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Bensalem Times
Temple political science graduate is ready to make positive change
As Gianni Quattrocchi prepares to graduate from Temple University this week, he wants to instill one piece of advice on incoming freshmen: be open to change. When this Bristol Borough native began his collegiate journey in 2020, he was majoring in mechanical engineering. However, during his first semester, he realized that he didn’t feel particularly passionate about the field. Rather than stick with his initial plan and doom himself to an unhappy future, he allowed himself to switch gears and recognize his true interest: politics.
Playa Bowls celebrates grand opening in Bensalem
The start of summer might be a few weeks away, but locals can get a taste of the season now thanks to the opening of Playa Bowls. Located at 2645 Street Road in Bensalem, the shop, which celebrated its grand opening in April, specializes in healthy acai and pitaya bowls that are regularly found in tropical locales, as well as smoothies, juices, cold brew and more.
Camp Invention coming to Bensalem this summer
Camp Invention, a nationally-recognized, nonprofit summer enrichment program, is coming to Bensalem Township School District the week of July 15-18. A program of the National Inventors Hall of Fame in partnership with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Camp Invention challenges children in grades K-6 to tap into their natural curiosity and use their creativity to solve problems. Through hands-on activities, Camp Invention promotes STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) learning; builds confidence, leadership, perseverance and resourcefulness; and encourages entrepreneurship, all in a fun and engaging environment.
CRIME ROUNDUP
Christopher Plytas, 43, has been arrested by Bensalem Police for the theft of $190,000 from a vehicle. On April 29, at 5 p.m., police responded to the Conoco Gas Station, 2700 Knights Road, for the report of a theft from a vehicle in the parking lot. Upon arrival, the victim told police that he had $190,000 in a box in the back seat of his 2017 Tesla, and that someone had broken the window and stolen all of the cash while he was inside the business. The victim is the owner of a company that owns skill machines throughout the area, and he was at that gas station servicing one of those machines when the theft occurred.
Women’s Animal Center seeks kitten foster volunteers
Kitten season is here and, during this critical time, many litters of stray, abandoned and orphaned baby kittens — newborn to less than 6 weeks old — are brought to Women’s Animal Center needing specialized care to survive, thrive and grow. The center needs additional kitten foster...
59th annual BCCC Student Art Exhibition runs through May 7 at Hicks
The Arts and Communication Department at Bucks County Community College is hosting the 59th annual Student Art Exhibition, a showcase of work made during spring and fall 2023 and spring 2024 by students in the department. Medias include ceramics, dance, digital media, drawing, film, fine woodworking, glass, graphic design, jewelry, music, painting, printmaking, photography, 2D design, 3D design, video and web design. The exhibition runs through May 9 in the Hicks Art Center.
Bucks Community College announces winners of 7th annual High School Short Fiction Contest
Olivia Beno, of Yardley, a junior at Pennsbury High School, was awarded first place for her story Death and Dreaming on the Golden Coast in Bucks County Community College’s 7th annual High School Short Fiction Contest. Alaina Kass, of Levittown, a junior at Neshaminy High School, won second place for The Sin of a Smile. Katie Krom, also of Levittown, a senior at Neshaminy, captured third place for Forever, Shattered. Dr. David Venditto, a faculty member at BCCC, made the final selections.
Lower Bucks Chamber keynote program
The Lower Bucks County Chamber of Commerce is hosting its next keynote networking and breakfast meeting on Wednesday, May 8, at Woods Services, 40 Martin Gross Drive, Langhorne. Networking is from 8:30 to 9 a.m. and the program is from 9 to 10:15 a.m. Gary Lewandowski Jr., Ph.D., professor of...
St. Mary Medical Center becomes Kin Wellness sponsor
Kin, a nonprofit all-inclusive wellness and support center that provides free services through its unique 360-degree care model to cancer patients, their caregivers and local oncology healthcare workers across Bucks County, announced that Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic/St. Mary Medical Center has joined as an official sponsor. Grand View Health and Fox Chase Cancer Center (Bucks County) are continuing their sponsorships.
SCORE Bucks County offering May business webinars
In an ongoing effort to keep the small business community informed, SCORE Bucks County is offering 15 educational workshops for entrepreneurs and business owners in May. The online webinars feature a range of topics for every stage of the entrepreneur’s business journey, including social media basics; starting and operating a new business; an overview of Amazon fulfillment, warehousing and more; developing a marketing plan; managing human resources; and using artificial intelligence to create content, among other business-related topics. See the May calendar at score.org/buckscounty/local-workshops/score-bucks-county-workshop-calendar.
Lenape Valley Foundation’s 15th annual Golf Outing to benefit new crisis center
Lenape Valley Foundation is hosting its 15th annual Golf Outing on Monday, June 17, at Doylestown Country Club. Proceeds from this year’s event will support the opening of a new behavioral health crisis center in Bucks County. The new center, which will be located in Doylestown, aims to improve the environment and quality of care for children, adults and families who are experiencing a behavioral health crisis. Anticipated to open in 2025 and the first of its kind in Pennsylvania, the center will bring together under one roof all the components of crisis services that are now fractured across the system: mental health, drug and alcohol, intellectual disabilities and more, in an environment designed to deescalate the crises.
Penn State Master Gardeners hosting Plant Sale
The Penn State Master Gardeners of Bucks County are holding their 22nd annual Plant Sale on Saturday, May 4, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at their office location on the Middletown Grange Fairgrounds, 576 Penns Park Road, Newtown. Rain or shine. The sale offers many types of annuals, perennials,...
NOVA executive director wins Social Innovations Award
NOVA, Bucks County’s comprehensive crime victim services agency, announced that its executive director Penelope Ettinger won first place from the Greater Philadelphia Social Innovations Awards in the Community and Behavioral Health category for her work at NOVA. The 2024 Greater Philadelphia Social Innovations Awards honor the region’s most passionate...
CRIME ROUNDUP
Burglar targeting Asian American business owners arrested. Frederick Gray, 45, of Henry Avenue in Philadelphia, was recently arrested for burglarizing the local home of an Asian American business owner. On Sept. 30, 2023, a resident of Village Greene Boulevard in Bensalem, arrived home to find the front door unlocked, basement...
St. Mary Medical Center enters partnership with NAC
St. Mary Medical Center announced that it has partnered with the Newtown Athletic Club to support the health and wellbeing of the Bucks County community. As the presenting healthcare partner of the NAC, St. Mary will engage with NAC members and visitors through a variety of health-focused initiatives, including education seminars and an on-site concierge program. The concierge will assist NAC members with tasks such as scheduling and coordinating services, like outpatient testing and provider appointments, as well as resolving potential billing matters or ordering pharmacy prescriptions.
Vita Education Services executive director to retire
The board of directors of Vita Education Services announced that its executive director Mercedes Padrino Anderson is retiring in June after many years leading the nonprofit organization, which is the largest provider of adult education services in Bucks County. Ellen Happ, board president, said, “Mercedes cares deeply about Vita’s mission,...
New ‘APB Cold Case’ episodes feature local cases
Two new episodes of APB Cold Case, a true crime audio podcast featuring unsolved missing persons and murder cases from across the country, discusses Bucks County cases. In “Girl in the Well: Who Killed Lisa Todd?,” podcast host and former police Chief Mark Spawn delves deep inside the case of Lisa Todd, previously known as “Publicker” or “Bucks County” Jane Doe, alongside former Bensalem Police Detective Chris McMullin, who chronicles the moment he glimpsed the forensic sculpture of Publicker Jane Doe in his boss’ office through the years of his dogged investigation as he painstakingly searched for clues and utilized ever-evolving DNA technology and genetic genealogy to identity the remains of a young pregnant girl found in a well.
Andalusia hosting Garden Symposium May 3
Andalusia Historic House, Gardens & Arboretum announced the return of its Andalusia Garden Symposium. This year’s day-long event on Friday, May 3, features four world-renowned horticulturists speaking in Bucks County. The Garden Symposium brings together garden enthusiasts from near and far to hear from some of the most influential...
Tyler Formal Gardens & Landscaping Lecture set for April 27
Bucks County Community College announced the 16th annual Tyler Formal Gardens & Landscaping Lecture featuring Tom Smarr, executive director of Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens, to be held on Saturday, April 27, at 10 a.m. at the college’s Newtown Campus, 275 Swamp Road. The lecture topic is “For Love of...
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