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Taking care of your Loved One Is What We Do BEST!

It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always

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Home Care In Oreland, PA

Home Care Oreland, PA

They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.

However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Wyck Historic House And Garden gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Oreland, PA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

 In-Home Care Oreland, PA

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The Always Best Care Difference

Since 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.

Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.

The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.

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TESTIMONIALS

“Dave and his staff go above and beyond with their care. They all take special interest with their clients. Also a very helpful resource in future planning and current ideas. Trust your parents to these people - they will not let you down.”

Bill H.
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What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Oreland, PA?

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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.

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When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

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The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

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At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

 Senior Care Oreland, PA

Types of Elderly Care in Oreland, PA

To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:

Personal Care

Personal Care Services

If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.

Common personal care services include assistance with:

  • Eating
  • Mobility Issues
  • Incontinence
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming

Respite Care Oreland, PA
Home Helper

Home Helper Services

Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.

Common home helper care services include assistance with:

  • Medication Reminders
  • Meal Preparation
  • Pet Care
  • Prescription Refills
  • Morning Wake-Up
  • Walking
  • Reading
 Caregivers Oreland, PA
Companionship Services

Companionship Services

Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Ireland Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.

Common companionship services include:

  • Grocery Shopping
  • Transportation to Appointments
  • Nutritional Assistance
  • Conversation
  • Planning Outings
  • Completing Errands
  • Transportation to Community
  • Events and Social Outings
Home Care Oreland, PA
Respite Care

Respite Care Services

According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Penn Restaurant or visit Johnson House Historic Site, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.

At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.

If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.

 In-Home Care Oreland, PA

Benefits of Home Care in Oreland, PA

Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:

Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.

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Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?

A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.

With the help of elderly care in Oreland, PA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.

Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.

In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

 Elderly Care Oreland, PA

Affordable Care

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

If your loved one qualifies, Medicaid may help reduce in-home care costs. Review your PA's Medicaid program laws and benefits, and make sure your senior's financial and medical needs meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.
Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.
Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.
Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.
 Senior Care Oreland, PA

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers.

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Oreland, PA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

Assisted Living Referral Services

While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.

Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.


Respite Care Oreland, PA

At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.

Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreational Activities
  • Social Outings
  • Emergency Medical Response
  • Medication Monitoring
  • Family Visitation
  • Personal Care
 Caregivers Oreland, PA

At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.

Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.

Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:

  • Woodland Creek Memory Care Community
  • A Place For Mom - Senior Living Advisor Dianne DeClerck
  • Complete Care at Harston Hall
  • Brandywine Living at Dresher Estates
  • Sunrise of Dresher
  • Springfield Senior Living Community
Home Care Oreland, PA

For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.

 In-Home Care Oreland, PA

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way

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A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive

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Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

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Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Oreland, PA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

 Elderly Care Oreland, PA

Latest News in Oreland, PA

Oreland Troop 1’s Stevers-Radtke and Mathews make Eagle Scout

Posted Friday, June 18, 2021 10:00 am After many years of work, dedication, achievement and the occasional sacrifice of creature comforts, Alex Stevers-Radtke of Wyndmoor and Michael Mathews of Oreland recently reached the rank of Eagle Scout in Oreland’s Troop 1. A ceremony will be held at the troop’s Hawk Mountain Camp in New Ringgold, PA to recognize Alex’s and Michael’s accomplishments and to celebrate with friends and family.Alex Stevers-Radtke has been in Oreland Troop 1 since 2009. He moved thr...

Posted Friday, June 18, 2021 10:00 am

After many years of work, dedication, achievement and the occasional sacrifice of creature comforts, Alex Stevers-Radtke of Wyndmoor and Michael Mathews of Oreland recently reached the rank of Eagle Scout in Oreland’s Troop 1. A ceremony will be held at the troop’s Hawk Mountain Camp in New Ringgold, PA to recognize Alex’s and Michael’s accomplishments and to celebrate with friends and family.

Alex Stevers-Radtke has been in Oreland Troop 1 since 2009. He moved through the ranks within his patrol and then became an assistant scoutmaster for the troop.

Alex’s Eagle Scout project consisted of interior and exterior painting projects at the convent house at Holy Martyrs church. He would like to thank his parents Tom and Bill, and Eagle sponsor Paul Schlosser as well as The Home Depot for their donations. Finally, Alex would like to thank all the adult leaders who helped and encouraged him throughout his scouting years. Alex hopes to become certified as an EMT in Montgomery County.

Michael Mathews has been involved with scouting since second grade, first with Cub Scout Pack 88 and then Boy Scout Troop Oreland 1. Michael was a patrol leader for two years before becoming an assistant scoutmaster in November 2020.

Michael’s Eagle project was to refurbish and improve the European Shrine at Holy Martyrs Church in Oreland. The project included carpentry, painting and decorative work. The shrine can be found in front of the Holy Martyrs rectory.

Michael would like to thank his parents, the adult leaders, and fellow scouts who assisted with the project. Special thanks go to Home Depot, S. Vecchione Paving and Contracting Inc., Gepperts Lumber for their contributions as well as Rick and Bill Gries.

Troop 1 was founded in 1917, making it one of the oldest Boy Scout troops in the state. Based at Christ’s Lutheran Church in Oreland, the troop welcomes scouts from Oreland, Flourtown, Erdenheim, Wyndmoor, Fort Washington, Maple Glen and other surrounding communities. Boys from any Cub Scout pack are welcome to join Troop 1, regardless of their background, activities, skills or abilities. In fact, Cub Scout experience is not necessary; a boy need only be 11-17 years old to join Troop 1. What binds all Scouts is an interest in having fun, making friends, participating in unique and enriching experiences, and learning useful skills that will last a lifetime.

For further information contact Greg Landry at 267 307 1527

Montgomery County food safety inspection: Restaurant found with broken freezer, toxic substances not labeled properly

Here are the violations reported in food safety inspection reports from Montgomery County conducted the week of Sept. 23-29, 2023.Each week, we highlight the inspection reports for retail food and drink establishments under the jurisdiction of the Montgomery County Office of Public Health. All establishments are inspected once per year, and inspectors may return several more times if the initial inspection is not passed or complaints are received. (For more information on how food safety inspections are conducted in Pennsylvania, ...

Here are the violations reported in food safety inspection reports from Montgomery County conducted the week of Sept. 23-29, 2023.

Each week, we highlight the inspection reports for retail food and drink establishments under the jurisdiction of the Montgomery County Office of Public Health. All establishments are inspected once per year, and inspectors may return several more times if the initial inspection is not passed or complaints are received. (For more information on how food safety inspections are conducted in Pennsylvania, view a list of FAQs.)

As noted by the MCOPH, the reports are merely a “snapshot” in time, and “may not be representative of the overall, long-term cleanliness of an establishment.” Many of the violations are corrected on the spot prior to the inspector leaving the establishment.

You can view the complete inspection reports for any establishment in the county’s food safety inspection database. To report an illness after eating or drinking at an establishment, use the MCOPH’s complaint form. (Please don’t contact us: we do not inspect restaurants.)

CHINA KING

1050 E PHILADELPHIA AVE GILBERTSVILLE, PA 19525

Last Inspection Date: 09-27-2023

CARRABBA’S ITALIAN GRILL #8907

2575 MARYLAND RD WILLOW GROVE, PA 19090

Last Inspection Date: 09-27-2023

ROCCO’S BRICK OVEN PIZZERIA

1339 SANDY HILL RD NORRISTOWN, PA 19401

Last Inspection Date: 09-27-2023

VINNY’S PIZZARAMA 2

1250 BETHLEHEM PIKE UNIT A HATFIELD, PA 19440

Last Inspection Date: 09-27-2023

MANGO TREE BISTRO, INC.

2717 RIDGE PIKE NORRISTOWN, PA 19403

Last Inspection Date: 09-27-2023

EL JEFE MEXICAN FOOD

918 E.WILLOW GROVE AVE WYNDMOOR, PA 19038

Last Inspection Date: 09-27-2023

Date of Previous Inspection: 09-25-2023

EL LIMON MEXICAN TAQUERIA

314 MADISON ST STE 1002 LANSDALE, PA 19446

Last Inspection Date: 09-27-2023

BAKER’S KITCHEN, LLC

1413 BRUCE RD ORELAND, PA 19075

Last Inspection Date: 09-27-2023

PEEPS DINER

333 MAIN ST HARLEYSVILLE, PA 19438

Last Inspection Date: 09-27-2023

BACKCOUNTRY BITES

314 FRETZ RD TELFORD, PA 18969

Last Inspection Date: 09-27-2023

TACO BELL – LONG JOHN SILVERS #2060

1700 N BROAD ST LANSDALE, PA 19446

Last Inspection Date: 09-26-2023

Date of Previous Inspection: 09-25-2023

BONEFISH GRILL #0301

1015 EASTON RD WILLOW GROVE, PA 19090

Last Inspection Date: 09-26-2023

DUNKIN’ DONUTS – BASKIN ROBBINS

230 S EASTON RD GLENSIDE, PA 19038

Last Inspection Date: 09-26-2023

VALENTINO’S PIZZERIA

1634 W High ST Stowe, PA 19464

Last Inspection Date: 09-26-2023

APOLLO PIZZA

112 S EASTON RD GLENSIDE, PA 19038

Last Inspection Date: 09-26-2023

NONNO’S BAKERY

100 S YORK RD HATBORO, PA 19040

Last Inspection Date: 09-26-2023

WEAVER’S WAY CO-OP AMBLER

217 E BUTLER AVE APT A AMBLER, PA 19002

Last Inspection Date: 09-26-2023

KABU EAST NORRITON

2650 DEKALB PIKE NORRISTOWN, PA 19401

Last Inspection Date: 09-26-2023

DELIAH & DEAN

219 E HIGH ST POTTSTOWN, PA 19464

Last Inspection Date: 09-26-2023

STEG’S BBQ AND CATERING SERVICES

884 MAIN ST HARLEYSVILLE, PA 19438

Last Inspection Date: 09-26-2023

EZ MART & SUBWAY

1 N YORK RD HATBORO, PA 19040

Last Inspection Date: 09-26-2023

BETTER ON THE BONE

434 E HIGH ST POTTSTOWN, PA 19464

Last Inspection Date: 09-26-2023

HARRY’S BLUE BELL TAPROOM

1 W BUTLER AVE AMBLER, PA 19002

Last Inspection Date: 09-26-2023

Date of Previous Inspection: 09-22-2023

FLEX LLC

8158 OGONTZ AVE WYNCOTE, PA 19095

Last Inspection Date: 09-26-2023

Date of Previous Inspection: 09-22-2023

SORRENTINO PASTA + PROVISIONS

162 POPLAR ST AMBLER, PA 19002

Last Inspection Date: 09-26-2023

THE PERSIAN GRILL

637 GERMANTOWN PIKE LAFAYETTE HILL, PA 19444

Last Inspection Date: 09-25-2023

Date of Previous Inspection: 08-10-2023

EMILIANO’S PIZZA

54 N YORK RD WILLOW GROVE, PA 19090

Last Inspection Date: 09-25-2023

Date of Previous Inspection: 09-21-2023

BROTHERS KERSHNER BREWING COMPANY

4119 Skippack Pike Skippack, PA 19474

Last Inspection Date: 09-25-2023

HAPPY GARDEN

10 ALLISON RD ORELAND, PA 19075

Last Inspection Date: 09-25-2023

Date of Previous Inspection: 09-22-2023

6ABC news chopper crew filmed Christmas lights in NJ before deadly Pinelands crash

The Philadelphia television news crew members who died after their helicopter crashed in a South Jersey forest were returning from a trip to film a Christmas lights display, an investigator said Thursday.Todd Gunther, an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), ...

The Philadelphia television news crew members who died after their helicopter crashed in a South Jersey forest were returning from a trip to film a Christmas lights display, an investigator said Thursday.

Todd Gunther, an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), told reporters near the crash site that WPVI's Chopper 6 took off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport Tuesday night and “had flown over to report on some Christmas light activity, and then they were returning back to base when the accident occurred.”

Killed in the crash were the pilot, 67-year-old Monroe Smith of Glenside, Pennsylvania, and a photographer, 45-year-old Christopher Dougherty of Oreland, Pennsylvania.

Gunther did not specify the precise location the crew was filming, but the station previously reported the crew had been sent to a story assignment in Galloway Township, just outside Atlantic City.

One of the main attractions in Galloway is Historic Smithville, a tourist attraction that in winter includes a lavish holiday light display with over 120 Christmas trees decorated with more than 50,000 lights on a lake.

The federal agency, which investigates deadly crashes involving transportation, has an eight-member team on-site in Washington Township in Burlington County, at Wharton State Forest. They plan to remain there for three days and then issue a preliminary report 10 to 15 days after that time.

Gunther said investigators will look at anything that may have either contributed to or caused the crash, which occurred on a clear, cold night.

The chopper made two previous flights on Tuesday before the crash, he said.

Elements to be examined include the structural integrity of the helicopter, its rotor, drive and flight control systems, its maintenance history and “the physiology of the pilot on board," Gunther said.

On its website Thursday, the 6ABC quoted Pete Kane, a retired NBC10 photojournalist who was friends with Smith. He went to the same high school as Smith, and used to fly with him when Smith flew for NBC10.

“We had the same goals. That was to do the job the best we could do it," Kane said. "And I think we both did that. He did it till the end. We’d have problems with the instruments on my chopper and he would tell me, this is what you have to do. Just a great guy. He took away my fear of flying.”

Dave Allegretti, a childhood friend of Dougherty since kindergarten, recalled the photographer's “infectious laugh” and his knack for storytelling.

“He enjoyed listening to and creating music," Allegretti told the TV station. “He was an avid Philly sports fan, a dedicated and talented photographer, but most importantly, he was an incredible husband, father, brother, son, and friend.”

Newcomers To Play Key Roles In Swimming & Diving

WILMINGTON, N.C. – With a full year of recruiting at his alma mater under his belt, UNCW Head Coach Bobby Guntoro and his Seahawks enter the 2021-22 season with 23 newcomers on the roster.Guntoro returned to the Seahawk program in July of 2020, following a tenure as an assistant and associate head coach at NC State. Guntoro helped the Seahawks to four straight Colonial Athletic...

WILMINGTON, N.C. – With a full year of recruiting at his alma mater under his belt, UNCW Head Coach Bobby Guntoro and his Seahawks enter the 2021-22 season with 23 newcomers on the roster.

Guntoro returned to the Seahawk program in July of 2020, following a tenure as an assistant and associate head coach at NC State. Guntoro helped the Seahawks to four straight Colonial Athletic Association titles before graduating in 2011.

Eleven newcomers dot the men's roster while 12 new names are found on the women's.

"We are extremely excited to add such a talented and versatile group of Freshman to our program'" said Guntoro, who opens his second season with the program on Friday against visiting Army West Point. "Over the past year, our returning swimmers have established a standard of excellence that is palpable each time we set foot on the pool deck. Our expectation before the season started was for the freshman to jump into the fold and continue to push our program forward, and they have done just that. We have hit the ground running the first four weeks of training. Our freshman are dialed in and believe in the big goals for UNCW."

The diving side added three freshman women and one freshman male to the already strong squad. "The trio of Lauren Mehta, Tatum Church and Trinity (McNall) is the deepest and most talented women's recruiting class I've ever had," said Diving Coach Beau Bunn. "They all bring the ability to be successful within our conference and into NCAA zones. The future looks very bright for these ladies and women's diving here at UNCW. Ethan Graff is the lone newcomer added to the men's side. Ethan is loaded with ability and enthusiasm to only get better. He is going to be a strong addition to the team in and out of the water. Over all this team is one of the most talented from top to bottom this program has seen. It is deep and it is strong, but most of all they are working together to become the best divers in the conference from top to bottom. When you add the newcomers to the already strong divers we have it will be exciting to see the great things that are to come and to what we plan to bring to any meet in or out of conference."

2021-22 NEWCOMERS (Click on names for athlete profiles) MEN

Will Barker Fr. Stella, N.C. / Croatan
Silas Crosby Fr. Greenville, S.C. / St. Joseph's
Aidan Duffy Fr. Richmond, Va. / Douglas Freeman
Jacob Duracinsky Fr. Holly Springs, N.C. / Southern Wake Academy
Patrick Furbay Fr. Wilmington, N.C. / Ashley
Ethan Graff Fr. Greensboro, N.C. / Grimsley
Kyle Johnson Fr.-r. Sterling, Va. / Park View (Queens)
John Martin McGee Fr. Jackson, Miss. / Home schooled
Sam O'Brien Fr. Round Hill, Va. / Loudoun Valley
Noah Sipowski Fr. Jupiter, Fla. / The Kings Academy
Ethan Womble Fr. Greensboro, N.C. / Bishop McGuiness

WOMEN

Reece Alexander Fr. Rfafftown, N.C. / Ronald Reagan
Molly Braun Fr. Oreland, Pa. / Oreland
Tatum Church Fr. Greensboro, N.C. / Grimsley
Victoria Cunningham Fr. Cary, N.C. / Middle Creek
Kathryn Knorr Fr. Salisbury, N.C. / Salisbury
Morgan Kondratick Fr. Holly Springs, N.C. / Holly Springs
Trinity McNall Fr. Palm Beach, Fla. / Bayside
Lauren Mehta Fr. Farmingdale, N.Y. / Farmingdale
Brooke Morgan Fr. Raleigh, N.C. / Leesville Road (West Virginia)
Karsen Pena Fr. Raleigh, N.C. / Middle Creek
Sarah Rogillio Fr. Austin, Texas / L.C. Anderson
Peyton Wilson Fr. Reidsville, N.C. / Rockingham County

At Least 42 PA Towns, Agencies Have Drinking Water Toxin Made Famous By Erin Brockovich: Study

At least 42 PA communities have the cancer-causing toxin in drinking water made famous in the 2000 movie "Erin Brockovich," a report says.|Updated Wed, Sep 21, 2016 at 9:15 pm ETAt least 42 Pennsylvania communities have the cancer-causing toxin in their drinking water that was made famous in the 2000 Julia Roberts movie "Erin Brockovich," according to a new study published Tuesday by the Environmental Working Group. (See list below)Although the water provided by local agencies does not exceed the U....

At least 42 PA communities have the cancer-causing toxin in drinking water made famous in the 2000 movie "Erin Brockovich," a report says.

|Updated Wed, Sep 21, 2016 at 9:15 pm ET

At least 42 Pennsylvania communities have the cancer-causing toxin in their drinking water that was made famous in the 2000 Julia Roberts movie "Erin Brockovich," according to a new study published Tuesday by the Environmental Working Group. (See list below)

Although the water provided by local agencies does not exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection's maximum of 100 parts per billion of total chromium, it does exceed 0.02 parts per billion, a level that California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment set as a public health goal in 2011, the study explains. That level "would pose negligible risk over a lifetime of consumption," according to the study.

The toxin Chromium-6 can cause cancer, reproductive problems and liver damage even from little exposure, the report says.

California's public health goal was set after Brockovich was nearly successful in building a case against the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) of California in 1993 that blamed the company for contaminating local water. The actual legal cap in California is 10 parts per billion.

The Environmental Working Group, a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to protecting human health and the environment, analyzed federal data from nationwide drinking water tests showing that the compound contaminates water supplies for more than 200 million Americans in all 50 states.

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

"Yet federal regulations are stalled by a chemical industry challenge that could mean no national regulation of a chemical state scientists in California and elsewhere say causes cancer when ingested at even extraordinarily low levels," according to the report.

The Environmental Working Group estimates that if left untreated, Chromium-6 in tap water will cause more than 12,000 excess cases of cancer by the end of the century.

The EPA issued a statement on chromium in drinking water, saying "ensuring safe drinking water for all Americans is a top priority for EPA." The agency says it has taken many actions to improve information on chromium and its potential health risks in drinking water.

"EPA is actively working on the development of the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) assessment of hexavalent chromium, which will include a comprehensive evaluation of potential health effects associated with hexavalent chromium, and EPA expects that the draft IRIS assessment will be released for public comment in 2017," the statement said.

Here is the list of towns, water commissions or countywide agencies that exceeded the report's acceptable level of Chromium-6 in tap water (0.02 parts per billion): (A full map with testing averages and further information can be found here.)

Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, before the EPA can decide whether to regulate a contaminant, it must meet three criteria:

• The contaminant may have an adverse effect on the health of persons;• is known to occur or there is a substantial likelihood that the contaminant will occur in public water systems with a frequency and at levels of public health concern; and• in the sole judgment of the EPA Administrator, the regulation of the contaminant presents a meaningful opportunity for health risk reductions for persons served by public water systems.

The EPA's drinking water standard of 100 parts per billion (ppb) for total chromium includes all forms of chromium, including hexavalent chromium.

Read the full report at the Environmental Working Group website here.

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