Home Care In Doylestown, PA

Alto Bakery & Caffè offering handcrafted, Italian grab-and-go baked goods, espresso and desserts.

|Updated Mon, Jan 22, 2024 at 1:46 pm ET

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — Altomonte's, which operates an Italian market in Doylestown, has announced the opening of Alto Bakery & Caffè in Warminster.

The new establishment is expected to become a beloved community hub, offering authentic Italian grab-and-go baked goods, espresso and desserts.

From light and airy Roman pizza slices, savory focaccia, Italian sandwiches, flaky croissants, and soft cornetti, to real gelato, a proper espresso or a roasty cappuccino, the new caffe offers a convenient grab-and-go experience that fits into a busy lifestyle. Altomonte's likes to think of it as "slow food, fast."

Inside the new Alto Bakery & Caffe. (Contributed)

The new caffe will feature:

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“In Italy, the food is great everywhere. Even at a highway rest stop you can grab a quick bite and it’s delicious and healthful. We wanted to give our neighborhood this experience of homemade artisanal 'slow' food, that’s fast and convenient but also good for you,” said Maria Grispino Nappi and Vince Grispino of Alto Bakery & Caffè. "The heart of our bakery revolves around our ingredients - Tipo '00' Italian flour, scratch-made doughs, creams and fillings. We only use the finest ingredients. They are simple, but they’re the best of the best and you can taste scratch-baking in the very first bite. Our Roman pizza, and focaccia, for example, take 72 hours to make. It’s a labor of love."

The cafè at 560 Street Road, Warminster, will be open Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 8 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closed on Sunday.

The mission of the new bakery and cafe is to delight and nourish the community with an array of Italian baked goods, espresso drinks, and elegant desserts. With tried and true recipes passed down through generations, using only the finest ingredients, Alto Bakery and Caffè brings the flavors of Italy and a convenient grab-and-go experience to Bucks County.

Alto Bakery & Cafe is located at 560 Street Road, Warminster.

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Three concerts will rock the Holicong Middle School for three shows in late January with an extraordinary mix of local musical talent.

DOYLESTOWN, PA — Tickets are now on sale for one of the biggest concerts of the year in the Central Bucks School District.

The 21st Annual Save the Music Concert will rock the Holicong Middle School for three shows over two days in late January with an extraordinary mix of local musical talent.

“You won’t experience anything like this in any other school district," said Holicong Band Director Joel Chodoroff, who is organizing the event with four other district music educators. "It has to be seen and heard to be believed.

"People who see it for the first time are often the first to buy tickets the next year," he continued. "It is a chance for the Central Bucks community to come together not only to enjoy the music and entertainment it’s a chance to help others in underfunded areas have an opportunity to get a quality music education.”

Themed “Elements of Music,” this year’s musical extravaganza will feature rock, jazz, showtune, and TV-themed medleys related to the elements of Earth, wind, fire, air, and water

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“The lighting of this is insane. The sound is insane. It’s a full-blown rock concert," said Chodoroff. "We’re going to have an eight-person horn section, a four-person string section, a six-person rhythm section, and all of the lead vocals. That forms the basis for everything we do.”

Most of the show is presented by the Pros, a core group of more than 30 performers made up of mostly C.B. faculty and music teachers, but the event will also bring to the stage select student groups over the three concerts.

“This year we will also have a mixed high school vocal ensemble with kids from East, West, and South all coming together to sing in the concert," said Chodoroff. "And on Saturday afternoon we have an 80 to 100-member all-star elementary school choir who will perform and they’ll get to feel like rock stars.

“What’s nice is the bulk of the performing is done by the adults so the kids can sit and watch the concert and not feel like they have to work,” said Chodoroff.

The event opens on Friday, Jan. 26 with appearances by CB East Jazz and the mixed high school vocal ensemble. The event continues on Saturday, Jan. 27 with a 3 p.m. concert with the All-Star Elementary Choir and a 7:30 p.m. concert featuring the Holicong Strings and Holicong Jazz. In addition, the Holicong H-Factor and Tamanend Gold 'n' Blues will perform at all three shows.

Ninety percent of this year’s concert proceeds will benefit the Save the Music Foundation, a

national nonprofit that awards grants to school districts around the nation struggling to keep their music programs afloat. The balance of the proceeds will support instrument scholarships for Central Bucks families who have a financial need.

Since its first concert more than two decades ago, the event has raised $350,000 for the foundation, according to Chodoroff, who is especially proud of the fact that Central Bucks today is the largest single donor to the foundation with $50,000 raised annually from the concert.

“We are fortunate to be in a district that supports the arts," said Chodoroff. "And anything we can do to make that possible for other people is something we want to be a part of and support. What’s cool is the Save the Music Foundation, both last year and this year, agreed to earmark all of the money we raise for the School District of the City of Philadelphia.

"It’s super cool to know that money is literally staying home and helping a school district where there is a lot of need," he said. "The more music programs we can help establish there, the more successful students will have a chance to be.”

Chodoroff said when he organized the first concert more than two decades ago, it began as a way for educators to show students what could be achieved musically with hard work and practice.

"We decided that attaching a charity to the event would draw more community members. The Save The Music Foundation was a natural fit," said Chodoroff.

"I’ll never forget the first concert. We had a fairly decent concert. The first donation that we made was between $400 and $500," said Chodoroff. "As we have grown it has become a major concert event. We’re now donating in the ballpark of $50,000 a year. Our total to date is a tick under $358,000."

The concert is organized by a "brain trust" of five music educators including Joel Chodoroff (Holicong Band Director), Jim Glaser (Holicong Choir Director), Jennifer Repper (Holicong Orchestra Director), Amanda Romig (Holicong Special Education Teacher) and Ian Sanchez (Tamanend Choir Director).

Tickets are $16 for adults and $9 for students. For information and to order tickets, visit www.cbsd.org/stm.

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More from Doylestown

The presentation features survivors of human trafficking and other forms of violence communicating their experiences through photography.

DOYLESTOWN, PA —The Bucks Coalition Against Trafficking (BCAT), a project of NOVA, will hold its quarterly meeting virtually on January 24 from 6 to 7 p.m. At this meeting, Dr. Heather Evans, a licensed social worker and author, will present The Voices of Survivors Project.

The presentation features survivors of human trafficking and other forms of violence communicating their experiences through the medium of photography. To register, visit novabucks.org/events. Attendees will receive a Zoom link when they register.

The Voices of Survivors Project allows survivors of human sex trafficking or other forms of violence to express their experiences through photography. The project originated from a dissertation study conducted to directly highlight the voices of survivors and their experiences, especially after they were separated from the trafficker.

There will be a virtual walk-through of the The Voices of Survivors Project photo exhibit and an opportunity to ask Evans questions about the photos. The public is invited to take part in the event to learn more about the experiences of human trafficking survivors through their own photography.

Dr. Heather Evans has over 20 years of experience in providing therapy to victims of sexual trauma and sex trafficking. She is the Co-Founder of Valley Against Sex Trafficking (vast.ngo), in Allentown, PA, and is an adjunct professor at the Global Trauma Recovery Institute at Missio Seminary (https://missio.edu), located in Philadelphia. Evans also trains trauma healing caregivers, both nationally and internationally.

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According the Department of Homeland Security, human trafficking is the “…use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor” either commercial or sex work. The United Nations reports that human trafficking is a $8-10 billion-dollar industry. In the U.S., the Urban Institute estimates that money made in the commercial sex trade in several major U.S. cities ranges from $39 to $290 million annually.

Most victims of human trafficking are females, both adults and those under the age of 18. Boys, men, and gender minorities can become victims of human trafficking, as well. What these facts don’t tell is the toll borne by the victims, many of whom are physically and sexually abused, not allowed access to money or identification documents and lacking knowledge about their whereabouts.

“There is hope that it is possible to see beauty even in the midst of the horrific things that have happened. If we can see beauty, then we can communicate beauty, because pictures are a form of communication. Then if we communicate beauty, that creates hope and hope then gives us the ability to take another step into the future," Grace, participant in The Voices of Survivors Project.

NOVA supports, counsels and empowers victims of sexual assault and other serious crimes in Bucks County and works to prevent and eliminate violence in society through advocacy, training, community education and prevention programs.

Founded in 1974, NOVA is a non-profit community-based organization operating out of three offices in Fairless Hills, Jamison and Perkasie. Services are made possible through the financial support of federal, state and local government grants and contracts, corporations, foundations and private donations. All contributions are tax deductible to the extent provided by law. For more information, visit www.NOVABucks.org.

The Bucks County Intermediate Unit's Fab Lab is designed to promote STEAM education.

|Updated Thu, Jan 18, 2024 at 12:23 pm ET

DOYLESTOWN, PA — Bucks County residents Paul and Aarati Martino are making a personal donation to the Bucks County Foundation of $100,000 earmarked to support the Bucks IU Fab Lab Center. The Bucks IU Fab Lab focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) education programs for students throughout Bucks County and surrounding areas.

The Fab Lab is home to digital fabrication and computer science equipment, paired with age-appropriate curricula that engages and educates youth of all ages. In 2023 alone, the Fab Lab reached more than 3,000 children, ranging in age from Pre-K through 12th grade, with programs built to engage today’s students on STEAM topics including computer science, engineering, and digital fabrication.

The Fab Lab’s programming includes after-school clubs, summer camps, ‘STEAM Saturday’ events, school field trips, and specialty program for days when students are off from school. Professional development programs are also provided related to STEAM topics and resources, as well as teaching techniques for educators and administrators.

Many flavors of robots call the FabLab home. (Bucks County Intermediate Unit)

Fab Lab programs cultivate student interest in STEAM subjects in preparation for tomorrow’s workforce – employment and life in a 21st-century, technology-driven, global economy. Schools can then encourage growth and advancement in those areas by guiding student’s academic choices to best align with their selected area of interest and career goals. Helping youth find their futures, in areas where job and career growth is projected, benefits both the students and the state.

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In Pennsylvania, it is expected that there will be 590,000 new and replacement jobs through 2026 with STEAM jobs growing at over nine percent. Over the next ten years, over 71 percent of all jobs will require computer science skills with STEAM, health, and business majors generally earning the highest salaries.

Additionally, research shows that STEAM instruction offers benefits in a student’s post-secondary career, even if that student does not pursue a STEAM career.

“We are grateful for this contribution from the Martinos and are excited to see Bucks County residents committed to the growth and expansion of STEAM education in the county,” said Dr. Mark Hoffman, Bucks IU Executive Director.

Dr. Lindsey Rutherford Sides, Bucks IU Supervisor of STEAM Education added, “Our focus on growing STEAM education for students in Bucks County also includes acting as a resource for STEAM educators, and we’ll now be able to increase our capacity in reaching both these targets.”

Local area native Paul Martino has been involved in the technology and education fields for years as the Managing Partner of Bullpen Capital, a venture capital firm investing in early-stage technology companies, including PAPER, North America’s largest digital tutoring network. Paul is also the chairperson of the Delaware Valley Science Fair, of which he is a student alum.

Aarati Martino, who holds master’s degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in computer science and engineering and a Ph.D. from Stanford University, has spent over 20 years as a Google engineer. She has taught an enrichment program in the Central Bucks School District called “Google Magic” for several years.

“I’ve been following the Fab Lab since before COVID and have always appreciated its focus on STEAM education for students in Bucks County,” said Aarati Martino. “I saw the amazing facilities in-person this summer and am thrilled that K-12 students have access to an impressive array of laser cutters, 3D printers, floor-to-ceiling sized hydroponic gardens, and many flavors of robots. I’m excited to help them bring their vision to even more students.”

Inside Bucks County's FabLab. (Bucks County Intermediate Unit)

Pennsylvania is strongly promoting STEAM education and has enacted several programs to increase STEAM engagement. With this $100,000 contribution the Fab Lab will be able to expand its services to a significantly larger number of students annually. Paul Martino envisions a world where the Fab Lab can serve tens of thousands through additional donations and contributions from local businesses that need STEAM graduates in their workforce.

“The Fab Lab is exciting to me because it started as a mobile van going to schools to teach kids about concepts using 3D printing and NextGen manufacturing.” said Paul. “But they continue to think bigger. They’ve added a brick-and-mortar location, an additional van, and are reaching more students with significant programming. I foresee the Fab Lab even scaling up to multiple regions across the state. I want to applaud the Bucks IU for having such a forward-looking and entrepreneurial vision with this program and the courage to bring it to life.”

STEAM education engages children across the Bucks IU Fab Lab disciplines of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. It is an essential component of a 21st Century education and preparing youth to bring knowledge and skills to solve problems, make sense of information, and know how to gather and evaluate evidence to make decisions.

To learn more about the Bucks County Fab Lab, visit https://www.BucksIU.org/FabLab or call 215-340-4575.

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Serendipity owners launch UrbanSun on East Oakland Avenue just in time of the holiday season.

DOYLESTOWN BOROUGH, PA — A trendy new store for teens and young adults will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, Dec. 2 inside the former home of Raymer's Homemade Chocolates at 21 East Oakland Avenue.

UrbanSun, being launched by the team at the iconic Serendipity shop just around the corner, will feature the latest trends in clothing, jewelry, accessories, and gifts for the many young shoppers who regularly flock to the borough.

The grand opening will include swag bags for the first 300 in-store customers and exclusive grand opening specials.

“We are so excited to welcome the community in and are looking forward to growing together,” says Nicole Beltz, co-owner of Serendipity and UrbanSun. “The idea for UrbanSun was truly organic and grew from our experiences in Serendipity. Over the last few years, we’ve noticed more and more young people walking through town, shopping together, and really gravitating to our coastal-casual merchandise. So, we decided to build a store that was community-driven, locally inspired, and just for them.”

Keeping it casual and light, UrbanSun carries some of the most popular items from the Serendipity shop, including clothes, backpacks, and breezy bracelets, rings, necklaces, and anklets. But, UrbanSun is more than just a store, it’s a brand itself.

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UrbanSun is more than just a store, it’s a brand itself. (Contributed)

“UrbanSun is a vibe,” says Beltz. “Our sunrise logo truly represents us. We are bringing coastal style to a downtown environment. UrbanSun is young, modern, fun and radiates positivity. The store will carry a full stock of UrbanSun branded merchandise - with our vibrant logo on everything from water bottles and bags to t-shirts, hats, and slouchy sweatshirts in an array of popular colors for girls and guys. Our goal is to enable groups of young people to shop together and to offer a robust inventory of innovative, unique products that will speak to their interests.”

UrbanSun rises from the strong roots of Serendipity’s long running success.

Opening its first brick and mortar location in Avalon, New Jersey, in 2012, Serendipity has evolved into an e-commerce brand and multi-location operation in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The Doylestown Serendipity shop will soon celebrate 10 years in business, anchoring a prominent corner in the Borough of Doylestown.

Expanding the Serendipity business with UrbanSun’s new concept and store was an easy decision for owner/operators Nicole Beltz and Ryan Miller, who have deep ties to the community, as current borough residents and graduates of Delaware Valley University.

“We want to support the continued growth in our community and keep the downtown area a safe, thriving destination for many years to come,” Beltz says. “I can’t say enough about Doylestown. We are a community in the truest sense of the word, and we couldn’t be more excited about growing our business, encouraging people to shop local, and launching our new brand here.”

As UrbanSun opens its doors in Doylestown this holiday season, it is poised to become a hot destination for young shoppers, as well as their parents who are looking for that “just right” gift for their tween, teen, or young adult.

UrbanSun is simultaneously launching its website, enabling online browsing and shopping at shopurbansun.com.

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