Upper Bucks Free Press, June 2010 edition

Four + Fore = TechnologyFirst Annual Golf Tourna-ment Nets $15,000 Toward Classroom Technology in

Quakertown Schools

Sixty-seven golfers and numerous volunteers created a festive atmo-sphere for the inaugural Quaker-town Community Education Foun-dation Golf Tournament May 22 at Center Valley Golf Course. Re-soundingly, participants said they enjoyed the peaceful environment, the plethora of prizes, precise orga-nization of the event and the cama-raderie.

The event raised more than $15,000, which will be used to pur-chase classroom technology to sup-port student achievement. QCEF President Derek Peiffer said he was pleased with the results of the first-time event. It was the most amount of money the QCEF raised so far in one effort.

Added Tom Klee, Golf Tournament Co-Chair, “I would have to say that the outing far exceeded my expec-tations for a first year event. The support that school vendors, local businesses and individuals showed was nothing short of extraordinary. I would also commend the Phila-delphia Flyers’ organization, spe-cifically Bob “The Hound” Kelly,

for their outreach and community minded spirit. Center Valley Club was very organized and efficient with their efforts, which made the committee’s job easy.”Center Valley’s 2009 Club Cham-pion, Mark Bennett, played with wife Christina, and regular Cen-ter Valley players Colin Chan and Chris Sinclair. Not surprisingly, they posted the winning score.

Tom Klee, Bob “The Hound” Kel-ly, Thom Oleksa and Jim Grawe finished second. Chris Roth, Mike Carpenter, Travis Maugle and Chad Evans posted the third lowest score.

Other skill prizes went to Sylvia Kalzs, Longest Drive Women; Mark Bennett, Longest Drive Men; Audrey Waddell, Rob Shourds and Travis Maugle, Closest to the Pins; Chris Schaffer, Straightest Drive; and Thom Oleksa (who donated the Pot-of-Gold money, $130, back to QCEF).

Shirley Moyer volunteered on the course and purchased plenty of Fly-ers’ memorabilia for early Christ-mas presents. The Flyers’ Kelly posed with her for several pictures and added a hockey puck to her col-lection. She said, “I can't wait until next year. I had a FANtastic time!”

School Board member Kathy Mos-ley, who volunteered, collected plenty of comments from partici-pants, including: · a terrific show of support for edu-cation during trying times for our school budget. · what a peaceful environment for spending time together.· required an incredible amount of preplanning time.· could not have done it without the dedication of our staff, teachers and our community leaders. · food was so good, the raffle was so fun.

Added Audrey Waddell, “Golfing was tons of fun today. The tourna-ment was set up as one of the more organized nicer ones we go to. Well done for all of your hard work and planning.”

To view a photo gallery and to check out all the sponsors, go to www.qcsd.org and click on Four + Fore = Technology. Top sponsors and donors were QNB, Levy’s School Bus Compa-ny, Compass Learning, Quakertown Community Education Association, Suburban Energy & Environmental Consultants, Inc.; My Chinese 360; Dr. Lisa Andrejko, Superinten-dent; Dave Tyson, Retired Teacher; QCSD Administration and Cabinet.

Bob “The Hound” Kelly with volunteer, Shirley Moyer, who bought a lot of Flyers memorabilia, and had a FANtastic time.

Two out of Three Don’t! On Thursday, May 13th, the Up-per Bucks Healthy Communi-ties Healthy Youth Coalition (UBHCHY) hosted its fourth Upper Bucks Youth Summit at the Upper Bucks YMCA in Quaker-town. Over 100 youth representing Palisades, Pennridge and Quaker-town middle schools attended. The goal of the summit was to provide an annual opportunity for youth to share their efforts over the past year in building assets in their home school through their involvement in a “Social Norms Campaign” to change people’s perceptions re-garding underage drinking.The day was filled with skill-build-

ing opportunities and kicked off with keynote speaker, Clifton Cros-by, a member of the 1999 St. Louis Rams Super Bowl Champions, who spoke on his trials as a youth and on the importance of making positive choices. Participants also took part in a variety of breakout sessions regarding substance abuse issues and shared data with students from other schools.The UBHCHY Coalition is coor-dinated by justCommunity, Inc., a non-profit youth development or-ganization based in Quakertown, which will be the focus of an in-depth feature article in the next is-sue of the Upper Bucks Free Press.

2 • Upper Bucks Free Press • June 2010

Honoring both new alumni, and those from past years, is the goal of Quakertown Community High School’s Alumni Association.

This year the annual meeting of alumni will gather on Saturday, June 5th to honor outstanding alumni while also presenting two $1,000 scholarships to exceptional members of the Class of 2010. The meeting – open to all alumni – will take place in the high school cafete-ria at 1:30 p.m.

“We are excited to introduce two new programs this year,” Alumni Association President Mike Walsh said. “For the first time ever, we’ll be honoring two graduating seniors with $1,000 scholarships to help them get ready for the challenges ahead and at the same time honor five graduates in our new ‘Gold Key’ program that will be like a Wall of Fame in the school to rec-ognize outstanding alumni.”

Graduating seniors Nate Fosbenner and Rob Kienzle will both receive $1,000 scholarships at the event.

Nate Fosbenner plans to attend Elizabethtown College where he

intends to major in a business-re-lated field. He played baseball at Quakertown and works a number of part-time jobs including at Lake Nockamixon State Park. An active community volunteer, Nate told the Alumni Board that “Quakertown High School instilled in me a pas-sion for community service and helped me grow into the person I am today.”

Rob Kienzle is graduating from both Quakertown High School and the Upper Bucks Vo-Tech School this June and plans to enter the work-force as a graphic designer while continuing his education at Bucks County Community College. Rob was a member of the high school track and field team and is an ac-complished graphic designer with a broad portfolio of work for local schools, churches and community organizations.

More than 20 students applied for the Alumni Scholarships and recipi-ents were evaluated by their appli-cations, letters of recommendation from peers in the high school, and an interview process. An emphasis was placed on how much a student needed financial assistance and how

he or she might best use $1,000 in their future.

Also at the meeting, five graduates will be awarded the “Gold Key” award, which is reserved for gradu-ates who have displayed “signifi-cant accomplishments in a career and/or contributed significantly to the health, welfare, or human rights of the state, national or international community.”

The following alumni were elect-ed unanimously by the alumni as-sociation’s board of directors: They include a community leader, war hero, musician, scientist, and athlete.

RALPH A. GERHART (deceased) was a graduate of the QHS class of 1911. Mr. Gerhart was an athlete in high school and Cornell Univer-sity. He served in the infantry in the First World War and was injured in the line of duty. When he returned to Quakertown he was an involved community leader. He was a suc-cessful businessman and a member of the Quakertown School Board from 1927 to 1939. As a school board member he was instrumental in the construction of Quakertown

Outstanding Alumni to Be Honored at Annual Association MeetingHigh School (now Quakertown Elementary School) in 1929 and Alumni athletic field.

JOHNNY RIVERS (deceased) was a graduate of the class of 1937. Rivers was a track and football star while a student at the high school. After a short career as a Golden Gloves and professional boxer he joined the United States Marines shortly after Pearl Harbor. He was killed while on active duty in the Battle of Guadalcanal. He was awarded the Navy Cross posthu-mously. The Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Quakertown is named for him.

RICHARD VAN AUKEN graduat-ed from QHS in 1950. He demon-strated an early aptitude for organ and piano performance, serving as a church organist at the age of 13. He continued his musical career as an organist/chaplain’s assistant in the Marines during the Korean conflict. Mr. Van Auken studied at the Phila-delphia Conservancy of Music with Robert Elmore Duringhis career he has served as a recitalist and con-ductor of worship in music through-out the United States, including the National Cathedral. He has been an

alumni continued on page 9

June 2010 • Upper Bucks Free Press • 3

I had the opportunity and honor to attend a military ball held by the junior Army ROTC class to acknowledge the graduates and newly commissioned Army second lieutenants: all students enrolled at the University of San Francis-co. What was impressive were the quality of all of these fine young men and women who took on both the undergraduate or graduate studies at the University and their military classes, drills and summer training. Not only were they fine young men and women, they rep-resented the cross section of our country, children of first or later generations of our first immigrants. The graduating class were a com-posite of Native American, African Americans, Latin American, Japa-nese American, Chinese American, and yes European Americans. I could not help feeling that as we as a country ask these young people to carry out an extraordinary respon-sibility during their early years of embarking on their life's journey, we still find ourselves bombarded by almost treasonous rhetoric by pundits against our President and some of our other elected officials.

During the ceremonies a series of toasts were made. They included toasts to our country, our national commitments, the Army, the fallen and wounded warriors and yes the President of the United States. I would guess some of the pundits who still have not figured the situ-ation out yet would probably find reason to protest this as well.

We in fact live in the best country in the world. Those young gradu-ates proved it. We acknowledge the basic freedoms of speech, religion, and a free press. But I guess saying stupid things or half truths, which incidentally are also half lies, is something the public has to contend with. So I will have my say. To the pundits, start calming down your venomous rhetoric. Stick to the is-sues. Stick to the truth.

By the way, one of the graduates is our nephew Alyssandro Licopoli, an Iraq veteran, who chose to earn his bars. Best wishes.

Frank Licopoli Major, USMCR retiredQuakertown, PA

Veteran Impressed by Cross Section of “Fine Young Men and Women” Taking Up

Charge to Protect our Freedom

Did you know that Thomas Jefferson invented the coat hanger?


Upper Bucks Community Events

Non-profit and community events are included in this listing on a space available basis. E-mail the details with contact information to:

[email protected]

The World Record for spitting a watermelon seed is 70 feet.

May 29

Sellersville Memorial Day Parade, 10 AM, Lenape Park

Civil War Encampment, Saturday 10 AM-5 PM, also May 30 Sunday Noon-5 PM, Mercer Museum, Doylestown, 215-345-0210

Memorial Day Services, Saturday 9 AM at various locations, sponsored by American Legion Palisades District Memorial Post 399 Upper Bucks County PA

Alateen Support Group, Saturdays 11 AM at Quakertown Hospital

May 30

Car Show, 17th Annual “Lake Lenape Jamboree”, 9 AM-12 Noon registration, 215-257-5706

Haycock Fire Company Breakfast, 8 AM-12 Noon, 215-536-2224 or www.haycockfire.org

May 31 Happy Memorial Day!

Quakertown Memorial Day Parade, Monday at 9 AM starting at 9th and Park Ave, Memorial Service at Memorial Park, ends at American Legion Post 242 on Broad Street, (if raining, Service will be held at High School)

Free Golf for Veterans on Memorial Day at Melody Lakes Golf, Route 309, please bring ID

Meyers Apple Dumplings Sale, benefits Quakertown Alumni Association, $5/each, Jenn Bishop 215-896-9877 to order. Pick up June 5 at QHS 1:30 PM-3:30 PM

JUNE IS NATIONAL SAFETY MONTH

Check out the National Safety Council’s website for tips on how to prevent unnecessary injuries and deaths at millionactsofsafety.nsc.org

June 1

T.O.T.S. (Time Out for Tots), Wednesday afternoons 1-1:45 PM, program for 3-7 year olds, Memorial Park, complete schedules available June 1 at Borough Hall or www.quakertownboro.com

June 2, 3, 4, & 5

Coopersburg Fire Company Carnival, Wed & Thurs 6-10 PM, Fri & Sat 6-11 PM, Food, rides, games, entertainment, Main Street, Coopersburg

June 2, 9, & 16

Nature Tales at Nockamixon State Park, Weds 11 AM at Lot 1 to hear a story, bring a blanket or lawn chair, afterwards enjoy the park on your own with a picnic lunch or a walk on the paved bike path, (if rain, meet at Education Ctr), free program, Nockamixon State Pk Ed Ctr 215-529-7307

June 3, 4, & 5

Milford Middle School Evening of the Arts presents “The King and I” by Rodgers and Hammerstein, 7 PM at the Middle School, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday performances.

June 5

19th Annual Pet Fair (rain date June 6) Saturday 10 AM-2 PM, lots of fun activities and demos, contests, petting zoo, pony rides, etc. Bring a canned or unopened dry food to help feed homeless pets, 2250 N. Old Bethlehem Pike, Quakertown, 215-536-6245

Trumbauersville Community Day, 4 PM, Fireworks at dusk. See article in this issue for details and check trumbauersville.org for updates.

Haycock Technology Theme Festival, Saturday 10 AM-3 PM at Haycock Elementary School, Quakertown, Hands on activities for all ages, lots more going on, 215-529-2660 for list of events.

Perkasie Olde Towne’s Hot Ribs/Cool Jazz Festival, perkasieoldetowne.org

Strawberry & Ice Cream Festival, Saturday 3:30-7:30 PM at St. Peter’s Tohickon U.C.C., Perkasie, lots of activities, benefits various missions of the Women’s Guild, www.stpetersucc.org

Strawberry Festival & Yard Sale, Saturday 8 AM-2 PM, St. Andrews UCC, 615 E. Walnut St, Perkasie, 215-257-2880Oldies Dinner Dance benefits Benner Hall Playground Fund, doors open 6:30, dinner 7 PM, dancing until 11 PM w/DJ Ron Funk. Pre-order tickets $15, at the door $20. Call Polly 215-536-6716, www.bennerhall.com/oldies.html

New Goshenhoppen Annual Strawberry Festival-Saturday 10 AM-7 PM. Food, fun, and entertainment for the family. Flea Market 8 AM, ”New Item” Auction 10 AM, Games, Red Hill Band 5-7 PM. New Goshenhoppen UCC, Park 3rd St, East Greenville, 215-679-2041

St. Isidore Garden Party, Saturday 6:30 PM-10:30 PM, featuring The Mango Men outdoor concert, St. Isidore School parking lot, 603 W. Broad St, Quakertown, [email protected]

Flea Market & Craft Show, Saturday 8 AM-1 PM, benefits Dublin Fire Company, route 313, spaces $15, bring own tables, raindate June 12, call after 5 PM 215-249-3089

Last Chance Ranch Animal Rescue needs volunteers to help with horses and dogs, many different opportunities to help (hands on, fundraising, office work, etc.) Orientation visits are held every first Saturday of every month at 10 AM, 215-538-2510 or lastchanceranch.org.

Alateen Support Group Meeting, Saturdays at 11 AM, Quakertown Hospital

June 5-6

Upper Perkiomen Relay for Life, Saturday 10 AM-10AM, Upper Perkiomen High School Track, Pennsburg

June 6 Bedminster Garden Tour, Sunday 10 AM-4 PM rain or shine, self-guided tour of spectacular private gardens, Tickets required, BRLC 215-795-2352, www.bedminsterlandconservancy.org

Basket Bingo, doors open Noon at Benner Hall, Richlandtown, refreshments, raffle, Chinese auction, prizes, $20, 2 1 5 - 5 3 8 - 2 1 5 9 , b e n e f i t s RichlandtownFire Company


Penn State University Certifies QCHS Project Lead The Way Program

Penn State University’s Tom Weiss brought his fine-tooth comb to Quakertown Community High School recently to inspect Project Lead The Way (PLTW) cours-es, teachers and students. He de-clared the program “excellent” and awarded the school 5 years of certification. That means students who demonstrate exemplary work in the courses and pass the exams may now apply for college credit or other forms of recognition at a vari-ety of national affiliate colleges and universities.

“The colleges will know that kids are getting the pre-engineering courses they need,” explained Chris Polk, lead teacher for Project Lead the Way.

Now in its second year, the PLTW program is the first in Bucks Coun-ty. North Penn, Radnor and Nor-ristown are the closest districts that also offer the program. At QCSH, three teachers – Polk, Nick Foley and Brad Mushrush – teach 13 sec-tions among them, from 9th to 12th grade, with the latest computer software. The six courses are Prin-ciples of Engineering, Introduction to Engineering, Digital Electronics, Civic Engineering and Architec-ture, Computer Integrated Manu-

facturing and Engineering Design and Development. In two years QCHS will add a seventh course, Bio Technology.

Weiss noted that Polk’s documen-tation and organization and the ad-ministrative support of the program were excellent. “We’d like to take to the DNA to other places!”

The certification process included a self-assessment of the PLTW pro-gram and a one-day site visit by Weiss and Terry Speicher, PLTW affiliate professor at Penn State-

Berks . The Site Visit Committee met with teachers, administrators, counselors, students, and communi-ty members, and reviewed students’ course portfolios.

Weiss praised the enthusiasm and diversity of the Partnership Team, which Polk cobbled together with community members and parents who are also engineers and busi-ness leaders. In his next step rec-ommendations, Weiss suggested the district recruit more girls, start-ing in the middle school grades, to participate in the program. Polk,

administrators and the Partnership Team are already brainstorming ideas. They are considering sum-mer camps, job shadowing, partner-ships and bringing back former stu-dents and current engineers as role models. Sam Cowan, for instance, graduated in 2009. She was one of the first PLTW students. She goes to Drexel University and her moth-er, Peggy, is an engineer and mem-ber of the Partnership Team.

“A crucial element to the success of the program is regularly updating teacher skills and promoting coun-selor awareness of the latest PLTW initiatives for students,” Weiss said. “The district also provides an in-valuable opportunity to its students through the certification process,” said Weiss.

Project Lead The Way, a not-for-profit organization, is a national pro-gram offered to more than 500,000 students in more than 3,500 schools in all 50 states. The program was developed to address the national shortage of engineers and engineer-ing technologists.

Trumbauersville has been my home since I was brought here as an in-fant many long years ago…72 years to be exact. I still live on the same property where I have resided since infancy. In my opinion, the 1940’s and 1950’s marked a high point for traditional family life in this town. To me, those years were everything the term “Happy Days” represents. They were truly the happiest of all days.

When I was a young girl and later, a teenager, there was a distinct neigh-borhood feeling in town. Actually, the word “neighbor” does not really describe the sentiment of the times. Everyone I knew then felt like fam-ily. That’s what we were…an ex-tended family. No matter how busy we were back then, there was al-ways time to stop and be “neighbor-ly.” We played together, worked together, laughed together and cried together. It was a time and a feeling that cannot be repeated or replaced.My greatest good fortune was hav-ing one particular neighbor named Fay. I was an only child, and even though Fay was older than me, she guided me and advised me and

was one of my truest friends…she is still a good friend today. When I was a young girl, she was like a “big sister” to me. She always had time for me and we enjoyed spend-ing time together. That’s how it was in Trumbauersville when I was young…we really enjoyed being here and we truly enjoyed close re-lationships with one another. Much progress has been made over the years and that is not a bad thing, but so often in this fast paced world of ours, we miss out on the small, im-portant things that are really worth-while. It is an inevitable fact. It is also the reason I am most grateful to have lived here in the “good old days.”

The best times of my life were spent in this town. The Teenage Center was great fun. It was lo-cated in the building which now houses the “Chocolate Factory” and was a gathering place for all of the teenagers in town. There was always something going on there. We played pool, ping-pong, and shuffleboard. We also enjoyed the latest in modern technology…a 45 RPM record player! How we did

love to listen to that and dance to our favorite music!

Huber’s Variety Store was another favorite place for meeting up with friends. We spent many hours there, and even though we did not spend a lot of money, Leroy Huber never complained or asked anyone to leave if we were taking up room or time. He seemed to enjoy having us there.

Life in the small town of Trumbau-ersville has been very good over the years. It is a special town, holding special memories. We still wake up in the morning and greet our neigh-bors. We can observe the many changes that time has brought to our town and know that there is still a quality of life here that is not so easy to find in today’s world. We have been able to maintain a “small town feel” in a fast paced world. We have been very fortunate to be residents of this community…a small piece of the world which we can all feel proud to call “home.”

Submitted by Shirley (Barndt) Meitzler

Memories of a Small Town Life

For the second year in a row, StillS-mallVoice, an adult contemporary choir hailing from Christ Church UCC in Trumbauersville, defeated all comers in this year’s Clash of the Church Choirs. The event was held in mid-April at First UCC in Quakertown where five area choirs battled it out in the “Sing for Life Concert, “ benefiting Relay for Life.

Attendees voted for their favorite choirs with their monetary dona-tions. The choir raising the most cash reigned supreme. In fact, over $3700 was raised and donated to the Quakertown Relay for Life in support of cancer research by the American Cancer Society.

A hand-painted silk banner by lo-cal artist, Sue Shelly, depiciting the many meanings of “Life,” is the trophy that will remain for another year on the sanctuary wall at Christ Church as it has for the past year.

T’ville Church Choir Shuts Out Rivals for Second Straight Year


The Great Tree of Richland Meeting

Longaberger Basket Bingo, 1 PMSt. John the Baptist Church, Ottsville, PA, Benefits SJB Youth Group, Ellen 610-416-5061

June 6

Dublin Community Day, Sunday (rain or shine) 11 AM-3 PM, games, food, pony rides, Dublin Idol Con-test, www.dublinborough.org or 215-249-3310

June 8

Upper Bucks Senior Ctr – Covered Dish at 11:30 AM, Lifequest speak-er 12:15 AM, Membership mtg 12:45 PM

Webinar, “Dealing with Difficult People,” Tuesday, 3-4:30 PM, www.ubcc.org

YMCA Total Body Improvement Series lecture – “Body Composition – BMI”, 7-8 PM, $2 (free, if mem-ber), 215-536-YMCA x120

June 9

UBCC & Pennridge Joint Business Card Exchange, Wednesday, 5-7 PM, Hosted by Bux-Mont Awards, 225 North Main St., Sellersville, www.ubcc.org

Upper Bucks Senior Activity Center, Tropical Escape Party w/

Upper Bucks Community Events

Legend has it that, in a clearing in the Great Swamp, there stood a Great Oak Tree. Under that tree, for many generations, the Native Americans met for council and ceremony. It stood as a symbol of Mother Earth watching over her children, providing for the needs of all the people who called the Great Swamp home.

By the year called 1700, the Lenape had lived and farmed in the Great Swamp for thousands of years. They’d harvested the plentiful game, and carved out plots in the wooded marshes to raise corn and beans and squash. They’d raised their families in wigwams of bark and hides and reeds. They praised the gods that provided plenty, un-der the bows of the Great Oak Tree. For uncounted generations the Le-nape had been in the Great Swamp, but their way of life would soon come to an end.

When the tribesmen first met with the surveyors and Quaker settlers

in the clearing under the Great Tree they may have sensed it. They made peace and discussed with these strangers the new order that had come to that wilderness, in the place now called Pennsylvania. They may have been confused as the Englishmen hammered in stakes and measured the land, issued war-rants and deeds. They lived at ease and in harmony with these simple, pious Friends, but it soon became clear that this was the ending of an era. It was the beginning of a new age.

Two great storms came to The Swamp. The Manor of Penn and the township of Richland were now designated, delineated and drawn. The land was now owned by “peo-ple”, a concept alien to the Natives. More Quakers continued to arrive. They built their homes of stone and boards and mud. They worshiped their God and prophet in a strange, silent, meditative way. The clear-ings grew larger. The trails be-came roads. Although treated with

respect and equality, as is the way with Friends, there was no stop-ping this storm. Soon the winds of change swept the Native culture away.

Although it had stood for hundreds of years, a reminder of the small-ness of Man, one day, nature herself rose up in angry storm and toppled the Great Oak down. Its roots torn up, its limbs shattered, it lay in ruins in the clearing where so many had met in peace and harmony. Both Lenape and Quakers felt the trag-edy. Something mighty and great was now gone.

Together the Natives and Friends, two people both equal in their eyes and in the eyes of their Lord, mourned the loss of the Great Tree. In it they saw the fading past. Yet, nearby they saw a seedling grow-ing, heir to the mighty tree. With hope they turned their eyes toward the future, gazed through the veil that no one can lift.

The Great Tree and those people are long since gone. They both are long since dust. They are but vague shadows in our memory as we gaze backward through that same veil. Both Friend and Lenape now stand together in the Light where all Men must finally reside.

Lo, there! See it reborn, spreading its arms, as it once did so long ago. There looms the Great Tree of Rich-land Meeting. A monument from the past, it stands, into the future. It towers above, a symbol yet, in this age. It lives still, in this time, where the ideals and principles of those Friends endure, where the people still meet in pensive meditation, in the Light, in the clearing, under the bows of the Great Oak Tree.

Jack H. Schick is a member of the 300th Anniversary Committee of the Richland Friends Meeting and is writing a history of the origins of Quakertown and its inhabitants.

Gene and Debbie at 11:30 AM, $8/tickets one week in advance, &9 later, www.upperbuckssac.comQuakertown Midget Football registration,(also July 14) 7:30-8:30 PM, QMFA field house, ($10 late fee after June 9),[email protected] or [email protected]

June 10

Preservation Board Mtg 8 PM, 1328 California Rd, Quakertown

June 12

National Get Outdoors Day, Satur-day 10 AM-3 PM at Nockamixon

State Park Marina, free, fun family event, 215-529-7300Silo Dances at Historic Kirkland Farm, 5 to 7 PM, Springtown, bene-fits DanceNOW, nonprofit present-ing arts organization, Robin Staff [email protected]

Prelude Arts Fest and Student Recit-als, Saturday 10 AM-6:30 PM, Del-aware Valley College, Doylestown, 215-340-7979

First United Church of Christ An-nual Lawn Fete benefits Church School, Donations of clean and good condition items needed for Si-lent Auction.8th Annual Memorial Walk & But-

terfly Release, Saturday at Lenape Park, Perkasie, PA (rain date Sun-day), sponsored by The Compas-sionate Friends-Quakertown Chap-ter to memorialize children and loved ones to help bereaved fami-lies through their grief. 500 Mon-arch Butterflies will be released. Call 215-536-0173 to find out more about this annual event. Support group meets 2nd Tuesday every month at Quakertown Hosp 7:30 PM Taylor Conference Rm

Keep A Breast Foundation fund-raiser for breast cancer awareness, 11 AM-8 PM at Quakertown Me-morial Park. The day will be filled with games, live musical perfor-mances, and of course, lots of food. INVITE CLOTHING (a brand new company in our community) will be hosting the event, Adam P. Hippeli 215-264-2689

Bagging Hunger in Quakertown, 1st Annual walk and picnic to ben-efit Q-town Food Pantry, Begins 10 AM,..$10 bags of food can be pur-chased at either Q-town Giant food store starting 2 wks prior to event. Contact Kevin Reich of Pride of Q-town at 267-377-7182.

Used Book Sale on the Porch at Richland Library, 9 AM-Noon, 44 S Main St, Q-town


When I was the ripe old age of 37, with my daughter grown, a friend tried to talk me into going back to school. I told her, “If I go back to school now and go all the way, I’ll be 50 before I get my PhD.”

She replied simply, “And how old will you be if you don’t go back to school?”

In the winter of 1999, I enrolled in the Upper Bucks campus of BCCC. When asked my major, I wasn’t sure. “What do you want to do?” asked the registrar. “Talk to peo-ple,” I replied. She put down com-munications and waved me on.

After two years, I transferred to Ce-dar Crest College to finish my me-dia communications degree. I had this column (only global in topics) in the student paper, “The Cresti-ad”, and a weekly radio show on the campus radio station. I was talking to people and they were listening.

As graduation drew near, I inter-viewed at Lehigh University’s American Studies program and won a full scholarship to earn my MA. When the chair of the depart-ment asked me what my dream job would be, I told him my dream was a position with a think tank like the Carnegie Institute for Peace, and writing an opinion column. If that didn’t pan out, then I would like to be a professor and teach, and write an opinion column.

Unfortunately, the economy tanked while I was earning my degree. When I graduated a year ago, there were no scholarships for my PhD, no teaching jobs, and newspapers were folding faster than a house of cards. I graduated into a world that didn’t need my skills.

I’ll admit I fell into a depression for several months. I had worked so hard for 8 years, and it was all for

naught. On New Year’s Day I re-solved to apply myself again to find some way of utilizing my skills.

Almost five months into my quest, I was sent an email by a friend an-nouncing that the Upper Bucks Free Press was looking for columnists and reporters. A new dream came to me; to be on the ground floor of a grassroots newspaper. A paper that would focus on my adopted home-town with a positive spin.

How refreshing to be able to be part of a media movement that wants to unite and celebrate the community it serves. I immediately sent Chris Betz one of my old columns. He liked my style, but not the national focus. So I wrote the column you read in the last issue and found myself with a space to share my thoughts.

Although I’m working for free, I still feel so much more productive. I’m talking to people again. I’m sharing my thoughts, my ideas, and my vision for the future. Perhaps this quote says it best:

“Down the long lane of the history yet to be written America knows that this world of ours, ever grow-ing smaller, must avoid becoming a community of dreadful fear and hate, and be, instead, a proud con-federation of mutual trust and re-spect.” Dwight EisenhowerThat’s my mission, to help Quaker-town break out of being a commu-nity of fear and hate, and become a proud confederation of mutual trust and respect. We were once divided by the media. Now we can re-unite.Thank you for reading my column. I’m honored that you’ve spent your time on my words.

Beth Coulter is a twenty year resident of the Quakertown area and is a local histo-rian. Join the conversation on facebook @Just blowin’ my mind. Email at [email protected]

Tom Merrick, of Tom’s Help Desk in Milford Square, draws the winner of a new Acer Aspire notebook computer, which he gave away in celebration of his 1000th client. Jim Loftus, a

new customer from Green Lane was the lucky recipient of the computer.


Strayer’s Messa Di Voce Singers Celebrate Tenth Year of SuccessWhat is Messa Di Voce and what does it mean? Messa Di Voce means “to place” the voice and that’s just what Miss Cynthia Teprovich is trying to do: to help middle school choir students learn to place their changing voices, early in the morn-ing twice a week, through much of the school year.

Choir students at Richard E. Stray-er Middle School in Quakertown Community School District seek proficiency in tone, pitch and into-nation, rhythm, and vocal technique at each choir practice and perfor-mance. Students with a steady qual-ity of performance in these areas who wish to sing “a capella” (with-out accompaniment) have a unique opportunity to meet advanced learning targets in a dedicated sing-ing group, Messa Di Voce.

As future citizens of town and country, MDV vocal students also learn to become creative team play-ers with a strong work ethic, com-munication skills and service. Each learns to listen to and work with

each other.

Their hard work pays off each year at the Music in the Parks Festival, where these students have won the Overall Chorus Award for the past nine years.

Messa Di Voce has also performed at local fundraisers, festivals, and school functions, including per-formances with the Pennsylvania Youth Chorale in 2001 and the Baltimore Consort in 2005. Their voices have sung at “Music in Our Schools Month” at the State Capi-tol Rotunda in 2002 & 2005, “Arts in Education Day” in Harrisburg in 2006, and were selected to perform for the Pennsylvania Music Educa-tors Association in 2007.

In 2010, Strayer’s Messa Di Voce received the Overall Chorus Award at the Dorney Park Choral Compe-tition held at Kutztown University. This is the tenth consecutive year they have earned this honor at a Music in the Parks Festival.Receiving high honors for Treble

(left to right) Row 1: Ronald Cubbage, Jennifer Heitz, Hannah Galvin, Marissa Cubbage, Madison Bender, John Mair, and Joseph Iffrig Row 2: Jesse Dager, Simone Rumph, Kristina Diefenderfer, Samantha Bouton, and Sarah Edmonds Row 3: Emily De Matteo, Lydia Stepanoff, Anna Kahn, Rachel Haywood, Kate Robison -Grubb, and Lydia Brozenski Absent from photo: Caroline Heft, Ashley Bryant, and Julie Mermon and Choral Director: Cynthia Teprovich

and Madrigal Choirs as well, stu-dents were quite anxious to read the judges’ comments to see how well they’d met learning goals in diction, intonation, balance, blend, rhythm and more. Students appreciate this feedback.

For Miss Teprovich, it’s an as-sessment that validates the in-struction the students are receiv-ing. It’s a way for students and teacher to see they’re “on target.”

Submitted by Roe Cubbage

Trumbauersville’s 12th Annual Community Day will be held on June 5 in the Borough Park. The Trumbauersville Lions Club will hold their annual Strawberry Fes-tival, along with a pig roast, and a raffle for a stainless steel grill and other picnic items.

Both of the borough’s churches, Christ Evangelical Lutheran and Christ United Church of Christ, will complement the Lions Club feast with additional assorted refresh-ments.

The Schoolhouse Learning Cen-ter is sponsoring snow cones and a craft table for youngsters. Hay wagon rides, Invitation to Animals, Anthe the caricaturist, Chump the Clown and Sound Sensation Enter-tainment DJ service will keep you entertained throughout the evening. Trumbauersville Boy Scout Troop 13 will host a ring toss. Chain saw carver John Snyder will conduct several carving demonstrations, with some of his carvings available for sale. His first carving, usually an eagle’s head, will be raffled off at the end of the day. And, of course, the ping-pong ball drop (weather permitting).

New this year will be a Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs ticket raffle, with the proceeds benefiting the Quak-ertown Food Pantry. Four tickets are being donated by Melissa Baine and her husband, Rich. The game

happens to be Phillie Phanatic night at the Iron Pigs.

Also new is participation by the Pennridge Regional Police Depart-ment (PRPD). They will be hand-ing out Child Safety Kits, which are being sponsored by Millwork LLC. The PRPD will bring their bicycle patrol officer, their tactical officer, and their Crime Scene Unit vehicle. If it is available that day, they will bring their tactical vehicle (SWAT), too.

Make sure you are there at 5:00 PM

for the landing of the PennSTAR medical helicopter by the Temple Transport Team. The PennSTAR flight program provides critical care air medical transportation within a 100-mile radius of the University of Pennsylvania Health System. Penn-STAR provides rapid transport of critical care patients between medi-cal centers, as well as “on-scene” services at the site of accidents and trauma-related incidents. Support for major disasters and organ trans-plant teams is also provided.

Unlike most medical flight pro-

grams, PennSTAR is hospital based

and a part of the Trauma and Sur-

gical Critical Care division at the

Hospital of the University of Penn-

sylvania, and an integral compo-

nent of the University of Pennsyl-

vania Trauma System Network

– which includes Reading Hospital

and Medical Center and St. Luke's

Hospital & Health Network in the

Lehigh Valley. The Temple Trans-

port Team is based in Blue Bell.

Twelfth Annual Trumbauersville Community Day Slated


“Holy cow that drink comes with its own little bottle of po-tion!” chirped my friend.

“A side-car of happiness if you will,” I spouted back.

We broke into peels of laughter and our husbands looked on with an air of bemusement and confusion; they will never understand how exciting having that little bottle placed on our table was.

Ok, so the little bottle of green liquid residing on our table wasn’t potion, it was the remainder of my martini. But truly, the two of us could not have been more aston-ished by it had it been labeled ‘Drink Me’ like Alice’s tincture. Drinking it was not going to me shrink to the size of a ladybug. It was only there for me to enjoy while my husband and I, along with two of our best friends, sat at our umbrella covered table and relaxed on a fantastic Au-gust evening.

I wish I could say that table was located in my perfectly manicured backyard; but unfortunately I have no backyard. My adopted backyard for the evening was the patio at Mc-Coole’s at the Historic Red Lion Inn, located at the corners of Broad and Main Streets in Quakertown. And at that table is where this col-umn begins.

It was not just the bright green martini, dubbed an Early Settlers by McCoole’s, in its little bottle that was astonishing; it was the en-tire evening. It was as if the stars aligned and provided the four of us with one of those dining experienc-es that you talk about for years after it happens. You chalk it up contin-uously as ‘one of the best meals of my life’. A meal that seems to last an eternity; but goes by in the blink of an eye. A meal that is more than the food that you ate; but the sum total of its parts.

McCoole’s gave us an evening that the four of us still reference in con-versation. And while we have been back on multiple occasions for mul-tiple events that one night in August is perhaps is the epitome of what a trip to McCoole’s is all about.

Even before you are seated you can’t help but be impressed by your surroundings. The large wood pan-eled bar to your left does nothing if not invite you to have a beer with your friends and enjoy some time together. The martini lounge to your right beckons for you to come

and relax in its plush chairs with a cocktail of your choice. You can choose a drink from their martini menu, check out their daily drink specials or order one of your tried and true favorites to enjoy. The fireplace in the main dining room reminds you that you are in a build-ing that has been part of Quaker-town’s history from virtually the beginning. The front porch and area in front of McCoole’s Arts and Events Place serve as a wonderful patio. McCoole’s even features live entertainment from time to time and a piano player on Saturday nights.

But the aesthetic design of the place pales in comparison to the service at McCoole’s. I have never been to McCoole’s and not been met by someone who appeared to be as excited about me being there as I was to be there. The wait staff, bartenders and hostesses are friend-ly and engaging. They want you to have a good time and enjoy your-self. They will go the extra mile to make you and your party comfort-able and happy. You, the customer, are their number one priority.

And then there is the food. And really, that is what it is all about anyway. I will say in all sincerity everything is great. Neither I nor anyone I was dining with has ever had a bad plate put in front of them. From the amazing appetizers to the decedent desserts and everything in between you can not go wrong with what you choose. The grilled pita and hummus is a personal fa-vorite appetizer of mine, while my husband is all about the roasted corn and crabmeat au gratin right now. I almost never deviate from my favorite pressed sandwich of all time the Cuban; but when I do the plate size fresh salads and delicious pastas, specialty sandwiches and many other offerings make choos-

Food, Drink, and Magic atMain and Broad Streets

ing something else to order as ex-citing as it is difficult. The menu also features a section devoted to what everyone loves; comfort food. Meatloaf and mac and cheese are featured and rival anything your mom ever made. There are des-serts galore, which you often times think you are too full to enjoy; but once you start hearing about what they have to offer you promptly find room for a piece of warm apple tart or cheesecake. McCoole’s also offers a seasonal menu featuring appetizers, salads and entrees made from the freshest seasonal ingre-dients in addition to their standard menu.

McCoole’s is readily accessible and easy to find in Quakertown. Their website can provide you with directions from almost anywhere. McCoole’s at the Red Lion Inn is open Tuesday-Thursday 11:30am to 11:00pm, Friday-Saturday 11:30am to Midnight and Sun-days 11:30am to 10:00. They are closed on Mondays. McCoole’s does take reservations; give them a call at 215-538-1776 to make one soon. When you arrive they have three designated parking areas for your convenience; behind the res-taurant, next to the McCoole’s Arts and Events Place located next to the restaurant or at the Historical Soci-ety, one block from the restaurant on North Main Street.

Quakertown is well into the spring season and is headed full steam into summer. This is the perfect time of year to head outside, to enjoy a fan-tastic meal, to spend time with your friends and family. And McCoole’s has a table waiting for you to do just that.

Allison Sabotta is a 27 year resident of Quakertown Borough. She can be reached at [email protected].

Artist/Teacher in the music depart-ment of Moravian College and La-fayette College.

DR. DAVID STOUDT graduated from the high school in 1977. He enlisted in the Navy and spent six years on submarine duty. He then enrolled in Old Dominion Uni-versity in Virginia to study elec-trical engineering, where he took his doctoral degree. Dr. Stoudt is presently a Distinguished Scientist/Engineer at the Naval Surface War-fare Center at Dahlgreen, Virginia. His published research has included more than eighty journal articles and technical publications. He has been awarded three patents.

REBECCA QUINN (1989) is one of the best cyclists in the world. She was a three sport athlete while a high school student, excelling in soccer, basketball and field hockey. After completing her teacher cer-tification and bachelor’s degree at Penn State, Becky displayed the de-termination and ability to become a world class bicyclist. She has been a member of the United States Na-tional team since 1997, and a five time World Cup medalist. She has been among the top finishers in her events internationally in China, Australia, England, Russia, and Mexico. She is in training for the World Championships in 2011 and hopes to be a member of the United States team in the 2012 Olympics.

Entertainment will be provided and refreshments served at Saturday’s event.

Alumni continued from page 2


Quakertown’s Most Courageous Athletes Announced

Field hockey standout Brooke

Jordan and three-sport athlete

Edwin E. Gonzalez, Jr., have

earned $100 scholarships and the

distinction as Quakertown’s Most

Courageous Athlete for 2009-2010,

Athletic Director Sylvia Kalazs an-

nounced.

The pair will attend a banquet din-

ner Friday, May 7, at Indian Valley

Country Club in Telford.

Jordan demonstrated her courage

by rebounding from taking a field

hockey ball to her forehead, leaving

a handball-sized lump above her

left eye during her junior year. Jor-

dan finished her senior season with

four goals at midfield and a second-

team all-league nomination.

“It was scary,” said Jordan. “My

pupil popped and I thought I would

never be able to play again. They

said I might not be able to see. They

thought I had brain damage. They

took off my jersey because it was

all bloody.”Jordan needed 10 in-

terior stitches and 15 exterior. She

will attend Indiana University of

Pennsylvania to play field hockey

next season.

Gonzalez played football, wrestled

and ran the mile in track. He was

named all-Suburban One at 160

pounds after a 28-12 campaign dur-

ing wrestling season.

“It was like a shock to me,” said

Gonzalez. “The day I got it I just

came back from my girlfriend’s

house and I was like, Oh, holy cow.

Both my coaches nominated me

for it, Coach Handel and Coach

Donnelly.”

Gonzalez plans to pursue a career

in Mixed Martial Arts, a sport

that clearly requires courage and

toughness.

BALLGAME

BARBECUE

CHILDREN

DAD

FAMILY

FATHER

FRIEND

FUNGIFTSGOLFHAMMOCKHAPPYHUGSLAWNMOWINGLEISURE

LOUNGECHAIR

LOVING

POP

RELAXATION

SPECIAL DINNER

SUNNY

WARM


June 13

21st Annual Fox Chase Garden Party, 3:30 PM-7:30 PM. sponsored by Bucks Co Chapter of Fox Chase Cancer Ctr, Morgan Hill Estate, Doylestown, 215-534.9135, ben-efits Cancer Research

Quakertown Fire Co. Basket Bingo, doors open Noon, game starts 1 PM, 505 W. Broad St, Quakertown, Christine Wimmer 215-696-1973

BUG OUT-Naturalist Foray, Sun-day 2 PM, Peace Valley Nature Center, 215-345-7860 (minimum number of participants required, rain may also cancel the walk)

June 14 Happy Flag Day

June 17

Webinar, “Safety Hazard Commu-nication”, Thursday 1-2:30 PM, www.ubcc.org.

June 18

Free Movie “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” 8 PM at Veterans Park, Richland Township, 215-536-4066

Upper Bucks Senior Center, Tropi-cal Party Dance Theme, 7-10 PM, Tickets $10, upperbuckssac.com

June 19

Craft & Yard Sale, (rescheduled) Saturday 8 AM-Noon rain/shine at West Swamp Mennonite Church, 2501 Allentown Rd, Quakertown, spaces available $10 each, limited available tables for additional $5 ea. Registration deadline Sat. June 5. Refreshments available for pur-chase, Cindy Raub 215-536-7263

The 19th Annual Roll & Stroll–A community cycling and walking event in Souderton, All proceeds benefit Indian Creek Foundation, www.rollandstroll.com, 267-203-1500 x303 to register.

Resource Day, Join us for a ses-sion on building job skills, re-sume help, and resources, 10 AM-2 PM, Quakertown Library, www.quakertownna.org

June 20 Happy Father’s Day!

Father’s Day Fishing Derby, Sun-day check-in 7:30-8:30 AM, Peace Valley Park, Angler’s Pier, New Britain, sponsored by Bucks Co. Parks & Recreation Dept., 215-348-9915 or www.doylestownpa.org.Car Show Silver Creek AA 8th An-

nual, Sunday 9 AM-3 PM, Benefits youth baseball, Springtown, 610-346-6840 for registration and spon-sorship info.

June 21

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bucks County Golf Classic, 11 AM regis-tration, 11:30 Buffet lunch, 12:30 Start, Cocktails & Dinner, Spring Mill Country Club, Ivyland, Sue Gelb 215-343-8260 ext. 110

June 22

YMCA Total Body Series lecture – “Effects of Stress on Your Body”, 7-8 PM, 215-536-YMCA x120

June 24

Chamber 101- Membership Orien-tation, Thursday 3:30-4:30 PM at UBCC Office, www.ubcc.org

Multi-Chamber Busi-ness Card Exchange, Thurs-day 5:30-7:30 PM, hosted by Pearl S. Buck, www.ubcc.org

June 25

2nd Annual Golf Outing to benefit Quakertown Panthers Ice Hockey Team. Friday 1 PM Shotgun start. $80/person, includes green fees, light lunch, beer, soda at course.Win a Car for a hole-in-one, Din-ner later at Locust Valley Pavilion, more fun and festivities, Joe 215-808-5977 or Walt 267-718-0693.

June 26

Quakertown Historical Society Flea Market, Donations needed, food available, call Nancy 215-536-4353Relay for Life of Doylestown, Satur-day 10 AM-Sunday 10 AM, spons-by American Cancer Society, www.relayforlife.org/padoylestown

Yard Sale for the Cure, Corner of Mill Street and Hellertown Ave, Quakertown, All proceeds directly benefit the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure via the Paddlin’ Tata SisterZ.

The Mango Men, Saturday 7-11 PM, Evening of Music and Dancing, BYOB, proceeds benefit UBYMCA Annual Support Campaign to send youth to camp, $25 ticket, Pat Ed-wards 215-536-YMCA

June 28-August 6

K.I.D.S. Program begins! (Kids In-volved Doing Something), a great way for the kids to spend the sum-mer, details at www.quakertown-boro.com

June 30, August 25

Miller Keystone Blood Drive, St. Luke’s Quakertown Hospital Lob-by, 215-538-4680

July 6

YMCA Total Body lecture - “Heal-ing Power of Magnetics”, 7-8 PM, 215-536-YMCA x120

Upper Bucks Community Events Find the Upper Bucks Free Press!

Quakertown

AamcoBeer City

Boyers MarketCafe on the WayClassic Temps

Captain Bob’s SeafoodDairy Queen

Dominick’s PizzaFaraco’s PizzaFrank’s Pizza

Giant Food MarketsGiovanni’s Pizza

The Grundy HouseHobo’s

James Michener LibraryJohn’s Plain & Fancy

Quakertown Family RestaurantQNB

Quaker BakeryRedner’s MarketSal’s Pizza Randa

Sine’s 5 & 10Wawa

Spankey’s DeliSuelkes Roadstand

Swann’s PantryUpper Bucks Senior Center

Upper Bucks YMCAWest Side Ice Cream

Yum Yum Donuts

Sellersville

A & N DinerPizza Pub

Roy Ann DinerVillage Market

Perkasie

Bravo’s PizzaEmil’s

Gran SassoGiant Food Markets

Pierce LibraryRevivalsThe Perk

Trumbauersville

Fina’s La CantinaSilver Shears

Bruce’s GarageSpor’s General Store

Trum Tavern

Coopersburg

Giant Food MarketsThe Inside Scoop

Moyer’s Copy & Printing CenterQNB

Weis Markets

and lots of other high traffic locations between here

and there.

Can’t find one? Give us a call!


ACADEMIC

ACHIEVE

CAP AND GOWN

CELEBRATION

COLLEGE DEGREEDIPLOMAEXCITEDFAMILYFAREWELL

FRIENDS

GOOD JOB

GRADUATES

GROWING

Upper Bucks Free Press, June 2010 edition

Documents

Transcript of Upper Bucks Free Press, June 2010 edition