rowan. A lifelong animal lover, Sarah had a special place in her heart for animals that had been abused or neglected and strived to help any in need. She made sure the local stray cats in her neighborhood had access to shelter, warmth, and food during inclement weather by setting up for them on her front porch. She also loved birds and had a special place in her heart for horses. Sarah was a very direct, warm soul. Heavily involved with recovery, she was not one to mince words, and would do anything to help those in need. It was not uncommon for Sarah to drive long distances for friends, show up to help at a moment’s notice, nurse injured people back to health, or take a struggling soul in for a few weeks. In addition to her love of animals and people, Sarah also loved nature and crafts. Over the years she studied different crafts and created beautiful works including stained glass work, handmade rugs, knitting, and wool felting. She is survived by her father; her brother William Talpey; her daughter Kelly Wiler, her son-in-law Thomas Wiler; and her grandchildren, TJ and Rowan Wiler. All of these she loved and touched deeply. Services will be held by her family. Arrangements are in the care of the C. R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc. (www.crstrunk.com) Quakertown, PA. Memorial contributions can be made to Rescue Dogs Rock Inc. (www.rescuedogsrocknyc.org) Karl G. Gross, 56, of Quakertown died September 8, 2020 in his home. Born in Quakertown he was the son of Doris E. (Gery) Diehl and the late Ernest C. Gross, Jr. He was the step-son of Phillip W. Diehl. He was a heavy equipment operator. Karl enjoyed fishing, reading, and watching John Wayne movies. In addition to his mother and step-father he is survived by three children Tara Gross, Kimberly Lordi (Patrick), and Karl Gross. Two sisters Charlotte Marks (David) and Sherry Salinos. Three grandchildren Nyome, Mason, & Jaxon. Predeceased by a brother Michael N. Gross. Services will be private and at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are in the care of the C. R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc. (www.crstrunk.com) 821 W. Broad St. Quakertown, PA 18951. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church 837 Old Bethlehem Rd. Quakertown, PA 18951. Sally Kay Cary, 85, of Quakertown died September 11, 2020 in Belle Haven Nursing Center. She was the wife of the late John F. Cary, Jr. Born in Glenburn, PA she was the

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daughter of the late Charles & Mildred (Gardner) Williams. Sally enjoyed knitting especially afghans, hats, and scarfs. She also enjoyed reading romance novels, and watching baseball; however she was a diehard Flyers fan. When her girls were young she was a Brownie & Girl Scout leader. Sally liked that she both came from and had a large family. She is survived by her 7 children John F. Cary, III and wife Nancy of Quakertown, PA., Pamela Cary of Jackson, MS, Timothy Cary and wife Sylvia of DeLand, FL., Mark Cary and wife Susan of Pennsburg, PA., Joseph Cary and husband Chuck Wagner of Center Valley, Pa., Toby Cary of Norwalk, CT., and Phydilla Gimbel and husband William of Redondo Beach, CA. A brother Thomas Williams and two sisters Becky Esola and Joann Vail. 13 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. She was predeceased by a daughter Lynda Williams and 4 brothers Durwood, Frank, Richard, and Willard. Services will be held at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are in the care of the C. R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc. (www.crstrunk.com) Quakertown. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to Planned Parenthood. Violet B. Yoder, 93, passed away on September 12, 2020, at the home of her daughter, Laurie Brubaker (James) in Telford, PA. She was the wife of the late Paul S. Yoder with whom she shared 54 years of marriage. Born in Telford, PA, she was the daughter of the late J. Willard and Martha (Moyer) Bergey. She was a member of Swamp Mennonite Church and taught 3rd Grade Sunday School for many years. She was an excellent seamstress and made prayer coverings for Souder’s Store. She had a Reflexology business with many clients from 1975 through 2017. She is survived by two daughters, Paulette Benner (James) of Morris, PA, and Laurie Brubaker (James) of Telford, PA, five grandchildren, Jeremy Brubaker of Telford, PA, Jessica Heyworth (Joshua) of Hayward, WI, Jathan Brubaker (Rebecca) of Hayward, WI, Jade Brubaker (Julie) of Lancaster, PA, and Justin Brubaker (Rachel) of Iva, SC, 12 great-grandchildren, and a sister-inlaw, Erma (Bergey) Slemmer, and a niece and nephew. Violet was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Yoder in 1999, and a daughter, Renee B. Yoder in 2013, and three brothers, Randall, Clyde, and Lee Bergey. Memorial contributions may be sent to: www.ssmed.org. To view her online obituary, visit www.nauglefcs.com. Karen J. Hammel of Quakertown, Pennsylvania died peacefully on September 12, 2020. She is survived by her husband, Alex Hammel; two stepchildren, Ambrose Hammel and Danyka Wambold; father, Ronald Schroder; brothers and sisters, Dave Schroder, Elizabeth (Fred) Stumpf, Julia (Kevin) Frederes, and Kevin (Kristen) Schroder; and seven nieces and nephews, John, Isa, Ella, and Ben Stumpf, Colin and Connor Frederes, and Seth Schroder. She was predeceased by her mother, Julie Schroder. Karen was born and raised in Rochester, New York, fourth in a line-up of five distinct sibling personalities, the fifth of whom she would humorously challenge on his youngest claim. He was, after all, her twin. She was a well-liked student at Rush-Henrietta Senior High School where she excelled both in the classroom and on the softball field. Karen’s commitment to school and community was recognized by her enshrinement into the Henrietta Youth Hall of Fame. Work allowed her the opportunity to move to Pennsylvania. It also placed Karen in the enviable position of live-in Aunt to two of her then young nephews. This was a role she valued greatly and for which she was perfectly

suited. Colin and Connor would rightly agree. In her 25 years with Staples, Karen’s hard work, expertise, and ability to rise to any presented challenge made her the ultimate asset. As the only Operations Manager in her district, she was routinely called upon to shape up underperforming stores. Just as routine were the positive outcomes and friendships her efforts produced. When not at work, Karen loved spending time with her husband and stepchildren. All the better when that time got her outdoors. Be it hiking Hawk Mountain Sanctuary or kayaking the Delaware River, her ready camera captured each adventure. There was a period when Karen might have identified herself as a cat person, but she found compassion in her heart and a large space in her home for two German Shepard rescues. Her shared care and affection for Diesel and Malli reciprocated in full by a steadfast loyalty and attentiveness rarely seen and best not tested. Karen will be remembered for her creativity, intelligence, strong will, and abiding desire to put others’ needs before her own -- traits exhibited even in her final days. Her life though cut short, endures in the smiles, memories, and love it will always elicit. A Celebration of her Life will be held at a date to be determined. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org), St. Luke’s Hospice (www.slhn. org/vna/hospice), or Char-Wills German Shepherd Rescue (charwillsrescue.com). Brenda S. Kratz, age 58, of Quakertown, Pennsylvania, passed away on September 14, 2020 at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was the loving wife to Kenneth Kratz, with whom they shared 27 wonderful years of marriage. Born in Sellersville, she was a daughter to Gladys (Hallman) and the late Floyd

Bleam. Brenda graduated from Pennridge High School in 1979. Followed by many secondary courses to enhance her career while working at Sully North American and finally as an Executive Assistant at Blommer Chocolate in East Greenville. Brenda’s passions included spending time with her families, six grandchildren and friends. Her zest for life and competitive spirit were apparent in all that she did. She enjoyed many outdoor activities including; skiing, golfing, fishing, hunting, gardening and enjoying nature. Her artistic abilities showed through with her passion for Needle Felting. Surviving along with her husband Ken are children: Justin Ruth, wife Amanda, Ashley Ruth, Trisha Buchinski, husband Brian and Heather Burdick, husband Renard, grandchildren: Aubrey, Cayden, Alison, Madison, Matthew and Makenna and sisters: Donna Roeder and Jody Kramer. Memorial contributions can be made to METAvivor, a leader in funding research for stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. (www.nauglefcs.com) Brian S. Wynkoop, 57, of Trumbauersville died September 16, 2020 at St. Luke’s Hospital Upper Bucks Campus. Born in Quakertown he was the son of the late Thomas G. & Andrea V. (Nase) Wynkoop. He was a press operator for Total Molding in Trumbauersville. He was a member of the Betterment Club in Trumbauersville. Brian is survived by two daughters Alison Wynkoop and Mary K. Wynkoop. A brother Gregory T. Wynkoop and extended family and friends. Memorial Services will be announced at a later date. Arrangements are in the care of the C. R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc. (www.crstrunk.com) Quakertown.

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• Upper Bucks Free Press • October 2020

Robert D. Park, 86, of East Greenville, passed away peacefully on September 17, 2020 at St. Luke’s Hospice, Bethlehem, PA. Born in Altoona, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late Amon and Alma (Ferry) Park. Robert was married 36 years to his wife Sandra (Kochenash) Park. Robert came from a railroading family and worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad and Conrail for a total of 35 years before retiring. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He loved traveling and driving his MGB to car shows and races at his favorite place, the Finger Lakes. He was involved for years in the Milford Township Historical Society and Life Long Learning. Besides his wife, he is survived by sons, Kevin (Cindy) of Spring Hill, Florida, Brian of Trevose, PA; and grandchildren, Kevin Jr. (KJ), Laura, Andrew, and Lindsay. Due to the COVID restrictions, there will be no viewing or funeral. A celebration of life will be held at a future time. Marian Heimbach, 88, of Quakertown died September 17, 2020 in Grand View Hospital, Sellersville. She was the wife of Paul Heimbach. They were married February 24, 1951. Born in Milford Square, PA she was the daughter of the late Frank & Elda (Urffer) Hunsberger. She was a member of West Swamp Mennonite Church in Quakertown. In addition to her husband she is survived by a son Kim Heimbach (Loree) of Charlotte, NC, three daughters Jan Wieand (Dennis) of Coopersburg, PA, Karen Parzych (Gary) of Trumbauersville, PA, and Jill Frodin (Dave) of Longmont, CO. A sister Helen Henry. Seven grandchildren Seth, Adam, Evan Wieand, Katie, Calli Heimbach and Alex, Casey Parzych. Four great grandchildren Madison Mood, Michaela, Shelby, and Riley Wieand. Graveside services will be held at a later date. Arrangements are in the care of the C. R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc. (www.crstrunk.com) Quakertown. In lieu of flowers memorial contribution can be made to West Swamp Mennonite Church 2501 Allentown Rd. Quakertown, PA 18951. Jeffrey M. Sabotta had just turned 42 on September 15, 2020; he passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Sunday, September 20, 2020 at St. Luke’s Allentown Hospital with his wife Allison, friends and family surrounding him with light and love. Jeff was born in West Chester, PA where he grew up and made lifelong friends Andy and Nick. Just before Jeff’s Junior year of high school his father was transferred to the Orfield area and Jeff, along with his siblings, became Lehigh Valley transplants. To say that even into his 40’s Jeff was angry about the move is an understatement. What Jeff would counter his anger for leaving his childhood home with was that had he not moved to the Valley he would have never met the person he called the ‘love of his life.’ Jeff and Allison met at a party, went on their first date two days later and the rest is history. They were married in 2005 and would have celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary on November 12, 2020. In all the time they were together only a few nights were spent apart when one or the other was traveling. Jeff often making trips to his beloved Vermont with his buddies for their favorite beer and food. While Jeff and Allison didn’t fill their home with children they filled it with furry little feline feet. Poe, Harper, Kipling and Coupland were Jeff’s pride and joy. Every time one of the furry ninjas would climb on his lap or cuddle him in bed Jeff would proudly announce that he couldn’t do anything for the time being because ‘he had a baby.’

~Obituaries~

Jeff started his photographic career in the Lehigh Valley at Dan’s Camera City and for the past 11 years had successfully run and grown his own photography business, Sabotta Imagery Photography. Sharing his gift and his passion for photography with everyone he came in contact with, he was truly the picture of someone who turned what he loved into what he did and what he was. To quote his ‘about me’ section on his website, ‘ Being a photographer is more than a job to me, it is who I am; it defines how I see the world. And the world is beautiful.’ The pride he took in his job and the care with which he photographed every one of his subjects was unparalleled. Jeff was, still is in fact, a bright spot in the people’s lives he touched. Everyone who met him wanted to know him, and if you were lucky enough to know him you were lucky enough. He considered everyone he met his friend and would immediately make them feel like the most important person in any situation. If you were one of his closest friends you know that he would never waste an opportunity to tell you how much he loved you or to make sure he had a goofy little gift for you. He made it a point to make sure that everyone in his life knew how incredibly special and how overwhelmingly loved they were by him. We should all be so lucky as to have someone of Jeff’s caliber in our lives. Jeff is survived by his adoring wife, Allison Sabotta; his loving parents Kenneth and Patricia Sabotta; his sister Kristina and her husband Richard and their children Richelle, Alex, Zane and Connor Horstman; his brother Brian and his wife Valerie and their son Benjamin Sabotta; paternal Grandmother Roberta Sabotta; his father and mother in-law Joseph and Suzanne Sabo; his brother in-law Joshua Sabo; his God children, Alyssa Martucci, Emma Wismer and Ethan Wismer; and his aunts, uncles and cousins and all of those whose lives he touched. There will be a celebration of life held for Jeff when large gatherings are allowed again. It is neither fair to Jeff nor his extensive group of friends and family to not be able to come and celebrate and honor the way he deserves right now. When plans can be made the details will be shared with everyone who would like to attend. Arrangements are in the care of the C. R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc. (www.crstrunk.com) Quakertown. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Bucks County SPCA-Quakertown location 60 Reservoir Rd. Quakertown, PA 18951 in Jeff’s name. Claudia G. Utti, 73, of Quakertown formerly of Montgomery County died September 21, 2020 at St. Luke’s Hospital Upper Bucks Campus. She was the wife of the late Emanuel F. Utti. Born in Norristown, PA she was the daughter of the late Richard P. & Elizabeth M. (Booz) Golden. She enjoyed cooking, going to casinos and spending time with her grandchildren. She was a member of the former St. Cosmas & Damian Catholic Church in Conshohocken, PA. She is survived by a daughter Melissa Fisher (Zachary) of Quakertown. Two brothers John T. Golden (Elaine) of Trooper, PA and Thomas F. Golden of Thorndale, PA. Seven grandchildren Christian Schnitzler, Dunovan Schnitzler, Madeline Schnitzler, Aidan Schnitzler, Hannah Schnitzler, Cecelia Fisher and Sophia Fisher. She was predeceased by a son Richard “Jon” Masso and a brother Richard W. Golden. Arrangements are in the care of the C. R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc. (www.crstrunk.com) Quakertown. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 399 Market St., Ste 102 Philadelphia, PA 19106.

Larry D. Wieder, 78, of Telford died September 22, 2020 at Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest, Allentown. He was the husband of Linda J. (Fox) Wieder. Born in Allentown, PA he was the son of the late William H. & Pauline (Lapp) Wieder. He was a talented metal artist and a self employed welder owning Windy Ridge in Telford. He enjoyed farming, gardening, and raising ostriches. Larry was a U.S. Naval Reserve Veteran and also a member of the American Legion. He was a member of Old Goshenhoppen Reformed Church in Woxall, PA. In addition to his wife he is survived by his three children David A. (Jean), Karen L. Cook (Joseph) and Brian K. Five brothers Kenneth, Gilbert, Dale, Robert, Barry and a sister Marlene. Seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He was predeceased by a brother Charles and a sister Joyce. A Memorial Service will be announced at a later date. Arrangements are in the care of the C. R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc. (www. crstrunk.com) Quakertown. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to Old Goshenhoppen Reformed Church 2092 Church Rd., P.O. Box 44 Woxall, PA 18979-0044.

Ruth E. (Trumbauer) Rosch, 87, of Quakertown, died Fri. Sept. 25, 2020, at home. Born in Quakertown to Eva and Elmer Trumbauer, Ruth was the beloved wife of James “Jim” Rosch, with whom she shared almost 26 years of marriage. Ruth was a 1950 graduate of Quakertown High School. She worked as a telephone operator, secretary, typist, doctor’s office assistant, and 25 years as a Program Planner at Moore Business Forms. Ruth enjoyed walking and traveling, visiting 45 of the 50 States, six Provinces of Canada, and 13 Western European countries. She was a member of West Swamp Mennonite Church, serving on the Transport, Care & Share Store, and Quilt Transport Committees. Survivors: husband “Jim”, sons Robert Druckenmiller (Marietta), Joseph Myers (Linda), and Matthew Myers (Elena). Six Grandchildren, and five Great-Grandchildren. Preceded in death by first husband Willard Myers. www.NaugleFCS.com. Rosalie Josephine (Haas) Blobe, 81, an almost 50 year resident of Coopersburg died Friday, September 25th at Sacred Heart Senior Living, Center Valley. She was the beloved wife of the late Dieter George Blobe. Born in the former Yugoslavia, she was the daughter of the late Daniel and Maria (Wersching) Haas. Rosalie graduated from Allentown Central Catholic High School and met Dieter shortly after at a German dance in Hilltown. They married in 1962, raised four children and were the founders of O.R.E. Rentals in Quakertown. She was a member of the Lehigh Valley Saengerbund and a member and greeter at the Church of the Assumption B.V.M. in Colesville. She enjoyed gardening, baking, and long walks at Upper Saucon Community Park. However, her greatest joy was being a mother, and Oma (grandmother) to her 19 grandchildren. She is survived by her children, Christine Redmann (Todd) of Two Harbors, MN, George Blobe (Susan) of Center Valley, Ron Blobe (Karen) of Hellertown and Gerry Blobe (Madeline) of Carrboro, NC, a sister Magdeline McGinley of Bethlehem and a sister in law, Lea Irmtraud (Traudl) Christi of Harleysville. She is also survived by her

grandchildren, Suzanne, Justin, Erica, Sam, Brandon, Harry, Dan, Kara, Jack, John, Juliana, Jared, Janna and Chloe and her great grandchildren Sara, Grace, Greyson, Aidan and Jordan. A private funeral Mass will be held at Church of the Assumption. Arrangements are in the care of the C. R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc. (www.crstrunk.com) Quakertown, PA. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association 399 Market St. Suite 102 Philadelphia, PA 19106 or an organization dear to your heart. Dale Shaw, 74, of Quakertown died on Saturday, September 26, 2020 in his home. He was born and raised in Quakertown, PA and he was the son of the late Walter Shaw, Sr. & Erika (Bruckno) Irvine. He was a 1964 graduate of Quakertown High School and a graduate of the PA State Police Academy. He served a 3 year active enlistment with the U.S. Navy which also included a period of combat duty with the Marines as a Medic in Vietnam. For most of his adult life Dale worked in the construction field either self-employed or for local contractors except for most of the 1970’s wherein he was employed as a police officer for Quakertown Borough and Towamencin Township, Montgomery County, PA. Dale enjoyed singing and visiting local nursing homes being an active member of The Sunshine Singers of the Upper Bucks County Senior Center since 2014. He is survived by two brothers Walt Shaw, Jr. (Lynda) and Glenn Shaw (Denise), a sister Dena Shaw (Richard Hubbs). Several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. Services will be held on Friday, October 2, 2020 at 2:00 P.M. in the C. R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc. (www.crstrunk.com) 821 W. Broad St. Quakertown, PA 18951. Call 1:00-2:00 P.M. in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to Wounded Warrior Project 600 River Ave. Suite 400 Pittsburgh, PA 15212. Robert Allen Haskins, age 69, of Quakertown, Pennsylvania, previously of Riegelsville and Ottsville passed away on September 26, 2020 surrounded by family at Lehigh Valley Hospital - Cedar Crest in Allentown, PA. He was the loving husband to Susan M. (Patterson) Haskins with whom they shared 48 years of marriage. Born in Easton, PA he was a son of the late Arnold and Ellen (Kimenhour) Haskins. Robert was the founder of GigaBiter and a proud member of NAID for over 25 years. He was an avid Big Game Hunter. The most important part of his life was spending time with his family, friends and his dog Benny. In addition to his wife he is survived by children: Heather Seward, husband Brad, April Seward, husband Brian, Melissa Rinehimer, husband Jason, Robert Haskins, wife Amanda, Lauren Haskins, boyfriend Anthony, and Nicholas Haskins, fiancé Taylor, grandchildren: Alexander, Christopher, Madelyn, Owen, Ethan, Taylor, Lucas, Riley, Molly, Allyson, Hunter, Kage, Fenton and Gabriel and brother: Edward Haskins, wife Linda. Memorial Contributions in his memory may be made to Temple University Institutional Advancement c/o Temple University Lung Center P.O. Box 827651 Philadelphia, PA 19182-7651. To view his online obituary, please visit www.nauglefcs.com.

October 2020 • Upper Bucks Free Press •

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American Legion Post 242 October 2020 Update

BY DICK HELM

In the midst of the current health concerns, I was impressed at the turnout our Post had on September 11th. Our guest speaker, U.S. House of Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, gave an impressive message to the group of Police Officers, Fire persons, and those of us assembled to thank these servants who keep us safe & secure in our homes and communities. Representatives from Pennsylvania and Local Governments, Legionnaires, and local guests in attendance applauded as members of fire persons in attendance from Quakertown, Richland Twp, Milford Twp, and Trumbauersville were introduced. Applause was also given to the police officers from Richland Township and Quakertown Borough were honored. Pa. Representative and Post member Craig Staats read the name of the 18 persons who lost their life that day who resided in Bucks County. A Police Officer and a fireman came forward and placed a wreath at the base of the flagpole to honor those who lost their lives that day of Remembrance. Now known as Patriots Day. Our guest bugler Jim McDivett then played taps. As the flag was then being raised, Darcy McConahy our guest soloist sang our National Anthem. To add to this very meaningful and solemn service, our guest chaplain Tom Souders (Retired Pastor and Chaplain Emeritus of Huntington Valley Fire Dept. offered a closing prayer in which I will always remember a very personal petition. Chaplain Souders related how he lost his father during World War II and the words of assurance and guidance to those who lost a parent, spouse, or sibling that day as he learned from his mother when his father was lost, will always be remembered by all those in attendance. I am proud that our Post honors Patriots Day yearly as they have since 2002. Many of our guests that day were impressed

with the improvements that were made to our facilities in 2020, including the fresh air atmosphere in our dining area since we went non-smoking. Some asked when we were going to have special dinner events as we had held in the past. At our September meeting we discussed that fact along with the need to have an active website and possible face book link. Also discussed at that meeting was what we and the communities are doing to honor Veterans Day on November 11th. We will actively pursue all these needs as we have done in the past. Our Adjutant mentioned that the Fall Drawing tickets (Used for Youth Activities) would soon be sent out. Watch for them and when they come, consider purchasing them and as a special note, if you haven’t paid your yearly dues, include that amount with your purchase of tickets. Most important is our appeal to “Come on in!” We have made the dining area spacing to comply with the government standards that have been sent. Charley Wismer told me about the wonderful meatloaf dinner including quartered red potatoes that was super delicious and was more that he could eat, He also mentioned that the dinner was the special that night for only $6.00! Whenever I go in the Post they have a wonderful menu of hot sandwiches and other goodies that is very appealing. Come on in; see the changes that were made and you too might be telling someone of that special meal you had at Post 242. We will be keeping you posted of the changes during this health issue and events such as Veteran’s Day activities. Watch our yard sign and this column for such changes. Because Election Day is close to the beginning of the month of November, we urge you to go out and vote. You served your country honorably to preserve that right! GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Veterans’ Memorial Committee to Revitalize War Memorial

The Borough of Quakertown has established a Quakertown Veterans’ Memorial Committee in an effort to raise the funds necessary to restore and update the War Memorial located on Mill Street in Quakertown. The War Memorial, which was constructed in 1967 was built in memory of the Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines from this community who answered the call to service during World War I. Over the years, the condition of the Memorial and surrounding features has declined and are no longer representative of the community’s appreciation for all who served. The project includes updating the plaza, installing new flag poles to represent all of the military branches, adding two shelters to cover new park benches, updating the site lighting and landscaping, and restoring the monument. The committee’s goal is to have the project completed by Memorial Day of 2021. The Borough of Quakertown has committed to providing the labor and equipment to assist in the installation, but they need the community’s help to cover the cost of the materials. The Quakertown Veterans’ Memorial Committee is depending on the kindness and generosity

of individuals, companies, and organizations of the greater Quakertown community to help fund this Memorial and recognize the sacrifices made by all who bravely served our Country. Donations can be made to the Borough of Quakertown.

Bucks LWV Shares Voter Resources

Videos, FAQ sheets, a virtual youth voter registration PowerPoint, and the general election voters’ guide have been released by the League of Women Voters of Bucks County to aid county residents in registering to vote, becoming informed, and participating in this November 3rd election. Voters can access the videos and FAQ sheets from the LWVBC website www.lwvbucks.org. The videos are 11- to 16-minutes long and were produced in collaboration with the Bucks County Board of Elections. They are also uploaded to the League of Women Voters of Bucks County’s YouTube channel at t.ly/OY3x . The videos are “Vote Securely by Mail in 2020”, “Vote Safely at the Polls in 2020,” and “Register to Vote in 2020”. Fact sheets on the same topics can be downloaded for reference and sharing from www.lwvbucks.org. Vote411.org, the one-stop-shop of voting information managed by the League of Women

Voters Education Fund, has the LWVBC voter’s guide, with unedited candidates’ responses to issue-related questions. By entering one’s address, voters can see a personalized ballot showing all the offices and candidates running for those seats. You can easily find the information that candidates provided. The website has much more, from first-time voting help and poll locator tools to information about candidate forums. In place of the traditional youth voter registration events in high schools and colleges, LWVBC prepared the “Virtual Youth Voter Registration Presentation” using PowerPoint. LWVBC has begun distributing this to educators. Virtual presentations by League volunteers on voter registration are available for schools and community organizations as well. For information on these resources, contact the League at LWVBucksPA@gmail.com or by calling (215) 230-9986.

All Hallows Eve

Halloween was a different experience when I was young person than it is these days. Of course, it’s been a generation and a half since I’ve been considered a young person. But, the world and its people are also much different today. These days we are much more frightened of other people, and much more selfish with our property and possessions. We have also matured beyond a belief in spirits. Cultural traditions like religiosity, national patriotism, the neighborhood and family have changed. The old ideas are often contrary to the attitude and new ideals of our ‘socially enlightened’, science oriented, human-centric culture. Many people are confused about the Halloween ‘holiday,’ have no clue how we got it. Some folklorists believe Halloween traces its origin to the Roman festival of Pomona, the goddess of fruits and seeds (and M&M’s, I suppose), or the festival of the dead called Parentalia. Most, however, link our modern Halloween practices to the, older still, Celtic festival of Samhain. Called Calan Gaeaf in Wales, Kalan Gway in Cornwall and Kalan Goafny in Brittany, Samhain was celebrated as the first day of winter. It fell half way between the equinox and the winter solstice. The Celtic day began at sunset, so the festival spanned two solar days. Samhain/Calan Gaeaf marked the end of the harvest and the beginning of ‘the darker half of the year’. In pagan culture it was a liminal time of transition when the boundary between this world and the ‘Otherworld’ weakened. The Aos Si (spirits and fairies), could more easily enter this world and were particularly active. Dead ancestors returned to their old haunts seeking hospitality. These spirits were appeased to assure the people and their livestock would survive the winter. Offerings of food and drink (and M&M’s), or portions of the crops were left outside for the spirits. Many Celtic traditions survived the Christianization of Europe in mutated forms. The Aos Si became demons and angels. The Samhain/Calan Gaeaf festival was not declared heresy but renamed All Hallows Eve (All Spirits Evening). That, of course, was contracted to Halloween. In the Christian Celtic world little changed. Costume parties, feasts and celebration continued to be held on All Hallows Eve. Christians still light candles to honor the dead on All Saints’ Day (the day after Halloween). By the time I came along, we’d lost the Celtic and Christian ‘flavor’ of Halloween. It had become a time of gross consumption second only to Christmas. In Quakertown, back then, there was no assigned night for trick-ortreating. It wasn’t exclusively on Halloween night. Sometimes we went out a couple of nights in a row. We didn’t go to every house (like my grandkids do). We went to the homes of people we knew. They tried to guess who we were. They weren’t obligated to give us anything if they guessed right, but they usually did. And, they hadn’t invented the tiny, Fun Size candy bars yet. Back then (in contrast to today), there was also a semi-sanctioned “Mischief Night”,

when the older kids (juvenile Aos Si?), went out after dark ‘raiding’—soaping windows, throwing corn and rolls of toilet paper and perpetrating other (usually less than malevolent, and generally tolerated), minor criminal activity. Everybody expected it. Few got overly upset about it, including the authorities. Once, I decided to start my Halloweening early. At some of the houses they were surprised to see me on the 27th. I dressed as a girl; wore a translucent mask, a wig and some of my mom’s cloths. It was my most effective costume, ever. Almost no one guessed it was me. I made out like a bandit because I was the only person trick-or-treating. Somehow, Jerry T— found out and mocked me about it in school and told the teacher. She didn’t seem to care. For me, once it was over it was over, though. I had football practice and homework to worry about (mid-term reports came out about then and I was a lazy student). Consequently, I thought it was strange (and sad), when Alice A--, who’d been sick on Halloween, went trick-or-treating a couple of days later. Some people she visited were out of ‘stuff’ and gave her money instead, but anybody with kids had lots of extra candy. Jerry T— was just as hard on her as he was on me. I didn’t cry and slobber on my desk about it, though. The teacher didn’t care much about that either. Mischief Night (or week), was something different. When we were young teens, ‘mischief’ was our prime goal at Halloween (I worked at the car wash and could buy my own candy if I wanted it). We called it ‘going out raiding.’ We prepared for weeks. Once, we ‘harvested’ a duffle bag full of ears from a nearby corn field and shucked a whole wash tub full. We kept it stashed in our basement but it was damp and dark down there. The kernels got soft and started to sprout. It didn’t make the familiar ‘rattle’ hitting windows and porch doors but we threw it all, anyway. We never threw toilet paper rolls. Our parents would notice the stuff was missing. We also were polite about our window soaping. We never obscured the windshield, for safety reasons, and (me, at least), never ‘wrote’ anything worse that “Go to Hell”. It was short and quick. I could sketch it out in a few seconds and run away. Only the worst kids did stuff like smash jack-o-lanterns or set fire to bags of dog poop on somebody’s porch. Some even stole candy from younger kids. The police were out in force on Mischief Night but were quite tolerant and usually took us home rather than arresting us--if they could catch us. That was the fun part—running from the cops (a foolish behavior these days). Today, it isn’t viewed as harmless fun anymore. Halloween’s original meaning has been lost. In our effort to engineer a ‘modern’, utopian society we’ve turned our backs on the Aos Si, and the Hallows—on spirituality in general. The barrier between the two worlds has strengthened. We now live in a Human centered universe where, rather than a time to honor the spirits, ancestors and Saints, Halloween has become a celebration of glut and greed. Jack Schick is a long time Quakertown

area resident and regular contributor here at

UBFP. Reach him at sjckschc@aol.com

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• Upper Bucks Free Press • October 2020

The Quakertown High School Cheerleaders, along with their younger QMFA counterparts, held their annual “Go awareness of and raise funds to fight childhood cancer. Their gold shirts, tagged “Super Hero Strong” are ava Ask any Quakertown High School cheerleader to find out how to get yours. submitted photo above, photos below

Quakertown native James Clemmer celebrated his 100th Birthday on Sunday, September 28. Mr. Clemmer was joined by a few family members and friends outside of Independence Court to celebrate this milestone. His sister, Ruth Giering (96) also resides at Independence Court. Also on hand to offer their congratulations today were a few members of American Legion Post #242 - Mr. Clemmer is the oldest member of the post with 70 years of membership. James Clemmer served in the US Army during World War II as a parachute rigger in the 83rd Troop Carrier Squadron, 437 Troop Carrier Group. These heroic Army Air Force soldiers flew gliders into enemy territory dropping men, tanks and supplies. photo by michele buono

2020 can't stop these new business owners! Quakertown Alive! welcomed two new businesses to downtown Quakertown in September - and they are located access the street from each other. Jenn Bubba opened th people want to repurpose, recycle and reuse all while having an extraordinary shopping experience. " Joy Boutique, in the Quakertown TRust Company Building at 245 W. Broad Street, is "your one-stop-shop fo

Even though the 2020 Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia has been cancelled due to an abundance of caution for the spread of Covid-19, that will not keep dozens of performers from Miss Cindy’s School of Dance from sharing their talents via prerecorded segments to be shown via a televised Thanksgiving Day Celebration that will begin at 8:30 AM that morning on 6ABC. Here some of those performers take a break in between recordings. photo by christopher betz

October 2020 • Upper Bucks Free Press •

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old Night” on September 26 to build ailable for sale to support the cause.

w by christopher betz

State and congressional representatives State Senator Bob Mensch, Representative Craig Staats, and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, along with numerous police officers and other first responders attendeed a Patriots Day ceremony Friday Sept. 11 at American Legion Post 242, Quakertown. The annual ceremony honored First Responders and paid special tribute to those residents from Bucks County lost in the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. photo by christopher betz

BuckyGrams: peace, liberty, happiness, freedom, kindness, love, respect, fairness, equality, justice, tolerance, compassion Hidden Message: Pray for a healthier happier future. Bucky Block: Give Peace a Chance.

he Eco Chic Consignment Boutique, 246 W. Broad Street. She describes the store's mission as "to make or all things women's missy & plus fashion, jewelry & gifts" photos by michele buono

Horsin Around, Bucks County 4H equine members met in September enjoying the outdoors together. They learned about poisonous plants harmful to horses. They practiced social distancing, wore 4H print masks and did a fun community service project. Members are always welcoming of new members to join their fun. Contact horsinaroundbucks4h@gmail com submitted photos

Mychal Winter recently presented the Quakertown Code Blue staff with gift cards he collected as part of a community service project to obtain his black belt from Action Karate. Pictured with him are Lisa Bruno, Pastor Dave Heckler, and Ann Fournier. submitted photo

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• Upper Bucks Free Press • October 2020

Upper Bucks Area Places of Worship Bible Baptist Church

First United Church of Christ

Morning Star Fellowship

Meets in Strayer Middle School Cafeteria 1200 Ronald Reagan Drive Quakertown, PA 18951 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

Fourth Street & Park Avenue Quakertown, PA 18951 215-536-4447 info@firstUCC.net www.firstUCC.net Facebook.com/FirstUCCQuakertown Co-Pastors: Douglas & Joyce Donigian Traditional worship Sunday 9:15am, Contemporary Service 11:45am, Alternative worship Sunday 5:15pm, Community dinners every 3rd Thursday 5:30pm

429 S. 9th Street Quakertown, PA 18951 215-529-6422 Pastors: John & Theresa Decker www.mstarqtown.org Sunday service at 10 am, Children’s Ministries provided, Student Ministries on Tuesdays, Weekly Connection through small groups, Cafe open with free coffee. Check the website for updated information.

Christ Church United Church of Christ 101 N. Main Street Trumbauersville, PA 18970 215-538-0142 christchurch10@verizon.net www.christchurchisalive.org Pastor: David Heckler A friendly, welcoming church. Change fear into hope, doubt into faith. God is calling. Join us at 11am Sunday. Halleleujah!

Christ’s Lutheran Church 1 Luther Lane Trumbauersville, PA 18970 215-536-3193 christselca@verizon.net www.christslutheran.com Interim Pastor: Rev. Susan Lang 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!

Evangel Assembly of God 401 Arch Street Perkasie, PA 18944 484-860-8269 Pastor: Rev. Gary Saul Sunday Morning Worship 10:30am, Adult Sunday School 9:30am, Wednesday Evening Prayer & Bible Study 6:00pm, Where God’s Love Changes Lives

First United Methodist Church 501 Market Street Perkasie, PA 18944 215-257-4626 fumcperkasie@verizon.net www.fumcperkasie.com Pastor: Rev. Dr. Suzanne Wenonah Duchesne Sunday Worship Schedule: 10 AM weekly. We invite you and your loved ones to join us.

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, Evening 1st & 3rd Sundays 6:30pm; Small group meetings 2nd & 4th Sundays 6:30pm; Tues: Ladies Bible Study 9:30am; Wed: AWANA (2 yrs - 6th grade) & Teens for Christ 6:30pm, Adult Bible Study 7pm.

Juniper Street Bible Church 317 Juniper Street Quakertown, PA 18951 267-373-9115 Pastor: Bob Stevenson www.juniperstreetbiblechurch.org Contemporary Worship Service: Sunday 10 am, Prayer meeting for Quakertown Service Wednesday 7pm, Other services as announced. Watch us live on Facebook Sunday mornings at “Juniper Street Bible Church”

Palisades Community Bible Church

8730 Easton Road Revere, PA 18953 610-847-2637 secretary@pcbchurch.com www.pcbchurch.com Pastor: Rev. Corbin Seltzer, Jr. Sunday School (all ages) 9:30am, Sunday Morning Worship 10:30am, Tuesday Prayer Meeting 7:00pm, Men & Ladies’ Bible Studies - see website. “Walk by Faith.” II Cor. 5:7

Quakertown United Methodist Church

1875 Freier Road Quakertown, PA 18951 215-536-4992 barb@qumc.com www.qumc.com Pastor: Rev. Dr. Lori Wagner Effective July 12, 9:00 a.m. Parking Lot Worship, 10:00 a.m. In-Sanctuary Worship There is no Sunday School for the time being. Communion first Sunday of each month.

Richland Friends Meeting (Quaker)

Main St at Mill Rd & Park Ave Quakertown, PA 18951 215-538-7555 Friends@RichlandQuakers.org www.RichlandQuakers.org Clerk: Jack H. Schick Non-Denominational guided meditations Wed, 7pm Sunday worship 10:30am “Absolute freedom of thought and worship is our faith and practice.”

St. John’s Lutheran Church

4 South Main Street • PO Box 459 Richlandtown, PA 18955 215-536-5027 Admin@stjohnsrpa.org Pastor: Rev. Katherine Steinly www.stjohnsrpa.org/sermons facebook.com/stjohnsrpa.org Watch our Virtual Sunday Church Services 9:30 am on Live on Facebook or any time on Facebook or on our website. Music by our talented Pastor Kat and Choir Master, Zack von Menchhofen, cago. Virtual services continue until our area turns Green.

St. John’s Lutheran Church of Spinnerstown

1565 Sleepy Hollow Road, Spinnerstown 215-536-0734 stjohnsspinnerstown@gmail.com www.stjohnsofspinnerstown.org Pastor: The Rev. Axel Kaegler Outdoor Worship Service, 10 a.m. Sundays through October in the tree-lined grove across the road from the church, weather and ground conditions permitting. Bring lawn chairs; areas marked for social distancing. Masks required. Check website or call the church to confirm service. Online service also available through website.

St. John’s Lutheran Ridge Valley

910 Allentown Road, West Rockhill Twp 215-257-9643 stjohnsridgevalley910@gmail.com www.stjohnsridgevalley.com 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. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Applebachsville

837 Old Bethlehem Road, Quakertown 215-536-5789 stpauls@netcarrier.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 stacey@stpaulsucc.net www.stpaulsucc.net 9am Fellowship Hall, Prayer Shawl Ministry is held 1st & 3rd Tuesdays 1 to 3pm. (June 14 - Sept 13)

Trinity Lutheran Church

102 N. Hellertown Avenue, Quakertown 215-536-4345 www.trinityquakertown.org Pastor: Lynette R. Chapman 9am Traditional Service, 11am; Contemporary Service, 10:30am; FaithQuest, 10:15am; Handicapped accessible, Family friendly Church, Dynamic Music Ministry, Living God’s Love for All.

Victory Fellowship Church

120 Ridge Road, Telford 215-453-9988 victoryfellowshippa@gmail.com www.victoryfellowshippa.org Pastor: Dr. Virgil A. Mobley Full Gospel.A friendly, loving, and joyful church where the presence of God is in His house. Check out our website.

Have something to share with your community? Send us the details! info@ubfp.org • 215-529-8915 • 582 S. West End Blvd • Quakertown, PA 18951 Holy to the Bone BY REV. DR. LORI WAGNER The power of touch can’t be denied. We all know it. We all need it. A gentle and loving touch has the ability to connect us warmly in a uniquely human way. Touch makes love tangible and real. Touch puts “teeth” in a declaration and makes it live. Or perhaps I should say instead, touch gives love “bones.” It’s one thing to say a kind word to someone. But it’s another thing entirely to lay a palm on one’s shoulder, to give a hug, to take one’s hand, to stroke one’s hair. Touch is powerful. Touch is vital. Vital. What’s there not to love in that word “vital.” “Vital” means not only fundamentally important. Its root mean “life-giving.” Touch is important. But more than important. Touch is life-giving. Touch gives love bones that dream and dance. When we think of bones, what better scripture story than the strange encounter experienced by a local Israelite burial crew with Elisha’s bones in 2 Kings 13. And what an eerie scripture for celebrating October! We learn in the scripture that Elisha’s bones seem to have life-giving quality. A dead man set to be buried comes into accidental contact with Elisha’s bones, and lo and behold, he

immediately is given resurrected life, and he stands up on his feet! The Israelites are carrying the lifeless body of their compatriot to a deserted place in the hills. They are in a funeral procession to conduct a burial. Instead they encounter a group of raiders. Moabites! Fearing for their lives, they lose all sense of decency and decorum and thoughtlessly toss (or roll) the body of their friend inside a nearby cave where the prophet Elisha has been buried and memorialized. Then they quickly run and hide. But when that Israelite’s dead body comes in contact with the bones of Elisha, the man is resurrected, and stands on his feet! When the friends return, they find not a dead body but a living and breathing human being! I don’t know about you, but that would terrify me a little. We don’t learn much about their reactions. But we do know that with this short but meaning-packed story, we are taught something important about the life-giving power of God! And God’s promise of life and abundance and a story-full future for God’s own people. God’s mighty presence is there, even in the face of death. Even when we are faced WITH death! God’s presence is life-giving! Love-giving. God’s touch has resurrection power!

The power of touch may be human, but the power of divine touch is a power that has super-human strength. I like to call it, “raising power!” Cause God is in the business of raising! Our culture today needs the raising power of Jesus, the healing and life-giving power of Jesus. Wherever we see death, wherever we see hopelessness, wherever we see fear or panic or unbelief, that’s where God’s presence will resonate the most! Cause God has raising power! That holy, mysterious, super-natural, promise-filled, healing and raising power that resurrects dead churches, instills life into dead communities, gives hope to the dying, gives water to parched souls.

Are you feeling burned out? Tired? Thirsty? Lifeless in your soul? God loves you. God will take what is dry in you, what is fearful and unsure in your life, and will infuse into you the breath of life – new breath that can renew you, refresh you, and reassure you. God will raise you up and give you strength. And when life knocks you down, God will set you on your feet again, and help you move on. Because God IS the promise of life. God is the Lord of Life. And God is good. Right down to the bone. Lori Wagner is the pastor at Quakertown United Methodist Church. She can be reached at loribethwagner@gmail.com

“The heat of autumn is different from the heat of summer. One ripens apples, the other turns them to cider.” - Jane Hirshfield

October 2020 • Upper Bucks Free Press •

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2020 VW Tiguan AWD Crossover

Insofar as compact crossover SUVs go, Volkswagen’s Tiguan with 4Motion (AWD) offers quality German build, Euro handling and pleasing conservative styling. Added to that, it has the latest technological and safety features that todays car buyers desire. Tiguan crossover is offered in S, SE, SEL, SEL Premium trim levels, in R-Line appearance package, and in FWD and 4Motion. The latter has a locking differential that can transfer power to the wheels from side to side and front to back. We were privileged to test the top shelf SEL Premium 4Motion R-Line, the latter includes 20-inch wheels, special exterior badging, dual color leather interior, brushed aluminum pedals and racy flat-bottomed heated steering wheel. With an easy 18-inch step-in, Tiguan’s R-Line interior in the test car was an eye-grabber with its orange and grey leather seating that is set-off with orange stiping. For sure, a contrast in color combination. But that’s not all. Press the keyless ignition switch and not only does the 8-inch touchscreen come to life, but your eyes will quickly drift to the colorful all digital gauge cluster with embedded driver information display. Tiguan’s heated and colorful front seats are sensibly supportive but on the firm side. It seems all Euro car seats including Benz and BMW have seats that could use more padding. That aside, Tiguan’s vertical stack and its multi-functional touchscreen with voice control, serves Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Mirror Link connectivity, VW App-Connect, navigation, Fender audio, traffic reports, fuel prices, weather, rearview camera with birds-

eye view and selectable mode display. Even a CD player – remember those? Tiguan’s HVAC controls are easy to view, use and offers a Max A/C switch that quickly cools a hot interior. It’s a shame more cars don’t offer that mode. At the base of the console, VW included a convenient wireless phone charger that will accommodate most smartphones. The car’s console houses the standard 8-speed automatic transmission shifter and below it is a rotary mode switch for Snow, Normal, Off-road, and Custom Off-road modes. There are also sub modes within the latter that can be tailored to the driver’s needs. And that includes such off-road considerations like sandy terrain, inclines, steering angles and altimeter. Rated for five passengers, with a third seat option for seven, the second row seat too is firm but offers ample leg and generous headroom.

The middle passenger, however, does have to contend with a transaxle hump for a knees up sitting position. Tiguan’s liftgate opens/closes with a wave of the foot under the rear bumper that offers a mere 28-inch lift over. The cargo area is spacious and with the 40/20/40 seatbacks upright, there’s 37.6 cubic feet of cargo space that measures 40 inches deep, 43 wide and 30 high. Flip the rear seatbacks and capacity expands to 73.5 cubic feet for a full six feet (72 inches) of cargo loading depth. There are also two 8-inch deep storage bins on each side of the area for small items storage. Tiguan gets its grunt from a 2.0-liter, turbocharged inline 4-cylinder producing 184-hp and 221 lb/ft of torque that earns EPA mileage

ratings of 20 city, 27-highway mpg with start/ stop engine technology. The powertrain moves Tiguan’s 3,847-pound curb in linear fashion while enabling it to tow up to 1,500 pounds. There’s certainly no want for power. Under hard throttle, engine noise is noticeable but dissipates at cruise. As for ride, it’s somewhat firm but handling is precise. Turn the steering wheel an inch either way and the front end points 15 degree’s either way. It parks easily too with a compact 37.7 foot turning radius. Tiguan SEL Premium 4Motion came with an extremely long list of standard safety features and functions much too long to list. Because of that, there were no extra cost options as everything a car buyer could want in a crossover is included. But here is an abbreviated list: Anti-slip, engine brake assist; intelligent crash response, auto post collision braking; tire pressure monitoring; adaptive front lighting; rain sensing wipers w/heated washer nozzles; panoramic sunroof; adaptive cruise control; forward collision warning and auto braking w/ pedestrian monitoring; blind spot monitoring/ rear traffic alert; lane keeping assist; hill hold/ descent control; remote engine start and many more. With all those, Tiguan’s bottom line came in at $39,815 with a $1,020 delivery charge. Added to this, Tiguan comes with a 4 year/50K new vehicle warranty; 7/100K corrosion protection; 2/20K carefree scheduled maintenance; and 3/36K 24-hour roadside assistance coverage. Tiguan is situated in an extremely long list of competitors in its class. But comparing the aforementioned standard features with its price, this German import becomes a compelling choice. Nick Hromiak is an automotive enthusiast and freelance writer. We look forward to bringing you his new column each month. He can be reached at nhromiak@verizon.net.

Think Local. Buy Local. Be Local.

Vote for a Solid Investment Strategy Election Day is little more than a week away. As a citizen, you may feel the results will affect many aspects of life in this country. But as an investor, your situation probably won’t change after the votes are counted. No matter who wins, the financial markets may well show some politically driven volatility, but that often happens around elections, and it typically doesn’t last long. But what about the longer term? How might changes in policy and new legislation affect your investment outlook? To begin, keep in mind that many campaign promises remain just that – promises. And even when some of them are enacted, any ultimate legislation may be quite different from what was proposed on the campaign trail. Still, sometime in the future, we could see election-related changes that could affect your investment strategy. For example, over the years, we’ve seen many adjustments in the tax rates of capital gains and stock dividends, and it’s likely these rates will change again one day. When that happens, you may need to look at the equities portion of your portfolio to see if you want to make some adjustments. Many other changes, though, are hard to predict. It’s possible that future legislation could affect specific industries, either positively or negatively. Such moves could also influence the way you look at certain investments, but if you have a diversified portfolio that contains a broad mix of stocks, bonds and other securities, any actions affecting one particular industry probably won’t cause you to significantly adjust holdings invested in other sectors. In any case, while it may be a good idea to keep an eye open for things like tax rate changes or how new policies may affect dif-

ferent market segments, your main emphasis, in terms of your investment decisions, should remain on your goals and what you need to do to achieve them. At least once each year, review your portfolio carefully to make sure your investments are aligned with your goals, whether they are short-term (a new car, a long vacation and so on) or long-term (such as college for your children or a comfortable retirement). Periodically, depending on what’s happening in your life and the progress of your investment portfolio, you may need to evaluate your goals to ensure they’re prioritized appropriately to help keep you on track toward achieving what’s most important to you. Over time, your goals may change, too. Perhaps you’ve decided that instead of retiring early and traveling around the world, you now want to turn your hobby into a business. Changing this goal may require a different investment strategy. Or you might change your mind about where you want to live – instead of staying in your home, as originally planned, you might downsize and move to a different area. Your goals may change in many ways, all of which may warrant updating your investment strategies. Here’s the key point: You’re the one electing to make these changes. No matter what happens in this or any other election, be sure to “vote” for the strategies that have the potential for a winning outcome. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor, Bob Podraza on West Broad Street, Quakertown. He can be reached at 215-536-3635 or at bob.podraza@edwardjones.com

14

• Upper Bucks Free Press • October 2020

Employment Opportunities

McCarthy Masonry & Concrete, Inc. is looking for Bricklayers, Stone Masons and Mason Tenders. Experienced, have tools and transportation, and be able to lift 80 lbs. Competitive pay and benefits. Please call 215-538-1874 or email resume to hr@mccarthymasonry.com Professional Tree Care & Landscaping - Full time ground worker’s position available. Must have current license and reliable transportation to our location in Quakertown PA. Must have chainsaw experience, able to use a chipper and drive a full size pick up. Start right away. Call 215-804-8208 Kulp Roofing & Construction - We are currently in need of experienced individuals for our roof repair team, gutter team, and window team. Individuals must be motivated, punctual, detail-oriented, professional and loyal. Contact us to schedule an interview. We are looking for long-term, year-round help. Roofing is not a requirement for any of these positions except “Roof Repair Technician”. Applications accepted at our office at 216 D, Apple St., Quakertown, PA, Call 215-538-0618

Spor’s General Store - Hiring PT Kitchen, dishwasher, cleaning, waitstaff, ice cream window, etc. Also FT assistant managers. Contact: bspor@sporsgeneralstore. com or stop in the store at 22 W. Broad Street,Trumbauersville New Vitae Wellness & Recovery Join our amazing staff of caring Personal Care Aides, Med Techs, CNA’s, Care Coordinators, Medical Assistants, Mentors, and Cooks who work in our Personal Care Homes in Quakertown and Limeport. Please apply online at: www.newvitaewellness.com/careers or call (610) 965-9021 ext. #239. Pool Pro - Hiring Pool Technicians. Call 610-282-9500 or email PoolProPA@verizon.net for info. Naugle Funeral & Cremation Service - Funeral home support staff needed. Event set up, funeral processions, flower handling, extensive interaction with the bereaved. Must be a people person. Email Matt Grieco at mgrieco@janauglefcs.com Lazer Limousine is growing and starting an office in the Quakertown area. We have a diverse fleet, from sedans to bus, to handle any number of passengers. Flexible schedule. 267-371-7857

October 2020 • Upper Bucks Free Press •

15

Think Local. Play Local. Be Local.

The answers to the puzzles on this page are found elsewhere in this issue.

Think Local. Play Local. Be Local.

Abbott & Costello Batman & Robin Bert & Ernie Bugs & Daffy Coyote & Roadrunner Hall & Oates

Lady & Tramp Popeye & Olive Oyl Snoopy & Woodstock Laverne & Shirley Rocky & Bullwinkle Lennon & Sonny & Cher Romeo & Juliet McCartney Tarzan & Jane Shrek & Donkey Mork & Mindy Tom & Jerry Pooh & Piglet Simon & Garfunkel Tweety & Sylvester

16

• Upper Bucks Free Press • October 2020

Talk of Mural Parks, Town Clocks, and Cyclists in Quakertown

BY MICHELE BUONO

The Front and Broad Streets intersection in downtown Quakertown has been undergoing a facelift to make the area more welcoming and safe. Quakertown Alive!, the Quakertown Train Station Historical Society, and the Borough of Quakertown continue efforts to revitalize the downtown district. Quakertown Alive!, the Borough’s designated Main Street® organization, has undertaken the task of redesigning the former vacant lot into a restful garden area for residents and visitors. The 72-foot mural of historical Quakertown landmarks provides a colorful backdrop to the small park. The mural, completed and dedicated in 2017, was painted by artist Jared Bader of the Philadelphia Mural Arts program. Quakertown Alive!’s Design Committee, chaired by Angelika Forndran, has been working on the mural park project for several years. Once the mural was completed, she and the rest of the Design Committee – Lynn Kraft and Ruth Dunlevy – immediately began reviewing various ideas for the vacant lot. For several months in 2019, the space was home to a massive “Bucks County” sculpture loaned by the Visit Bucks County tourism board and provided a unique photo opportunity and welcome to the Quakertown downtown district. The small park area has now been transformed into a welcoming space with a rock garden, lighting, and paved area. Benches will be placed in the coming months. “We are so proud of our Design Committee for completing this multi-year phased project that enhances the entry to the Quakertown business district and creates a great photo opportunity site,” said Quakertown Alive! Executive Director Naomi Naylor. “We are thankful for the generous donations from local businesses and civic organizations, such as Upper Bucks Sertoma and Yates Electrical Service that have stepped up to support this final phase of redevelopment for the park.” The corner across from the mural park is also getting a facelift. The Quakertown Train Station Historical Society has purchased a four-faced town clock that will soon be installed. As with so many things this year, state-mandated virus restrictions have delayed renovation work on the corner and installation of the clock and new landscaping. The organization is working with Quakertown Borough

on the installation of the new town clock. Deb Samsel, QTSHS Treasurer, says that the new clock will be dedicated to QTSHS “volunteers past and present”. QTSHS volunteer Bill Hilliard is unsure of the exact timeline, but expects the clock to be installed in November. He said about donating the clock, “We decided to donate something everyone can enjoy back to the community.”

Cyclists riding the local trails will now have a convenient way to patch a flat tire or adjust their ride thanks to two new Bike Repair Stations that have been placed along the trail route. One repair station is located in the Park at 4th, near the concession stand/ restrooms and the other can be found in front of The Yard, 116 East Broad Street. The second bike repair station is immediately adjacent to the much-anticipated Trolley Barn Public Market which is projected to open in late October. The public market will house approximately a dozen retail and food vendors, offices, and a new event venue. The repairs stations were funded through a grant obtained by Quakertown Alive! from the Natural Lands. Naomi Naylor credits Quakertown Alive!’s Nature-Based Placemaking committee for “having the foresight to prepare for the expected influx of cyclists on our local trails that pass through Quakertown Borough”.

Fall is General Clean up Time in the Garden

How do you know when to bring in your summer vacationing houseplants? A good rule of thumb is when the night temperatures dip below 40 degrees on a consistent basis. Most tropical and tender houseplants do not tolerate temperatures in the 30’s, so it is a good idea to begin to bring them in before the colder temperature settles in. Prepare the space for your plants. Give your plants a good hose spray to dislodge any “hitchhiking” insects. Bring the plants inside when the outside temperature is closest to the indoor environment to prevent shock. Some tubers such as Dahlias and Caladium and Rhizomes such as Cannas can stay outside until the first hard frost affects the leaves, but before the first hard freeze. If you want to know how to winterize your summer bulbs just call or email our Garden/Watershed hotline for some expert advice. Putting the Garden to Bed It’s time to put your flower gardens to Bed. Remove waning annuals and add them to your compost pile. Late blooming annuals such as Sunflowers, Zinnias and Marigolds feed Finches and Sparrows. Before you cut back those dying perennials think about plants with seed heads that can feed the wildlife through the winter. Black Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia) are visited by Goldfinches, Cardinals, Nuthatches and Sparrows. Finches love Coneflower (Echinacea). Joe Pye weed provides seeds for Chickadees, Wrens, Titmice and Juncos and provides fluffy nest making material. Fall is for Planting Many garden centers are having sales on Perennials, Shrubs and Trees that they don’t want to overwinter. Take advantage of these discounts to add some beauty to your garden. Choose healthy plants. Choose the “Right Plant for the Right Place”. Keep new plants watered deeply to help establish good root growth and help the plant acclimate to its new environment. Make sure to keep any new plant hydrated over the winter. Want to Grow Garlic? Columbus Day (this year October 12th) is thought to be the perfect time to plant garlic. Actually garlic can be planted anytime from Mid-September to early November. There are two basic types of garlic: hardneck and softneck. Hard- neck garlic has a hard “pseudo” stem, while soft neck garlic has no stem-like

structure and is the type used for decorative braiding. Experiment to decide which type of garlic has the most pleasing taste to you. Purchase quality bulbs from a Farmer’s Market or local Farm Store. Incorporate some good organic matter into the planting bed. Break the garlic head into pieces called cloves. Choose the largest and healthiest cloves to plant and use the rest in your cooking. Garlic requires between 50-70 square inches per clove, Plant pointed side up 1-2” deep. Cover with mulch, shredded leaves or straw several inches deep. You may get some top growth before winter depending on planting time. Review the following Publication for fertilization, harvesting and storage information: https://extension.psu. edu/growing-garlic-fall-planting Saving Seeds Saving seeds can be a fun activity to do, especially with kids. Follow these few basic steps to success. • Choose seeds from healthy plants and only those that are Open-pollinated varieties (not hybrids). • Allow the seeds to dry on a paper towel (out of direct sun) before storing. • Place the seeds in a plastic zipper bag and mark the name of the plant and the date collected. Place the bag in a glass or plastic container with a tight fitting lid. • Store in a cool dark place. The refrigerator is a good choice. For beginners, Zinnias, Cosmos and Marigolds are easy to harvest, store and plant in the spring when the danger of frost is over. Here is a Penn State Publication on how to save “wet” seeds such as tomato, squash or cucumber seeds: extension.psu.edu/ saving-seeds-from-your-garden Our home gardening hotline is open through October 30! Emails are being answered by our trained Master Gardeners/ Master Watershed Stewards remotely from 9 am to 4 pm Monday thru Friday (closed noon1pm). For fastest service use email. You can still call if you prefer. Leave a message and we will return your call. Phone: 267-483-2020 “Ask a Master Gardener or Master Watershed Steward” Penn State Extension Bucks County PO Box 67 East Greenville, PA 18041 Email: BucksMG@psu.edu Please mention that you heard about us in the Upper Bucks Free Press!

Perkasie Borough Awarded Grant to Preserve Covered Bridge The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission has awarded Perkasie Borough a $100,000 Keystone construction grant to preserve its historic 1832 covered bridge, the Borough announced jointly with the Perkasie Historical Society on September 10th, 2020. The South Perkasie Covered Bridge was built in 1832 and it is the third-oldest covered bridge in Pennsylvania and the third-oldest Town Lattice bridge in America. In August 1958, the Perkasie Historical Society rescued the bridge from demolition and relocated the structure in a nearby park. Since then, it has become an icon in the Pennridge community. The Perkasie Historical Society, in conjunction with the Bucks County Covered Bridge Society, had raised more than $100,000 in grassroots funds in the past year to support the Borough’s grant application. “Our community saved one of our nation’s best-preserved covered bridges more than 60 years ago, and our community’s renewed support for the bridge will preserve it for generations to enjoy,” said Scott Bomboy, chair of Perkasie Borough’s Historical Committee. “The PHMC’s grant award reflects the love of our residents and local businesses for our covered bridge.” “The Perkasie Historical Society is pleased and thankful for the Keystone grant to help preserve the historic 1832 South Perkasie Covered Bridge located in Lenape Park. We would like to thank all the local citizens and businesses for all of their donations that provided the support needed to obtain the grant,” said Lee Metzger, the society’s President. “The bridge has become a symbol of Perkasie and a popular site for keepsake photos of wedding parties and other events. The Society saved the bridge from demolition in 1958 and raised the funds to have it moved to its permanent location in Lenape Park where it was

dedicated to the borough a year later. It is the oldest covered bridge in Bucks County.” The Keystone grant program is highly competitive, with just 55% of applicants receiving grants. These grants are funded from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund, which is supported annually by a portion of the state realty transfer tax revenue. The project’s current major supporters include American Heritage Federal Credit Union, Free Will Brewing, Penn Community Bank, Pennridge Development Enterprises, the Perkasie Historical Society, the Perkasie Industrial Development Authority, and Univest.

Community sponsors include Covenant Bank, Dunkin’ Donuts, Landis Supermarket, McDonald’s, The Perk, the Perkasie Lions Club, the Perkasie Owls, the Pezzanite Family Charitable Trust and QNB. Perkasie Borough plans to restore the bridge, which has structural issues, to its condition in 1958, and it also will add a guided visitor experience that includes information about Bucks County’s 11 other covered bridges. The Perkasie Historical Society and Bucks County Covered Bridge Society will partner with the Borough on those projects. A project timeline will be announced in the near future, said Bomboy, which includes the award of a contract to a historical bridge preservation firm after an advertised RFP process.

October 2020 • Upper Bucks Free Press •

17

QNB Bank Donates $4,500 to Public Library QNB Bank has once again teamed up with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs to help raise money for local libraries through the “Batting for Books” campaign. For the past 10 years, the Bank has pledged to donate $25 for each double hit by the IronPigs in their home stadium at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown. Despite the

2020 season being cancelled, the IronPigs and QNB kept the campaign alive, donating an average season amount for a total Bank contribution of $4,500! This year’s proud recipient was the Allentown Public Library. Since the program’s inception in 2011, QNB has donated $38,550 to local libraries.

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this unusual year of 2020 I wrote articles about Milford Township Fish, Game, & Forestry. I mentioned at one of our meetings about having a summer get together in 2021 at our Club grounds to celebrate our 60th Anniversary. As a member who held many offices in this club and worked very hard in its development, I hold it high on my list of organizations I am a member of and volunteered to help them as I could for this function. I have not set an outline of proposed activities until I find out when these restrictions will loosen up as we have a little more time then my Class of ’61 committee has. As a 17-18 year old back in 1961, I never imagined I would see the day that Americans would have such controls put on them by the government. Yes, in the period leading up to 1964 the government enforced the freedoms denied those under past laws past. Congress also improved on these freedoms and enacted better laws. Our generation responded to the call of duty by some of us during the Vietnam Period of Warfare. We gave an oath with our life to protect our freedom and our way of life. Once again, move ahead 60 years. Now after working hard, serving my country in the Armed Services, and being successful, I sit here writing this article wondering if I can see my classmates or fellow Fish & Game members because of restrictions put upon us by a select few political leaders. At my age you wonder if you will be around in the next 5 years for the 65th? If so will a new group of politicians find some other reason to control my activities? Looking back to my days in Mr. Sipples’ class, I truly would give up those monetary goals he outlined, and just work on achieving the goals of improving our society and country and its freedoms. As President Kennedy stated, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” We were fortunate to have men advanced in their time when kingdoms and principalities prevailed to form a Democratic Republic. One of my main lines that I stated in my past talks to Civic Organizations, School Groups, and various Clubs that I have had the privilege to be their guest speaker, To make advancements, you have to start by studying History to not make the same mistakes of the past. If we do not have our 60th class reunion and we still can meet here to dine in Pennsylvania next year, my hope is that a few of my classmates from the area can still meet and have breakfast together. Same goes for my outdoor friends from Milford Fish. & Game. My hope is that future generations can witness the America we knew back in 1961 because our leaders did not discard studying History and the philosophy of “Learning from mistakes of the Past.” May God Bless America! Dick Helm is a long time Quakertown area

resident

and

regular

contributor

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60 Year Anniversaries

In this year of uncertainty, being “house-bound”, and certain outside controls of our activities that were not known before in our life, I wonder how the important year in my life (2021) will turn out. Remembrances of the year 1961, a year of hope and promises of a young President who beckoned, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country” still linger in my memory. “Val” Sipple, a teacher here at Quakertown High told us that we had the potential of earning 1 million dollars in our lifetime. My first job at Berman Sales of in Pennsburg, Pa. working in the office at $1.15 per hour seemed far from his prediction. I always kept his statement in my goals. Working with Jim Scully after school at first mowing lawn and taking care of his sheep, then working with him for small office tasks in his brokerage offices, introduced me to the person who could help me achieve Mr. Sipples’ goal and have a comfortable retirement income. Yes, I remember President Kennedy stating in the beginning of his presidency that by decade’s end we will have a man on the moon! I stayed up late that night in 1969 to witness Neil Armstrong taking “One small step for mankind!” Move ahead 60 years. As a firm reader of history of this great country, I remember reading a book about President McKinley that outlined his presidency as being the administration that would determine the new America that would get more involved in world trade and happenings for the upcoming century yet preserve our democracy. Were the goals, the achievements of my country and myself, the wonderful enthusiasm of the country and myself occurring mid-century just part of a 100-year cycle? Were control of a person’s ability to achieve the American dream of going from Rags to Riches affected by the advancements we experienced through the space program’s need of electronics and the computer-controlled equipment in industry and commerce? Did we truly sacrifice our privacy and freedoms through these events? Only time will tell. In the year 2021 at the age of 77 if the good Lord let’s me maintain my current health; I hope to experience two Sixty-Year Anniversaries. Before Covit-19 restrictions hit us, our Class of 1961 was showing interest in preparing for its 60-year reunion. Now I can understand the frustration of the wonderful committee who has put together many excellent past 5-year increment reunions must be in a dither as to what to do. Will the government let us have a gathering? If so how many can attend? Also at our age and constantly being reminded how Vulnerable our age is will the classmates be too afraid to attend? Can they cross-state lines? Over a three-month period in

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Think Local. Buy Local. Be Local. Volunteering Builds Friendships

Since 1975, Care & Share Thrift Shoppes in Souderton has been a staple in our community. The non-profit organization is “volunteer run”. In a typical year, it takes over 110,000 volunteer hours for the business to operate. Due to the pandemic, many of their long-term volunteers are still uneasy about returning. This volunteer shortfall has decreased operating hours as well as the ability to open all of the Shoppes. Since Care & Share’s debut, Blooming Glen Mennonite Church has sent volunteers to serve. When the church heard of this volunteer challenge, they decided to do something about it! The church organized additional service opportunities which allowed a broader age range of volunteers to get involved. In less than two months, the church has had volunteer groups serve six times, with another three opportunities quickly filling up! “Newbie” volunteer, Jodi Stewart-Moore shared, “I have been donating to and shopping at Care and Share for years. I love their mis-

sion - keeping things out of landfills, offering affordable items to the community, and supporting international relief. When my church advertised that there was a need for volunteers, I signed up and am so glad I did! Not only were they well-organized, but I had the opportunity to socialize in a fun and safe atmosphere with new and old friends from my church while being part of the important work they do locally and globally.” Another “Newbie” volunteer, Gretchen, is featured on Care & Share’s YouTube channel, about why she volunteers. Care & Share’s Volunteer Manager, Suzanne Kratz is also on their YouTube page showing how you can “Volunteer – Socially Distant Style”! See more at: https://tinyurl.com/y9o3om2k As amazing as these acts of service are, Care & Share is still searching for those, ages 8+, who are comfortable serving. Volunteers should contact Suzanne Kratz, 215-723-0315 x113 or skratz@careandshareshoppes.org

Dave and Lori Bergey, Blooming Glen Mennonite Church Volunteers

18

• Upper Bucks Free Press • October 2020

Teach Your Dog How to Trade 1. First, offer your dog something he will easily give up and exchange for a high value treat. If he wants to take the item and run, you may need to put a leash on him so he cannot run off with the item before he realizes there is potential to benefits for this future negotiation. 2.Offer some high value treats close to his nose so that he can smell them, but don’t try to push them into his mouth. If he doesn’t drop the object he has in his mouth, you’ll need a higher value treat. Think meat, not dry biscuits a lower value item to trade. 3. When your dog drops the item, click or use a verbal marker like “yes”. Keep him occupied nibbling at the high value treats in one hand, now with your other hand pick up the object and hide it behind your back. This part is very important, you must use two hands. If you let him eat the high-value treats and then try to race him back to the object, you’re likely to lose the race and you may elicit resource-guarding (growling, lip lifting, baring teeth). Stop immediately and call a reputable force-free dog trainer if you have any problems.

4. As soon as the dog finishes eating the treats in your hand bring out the object from behind your back and say “take it” and give it back to him. This teaches him that he doesn’t always lose the item but he can trade with you and then get the item right back. This makes him more willing to trade again in the future. He gives you his good stuff, he gets more good stuff, and then he gets good stuff back again. It’s a win-win for him. Give your verbal cue “trade” and pause for a second or two then offer the treats, click or use a verbal marker like “yes” when he drops the item. Then pick up the item with your free hand while you keep his mouth busy nibbling treats from your other hand. 5. Ideally, you should always have something on hand to offer your dog for trade. If you practice this behavior often with your dog, in an emergency, your dog will give up that poisonous mushroom or whatever when he hears the “trade” cue. Use your cheerful training voice and not “oh, my gosh - it’s an emergency” panic voice. Your training could save your dog’s life! Submitted by Marion C. O’Neil CPDT-KA, CTDI, owner and instructor for Molasses Creek Dog Training, LLC, Quakertown. She www.molassescreekdogtraining.com

“There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October.” - Albert Einstein My name is Emma Lichtner. I am a Cadette Girl Scout that is working to earn my Silver Award. I am also completing my Black Belt project so I can fully earn my black belt. I choose to draw comics about the effects and causes of bullying because bullying is

a big problem. especially for teens. I want to help people understand how bad bullying actually is and what can cause others to become bullies. As a victim of bullying, this topic is very important to me. Editor’s note: See Emma’s other comics on this topic in previous issues.

Kevin Miller Named Toys for Tots Coordinator of the Year Kevin Miller, a Marine veteran and coordinator of the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots campaign in Bucks County for almost 30 years, has recently been identified by the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation as a “Coordinator of the Year for 2019” for Region 1. The awards are given to two different people in each region for the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. There are six regions and 880 campaigns throughout the United States. Miller was recognized out of 105 coordinators from Region 1, which covers from Washington, D.C. up to Maine. Recipients of the award are determined by several criteria, according to a release from Toys for Tots. Some of the criteria are: • Scope of the campaign • Adherence to administrative procedures • Spirit of teamwork demonstrated • Attention to detail • Effectiveness of execution of the local plan • Communication with local businesses, volunteers, recipients and Marine Toys for Tots Foundation Normally the Coordinators of the Year would be recognized in September at the National Conference in Virginia, where information is provided to all the coordinators, and veteran coordinators help out newcomers, where Miller is considered a Mentor. However, due to the global pandemic this year, that recognition has been postponed, as the conference is being held virtually. While the conference is normally the official kick-off to Toys for Tots season, things are going to be much different this year says Miller. The pandemic has posed challenges for the local program, including the need to locate larger spaces to sort and fill toy orders, in order to keep our volunteers safe. We’ve also taken on another area, due to the closing of an adjacent campaign. When asked about how he felt regarding

this recognition, Miller humbly put the success squarely on the shoulders of his help, “While it is the coordinator that actually gets recognized, I am not the reason for the success - all of my volunteers are. I could never accomplish all that has been accomplished over the last 10 years, which is when we really started to expand and take on the whole county, without all the hard work, dedication, and support from each and every one of those that have stood by me over that time. They deserve the recognition. They are the backbone of the program in Bucks County, the unsung heroes, and I appreciate all of them.”

To donate new, unwrapped toys to the campaign, check out the Bucks County Toys for Tots site at buckscountypa.toysfortots.org/, and follow directions on the site. To donate money there, are instructions on the site, or checks can me made out to Toys for Tots and mailed it to P.O. Box 149, Milford Square, PA 18935. Volunteers are also always needed, and information on that can be found on the website as well, or email BucksCountyPA@ ToysForTots.org.

October 2020 • Upper Bucks Free Press •

19

Quakertown Police Dept. Shop with a Cop Celebrates 10 Years The Quakertown Borough Police Department has started planning for its 10th Annual Shop with a Cop Program. Shop with a Cop was established in December 2011 with 14 children and has increased to 140 in 2019. The program hopes to raise enough funds to accommodate 150 children this holiday. The national program pairs police officers with community children, who are facing social or economic needs, with a local police officer. The children have the chance to shop for Christmas gifts while establishing a positive relationship with the officers. Shop with a Cop is funded through the generous donation from our own community, from private sponsors to local businesses. Each child is allotted a monetary gift card to purchase gifts for themselves and family members, allowing for a more enjoyable holiday. Children are also provided with a backpack filled with school supplies and dinner. Over 10 local Police Departments and 50 officers volunteer their time the night of the

program. To help make the holidays more enjoyable for local children, visit Quakertown. org/SWAC for more details.

Perkasie Borough to Host Scarecrow Display Contest

Perkasie Borough invites the residents and businesses of the 18944 community to jump into their first community-wide Scarecrow Display Contest this fall. Groups, families and individuals are invited to create a Scarecrow Display in one of 4 categories, and to nominate a Perkasie non-profit organization to win a substantial prize donation. The 4 winning Group displays will snag a $500 prize donation for their nominated non-profits. Non-profits must be based in the 18944 Perkasie zip code, or demonstrate significant support of families or individuals in the zip code. Individual or Family winners in each category stand to win $100, or one of two $50 runner up prizes, which may also be donated to a local non-profit if the winners nominate one. Through a partnership with the Perkasie Towne Improvement Association, businesses across the Perkasie zip code are also encouraged to enter a Scarecrow Display; a winner will be nominated by voters in a FB photo contest, making it a great way for businesses

to reach customers across the region. Entries will be received in the following categories: “Most Traditional”, “Most Impressive”, “Most Creative” and “Positively Perkasie”. Entries must be submitted by October 15, the display should remain in place until October 31 and the Borough will announce winners in each category on November 2. JAll group, individual, and business displays will be listed in a “Scarecrow Tour” brochure that will be available to view or print on the Borough’s website. The Borough will have a limited number of municipal or park locations available to groups that wish to create a larger display in a public space. The Borough is grateful to area businesses and the Perkasie Historical Society for their generous support of this new community program. Additional information and a contest entry form is available at perkasieborough.org/ parks-recreation/scarecrows/.Readers should direct questions to 215-257-5065 or events@perkasieborough.org.

Stuff the Bus Serves 3400 Bucks County Students United Way of Bucks County’s Stuff the Bus served over 3,400 children this year – a record number for the organization. All students received backpacks filled with essential backto-school supplies, including a pair of earbuds with a mic for virtual learning. “You’d be surprised how many people asked me why we pushed forward with Stuff the Bus,” said Marissa Christie, President & CEO, United Way of Bucks County. “People wondered if kids really needed back to school supplies this year. The short answer is yes, whether they are in school or learning virtually, they need supplies. Plus, I think we owe it to our students to communicate in words and actions that school may not be the same, but it is still as important and valued as ever. That is the least we can do.” Thanks to an $8,000 grant awarded by the Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership (BCHIP) and funded by Penn Community Bank, Stuff the Bus also provided cleaning

supplies, disinfectants, hand sanitizer, and reusable masks to help prevent germs spreading between home and school. “The pandemic has really caused a financial hardship for many people. Our families are in a tough spot. Many are experiencing loss of income. Some are dealing with unexpected expenses, like the cost of care for school aged children. Either way, they needed help with school supplies,” says Stuff the Bus Project Manager Katie Matarazzo. She adds, “Families who used to provide donations to Stuff the Bus were now asking us for help, and we are grateful that we could provide them with support.” Donations to support the drive are still being accepted at www.uwbucks.org/stuffthebus or by check, mailed to United Way of Bucks County at 413 Hood Blvd, Fairless Hills, PA 19030, with Stuff the Bus written in the memo line.

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