Morrisville Winterfest December 6, 2008
8:30-11am Holy Trinity's Breakfast with Santa
Call: Audrey 215 295 9235 or Michele 215 295 6230 for advance tickets
and prices.
Tickets on sale until 12/3/08.and will NOT be sold at door. Bring a
camera for pictures with Santa!
9am-2pm Morrisville YMCA Craft Fair & Flea Market
Variety of crafts, jewelry, holiday gifts…. Food by Lumpylicious BBQ
200 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Call Kim 215 428 2598
9am-2pm Senior Center Christmas Bazaar 31 E. Cleveland Ave
AM refreshments & lunch available, bake sale, crafters, FREE pictures
w/ Santa, Gift Boxed Money shirt, raffles & door prizes 215 295 0567
10am-11:30 Winterfest Parade 215 736 0346
Post Road to S. Pennsylvania Ave., to Delaware Ave., to Washington
St., to Lafayette St., to Hillcrest Ave., to N. Pennsylvania Ave., ending
At The Morrisville YMCA!
10:00am-3:00pm Summerseat Remembers
Historic reenactors, including George Washington (scheduled to arrive at 11).
Come have lunch. Home made chili, soup & baked goods.
Basket raffle & 50/50...
Hillcrest and Legion Ave
4pm-7pm Live Nativity & FBC Open House 50 N. Penn. Ave.
LIVE nativity, refreshments, "Celebrate the Season" Concert @ 6pm,
Gingerbread House & coloring contest awards @ 7pm,
Solid Rock Youth Center 7-9pm
5pm-6pm Robert Morris Plaza Activities Bridge St. & PA Ave.
Caroling, reading of Twas The Night Before Christmas, annual
Tree lighting and the arrival of Santa Claus
5pm-8pm BRIDGE STREET BLOCK PARTY!
Enjoy your local Morrisville Business Community after hours!
LIVE entertainment, DJ, FREE refreshments Call 215 295 3430
5pm-8pm Morrisville Rescue Squad Open House
Washington St., Refreshments, entertainment, pictures with Santa…
Friday, December 5, 2008
Same Animosity Remains on School Board
I just liked the headline.
New leaders elected, same animosity remains on OJR School Board
By: Laura Catalano, For the Spring-Ford Reporter 12/05/2008
The Owen J. Roberts School Board elected Edward Kerner as board president for 2009, at a series of three meetings Monday that were regularly interspersed by arguments.
Board member Debbie Bissland was named vice president.
The board voted 8-1 on both those appointments, with Barbara McMeekin casting the lone dissenting vote.
But later in the meeting the board sparred over several matters, including a decision not to accept a gift of fleece jackets presented by administrators. And outgoing President John Dutton read closing remarks that were heavily critical of the superintendent and served to highlight the growing rift between the board and administration.
The meeting was actually a series of three meetings that included the brief, final meeting with Dutton as president, a reorganization meeting during which the new president was elected, and a regular business meeting.
The first meeting began with Superintendent Myra Forrest acknowledging Dutton for his dedication and presenting him with a plaque to honor his year as president. She then acknowledged all school board members, in honor of January's School Director Recognition Month. The board does not meet again until the end of January.
The administration traditionally presents board members with a gift, and Forrest showed them fleece jackets that would be ordered for each member for the second year in a row.
Following that, Dutton gave his outgoing remarks. They provided a sharp contrast to Forrest's overtures of appreciation. About half of his brief statement was a condemnation of Forrest
"It is a year that no other president of the Owen J. Roberts School Board has ever had," Dutton said, reading from a prepared statement.
He noted that two board members had resigned, two replacements had been appointed and new lawyers had been hired. He then went on to blast a fellow board member and the superintendent.
"Another board member has consistently gone to the newspapers with confidential information that was discussed in executive sessions," he accused.
He laid blame on the superintendent, claiming she failed "to give the board all the information they needed to make the most informed decisions and the right choices." And he accused her of "stacking the meetings to try to intimidate the board into voting her way."
District teachers and administrators have regularly come to meetings and voiced support for Forrest and her recommendations. Dutton noted that when the board voted down her recommendations, Forrest often proposed them again.
"Dr. Forrest was under the mistaken impression that the board works for her," Dutton read. "It's just the opposite."
He concluded by saying, "I have always had the best interest of the students in my mind first and then the taxpayers."
Forrest, seated next to Dutton, made no comment on the remarks.
However, on Tuesday, Forrest made this statement: "Mr. Dutton's comments were unprofessional, appalling, and shocking, especially in the public forum in which they were made."
She insisted that "the comments were not consistent with the outstanding academic, athletic, and artistic achievements that the Owen J. Roberts School District has attained this year. It would be preferable that the leadership of the board work with administration to establish a communications protocol so we could continue to move forward in a positive direction."
Later, during the business meeting, McMeekin brought up the fleece jackets that had been offered to the board and suggested the board forego the gift and use the money "to hire a staff person or buy textbooks."
The board approved that motion with Eugene Endress, former head of the OJR Taxpayers Alliance, casting the only apparent negative vote. But immediately after the vote, Dutton reacted angrily to the decision.
"I'm going to freeze my a-- off this winter!" he said. "That's the most ridiculous thing I ever heard."
Later Dutton said he was planning to cancel his reservation to a conference for school board members in April, stating "I'm not allowed to get a fleece, I'm not going to San Diego."
At the end of the meeting parent Karen Shimer approached the board, and reminded them that the district's Web site maintains that the board should "lead with respect."
"I think your hearts are in the right place," Shimer said, "But the impression you're making I don't think is one you want to make."
New leaders elected, same animosity remains on OJR School Board
By: Laura Catalano, For the Spring-Ford Reporter 12/05/2008
The Owen J. Roberts School Board elected Edward Kerner as board president for 2009, at a series of three meetings Monday that were regularly interspersed by arguments.
Board member Debbie Bissland was named vice president.
The board voted 8-1 on both those appointments, with Barbara McMeekin casting the lone dissenting vote.
But later in the meeting the board sparred over several matters, including a decision not to accept a gift of fleece jackets presented by administrators. And outgoing President John Dutton read closing remarks that were heavily critical of the superintendent and served to highlight the growing rift between the board and administration.
The meeting was actually a series of three meetings that included the brief, final meeting with Dutton as president, a reorganization meeting during which the new president was elected, and a regular business meeting.
The first meeting began with Superintendent Myra Forrest acknowledging Dutton for his dedication and presenting him with a plaque to honor his year as president. She then acknowledged all school board members, in honor of January's School Director Recognition Month. The board does not meet again until the end of January.
The administration traditionally presents board members with a gift, and Forrest showed them fleece jackets that would be ordered for each member for the second year in a row.
Following that, Dutton gave his outgoing remarks. They provided a sharp contrast to Forrest's overtures of appreciation. About half of his brief statement was a condemnation of Forrest
"It is a year that no other president of the Owen J. Roberts School Board has ever had," Dutton said, reading from a prepared statement.
He noted that two board members had resigned, two replacements had been appointed and new lawyers had been hired. He then went on to blast a fellow board member and the superintendent.
"Another board member has consistently gone to the newspapers with confidential information that was discussed in executive sessions," he accused.
He laid blame on the superintendent, claiming she failed "to give the board all the information they needed to make the most informed decisions and the right choices." And he accused her of "stacking the meetings to try to intimidate the board into voting her way."
District teachers and administrators have regularly come to meetings and voiced support for Forrest and her recommendations. Dutton noted that when the board voted down her recommendations, Forrest often proposed them again.
"Dr. Forrest was under the mistaken impression that the board works for her," Dutton read. "It's just the opposite."
He concluded by saying, "I have always had the best interest of the students in my mind first and then the taxpayers."
Forrest, seated next to Dutton, made no comment on the remarks.
However, on Tuesday, Forrest made this statement: "Mr. Dutton's comments were unprofessional, appalling, and shocking, especially in the public forum in which they were made."
She insisted that "the comments were not consistent with the outstanding academic, athletic, and artistic achievements that the Owen J. Roberts School District has attained this year. It would be preferable that the leadership of the board work with administration to establish a communications protocol so we could continue to move forward in a positive direction."
Later, during the business meeting, McMeekin brought up the fleece jackets that had been offered to the board and suggested the board forego the gift and use the money "to hire a staff person or buy textbooks."
The board approved that motion with Eugene Endress, former head of the OJR Taxpayers Alliance, casting the only apparent negative vote. But immediately after the vote, Dutton reacted angrily to the decision.
"I'm going to freeze my a-- off this winter!" he said. "That's the most ridiculous thing I ever heard."
Later Dutton said he was planning to cancel his reservation to a conference for school board members in April, stating "I'm not allowed to get a fleece, I'm not going to San Diego."
At the end of the meeting parent Karen Shimer approached the board, and reminded them that the district's Web site maintains that the board should "lead with respect."
"I think your hearts are in the right place," Shimer said, "But the impression you're making I don't think is one you want to make."
Who Let the Dogs Out?
From the BCCT.
Canine team to seek out drugs
By JOAN HELLYER
Bucks County Courier Times
The Bensalem school board has hired a canine search company to help find prescription drugs that students bring to school without permission.
The searches are needed because the medications could be misused as stimulants or depressants, said Superintendent James Lombardo on Monday night after the board approved the random searches.
The Partnership for a Drug Free America's annual tracking study suggests prescription drug abuse among teens and young adults is a serious problem in the United States.
The recently released study found that one in five teens has abused a prescription pain medication, one in five reported abusing prescription stimulants and tranquilizers and one in 10 teens has abused cough medication.
Hiring Interquest Detection Canines of Eastern Pennsylvania is part of the district's ongoing effort to provide a safe and healthy learning environment for its students, Lombardo said.
Bensalem is among several area school districts to enlist Interquest searches in its anti-drug enforcement efforts. Centennial, Central Bucks and Council Rock also have utilized the firm in the last several years.
“We want to make sure the schools are as safe as they can be,” the Bensalem superintendent said after the school board agreed to hire the firm at a cost of $215 per three-hour search.
District officials will decide when and where the searches take place, Lombardo said.
They began considering the searches in the spring after dealing with a couple of cases where students brought prescription medications to school.
Lombardo would not say what medications were brought in or identify the schools where the incidents took place.
Students who are prescribed medication are supposed to bring it to the school nurse, Lombardo said. Students who bring medications to school without going through proper channels face suspension. If they bring the prescriptions to school to give to other students, they face expulsion, he said.
The agreement with Interquest runs through June.
Canine team to seek out drugs
By JOAN HELLYER
Bucks County Courier Times
The Bensalem school board has hired a canine search company to help find prescription drugs that students bring to school without permission.
The searches are needed because the medications could be misused as stimulants or depressants, said Superintendent James Lombardo on Monday night after the board approved the random searches.
The Partnership for a Drug Free America's annual tracking study suggests prescription drug abuse among teens and young adults is a serious problem in the United States.
The recently released study found that one in five teens has abused a prescription pain medication, one in five reported abusing prescription stimulants and tranquilizers and one in 10 teens has abused cough medication.
Hiring Interquest Detection Canines of Eastern Pennsylvania is part of the district's ongoing effort to provide a safe and healthy learning environment for its students, Lombardo said.
Bensalem is among several area school districts to enlist Interquest searches in its anti-drug enforcement efforts. Centennial, Central Bucks and Council Rock also have utilized the firm in the last several years.
“We want to make sure the schools are as safe as they can be,” the Bensalem superintendent said after the school board agreed to hire the firm at a cost of $215 per three-hour search.
District officials will decide when and where the searches take place, Lombardo said.
They began considering the searches in the spring after dealing with a couple of cases where students brought prescription medications to school.
Lombardo would not say what medications were brought in or identify the schools where the incidents took place.
Students who are prescribed medication are supposed to bring it to the school nurse, Lombardo said. Students who bring medications to school without going through proper channels face suspension. If they bring the prescriptions to school to give to other students, they face expulsion, he said.
The agreement with Interquest runs through June.
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