Home Care In Doylestown, PA

Photo Credit: Ed Doyle

PublishedMarch 21, 2024 at 6:33 PM

DOYLESTOWN, PA—The Central Bucks School District may be adding new holidays for the 2025-2026 school year.

At a meeting of the Policy Committee on Wednesday night, board members agreed to recommend changing Policy 803, which guides how the district creates its calendar. The committee recommended closing school for Eid and the Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year.

Board members also proposed having schools closed on June 19, or Juneteenth, which is a federal holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. Because school is usually done for the year before June 19, that holiday isn’t expected to impact the calendar unless the school year is running late.

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The full board will vote on whether to make those changes to Policy 803 at its next meeting. If approved by the board, the changes will take effect with the 2025-2026 calendar. (The board approved the calendar for the 2024-2025 school year earlier this month.)

New holidays

During the Wednesday night meeting, two Central Bucks students spoke during the public comment period and asked the district to close school for Eid, a holiday that Muslims celebrate to commemorate the end of Ramadan. “Without an official holiday day off,” one student explained, “it can be really challenging for us to participate in it and enjoy this meaningful occasion.”

Another student said many students feel like they have to choose between religious holidays and schoolwork. “Tests, quizzes, assignments and lessons are missed and piled on the kids’ busy schedules if they decide to celebrate the holiday,” he said.

One of the students pointed out that giving students off for Eid would also help foster inclusivity in the district: “It would send a powerful message that our school district embraces and celebrates the rich cultural tapestry that makes up our community.”

The agenda for Wednesday night’s meeting had already proposed giving students off for Eid even before the students spoke. The district began giving students off for Diwali several years ago after a student lobbied officials to recognize the holiday known as the Hindu festival of light.

Board Vice President Mariam Mahmud said that multiple people in the community had approached her about the district expanding its holidays over the last couple of years. She was happy that the current board seemed poised to make the changes.

Board Member Heather Reynolds noted that growing up, her school district in New Jersey didn’t recognize the Jewish holidays. That left Reynolds, who is Jewish, having to decide between spending holidays with family or attending school.

Mahmud acknowledged that closing schools for the Lunar New Year may be challenging because of timing. The Lunar New Year typically falls between late January and late February, which is already a busy time for holidays because of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Presidents’ Day.

Mahmud also said that if the district wants to represent all students, honoring the holiday is important. “It represents a huge portion of the Asian community,” she explained.

Start of school: before or after Labor Day?

The committee discussed making another big change to the Central Bucks district schedule: taking a more flexible approach about when to start the school year.

For years, district policy has said that if Labor Day occurs on or before Sept. 4, school starts after Labor Day. When Labor Day occurs after Sept. 4, school starts before Labor Day.

Under proposed changes to Policy 803, the district will start school within seven days before or after Labor Day. The change will give the district more flexibility to keep the school year from going too late into June.

For the 2024-2025 school year, for example, in which school will start after Labor Day, the school year won’t end until late June. District officials have explained that because of the timing of the winter holidays, winter break will be a little longer than usual. That’s helping push the last day of school for 2025 to June 17, which is late for Central Bucks.

If the district could have started class before Labor Day, officials pointed out, the district could have finished the school year by the end of the second week of June.

When to release the calendar?

Finally, the district is changing the timing of when it publishes calendars for future school years. In the past, calendars are approved and released in the spring.

Acting Superintendent James Scanlon has suggested that the district create its calendar two years in advance and release the following year’s calendar about a year before the first day of school.

The goal for the 2025-2026 school year, for example, will be to release the schedule this coming fall. “People will know almost a year in advance what that calendar is going to be,” Scanlon said at Wednesday night’s committee meeting.

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WARRINGTON, PA — A bill aimed at keeping teenagers and young children safe on social media that was written by state Rep. Brian Munroe and three teenagers from Warrington was approved by the House Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities Committee this week.

“We are one step closer today to helping to protect our children on social media as a result of this vote today,” Munroe said. “I look forward to the full House voting on this bill, which will hopefully happen shortly."

Munroe crafted the legislation after meeting Max Jin, Luka Jonjic and Dylan Schwartz when they were students at Tamanend Middle School in 2023. The three, who are now students at Central Bucks High School South, won an award from C-SPAN for their documentary, "America’s Silent Struggle: Social Media’s Impact on Teens’ Mental Health."

“I believe the movement of H.B. 2017 out of committee is a symbolic step toward a brighter future online,” Jinn said. “And I am grateful that we now have a direct opportunity to ensure the safety and mental well-being of our fellow teens when they use social media. It also provides me with a sense of hope that it is truly possible to instill meaningful change and that our actions today may help prevent harmful situations from taking place online in the future.”

House Bill 2017 is bipartisan legislation that would put the following safeguards in place:

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“In many ways, social media has become an essential part of our daily lives, but its negative impact on our mental health is not fully recognized,” Jonjic said. “Through the passing of this bill, I hope that problems with mental health caused by social media can be prevented and that it gives us teenagers a space to safely express who we are.”

Added Schwartz, “This legislation means the world to me, as it stands for the hope that kids who are suffering as I had are going to be protected online. As well, it symbolizes the hope that other struggling teens can realize that there are people out there who care for them and want them to be safe.”

The bill now heads the full House chamber for consideration.

Munroe represents the 144th Legislative District comprised of Ivyland, Warmister, Warrington and part of New Britain Township.

State Senator Steve Santarsiero will be introducing legislation for new standards for energy generation.

Patch Staff

NEWTOWN, PA — Bucks County State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) has announced new legislation to jumpstart a new era of reliable, sustainable energy development in Pennsylvania.

Following Governor Shapiro’s ambitious energy announcement last week, Santarsiero said he will be introducing legislation for new standards for energy generation, the Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS).

“I have long said that it’s a false premise to say we must choose between creating jobs or saving our planet,” said Senator Santarsiero. “I am proud to see Gov. Shapiro leading the way and bringing together the interests of consumers, labor and the environment to find a solution that works for all of us. To that end, I am proud to introduce legislation to create the Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard, the next generation of alternative energy portfolio standards for the Commonwealth.”

PRESS continues all of the successful elements of the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards (AEPS) while making it more inclusive — adding nuclear power, next-generation technologies like fusion, and clean forms of natural gas for the first time. This revitalized energy standard will deliver outsized economic value, improve the reliability of our electricity grid, and position Pennsylvania as a leader in the energy arena for the next twenty years, he said.

PRESS raises the target for the cleanest and renewable energy projects in Tier I to 35 percent by 2035; it raises the target for Tier II to 10 percent; and it creates a new Tier III that includes important alternative sources or of power like co-blended or low emission natural gas and other step-stone resources with a 5 percent target by 2035. In addition, PRESS ensures the continuity of our existing clean energy nuclear fleet by creating a mechanism for those facilities to receive support in the event they are threatened with closure.

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Specifically, the three-tier structure will be comprised as follows:

Tier I

Tier II (limited to in-state Pennsylvania resources)

Tier III (limited to in-state Pennsylvania resources)

According to Santarsiero, PRESS will unlock a wave of new investment in advanced energy technologies across Pennsylvania. It will also make Pennsylvania competitive by incentivizing new development here in the Commonwealth, he said. The positive impact is massive, adding over $5.1 billion in direct investment in by 2035, the lawmaker said.

Along with companion legislation in the Governor’s energy plan, PRESS will help protect and create nearly 15,000 energy jobs, lower utility bills for Pennsylvania households, and take real action to address carbon pollution, said Santarsiero.

If passed by the General Assembly, the initiatives will save Pennsylvania ratepayers $252 million in the first five years, while generating $5.1 billion in investment in clean, reliable energy sources.

“I look forward to working with Gov. Shapiro and my colleagues in the Senate to enact legislation that saves consumers money on their energy, creates family-sustaining jobs and tackles climate change,” Sen. Santarsiero added.

(State Senator Steve Santarsiero represents the 10th Senatorial District of Pennsylvania, which extends from Bristol in the south to Plumstead in the north in Bucks County)

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to reflect cancellations and delays to reflect bad weather forecast for Saturday, March 23. The article will be updated as more changes to events come in.

DOYLESTOWN, PA—Here’s a look at Easter egg hunts and other activities for the upcoming holiday.

The Barn Nature Center will hold an Easter egg hunt at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 30. The event will feature live animals, including two rabbits that will be available for pictures. Refreshments, crafts and an egg-decorating contest are part of the ticket price of $15 per child and $10 per adult.

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Buckingham Township will hold its 2024 Easter egg hunt on Saturday, March 23 at 10 a.m. at Holicong Park. Kids will be put into groups by age: three and under, four to six, and seven to 11. Pictures with the Easter Bunny start at 9:30 a.m. The hunt kicks off at 10 a.m. This event has been rescheduled for Sunday, March 24 at 11 a.m. Pictures with the Easter Bunny begin at 10:30 a.m.

Doylestown Borough will hold its first Easter egg hunt at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 30 at Broad Commons Park, but the event sold out within a couple of weeks of being announced. Many stores in the borough are participating in an Easter-themed scavenger hunt, and Discover Doylestown is offering pictures with the Easter Bunny from noon to 3 p.m. on March 24 at the organization’s office at 63 East State Street. For more information on both events, see TAPinto Doylestown’s coverage.

New Britain Township will hold its Annual Easter Egg Hunt and Food Drive at North Branch Park on Saturday, March 23. Photos with the Easter Bunny begin at 9:30 a.m. The Easter egg hunt will begin at 10. Donations of nonperishable goods and money will be accepted. The Easter Egg Hunt has been canceled, but pictures with the Easter Bunny will be held inside New Britain Township headquarters in front of North Branch Park from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on March 23. Food pantry donations will also be accepted there.

Peddler’s Village will host an old-fashioned egg hunt on Saturday, March 30 at three times: 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. The event costs $15 per child, and reservations are required.

Plumstead Township will hold its Easter egg hunt at Hanusey Park on Saturday, March 23 at 3 p.m. A rain date has been set for Sunday, March 24.

Warrington's The Shops at Valley Square will hold an Easter egg hunt on Saturday, March 23 from 1-4 p.m. The afternoon will be modeled after the shopping area’s trick-or-treat event, with kids visiting stores to collect eggs. In addition to pictures with the Easter Bunny and Baby Duck, the event will feature food trucks, bounce houses, face painting and balloon art. This event has been moved to Sunday March 24 from 1-4 p.m.

Warrington Township will hold its Easter egg hunt on Saturday, March 23 at 11 a.m. at Upper Nike Park.

Warwick Township will hold its 29th annual Easter egg hunt on Saturday, March 23 at 1 p.m. at Warwick Community Park. Kids will be divided by ages into groups by age: two to three, four to five, six to eight, and nine to 10. The Easter Bunny will be on hand for pictures.

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New ranking released by DatingAdvisor.com lists the Bucks County Seat as No. 87 in the nation for hygge.

Patch Staff

|Updated Fri, Mar 8, 2024 at 4:15 pm ET

DOYLESTOWN, PA — When it comes to snuggling up with the one you love or just walking hand-in-hand together, Doylestown ranks up there as one of the coziest towns in the nation, according to MyDatingAdviser.com.

The Bucks County borough ranks No. 87 on the site's list of "170 Coziest Hygge Towns in America" falling between Aspen, Colorado, and Ocean City, Maryland, and besting towns like Monterey, California; Lake Tahoe, Nevada; Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts; and Sedona, Arizona in the rankings.

The site compiled its list based on the simple idea of "hygge," a Danish term that encompasses the feeling of comfort, contentment, and well-being, often achieved through simple pleasures and a sense of coziness.

"We scoured the nation to discover the coziest hygee towns in America, perfect for those seeking a refuge from the winter's chill," says the site. "Whether you're an enthusiast of skiing, historical charm, or tranquil waterfront seclusion, you'll find the ideal destination on this list."

The site doesn't specifically say why it ranked Doylestown 87th on its "Best 170 Coziest Hygge Towns in America" list, but locals have a pretty good idea why.

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Doylestown has plenty of hygge, from its vibrant restaurant and bar scene to its many cultural and historical institutions. Even its streets offer that feeling of coziness, with plenty of nooks and crannies to explore and lots of unique shops to investigate.

Curling up with a book at the Bucks County Free Library, watching a movie together at the County Theater, sitting down to a hot cup of coffee at Native Cafe or Nonno's Italian Coffee Parlor, meandering hand-in-hand through the historic concrete fortresses of the Mercer Museum and Fonthill, or viewing the array of art on display at the Michener Art Museum are just a few of the cozy things you can do together in Doylestown.

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