Upper Makefield Township
October 2011
In This Issue
Troop 2312 gets round of applause at Sept. 21 Board of Supervisors meeting
Bucks County residents eligible for individual assistance from FEMA
Revised flood levels for Delaware River at Washington Crossing
Protect your family from fire: Fire Prevention Week is October 9-15
Hot topic from our Police Department: Have a talk with your children about cyber bullying
Deer management update from Board of Supervisors
Community Events
  
Oct. 15: Harvest Day at Washington Crossing Park
10 am - 4 pm 
 

See living historians demonstrate their crafts, including the Blacksmith, period cooking and handwriting, tour historic buildings, see a military encampment and more.

Admission is $9 for everyone over age three. All proceeds benefit upkeep and programs at the park. Parking is free and this event is held rain or shine. Join us at the park for this great community event! Find out more information today! 

 

Oct. 28: 3rd Annual Save the Crossing Fundraiser    

7 pm 

 

The Friends of Washington Crossing will be hosting the 3rd Annual Save the Crossing Fundraiser on Friday, October 28, 2011.  The fundraiser will be held at the Washington Crossing Inn, 1295 General Washington Memorial Boulevard in Washington Crossing, PA.  Tickets are $100 per person and all proceeds support the annual reenactment of George Washington's Christmas Day crossing of the Delaware River. Find out more information about this event. 

  

Oct. 29: Drug Take-Back Initiative 

10 am - 2 pm  

at Upper Makefield Township Police Department
1076 Eagle Road  

  

Turn in your unused or expired medication for safe disposal.  

 
 

Nov.13: Pet Photos With Santa at Brownsburg Park,  

1 - 4 pm     

 

Help Girl Scout Troop 22018 raise money to celebrate 100 years of Girl Scouting in Washington DC and take home a priceless keepsake of your pet. Sitting Fee: $5. Bring your own camera!  


We will try to include as many events as possible; however we may edit submissions. The township maintains the right to select appropriate submissions for inclusion.

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Troop 2312 gets round of applause at Sept. 21 Board of Supervisors meeting   

Girl Scout troop 2312

Girl Scout Troop 2312 received an enthusiastic congratulations from the Board of Supervisors and Environmental Advisory Council at the September 21 Board of Supervisors meeting. Supervisor Mary Ryan said, "The work these young ladies did on the park was exceptional-and our hats really go out to them as our youngest volunteers."  

 

The second-grade students in the troop received recognition for their storm water management planting project at Lookout Park. The goal of their work in the park was to enhance storm water management, increase wildlife habitat, and decrease overall maintenance costs from mowing and landscaping activities in the park. After a lot of hard work-the girls definitely helped achieve this goal!

 

When the 400 plant plugs arrived for planting in the park, the girl scouts were a huge help in getting them all in the ground.

 

Now, the park is not only more appealing to the eye, but it is a more sustainable space in our township.

 

Bucks County residents eligible for individual assistance from FEMA for Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee 

If you're a Bucks County resident and suffered great loss or damage from Hurricane Irene or Tropical Storm Lee, you may be eligible for individual assistance. This is a result of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) major disaster declaration for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (FEMA-4030-DR).    

Individual assistance can include temporary housing assistance for eligible applicants such as rental assistance and repair assistance. Individuals in the designated counties are encouraged to register with FEMA.

 

To register, please use the following methods:

  • Telephone: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY at 800-462-7285
  • Those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS) can call 800-621-3362
  • Internet:  www.DisasterAssistance.gov  
  • In person at the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC), located near the theater entrance to Neshaminy Mall. Hours are 10 am - 7 pm
Revised flood levels for Delaware River at Washington Crossing  

Since Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee hit this fall, flooding has been in the forefront of many public safety conversations. In an effort to ensure public safety and protect property, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has revised the flood levels at the Washington Crossing gauge of the Delaware River. 

   

These revisions lowered the thresholds for various categories, including a reading of 12 feet for "Action" / "Caution" Stage. "Flood Stage" has been ameded to a reading of 16 feet, with "Moderate Flood" at 19 feet, "Moderate Flooding" at 22 feet, and "Major Flooding" at 24 feet.    

 

These are revised readings from the previously established: "Action / Caution" stage at 19 feet, "Flood Stage" at 20 feet, "Moderate Flooding" at 22 feet, and "Major Flooding" at 24 feet. According to NOAA officials, information from local emergency management personnel helped the organization study community impacts to "make the flood categories more meaningful."  

 

"We got what we have been working for to help the residents of Upper Makefield Township in their efforts to prepare, respond, and recover in the event of a Delaware River flood event," says Upper Makefield Township Emergency Management Coordinator Rob Kay Sr.

 

The highest recorded crest of the Delaware River at -Trenton was -30.60 feet on March 8, 1904. The river crested at 20.44 feet on August 29, 2011 during Hurricane Irene and 23.11 feet on September 8, 2011 during Tropical Storm Lee.

 

For additional information about storm effects please visit the Township website.  

Protect your family from fire: Fire Prevention Week is October 9-15 

Each year the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) marks a week in October that is called: Fire prevention week. This year, that week of fire safety, education, and life-saving tips is October 9-15, 2011.

 

The slogan for this year's fire prevention week is "Protect your Family from Fire," and the campaign is all about keeping you, your family, and your community safer from fire.

 

Throughout the week, educators and local firehouses will be providing our community with educational material and tip sheets on the leading causes of home fires, information about protecting your home and families with life-saving technologies, and the importance of home escape planning. Fire Marshal John Kernan will also make classroom visits at Sol Feinstone Elementary School to teach kids about of fire safety.

Click here for more information about fire prevention.

  

Explore Upper Makefield and Lingohocken stations during October open houses

 

Be sure to take advantage of the free and hands-on fire education opportunities with our local fire stations! Try your aim with a real fire hose, take a tour of the fire station, and get to meet our local firefighters! 

 

Check out these firehouse open houses on October 14:

  • Upper Makefield Fire Company Station 71
    October 14 - 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
    1221 Taylorsville Road, Washington Crossing, Pa.
    Click here to learn more about Upper Makefield Fire Company   
  • Lingohocken Fire Company
    October 14 - 6 pm to 9 pm. Click here to learn more about
    Lingohocken Fire Company's open house
    .

Hot topic from our Police Department: Have a talk with your children about cyber bullying

Most of the children and adults in Upper Makefield Township log on to Facebook and Twitter at least once a day. Unfortunately, with the increased use of these interactive and social media website-comes an increase in online bullying, called "cyber bullying."

 

Cyber bullying is the use of technology-email, instant messaging, text messaging, personal Web pages such as Twitter or Facebook-to bully, intimidate and harass a person or group of people.

 

Even though many parents in our Township didn't grow up with these social media websites-the Upper Makefield Police Department would like to encourage parents to have conversations with their children and understand that this "new-age" type of bullying is different than the traditional school yard bully we may remember as a child. It can be harder to spot and more difficult to stop than 'traditional' bullying, but understanding the dangers will help you keep your child safe.

 

What makes cyber bullying different?

  • It can occur anytime, anywhere - the victim can even receive bullying messages or materials at home
  • It can be done anonymously
  • The audience to the bullying can be large and reached very quickly and easily if messages are passed around or things are posted online
  • It can be unintentional - people may not think about the consequences of sending messages or images 

What are the most common types of cyber bullying?

  • Instant messaging and text messaging
  • Twitter posts about a classmate
  • Posting mean and harassing words on a person's Facebook wall
  • Sending Facebook messages
  • Instant messaging on Facebook
  • Publishing a mean-spirited blog about someone
  • Internet polling
  • Interactive gaming
  • Sending and posting of pictures through e-mail and or phones
  • Stealing passwords
  • Via e-mail: New e-mail addresses can be set up in minutes and used to send offensive messages and images

All of these methods can be used to spread rumors, lies, and threats, to post inappropriate pictures, and even allow the person to pretend they are their intended victim or someone else in order to fool others. Additionally, the technology allows these derogatory and inappropriate messages or photos to be continually forward to others, expanding the audience to an untold number.

 

What you can do as a parent:
In an effort to curtail cyber bullying, you should encourage your children to:

  • Refuse to pass along the cyber bullying messages
  • Tell their friends to stop in this type of behavior
  • Block communication with the cyber bully
  • Never post any personal information online
  • Never share your passwords with anyone except your parents
  • Report any incidents to a trusted adult
  • Understand that when you post something on the internet-it is there for the whole world to see

As a parent, you need to be vigilant in your child's use of the technology and be the one trusted place your child can turn to when things go wrong online and offline. Parents can also speak with representatives from the school, as the schools can be very effective brokers in trying to remedy the situation.

 

Additionally, parents need to understand that the school may not be able to discipline the "bully" for conduct that took place off-campus and outside of school hours since they may be exceeding their authority and interfering with the other student's free speech. The school can take a proactive role and educate the children about cyber bullying and the consequences of engaging in such behavior.

 

However, if the situation continues to escalate, or you feel your son or daughter is at risk of physical harm or assault, you can always contact the Upper Makefield Township Police Department to assist you in this matter.

Deer management update from Board of Supervisors  

Eccologix was recently authorized to continue administration of the deer management program in Upper Makefield Township.

Our website and eNews are two of our most cost-efficient ways to provide residents with valuable information. However, if you know someone who does not have a computer, and would be interested in receiving a copy of this eNews by mail, please have them call the township at 215-968-3340. For those with e-mail .  
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