Upper Bucks Free Press • January 2013

What is your New Year’s Resolution and Do You Think You’ll be able to Keep It?

BarBara MaroneySpringfield Twp.

My New Year’s resolution is to not make a resolution; that way

I know that I can keep it.

To continue to get good grades. It shouldn’t be too

tough because I did it last semester.

Moriah UgiQUakerTown

Billy UgiQUakerTown

Maria ViSSer delaware Valley College

To not rip up all my jeans playing sports after school.

It’ll be hard to keep because I like to play rough.

For last year’s words belong to last year’s language and next year’s words

await another voice.

(left) Christmas came early for a third-grader at Deibler Elementary. Tyler Scott embraces his stepmom December 4th when she surprised him by popping out of a giant gift box during a school assembly. Captain Anne Scott had been deployed to Kuwait for the past 9 months and was not yet expected home. (center) Members of the Pennridge High School Choir belt out a spirited and somewhat modernized version of the “Twelve Days of Christmas” during a Pennridge Chamber of Commerce business gathering at the Pearl S. Buck Foundation. (right) Unidentified Quakertown area youths remind us not to take life too seriously, especially while waiting for Santa Claus to show up in a fire truck. photos by christopher betz

- T.S. Eliot

To graduate this year, find a job, and start real life. Hopefully I can keep it!

2 • Upper Bucks Free Press • January 2013

Upper Bucks Community Events

Now to January 18

Fundraiser for Mercy Special Learning Center in Allentown, (pizza, cookie dough, cheese-cakes, & more goodies), order by Jan. 18, delivery Feb. 1 & 2, call 610-928-0570

January 5

Dublin Fire Co. “Soup Day” 11am-2pm, homemade soups, also hotdogs, etc. avail-able, details at 215-249-3740, 194 N. Main Street, Dublin

Early Morning Bird Walk at 7am-9am, Free! Bring binoculars, bird ID book (if you have any), more info at 215-357-4005 and www.churchvillenaturecenter.org 501 Churchville Lane, Churchville

Children’s Nature Program “Nature in Winter” 10:30am-12noon for ages 6-12, pre-regis. required, $9/child, call Nature Ctr at 215-357-4005 for details and visit www.churchvillenaturecenter.org

January 5 & 6

Coopersburg Area Soc. Model Engineers Open House, noon-5pm, Borough Bldg, 15 North Main St. (10-12 H.O. model trains op-erating on multi-deck layout), Adm. by dona-tion, 215-538-0501 www.casme.org

January 6

“Winter Birds At Your Feeder” Natural-ist Program, 2pm, $3/person (reservations requested), Nature Ctr, 501 Churchville Lane, Churchville. Info at 215-357-4005, www.churchvillenaturecenter.org

January 10

Pork & Sauerkraut Dinner, 4:30-7pm, Lower Milford Twp Fire Co, 1601 Lime-port Pike. Adults $8, Children 6-12 $4.50, Take outs $8.50

January 12 & 13

Coopersburg Area Soc. Model Engineers Open House, noon-5pm, Borough Bldg, 15 North Main St. (10-12 H.O. model trains op-erating on multi-deck layout), Adm. by dona-tion, 215-538-0501 www.casme.org

January 13

Firehouse Breakfast 7:30am-12noon at Up-per Black Eddy Fire Co, Firehouse Lane, $7/adults, $3/kids 5 to 10, under age 5 is free. All-U-Can-Eat Breakfast Buffet 8am-1pm at Richland Twp Fire & Rescue, 64 Shelly Rd, Quakertown, $7/adults, $6/seniors, $3/kids 6-10, www.rtfr.org or 215-536-7226

Flapjack Fundraiser Breakfast 8-10am, Applebee’s, Route 309, Quakertown. $7 per adult, $5 age 12 and under. Benefits Parents as Partners Assoc for St. Isidore School. January 14

Blood Drive to support Miller-Keystone Blood Ctr, 9am-1pm at Upper Bucks YMCA, 401 Fairview Ave., Quakertown, 215-536-9622, www.ubymca.org

January 16

Richlandtown Historical Society meeting, 7pm-8:30pm, members please bring a “Show & Tell” item to share.

January 31

Spaghetti Dinner, 4:30-7pm, Lower Milford Twp Fire Co, 1601 Limeport Pike. Adults $7.50, Children 6-12 $4.50, Take outs $8.00

February 2

Dublin Fire Co. “Soup Day” 11am-2pm, homemade soups, also hotdogs, etc. avail-able, details at 215-249-3740, 194 N. Main St, Dublin

February 9

Applebee’s Flapjack Fundraiser Breakfast 8am-10am, Applebee’s, Route 309, Quaker-town, $6/adults, $4.50/children

4th Annual Bark & Wine at K9 Jym, 252 Bethlehem Pike, Colmar. 6:30pm-9:30pm, leashed & vaccinated dogs welcome. $20/$25 fee. Vendors invited! Details/regis. at http://www.perkasiedog.org/bark-wine-vendor-registration/ Food/beverage vendors register 267-587-7364 or [email protected] Snow date Feb. 23.

February 10

Annual “Daddy/Daughter Valentine’s Dance” for girls 4 to 10 years old. 1pm-3pm at UBYMCA, Fairview Ave, Quakertown. Reg-ister by Jan. 27 or until tickets sold out. Danc-ing, games, raffle, fun, etc. More details at 215-536-YMCA or www.ubymca.org

Clymer to Lead House Education Committee

Rep. Paul Clymer (R-Bucks) this week was appointed by House Speaker-designate Sam Smith (R- Punxsutawney) to chair the House Education Committee for the 2013-14 legisla-tive session.

“I am honored to once again have the privi-lege of chairing this important committee,” said Clymer. “Education continues to be a main topic of concern for most Pennsylvanians who have a vested interest in their school sys-tem as parents and/or as taxpayers.

“Issues sure to be addressed by the commit-tee in the upcoming session include, charter school and special education funding reform, updating professional education disciplinary guidelines, and oversight of the implementa-tion of the transition to the Keystone Examines and teacher and principle evaluations,” added

Clymer. “In light of the horrific events that recently took place in Newtown, CT, I believe it is also incumbent upon all lawmakers to re-evaluate school safety issues to make sure our students are adequately protected.”

This is Clymer’s third term as chairman of the House Education Committee, he also serves as chairman of the Capitol Preservation Committee.

He was sworn into office on January 1 for his 17th term as representative of the 145th Legislative District representing parts of Bucks County.

For information on committee activity or other legislative news, sign up for email up-dates atwww.PaulClymer.com or follow him at www.Facebook.com/RepClymer.

QUAKERTOWNA-Plus Mini Market

Bottom Dollar FoodsBeer City

Brick’s SalesClassic Temps

Chick Fil-AEarl Bowl Lanes

First Niagara BankFrank’s Pizza

Giant Food (309/313)The Grundy House

Hampton InnHoliday Inn

Independence CourtJames Michener Library

John’s Plain & FancyKarlton Cafe

Liberty Thrift StoreMcDonalds

Melody LakesPhilly Soft Pretzel Factory

Quaker CleanersQuakertown Family Restaurant

QNB BankQuaker Village Bakery

Quaker CleanersRedner’s Market

Roma PizzaSal’s Pizza Randa

Seven-ElevenSine’s 5 & 10SNAP Fitness

Spinnerstown HotelSt. Luke’s Hospital

Swann’s PantryTom’s Help DeskWawa Markets

Upper Bucks Sr. CenterUpper Bucks SPCAUpper Bucks YMCA

Upper Bucks ChamberYum Yum Donuts

TRUMBAUERSVILLEBorough Hall

Fino’s La CantinaSpor’s General Store

SELLERSVILLEA & N Diner

Grandview HospitalHidden Meadows

Roy Ann DinerSuelke’s Roadstand

Village Market

PERKASIEDam Good Cafe

Emil’s DinerFirst United Methodist

Giant Food MarketsLandis Food Markets

Mirage Hair SalonOlde Towne Convenience

Pennridge ChamberPierce Library

QNB BankRevivals Restaurant

TELFORDGrundy Manor

Indian Valley LibraryLandis Supermarket

Lisa’s Pizza

SOUDERTONCare & Share Shoppes

GenerationsMain Street Java

Mr. B’sQNB Bank

Vincent’s PizzaWawa Markets

COOPERSBURGCoopersburg DinerGiant Food Markets

The Inside ScoopQNB Bank

Turkey Hill Minit MarketWeis Markets

SILVERDALEDetlan Equipment

Green Street Barber Shop

HARLEYSVILLEHenning’s Market

Landis SupermarketWalmart

Wawa Markets

Also available at lots of other high traffic locations between here and there.

Have a suggestion for a place you’d like to see the Free Press? E-mail [email protected].

January 2013 • Upper Bucks Free Press • 3

Ongoing Community Activities and ResourcesNow to Jan 13 -“Under the Tree:

A Century of Holiday Trees & Toys”, Mercer Museum, Doylestown, details at www.mercermuseum.org

Jan 5,6 and 12,13 - Coopersburg Area Soc. Model Engineers Open House, noon-5pm, Borough Bldg, 15 North Main St. (10-12 H.O. model trains operating on multi-deck layout), Adm. by donation, 215-538-0501 www.casme.org

First Sunday every month Community Hymn Sing, 6pm, Saucon Mennonite Church, 6639 N. Main St, Coopersburg, All invited, refreshments provided, 610-282-0514

Every 2nd Saturday, Quakertown PetSmart Pet Adoption Day! 11am-3pm [email protected]

Winter Naturalist Walks (Tues. Jan 8, 15, 22, 29, & Feb. 5) at 1:30pm-3pm at Peace Valley Nature Ctr, 170 N. Chapman Rd, Doylestown. Free! 215-345-7860 or www.peacevalleynaturecenter.org

Singles Connection (non-denominational group for single, widowed, divorced, & separated adults) meet Thursdays for social evening, 7pm at Silverdale Brethren in Christ Church, 165 W. Main St, Silverdale. 215-723-3415 or email [email protected]

Support Groups & Medical Resources

Miller-Keystone Blood Center Mobile comes to Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Quakertown, call 800-223-6667 for days and times.

Volunteer Doctors Care at Upper Bucks Clinic offers free primary medical care to adults in Upper Bucks County with no medi-cal insurance and meet income eligibility guidelines. Info: 215-538-4774

Alzheimer’s Assoc. Support Group, 3:30pm-5:00pm, meets 2nd Thursday every month, Phoebe Richland Health Care Ctr, 108 S. Main St, Richlandtown. Free, more info: Social Services 267-371-4517

NOVA (Network Of Victim Assistance) Support Groups, Information, Guidance, Hotline 1-800-675-6900. NOVABucks.org

Tourette Syndrome Support Group for adults over 21, 7pm-8:30pm, 2nd Thursday every month, Doylestown Hospital, contact Susan 215-527-7229 or [email protected]

Gamblers Anonymous meets every Saturday 11am-1pm, St. Luke’s Hosp. Education Ctr, Rm 111, Ostrum St, Bethlehem, 215-872-5635

Overeaters Anonymous meets every Thursday 10am-11am, West Swamp Mennonite Church, 2501 Allentown Rd, Quakertown, No dues, fees, and free babysitting. www.oa.org or Bob 610-762-3779

Alcoholics Anonymous meets every Sunday at 7pm, Grand View Hosp. info at 215-453-4699

Bedminster Nar-Anon Support Group meets every Tuesday 7:30pm at Deep Run West Mennonite Church, 1008 Deep Run Rd, Perkasie. Support for family & friends with loved ones struggling with addiction, [email protected]

A Woman’s Place (support for domestic abuse & violence) 24-hour Hotline – 1-800-220-8116, www.awomansplace.org

Kiwanis meetings 2nd & 4th Wednesdays of each month, 12:30pm at Dominick’s Pizza, Quakertown

Community Meals

Free Community Meals in Qtwn, 6pm at Richland Friends Quaker Meeting on second, fourth & fifth Weds. every month. Mill Rd & Main St off Route 309. 215-536-0395

Community Meal-every third Thursday of the month, 5:30pm-6:30pm, First UCC, 4th & Park, Qtwn, 215-536-4447

Bingo

Bingo at Richland Twp Fire & Rescue ev-ery Tues. doors open 5:30pm, 64 Shelly Rd, Qtwn. 215-536-7226

Bingo at Great Swamp Fish & Game every Sat. night, open 4pm, games 6:30pm, kitchen open. Free coffee, 2650 Schukraft & Camp Rock Hill Rd, Qtwn, 215-536-8820

Bingo at Plumsteadville Fire Co. every Monday, opens 5:30pm, games 6:30pm (refreshments avail.) 5064 Stump Rd, 215-766-8250

Bingo at Sellersville Fire Co. every Thurs. (except July) opens 5:30pm, 2 N. Main St, 215-257-4028

Bingo at Tylersport Fire Co. every Tues. opens 5pm, games 6:40pm, 125 Ridge Rd, 215-257-5900

St. John’s Begins 250th Anniversary Year with

Potluck Supper & Silent Auction

St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Spinnerstown will kick off a year of monthly activities celebrating its 250th anniversary as an independent congregation with a Potluck Supper & Silent Auction for the community Jan. 12 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the church.

St. John’s, the oldest Lutheran Church in Bucks County, traces its roots to 1734 when it shared worship services with Trinity Great Swamp Reformed Church (now known as Trinity Great Swamp United Church of Christ), also of Spinnerstown. In 1763, it constructed its own church, having separated from Great Swamp. The land was donated by Ludwig Scheetz, after, through an interesting turn of events, he lost to Trinity Great Swamp a land grant of 100 acres from the Penn family. St. John’s is still known to local residents as “Scheetz’s Church.”

As part of the Jan. 12 Potluck Supper and Silent Auction, the events that led to the es-tablishment of St. John’s as an independent church will be recreated in a skit.

Dinner, featuring home-cooked cuisine and baked goods, will be served from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.; the skit will be performed from 6 to 6:30, followed by dessert from 6:30 to 7. The silent auction will close at 6:45 p.m.; auction winners will be announced and items awarded at 7 p.m. Only cash or checks will be accepted.

Among the auction items will be gift, theme, and food baskets, gift certificates for area restaurants and services, movie tickets, locally-produced food products, items from “Tastefully Simple” and “Thirty-One.”

Admission to the dinner and evening’s ac-tivities is free, but donations to help defray the cost will be accepted.

Proceeds from the silent auction will help fund activities planned for each month through Dec. 2013.

For additional information, contact Stan Weikel at 215-536-7846. For directions to the church, 1565 Sleepy Hollow Road, Spinnerstown (for GPS, Quakertown, 18951), visit the church’s Web site: www.stjspin.org.


Numbers speak volumes. Out of more than 1,400 schools across the United States that offer SpringBoard curricu-lum for Reading/Language Arts/English to 1.4 million students, only 5 schools were chosen as SpringBoard® National Demonstration Schools for 2012-2014. Two of the 5 are Quakertown Community High School (QCHS) and Strayer Middle School. Including schools selected in previous years, there are only 19 model schools nationwide.

Let that sink in a moment. We must be doing something right here in Quakertown Community School District! The SpringBoard curriculum has been phased in over the last three years to its current use in grades 6 to 12.

The other National Demonstration schools reside in Florida and Washington. The College Board, based in New York, selected the schools because of the out-standing practices of their teachers and administrators during the implementation of SpringBoard. These schools will serve as model sites for future SpringBoard implementations throughout the country. In addition to the recognition, the schools will receive additional professional de-velopment; registration and recognition at College Board events; a customized school banner and plaque; and opportuni-ties to preview new SpringBoard-related teaching resources.

Dr. Suzanne Laverick-Stone, Assistant to the Superintendent, said, “SpringBoard is a program that is designed to provide the content, skills and strategies that will ensure that every Quakertown student is prepared to read, write and think in the ways that are necessary for AP courses, SAT exams and college and career ex-pectations. But SpringBoard is only a program, and would not have the impact that is needed without excellent teachers. Our National Demonstration Schools, the senior high school and Strayer Middle School, two of only five selected in the nation, will be visited by teachers and administrators from across the United States to learn about the program and ex-ceptional teaching. It is fitting that we are able to honor our teachers for their hard work and dedication to high level, rigor-ous instruction.”

College Board staff member Lola Greene presented the award to QCSD teachers and administrators at a school board meeting. College Board staff mem-ber Steve Zori presented high school staff with their second AP Honor Roll award in two years.

Greene noted the teachers’ dedication

Quakertown Schools Lauded as SpringBoard Demonstration School, Placed on AP Honor Roll

to collaboration that helps them “shape SpringBoard to meet the needs of all QCSD students. After we saw a great video and two great portfolios about the Quakertown program, I had the good fortune to come here for a site visit. I saw all students actively engaged. Every student knew and could articulate what the academic experiences were and how the tasks would help them reach the goals and objectives. I saw teachers as guides on the side with students at the center, thoughtfully focused on discussions that moved beyond the text in the program. One young lady, a sixth grader, told me that by the time the class got to the two major embedded assessments in each unit, they were ‘a piece of cake’ because all the activities scaffolded up and prepared her to be successful.”

SpringBoard was developed by the College Board as a college readiness program in English, Language Arts, and Mathematics for students in grades six through twelve. The research-based program provides culturally and person-ally relevant activities designed to engage students in problem solving and criti-cal analysis — creating a pre-Advanced Placement® program that increases partic-ipation and prepares a greater diversity of students for success in AP® and college. Designed to align with the Common Core State Standards, SpringBoard provides teachers with a rigorous curriculum and highly informative student assessments.

“SpringBoard provides rigorous learn-ing opportunities with a curriculum that engages and empowers both students and educators,” said Pamela L. Nelson, vice president and general manager of SpringBoard at the College Board. “These five outstanding schools have been rec-ognized and honored because they have shown that by aiming higher, rigor can be achieved by all students.”

Zori works for the College Board out of its Philadelphia regional office. He said, “We know a district is doing all the extra things it needs to do when it doesn’t need a lot of in-person support. I don’t come to Quakertown. The AP District Honor Roll recognizes that a school is doing two things, offering access to all students at increasing numbers and producing suc-cessful students who perform better on the AP exams. Quakertown is one of 37 dis-tricts in the state of Pennsylvania, where there are 500 districts, to be named to the AP Honor Roll.”

Advanced Placement courses offer students college-level curriculum. If they score a 3, 4 or 5 on the end-of-year-exam given for each course, they can earn col-lege credit. Zori explained a study done

in 2008 that showed that students who take AP courses are more likely to gradu-ate from college in four years (instead of needing to extend their time). AP students often place out of college classes. Both situations help families save money on the cost of college.”

To be considered for the honor roll, schools must increase student participa-tion in AP courses by 11 percent. QCHS guidance counselors placed 23% more stu-dents in AP courses in 2012-2013. Ethnic student placement, another requirement, increased by 9% at QCHS.

“We are very proud of being once again selected as an AP Honor district,” Dr. Laverick-Stone said. “It is our goal to continually strengthen our Advanced Placement offerings and increase the number of students who take AP exams and score well. To be an AP Honor District means that we have improved our students’ high school program to better impact their future college and career ex-periences. It is a goal that never ends, and to be recognized for our efforts is a testa-ment to the hard work and commitment to students by our high school administrators and teachers.”

Overall, the academic rigor offered by SpringBoard and AP courses helps stu-dents prepare for college and career. A college professor told AP administrators that there is a discernible difference be-tween students who take AP courses and those who don’t. The AP students have learned time management skills and dis-cipline that help them do the intellectual work to be successful in college. Zori said AP courses help students increase their self-confidence, which translates their ability to go out and do college level work.

The Strayer RELA teachers for 2011-2013 SpringBoard school years are Gail Ferry, Chris Glaunert (currently at Milford), Karen Hearn, Kathy Infante, Barbara Kirby, Sue LaBonge, Jill Macauley, Michelle McMaster, Shawn Storm, Kathy Dressel, Marty Friel, Judy Maccarone, Bruce Russell, Kadishe Stoudt, Michele Sturges, Damian Gomm, Michael Peters, Mike Huff, Becky Brown, Ursula Cronin, Stephanie Traumuller, Peach Draper, Amanda Foltz, Enzo Martellucci, Sue Scherffel and Lynne Morgan.

The QCHS and Freshman Center teachers collaborating with SpringBoard are Melinda Lepko, Stephanie Peel, Julie Pennabaker, Karen Sciarillo, Tracy Houston, Rachel Trosino, Sue Goodwin, Nancy Nielsen, Julie Saab, Brandy Pollock, Nicole Roeder, Elizabeth Alvino, Mike Mackey, Brad Huebner, Amy Amato, Martha Giesse, Nick Burch, Nicole Landen and Teresa Salvatore.

In 2011-2012, students filled 680 AP seats. Many students take multiple AP classes. The QCHS Advanced Placement teachers through 2013 are Mike Mackey, Jason Anderson, Tom Brader, MaryAnn Byatt, Amy Eisenmann, Andy Boquist, Prakash Patel, Jonathan Lechner, Maria McCorry, Audrey Waddell, Katie Hoffman, Darlene Hardy, Carol Fagan, Andy Snyder, Nick Burch, Alaina Wert.

Secondary administrators involved are Cindy Lapinski, Eric Thompson, Anita Serge, Rod Stone, Lisa Hoffman, Pat Tannous, Mike Zackon and Karen Shanton.

“Celebrating the good things we do in education is good,” concluded Lola Greene. “We should do it more often.”

QCHS English/SpringBoard teachers Melinda Lepko and Tracy Houston. submitted photo


Two Big Medicare IssuesBecause of the financial catastrophe that

Medicare is heading towards (37 trillion dollar deficit!), over the coming months there will be two large issues on the table that will be dis-cussed by the news pundits and politicians as we as a nation look towards a solution. First is the Medicare Eligibility Age, the second is the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB)

1. Raising the Medicare eligibility age to 67 or 68.

Discussions about raising eligibility age always mention that it is for folks 55 yrs old and younger, so if an increase in eligibility age does in fact happen, it won’t affect folks older than 55. What are folks going to do when they stop working at age 60, 62 or 64, etc... They will have to wait even longer to receive Medicare Benefits. This could result in several harmful scenarios.

• Pay extraordinarily high premiums for Health Insurance. With “Obamacare” we re-ally don’t know what to expect. But, if even if there are no pre-existing condition obstacles, I would expect the insurance companies to charge hefty premiums for folks aged 65, 66 and 67.

• If folks at the lower income levels can’t afford these high premiums, they would end up on Medicaid. Medicaid is under the same umbrella as Medicare, once again costing the Government to insure these folks, which makes them waiting to 67 or 68 self-defeating.

2. The Independent Payment Advisory Board ( IPAB)

As part of Health Care Reform, the President proposed an Advisory Board to repair, manage and maintain Medicare cost savings. Here are some details:

• The Board will consist of 12 experts, in-cluding doctors, patient advocates, employers and financial analysts, who will be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, and three nonvoting government officials. Its sole duty is to monitor and, if necessary,

reduce Medicare spending, which needs to be reined in to control deficits.

• The Board will be prohibited by law from making any recommendations to ration care, raise premiums, increase cost-sharing, restrict benefits or limit eligibility.

• If Medicare spending exceeds specified targets, the board must recommend changes (most likely cuts in payments to health care providers) to bring the growth rate back in line. Congress can override the board’s recommendations, but it must still find equivalent savings.

I personally love this idea and it begs the question, why hasn’t this already been in place years ago? The working parameters of the IPAB (above) seem to have been crafted to avoid any political landmines, but even so, the Republicans are already starting to oppose it. I feel the opposition will die down and this Board will be up and running as soon as the members are appointed. Without watchdog pressure from such a Board, Congress is apt to be weak in resisting the demands by powerful health care groups and industries for higher Medicare reimbursements. Look for the IPAB to be implemented soon…it could be the start of getting Medicare off of Life-Support!

We are beginning to plan for our spring “Medicare Made Easy” educational semi-nars. If you know of a Church, Synagogue or Community Group that would like to host our Free Seminars, please call our office.

Until next time…Be well! -Howard

Howard Peck is tHe owner of senior insurance solutions based in Green lane Pa. He’s a Pennsylvania licensed insurance broker wHo since 2005 Has focused His insurance Practice on tHe senior and retiree MarketPlace wHile sPecializinG in Medicare. srinsurancesolutions.coM, 267-923-5281, or [email protected]

In search of an effective method to prevent muscle wasting that comes with illness and aging, researchers have located a natural compound that is very promising.

The findings reported in the June issue of Cell Metabolism, identify a natural component of apple peels known as Ursolic Acid as a promising newnutri-tional therapy for the widespread and debilitating condition that affects nearly everyone at one time or another.

“Muscle wasting is a frequent com-panion of illness and aging,” explained researchers from The University of Iowa, Iowa City. “It prolongs hospital-ization, delays recoveries and in some cases prevents people going back home. It isn’t well understood and there is no medicine for it.”

The research team first looked at what happens to gene activity in muscles under conditions that promote weakening. Those studies turned up 63 genes that change in response to fasting in both people and mice and another 29 that shift their ex-pression in the muscles of both people who are fasting and those with spinal cord injury. Comparison of those gene expres-sion signatures to the signatures of cells treated with more than 1300 bio-active small molecules led them to ursolic acid as a compound with effects that might counteract those of atrophy.

“Ursolic Acid is an interesting natural compound,” they said. “It’s part of a nor-mal diet as a component of apple peels. They always say that an apple a day keeps

New Apple Ingredient Discovery Said to

Strengthen Musclesthe doctor away...”

The researchers next gave Ursolic Acid to fasted laboratory subjects. Those ex-periments showed that ursolic acid could protect against muscle weakening as pre-dicted. When ursolic acid was added to the food of normal subjects for a period of weeks, their muscles grew. Those ef-fects were traced back to enhanced insulin signaling in muscle and to corrections in the gene signatures linked to atrophy.

The subjects given ursolic acid also be-came leaner and had lower blood levels of glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides. The findings therefore suggest that ursolic acid may be responsible for some of the overall benefits of healthy eating.

“We know if you eat a balanced diet like mom told us to eat you get this material,” the researchers explained “People who eat junk food don’t get this.”

It is not yet clear whether the findings will translate to human patients, but the goal now is to “figure out if this can help people.” If so, they don’t yet know wheth-er Ursolic Acid at levels that might be consumed as part of a normal diet might or might not be enough.

MicHael clonts is tHe owner of tHe lMc HealtH sHoP (www.lMcHealtHsHoP.coM). He Provides quality weiGHt loss ManaGeMent, nutrition suPPleMent, and MultivitaMins for suPPortinG a HealtHy better you.

If you desire to have good time man-agement then you need to have a strategy or an action plan. Following these strat-egies will help you get the most out of your days.

First... Prioritize your work. Start each day by ranking the things that

you much do. Starting with the most impor-tant and unpleasant tasks first, then go from there. Those things that can wait for later that day should be listed towards the bottom of your list. Don’t make your list too long because there are only so many hours in a day and you don’t want to feel like you will never get it all accomplished.

second... Assign time FrAmes For eAch tAsk.

At first this might not seem realistic but it is mostly so that you will have some sort of idea how long it will take to finish each task. You will find that once you start a task, it won’t really take very long unless it is a big project. If so, then break it down so that you can see some progress.

third... Be FlexiBle. Unexpected things come up from time to

time so if you have to stop to take care of some other matter, do not worry and stress out if you don’t accomplished a certain task in the time frame you set. Just like the say-ing goes, “Rome wasn’t built in a day” so make sure you allow for those time when things come up. Don’t let these things such as phone calls, important emails,kids and life in general frustrate you, the important thing to remember is that you are making progress on your list.

Fourth... leArn to sAy ‘no’.Whether you work from home or out of

the home there are things that can distract

Start Off the New Year with Some New Time

Management Skillsus and waste time. Limit small talk with co-workers, family, friends, etc. while you are working. Respect your decision to make a plan and stick to it. Others will need to un-derstand that if it isn’t something that needs to be taken care of right this minute, then it can wait.

FiFth... delegAte. Remember that you probably can’t do ev-

erything yourself so if there is a task that you might not be very good at or like doing and there is someone that can do the task then by all means pass it on. In this way the task will get done and you won’t waste time putting it off because you can’t accomplish it yourself.

comPromise when necessAry. As your day progresses, the urgency

of a task may also change. There may be times when your tasks will need to be re-prioritized, rescheduled, postponed or dropped altogether, making adjustments if things come up that needs your attention is important.

Everyone has limitations and if you real-ize what those are then you will know what you can work on later to improve those skills or know in advance what tasks you will need help with.

Learning to manage your time is not to stress your day so remember to relax and learn as you go. The more you practice managing your time, the better you will get at it. Time management is so that you will take control of your days and see how much you really can accomplish each day and then enjoy some time with family and friends. This is your only viable option no matter where you are working, this is the only way to accomplish anything worthwhile.


New Year’sRevolsolvutions

I don’t make New Year’s resolutions. Since I’m never able to keep them, I’m just setting myself up for failure. My psyche is fragile enough already. The way I see it, if I can’t stop (or start) something on Independence Day, what makes me think I can six months later when it’s dark most of the time and cold outside? On top of that, it’s the holidays! I’ve just spent six weeks gorging myself on fruitcake and blowing money on junk made in China. I figure, knocking off those kinds of activities is enough of an improvement in my behavior without making promises I can’t keep.

Back when I still did, I made resolutions in either the heat of a post-midnight, intoxicated celebration or in the miserable daze I woke up in the next afternoon. It never worked. I can’t remember any of them making it till Lincoln’s birthday. I hated ruining Groundhog Day by feeling depressed and guilty, so I quit making resolutions all together.

That’s not accurate. I make one resolution that I’ve kept for a long time. It was back at the turn of the millennium. Remember the Y2K fiasco? Computers were all going to spaz-out when they hit the year 2000. At work, they took it seriously. We spent a huge amount of money hauling in generators, backing up files on discs and printing out material so the data could be re-entered later. The entire management staff was ordered to be at the plant by 10pm on New Year’s Eve.

Back then, I hadn’t quit drinking yet, so manning my ‘assigned station’ with a flashlight and walkie-talkie in my pocket rather than being out partying somewhere was quite an imposition. When nothing happened by 12:30, they let us eat the hoagies they’d stocked up on to carry us over into the New Dawn, then let us leave.

While I was dodging drunk drivers on the way home, I resolved that I would never again jump on the End-of-the-World bandwagon. I didn’t even want to hear about it. Just surprise me, I decided. If my computer is going to explode in my face, if the world’s going to blow up around me, let me be surprised. I don’t want to waste time worrying about it ahead of time. I’ll gladly be one of the homeless souls with no food, water or clothing that wanders the devastated countryside after it happens before I’ll go through that ridiculous Y2K thing again.

It seems like somebody’s been trying to scare me about the End-of-the-World all my life. It started with the atomic air raid drills back in first grade—“Close the shades! Get under your desk! Khrushchev is coming!” Then, “There’s going to be another Ice Age!” Now, “All the ice is melting!” I actually used to get hyped up over that stuff.

Since Y2K there have been a couple small-time scares. One goofy group sold all their possessions and moved to the desert—for nothing. Some of them went ahead and killed themselves because they didn’t die

on schedule. Lately, everybody’s worried about Nostradamus’s visions, the Book of Revelations, or the Olmec/Mayan calendar. I’ve read up on all of them and don’t quite get it, but I have a bad attitude.

Nobody’s exactly sure what’s going to happen this year. A rogue planet might collide with us. We might pass through a deadly section of space. The magnetic poles might shift and half the people turn into flesh-eating zombies. They do know when it’s going to happen, though: December 21, 2012. That’s definitely the last day (Is that the Julian or Gregorian calendar? I wonder). But, they still aren’t sure if the world is going to end with a ‘bang’ or with a ‘whimper.’

I’ve got to admit, it’s been tough to stay calm and stick to my resolution with all that pressure on me. Several friends have joined one of those bulk food programs, bought survival kits and sand-bagged their basement windows. One guy I know built an underground bunker. He was enthusiastic about his survival chances; until I pointed out that he forgot to put in air holes. “If the whole world ends what good will a survival kit be?” I asked.

Even though the end is nigh, I haven’t done much to prepare for it. When Frankenstorm hit and the electricity was out for a while, I did think about my resolution—a little. I actually panicked for a minute when the flashlight didn’t work. But, I took a deep breath, remembered Y2K and managed to hold firm. “What? Me worry?” I thought. “Nah!” I lit a couple of candles and quick ate all the ice cream before it melted.

I’m ashamed to admit that I’ve tried to use the impending disaster to my advantage. “Buy (Chinese made) Christmas presents?!” I shouted at the wife. “Climb a ladder and put up lights and decorations? Bring a dead tree in the house? It’s silly! The world ends before Christmas!” It didn’t work. I had to do it anyway.

With the Apocalypse on the near horizon, I see no point in making resolutions again this year. Then again, since I don’t have to worry about living long enough to break them, I can maybe list a few that I would make…no, never mind. There’s always a chance the world won’t end on December 21st. If it doesn’t, I’d feel obligated to try to keep them. I know how that goes. I want to have a happy Groundhog Day this year, so I won’t bother.

So, if you happen to be reading this, I guess we survived another one. Don’t be too depressed. The Jehovah’s Witnesses insist the end comes in August, 2014, after the Biblically predicted century of war. If you dig a survival shelter, don’t forget the air holes.

I was wondering, though. Why did the Free Press make December 22nd the deadline for my column submission this month?

Read more by Jack H. Schick at: www.jack-h-schick.wrytestuff.com

How to Capture It!I have discovered throughout my life how

important it is to have goals and how essential they are for one to succeed. I started noticing, though, how many of us have goals (which is wonderful) but sometimes we don’t put a solid foundation down as to how these goals will eventually be attained. As we head into the New Year, I want to help you in reaching your goals for 2013. Listed below are my favorite goal setting tools designed to help build that strong foundation that will ultimately result in success. My latest goal is to race triath-lons professionally and from my experiences throughout my life and from racing, I have put together a strategy outline that you can use to achieve any goal you can think up. These steps have helped me immensely and I hope they will do the same for you.

1) Goal Identification:Figure out what it is that you want to ac-

complish. Develop benchmarks to keep you on track or to use along the way to gauge your progress. Set a specific long-term goal and adapt your benchmarks as short- term goals that you can check off on your way to your long-term goal.

2) Motivating Factors – definition: to act as the motive for; the causative factor of; in-stigate, induce

This is the reason, the force, which drives us or will drive us to attain our goals. It could be in the form of a reward, to prove to your-self or to others that you can do something, the inspiration you receive from others, or possibly just the satisfaction of completing the task. Motivating factors will help you push through the tough times. I encourage you to re-visit these factors throughout your journey to remind yourself of what your inspirations mean to you.

3) Perseverance – definition: to continue striving in spite of discouragements

This is the ability to push through diversity or difficult times in order to achieve your goal. At times your perseverance will be tested to its limits but will be necessary to break down the roadblocks you face in order to fulfill the ultimate prize. These next three items: Fear of Failure, Doubters, and I CAN’T – are the topics I feel are the ones most commonly as-sociated with not attaining your goal. Your ability to overcome these issues will be criti-cal in your overall accomplishment of your goal. I want to delve a little further into these subjects below.

Fear of Failure - Failure in our society has become a very negative word and I am not exactly sure why. Instead of treating it as a negative word, reverse the perception and use it to your advantage. So when you come up short don’t be afraid of it, embrace it. Failure will happen - it is inevitable. It’s not the fail-ure portion that will make or break your quest to reaching your goal; it’s what happens after and how you react to it. Are you willing to put the extra effort in to make sure the same outcome won’t happen again or are you going to do everything the same to ensure the same negative outcome? I urge you to change your approach and look at it from a fresh perspec-

tive. That is where the answer lies. Don’t take failure as a negative, use it as a positive and learn from your experience and change your approach. You didn’t fail, you ruled out one way that is not going to get you to where you want to go and you’re discovering the correct path.

Doubters: These people will be all around you. Unfortunately, you will always have peo-ple telling you “you can’t do it”, “you’re not good enough”, or “you’re wasting your time.” My point of view is, why not at least make an attempt and see for yourself. Don’t let some-one else’s comment deter you, especially since they haven’t done the homework like you did. You have to live life on your own terms - not on someone else’s. You don’t want to have any regrets when you’re taking your journey towards your goal.

CAN’T: Remove this word from your vo-cabulary! This is a self confidence, or as some believe, a laziness issue. Never think that you can’t, anything is possible if you put your mind to it. I do not believe the issue comes down to the fact that you can’t do something, I think what happens is that if the approach to the situation is off, you might be attacking the situ-ation wrong. Try it from a different direction. Be creative, don’t let a can’t deter you. Turn your can’t into a can.

4) Support System – Who are you going to have in place to help you attain your goal

Your support system are the people you will surround yourself with to help you achieve your goal. This group of individuals will help you through the toughest of times and help get you pointed in the right direction when things don’t seem to be going as planned. These indi-viduals can be your parents, siblings, teachers, pastors, coaches, friends and people you might never expect.

One motto I have lived by is: “Surround yourself with great people and great things will happen”

It’s the truth. Embrace this group of people when they want to help and ensure that they feel included and a part of the process. Continually thank them for their support.

Conclusion: Goal setting is critical when trying to attain all different levels of success throughout your life. Setting up the proper goal setting outline will allow you to achieve your goals easier than just saying I want to do this or that. Don’t get discouraged, no mat-ter what road blocks are thrown at you during your journey, pull from everything you have put in place to help you through and keep mov-ing forward. You will get there. You can do it. Put your mind to it and it is amazing what one can accomplish. Also, lead by example. Help inspire others to reach their goals, be part of their support system (sometimes it is just as gratifying to see someone else reach their goal as it is to reach your own), help motivate them, and help them persevere through the rough patches.

DREAM BIG and then GO CAPTURE IT.

Please visit website: www.k17sPort.coM to learn More about kenrick sMitH and His journey to becoMe a Professional triatHlete. Please feel free to contact HiM witH any feedback or questions you MiGHt Have.

First Heritage Employees Brighten the Holidays with

Toy DonationThe holidays were a little brighter for

Philadelphia area children thanks to the em-ployees of First Heritage Financial, LLC. For the first time, First Heritage Financial, LLC employees joined the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve to help the Toys for Tots Foundation with donations of toys for chil-dren who are less fortunate.

The collection came as a result of an annu-al decorating contest. This year’s theme was Santa’s Workshop and each First Heritage “elf” was asked to decorate his or her area with a particular toy inspired theme. The employee’s of First Heritage realize how fortunate they are and wanted to share those toys with a child in need.

Toys for Tots has been collecting and de-livering toys for children since 1947. Now in its 65th year, the Marine Corps Reserves have distributed more than 452 million toys to more than 209 million needy children.

First Heritage Financial, LLC, is a credit union-owned mortgage service provider based in Philadelphia, it provides turnkey, behind-the-scenes mortgage support to 57 partner credit unions that have combined assets of over $5.5 billion and more than 698,000 members throughout Pennsylvania and Delaware. First Heritage is endorsed as the exclusive mortgage service provider for the Pennsylvania Credit Union Association (PCUA).


A “Raise” for People Who Get Social Security

As we ring in a new year, we can expect to see a number of changes. Social Security is no exception: in 2013, people who receive Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments will see their benefits increase.

Beginning in 2013, a 1.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) was applied to all Social Security and SSI payments. The average monthly Social Security benefit for a retired worker in 2013 is $1,261 (up from $1,240 in 2012) and the average monthly Social Security benefit for a disabled worker in 2013 is $1,132 (up from $1,113 in 2012). These changes were reflected in SSI payments dated December 31, 2012 and Social Security payments dated in January 2013.

For people who receive SSI, the maximum federal payment amount has risen to $710 (up from $698).

Other Social Security changes in 2013 are worth noting. For example, a worker now pays Social Security tax on up to $113,700 of annual income (up from $110,100 in 2012). A worker earns one credit after paying taxes on $1,160 in earnings in 2013 (up from $1,130). As always, a worker may earn a maximum of four credits each year and a person generally needs forty credits (or ten years of work) to be eligible for retirement benefits.

To learn more about these and other changes for 2013, visit the Social Security website at www.socialsecurity.gov, and read our fact sheet about the changes at www.socialsecurity.gov/pressoffice/factsheets/colafacts2013.htm.

Social Security Q&A question: Is it illegal to laminate your Social

Security card?answer: No it is not illegal, but it’s best not

to laminate your card. Laminated cards make it difficult, if not impossible, to detect impor-tant security features. Also, your employer may refuse to accept it. The Social Security Act requires Social Security to issue cards that cannot be counterfeited. We incorporate many features to protect the card’s integrity. That includes highly specialized paper and printing techniques — some visible to the naked eye and some not. Further, we continue to explore and adopt new technologies that hamper du-plication. Keep your Social Security card in a safe place with your other important papers. Do not carry it with you. Learn more at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber.

question: I’m planning to retire next year. I served in the Navy back in the 1960s and need to make sure I get credit for my military service. What do I need to do?

answer: You don’t need to do anything to apply for the special credit for your mili-tary service—it is added automatically. For service between 1957 and 1967, we will add the extra credits to your record at the time you apply for Social Security benefits. For service between 1968 and 2001, those extra military service credits have already been added to your record. So you can rest assured that we have you covered. Read our online publication, Military Service and Social Security, at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10017.html And when the time comes to apply for retirement, you can do it conveniently and easily at www.socialsecurity.gov/retireonline.

question: I have young children at home and I plan to retire next fall. Will my children be eligible for monthly Social Security checks after I retire?

answer: Monthly Social Security payments may be made to your children if they are:

• Unmarried and under age 18• Age 19 if still in high school, or• Age 18 or over, who became severely

disabled before age 22 and continue to be disabled.

In addition to biological children, legally adopted children, dependent stepchildren, and grandchildren could be eligible. For more in-formation, please read our publication Benefits for Children at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10085.html.

question: I’ve been turned down for disabil-ity benefits. How do I appeal?

answer: Visit www.socialsecurity.gov and click on the “Appeal a disability decision on-line” link in the left-hand column. This is the starting point. There you can ask us to review our medical decision. There are two parts to the Internet appeal process:

1) An Appeal Request Internet form; and 2) An Appeal Disability Report, which gives

us more information about your condition. You can complete both forms online. To ap-

peal online, the only form you are required to submit is an appeal request (Part 1). However, we encourage you to submit an Appeal Disability Report (Part 2) because it will give us more information about you and help us process your appeal more quickly. The place to start is www.socialsecurity.gov.

question: In talking with my son, I found out that he submitted incorrect information about my resources when he com-pleted my Application for Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs. How can I get my application changed now to show the cor-rect amount?

answer: You can call 1-800-772-1213 and let us know. Or, you can contact your local Social Security office. (Find it by going to www.socialsecurity/locator/.) Data on your application will be matched with data from other federal agencies. If there is a discrep-ancy that requires verification, we will contact you. Learn more at www.socialsecurity.gov/extrahelp.

question: What is the difference between the disability application and the disability re-port? Do I have to complete both?

answer: The Disability Application is an application for Social Security disability ben-efits. To receive Social Security disability or Supplemental Security Income disability benefits, you must file an application. The Disability Report, meanwhile, is a form that provides Social Security with information about your current medical condition. We need this information to process your disability applica-tion. To start a claim for disability benefits, you need to complete a disability application, a disability report, and an authorization release form that allows us to obtain your medical re-cords. You can get the disability application process started at www.socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability.

tom reiley is the social security district manager in the allentown, pa office and can be reached at

[email protected].

NOVA Promotes Healthy Relationship Programs for

Bucks County TeensNetwork of Victim Assistance (NOVA)

is proud to announce a $12,000 grant from Verizon Foundation to help in its development and presentation of an education program, “Promoting Healthy Relationships for Teens” to increase knowledge about dating violence, healthy relationships, and offer resources and strategies available to reduce and prevent vio-lent behaviors.

NOVA will be delivering the program dur-ing the upcoming school year to approximately 3,000 students, parents and educators in Bucks County public and parochial schools at the middle school and high school levels. NOVA seeks to prevent violence and reduce the risk of victimization by highlighting characteristics of “healthy” versus “unhealthy” relationships and empowering listeners to create healthy relationships in their lives. Components of other NOVA programs (e.g., cyber safety and sexual harassment) are included. NOVA educators with professional experience in the classroom will teach the program.

“Education for dating violence provides a critical opportunity to break the cycle of violence before it escalates and Verizon is

proud to improve the quality of life for youth and families in Bucks County by empower-ing the community with innovative tools and resources,” said Daniel J. Reavy, Director of External Affairs for Verizon Pennsylvania. “We’re investing in programs, such as our partnership with NOVA, to touch people’s lives and encourage them that it’s a shared community responsibility to stand against domestic violence and together we can truly make a change.”

In addition, NOVA expects to populate its youth advisory and peer education groups us-ing outreach conducted during the programs. As leaders and advocates, group members will help provide programs to younger students and raise awareness of NOVA’s mission through public outreach programs.

To bring one of these prevention educa-tion programs to your school, please contact Mandy Mundy, NOVA’s director of education and training, at 215.343.6543 or [email protected]. For more information re-garding all of NOVA’s prevention education programs, visit www.novabucks.org.

Ron Davis, second from left, PARX Casino director of diversity and community affairs and member of NOVA’s board of directors, Daniel J. Reavy, director of external affairs, Verizon Pennsylvania, Far left is Lower Bucks County Chamber of Commerce president Dan Bates. On the far right is Bill Hoblin, director of community relations & development for NOVA. credit: lynn goodwin, photos by lynn


New Year’s Resolution For 2013: Lose Weight

The Top Ten New Year’s Resolutions for 2012 as published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology are: lose weight, getting orga-nized, spend less/save more, enjoy life to the fullest, staying fit & healthy, learn some-thing exciting, quit smoking, help others in their dreams, fall in love, and spend more time with family.

After reading that list, it is no wonder only 8% of people making a resolution achieve success. For people over the age of 50 the success rate is only 14%. Take a moment and think about that. Individuals over the age of 50 have a failure rate of 86% in achieving a resolution. It is depressing and makes you want to give up before you even start.

First of all, having a list of ten resolu-tions is way too much for anyone to think they can achieve. Second, your personal list should contain no more than three things on a smaller scale, more realistic, and attain-able. Third, a suggestion would be to nar-row the subject matter focusing upon a home improvement, a financial improvement, and to lose weight.

The home improvement could be any number of things such as painting the inside (a room or whole house), cleaning out the garage (closet, basement, etc.), or replac-ing an appliance or furniture. The financial improvement may be as simple as saving money, a specific amount. If you are able to faithfully deposit twenty dollars each week into a savings account, at the end of one year you will have saved more than one thousand dollars. Granted things cost more today than yesterday. A pack of cigarettes used to be a quarter, a Hershey bar was a nickel, and Groucho Marx thought a $4 bottle of poison was expensive.

The last one is probably the easiest one to achieve, to lose weight. An audiologist can help you with losing that weight. Not weight as in 20, 50, or 100 pounds. The weight an audiologist can help you lose is the burden of poor hearing. Yes, a weight can be a personal burden.

Hearing loss affects some 600 million

people worldwide with approximately 35 million in the United States. It is estimated that three out of every ten people age 60 or older have hearing loss in our country. However, the most important statistic is ONE. That one may be YOU or someone you know.

Some of the signs of hearing loss include, but are not limited to: asking for people to repeat, mistaking some words for other words, giving an inappropriate response to a question or comment, turning the televi-sion volume control louder than normal (probably blistering the paint off the walls and causing the drapes to blow in a breeze with the windows shut), inability to hear at a distance or in the presence of noise, blaming others for mumbling, smiling or agreeing knowing full well that you did not under-stand anything that was said, shying away from people or gatherings because you can-not hear, and much more.

For whatever unknown reason, people af-flicted with poor hearing continue the day to day trudging through life with this extra weight, this burden, rather than seeking an-swers or getting the help they need. With some, their priorities are misaligned. It is more important to waste time on a project or activity that does not benefit them. Some waste money on things that are supposed to make them happy and never do.

In 2013, there is one resolution that can be made and kept by anyone. That resolu-tion is to pick up the phone and schedule an appointment with an audiologist to get their hearing checked today. Make a pledge to lose that weight (burden). Be committed in making a new YOU in 2013.mr. murphy knows first hand about hearing loss. he has had a bilaeral mild-to-moderate sensor- ineural hearing loss all of his life and is a binaural in-the-canal hearing aid user. mr. murphy has been in practice in pennsylvania since receiving his master of education in audiology from the university of virginia in the spring of 1987. mr. murphy is affiliated with a number of hearing related nationaland international organizations and can be reached at [email protected] and by phone at 215-804-1111.

The Gathering (at the Barn), a non-denominational community fellowship group in Sellersville, recently raised almost $140 for the Crossroads Pregnancy Center. The group raised money through a “baby bottle” campaign in which people collected their spare change for a specified length of time in baby bottles to remind them of the fundraiser. photo by mary caruso

Fellowship Group Collects, Donates $140 in Change to

Crossroads Pregnancy Center

Did you know that according to CoinStar.com, around $10

billion in loose change sits idle in American households?


The Success of SBA Lending

For two years in a row the U.S. Small Business Administration has helped to put more than $30 billion into the hands of small business owners across the country. In fiscal year 2012, SBA’s loan programs posted the second largest dollar volume ever, surpassed only by the 2011 fiscal year, which was heav-ily boosted by the loan incentives under the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010.

The pace of SBA loan-making is a healthy sign for the national economy and the credit markets and is one of the foundations for en-suring the availability of financing to small businesses trying to establish themselves, grow and create new jobs for Americans. Right here in SBA’s Philadelphia District, responsible for the 40 eastern counties of Pennsylvania, there were a total of 1,113 loans for more than $446 million in fiscal year 2012, the third-highest volume year on record for overall SBA-backed loan volume and the highest-volume year ever for its 504 loan program.

In the past year, SBA began streamlining and simplifying many of its loan programs to provide more access and opportunity for lenders and small businesses. As part of this effort, SBA encouraged lenders to use more of their own paperwork and the agency’s up-dated processing systems, so that more than 80 percent of its loan applications can now be processed online.

These efforts, among other loan enhance-ments, resulted in nearly 1,300 lenders returning to SBA lending and opened up more points of capital access for small businesses – wherever they do business. The results are clear:

• 504 Loans Set All-Time Record. By improving and simplifying the loan mak-ing process and reducing paperwork, SBA saw a record year for the Certified Development Company (504) loan program, which helped 9,471 entrepreneurs supporting $15.09 bil-lion in small business lending. Here in eastern Pennsylvania, SBA guaranteed 122 504 loans, totaling more than $120 million.

• CAPLines Loan Program Jumps 400 Percent. A revamped CAPLines program, which provides working lines of credit to small businesses such as manufacturers and government contractors, jumped 400 percent from 108 loans and $118 million in 2011 to 532 loans and $410 million in 2012.

• Low-dollar Loans on the Rise. Lenders are making more low-dollar loans using SBA Community Advantage and Small Loan Advantage loan programs that encourage lenders to make low-dollar loans, which are an important tool for small businesses. In fiscal year 2012 the number of Community Advantage loans increased to more than 11 times the number of loans in 2011. The Small Loan Advantage program ended the fiscal year with 820 loans for $150.6 million – nearly 80 percent of the year’s SLA loans were after SBA simplified the processes on June 1.

• SBA’s Growth Capital Program Breaks Record for the Third Consecutive Year. The Small Business Investment Company deben-ture program provided a record $2.95 billion to small businesses in FY 2012, a 14 percent increase over the previous year and the highest single-year volume in the 54-year history of the program. This good news is due in part to a number of improvements that contributed to an increased number of new SBIC licenses and reduced license processing times.

Here in SBA’s Mid-Atlantic Region, your local district office in Philadelphia – with branches in Wilkes-Barre and Harrisburg – is ready to help and for more information about SBA please visit www.sba.gov. As we look forward to 2013, SBA stands ready to help you start, grow or expand your business!

natalia olson-urtecHo is tHe reGional adMinistrator for tHe united states sMall business adMinistration. as reGional adMinistrator for reGion iii, based in kinG of Prussia, olson-urtecHo is resPonsible for tHe delivery and ManaGeMent of sba’s sMall business ProGraMs, financial assistance, and business develoPMent ProGraM initiatives tHrouGHout tHe Mid-atlantic reGion.

Brian J. Smith, Art Smith Join QNB Financial Services

QNB Bank recently announced that Brian J. Smith and Art Smith have joined QNB Bank and Investment Professionals, Inc. (“IPI”) as the new Financial Advisors with QNB Financial Services. IPI, a privately-owned Texas-based financial planning, asset manage-ment and risk mitigation firm, specializes in working with community banks to help their customers achieve a more secure financial future. IPI is the only bank broker-dealer to have earned four No. 1 rankings in American Brokerage Consultants’ leading industry sur-vey of bank executives.

A graduate of Quakertown High School, Brian J. Smith holds BS degrees in both Finance and Marketing from Penn State University. Previously, Brian was a Financial Advisor with Keystone Financial Management. Residing in Quakertown with his family, Brian is a member of the CFA Institute, CFA Society of Philadelphia and is on the Board of Directors of the Allentown Masonic Temple Foundation.

Art Smith, a graduate of LaSalle College High School in Cheltenham, holds a BS degree in Finance from Temple University. Art previ-ously was a Financial Advisor for Wachovia Securities, LPL Financial and First Niagara

Investment Services. A resident of Perkasie with his family, Art is active in the Pennridge Green Jackets, Alex’s Lemonade Stand and Perkasie’s annual Main Street Mile.

The partnership with IPI is consistent with QNB Bank’s commitment to offering quality service and solutions that address more of its customers’ financial needs.

QNB Bank, headquartered in Quakertown PA, offers banking services through eleven banking offices. In addition, QNB provides retail brokerage services through IPI under the name “QNB Financial Services” and title insurance as a member of Laurel Abstract Company LLC. QNB Corp.’s stock is traded in the over-the-counter market under the sym-bol “QNBC.” For more information, visit the QNB web site at www.QNB.com.

(left) Arthur Smith and (right) Brian J. Smith recently joined QNB Financial Services. submitted photos

Revitalization Effort Shows Progress in

Downtown QuakertownThe revitalization of downtown Quakertown

took strides in the past few weeks with the opening of new living space on Front Street and a new boutique on Second Street. Quakertown Alive! the community development organi-zation that’s been one of the driving forces behind the rejuvenation of the area.

The Lofts at Stationview brought new life to a vacant building and the neighborhood around it. The building was constructed in 1893 as a cigar factory and later housed a flower distrib-utor and Great Valley Mills. The building has recently been listed on the National Historic Register and in accordance with the guidelines of the National Historic Trust, all exterior improvements reflect the building architecture of that period. This is the first project of this type to occur in upper Bucks County and has received financial assistance and support from all levels of government, including federal, state, and local.

In addition to receiving the Federal Historic Credit, the county and local governments, as part of the effort to revitalize the commu-nity, approved a LERTA tax credit to reduce property taxes in Quakertown borough for renovations on commercial properties. The Lofts project is the first to take advantage of the LERTA credit.

And on Second Street, Quakertown wel-comes Pippi & Peanuts Eclectic Boutique. The new store features “upcycled furniture,”

artisan crafts, and vintage home décor. Pippi and Peanuts is also a local retailer of Annie Sloan chalk paints. The 400 square foot retail space hosts workshops on how to master the renowned medium.

Owner Jan Reese has created a fascinating store that features “upcycled” handpainted furniture and other home furnishings, where warm and inviting French Country charm meets with the fun, unique, and unusual. From chandeliers to furniture, walls to floor cover-ings, even upholstered fabric, Jan paints it all. She is very excited to introduce the area to the hottest new paint that is taking the do-it-your-self world by storm: Chalk Paint™ - created by world-renowned decorative paint expert, Annie Sloan. No prepping or sanding needed, just paint.

Jan’s extensive experience in furniture and interiors means that she is delighted to offer cutom work in interior decorating and upcy-cling your own personal home furnishings. Trained in techniques by the Annie Sloan team, Jan is holding regular workshops, from beginner to advanced, in her store. Learn how you can use a variety of paint techniques using Chalk Paint™ to give new life to your home.

Pippi and Peanuts is excited to share its unique finds, artisans and distinctive style. The store is open Thursday-Saturday from 10AM-4PM. Located at 37 South 2nd Street Quakertown, PA 18951. (484) 951-9680


Suburban One Names Quakertown’s Sawyer Athlete of the Week

Quakertown High School senior Mike Sawyer was recently featured football athlete of the week on the Suburban One Sports web-site. Humble, funny and strong, Sawyer led the Panthers’ offense this year, in spite of the fact that the team struggled to win. “He did some good things for us, and we thought going into this year that he would be the guy that would carry our offense, and he did,” Banas told Suburban One. “He was our offensive threat this year.”

In the photo, Sawyer is wearing the new sportsmanship banner, earned by the Quakertown Community High School Spring 2012 teams. Sawyer runs track, so he helped earn the banner, which will be hung in the High School gym.

QCHS Varsity Singers Compete in Philadelphia Radio Contest

Congratulations to the Quakertown Community High School’s Varsity Singers for a fine performance of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” in B101’s Christmas Carol competition last month. photo submitted by karen quinn

Cowan named Rotary Student of the Month

The Quakertown Community High School and Rotary International Student of the Month for October was Shelly Cowan. Shelly was nominated by several of her teachers and coaches. Shelly is an outstanding student ath-lete with remarkable leadership qualities.

Shelly is a role model for any student who wants to become an all-around, exceptional scholar athlete and school community leader. Shelly is the heart, soul and inspirational leader of all her athletic teams (soccer, track and football). She is mature beyond her years and leads by example, encouraging everyone around her to be better. Shelly is a rare student athlete who refuses to use athlete demands as an excuse in her academic responsibilities. She takes challenging AP (Advanced Placement) courses along with a class at Lehigh University.

Shelly is also involved in many school and community activities. She is a State and National level competitor in TSA (Technology Student Association), helps to tutor students both in and out of school and mentors special needs students in the Best Buddies program.

Shelly plans to attend college in the fall to pursue a degree in veterinary medicine. Her top choice is North Carolina State.

Ella (5) and sister Ava (8) relax for a moment in front of the fire with their dad while waiting for Santa’s arrival at the Richlandtown Tree Lighting.

photo by michele buono

For the third year in a row, the Quakertown Neighborhood Association hosted the Annual Cookies, Cocoa, and Caring at the Quakertown Train Station. The event, which raises money through gift cards and acts as a friendly night to get to know your neighbors, attracted dozens of people again this year.(left) QNA president Ali Johnson and vice president Dave Ochmanowicz, Jr. with a few of the gift cards that were donated. The group collected over $500 for local needy families.


Never be afraid to reinvent. A new year gives you the

permission to be whomever you want to be.


(top) While riding through Richlandtown, Santa and Mrs. Claus made a special stop at the home of Staff Sergeant Mike Hall, who recently returned from Afghanistan, to thank him for his service to our country. (second) Santa, tipped off by UBFP publisher Christopher Betz, made a special stop to visit the good girls and boys at Children’s Developmental Program in Quakertown. (third) Santa and Mrs. Claus made a special point to visit with some of his favorite kids from the “nice list” at St. Isidore’s School in Quakertown. (bottom) During Quakertown Alive’s Annual Tree Lighting, eight year old Joshua asked Santa for Beyblade toys for Christmas, while his little brother P.J. isn’t so sure that he wants to talk to the Big Man. photos by michele buono

Recent Rash of Santa Sightings Indicator of

Good Behavior in Upper Bucks

Helen Bergey Celebrates 102nd Birthday

On December 5, 2012 Helen Bergey celebrated her 102nd birthday at the Belle Haven Nursing Home in Quakertown. Helen, who was born in the tiny village of Argus, has lived in this area her whole life. She remembers fondly growing up on the family farm with her nine brothers and three sisters – “We had two horses, six cows, and chickens on our farm” - and going to the local one-room schoolhouse. Helen is a fan of the New York Yankees and used to enjoy going to the games.

When asked why she thinks that she’s lived for so long Helen answered, “I’ve lived a clean life.” photo by michele buono


Exhibition Gallery at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Canton, OH submitted photo

Big Plays on Display at the Pro Football

Hall of FameIf you like vintage architecture from the

1960s, you’ll like the surroundings of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH. The building was ultra-modern in its day with its interior spiral ramp (like the one designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for the Guggenheim Museum in New York City), glass curtain wall (a nod to the urban of-fice building architecture of Mies van der Rohe and Philip Johnson) and football-shaped roofline indicative of mid-century modern American architecture.

Canton, Ohio was chosen as the site for the Hall of Fame for many reasons. However, we focus on football’s legacy there as opposed to some other locale because of the native American athlete named Jim Thorpe who signed a foot-ball contract there. Thorpe, the star of the 1912 Olympic games, signed his first contract to play football with the Canton Bulldogs in Canton in 1915.

While the vintage building is good looking, the museum is in the midst of completing a major construction/expan-sion project to host more football fans. The completion of the museum expansion will coincide with the Hall of Fame’s 50th anniversary in 2013. The new facilities will not only host a world of football fans but it will also offer the Ralph Wilson Jr. football research and preservation center, the researchers’ reading room, an event center and meeting room in addition to exhibition galleries focusing on the his-tory of the game dating back to the early 1900s, state of the art interactive displays featuring game footage and player videos, the Lamar Hunt Super Bowl exhibition gallery with the Vince Lombardi trophy on display, the Super Bowl ring display (for the jewelry lover in the family), and the popular Hall of Fame gallery. While the Super Bowl ring display was one of my favorites (who doesn’t like all those diamonds?), the Hall of Fame gallery speaks to the core of the Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame Gallery houses interac-tive displays and an impressive assemblage of fine art bronze portrait busts resem-bling the likeness of each Hall of Fame inductees through the years. The bronze busts are the work of Utah sculptor, Blair Buswell and they capture the likeness of

each football great. As a display, the gal-lery is awe inspiring as visitors search for their favorite Hall of Famer.

At the Pro Football Hall of Fame, ex-hibits trace the history of professional football with unique objects like the Baltimore Colts marching band’s bass drum, press wood posters announcing the 1962 AFL championship game between the Houston Oilers and the Dallas Texans, and early helmets worn by various players. The exhibits highlighted player uniforms from the Pro Bowl as well as equipment and apparel worn by Walter Payton, Joe Namath and Dan Marino among others. The exhibits focused on the impact of stars like O.J. Simpson and the Buffalo Bills’ Electric Company. Some displays showed a player’s love of the game by focusing on great plays made by Chicago Bears run-ning back Brian Piccolo or Dallas Cowboy Troy Aikman. And, who could forget the famous Immaculate Reception made by Pittsburgh Steelers fullback Franco Harris (a fellow Penn Stater), on December 23, 1972. The museum, through its diverse exhibits, showed visitors the heart of the game of football.

I discovered one last interesting thing about sports museums during my visit to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. No mat-ter how much information is available to a visitor in a sports museum, fans always search for more. I noticed many visitors standing in front of very good, informative displays—even interactive displays—who were still searching for additional stats on their cell phones. I even found myself doing it.

As a former museum curator and di-rector, I bet you think I’d be appalled by this but in fact, I think when a museum’s displays prompt visitors to find out more, that’s a pretty cool and quite interactive museum. Plan a visit.

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Local authors Dr. Robert Leight and Thomas Moll are promoting their newest book, “A Pictorial History of Milford and Trumbauersville.” The book is a photographic history of the Milford - Trumbauersville area. The duo have written several books on local history and Dr. Leight described this book as the “next logical step.” Notable people and places are chronicled in this now volume of area history, including David Spinner; the Setman family, whose farm became the Quakertown airport; John Oberholtzer, newspaperman, preacher, and locksmith; as well as Mennonite and church histories. photo by michele buono

Milford, TrumbauersvilleFocus of Pictorial History Book

Quakertown High School junior Devon Supper was one of 12 teens recently hon-ored for their community service by the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce.

In its 31st year, the Young Citizens Award program is sponsored by David Werrett, of Wells Fargo Advisors, and his wife, Peg. The awards recognize teens for their commitment to their communities, for acts of courage and extraordinary charac-ter, for unusual service for people in need, and for unique personal achievements.

The Chamber of Commerce solicits nominations from its members. Devon said she does not know who nominated her. This year, the chamber received more than 30 applications. Devon was honored for her involvement with 4H, for raising money to help feed the hungry, for helping her former elementary school in Souderton, and for baking dog biscuits for her local animal shelter. She also works with children through ice hockey clin-ics. She is the goalie and only girl on the Quakertown Ice Cats ice hockey team.

“It was nice to be recognized, but I didn’t really do that much compared to the other kids who were at the luncheon,” Devon said. “Some of them actually saved lives.”

Madison McHugh, 14, a freshman at

Quakertown High School Student Honored for Community Service

William Tennent High School, jumped into a pool to save her grandfather’s life after he fainted while swimming. She administered life-saving CPR, which she learned from a babysitting course.

Other teens honored raised money for cancer; collected clothes and supplies for children in Haiti; collected football gear for children in Philadelphia; stuffed a bus with school supplies; traveled to vol-unteer at an orphanage in India; worked in a hospital; and overcame a traumatic brain injury.


Everything Goes with Author Brian Biggs!

Brian Biggs, author and illustrator of the great children’s series, Everything Goes, was born in Arkansas but has lived in Philadelphia since 1999. You can learn more about the books Mr. Biggs has written and illustrated by visiting his website MrBiggs.com. I was able to talk to Mr. Biggs at a couple of book signings I went to. He is very nice and agreed to do an interview with me.

erik - You illustrate so many great series like “Roscoe Riley” and “Brownie and Pearl”. You have also authored and illustrated the “Everything Goes” series. What’s the best part about your job, writing, illustrating, seeing a book finished, thinking about the next one?

Mr. biGGs - I re-ally love beginning a new project or book, and I really love it when I finish a project too. The stuff in-between, the actual writ-ing and drawing, is sometimes too much like actual work!

erik - What inspired you to write the “Everything Goes” series?

Mr. biGGs - When I was a kid, and ever since then, I’ve loved big busy books like the Richard Scarry “Busytown” books. I also love drawing things like cars and trucks and air-planes. So it just kind of made sense. I wanted to start a project that I could really sink my teeth into, and that I could work on for a few years. This was just the right idea at the right time.

erik - In your new book, “Everything Goes in the Air,” Henry learns about all sorts of ma-chines that fly. What was the coolest thing you did or learned when researching for the book?

Mr. biGGs - I got to spend a day at the Philadelphia Airport, getting a back-stage tour. I got to see how a lot of things work, like the luggage conveyors. I even got to down on the tarmac and see the airplanes as they taxi in after a flight. That was something I’ve always wanted to do.

erik – That sounds like a cool day! I would love to see where the luggage comes from on

those belt things! At the end of “Everything Goes in the Air” we get a hint that Henry is going to learn about things that go in water. Can you tell us about Henry’s next adventure?

Mr. biGGs - Sure thing. In the third book, Everything Goes: by Sea, Henry and his fam-ily are going on vacation. They drive onto a

ferry and take a trip across a harbor and to an island. Along the way they see all kinds of boats and ships, and of course Henry is as curious as ever.

erik – That sounds like a great adventure! Are you working on any other projects that you’d like to tell us about?

Mr. biGGs - As soon as Everything Goes is completed in March, I’ll be illustrating a book written by Kelly DiPucchio called “Dog Days” about a boy and a dog who trade places. The dog goes to school

and the boy stays home and lies around all day.After that, I’ll be working on another series!

This one is written by the one and only Jon Sciezska and I can’t really say anything about it yet. But is SO COOL.

erik – That is cool! Jon Sciezska is a great author (Guys Read, The Stinky Cheese Man)! It sounds like you will be busy. You have a lot of subtle references to Philadelphia and Philly sports teams in your “Everything Goes” books which makes them even more fun for local people to read. You must enjoy living in Philadelphia. My question is; you’re stranded on a desert island and you can only take one of these: Cheesesteak (from your favorite Philly spot), soft pretzels or Tastykake (any variety). Which one do you pick?

Mr. biGGs - A Cheesesteak, but only one made by my friend Stew in Yardley. We go camping every year and he makes chees-esteaks, rain or shine, and they are so much better than anything in South Philly.

erik – I would have picked a cheesesteak too! Thanks Mr. Biggs!

for book reviews and discussions, Please visit My website at thisKiDreViewsbooKs.coM.

Young Entrepreneur Plans to Stick with It

At just eight years old, Harry Myers is CEO of his own company. Harry’s Duct Tape Designs debuted this past sum-mer after Harry won a contest run by the local library. The contest challenged children to come up with ideas for creat-ing their own businesses. Harry liked the idea of creating things with duct tape after making a wallet as a Father’s Day gift for his dad.

Based in Richlandtown, you can find Harry’s Duct Tape Designs on Facebook at facebook.com/HarrysDuctTapeDesigns. He’s also been selling his wares at lo-cal craft shows. Last month, Harry set up shop at the local Cookies, Cocoa, and Caring event sponsored by the Quakertown Neighborhood Association where he donat-ed half of his profits from that night to the charitable effort. Throughout the Christmas season, Harry was selling a number of holiday bows specifically to raise money for charity. “Donating made me feel happy for giving money to kids that don’t have anything,” said Harry.

He offers a variety of handmade duct tape products such as purses, wallets, pens, and barrettes in a plethora of duct tape patterns. You can even specify what pat-tern you would like made into one of Harry’s designs.

Young Upper Bucks-based manufacturing tycoon and philanthropist, Harry Myers, shows off some of his wares at a charity event in Quakertown recently. Half of his proceeds were donated to area youth less fortunate than himself.


Best Wishes for a Prosperous 2013!


Of Rocket Engines and Running Boards

New Cars and Old DealershipsSomehow, the thoughts of cars and how they

affected our lives seems to come back to me as I write these articles. I believe it is because we lived in the post World War II era and how the automobile was a great part of the changes be-ing made to society and our economy. Without knowing back then, the car and its mobility en-abled expansion of the once urban population to move out in the postwar expansion of hous-ing developments such as Levittown in lower Bucks. Many of the wartime industries were now looking for new products to fill the mili-tary supplier gap and the auto industry helped fill that need. In addition, the housing was changing from the prewar two-story homes to ranch houses and Cape Cod type homes. The auto industry also was changing from the black cars with brown cloth interiors to lower sleek models to keep up with the then-modern fam-ily concept. No more refrigerators with the motor on top. No more sitting around the radio and listening to “The Great Gildersleeve”, no more driving the auto with the gearshift on the floor. Yes, we now had the refrigerator with freezer and frost-free! We now watched the new television on our 10” or 12” or possibly 18” with the glow light around the screen! The cars also had the shift lever on the column and yes; some even had automatic transmissions. Chrysler was bold enough to introduce “push-button” drive!

Being in a family in which I was the young-est of 3 boys and a sister; I of course was caught up in the changes to the cars. As we drove around in the annual September New Car Presentations in our cars that ranged from a ’35 Chevy to a ’40 Nash with running boards, we along with our dad would take in all the wonderful new features. September Car Showings of the next year’s models was always a special “guy thing” in the Quakertown area that sometimes took in a total of two nights viewing. We always had light suppers those evenings so we could be on the road to catch all the dealers. Besides, the dealers always would have some sort of treat in the showrooms to bring in the buying (and just looking) public. Ede Motors seemed to always have the best spread of food. Dealers often stayed open until 9:30 or 10:00 P.M. the first 3 days.

As the new cars were delivered to the deal-ers, they often would be covered in cloth on the auto carriers. Once they got to the show-room people such as Russ Wolfinger at Hager Pontiac/Cadillac would detail the cars in the detail area with shades drawn. After they were detailed they would again be covered until opening day. Opening day was like Christmas to us guys and we could hardly wait to get home from school to go “Look at CARS!” Sometimes the auto companies would have pictures in the Life magazine the week before to whet your appetite for the BIG day.

Remember the “Rocket Engine” in the Oldsmobile? The wide track Pontiacs? How about the Cadillacs with push button electric windows? Ford was the only one of the low priced three (Ford, Chevy, Plymouth) who had a V8 in the early ‘50s and they even had overhead valves instead of the “Flathead” which Ford had since 1932. The big changes came in 1955 when competition was the tough-est amongst automakers because of a slight recession in the economy. Chevy and most

other cars now had V8’s. Even the sports car Corvette went from a 6 cylinder to a V8. From this point on for the next few years until the gas crisis of the mid 70’s SPEED was king. Every year the car introductions became even more exciting. The Olds rocket engine now had 3 two-barrel carburetors. 401, 409, 427, and 440 were now added to the car vocabulary!

Let us now remember some of the dealerships that graced the Quakertown area. Johnson &

Biehn had the Chevys, Ede had the always GM experimental Oldsmobile, Farrel had the Fords, Russ Yoder had the Chrysler Plymouths at the showroom on 309. Let us not forget the Nash garage at the end of Park Avenue. Cummings had the Buicks, Hager had the Pontiac/Cadillac garage on Main Street (I later on in life sold cars for Hager). Helverson/Bickley had Andy Granatteli’s Studebaker/Packards also on 309. When there were special introductions we even ventured over to the Upper Perkiomen Valley to view cars. Remember Red Hill Ford (now Sand’s), Heimbach & Sweatt, Vick Oldt, and Spaar’s? For many years just outside of East Greenville, where the traffic light for the road now going into Walmart currently is, there was a building with STUDEBACKER painted across its front. Just within the past few years the owner painted over this memory of the past.

We would visit them all and after consuming many hotdogs, sodas, and desserts, we would settle in to look at and dream of owning one of these beauties. I must admit, in future years I did purchase a few new cars. Now the romance of the 50’s and 60’s are gone and I can’t recall when the flare of introduction of new cars was ever again achieved. Now they are just there and the ads are on TV but no special opening events are ever mentioned. I guess it is my age showing, but all cars seem to look the same nowadays; just special computer features and gas mileage seem to be pointed out. No more “Wide-Tracks” or more head room or leg room stand out, no more “Curve Windshields” or elimination of the wing window. Just electric car backup, grey cars, with special warning signals when someone is beside you are the features of today. The simple days of just looking at the dynamic new style and munch-ing on a hot dog are gone but they still are a special memory!

BABY NEW YEARBLIZZARD

BOOTSCHILLYCOLD

FREEZING TEMPICE SKATING

ICICLEJACK FROSTKNIT CAPMITTENS

OLD MAN WINTERPARKA

RESOLUTIONS

SCARFSKIING

SLEDDINGSNOWFLAKESNOWMAN

WINDY

For three decades, Upper Bucks’ own Jimmy Carroll has been touring the United States, Canada, and abroad as a stand-up comedian. In Las Vegas alone, Jimmy has performed over 300 shows. He has also performed for the U.S. troops in Korea, Japan, Okinawa, The Philippines, and Guam.

Jimmy Carroll grew up on the outskirts of Philadelphia near Ambler. When he was only eight years old, Jimmy’s father took him to see Bill Cosby perform at the Temple Music Fair. Cosby capti-vated the audience with nothing more than a stool and a microphone. From that moment on, Jimmy knew he wanted to be a stand-up comedian.

In 1984, Jimmy was the winner of the “Funniest College Student Contest” held at the Comedy Works in Philadelphia. He later went on to take first place in “The Second Annual Comedy Showdown” held at the Comedy Stop at the Tropicana in Atlantic City.

Since that time he has gone on to per-form in comedy clubs across the country. These clubs include Catch A Rising Star, the Improv, Laugh Factory, the Comedy Store, Comedy Stop, Funny Bone, and many others.

Jimmy has worked with such talents as Jerry Seinfeld, Jeff Foxworthy, Richard Jeni, Rosie O’ Donnell, Richard Belzer, the Unknown Comic, Carol Leifer, Nina Simone, David Beinot, Chuck Mangione, Spyro Gyro, Todd Rundgren, among others.

Jimmy’s television appearances include “A&E’s An Evening At The Improv”, Comedy Central’s “Stand Up And Deliver’, ESPN II and more. He also

co-starred in the movies “Searching For Paradise,” and “Meter Maid.”

Jimmy can be seen on the high seas performing on Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Princess, Norwegian, and

Holland American Cruise Lines.

Jimmy’s clean, clever style of com-edy keeps him on the go more than 200 days a year perform-ing for millions of people.

So it is Bill Cosby who will be to blame for Jimmy’s long commute from his home near Trumbauersville to Sellersville, and for what will happen at the Sellersville Theatre on Saturday, January 19th at 8 o’clock when Jimmy

takes the stage with his new act, “The Last of the Boomers.”

Jimmy will harken us back to the dark ages when there was no internet, phones had cords, and you had to get up to change the TV channel… all three of them. The act is apparently inspired by a conversa-tion he had with his daughter about the computers and technology he used while growing up in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Of particular concern seems to have been how he would access the Internet.

Anyone who grew up with cassette tapes, records, rabbit ear antennas, or a telephone with a dial on it will appreci-ate Jimmy’s take on the dark ages from whence we came not so very long ago. Savages!

Tickets for the Sellersville Theatre show are available online at www.st94.com, in person, or by phone at 215-257-5808, and go for about $23.00 each.

Learn more about Jimmy and his mul-tiple talents at his own website, www.jimmycarroll.net. See a piece of Jimmy’s other work on the page facing this story.


Help with the “Losing Weight” Resolution for 2013It’s 2013! Happy New Year! Yes, it’s

a new year; yet another chance to get fit. The Philadelphia area is one of the MOST unfit areas in the country. Out of the top 100 big cities in the USA, Philly ranks at the bottom at # 100. Kind of sad I think. A lot of people make this resolution to get fit or lose weight and so commonly they quit only a few weeks into the year. So how can you make this YOUR resolution, AND STICK WITH IT!?

It all comes back to being accountable for your own actions. You must face this and know that everything you do is your fault. The fork doesn’t make you fat. That bag of chips didn’t make you fat. The holiday cookies didn’t make you gain weight. It was your choices. It’s you! You made that choice. Okay, so now that you are thinking “I know, I know, you don’t need to tell me that.” But, yes. I do need to tell you because if you finally hear it from someone and know it IS all in your control then you can begin to make the change. It all starts in your mind. Get it in your mind that this year is going to be YOUR YEAR! If it’s your fault for being who you DON’T want to be how much better will you feel when it’s your “fault” for making you who you really WANT to be! It will make you feel AMAZING!

So you are now accountable for your own actions. Onto being successful! Yup, it’s that easy. Determine your goal, and keep it realistic. Don’t focus on the final goal. Make a short goal that you can easily obtain. When you reach it, expand it a bit further. Keep having little successes. Before you know it you’ll be at that end goal and be saying “WOW, How’d I get here already?”

Now, when it starts getting tough and you feel like quitting, DON’T! The ONLY way you fail is if you give up. So, last time I mentioned this I got a phone call a few days after the column was posted. The caller didn’t agree with this saying because they had not had success yet in what they were trying to do. BUT

it is true, if you quit, ONLY then have you failed. As long as you are trying and not giving up you are making some sort of progress. If you are not successful it’s not because you aren’t trying, so that’s why YOU have not failed. The system may fail you, but you are not a failure if you don’t quit. With that in mind, if you have 20, 30, or even 80 pounds to lose, don’t EVER stop trying to reach your goal! Seek the correct help to get you the results you want. Remember in school when the teacher said you have to ASK for help before you can get it? If it weight loss you are trying to obtain, then find the right person to guide you and push you to get it done. Don’t just say “I CAN’T.”

Now you need to get motivated. The hardest part is admitting you need help. MAKE THE CALL!!! Then the second hardest thing is going to get that help. Yes, I’ll admit, it is VERY hard work to get fit and lose weight. But, the reward of being able to move better, feel better, and adding years to your life are worth it. Remember how many years did it take to get like this. SO it’s going to take some hard work to get where you WANT to be. But Trust me, it’s worth it.

Be accountable, make small goals, don’t ever give up, get motivated, and find someone to help you reach your goals. That’s how you will make it to your final goal by 2014. Let’s see if you will stick to it this year. Just don’t make a resolution if you know you don’t plan to keep it. Let’s see if we can make Philly more fit. Let’s try harder to eat right and get more active. Get out there and find the help you need to reach your goals. Don’t just give up. Be that person who can say “I’m NOT the one who is keep-ing Philly in 100th place!”

Corbin is a graduate of the National Personal Training Institute (NPTI). He is a certified strength and conditioning coach and a certified nutrition coach. He is the owner of GetReal Training, LLC in Sellersville, PA. Contact him at 215-416-5757 or visit his web site at getrealtraining.net for more information.

Did you know? The New York Times started the traditional Ball Lowering Celebration in 1907. This world-renowned event is seen across Times Square at the top of the tall

narrow building known as One Times Square in New York. On New Year’s Eve, it descends on a 77-foot flagpole at 11:59 p.m. and reaches its

destination at exactly 12:00 midnight.

Globetrotting Comic to Debut New Act

Close to Home


~Obituaries~Earl R. Kline, Sr., 93, died Sunday,

November 25 in his home. He was the husband of the late Betty (Schlicher) Kline. Born in Quakertown, he was the son of the late Furman and Lillian (Hess) Kline. Earl served as a Richland Township supervisor from 1994 to 2000. He was a member of the first U.C.C. in Quakertown and a World War 11 Army veteran. Earl is survived by a son, a daughter, and one grandson.

Charles W. Roberts, 84, of Quakertown died Sunday, December 2 in Belle Haven Nursing Home, Quakertown. He was the husband of Ruth Mae (Ewan) Roberts. They celebrated 57 years of marriage in June. In addition to his wife, Charles is survived by two sons, Barry and his wife Brenda, Bruce and his wife Rita, and a daughter, Bonnie; two grandchildren, Billy and Ryan. He was predeceased by his daughter Karen, brothers Ronald and Marvin Roberts, Harold Seachrist, and sister Pearl Nyce.

James Schantz Barnes, Sr., 85, of Jim Thorpe, formerly of Quakertown, died December 2, surrounded by his loved ones while under hospice care. He was the husband of Rosemarie (Spink) Barnes. They were married 48 years on July 3. In addition to his wife, James is survived by his children, Deborah Hickey (Sam) of Allentown, Steven J. Barnes (Teresa) of Bethlehem, Diana Woods (Ian) of Tulsa, OK, Danny Gaugler of Charlotte, NC, Jeffrey S. Barnes of Westminster, CO, Belinda Hartman of Quakertown, and James, Jr. (Angela) of Bedminster, NJ; fifteen grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a cousin, Kenneth Jurs (Joanne) of Marlborough, CT, and his beloved dog, Nina.

Jean Adele Afflerbach, 78, of Red Hill, formerly of Trumbauersville, died December 3 in Pennsburg manor. She was the wife of Philip J. Afflerbach. They were married 59 years on November 28. Jean was past president of the Quakertown Gardening Club, former den mother to Pack 55, and a member of the American Legion Post 242 Ladies Auxiliary. In ad-dition to her husband, she is survived by three sons, Bruce and his wife, Debra of Allentown, Scott of Minotola, NJ, and John and his wife Dawn of Red Hill; also three grandchildren, Stephanie, Kyle, and Ryan.

Miriam N. Landis, 87, of Richland-town, formerly of Quakertown and Pennsburg, died December 4 in Phoebe Richland Health Care Center. She was the wife of the late Paul E. Martin, Sr. and the late E. Arthur Landis. Miriam is survived by her daughter, Nancy Kerver (Edward, Sr.)of Pennsburg, her son, Dale Martin (Sheila) of Birdsboro, daughter-

in-law, Kathy Martin of Richlandtown; her brother, Charles Mann ( Stephanie) of Quakertown, two sisters, Eileen Hohl (Richard) of Quakertown and Janice Fendrick (Frank) of Macungie; and her aunt, Dorothy Mann of Quakertown. She is also survived by four step-children, Peggy Benner (Ted) of Quakertown, Nancy Kuhns (Dick) of Perkasie, Jerry Landis 9Diane) of Quakertown, and Barbara Fox (Philip) of Phoenix, AZ; three grandchildren, four great-granchil-dren, and three step-great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her son Paul, Jr.

Joseph C. Tarantino, 87, of Quaker-town, passed away December 4 in St. Luke’s Hospice House, Bethlehem. He was the loving and caring husband of Connie (Heydt) Tarantino. They were married 35 years in November. Born in Quakertown, he was one of twelve children born to the late Frank and Anna (Asta) Tarantino. Before his retirement in 1991, he was the last owner/operator of the family busi-ness, F.L. Tarantino & Sons Memorials in Quakertown, which began in 1916. Joe was a lifetime member of the North Penn Gun club, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Disabled American Veterans Charter PA7, the American Ex-Prisoners of War. He served in the Army Infantry 106th Division in World War II and was a POW in the Battle of the Bulge. He was a Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipi-ent, and a member of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the American Legion Post 242 in Quakertown. He was a mem-ber of the Trumbauersville Betterment and Social Club, St. Isidore’s Catholic Church, and a charter member of the Knights of Columbus Cardinal Stritch Council 4649.

In addition to his loving wife, he is sur-vived by their children, Gary Tarantino and his wife Elaine of Randolph, NJ, Joseph Tarantino and his wife Sandra of Knox, PA, Debra Wahl and her husband Charles of Quakertown, and Terrence Solomon and his wife Carol of Allentown; daughter-in-law Pamela Solomon of Northampton; two sisters, Lucy Moody of Arkansas and Mary Weyland of Florida; eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son Joseph Solomon; three brothers William, Frank, and John; six sisters, Sue, Josephine, Ann, Claire, Grace, and Eleanore.

Carrie Gross Lewis, 95, of Quakertown died December 6 in St. Luke’s Hospital, Quakertown Campus. She was the wife of the late Percy A. Gross, Jr., and the late William J. Lewis, Jr. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Quakertown. Carrie is survived by her daughter, Ann Schrader, and her husband Edward of Quakertown; a step-daughter,

Shirley Mann, of Quakertown; two grandchildren, Troy Schrader (Julie) and Eric Schrader, two great-grandchildren, Warren and Claire.

Joyce A. Johnson, 82, passed away Sunday December 9 in Clare Bridge Dublin. Born in Quakertown, PA,

She taught for 35 years in Quakertown Joint schools, retiring from Neidig Elementary in 1986. She was a volunteer at the former Quakertown Community Hospital and St. Luke’s Quakertown Hospital in the gift shop for over 30 years. She is survived by brother-in-law, Kenneth MacDonald of Springfield, MA, Nieces, Kathy Lazaravich, husband Bob of Chandler, AZ, Margaret MacDonald of Englewood, CO, Nephew, Stephen MacDonald, Great nephews, Peter and Adam Lazaravich of AZ. She is pre-deceased by a sister Gloria.

Elda L. Benner, 86, passed away Tuesday, December 11, 2012 at Cedarbrook, Allentown. Born in Sellersville, she was the daughter of the late Oliver and Marion Nuss. Formerly of Richlandtown, Quakertown, and Macungie, Elda was the loving wife of the late Carroll F. Benner, who died in 1999. She was employed by the Superintendent’s Office of Quakertown Community School District for over 25 years. Survivors- Elda will be lovingly remembered by her son, Terry Benner and wife Catherine of Emmaus; grandson, Adam Benner, of Emmaus; a sister, Dorothy wife of Richard Specht, of Pennsburg; and a brother, Robert Nuss and wife Hedda, of Madison Township, PA.

Earl F. Rush, 89, of Quakertown, died December 10 in Phoebe Richland Health care Center, Richlandtown. He was the husband of the late M. Viola Rush. Earl was a Corporal who proudly served his country in the Army Air Force Corp during WWII and was a life member of the Quakertown American Legion Post #242. He was also a 70 year member of the Alutata Lodge #488 I.O.O.F. and the Springfield Township Historical Society. He is survived by his brother Paul and his wife, Esther, of Springtown, also three nieces, Paulette, Virginia, and Cheryl, and a nephew, Douglas.

Gladys M. Trumbauer, 95, of Quakertown, died December 11 in St. Luke’s Hospice House, Bethlehem. Gladys was a US Army veteran, serv-ing during WWII, and a member of Quakertown American Legion Post #242. She was a member of the Upper bucks Senior Cwnter and AARP. She is survived by two brothers, William of Sellersville and Kenneth of Coopersburg. Gladys was predeceased by four brothers, Clinton, Stanley, Harold, Robert and five sisters, Dorothy Guentensperger, Marian

Riesberg, Phoebe Effen, Phyllis Shup, and Mary Lewis.

William W. Cope, Jr. , 77, of Center Valley, died December 16 in Grand View Hospital in Sellersville. He was the husband of Betty (Harner) Cope. They were married 58 years on November 27. William was a member of the Christian Motorcycle Association Kings Rider Chapter of Allentown. In addition to his wife, William is survived by his daughter Donna Buskirk and her husband, Lamont, of Walnutport; a son son Bruce and his wife, Pamela, of Boyertown; a sister Marjorie of Quakertown; three grandchil-dren, Stephanie Molloy, Stacey Conway, and Isaac Cope. He was predeceased by his sister Mary Schantzenbach.

Mary Helen Schmidt, 80, of Quakertown died December 17 in Chandler Hall Hospice, Newtown. She was the wife of the late Albert Ray Schmidt. She attended St. Isidore’s Church in Quakertown. She is survived by her six children, martin Schmidt, Deborah Feichthaler, Diane Dougherty, Frances Lombaardo, Elizabeth Gaffin, and Robert Schmidt; a brother Robert DeCoskey; two sisters, Elizabeth Budickey and Connie Anderson; nine grandchildren and eigh-teen grandchildren. Mary was predeceased by two brothers, Archie and Skites, and a granddaughter.

Leroy “Reds” Leister, 77, of Sellersville died on December 22 in his home. He was the husband of Carol “Bonnie” (Moronese) Leister. They cel-ebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on July 15. He was an avid huntsman and outdoorsman and was a lifetime member of many clubs including Great Swamp Fish and Game, Paletown Gun Club, Morwood Sportsman Club and Souderton-Harleysville Fish and Game. He was also a lifetime member of the Tylersport Fire Company and a 50 year member of the Sellersville Moose. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Leroy and Larry, and daughter Ruby Jones; stepson, Richard Bossert; two sisters, Lorraine Slaughter and Gloria Eckman; one granddaughter, Violet Jones. He was predeceased by his brother Ervin, Jr. and sister Alice Leister.

Marta Straume, 91, of Quakertown died on December 26 in her home. She was the wife of Waleter Straume; they were married 66 years last July. She was born in Gramzda, Latvia. Arta was a member of the Latvian Evangelical Church of Bucks County and Vicinity. In addition to her husband, she is sur-vived by two sons, Aivars Straume and Martin trauma (Anne).Three grandchil-dren, Kirstin Crouthamel, Erika Straume, and Alex Straume.

American Legion Post #242 Monthly Notes

Veterans Day is a memory and Christmas gifts have been delivered to appropriate veter-ans. This year again the Gold Star Mother’s program of “Wreaths Across America” ex-panded beyond our imagination. Your Post supports this program as well as gifts to those veterans in government facilities. This is the least we can do. A few members of our post helped place the wreaths in the cemeteries. Our post also is going to help support the series of Military Flags to be erected in the National Cemetery located at Washington’s Crossing. Les Walters, the Honor Guard Commander for our post, dedicates every Wednesday to be a part of the Honor Guard at Washington’s Crossing. Thanks, Les!

At this time I would like to recall my spend-ing Christmas overseas back in 1965 and 1966. I walked the streets of Heidelberg, Germany

after eating a delicious turkey dinner, and lis-tened to the families inside sharing Christmas with their families. Thoughts were of home and I must admit a bit of homesickness fell on me. (Later on that night in 1966. I was in the hos-pital with food poisoning from that turkey!). Getting back to the subject, many of my com-rades were in foxholes or on O.P’s in Vietnam. Their thoughts too were of home and family. Together, we in Europe, they in Vietnam, and the rest of the troops in Korea, Stateside, on the seas, and around the world were there for YOU. Since then, I always share a silent moment on that blessed day thinking of and thanking all the troops that are still sacrificing their lives for US. Duty, Honor, Country is their gift to us. May God bless our troops and may God bless our beloved United States of America in the coming year!


Perhaps Epiphany is All Around Us

January 6th is the Epiphany of Our Lord on the church’s calendar, and it is the day we remember the coming of the Wise Men to the baby Jesus, bringing with them their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

There’s a lot of confusion about these Wise Men. For instance, the Bible doesn’t say there were three of them, it only mentions three gifts. We just assume one gift per person. For another, and contrary to the wonderful song “We Three Kings”, they weren’t kings. The Bible calls them Magi, from which we get our word magician. Now, I’m not saying they were the ancient world’s version of Penn and Teller, or David Copperfield, but they were more like astrologers than anything else.

They followed the star because it was their job to watch the stars for important signs about world events, significant births, and other stuff like that. They really wanted to see a king when they sought out Jesus. They knew he was really important. I wonder what they thought when they got to the house where Mary and Joseph and Jesus were living and found, well, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. Were they puzzled at first?

Still, for them the star said Jesus was a king and that was good enough for them. They pre-sented their gifts, paid their homage, and went on their way (avoiding the crazed Herod as the angel told them to).

The Magi weren’t at the stable, didn’t see shepherds and sheep or singing angels or any of the other parts of the traditional Christmas crèche, and they are really important for us today.

So many people today seem to be asking the same question the Magi asked when they got to Jerusalem – where is the child who has been born? Where do we go to find this Jesus? So many people today are searching for Jesus, and these Magi have much to offer.

The Magi looked for signs, a star in this case, and, upon seeing the sign, followed it. Signs are all around us today, as well, signs that, if followed, if paid attention to, will lead us to Jesus today.

People of faith are living active lives of faith

all around us, helping the poor, feeding the hungry, visiting the sick and lonely and forgot-ten, going to worship, praying for the world and all those in it. These active lives of faith are signs to those seeking Jesus that he can be found in those who are committed to doing the work of Jesus every day. Faith active in love is a bright star shining high in the sky for those who would look.

People in need are all around us, as well. The child who is hungry, or lost, or afraid to go home, the child who has no home. The young girl, pregnant and alone, looking for guidance and caring and support. The homeless person, wandering our streets. The elderly person sit-ting forgotten in a nursing home. The addict struggling to get clean and stay clean. The neighbor we rarely see and never talk to, who seems so “strange” to us. The co-worker whose life is falling apart, whose spouse is gone, whose hope is gone.

They are signs, too, because it is among the poor and the lonely and the oppressed and the hurting and the rejected and the outcast that we will find Jesus, calling to us to come and make a difference, calling us to be the star that shines high in the sky for them.

The church itself is a sign, as people gather week after week to hear the gospel, share the sacraments, pray and sing, share each other’s joys and sorrows, and be a community of grace and love, forgiveness and acceptance for all people. The church can be a star shining high in the sky, pointing us to the one who has been born, the one in whose name we gather, the one in whose name we serve and love the world around us.

The Magi are important because they fol-lowed. They went. They took the risk, made the journey, followed the star. Faith is that journey, that following of the star. Faith is also helping others in their journey, showing them the star, perhaps even being their star.

The star the Magi followed becomes the light that shines throughout the season of Epiphany, and that light is Jesus himself. So follow the star wherever it leads, because it will always lead you to Jesus.

Christ Lutheran Church1 Luther Lane • PO Box 569Trumbauersville, PA 18970215-536-3193Pastor: Carolann Hopke9:00am Worship, 10:15 Sunday School Free Drive-in Movies Friday evenings June through August, Handicapped accessible, Family Friendly Church

Grace Bible Fellowship Church1811 Old Bethlehem Pike N.Quakertown, PA 18951215-536-6096 [email protected]: Ron Kohl, Sr. PastorHours Sept - May are 9:00am Sunday School for all ages, 10:10 Morning Worship Service, 6:30pm 2nd & 4th Sundays are small groups, 6:30pm 1st, 3rd, 5th Sundays: Evening Worship hour

Evangel Assembly of God401 Arch StreetPerkasie, PA 18944215-453-1565 • www.perkasieag.orgPastor: Rev. Gary SaulWhere God’s Love Changes Lives

MorningStar Moravian Church234 S. Main StreetCoopersburg, PA 18036610-282-1908 [email protected]: Lance Fox

Sunday services 10:00am. Small, friendly Protestant church. Community mission: Serving free dinners once per month. All are welcome. Call for information.

Good Shepherd Church(Episcopal)1634 Hilltown PikeHilltown, PA 18927215-536-3193Pastor: Harper Turney10:00am Sunday Eucharist

St. John’s Lutheran Church4 South Main StreetRichlandtown, PA [email protected] www. sjrpa.orgPastor: Susan SosninSunday morning worship at 9:30am with holy communion first and third Sundays of the month. Sunday school 8:30am

St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church3668 Ridge RoadPerkasie, PA [email protected] www.kellerschurch.orgPastor: Robert E. MitmanWorship 7:45 & 10:30am, Sunday School 9:00am, Koinonia Cafe 8:30am, Holy Communion 1st & 3rd Sunday, Children’s church 2nd & 4th Sunday

Upper Bucks Technical School Gets Grant,

Installs New SignageThe Upper Bucks County Technical

School (UBCTS) recently held a ribbon cutting to welcome new road signage to the school campus. The new signage is a result of a $10,000.00 grant from the Lowe’s /SkillsUSA Charitable and Educational Foundation. The grant project is a

joint effort among UBCTS students, Lowes, SkillsUSA, and an area sign company. The foundation provided 32 grants to career and technical schools across the nation. The Upper Bucks County Technical School is one of two Pennsylvania technical schools to receive the grant.

(left to right) Bernard J. Wagenseller, Executive Director of Upper Bucks County Technical School; State Representative Paul Clymer; Amber Kline, UBCTS SkillsUSA President; Chuck Beecher, Lowes Quakertown; Joseph Dixon, Lowes Quakertown; Jenn Smith, SkillsUSA District 11 Executive Director submitted photo

Learn What QCHS Students Learn Online via

AlcoholEdu A parent component has been added to the

AlcoholEdu pro-gram that proved popular and effective with Quakertown Community high School (QCHS) Health 1 students last year. Any parent is welcome to log on with the information below, in preparation for a child’s teen years.

The online program offers students plenty of information about the risks of drinking. Students said they appreciated the program’s approach, as opposed to adult lectures. Teacher Ryan Stetler, who helped secure the grant for the program, said this year QCHS received an unlimited number of licenses for the parent version of the course.

The program notes, “Research has shown that parents have the greatest influence on the decisions teens make about alcohol. Because of this, we strongly recommend parents to take

AlcoholEdu for High School Parents.” In this 15-20 minute module, you will find:

• Information regarding Social Host Laws. • The latest research on underage drinking. • Tips and tools for talking to your teen

about alcohol. • Strategies for setting rules and monitoring

your teen. Over a two-week period in class, students

will read information in a variety of formats. They will watch videos and animations and create billboards and write letters to their parents. They will consider decision mak-ing about peer pressure, the effect of alcohol on athletic performance and dealing with family members.

AlcoholEdu For High School Parents is available online 24 hours a day. To access the course, visit: http://highschoolparents.alcoholedu.com. Under New User, type: 12QuakertownParent. Click, “Sign Up!”


Fuzzy Friends Available to Warm your Winter

Delia is a sweet hound cross who weighs about 65 lbs. She is about 2 years old and just wants to be with people, though not a fan of dogs jumping on her. She is spayed, vaccinat-ed, micro-chipped and more. You must meet her to see how wonderfully sweet she is. Delia is most likely housebroken and walks well on a leash. TooTs is an adorable spaniel-pom-mutt who loves being on someone’s lap. He came to our shelter terrified, but once he saw some constant people and knew they were not going to hurt him, he came out of his shell quickly. He is about 2 years old. BamBi is a friendly adult cat. She is cuddly with her silvery bronze tinted medium-long hair. She is litter trained and gets along great with other cats and dogs.

These pets, and many others, are available for adoption at the Last Chance Ranch located at 9 Beck Road, Quakertown. 215-538-2510.

Grad Project Benefits Local SPCA Shelter

Quakertown Community High School seniors Miranda Goepfert and Tori Gandy presented a check for $3029.97 to Bucks County SPCA – Upper Bucks Shelter last month. The girls raised the money by hosting a Coach Purse Bingo event as their senior project. The expected goal was just $2000, but, as Miranda said, “everyone was so generous”. Participants were also asked to bring items that the shelter needs, too. Again, people were very generous. “Instead of bringing a can of dog food, people were bringing cases of food and

boxes of supplies,” said Miranda. The event was a success with a full house of 143 people participating.

Shelter manager Melissa Frank was grateful for the girls’ efforts and the community’s generosity. “We’re over-whelmed,” she said, “This money will go into our general fund and be out to very good use taking care of the animals’ needs.”

Meghan Garber, the shelter’s volunteer coordinator, was very impressed with the young ladies’ efforts. “There are people who will just sit and do nothing, but look what these girls have done. It’s wonderful.

Miranda Goepfert presents shelter manager Melissa Frank with a check from the bingo proceeds. The tables are loaded with supplies that were also donated to the shelter from the Coach bingo event. Pictured (L-R) Meghan Garber, Tori Gandy (holding Jasmine), Miranda Goepfert, Melissa Frank, Megan Ambrose, Dena Ceneviva. photo by michele buono

Bucks County SPCA Celebrates Centennial

On December 18, staff and volunteers of the Upper Bucks shelter celebrated the official 100th anniversary of the Bucks County SPCA. Special thanks go to the students from the Upper Bucks County Technical School who baked the delicious cake for the occasion. (left to right) Catherine Cerqua (volunteer) holding Cindy (just adopted), Shannon Roese, Dave Mertz (volunteer), Megan Ambrose, Meghan Garber, Dena Ceneviva, Diane Herstine, shelter manager Melissa Frank, Katie Lick, Rob Marz, Christy Patterson, Lise’ Henkensiefken (Lahaska shelter staff), Holly Olson (volunteer) holding Chester (also just adopted) photo by michele buono

PeTunia is a 1-year-old brown tabby female that came to the shelter as a stray. She has been patiently waiting for her forever and would love to go home with someone who sees her for the special kitty that she is. She has been spayed here and is ready for a new home. This sweet girl is full of activity and loves to play. She would be best in a home as an only pet. Petunia should do well with responsible children of all ages. Fiona (grey tabby) and Binx (black) enjoy playing together. Fiona is a 7-year-old spayed female. This sweet and outgoing girl loves to catch your attention and sit on your lap if you are willing. She is good with other cats and has not been around dogs. Fiona should do well with children of all ages. Binx is a 1 year old neutered male. Active and curious, he should do well in a home with children of all ages. Binx will always try to get your attention. He is good with other cats and has not been around dogs. These cats are litter trained and negative for feline leukemia.

The Upper Bucks SPCA also has quite a few bunnies and guinea pigs of all colors and ages waiting for new homes. These and many others are available for adoption through the Bucks County SPCA at 60 Reservoir Road (just off California Road) in Richland Township. Call 267-347-4674 or visit www.bcspca.org.


Boy, does time fly by fast! Hope you all en-joyed the holidays and were in the right spitit of love and giving. My Canine for Christ bud-dies and I gave baskets to the police officer canine unit in Quakertown . Here are pictures of Officer Kito and Officer Jynx accepting their baskets. They sure seemed happy to have ap-preciation shown to them. While I am on that subject I would like to say that we should ap-

preciated each other all year long and not just on a holiday. Don’t forget to appreciate all the emergency people that help us through our lives. Whether two or four legs these people save us and protect us so do something nice for them to show you are glad they are there. Enough babbling from me I want to make sure there are room for the pictures.

Love to all - M.J.

A Christmas Puppy Now What?

Puppies are so sweet it seems they can give you cavities. Oh boy, they are cute, downright addicting. I love those round pink bellies and their intoxicating puppy breath. So why do thousands of puppies end up being relinquished to our already overwhelmed shelters and res-cues soon after the holidays have passed? The average length of ownership for these puppies is 3 months (petpopulation.org). The National Humane Education Society’s web site estimates that 5 million dogs and cats are euthanized in the U.S. each year. Of the dogs turned in, 42% were not spayed or neutered, 33% never saw a vet, and 96% never experi-enced obedience training. The understanding is - acquiring a pet dog is supposed to be a lifetime commitment full of fantastic furry Fido fun. What happened- poor planning lack of time, money, knowledge, impulse control buying? The top 10 reasons for relinquishment follow: 1.Moving 2. Landlord not allowing pets 3.Too many animals in the household 4.Cost of pet maintenance 5.Owner personal problems 6. Inadequate facilities 7. No homes for littermates 8. No time for pet (This totally outrages me) 9. Pet illness 10. Biting

The newness always wears off eventually. You wanted a dog. You didn’t realize that puppy teeth can feel like pristine forged steel needles leaving scabs all over your hands and arms. Who knew that “puppy” = eating and chewing everything in sight, secret peeing under the dining room table, incessant jump-ing, barking for attention, and if given the opportunity, escaping through the neighbor-hood. Now that the holidays are over, the real life-changing training for your puppy should be fun, not drawn out work. Training sessions with your puppy should be short, a minute here, a minute there. Always leave them want-ing more. “Real life” opportunities for training are very beneficial. Your puppy quickly learns doors only open for sitting dogs. A wonderful and underutilized time to train is at meal time. An example of an impulse control exercise would be – the puppy must stay sitting until released to eat its meal. Exercise and mental stimulation are a must for a happy puppy. Try enrolling in a group puppy class. There are plenty of force- free, certified professional dog trainers at the Association of Pet Dog Trainers www.apdt.com.

Euthanasia is the number one reason for death of dogs under the age of 2 years. The most common reason for euthanasia was the dog was not properly socialized as a puppy. It doesn’t even compare to Parvo, Distemper, or accidental death.

In the age-old discussion of “Nature ver-sus Nurture,” the fact is both are important. “Nature” is what your puppy or dog is born with, and “nurture” is what you provide for a happy, healthy, affectionate, well-adjusted, well-mannered dog. A critical aspect of “nur-ture” is socialization. Its importance cannot be underrated in raising a psychologically healthy puppy. In fact, providing your puppy with a broad range of experiences prior to the age of four months of age has been proven to be one of the most critical factors in raising a stable, confident dog.

Socialization is introducing your puppy to a broad range of new experiences, people, environments, and activities. While you likely can’t expose a puppy to everything he or she may encounter in the future, the good news is that positive exposure to a wide variety of novel experiences results in a dog that easily adjusts to new things throughout his or her life. A well-socialized dog isn’t frightened of some-thing he or she may never have experienced previously. In other words, well-socialized dogs are more secure, confident, and self-assured. Socialization includes:

• People—from infants to the elderly. Different ages, sizes, ethnicities; glasses, hats, mustaches and beards, different clothing—any-thing you can think of.

• Places—new environments such as urban

Christmas Goodies for Quakertown’s Canine Cops

Clubbie’s Corner: Upper Bucks Shelter

Success StoriesEvery month, we feature pets waiting at the

Upper Bucks SPCA for their “forever” homes. Meghan Garber, who works at the shelter, wants people to know about some of the suc-cess stories.

Let’s start with Clubbie the cat. Clubbie is a beautiful grey kitty who waited for five long months at the shelter before finally go-ing home. She was named Clubbie because her one front paw is a bit deformed. Instead of the usual five toes, Clubbie has two big ones. She’s a sweet girl, but unfortunately her pre-vious owner could no longer keep her or her kittens. Her kittens were adopted, but Clubbie waited and waited until someone recognized her as the cat she was looking for her own. Clubbie is now happily ensconced in her new home, has adjusted very well, and follows her new owner everywhere.

Another great story is Ginger, a 12 year old Shih Tzu, who finally found a terrific home. We called to do a follow up and her new own-ers could not love her more. She gets two walks a day; loves to walk on a leash and is very courteous when her owner stops to talk to someone. She loves riding in the car. Ginger does not like being in a crate, so when they go out they gate her in the utility room with wee pads. They try to take her with them but sometimes have to leave her home. She’s per-fectly potty trained. Her “daddy’s” chair in the living room is where she loves to sleep at night. Her “mommy” brushes her every day and cleans her teeth. Ginger is very loved and has found a great forever home.

areas, country settings and everything in be-tween. Nothing attracts friendly people more than an adorable puppy, so taking your puppy to new places gets him used to loads of people, too. Visit friends’ homes, your kids’ soccer games, and take quiet walks in the park.

• Things—Dog-friendly cats and other pets, household appliances, cars, buses, fire hy-drants, trees and flowers. Virtually everything may be new to your puppy, so don’t be limited in your choices.

• Activities—Pleasant car rides, an eleva-tor ride, and the like. And, of course, Puppy Class is one of the best places to socialize. Plus, you’ll both learn a lot!

Safe socializationIt’s important that exposure to all these nov-

el experiences is positive and without stress. Here are some guidelines to help keep things stress-free and constructive:

• Have fun! Your positive attitude toward new things is important for your puppy.

• Let your puppy approach new things on her own. Provide the opportunity for your puppy to investigate and let her take her time.

• Respect your puppy’s feelings. Don’t push or force your puppy if he’s at all reluctant. Try laughing and interacting with the new object yourself, but ultimately err on the side of cau-tion if your puppy thinks something is just too scary right now.

• Use common sense and be careful that all experiences are positive. Avoid situations, people, and environments that you think might result in a less-than-happy experience for your puppy. For example, in meeting a well-be-haved child who wants to hold the puppy, have the child sit on the floor to avoid the possibility of a squiggly puppy falling from his arms and getting injured.

While there is little risk to socializing your puppy in public, there is a small possibility your puppy will be exposed to illness.

Professional groups including the APDT and the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) believe that the profound advantages of socialization far outweigh the minimal risk of illness. Ultimately, however, the decision is yours, and should be made in consultation with your veterinarian.

Don’t ignore your puppy because you’re too busy. The cost of Doggie Day care is mini-mal. What you get in return is endless! Your dog learns bite inhibition and much needed social skills. A tired puppy gets into much less mischief. If money is tight there are some less expensive options. Take advantage of your neighbors (a retiree or a college student) or a close relative. Ask them to watch your puppy while you are at work. Almost everyone loves a puppy. There are local certified insured dog walkers looking for work. They take your dog out for that much- needed pee and get that wonderful walk to burn off penned up energy. In the November issue in the Free Press I explained how to play puppy ping pong. You have two people at different ends of the home calling your dog back and forth. You are burn-ing up excess energy plus reinforcing the come when called command for you puppy.

The amount of free information on the in-ternet is endless. Be careful there is also a lot of bad information, too. Writers promoting anything “Caesar” are not the best choices.

January is the official “Train Your Dog Month” at the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (www.apdt.com). Several free webinars and articles will help you make decisions about train-ing. Patricia McConnell’s “The Puppy Primer” and Dr. Ian Dunbar’s “After You Get Your Puppy” are two great puppy training books. You can’t prepare the world for your puppy but you can prepare your puppy for the world! subMitted by Marion o’neil cPdt-ka, owner & trainer of Molasses creek doG traininG

Lola, a Shiba Inu, once scared and growl-ing behind the kennel, grew into one of the nicest dogs and found happiness with her new brother Nikko. Her new “mommy” wrote to the shelter with an update about her. Lola and her new “brother from another mother” Nikko love taking walks together and the two dogs get along very well. “She is truly a blessing to our family,” she writes in her note.

Another adopted dog, Daytona, was very shy and retiring during her time at the shel-ter. She was adopted and has blossomed in her role as the official “museum dog” of the Sellersville Museum.

The SPCA relies entirely on private dona-tions. If you cannot adopt a pet, please consider the Sponsor-a-Kennel Program. This program is designed to allow the public, businesses, school groups, and other organizations to help all the homeless animals that are sheltered at the SPCA each year without a large commit-ment of time or money. When you sponsor a kennel for a dog or cat, a sign will be placed on the kennel to acknowledge your donation. Your sponsorship sign will be customized to have your special message, or photo of a pet or loved one displayed. Sponsorship terms begin at one month, but can be extended as long as you like. Please call the SPCA Upper Bucks shelter for more information at 267-347-4674.

Editor’s Note: And we cannot forget our office cat, Snickers. Free Press publisher Christopher Betz met and took a shine to the lad at an event hosted by the shelter. A few days later, 12-year old Snickers came “home” to the newspaper office. He has settled com-fortably into his role as “office cat” and we cannot imagine what we would do without him.

(left) Clubbie prepares to make a presentation to other animals at the shelter in Richland Township on the ins and outs of getting adopted. submitted photo (right) Snickers reviews payroll documents and sales projections at Free Press headquarters in Downtown Quakertown. photo by amber qalagari


(left to right) Lyn Evans, Corresponding Secretary Sarah Parvin Foundation, Sandy Parvin, President, Sarah Parvin Foundation, Tom Kramme, Tournament Director, Jeffrey Geiser, QSC President and Kris Reiss, QSC Travel Coordinator. photo by jeff pursel photography

SoccerFest Raises Over $50K to Help Beat

Ovarian CancerThe Quakertown Soccer Club (QSC) and

the Sarah Parvin Foundation are pleased to announce the results of the 2012 Sarah Parvin SoccerFest. In our 5th year of running this event, the total raised was $52,098.81. This was a combined effort of hundreds of QSC and Foundation volunteers who worked for months in advance of the event through the con,clusion, helping to bring the total raised since inception to over $175,000. The Parvin Foundation has generously donated money to help run the Hope Lodge at Fox Chase Cancer Center and initiate an Ovarian Cancer Research activity at Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia among other tasks. The SoccerFest is by far their biggest event. Unlike other soccer events Quakertown Soccer Club donates 100% of its proceeds from this unique event.

SoccerFest is a 24 hour marathon soccer tournament started in 2008 by members of

Quakertown Soccer Club and in concert with Sandy Parvin, Sarah’s mother, with the intent of remembering Sarah, who died at age 12 of Ovarian Cancer, to run a unique event that promoted the game Sarah loved, and last, to raise funds and help people who are afflicted with cancer.

This year’s event included over 200 teams playing 6v6 soccer for 30 minutes straight. Each team had 5-6 games and the tournament runs for 24 hours straight on 13 different fields at Quakertown Soccer Club. A large major-ity of players/teams camp onsite for the event, which includes a marathon Food Court, many forms of entertainment, vendors and, of course, soccer for all ages. The youngest teams are U9 travel teams up to Adult Recreation teams.

The 2013 event will take place at Quakertown Soccer Club on July 26-28th. Information can be found at sarasoccer.com.

Documents

Upper Bucks Free Press • January 2013