Home Care In Paoli, PA

Happy Travelers, fall is the perfect time to get out and enjoy a scenic drive past picturesque landscapes, historical sites, rustic roadside stands, and stunning fall foliage. Pennsylvania has several routes which put postcard-worthy fall sights on full display for experiences that will leave you happily immersed in the harvest season. No matter your destination, there’s a picturesque byway for you to explore. Pack your bags and buckle up for these PA fall road trips: you’re in for some of the most beautiful rides of your life!

The Most Scenic Fall Drives in PA

1. Cumberland Valley's Parks

Carlisle

Explore scenic routes throughout Cumberland Valley's Parks. Start at Waggoner’s Gap Hawk Watch that’s situated on Kittatinny Ridge, a 125-acre, hawk-watching site with one of the largest concentrations of raptors in the United States. From there, travel to Colonel Denning State Park for autumn charm and some great fall foliage photos. Another must-see stop is Kings Gap Environmental Education Center. As this fall drive takes you along PA-233 south, stop by one of the pull-off areas for fantastic views of the valley as bright reds and oranges take over in the fall!

2. Pennsylvania Route 6

Galeton

Named “One of America’s most scenic drives” by National Geographic, Pennsylvania’s Route 6 is a magical journey through the northern tier of the state. You’ll experience history and heritage, small towns, and wondrous sights along this 427-mile route. Fall here has a magic all its own as 19 state parks, a half-dozen state forests, and the Allegheny National Forest are all bedecked in their best and most brilliant fall foliage. The awe-inspiring Pine Creek Gorge and Kinzua Viaduct — with its 600-foot glass pedestrian walkway high atop the trees — are just two of the natural and man-made wonders you’ll encounter as you travel along this storied road.

3. Pennsylvania Route 30

Philadelphia

Not to be outdone, southern Pennsylvania has its own long-distance east-west drive on Route 30, complete with plenty of stop-worthy attractions to visit along the way. Start in Philadelphia near the Philadelphia Zoo, then follow the route west to Lancaster where you’ll come across scenic farmland, numerous downtown galleries, and an outlet mall. Your next stop is historic Gettysburg, where you can tour the battlefield on horseback with Confederate Trails. Then, take in the picturesque and quaint town of Ligonier. Just north of Route 30, visit Latrobe and tour the sites of Pennsylvania’s beloved Fred Rogers — after which, the sights and sounds of Pittsburgh await.

4. Laurel Highlands Scenic Byway

Normalville

You’ll want to take your time taking in the sights on the 68-mile Laurel Highlands Scenic Byway. Bring along your bike to enjoy some of the best biking and pedestrian trails in the nation, or simply get out of the car to stretch your legs at Ohiopyle State Park. Since you’re so close, plan to visit famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater or Kentuck Knob — each in their own breathtaking setting. Don’t forget to stop at one of the roadside stands to pick up some wonderful local produce, delicious home-baked goodies, and pumpkins to complete your fall road trip.

5. Washington’s Trail 1753

Zelienople

Happy Traveler history buffs, this one’s for you. Washington’s Trail 1753, a driving route through western Pennsylvania, commemorates young George Washington's first military and diplomatic venture. In the fall and winter of 1753-1754, 21-year-old Major George Washington traversed the region under orders to deliver a diplomatic message to the French ordering them to evacuate the region. The route takes you to several iconic destinations, including Fort Necessity National Battlefield, which saw the opening action of the French and Indian War in 1754.

6. Allegheny Forest and Beyond

Benezette

The mountain forests of northwestern Pennsylvania are simply breathtaking any time of year, but autumn is a must! This fall scenic drives take you through winding roads painted with orange, gold, and scarlet foliage. The 105-mile Eagle’s Flight is a must-drive route this time of year, passing through dense forests, peaceful rivers, and quaint small towns with many interesting and unique stops along the way. You can’t leave the region without seeing elk! Take the 86-mile Wapiti Way drive and get your cameras ready for a stop at the Elk Country Visitor Center where you just might get some up-close shots of the more than 1,000 elk that call this region home!

7. Covered Bridge Tour

Lenhartsville

What better way to enjoy a beautiful fall day than by taking a step back in time on the Covered Bridge Tour? You’re in for a real treat driving through four of Berks County’s five covered bridges, all built in the 1800s! Then, plan to walk or bike through the 218-foot long Wertz’s Covered Bridge, which happens to be the longest single-span covered bridge in Pennsylvania. Simply known as the “Red Covered Bridge,” it now serves as the walkway entrance to the Berks County Heritage Center. Take a ride on roads less traveled for these fall foliage scenic drives and discover these rustic architectural wonders surrounded by the splendid imagery of autumn.

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WAYNE — Jeptha Abbott Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) members Michelle Bradley of Wayne; Teri Fischer of Stone Harbor, NJ; Karen Franks Zetterberg of Bryn Mawr; Leila, Lisa, and Virginia Gresh of Paoli; and Linda Hawley of Wayne, attended the 126th Annual Pennsylvania DAR State Conference held last weekend in Lancaster by more than 400 people.

Pennsylvania State Regent Marguerite Fritsch presided over the conference. Her state theme is “Love of Service to God, Home, and Country.”

As part of the three-day conference, members attended a National Defense luncheon supporting the work of the United Service Organizations (USO), which provides comfort care and a feeling of “home away from home” for our country’s armed forces.

Attendees were asked to bring lunchboxes for children of active military families and to participate in “Rucksacks to Backpacks,” a program that helps active veterans by providing essential school supplies to their children.

In addition, a “Missing Man Table” reminded attendees of fallen, missing, or imprisoned U.S. Military Service members. More than 420 backpacks and 130 lunchboxes were donated and loaded onto USO trucks by military and DAR members so they could be distributed to the appropriate in-need families.

There were also several awards and certificates presented at the conference. The entire Jeptha Abbott Chapter was recognized with a certificate for surpassing its service hours for the year. The chapter had a goal of 6,240 hours, or 30 hours per member, for the year 2022. The chapter exceeded its goal by 22 percent, logging 7,663 hours for the year.

In addition, Jeptha Abbott DAR won the Junior Bowl Award. This is an honor given to a chapter that does an exceptional job promoting and mentoring Juniors (members aged 36 and younger). They see extreme value in sharing their wealth of DAR knowledge with Juniors as a way to cultivate the future of the Society and helping them to grow in their leadership skills.

And, lastly, Jeptha Abbott member Lisa Gresh, PA State Chair, Children of the American Revolution (C.A.R), Paoli, won the Master Gardener Award from the Juniors for her active interest in caring for Juniors in her chapter and across the state. A Master Gardener is enthusiastic about DAR and finds ways to make Junior Members feel included and valued.

The 2023 Conference Chair was Barbara Bechtel Cross. Honored guests included Rebecca Kline, State Regent of Kansas; Carolyn Nutt, State Regent of Massachusetts; Laurie Nesbitt, State Regent of Virginia; and Lynne Stallcop, National Chair, Conservation, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR).

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is a women’s service organization whose members can trace their lineage to an individual who contributed to securing American independence during the Revolutionary War. Today’s DAR is dynamic and diverse, with over 185,000 members in 3,000 chapters in the United States and abroad. DAR members annually provide millions of hours of volunteer service to their local communities across the country and the world. In addition, DAR chapters participate in projects to promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism.

Over one million members have joined the organization since its founding in 1890. For more information visit www.dar.org.

All photos and text submitted by Jeptha Abbott Daughters of the American Revolution

Medical Optometry America is continuing its Philadelphia-area expansion with the addition of a Main Line practice site.

The Horsham company that focuses exclusively on medical, non-surgical eye care has acquired Dr. Marie Homa-Palladino’s Paoli practice called Personal Eyes. It will become a part of MOA’s Eye Health Center in Newtown Square.

Financial terms of the deal are being kept confidential.

Medical Optometry America said the acquisition will further expand its patient base in the area and enable it to launch the MOA Myopia Management Center of Excellence.

Treating myopia, or nearsightedness, is a specialty of Homa-Palladino. The condition, besides affecting vision, also increases a younger patient’s risk for developing serious eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration as they age.

“Leveraging her expertise and track record of success in myopia management allows us to expand our offerings in the specialty,” said Dr. Christopher Kuc, medical director of MOA-Newtown Square.

Homa-Palladino, past president of the Chester-Delaware County Optometric Society, said she has known Kuc for more than a decade and they have co-managed numerous medical cases over the past year, so many of her patients are already familiar with him.

“This partnership will allow me to focus on expanding myopia management services, particularly for younger patients in this area," she said.

In addition to Newtown Square, Medical Optometry America — which has grown to more than 25 employees — has practice sites in Horsham and Shrewsbury in York County. The company's business model is filling a gap on the eye care continuum between corrective vision services and surgical interventions.

Medical Optometry America CEO Ken Krieg said the addition of Personal Eyes is the first in a series of planned acquisitions.

“Having demonstrated success of the MOA medical-only concept with our first three centers, we are now actively pursuing an acquisition strategy to accelerate our growth,” Krieg said.

In a March interview with the Business Journal, Krieg said the company, which has raised about $10 million to date, wants to have four to six Medical Optometry America eye health centers in southeastern Pennsylvania. After building out its local presence, the company plans to expand to other states — mostly likely in the Mid-Atlantic region — through a combination of building new practice sites and acquiring existing practices.

PENNSYLVANIA — Struggling pharmacy chain Rite Aid plans to close an additional 31 stories, including four in Pennsylvania, as it prepares to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to reports citing a recent court filing.

Rite Aid’s bankruptcy comes amid slumping sales and heavy debt from an opioid lawsuit filed by the Justice Department in March that accuses the company of filling prescriptions for large quantities of opioids “that had obvious, and often multiple, red flags indicating misuse.”

In October, the company announced it planned to close at least 150 stores, including 22 in Pennsylvania.

The latest Pennsylvania stores marked for closing, according to a Fast Company report, include:

The 22 Pennsylvania stores announced for closure in October include:

Find out what's happening in Across Pennsylvaniawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Other states affected by the newest closures include New Jersey, California, Connecticut, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia and Washington, according to Fast Company.

It's unclear when the company plans to close the locations.

In a statement to USA Today, Rite Aid spokesperson Catherine Carter said the stores slated for closure have been underperforming and will be closed "to further reduce rent expense and strengthen overall financial performance."

When announcing the first round of closures in October, the company said prescriptions of customers of the affected stores would be transferred to a nearby Rite Aid or other drug store “so that there is no disruption of service." People who work at the stores will also be transferred to other Rite Aid locations where possible, the company said.

The closures come as drug store chains, including rivals CVS and Walgreens, have settled similar lawsuits, but were better positioned financially. But even they are struggling and closing in a tough environment for national drug store chains as Amazon and big-box retailers like Walmart, Target, Costco and others make it more convenient to have prescriptions filled, CNN reported.

Rite Aid said it had secured $3.45 billion in financing and debt reduction agreements that will help it stay afloat through the court-supervised bankruptcy. The company will sell off its Elixir Solutions, its prescription benefit provider.

Additionally, the agreement settles outstanding lawsuits against the company for allegedly filing unlawful opioid prescriptions, one of the exacerbating factors contributing to Rite Aid’s bankruptcy.

The Perseids are known as one of the best meteor shows of the year, featuring between 50-100 shooting stars an hour and possible fireballs.

Michelle Rotuno-Johnson, Patch Staff

PENNSYLVANIA — If the weather cooperates in the Keystone State, 2023 could be a stellar year to take in the Perseid meteor shower, which peaks this weekend.

The moon won’t interfere with the Perseids, known as one of the best meteor shows of the year with between 50-100 shooting stars an hour at the peak and a good possibility of fireballs.

The Perseids are building in intensity for peak Friday and Saturday. Weather conditions in Pennsylvania look more favorable on Friday night and early Saturday morning, according to forecasters.

AccuWeather predicts that scattered severe thunderstorms could affect part of the state during the day on Saturday. The chance of storms “will gradually dissipate after sunset,” added the National Weather Service. However, isolated showers and storms will remain possible into the overnight hours – so, Saturday night stargazers may want to have their weather app handy, too.

The only natural light interference will come from a thin crescent moon — a far different story than last year, when the harsh light of a nearly full moon washed out all but the brightest meteors.

Find out what's happening in Across Pennsylvaniawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

When it comes to brilliance, only the Geminid meteor shower in December rivals the Perseids. Both are known for swift, bright meteors that frequently leave behind long “wakes” of light and color, according to NASA.

Both are also known for fireballs, larger explosions of light and color that are brighter than typical meteors and whose “tails” last longer than typical meteor streaks. That’s because, NASA explains, fireballs come from larger particles of cometary material.

The big difference between the shooting star shows from the skywatcher’s vantage point is the difference between summer and winter. Regardless of the meteor shower, stargazers are rewarded by their patience, something many have in more abundance on warm summer versus cold winter nights.

The Perseids are most active in the predawn hours, though it’s possible to see them as early as 10 p.m., according to NASA. For the best views, skywatchers should lie flat on their back under a dark sky free of city lights. Also, the American Meteor Society notes, “the more stars you see, the more meteors will also be visible.”

If you can, find a dark sky location to watch for meteors.

There is one dark sky location in Pennsylvania designated as part of the International Dark Sky Places Program. If you head to Cherry Springs State Park on PA-44 in Coudersport (Potter County), you can experience the meteor showers in the remote, 82-acre park.

The shooting stars may not all be from the Perseids. This summertime favorite intersects with the Delta Aquariid meteor shower, which continues through Aug. 21. The Perseids continue through Sept. 1.

Also, meteors randomly fly in the sky but don’t always seem to originate from a particular star or constellation. The Perseids, no matter where they’re seen in the sky, trace back to the radiant point of the constellation of Perseus. The meteor shower is a tiny piece of the comet Swift-Tuttle, which orbits the sun every 135 years, according to NASA.

Patch’s national desk contributed to this report.