Upper Bucks Free Press • April 2014

2 Upper Bucks Free Press April 2014

Whats Going On in Upper Bucks?March 29

Springfield Twp Historical Soc. Open House 9:30am-12noon. Come see our One Room School & family file records, etc. 2165 Rt 212, Pleasant Valley (Coopersburg), 610-838-8660

Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month

April 2Early Childhood Behavior 7pm-8pm, free

seminar at Penn Foundation, Loux Healthcare Ctr, 807 Lawn Ave, Sellersville, register at 267-404-5069 or [email protected]

April 3The State of the Indian Valley held by Indian

Valley C of C at the Country Club, 650 Bergey Rd, Telford. Registration deadline is March 31, info at 215-723-9472

$50 Jackpot Bingo 12:15pm at Upper Bucks Activity Ctr, Milford Twp Fire Hall, 2183 Milford Square Pike, Quakertown, 215-536-3066

Antiques Appraisal Night at Old Spinnerstown Schoolhouse, 1580 Sleepy Hollow Rd, Spinnerstown. Sign-in 6-7pm, appraisals ($5/item), free refreshments, info at 215-679-6175

April 4Easter Bunny arrives 10am for story time

at Barnes & Noble, then on to the Gazebo for meet & greet, treats, & photos. Details at ThePromenadeShopsatSauconValley.com

Annual Banquet/Auction New Beginnings held at Indian Valley Country Club, 650 Bergey Rd, Telford. Tkts/info at 215-723-5430 or keystoneopportunity.org

April 5Reading Goes To The Dogs, 2pm-3:30pm at

Quakertown Library, 401 W Main St, Qtwn. Children are invited to come and read to certified therapy dogs, 215-536-3306

3rd Annual Quakertown Easter Egg Hunt, ac-tivities begin 9am (crafts, Easter Bunny, prizes, etc.) at 9th St Soccer Fields. (r/d April 6, activi-ties begin 1pm), Ashley 215-536-5001

Easter Egg Hunt 9am (rain/shine) for ages 12 & under. Free, bring a basket to Blooming Glen Mennonite, 713 Blooming Glen Rd (GPS Perkasie), 215-257-3431 or bgmc.net

Prime Rib Dinner 4pm-7pm (advance tkts only), Trumbauersville Fire Co, 142 North Main St, Tville. (also baked potato, salad bar, beverage, dessert), Tkts/info: 215-536-1998 or bucks58fire.com

Turkey Dinner-Family Style, 3pm-7pm at St. Johns Lutheran, 3104 Main St, Sumneytown. $10.50/adults, $3.50/ages 4-10, $11/takeout. 215-234-4888

Scrap Metal Recycling 9am-1pm in St. Paul Lutherans parking lot, South Main St & Lincoln Ave, Telford. What can be dropped off? Email [email protected]

Coach Purse Bingo (open 11:30am) at Richland Twp Fire & Rescue, 64 Shelly Rd, Quakertown. $30/adv, $35/at door. Info: 215-778-1641, [email protected]

All-U-Can-Eat Spring Breakfast w/live enter-tainment 7:30am-11am, Easter Bunny photos, hosted by Quakertown Cares, $6/adults, $4/stu-dents. Quakertown HS cafeteria, Park Ave, Qtwn

Spring Flea Market 9am-1pm at Pennridge Community Ctr, Rtes 113 & 152, Silverdale. Questions? 215-453-7027 or email: [email protected]

Kids Fishing Derby 8am until Afternoon for Pennridge CC members w/students K-5th grade, Pond on west side of Branch St. behind Sellersville Firehouse. Regis. details at 215-257-5390

Greaser Dance 7pm-Midnight at Benner Hall, 1260 Cherry Rd, Richlandtown. $22.50 donation, prize drawing. DJ, Hot/cold buffet, BYOB, must be 21. Call Jon for tkts: 215-258-5719

April 5 & 6Welcome Spring Spiritual Faire (Sat 10am-

6pm) (Sun 10am-5pm) at Milford Twp Fire Co, 2185 Milford Square Pike, Milford Square. $4 admission. Details/info: quakertowncsl.org

April 5 to 20Easter Craft/Gift Bazaar 1pm-4pm on Tues,

Thurs, Sat & Sun at AID Shelter in Coopersburg. Info: 610-966-9383 or animalsindistress-pa.org (tentative dates, call to confirm)

April 6Valley Choral Society Ensemble Concert

3:30pm at St. Johns Lutheran, 1565 Sleepy Hollow Rd, Spinnerstown. Free, donations welcome, refreshments follow. Valchor.com

Firehouse Breakfast 8am-1pm at Springtown Fire Co, 3010 Rt 212, Springtown. $7/adults, $4/age 6-10, free/age 5 & under

Open House to celebrate Grand Opening of new memory care bldg. (the Laurels) on Hidden Meadows campus, 1pm-4pm. (prizes, food, tours) 215-257-6701 x12

Vera Bradley/Longaberger Basket Bingo at Lehigh Valley Active Life, 1633 Elm St, Allentown. Opens 5pm, only 125 tkts avail. Tkts: 610-762-8553 (call to confirm date) Benefits animalsindistress-pa.org

UB Sertoma Basket & Bag Bingo, limited seating, opens Noon at UBYMCA, 401 Fairview Ave, Quakertown. $20 ($25/door), info/tkts: 215-822-9781 or [email protected]

Longaberger Basket Bingo 12noon at Tylersport Fire Co, 125 Ridge Rd, Tylersport. $20 ($25 at door), 215-343-6087

Cash Bingo at Souderton Fire Co, opens 12noon. $15/20 games, raffles, refreshments available. 266 N 2nd St. Call Mary: 215-721-3167

Community Hymn Sing 6pm at Saucon Mennonite Church, 6639 N Main St, Coopersburg. Light refreshments, all are welcome.

Breakfast 8am-12noon at American Legion Post 255 Aux., 75 N Main St, Sellersville. $4.50/donation, sellersvillelegion.com or 215-257-9801

April 9Easter Party w/Tammy G, Easter Bonnet

Parade/Contest, buffet 11:30am, $12/person. Sign up by April 4, UB Activ. Ctr Milford Twp Fire Hall, 2183 Milford Square Pike, Qtwn. 215-536-3066

Hoagie Sale ($4) at Zion Lutheran, 2966 Old Bethlehem Pike, Zion Hill. (blue bldg.), pick up 12noon-5pm), pre-order at 484-695-5504 or walk-ins welcome.

April 10Pork & Sauerkraut Dinner 4:30pm-7pm (or

sold out) at Lower Milford Twp Fire Co, 1601 Limeport Pike. $9/adults, $5/ages 6-12, $9.50/take-outs

Julia Child 7pm, presented by So. Lehigh Public Library, 3200 Preston Lane, Center Valley. Also cookbook/kitchenware sale going on. Info/register at 610-282-8834 or solehipl.org

April 10, 11 & 12Rummage/Soup/Cookie Sale (Thur 9am-

6pmj) (Fri 9am-5pm) (Sat 9am-1pm, also $3 bag day), St. Peters Lutheran, 305 Delaware Rd, Riegelsville, 610-749-0830

April 10, 17, & 24Thursday Bingo 12:15pm at Upper Bucks

Activity Ctr Milford Twp Fire Hall, 2183 Milford Square Pike, Quakertown, 215-536-3066

April 11Harrisburg Trip w/Sen. Mensch & Indian

Valley C of C. Bus leaves 7:30am, registration deadline is April 1. Info: 215-723-9472

6th Annual Sporting Clays Invitational for UB Lions Kidney Fdn. 8:30am to ?? at Lehigh Valley Sporting Clays in Coplay, PA. Prizes, raffles, food, etc. Fees/details at 215-536-3089

April 11 & 12Spring Rummage Sale at Quakertown United

Methodist, 1875 Freier Rd, Qtwn. (Fri 9am-4pm) (Sat 9am-12noon), Sat. is $2 Bag Day! Info: 215-896-7055

April 12Breakfast w/Easter Bunny (8, 9, & 10am reg-

ister at 215-453-4084), $5.50/adults, $3.50/for age 3 & up. Egg hunt, photos, activities at Grand View Hosp. Cafeteria in Sellersville.

Community Easter Egg Hunt 1pm-3pm (r/s) at Zion Lutheran, 2966 Old Bethlehem Pike, Zion Hill in Fellowship Hall (blue bldg.), all ages welcome

Community Easter Egg Hunt 9am-12noon (r/s) at First Church of the Brethren, 455 Trumbauersville Rd, Quakertown. Prizes, bake sale, come with your basket

Adopt-A-Highway Spring Clean Up 8am-10am. Wear long sleeves & sturdy shoes, meet at parking lot of CDP, 313 & Thatcher Rd. To sign up, contact [email protected]

Homemade Easter Candy Sale 9am-2pm, Christs Lutheran, One Luther Lane, Trumbauersville, pre-order by April 6. Also QNB Country Sq (4/12-4/19), QT Walmart, Capt Bobs Seafood, 215-536-3193

Starting & Running A Small Business free seminar, 8:30am-Noon, First Savings Bank, 219 S Ninth St, Perkasie. Call 215-943-8850 for info/registration.

Pennridge Yellowjackets Summer Soccer Sign-up at Re/Max, Market & 7th Sts, Perkasie from 9:30am-12noon. $60 (early bird fee), starts June 9, pennridgesoccer.com

April 12 & 13Pet Photos w/Easter Bunny 1pm-3pm at AID

Shelter in Coopersburg, (tentative dates, call to confirm) 610-966-9383, animalsindistress-pa.org

April 13Easter Breakfast & Easter Bunny & Egg

Hunt begins 8am. $8/adult, $4/kids over 2. Flower vouchers avail. Lower Milford Fire Co, 1601 Limeport Pike, Info: 610-349-1276 or [email protected]

Buffet Breakfast 8am-1pm at Silverdale Fire Co, 111 West Main St, Silverdale. $7/adults, $4/kids 6-12, under 6 free

Mother & Daughter Bash at UBYMCA (regis. by Apr 4 or until sold out) For girls 4-10 years, 1pm-3pm, contact YMCA at 215-536-9622 for ticket info

April 13, 17, & 20West Swamp Holy Week Services (Palm

Sunday, Maundy Thursday, & Easter), 2501 Allentown Rd, Quakertown, details at 215-536-7468 or [email protected]

April 14Bingo at Milford Twp Fire Hall, doors open

5:30pm, bingo at 7pm, kitchen is open. 2183 Milford Square Pike, Quakertown, 215-536-3066

Annual Game Dinner 7pm at Dublin Fire Co, Route 313, Dublin. Order $30 tkts at 215-257-2245, benefits Lions Club

April 16 to 19Easter Flower Sale (W-F 9am-9pm) (Sat 8am-

4pm) at Trumbauersville Fire Co, 142 North Main St, Tville. Bulbs, bedding plants, baskets, etc. Info &/or pre-order at 215-536-1998 or bucks58fire.com

April 18Friday Night Dance w/King Henry, 7pm-10pm

at Milford Twp Fire Hall, 2183 Milford Square Pike, Quakertown. $10 payable at door, snacks & punch included, 215-536-3066

April 19Richlandtown Fire Co Easter Egg Hunt 10am

at Benner Hall, 1260 E Cherry Rd, Quakertown. Easter Bunny, every child receives a gift, Boy Scout Troop 87 will sell Easter flowers, rain or shine

Flapjack Breakfast Fundraiser at Quakertown Applebees 8am-10am. Tickets required. Available at 104 Main St, Souderton, at door on Sat, or keystoneopportunity.org. $7/adults, $4.50/kids 12 & under

Childrens Easter Celebration 10am at Jerusalem Lutheran, 733 Ridge Rd, Sellersville. Crafts, games, storytime, egg scramble. Preschool to 6th grade. Free, all welcome, 215-257-9423

April 20 EastEr sunday

April 22 Earth day!Fundraiser all day at Washington House, 136

N Main St, Sellersville. Flyers needed for 15% of bill donated, available at Keystone office, 104 Main St, Souderton or keystoneopportunity.org

April 23Annual Professional Support Day w/Hawaiian

Luau, 12noon at Pearl S Buck Intl, 520 Dublin Rd, Perkasie. Call 215-257-5390 for details. [email protected]

Container Gardening Workshop 7pm-9pm by Penn State Ext. Bucks County. Cost $5, pre-registration required at 215-345-3283

April 24Chicken Pot Pie Dinner, 4:30pm-7pm at

Lower Milford Twp Fire Co, 1601 Limeport Pike. $8.50/adults, $5/kids 6-12

April 25Family Bingo Night, doors open 6pm, $10/

adults, $5/ages 5-12, under 5 free. Food avail-able. St. Andrews Lutheran, 20 Dill Ave, Perkasie. Info/tkts: [email protected]

Greek Easter Luncheon 11:30am at Encore Experiences, 312 Alumni Ave, Harleysville. Reserve a table for four or more. Cost $7, register by April 16. Info: 215-256-6900, encore-experiences.org

April 26Radio Days Live on Air by North Pennsmen

Chorus, 2pm & 7:30pm, Indian Crest Middle Sch., 139 Harleysville Pike, Souderton. Tkt prices vary, free under 12, call 215-393-1940 or northpennsmen.org

Mothers Market 9am-1pm at Trumbauersville Fire Co, 142 North Main St, Tville. FREE yard sale style, reserve space/info at [email protected], 215-527-7011, bucks58fire.com

Flea Market/Craft Show, 9am-2pm (breakfast/lunch avail.) at Dublin Fire Co, Rt 313. $15/space, bring own tables. No set ups before 5am. Reservations required at 215-249-3089

Healthy Kids Day at UBYMCA 10am-12noon. FREE! Sample a class, visit a vendor table, swim, other fun activities. 401 Fairview Ave, Qtwn. Refreshments for sale. 215-536-YMCA

Annual Bake Sale/Flea Market 9am-2pm (Boy Scout Fundraiser) at St. Michaels Lutheran, 25 E Church St, Sellersville. [email protected] for donations

April 27All-U-Can-Eat Breakfast 8am-12noon at

Haycock Fire Co, 850 Old Bethlehem Rd, Quakertown, $7/adults, $4/ages 4-7, free under 4, info at 215-536-2224 or haycockfire.org

7th Annual Clash of Church Choirs, 3pm at St. Andrews Lutheran, 20 Dill Ave, Perkasie. Five local Upper Bucks Churches raise money for Relay for Life of Quakertown, admission is free, 267-347-4633

Theme-Basket Bingo 1pm at Eastern Upper Bucks Senior Ctr, 8040 Easton Rd, Ottville. 20 Baskets (not Longaberger), raffle, 50/50, food, prizes, etc. $20/tkt, info at 610-847-8178

Basket Bingo/Chinese Auction, games begin 1pm at Faith UCC, Route 378, Center Valley, info: 610-282-1552 or 610-282-3939

May 2Coach Purse/Michael Kors Purse Bingo, doors

open 6pm. $30/adv. or $35/at door. Food/drinks available (or BYOB). Table/tkts reservations: 267-733-2347 or [email protected] (only 300 available)

Basket Bingo, opens 6pm, all filled baskets, benefits Epilepsy Fdn. Perkasie Firehouse, 5th & Arch Sts, Perkasie, 215-257-0387

May 3Bucks Wild 2014 (musical festival/market-

place) 10am-4pm at UB Campus of BCCC in Perkasie. Info at [email protected] or 215-258-7700

Spring 2014 Craft Fair 10am-3pm at Pennridge Commun. Ctr, Rtes 113 & 152, Silverdale. 215-453-7564 or [email protected]

Indoor Spring Craft/Flea Market 9am-2pm at Tylersport Fire Co, 125 Ridge Rd, Tylersport. Info/reserve at 215-257-5900 ext 7

Beef N Beer, 6pm-10pm at Hilltown German Club, 1622 Hilltown Pike, Hilltown. Live music, $25/person, call 215-605-6561 or 267-772-0423 for tickets

May 10Jerry Blavat at Tylersport Fire Co. $25/tkt

(limited number), call Carol for tkts: 215-258-7521 or 267-374-1705

Lansdale Kiwanis Fruit Sale (oranges, blueberries, peaches, cashews, vidalias, nut/berry mix, honey roasted mixed nuts) Orders due 4/24, Delivery 5/2 (6:30pm-8:30pm), call Ginny 215-272-8560

Free English as Second Language Class on Wednesdays, 5pm-7pm. Classes run through May 14. Quakertown Elementary, 123 South 7th St, Qtwn. Child care! [email protected] or [email protected]

Hoagie Sales for April, May, & June for Trumbauersville Fire Co. 2nd Mon. of the month. Orders due Wed. before. Info: 215-536-1998 or bucks58fire.com

Ongoing Opportunities

April 2014 Upper Bucks Free Press 3

QUAKERTOWN

Aamco American Heritage FCU A-Plus Mini MarketBorough Hall Bottom Dollar FoodsBeer CityBricks SalesClassic StaffingChick Fil-A Dominicks Pizza Downtown DogsEarl Bowl Lanes Embers CafeFirst Niagara BankFirst Savings Bank Flashpoint AcupunctureFranks Pizza The Free Press Bldg.Giant (Qtwn Plaza)The Grundy HouseHampton InnHoliday InnIndependence CourtJames Michener LibraryJohns Plain & FancyLiberty Thrift Store McCooles RestaurantMcDonaldsMelody LakesMoyers Shoes

Old Bethlehem Rd HotelPep Boys Philly Soft Pretzel FactoryQuaker CleanersQtown Family RestaurantQNB BankQuaker CleanersRedners MarketRoma PizzaSals Pizza RandaSeven-ElevenSines 5 & 10St. Lukes HospitalSwanns PantryToms Help DeskUpper Bucks Sr. CtrUpper Bucks SPCAUpper Bucks YMCAUpper Bucks ChamberWells Fargo Bank Yum Yum Donuts

TRUMBAUERSVILLE

Borough HallFinos La CantinaSpors General Store

SPINNERSTOWN

Spinnerstown HotelE Js Barber Shop

PLEASANT VALLEY

Country Kitchen

SELLERSVILLE

A & N DinerGrandview HospitalHidden MeadowsRoy Ann DinerVillage Market

PERKASIE

Rep. Paul Clymers OfficeDam Good CafeEmils DinerGiant Food MarketsLandis Food MarketsMirage Hair SalonOlde Towne ConveniencePennridge ChamberPierce LibraryQNB BankRevivals Restaurant

TELFORD

Indian Valley LibraryLandis SupermarketLisas Pizza

SOUDERTON

Bottom Dollar Care & Share Shoppes Mr. Bs at Calvary Church

COOPERSBURG

Coopersburg DinerGiant Food MarketsThe Inside ScoopQNB BankTurkey Hill MarketWeis Markets

SPRINGTOWN

Reflections Hair StudioVillage Center Automotive

Have a suggestion for a place youd like to see the Free

Press? E-mail [email protected].

Where Can I Get my Free Press?

Think Local. Buy Local. Be Local.

West Swamp Mennonite Church continues with their Lenten theme, Encountering God:

What have a Witnessed?, into Holy Week and invites you to join us for three special ser-vices. Palm Sunday, April 13, will start with a palm processional and include the sermon, From Branches to Betrayal, by Pastor Kathy D. Yoder; Maundy Thursday, April 17, will be marked by a simple meal at 6:30 p.m., followed by a brief service and communion - From Betrayal to Burial. We will celebrate

Easter Sunday, April 20, with great music and the sermon, From Empty to Full and every-one will be invited to join in on singing the Hallelujah Chorus as a finale to the morn-ings worship.

The church is located at 2501 Allentown Road, Quakertown, about 1.5 miles north of Route 663, and is handicapped accessible. For more information, call the church office

215 536 7468, email [email protected], or www.westswamp.org.

West Swamp Church Holy Week Services


Hearing Aid StylesAfter the second worst

Winter season on record for our area with almost six feet of snow, ice storms, and power outages, it appears that Spring has finally arrived.

In appreciation to the eyewear industry, glasses evolved over the past forty-five years into a personal fashion statement. The varieties of frames, colors, and lenses provide the wearer an opportunity to express themselves and their persona to all they meet.

There was a time not long ago when people with a hearing loss did not want to acquire hearing aids because they were afraid someone would see the devices. Today, hearing aids come in a variety of styles and colors to meet the personal discrimination tastes of the user. Most people do not notice hearing aids worn by another person. What calls attention to itself is not the device, but rather the recep-tive communication difficulty displayed by the hearing impaired individual.

When I graduated in 1987 from the University of Virginia with a Masters degree in Audiology, styles of hearing aids were limited. Among those styles were body aid, eyeglass aid, behind-the-ear, full shell in-the-ear, and the latest development in-the-canal. All devices were analog or conventional.

Since that time, other styles were made available to the public including completely-in-the-canal, micro-canal, and half shell. A new operational design was the programmable and has been obsolete for a number of years. Some companies have explored, introduced, and expanded a host of colors too numerous to list. However, any color imaginable is for the asking.

Todays current line up of the most popu-larly used styles are: behind-the-ear (BTE), open ear (OE-BTE), receiver-in-the canal (RITC-BTE), full shell in-the-ear (ITE), half shell in-the-ear (HS), in-the-canal (ITC), and completely-in-the-canal (CIC). These styles are listed from the largest to the smallest. The smaller in size you select will have an increase in price.

Each style enables the wearer to utilize

a volume control, remote control, program button or switch, and a choice of many listen-ing programs depending upon the desire of the patient.

Most people have seen the BTE. This aid is the size of your smallest finger and rests behind your ear with an earmold in your ear to receive and hear sound. The BTE is the most powerful. The other two BTEs listed are special fittings for specific hearing loss and are not considered power instruments.

The ITE is the most powerful of the cus-tom made one-piece devices. This aid fills the entire outer ear bowl with a section traveling into the canal.

The HS is half the size faceplate. Hence, the name half shell. These hearing aids are capable of giving a moderate amount of gain.

The ITC fills the bottom one-third of the bowl of the outer ear. The faceplate is ap-proximately the size of your index finger nail. This style is good for mild to moderate hearing loss.

The smallest of all hearing aids is the CIC. This aid is about the size of a BIC pen cap. The custom shell, faceplate, and components all fit in the canal of the wearer. This device is best used by someone with a mild to moderate hearing loss.

If you or someone you know has experi-enced hearing difficulty, it is time to get that hearing checked. If new hearing aids are rec-ommended, the patient should get them only if they are truly motivated to use them every day. Otherwise, time and money is wasted. There is no time like the present for Spring cleaning and addressing your overdue list of to-dos. Get busy and finally do something about your hearing in 2014!

Mr. Murphy has had a bilateral Mild-to-Moderate sensor-ineural hearing loss all 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 university of virginia in the spring of 1987. Mr. Murphy is affiliated with a nuMber of hearing related na-tional and international organizations. he can be reached at [email protected] and by phone at 215-804-1111.

Field Trips Weekly Theme Activities Swimming Sports Arts & Crafts

Full-Time Part-Time Drop-In www.lifespanchildcare.org

REGISTER NOW FOR SUMMER CAMP 2014

3 Locations:

Quakertown 2460 John Fries Highway

267-424-2024 East Greenville Allentown 399 Washington Street 1651 Cedar Crest Blvd. 215-679-5940 610-435-7833

Think Local.

Buy Local.

Be Local.


Dust Off YourFinancial Plan!

Spring is officially here. Before you get started with your spring cleaning, perhaps another matter deserves some dusting offthat long-term financial plan.

April is National Financial Literacy Monththe perfect time to spring into action when it comes to planning your financial future. If you already have a plan, this is

a great opportunity to take another look at it and make sure youre still on track to reach your financial goals.

According to a 2013 survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute, the past few years have seen a sharp decline in Americans confidence about their retire-ment savings. Only 13 percent of workers feel very confident about having enough for a comfortable retirement and 28 percent are not at all confident. More than half of work-ers have less than $25,000 in total savings and investments. Twenty-eight percent of workers have saved less than $1,000.

If you havent begun saving for retire-ment, now is a good time to startno matter what your age. If retirement is near, youll want to jump into the fast lane right away. If youre younger and retirement seems a lifetime away, its still in your best inter-est to begin saving now. Heres how much the magic of compound interest will work to your advantage. For example, a 25-year old who begins saving $100 a month and earns a modest 5 percent interest will have more than $150,000 at age 65. Save $200 a month and youre looking at more than

$300,000. Experts agree that saving when youre young will make a world of differ-ence when the time comes to draw on your retirement savings.

Dont just take our word for it. You can check out the numbers yourself. A great way to start figuring out how much you will need for retirement is to use Social Securitys online Retirement Estimator, which offers an instant and personalized estimate of your future Social Security retirement benefits based on your earnings record. Try it today at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator.

We encourage saving for retirement, but there are reasons to save for every stage of life. A great place to go for help is www.mymoney.gov (the official U.S. governments website dedicated to teach-ing Americans the basics of finances.) Whether you are looking for information about buying a home, balancing your check-book, or investing in your 401(k) plan, the resources on www.mymoney.gov can help you.

The Ballpark Estimator at www.chooseto-save.org/ballpark is another excellent online tool. It makes complicated issues, like pro-jected Social Security benefits and earnings assumptions on savings, easy to understand.

If you have to choose between scrubbing down the house or scrubbing your budget to get your financial house in order, we recom-mend putting off the cleaning one more day. Get started on planning your future right now at www.socialsecurity.gov.

toM reiley is the social security district Manager in allentown. do you have questions about social security Matters? eMail toM at [email protected].

Medicare Seminars ScheduledThroughout the month of

April, I will be holding free seminars that shows how all the pieces of the Medicare puzzle fit together. I have offered these seminars since 2007 and hundreds and hundreds of folks have at-

tended with a good majority eventually using my services when it came time to choose a Supplemental Plan.

These 60 minute seminars will present all of your Medicare options in a clear, simple man-ner. Whether you are approaching Medicare or already on it, you will find these seminars extremely informative and entertaining.

We will go over the best way to enroll in Medicare when youre turning 65 or i older than 65. I will present in a very clear and straightforward manner all your supplemen-tal options such as Medigap or Medicare Advantage. We will discuss how these options are different and how they meet different needs and different budgets.

Part D Drug Plans will also be addressed. When it comes to choosing a Part D Drug Plan, there are several nuances you must be aware of so you choose the best plan for your

specific prescriptions. Its very important when you go onto

Medicare that you understand all the different services that are not covered by Medicare and we will go over these services so there are no surprises.

Also discussed will be how Medicare relates to long-term convalescent care and what it pays for and what it does not pay for in regards to this type of care.

Lastly, there will be ample time for ques-tions and answers. This is often the most valuable part of the seminars because the ques-tions that are asked usually pertain to everyone regardless of who asks them.

If you are planning to come to one of the seminars, please RSVP so we may plan accord-ingly. There are plenty of handouts provided as well as refreshments.

Please note that these seminars are for educational purposes only and the selling of Medicare Supplement Plans will not be of-fered. There is never any pressure, obligation, or nonsense.

Please call with any questions.howard peck owns and operates senior

insurance solutions and can be reached at 267-923-5281 and srinsurancesolutions.coM

The Upper Bucks Free Press is made possible by the businesses you see on these pages. Please stop in to thank them for supporting your communitys voice.


Jim Scully, a Person I Will Never Forget

Back in the 50s and 60s not many people lived in the area that had moved here from another state. When that occurred, these Auslanders naturally were observed more than other new neighbors who were just moving from one township

to another. This past St. Patricks Day brought back the memory of one such neighbor. When we moved from outside Richlandtown to the Brick Tavern area, we were accepted right off the bat. Our new neighbors always were discussing the gentleman and his family who lived at the old Hallman Ice Mill and dam at the bottom of Mill Pond Road. Our next-door neighbor who was on the same party line as this gentleman and would mention to my mother that she thought the he bet on horses as he was always mentioning funny names on the phone. Others called him a Gentleman Farmer as that title was always given to out-of-staters who raised something else than the normal cows, pigs, and chickens. Mr. Scully raised sheep. His wife, Dorothy, had a mail-order business sending out items that today are found in very successful mail-order businesses of the same very miscellaneous items.

Within a short time, we got to know more about Gentleman Jim who would come up the road in his white 54 Buick or blue Ford pickup truck. All the kids worked for a lo-cal Truck Farmer (gegetable Grower) earning anywhere between 25 to 35 cents an hour when certain vegetables were ready for harvest. Mr. Scully needed someone to mow his lawn and help with his sheep. My brother Bob heard about the job and found out he would pay 75 cents an hour. Bob went to see him and was hired. Later on that summer Mr. Scully had some excavating done and wanted to have the dirt bulldozed in his field sifted and a special vegetable garden made so he needed more help. Bob suggested that Mr. Scully hire me and so he did. This is how I got to know a very special person-Jim Scully.

As it turned out, the funny names heard on the phone werent horses names, they were the ticker names given in reference to stock trans-fers. Mr. Scully dealt in buying and selling stocks through Ammott, Baker, & Company. Later on when I went to senior high school, I would work after school during the winter for him and sometimes even went down to his Philadelphia office during the summer, stuff-ing envelopes and doing clerical work.

Mr. Scully (as I always addressed him), remains my special mentor in life beside that of my parents. He always stressed doing a task by first thinking out the task to be done and doing it in the best method. Sometimes he would come out to check on how I was doing on a special outdoor job and correct what I was doing explaining why to do it that way. He

would say, Dont do it the lazy mans way, you will have to work that much harder! Sometimes he would perform a job in a more citified way take for instance when after a snowfall, I would walk down to his place to shovel the many sidewalks. He would have me watch to tell him when the snowplow was coming near on the township road. He then would go towards the road with a partial bottle of whiskey and shake it in the air so that the contracted driver would drive in the horseshoe driveway to get it and continue on out after retrieving the bottle. Thus he eliminated hours of shoveling at very little cost!

The job that I was first hired for to help my brother was to sift dirt that was dug across his pasture to divert one of the upper sources of the Unami creek to better water his sheep. Can you imagine that today? All kinds of Federal and State agencies would come down on you for doing a massive stream change. He also experimented with raising celery in his special garden. I never saw bigger celery in my whole life. He checked with Mr. Croman about trenching the celery underground to preserve it to dig up during the winter. As it happened something went wrong and when we dug it up around Thanksgiving it was all rotten. We would have to worm the sheep and I experi-enced many a wild sheep ride catching those sheep to hold while he inserted the pill in their mouth. When his family had special life events he had a large tent erected for a special recep-tion and we helped with those affairs.

When we moved to California Road, when I was in 10th grade, Mr. Scully helped my dad get that rental when our former landlords wid-ow decided to move into the home we rented. I still worked for Mr. Scully, bicycling to his place, crossing the 309 at Pumping Station Road without the aid of a traffic light.

After I was married, Mr. Scully met with my wife and me in his small office in town (he had moved about five years earlier) and once again gave us a tutoring on how we should plan our budget including saving for retirement. I credit that tutoring to our present enjoyment of retirement.

In closing, Jim Scully was one special per-son. In my years of knowing him I found out just how well this Auslander was really liked and admired in the community. On St. Pattys Day Gentleman Jim would hold a party for invited guests (which I was one) in the Don-Dor-Mor room at Trainers restaurant. He was always good for a joke and everyone within earshot would hear it, as he was very hard of hearing and spoke with a very loud voice as his hearing aids were singing! I was walking through the cemetery placing flags for veterans this year and I passed his tombstone stopping briefly to honor the man who helped form the person I am today. Thank God I got to know this Irishman (James Patrick Scully)- A Gentleman Farmer!

The Upper Bucks Free Press is made possible by the businesses you see on these pages. Please stop in to thank them for supporting your communitys voice.


Top 10 Collectibles: More Valuable than you Think

With more expertise and education than most apprais-ers who serve clients in their homes, I have identified very valuable objects that were overlooked for numerous cli-ents over the years. In most homes, I can spot $25,000

worth of valuables that you have overlooked. I have helped people consider the true value of their mothers Lladro collection and how to sell it, make families take a second look at the money that could be gleaned from grandpas rock collection, and point out how much that ugly painting in the guest bedroom is really worth.

Most families who are downsiz-ing, cleaning out estates, or trying to deal with the objects collection by relatives over a lifetime do not know the real value of their stuff on the market. I do. For those of you who havent yet had me in your home for an in-home appraisal, I have compiled this top 10 list of the objects that are more valuable than you think. Dont overlook these items because I have seen them change peoples lives. Ive been there to help.

Dont let these objects go without realizing the much needed money that they could bring to your family. Most people know that vin-tage toys are valuable, but did you know that computer parts can bring home the cash too? Dont rely on an appraisal that only focuses on one thingspecialty appraisalssince no one collects only one type of thing. Dont let anything go without an in-home appraisal that covers everything. I conduct these appraisals regularly with stunning results.

1. Costume and Fine JewelryMost people think that only the real bling

is worth money, but costume jewelry pieces command high prices, too.

2. Shoes and HandbagsVintage names like Gucci, Louis Vuitton,

and Kate Spade are bringing big bucks with collectors, particularly young women.

3. Quilts and CoverletsGrandmas quilt (and even pieces that have

not been sewn together) and coverlets in che-nille and other materials command monetary attention at auctions and antique shows.

4. Wooden Chairs Solid wood construction retains value in

rocking chairs, painted chairs, Windsor chairs, kitchen chairs of maple, oak, and cherry.

5. Precious metals (platinum, gold, silver, etc.)

Any item or pieces of items made of precious metals hold their value and always will.

6. Artwork Just because you cant identify

it, dont know who the artist is, or dont like the piece doesnt mean it isnt valuable. I can spot a valu-able work of art a mile away. Dont overlook sculpture, paintings or works on paper

7. Cookie jars and stoneware crocks and containers

8. Sports equipment (fishing rods, golf clubs, etc.)

9. Architectural objects attached to your home or business

Built ins are big, wrought iron railings, fire-place tiles, lighting fixtures, door and cabinet hardware are only some of the items that have considerable value.

10. Boxes (yes, simple boxes!)Wooden boxes of all types with and with-

out locking mechanisms, souvenir boxes, tea boxes, cigar boxes, jewelry, knife boxes, and the list goes on. If you can put something in it, somebody wants to give you money for it.

celebrity ph.d. antiques appraiser, author, and award-winning tv personality, dr. lori hosts antiques appraisal events worldwide. dr. lori is the star appraiser on discovery chan-nels hit show auction kings. to learn about your antiques, visit drloriv.coM, facebook.coM/doctorlori, or @drlori on twitter.

Solid wood bamboo side chair, circa 1920.

By Miki CheltonAs the Girl Scout cookie season comes to an

end, the girls of Brownie Troop 207 and Daisy Troop 2762, out of West Rockhill Elementary, have one last sale to close. They will be ship-ping over 340 boxes of cookies to the soldiers deployed on the U.S.S. Mesa Verde. The girls have not only been working to sell cookies in their community, but have also been focusing their efforts to sell cookies to support our sol-diers deployed in active duty. The program, called Cookies from Home, is nationwide in which a person can buy a box of cookies and have it sent to military deployed all over the world.

This year, rather than sending the cookies to a warehouse to be distributed, Brownie Troop 207 and Daisy troop 2762 decided to ship their cookies to the U.S.S. Mesa Verde directly from Sellersville. Two of the girls in the troops have their uncle, Cory Bemis, on the ship. Having this direct connection made it an easy decision as to what to do with the cookies.

As the cookie season progressed this year, Brownie Troop 26065 from Corys hometown of Titusville, PA learned of the Sellersville troops plan. They decided to participate in the effort as well. This has truly brought to-gether girls from opposite sides of the state of Pennsylvania in order to give some love and cookies to our soldiers who are deployed.

The cookies will be mailed from the Sellersville post office to the ship. Cards made by the girls, and also by the residents at Hidden Meadows on the Ridge, where the girls vol-unteer, will be sent with the cookies. Hidden Meadows on the Ridge has graciously donated all moneys for the shipping of the cookies so that all money that the girls raised for the mili-tary went directly to buying cookies.

Cookies from Home is a program that is available every year during cookie season. So, when you pass those adorable faces, but really dont want another box to take home, remember about Cookies from Home. Buy a box for those who cant and bring a smile to a soldiers face.

Cookies from Home an Intergenerational

Project


I am a lifetime resident of the Quakertown area and I have a little known disease called Sarcoidosis.

What is Sarcoidosis? Sarcoidosis (pronounced SAR-COY-DOE-SIS) is an inflammatory disease that can affect almost any organ in the body. It causes heightened immunity, which can cause the body to over-react to infection and disease, resulting in damage to the bodys own tissues. The classic feature of sarcoidosis is the formation of granulomas, microscopic clumps of inflammatory cells that group together. When too many of these clumps form in an organ they interfere with organ functions.

In the United States, sarcoidosis most commonly targets the lungs and lymph nodes, but the disease can and usually does affect others organs, too, includ-ing the skin, eyes, liver, salivary glands, sinuses, kidneys, heart, the muscles, bones, and the brain and nervous systems.

What Causes Sarcoidosis? It is probably due to a combination of factors. Bacteria, viruses or chemicals might trigger the disease. Genetics may play a role.

Who Has Sarcoidosis? Once thought rare, sarcoid-osis is now known to be common and affects people worldwide. The disease can affect people of any age, race and gender. However, it is most common among adults between the ages of 20 and 40. Disease severity can vary by race or ethnicity.

In the United States, it is most common in African Americans and people of European particularly Scandinavian descent.

Most studies suggest a higher disease rate for women.

What are the Symptoms? Sarcoidosis is a multi-system disorder. Symptoms typically depend on which organ the disease affects. Most often the disease will affect the lungs.

General: About one third of patients will ex-perience non-specific symptoms of fever, fatigue, weight loss, night sweats and an overall feeling of malaise (or ill health), Lungs, Lymph Nodes, Liver, Heart, Brain & Nervous System, Skin, Bones, Joints & Muscles,Eyes, Sinuses, Nasal Muscosa (lining) & Larynx, and other Organs: Rarely, the gastrointestinal tract, reproductive organs, salivary glands and the kidneys are affected.

How is Sarcoidosis Diagnosed? Symptoms of sar-coidosis can mimic those of other diseases. Frequently, sarcoidosis is diagnosed because a routine chest x-ray shows an abnormality. To accurately diagnose the disease, most doctors will take a medical history and perform a physical examination. Laboratory tests of the blood, chest x-rays, breathing tests and biopsy are all diagnostic tools.

What is the Treatment for Sarcoidosis? Different treatments will work better for different people, and sometimes more than one drug is used. In some cases, no treatment is needed. But, for some patients, intense treatment is required.

I want to give you a patients perspective of living with this disease, because, as is my case, it can be life altering

My journey with this disease began back in early 2009 when I had my yearly visit from the bronchitis fairy, which was a regular, yearly event for almost 10 years at that time. This time, it wouldnt go away no matter what level of antibiotic my doctor tried with me. I had a persistent cough, then stomach pains which es-calated into having problems keeping food down to the point that I was vomiting after every meal.

Two years prior to this, my gallbladder was removed while experiencing the same symptoms of abdominal

pain and vomiting. The gastroenterologist I was seeing thought that I still had a piece of a gallstone lodged in my common bile duct, so he ordered an MRI, followed by an endoscopy which found no issues. He ordered a biopsy of my liver. While I was recovering back in my room, the surgeon came in and told me that I had sarcoidosis. I looked at my wife, then back at him and said What the hell is that? He wrote it on the back of his business card and told me I had lots of reading to do. Boy was he ever right!

The problem with this disease is that not many doc-tors are really familiar with it. Most patients, who educate themselves from experienced physicians and support groups, like the one Im involved in at www.inspire.com/groups/stop-sarcoidosis/ are more informed and knowledgable than many doctors out there!

The hospital pathologist sent my liver sample to a specialist at the University of Utah who said that he had never seen that high of a concentration of granulomas in a liver. Since sarcits what most of us sarkies call itis primarily a lung disease, my gastroenterologist set me up with a pulmonologist who was associated with Grand View Hospital, but she couldnt get me in until September.

By early August, my sons were starting football prac-tice with QMFA. I was walking down the path to my younger sons practice field and all of a sudden, I got the feeling that my heart had jumped in my throat and I was out of breath, and I felt very weak. I HAD to sit downbefore I fell down. After I sat for a while, it went away, and I felt better.

Then, two days later, it happened again. I thought I was just tired. But, it continued to occur to the point that I went into the ER at St. Lukes on August 11, 2009. They checked me out, did and EKG, and gave me Prednisone, to help open up my lungs.

I started taking the Prednisone, but at night, I couldnt sleep. My stomach felt like it was a balloon ready to pop, so I stopped taking it. I still thought it was all because of my lungs, so I contacted my fam-ily doctor, Dr. Daniel Stauffer, to see if he could get me into a St. Lukes pulmonologist sooner than my late September appointment.

That phone call, and the subsequent actions of some fantastic doctors literally saved my life.

He set me up to see Dr. Deb Stahlnecker, pul-monologist with St. Lukes Critical Care Associates in Bethlehem on August 25th. She asked about my general health, and namely about my diagnosis of sarcoidosis. She also pulled up the EKG that was done on August 11th in the ER. She immediately noticed that I had an irregular heartbeat, so she set up an appointment with a colleague of hers, Dr. Darren Traub from St. Lukes Cardiology, who is an electrophysiologista cardi-ologist who specializes in the hearts electrical system. This was the next day, August 26th. Once in his office, they did another EKG to compare with the one taken two weeks prior, and there was a pronounced dip where the hill/trough was supposed to be for the lower chamber of the heartthe ventricles. He was very concerned and wanted me to have a cardiac MRI, which is a detailed scan of the heart muscle and conduction nerves. He said that I was in partial A/V block, in which the node that signals the ventricles to beat wasnt getting the correct signal, and was taking longer than normal to beat. He said he wanted me in hospital immediately because I ran the risk of sudden cardiac arrest. I told him I couldnt because my dad had just died the day before and that the funeral was on Saturday. (It was Thursday when I saw him in the office.) He pleaded with me come in, but I

declined because I wouldnt miss my fathers funeral.By the day of the funeral, my shortness of breath was

getting badreally bad, and my chest was tight, but I still went to the service and the burial. I didnt go to the wake afterward because my wife took me straight to St. Lukes in Bethlehem to be admitted. They put a heart monitor on me and would see the results in the morning.

At 7am Sunday morning, a surgeon from Dr. Traubs office came in with the printout from my overnight monitoring session and told me that I was in FULL A/V blockmy ventricles were not beating at all. He said that I would be taken immediately to the cardiac catheterization lab to be connected to a temporary pace-maker with a lead wire that he fished into my heart from an incision near my right collarbone. He told me the risks of living with an ICD..an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, which is a combination pacemaker/defi-brillator. I said that it didnt make a differenceeither I get it or I die. He said good point!

The next morning, I was prepped for the actual ICD procedure. I spent the next few days in the hospital recovering and really starting to feel good again. The most common medication for Sarc is Prednisone, which is a corticosteroid used to treat inflammationwhich is what Sarc causes. I was put on 80 mg per day. When I went home, my neighbors commented on how much better I lookedthat the color had come back to my face. Apparently I looked gray prior to going in the hospital. I had also lost about 50lbs since February that year because of the constant vomiting, which got to the point that I sometimes wouldnt eat.

Unfortunately, this energetic feeling was only tem-porary as I had to decrease my dosage of Prednisone because experienced what they call steroid rage, or roid rage. I couldnt control myself. Id fly off the handle for no reason and was screaming at my wife and kids. Dr. Jekyll literally turned into Mr. Hydeand I HATED that version of me. When I dropped down to 40mg, the roid rage went awaybut so did all that newfound energy. Then I also started experiencing new and different symptoms. My joints were killing me. So were my muscles. My hands and feet would cramp up to the point that I flipped a forkful of food onto the floor when my thumb jammed itself under my palm. I had to pull off the road while driving because my right foot would suddenly turn hard to the right and I couldnt control it.

I also started to have memory and confusion issues. Everyone gets sidetracked once in a while. You go into a room and forget why you are therebut this was hap-pening several times per day. I couldnt remember what I had said just minutes before. My family constantly reminded me that I was repeating things over and over again. My spleen was now affected as well as my bone marrow. My blood platelet count was rapidly dropping to the point that my hematologist was starting to worry.

I got my first case of pinkeye in my lifeit was now in my eyes. And, from what several people stated in my support group, left unchecked, it can quickly turn to blindness. I saw my ophthalmologist who noticed that the inflammation had just started, so he put me on Prednolisone dropswhich is Prednisone for the eye. I was lucky in that he stopped it before it did any damage.

It moved to my skin. I had erythema nodosum, which are red bumps that can be itchy and sting. They still come and go. I have pain on the soles of my feet. This is peripheral neuropathy, which is an aspect of neurosarcoidosis. Imagine the feeling that someone is beating the bottoms of your feet with a 2 x 4. Thats what it feels like.

My spleen is also affected, and they would have liked to remove it, but I have portal hypertension between it and my liver, and removing it would be very risky as several blood vessels would need rerouting, but they are damaged from the portal hypertension.

I eventually had to be taken off of the Prednisone because it was literally destroying my stomach lin-ing. I was able to be approved for Remicade, which is normally used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, but since RA is also an inflammatory disease, it works well with sarkies. Fortunately, my insurance covers it, because its a costly treatment option and is only given as a last resort. It runs approximately $6,000 per infusion that I get every 6 weeks.

Im not writing all of this so sound like Im looking for pity party; Im writing this to bring awareness to a disease that, from the outside, most people dont even know you have.

One statement that we chronic sarkies get is Oh, but you dont look sick. Neither does a beautiful home that is being ravaged by termites from the inside and is one the brink of collapse.

In recent years, it has taken the lives of some fa-mous celebrities including comedian Bernie Mac, actor Michael Clarke Duncan, and former Philadelphia Eagle Reggie White.

Although it was never officially diagnosed, I do be-lieve it caused the deaths of my mother, grandfather, and two uncles. I now have many of the same symptoms they had. My mom was the most recent, having passed away in 2004. She was exposed to black mold in 2002 from moldy hay she spread on her vegetable garden. One uncle raised show pigeons and was exposed to dander from the birds, the other was a butcher, and my grandfather raised chickensagain, dander. In my case, I was exposed to pharmaceutical dust during the production process at a former job.

My son, who is a senior at Quakertown High School, was inspired by my battle with sarcoidosis so he used that as a basis for his senior project to raise money for research through his Youtube channel in which he puts up edited videos of his exploits in the world of Call of Duty! He received high praise from the teachers judg-ing his project last falland Im very proud of him!

Some people who get this disease are lucky in that if they get it in just their lungs, they stand a good chance of it clearing up in a few years. In my case, and those of the other members of my online support group, we have the multi-organ or systemic version of sarc that doesnt go away.

A member posted a study that shows that people in my situation usually dont live past the age of 60. In fact, one member, who was caught in the dust cloud of the collapsing World Trade Center in 2001 died from this in 2011. He was only 39 years old. Another friend, who had cardiac sarcoidosis like me, was considering having the ICD implanted, but waited too long. He died from sudden cardiac arrest and dropped dead in the grocery store.

It can be scary sometimes. As Im writing this, Im dealing with increased edemaexcess fluid in the body that causes your feet and ankles to swell, and when is collecting around the heart, causes congestive heart failure.

I live one day at a time and cherish every moment I have with my wife and family. They are what keep me going. For more information, and if you wish to donate, please visit:The Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research: http://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/

April is Sarcoidosis Awareness Month

Upper Bucks Senior Center 2183 Milford Sq. Pike, qtwn

215-536-3066 www.uPPerbuckSSac.coM Game Day - Line Dancing Yoga Pinochle Bingo (public) - Bridge

Call for details

Pennridge Community Center 146 e. Main St, PerkaSie

215-453-7027, www.Pennridgecenter.org Bingo Ceramics Billiards Aerobics

Line Dancing - Card games Arts Chess Wii games - Tai Chi Mahjong Zumba

Beginners Computer - Call for details

Eastern Upper Bucks Senior Center8040 eaSton rd, ottSvilleLine Dancing Chair Yoga

Advanced Tai Chi Beginner Tai Chi Weight Loss Group - Call for details

Generations of Indian Valley 259 n Second St, Souderton

215-723-5841, www.generationSofiv.org Flexercise Tai Chi Low & Go Yoga Step Interval Sit/Flex/Stretch Line

Dancing - Call for details


In just a few short years, Quakertown Alive!s annual Garden Affaires tour has become one of the highlights of the local cal-endar. This years event, Reflections in the Garden, promises another beautiful experi-ence. The tour and its popular marketplace are set for June 22, 10am 4pm.

This years garden tour promises to be an event with aspects to delight all of your senses. The fragrance of the blooming annuals and pe-rennials will lead you down the garden path to the beauty within. Youll be able to watch art-ists from Art Noveau Galleries create artworks in the different gardens. The babbling water features of the gardens amongst the uplifting voices of various birds and wildlife will offer a counterpoint to the hustle and bustle of daily life. Highlights also include whimsical archi-tectural features and unique container gardens .

The Marketplace at the Burgess Foulke House is open to the public and will feature retail sales of plants and garden-related acces-sories from local nurseries and garden centers, live demonstrations, an informative Master Gardener booth, and much more. You will be

able to purchase same-day tour tickets at the Marketplace and chances to win fabulous raffle prizes.

An added enhancement to the garden tour experience is the Evening Reflections recep-tion on June 21, 7pm 10pm. This relaxing outdoor party fosters a sense of camaraderie with this years featured garden homeowners and Quakertown Alive! volunteers in a relaxed setting with complimentary refreshments and libations.

Tickets will be available online begin-ning April 1. Advance ticket buyers have the option to include a brown bag lunch from Karlton Caf for a small additional cost. Your pre-ordered lunch will be available for pick-up at Quakertown Alive!s Marketplace booth. Advance tour ticket prices: $15 per person ($12, senior), with a brown-bag lunch - $20 per person ($17,senior). The Evening Reflections reception ticket cost is $40 per person which includes the garden tour on June 22. Add a brown-bag lunch for tour day for an additional $5.

Garden Affaires Promises a Bouquet to

Delight the Senses

BY KIMBERLY KRATZIn their final evening performance of the

musical AIDA, S.T.A.R.S. and Pennridge High School students delivered a professional show that kept a packed house spellbound.

Jessica Dowling, who played the lead role of Aida, a young Nubian princess, performed her part with a passion perfectly paired to her energetic vocal styling. Coupled with seasoned singer Sam Krivda, who played Radames, the Egyptian prince destined to become pharaoh and the object of Aidas affection, the two commanded the stage, both individually and with their heartfelt duets.

Playing Amneris, the Egyptian woman be-trothed to Radames, Emma Guelzow delivered an admirable performance, showcasing her talent for both comedic timing and singing. In the mildly sarcastic song and dance num-ber My Strongest Suit, Guelzow shined as did

her Handmaidens, played by Lauren Price and Taylor Sudholz. The team of dancers well-choreographed accompaniment lent credibility to her role.

Jayce Meredith, Corey Totten, Cian Grourke, Sam Levy, Lauren Padron, Silas Guelzow, and Jeremy Noel rounded out the ensemble, along with the dancers and chorus who had the audience securely in their hands. At times the crowd sat in near silence while at other times, they laughed aloud at the dialogue or cheered for musical performance. The cast belted out their passionate rendition of The Gods Love Nubia just before intermission, leaving the audience wanting more.

Set design, costumes and casting were su-perior. Judging from the standing ovation and the tears flowing on the faces of the performers at the curtains close, the final AIDA perfor-mance was one worth remembering.

photo courtesy of tad brannon

Stellar Performance by High School Artists

If you would like a free reviewof your 401k, IRA, Mutual Funds,Stocks, Bonds, Annuities or any of yourother investments to see if they areappropriate for your long-term goals,please call or stop by today. [email protected]

Bob Podraza, AAMS

215-536-3635(Next to Fischers Tuxedo)

Prepare for Healthcare Costs During Retirement

As you save and invest for retirement, what are your ultimate goals? Do you plan on travel-ing the world? Purchasing a vacation home? Pursuing your hobbies? People often think and plan for these costs.

Yet, too often, many of us overlook what potentially could be a major expense during our retirement years: health care.

By preparing for these costs, you can help yourself enjoy the retirement lifestyle youve envisioned.

Many of us may ignore the impact of health care costs because we just assume Medicare will pay for everything. But thats not the case. In estimating health care costs during retire-ment, you may find

that $4,000 to $6,000 per year per person for traditional medical expenses is a good starting point, although the amount varies by individual. Furthermore, this figure does not include the costs of long-term care, which can be considerable. To illustrate: The na-tional average for home health aide services is nearly $45,000 per year, and a private room in a nursing home is nearly $84,000 per year, according to a recent survey by Genworth, a financial security company.

So what can you do to help cope with these costs? Here are a few suggestions:

Estimate your costs. Try to estimate what your out-of-pocket health care costs might be, based on your health, your age at retirement, whatever supplemental insurance you may carry and other factors.

Know the key dates. Things can change in your life, but try to identify, as closely as pos-sible, the age at which you plan to retire. This will help you spot any coverage gaps before you become eligible for Medicare at age 65. Also, be aware of the seven-month window for enrolling in Medicare, beginning three months before your 65th birthday.

Review your insurance options. Medicare-

approved insurance companies offer some other parts to Medicare, including Part D, which covers prescription drugs; Medigap, which covers gaps in Parts A and B (in-hospital expenses, doctor services, outpatient care and some preventive services); and Part C (also

known as Medicare Advantage, which is designed to replace Parts A, B, Medigap and, potentially, part D). You have several options for Part D, Medigap and Medicare Advantage, each with varying coverage and costs, so choose the plans that best fit your needs. (To learn more about Medicare and upplemental insurance, go to www.medicare.gov.)

Develop a long-term care strategy. To meet long-term care costs, you could self-insure or purchase insurance coverage.

To learn about long-term care insurance so-lutions, contact your financial advisor.

Invest for growth and rising income. Health care costs typically rise as you move

further into retirement, so make sure that a rea-sonable portion of your assets is allocated to investments with the potential for both growth and rising income.

Think about health care directives. If you were to become incapacitated, you might be unable to make health care decisions and these decisions may affect not only your qual-ity of life but also your financial situation, and that of your family. Talk to your legal advi-sor about establishing a health care directive, which allows you to name someone to make choices on your behalf.

Health care costs during your retirement may be unavoidable. But by anticipating these costs, you can put yourself in a position to deal with them and thats a healthy place to be.

subMitted by bob podraza, financial advisor at edward Jones, quakertown. bob can be reached at 215-536-3635.


EDWIN RUSTY LEROY LEISTER, JR., 89, of Merritt Island, Florida passed away peacefully in his home at Cedar Creek Life Center, Tuesday, February 25, 2014. Rusty was born on February 9, 1925 in Quakertown, PA, the son of the late Iona (Snyder) and Edwin Leister, Sr. A 1942 graduate of Quakertown High School, he was inducted into the Armys 179th Field Artillery Battalion in 1943 where he engaged in the D-Day invasion on the beaches of Normandy and in the Battle of the Bulge. He received the Meritorious Unit Award, Good Conduct Medal, WWII Victory Medal and the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with 5 Bronze Stars. He was discharged in December, 1945.

Upon returning from military service, he was employed by the former W. M. Moyer Co., Quakertown, until his retirement in 1987. He married Gilda Harner in May of 1950 and they resided in Quakertown. Rusty married Nonna Bull in 1992 and they took permanent resident in Cocoa Beach, Florida in 1995. Rusty was an avid golfer and a member of the Masonic Lodge. He enjoyed dancing, cruises and fishing off the Cocoa Beach pier.

Survivors: Son, John Leister (wife Tamara), and daughter, Joan Leister Ocamb (husband Randall), Quakertown; daughter-in-law Paige Miller Leister, Scottsdale, AZ; grandchildren, Elizabeth, Adam and Jacob Leister, Madeline and Benjamin Ocamb; stepchildren Frank Bull, Ilona Kahl, Peter Bull, and Yvonne

Myers; six step grandchildren and two step great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his first wife, Gilda Harner Leister; second wife, Nonna Bull Leister; and son, Joseph Cary Leister.

Services: Relatives and friends are invited to attend his memorial service at noon on Saturday, April 5, 2014 at Jeffrey A. Naugle Funeral & Cremation Services, Quakertown. Visitation from 11:00 a.m. noon. Interment will follow the service at Quakertown Union Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contri-butions in his name may be made to: VITAS Innovative Hospice Care, 4450 W. Eau Gallie Boulevard, Suite 250, Melbourne, FL 32934.

JUDITH L. HOWE, 65, of Macungie died February 27 in her home. Born in Quakertown she was the daughter of the late Arthur H. and Marguerite J. (Bleam) Yoder. She was a retired school teacher and realtor. She is survived by a sister Sandra A. Yoder of Coopersburg. Two nieces Karen Orzel (Michael) of Quakertown and Wendy Lewis of Ocala, FL. A brother in law William E. Lewis of Ocala, FL. She was predeceased by a sister Nancy C. Lewis.

HELEN M. FENSTERMACHER, 79, of Richland Township died Friday February 28 in GrandView Hospital, Sellersville. Born in Richlandtown she was the daughter of the late Earl S. and Rosa Ellen (Afflerbach) Fenstermacher. Before her retirement she was a presser for the former Swan Lee in Richlandtown. She is survived by two broth-ers, Earl S., Jr. and Robert W. both of Richland Township.

KENNETH G. MICK SLOTTER, SR., 83, of Center Valley, died Fri. Feb.28, in Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest. Prior to his retirement in 1993, he worked as a gauge calibrator for US Gauge, Division of Ameteck Inc, Sellersville. Born in Richlandtown, he was a son of Harvey and Ida (Croman) Slotter.

He served in the US Army during the Korean War. He was a member of the Perkasie Owls, former Quakertown Moose Lodge and Nase-Kraft American Legion, Sellersville. He is survived by sons, Kenneth Jr., wife Teri,

Quakertown, Robert, wife Tammy, Center Valley and Glenn, wife Nina, Quakertown; daughters, Kathy, Center Valley and Stacey, companion Lynn, Gilbertsville; 13 grand-children, and 6 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by brother LeRoy and sister Melba Benner.

FRANCES DAMORE, 93, of Lafayette Hill died March 2. Wife of the late Carmen DAmore. Born in Philadelphia daughter of the late Antonio & Anna Rose (Natale) Massari. Beloved mother to her three children Salvatore (Phyllis), Connie Kalinoski (Raymond) and Anna. Brother Rudy, five grandchildren four great grandchildren. Predeceased by four brothers and a sister.

DOROTHY DeWOLF, 66, of Quakertown died March 9 in St. Lukes Hospice House, Bethlehem. A long-time resident in Sellersville, she was the wife of the late Albert DeWolf. Born in Coaldale, PA she was the daughter of Paul Snyder of Lehighton and the late Miriam (Fritz) Snyder. Dorothy was last employed as a personal caretaker for handicapped adults. A dedicated volunteer for many years, she was the current Vice President of the North Penn Goodwill Services Ladies Auxiliary and member of the Women of the Moose Chapter 471 in Sellersville. Formerly she was actively involved in Pack 1 Cub Scouts of Sellersville as a Tiger Cub Coach for over 15 years. Other hobbies Dorothy enjoyed were reading and baking. In addition to her father she is survived by a son Edward DeWolf (Stacy) of Stowe, PA and a daughter Cathy Ollis (Jeff) of Dresher, a brother Barron Snyder (Betty) of Lehighton, a sister Helen Goetter (Carl G.) of Hatfield, two grandchildren Chase & Ella DeWolf and numerous nieces and nephews.

EDWARD L. MARTIN, 86, of Milford Square died March 9 in his home. He was the husband of the late Doris E. (Ziegler) Martin. Born in Quakertown he was the son of the late Alfred & Lydia (Nace) Martin. He was a laborer for the U.S. Gauge Ametek Division in Sellersville before retiring. He loved ani-mals and rescued two Airedales. Edward was a U.S. Navy Veteran serving with the Seabees during World War II. He is survived by a sister Shirley Erb and her husband Richard of Trumbauersville. Predeceased by two brothers Lester, and Kenneth and a sister Elsie Schaub.

LORRAINE F. HECKLER, 82, of Quakertown died peacefully March 13 in the company of her loving family. Born in Quakertown she was the daughter of the late Ralph & Bessie (Seifert) Weaver. She is sur-vived by two sons Scott and his wife Denise of Trumbauersville, Tim and his wife Barbara of Palmer, Alaska. Three grandchildren Rebecca Spor and her husband Stephen, Rachel Frey all of Trumbauersville, and Michael Burkholder of Palmer, Alaska. Two great grandchildren Stephen & Hunter Spor.

HELEN MARY CASELLA, 82, Quakertown, died March 14 in St. Lukes Hospital Quakertown, with her daughters and loving husband, Wayne of 48 years by her side. A 1949 graduate of Mastbaum Vocational High School, she worked for many years at the Bell Telephone System in downtown Philly. Born if Philadelphia she was a daughter or the late Walter and Helen (Barrett) DeTreux. A 36 year resident of Bucks County, previously of Southampton she was the loving mother of two daughters, Suzanne Payne, husband Ty, and Karen Alford, husband Richard, a very proud and loving grandmother of six, Cody, Robin and James Payne and Nicholas, Matthew and Lindsey Alford, sister of Karen Kulb, Patricia Milewski, Doug Jamison and Francis DeTreux and half-brother Walt Kelly. She is preceded in death by sister, Gloria Fanelli and brother Walter, aka Sonny.

CAROLYN F. DOUGERT, 77, of Quakertown died March 15 in St. Lukes Hospital, Quakertown Campus. She was the devoted partner of Darlene D. Ruth for 40 years. She retired in 1999 from Delbar Products, Inc., Perkasie. In addition to her partner she is survived by a son Joseph. A brother Edward, four sisters Geraldine, Lorretta, Lynn, and Ellen.

FRANK M. ADAMCZYK, 88 of Quakertown died Wednesday March 19 in St. Lukes Hospice House. He was the husband of the late Elizabeth Betty (Booth) Adamczyk. Born in Sellersville he was the son of the late John and Anna (Koral) Adamczyk. He was a maintenance manager for Brooks Instruments, LLC. in Hatfield before his retirement. He was a member of St. Johns Lutheran Church

in Quakertown where he also served as a for-mer sexton. He was also an avid Phillies fan. Frank was a U.S. Navy Veteran serving dur-ing WWII and a member of the Quakertown American Legion. He is survived by a daugh-ter Cathy of Quakertown, two sons Robert (Tracy) of Carthage, TN and Michael (Karen) of Zionsville. A sister Sophia Suida of NJ. Five grandchildren and six great grandchil-dren. He was predeceased by brothers John, Joe and George and one grandchild.

FRANK A. MANONE, SR., 82, of Quakertown formerly of Sellersville died March 19 in his home. Born in Philadelphia he was the son of the late Anthony & Clara J. (Dantino) Manone. He was an iron work-er for the Ironworkers Local Union 405, Philadelphia, PA and Ironworkers Local Union 68 of Trenton, NJ, retiring in 1994. Frank was an avid fisherman. He is survived by two daughters Deborah Lovette, Lisa Sobota (Michael), and Frank, Jr. Four grandchildren Lexi, Courtney, Austin, and Ciara, three great grandchildren Gianna, Brookelyn, and Dennis.

IRENE H. FOULKE, 88, of Quakertown, died March 19 in her home. She worked in the lumber and building materials business for over 40 years, first at Geo. W. Amey Lumber, Richlandtown, and then at Shelly Enterprises, Perkasie, prior to retiring in 2006. She was Born in Chester, then moved to a farm in Pleasant Valley, where she attended a one room school and later Palisades High School. She moved to Quakertown in 1941, where she lived until she died. She was a daughter of the late John and Mary (Karwoska) Perkowski. She was married to Chester Foulke in 1963, she is survived by daughter, Mary (Foulke) Schiele and her husband Edward, Quakertown. She is preceded in death by brothers, Stanley, Joseph, Chester and Benjamin and sisters Alice Rutkowski, Sabina Savoy, and Mary Amey.

JOSEPH P. SPINDLER, 87, of Bridgewater, NJ, passed away March 20, 2014. Joseph was born in Weehawken, NJ, April 29 1926. He lived in Cliffside Park un-til the family moved to Tenafly in 1941. He graduated from Tenafly High School in 1944 and served in the Army Air Corps during World War II in the European Theatre as a high speed radio operator. After the war he at-tended Stevens Institute of Technology where he earned a Mechanical Engineering degree.

Joe began his career as an aerospace su-pervising engineer at Westinghouse Electric Aviation Gas Turbine Division, Eddystone, PA (1951-1957). Followed by All American Engineering Co., Wilmington, DE, (1957-1961). He moved his family to Malvern, PA in 1956 eventually joining The General Electric Company Missile and Space Division, Valley Forge (1961-1971) where he worked on the Biosatellite / Corona Project. He was awarded several patents during his aerospace career.

In 1971 he moved his family to Bridgewater, NJ and began a consulting career with Carlson and Sweatt Consulting Engineers in New York City (1971-1978) followed by American Cyanamid, Sandoz, and University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. He retired from engineering in 1992 and took over the plant management, engineering, and programming duties for Ann Hemyng Candy Inc.s Chocolate Factory, in which he was a partner with his wife Louise.

Joe was a serious gardener of fruit trees and vegetables, and had been treasurer of The Main Line Garden Club, Wayne, PA. He loved cruising the coastal waterways of New Jersey on his boat, and was a Navigator with the U.S. Power Squadron. He loved the New Jersey Shore throughout his life.

Joe was a communicant and usher at St. Martins Episcopal Church, Bridgewater, NJ.

Joseph Spindler is survived by Louise (Bridgewater, NJ), his wife of 63 years, three sons, Warren (Perkasie, PA), Mark (NJ), and Todd (Bowie, MD); his daughter, Karen (Bethlehem, PA); and three grandchildren Kirsten, Carl and John. He was preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Minnie and his brother Donald.

A celebration of the life of Joseph Spindler will be held at 4pm on March 29, 2014 at St. Martins Episcopal Church, 1350 Washington Valley Rd. Bridgewater, NJ, with Father Bruce Montgomery officiating.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that anyone who so wishes may donate to St. Martins Episcopal Church, 1350 Washington Valley Rd. Bridgewater, NJ, 08807; or Robert Wood Johnson Visiting Nurses c/o Visiting Nurses Association Health Group, 176 Riverside Ave., Red Bank, NJ 07701.

To send condolences to the family, visit www.brucecvanarsdalefuneralhome.com

~Obituaries~


Buffalo (grass)Butterfly (Bush)

CatnipCattailCowslip

CraBappleDanDelion

Deer (grass)

DogwooDelephant ear

emu (Bush)foxglove

gooseBerryhen (anD ChiCks)

hog (weeD)horseraDish

hummingBirD (vine) monkey (flower)

ostriCh (fern)peaCoCk (fern)

snakerootsnapDragon

tigerlilyZeBra (grass)

Notes from American Legion Post 242

BY dIcK hELMAs we get older, it seems the months

seem to go by so quickly. Memorial Day is approaching rapidly and we are still in the midst of finalizing the plans for this special Parade and Service. We are working on the possibilities of a special guest speaker. One thing is for sure: the parade route is changing for 2014! See the next paragraph for all the route changes.

The old route took us down Ninth St from Park Avenue across Broad to Mill St. then to the World War I Memorial. After the ser-vice, we would then go back to Broad Street and march back to the Post Building on East Broad Street. The new route is Ninth and Park Avenue across Juniper Street to West Broad Street right on Broad St. down to Third St. Left on Third Street to Mill Street then left on Mill Street to the World War I Memorial. The parade will end at Memorial Park and the Memorial Service. Any plans for refresh-

ments will take place at the pavilion area near the ball field. There will be no continuation of the parade after the Memorial Service.

We will offer limited refreshments to the participants and guests after the service in the park area. The hot dogs and soda/water will be limited and will be on first-come-first-served basis until supplies are diminished. We hope to have ample supplies, but because of it being our first year doing the combination of the parade, service, and refreshments at the park-- it certainly will be a learning curve that we would correct in the future years.

Most important for that day is for you, the public, to come out to the parade and service to properly honor those who served and, most importantly, to honor those that gave their all from your community in past conflicts from the First World War to present day conflicts. We ask those folks along the parade route to help us by volunteering to limit the street parking on the streets involved. See you on May 26!

Looking Backwards Through a Prism

Im the Co-Clerk (sort of like a secular pas-tor), of Richland Friends (Quaker) Meeting in, of all places, Quakertown, Pennsylvania. For a few years I served as Meeting Historian, which means I

did a lot of reading about ancient Upper Bucks County. Since I do this newspaper column and publish articles on Internet sites and in the Friends Journal, I got the reputation of know-ing something about local history. My Free Press article in February made it look like I knew something about anti-slavery activities in Quakertown. Some people were interested in that.

I was asked to talk to a couple of classes at United Friends School (Broad St at 10th in Quakertown), about the Underground Railroad. It was part of their celebration of Black History Month (Feb). Richland Friends Meeting was involved in the UGRR, offering assistance to many hundreds of run-away slaves in the early 1800s. Sheltering or abetting fu-gitive property was against Federal Law. It was a serious criminal act. Regardless of the possible repercussions, local Quakers (and others) willingly violated those laws, adher-ing to their principles of equality and human rights. A member of Richland Meeting and important local businessman, Richard Moore, operated a station, in the clandestine escape network. The safe-house was located a couple blocks down Main Street from the Quaker Meetinghouse and is still standing today.

Ive talked about the topic before, but toned down my speech for the group of seven year olds. The fact that, in 1688 Daniel Pastorius of Germantown Friends Meeting voiced a concern to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting re-questing that the Religious Society of Friends ban slavery (which they did in 1696), didnt seem to be relevant to the audience. That the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly tried to ban the importation of slaves in 1712 but was over-ruled by Englands Queen Anne didnt excite them either. When I said that William Penn kept 12 slaves at Pennsbury Manor, a half a dozen hands shot into the air. I was ready for questions about hypocrisy or Quaker phi-losophy, but instead I got a series of antidotes about the kids visit to Pennsbury Manor. They were forced by their teachers to do some yard work while they were there and felt a little like slaves, themselves.

It seemed like a waste of time and informa-tion for me to specify 1813 (Richard Moore moved to Richland) or 1793 (the Fugitive Slave Act) or 1788 (Pennsylvania anti-slavery laws), so I kept saying to the kids, back in the old days. I realized that the old days might mean 1998 to them. Time and chronology is difficult to comprehend sometimes, even for adults.

Sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of me with the other couple dozen kids was a cute little girl. Her parents are Members of Richland (my) Meeting, so she was automati-cally one of my favorites. I noticed that she got a puzzled look on her face several different times. When she finally raised her hand, I im-mediately called on her.

Some people might think her question was silly. Many people Ive told about it laughed. But, it hit me pretty hard. It made me think about a childs perception of the world, in fact, about the perceptions and understandings all human beings develop. She asked, Back in the old days, was it just black and white? Someone had already asked if all slaves were black (they werent), so I asked, Do you mean the people? No, she said Were things black and white? I was still confused and asked, What do you meanthings? Everything, she tried to clarify. Like in the old movies.

I was stunned. I sat there silently (which is very unusual) with my mouth hanging open. What she meant was, since all the photographs and movies shed seen of the old days were in black and white, did it mean that the old world was totally devoid of color? At first I thought, What a nave, misconceived perspec-tive. But, then my mind began to expand the idea into a broader more complex concept. I had to struggle to bring myself back to that classroom, back into the world. To get things moving along again, I finally answered, No, the world was just like it is now. Trees were green and the sky was blue.

I was bothered by that question long after Id finished my talk. I was still brooding about it at home that evening. Just what was the paradigm through which that little girl saw the world? How did history, how did the old days appear in her imagination? Was it really like an old movie, like an old TV show, to her? Did she really think that the world of Greta Garbo and the Cisco Kid was black and white; with gray skies, gray trees, gray cars, horses and people?

As I thought more deeply about it I realized that the answer I gave her was totally inad-equate, was perhaps even wrong. After all, color is only a disintegration of white light into its constituent parts. Is a fractured, multi-hued image a true representation of a thing? It is only after reflections of things enter our eyes and our minds that they become defined as red or blue or yellow. Actually, in this world (the old one and the new one), there are only two options: black darkness or white light.

My thoughts drifted back to the topic of slav-ery that had put me in front of that class. My pondering refocused on the broader concepts that the question had provoked me to consider. If I take away my mortal shell, remove my eyes and the nerves that transport converted images to my brain where they are given color; will everything be just black and white? After all, as I learned in physics class, the observers act of observing changes what is seen.

After ruminating over it for a while, I de-cided that a much better answer to that strange question would have been: Yes, little girl, in the old days things were black and white. William Penn (who freed his slaves when he died) once said: Right is right, even if ev-eryone is against it. Wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it. Yes, my innocent, color blind, young friend, back then, if youre honest about it, it was just like it is noweverything is black and white.

More articles by Jack h. schick can be found at searchwarp.coM or soulofwit.coM

The 7th Annual Clash of the Church Choirs: Sing for LIFE events is slated for Sunday,

April 27 at 3 PM at St. Andrews Evangelical Lutheran Church, 20 Dill Avenue in Perkasie. Five local church choirs from different de-nominations in Upper Bucks will be singing to raise money for the American Cancer Societys Relay for Life of Quakertown.

Choirs from St. Andrews Evangelical Lutheran Church of Perkasie, this years host

church; West Swamp Mennonite Church of Quakertown, Trinity Lutheran Church Youth Choir of Perkasie, the First UCC Youth Choir of Quakertown and Still Small Voice from Christ UCC, Trumbauersville will all sing in friendly competition to raise donations for the upcoming May 3 Quakertown Relay for Life. Last year the concert garnered an amazing

$5,120 as the audience voted for their favorite choir with monetary donations.

The concert will end with a congregational hymn sing and a finale song performed by the combined choirs, led by St. Andrews direc-tor, Brian Bullard The choir that raises the most funds that day will be presented with a beautiful, hand- painted silk banner to display in their home church for the year. The banner was created by West Swamp choir member, Sue Shelly.

Admission is free. Light refreshments will be served following the concert while the do-nations are counted and winner determined. Come to enjoy this festive afternoon of church choirs and music while supporting our local Relay for Life.

7th Annual Clash of Choirs Makes a Joyful Noise for Relay for Life


Ive had my fill of snow! I wanted to let all of you know that Erik from the This Kid Reviews Books column did a review on my book. You can see it on his blog. To read it,

simply go to his blog, www.thiskidreviewsbooks.com and check out the March 6 post. Momma Jean also wants me to plug her choral groups concerts in May. The Valley Choral Society has concerts on May 17 and May 18. You should go on their website and listen to them sing Hallelujah on the video on the home page. The members are from all

over the valley. Many are from the Pennsburg area but many are also from Coopersburg, Perkasie and Quakertown. Also, check out the website if you would like to try out for this wonderful group or for information on their concerts. Their web site is www.valchor.com. Being a dog, I cant go to the con-certs, but after hearing them on their web site I wish I could go. The concerts coming up are on May 17 at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Sumneytown at 7:30PM and on May 18 at the Trinity Church in Perkasie at 4PM.Sounds like a fun time for all. Mom hopes to see you all there. Love M.J.

A Doggy Daycare Day is a cute story written from the point of view of Mitzi Jo. Mitzi Jo is a leader in her own family as well as the Doggy Daycare group. She tells all the dogs about the rules when they come to the

daycare and then helps her friends follow them. All of the dogs at the daycare have different personalities and the reader gets to see what the day is like from their perspective. You get an idea of what happens in a dogs mind, too. The reader follows Mitzi Jo and her doggy friends as they chase invading squirrels, help dogs calm down, share toys, and much more in this fully illustrated book!

I couldnt wait to find out more about Mitzi Jo! Mitzi Jo and Momma Jean let me ask them some interview questions.

Erik: Thank you both for letting me ask you some interview questions! Mitzi Jo, whats it like running a doggy daycare, and of course, having Momma Jean help you?

Mitzi Jo: I love having a purpose in my life. I am a very social dog and enjoy meeting all the new canines that come to play. Being the leader of our family pack of dogs means I have to explain the rules to all the visiting dogs.

Erik: It sounds like you have a lot of re-sponsibilities! It must be very interesting being part of a Doggy Daycare. What inspired you to write the book, A Doggy Daycare Day?

Mitzi Jo:While I was greeting a new play-mate, Momma Jean noticed how well our family of dogs accept new friends. She thought this is no different than human children learn-ing to play together and accepting each other on a playground. She wanted me to share with the human children how much nicer it is to accept each other and use that positive peer pressure to learn to accept each other and our differences. We have a total of five books written, but only the first one is in print. In one of our books, we have a blind dog and a crippled dog and the other dogs dont make fun of them but instead help them through the yard.

Erik: I think you are right! The message in your book, to accept each other, is a great one! Mitzi Jo, have you, or another dog in your im-mediate family, ever not gotten along with one of the dogs who came for a day? If so, what did you and/or Momma Jean do?

Mitzi Jo: Momma Jean usually starts with me to be the first greeting dog. She says if they dont like me they wont like the others. Well, we had a Boston Terrier show up one day and he walked in with his human and went to ATTACK me! He sat there on the end of his leash staring at me. I wouldnt even look at him so Momma Jean noticed he was a bully

and told his human he couldnt stay. My human knows to watch my body language to understand what I am feeling.

Erik: It is a good thing Momma Jean knows you so well! Momma Jean, when did you decide to start a doggy daycare? What is the

most important thing you have learned in this business?

Momma Jean: Thank you Erik for ask-ing me a question, too. I had worked with packs of dogs as a studio animal trainer in Hollywood. The dogs were always glad when I came to work because I would get them out in the yard to play and run with each other. They were always more content after a little play-time. When I moved to Pennsylvania in 2005 I wanted to spend more time with my dogs and offer other families with dogs the chance to let their dogs play too. Dogs can learn from other dogs just like children learn from each other

Erik: Mitzi Jo, I read on your blog that Momma Jean is a professional animal trainer and you get to work in commercials! Is that hard to do? Whats the best thing you taught Momma Jean?

Mitzi Jo: Grabbing all the attention in the room is not difficult for me at all. I love it. I have trained my human to realize that if she wants me to do anything special and on her command then I need to have a dog cookie. Humans work better when they get a payc

Upper Bucks Free Press • April 2014

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