The Midweek Wire

02/27/2017

Fitzpatrick breaks with Trump on key issues in telephone town hall

ICYMI: “We can keep our country safe and still respect the rights of immigrants. I don’t believe they are mutually exclusive ... I think we can advance both and we must advance both ... I’m going to be front and center on that.”

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In a telephone town hall meeting last week, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick addressed President Trump’s travel ban and the Affordable Care Act, occasionally speaking in opposition to the White House stances…

02/23/2017

Fitzpatrick joins Bipartisan Heroin Task Force

“The epidemic of opioid addiction and abuse - and the strains it puts on our communities and families – is too important to be put on the backburner. Bucks and Montgomery county families can’t wait for a solution from Washington partisans; they deserve an independent voice willing to forgo the political games and focus on solutions."

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U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-8th dist.) has joined both the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force and the Congressional Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Caucus. A former drug crime federal prosecutor and…

02/23/2017

Fitzpatrick joins Bipartisan Heroin Task Force

“The epidemic of opioid addiction and abuse - and the strains it puts on our communities and families – is too important to be put on the backburner. Bucks and Montgomery county families can’t wait for a solution from Washington partisans; they deserve an independent voice willing to forgo the political games and focus on solutions."

http://wp.me/p3aRXM-2h6

U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-8th dist.) has joined both the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force and the Congressional Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Caucus. A former drug crime federal prosecutor and…

02/22/2017

It's official! Bristol Borough wins the Small Business Revolution

02/22/2017

The responsibility of winning: What Bucks County Commissioner Rob Loughrey learned about life playing college football

“I think in sports, especially team sports, when you’re part of a team, it gets into your DNA and you carry it on into life. You look back, it’s 30 years ago, there’s a lot of big life lessons you learned, I did, through football — playing, and being part of a team.”
- Bucks County Commissioner Robert G. Loughery

http://wp.me/p3XAQh-2ao Dickinson College Dickinson Red Devils

This Saturday, Bucks County Commissioner Robert Loughrey will travel to Carlisle in Cumberland County to celebrate a man who, perhaps more than he realized at the time, changed his life some 30 yea…

02/21/2017

Lower Bucks Hospital hosts heart health, art events

Lower Bucks Hospital hosts a heart health expo with everything blood pressure checks to CPR training and yoga on Feb. 27. The hospital then teams up with Artists of Bristol for their art gallery anniversary gala that night.

https://thebristoltimes.wordpress.com/2017/02/21/lower-bucks-hospital-hosts-heart-health-art-events/

Lower Bucks Hospital, 501 Bath Road in Bristol Township, hosts a free community heart health expo on Feb. 27 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Take part in a yoga class, learn how to perform hands-only CPR, h…

02/21/2017

CR “Battles” and “Duels” for fundraising

The Council Rock North and South baseball players play their first Backyard “BAT”TLE" event to benefit the Travis Manion Foundation on April 22. On March 10, the Council Rock Education Foundation (CREF) hosts "The Duel" at The Fuge in Warminster.

http://wp.me/p3aRXM-2gX Council Rock School District Council Rock High School NorthCouncil Rock High School South

First Council Rock Backyard “BAT”TLE event Join the Council Rock South and Council Rock North baseball players for the first Backyard “BAT”TLE event at Arm & Hammer Park, 1 Thunder Road in Tren…

02/21/2017

ENTERTAINMENT – A sweet gig: Keli Vale’s career-spanning Sundays at Dog and Bull

“When you write something, you don’t know quite what you’re going to do with it until you’re in front of an audience. You react differently in that live setting.”

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Keli Vale Dog and Bull - Brew and Music House

Singer Keli Vale has never been one to rest on her laurels. The jazz vocalist returned to school years into her already successful career for a degree in vocal performance. Then, nearly two decades…

02/20/2017

Chili cookoff on Feb. 25 to benefit food pantry

Proceeds the First Methodist Church of Bristol food pantry, which serves approximately 250 people a month.

https://thebristoltimes.wordpress.com/2017/02/20/chili-cookoff-on-feb-25-to-benefit-food-pantry/

The First Methodist Church of Bristol, 201 Mulberry St. in Bristol Borough, is hosting an amateur chili cookoff on Feb. 25 from 3 to 5 p.m. Proceeds benefit the church’s food pantry, which serves a…

02/20/2017

POLITICS: Fitzpatrick joins GOP “Patriot Program”

“Our Patriots are a group of battle-tested members who won hard-fought races in 2016 and are ready to win once again."

https://midweekwire.com/2017/02/20/politics-fitzpatrick-joins-gop-patriot-program/

The National Republican Congressional Committee has included U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-8th dist.) in its 10-member Patriot Program. Fitzpatrick and the other incumbents are being targeted by D…

02/20/2017

County Commissioners ask for “next step” in addressing drug overdoses

“I certainly agree that education and awareness is a big part of the battle. What we’re wrestling with is … we’ve made people aware, what is the ‘Now what?’ we need to be focusing on to impact this?”

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Last week, as two towns in Lower Bucks held public meetings addressing the opioid epidemic, Bucks County Commissioners asked the Department of Health and Human Services what next steps they can tak…

02/17/2017

Town Hall gives information on preventing drug abuse in Bucks

“This is a monster with many, many tentacles. We can’t punish addiction away, and there needs to be steps for communities to embrace this problem and take it on.”

https://midweekwire.com/2017/02/17/town-hall-gives-information-on-preventing-drug-abuse-in-bucks/

Hundreds of locals came out to Cairn University in Langhorne on Wednesday night for a town hall on overdose prevention in Lower Bucks. The panel discussion included experts in the fields of governm…

02/17/2017

‘We’ve already won’: Bristol wraps up months-long Small Business Revolution campaign

“It’s been a great event, really. There are no winners or losers. What they’ve done is rekindled pride here in Bristol. It’s just been great, the spirit here.
“It’s like they’ve been saying: We already won.”
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Bristol Borough: Raising the Bar Margaret R. Grundy Memorial Museum

The last phase of the Small Business Revolution contest ended where it started: on computer screens. Two Thursdays ago, Bristolians awoke early to read on social media the news they’d hoped for: Br…

02/16/2017

ENTERTAINMENT – Just the two of us: Robert Fulton and Sean Faust bring two bands to New Hope this weekend

"He knows how I think, and I know how he thinks. Even when we’re in the other band, we’ll climb or descend together, or do something harmonic together. It’s just happening.”

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Faust Fulton Duo

When it comes to Faust/Fulton Duo, the student has become … well, not the teacher, but arguably an equal. New Jersey-based guitarists Robert Fulton and Sean Faust have been playing together since 2…

02/16/2017

A break for Bristol: Small Business Revolution extends voting to midnight Thursday night

The Grundy Library is staying open until midnight to allow more people to use its computers to vote during the extension.

On social media, people shared links to many browsers people can download to cast more legitimate votes. One person reported having 32 browsers on their cell phone. Others reminded people of more devices to try, including video game consoles with internet connections.

https://thebristoltimes.wordpress.com/2017/02/16/a-break-for-bristol-small-business-revolution-extends-voting-to-midnight-thursday-nigh/

Due to connection errors on its website caused by heavy traffic, the Small Business Revolution announced via social media it is extending the online voting window for the five small towns vying for…

02/16/2017

Councilman Bryan Allen enters Bensalem mayoral race

“The great people of Bensalem deserve a choice. This year, they will have one."
-Bensalem Councilman Bryan Allen

Photo: Bryan Allen Bensalem Councilman Bryan Allen has announced his candidacy for township mayor. “I have fought as hard as I can for our community for eight years, but the position that I am in l…

02/15/2017

Bristol Borough rallies to keep lead in online votes for $500,000 in grants

There's just over 24 hours left to vote for Bristol Borough at www.smallbusinessrevolution.com #smallbusinessrevolution

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Bristol Borough’s campaign to win $500,000 in revitalization grants and be featured in an eight-part online documentary continued with a town rally Monday night. Hundreds of Bristolians gathered at…

02/15/2017

Bensalem passes medical marijuana ordinance with minor changes

“Bensalem has always looked for the positive in this."

After discussion in two previous meetings, Bensalem Council passed an ordinance regulating medical marijuana dispensaries and growing and processing facilities during its Feb. 13 meeting. The ordin…

02/09/2017

​“A win for Bucks County”: Bristol in the finals for $500,000 in grants, continues countywide voting campaign

People can vote once per day, per device, per browser for Bristol Borough at smallbusinessrevolution.org. Voters do not need to sign up, create an account or give their email address.

https://thebristoltimes.wordpress.com/2017/02/09/%e2%80%8ba-win-for-bucks-county-bristol-in-the-finals-for-500000-in-grants-continues-countywide-voting-campaign/

The Small Business Revolution Bristol Borough: Raising the Bar #smallbusinessrevolution

Snow didn’t stop Bristol residents last time, and it won’t stop them now. As flurries fell early this morning, the Small Business Revolution announced that Bristol Borough advanced to the “Final Fo…

02/07/2017

Bristol Borough Council purchases nine more homes on Chestnut Street

All nine were owned Leonard Davidson, who sold them for a combined $400,000, significantly less than his original $1 million asking price.

https://thebristoltimes.wordpress.com/2017/02/06/bristol-borough-council-purchases-nine-more-homes-on-chestnut-street/

Bristol Borough council reached a deal this afternoon to purchase nine houses on Chestnut Street. The borough now owns 20 of the 32 properties on Chestnut and the adjacent Elm Street. The propertie…

02/02/2017

Grundy Clock Tower to be First Friday art project

“The library is having their big anniversary celebration this spring, and this kind of highlights the town’s history and how important the Grundys were to the community,” said Buchanan.“It ties to the whole community celebration.”

https://thebristoltimes.wordpress.com/2017/02/02/grundy-clock-tower-to-be-first-friday-art-project/

It may still be winter, but for local artist Pat Buchanan, it’s already “time” for First Fridays. For the third consecutive year, the First Friday series during the spring, summer and fall in Brist…

02/02/2017

Shades of gray: Mill Arts goes colorless with new art show

“Every show I’ve been to, I haven’t been to one that’s completely black and white yet. That blossomed into, ‘What’s going to give artists room to think a little more, but still interpret?’ ” - Jessica Taylor, The Mill Arts Collective

https://thebristoltimes.wordpress.com/2017/02/02/shades-of-gray-mill-arts-goes-colorless-with-new-art-show/

Winter, perhaps depending on if you’re a glass-half-full or -half-empty person, can be a dreary time of year — or an interesting study in color, or a lack thereof. Ultimately, it’s a little bit of …

02/01/2017

Bucks school officials talk property tax elimination bill, state budget concerns

"They ought to fix their house first before they try to fix ours.”

Before 2017-2018 state budget talks even begin, administrators in Bucks County school districts are worried about the immediate future of education funding in the state. During a press conference h…

02/01/2017

Gobblin’ for the glory: Yardley resident to represent Bucks at Wing Bowl

“This has all been been a great journey. I’ve been blessed to know a lot of good people and have so many people supporting me.” - Michael Warren

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Michael Warren didn’t try out for the Wing Bowl just to compete for bragging rights. He was also looking to kick off his career. As far as the latter goes, he’s already succeeded. The Yardley resid…

01/31/2017

Elcon Recycling resumes plans for waste treatment plant in Falls Township

The current process resumes from early last year, when the Israeli-based company proposed a plant on 22 acres of a 33-acre site in the Keystone Industrial Port Complex in Falls Township.

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After months of inactivity, Elcon Recycling has announced its intent to submit Phase II of its plan to build a liquid waste treatment center in Falls Township around Feb. 20. The current process re…

01/31/2017

Property tax elimination bill is back in business in PA

“Based on the overwhelming majority of my constituents, there is no issue more important than ridding taxpayers of this 1830s method of taxation.”

https://midweekwire.com/2017/01/31/property-tax-elimination-bill-is-back-in-business-in-pa/

By Timothy Reilly, for the Times Is the property tax a relic of the past or a necessary tool to secure the financial future of the school system? A budget battle is brewing again in Harrisburg to a…

01/30/2017

All Bucks police departments will soon use Crimewatch technology tool

“It’s the Google for law enforcement."

Imagine a crime happens in your neighborhood — a home break-in across the street, perhaps. A criminal is on the loose, and you don’t know until you read about it the next day on social media or in …

01/30/2017

Lower Southampton approves police contract, no action on public safety director

“It will be an agenda item at some point in the future.”

Lower Southampton Supervisors approved a five-year collective bargaining agreement between the township and the Lower Southampton Police Benevolent Association during its meeting last week. The pre…

01/27/2017

Bensalem police, fire and EMS recognized for role in Tour of Honor

“I talk teams all the time, and we’re a heck of a team.”

Representatives of Bucks County Tour of Honor came to the Bensalem Council Meeting last week to recognize township officials, police, fire and EMS workers for their roles in sending 150 veterans to…

01/27/2017

Locals to plunge in the Delaware to support the Special Olympics

“You want a beach, so you want low tide."

Tom Delaney is hoping for two things this Saturday afternoon: no snow and low tide. He is one of hundreds of Bucks County residents taking to Neshaminy State Park this weekend for the 9th Annual Ea…

01/25/2017

ENTERTAINMENT – A full cup of comedy: Triple Espresso makes its Philadelphia-area debut this week

“It’s defined all three of our careers ... It’s remarkable to think we wrote this show when I was 42 years old and now I'm [performing it at] 64." - Bob Stromberg on Triple Espresso

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Just over 20 years ago, Bob Stromberg took on a challenge — two, actually — that changed his career forever. “One of our friends was in a show and my wife said to me, ‘You could write a bette…

01/25/2017

In from the cold: A look at the Code Blue program in Bucks County

“Right now, in subzero temperatures, we need to get people off the street.”

https://midweekwire.com/2017/01/24/in-from-the-cold-a-look-look-at-the-code-blue-program-in-bucks-county/

Timothy Riley, for the Times The first thing one notices when speaking with Elizabeth Sullivan is the way in which she speaks of the homeless individuals who enter her care. Her sentences are peppe…

01/24/2017

Tradition of Excellence: Holy Ghost’s Tony Chapman on 39 seasons with the Firebirds

“I’m fortunate of the winning percentage we’ve had, but I’d still want to be here if that didn’t happen. If I only had 400 wins, I’d still want to be here because it’s such a great situation.”

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Holy Ghost Prep

Few people are lucky enough to spend four decades at the same job. Even fewer get to say they did so at the place that molded and shaped them as kids. Tony Chapman is one of the lucky ones. Chapman…

01/23/2017

Middletown adopts medical marijuana ordinance

“I support the direction we’re heading, but I think we’re limiting ourselves. I want to do more for this, because it can help us all throughout this area.”

https://midweekwire.com/2017/01/23/middletown-adopts-medical-marijuana-ordinance/

The Middletown Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 for Middletown to allow up to one marijuana grower-processor and one dispensary in the township. The dissenter, Tom Tosti, said the ordinance was too r…