File photo
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com

Tullytown police are investigating reports of “suspicious vehicles” near a school bus stop.

According to Chief Daniel Doyle, high school-aged students waiting for the bus have reported suspicious vehicles passing their bus stop in the area of Main Street. The strange occurrence was said to have happened at least twice this week.

The vehicles spotted were reportedly a green Jeep and a white van with spray paint on the side.

Officers have stepped up patrols and are collecting surveillance video from the area in hopes of identifying the vehicles, Doyle said.

The post Police Investigate ‘Suspicious Vehicles’ Near Bus Stop appeared first on LevittownNow.com.

The inspiration for the townhomes behind the St. Michael the Archangel property.
Credit: McGrath Homes

Founder and CEO John McGrath of McGrath Homes is continuing to explore the possibility of building apartments and townhomes on more than 30 acres behind the St. Michael the Archangel Church on Levittown Parkway in Tullytown.

McGrath, who made a presentation along with attorney Tom Hecker Tuesday in front of Tullytown Borough Council, is in the early phases of working with both the Bucks County Redevelopment Authority and the Department of Environmental Protection to asses the land to first see if any development on the property is feasible.

“We understand traffic, we understand storm water, we understand the issues that relate to [the land],” said Hecker. “What I can offer you is to take a property that isn’t productive, that has no value, and put it back on the tax rolls for Tullytown Borough.”

Residents came out to the borough council meeting Tuesday in moderate numbers to voice against development of the property noting its environmental history as a landfill, and it’s future contribution to an alarming amount of traffic surging everyday onto Levittown Parkway and Route 13.

The property which will be just steps from the redeveloped Levittown Train Station, according to Hecker, is “very desirable” for those who work in the city and have sparked interest in living close to shopping, a church and a train station; all of which the property will provide.

The plans, which are just proposed until work can be done to test the property, would call for a mix of 120 townhomes and roughly 160 apartments, both of which will have access to a separate clubhouse and pool. The townhome end of the development will also feature a soccer field and basketball court for resident use.

Hecker noted that due to resident disapproval, the new plans have been constructed without a connection to Lakeside Drive.

While some council members and residents disapproved of the builder’s plans to include apartments, Hecker assured that the apartments would provide an upscale appearance to the area and would not have rents reflective of a transient population. The townhome properties are expected to start in the $300,000 range.

McGrath, who is currently working on a property adjacent to the St. Joseph the Worker property in Falls Township, plans to honor St. Michael’s in a similar way with the name of this property, if it comes to fruition. The townhome designs will also be reflective of those proposed for the 55+ community proposed at St. Joseph’s.

McGrath’s takeover of the property, according to Hecker, will include the option of the St. Michael the Archangel School, shall the property ever become available for purchase.

“John’s hallmark has been working with communities, getting them to really appreciate the development,” said Hecker.

The post Apartments & Townhomes Proposed For Development Behind St. Mike’s appeared first on LevittownNow.com.

File Photo
Credit:LevittownNow.com

Tullytown Borough, with the news that Falls Township had passed an ordinance regulating zoning requirements for recovery homes, discussed implementing a similar ordinance during Tuesday night’s council meeting.

Council President May Kutcher introduced her motion with the idea to the residents. “We’re hearing all the rumblings and so I think we should have our solicitor check out all of what our rights are as a borough and your rights as residents,” she said. “We’re obviously not very well tuned on what is legal and what is not and our solicitor should research so we know what our rights are.”

Councilman Matt Pirolli, while not offering his opinion on the matter, noted he provided a copy of the ordinance recently passed by neighboring Falls Township to the borough solicitor so they could review it.

“I really don’t feel we should try and reinvent the wheel, we have our neighbors in Falls Township trying to implement something like that, personally I feel like there’s gonna be some violations of civil rights and all kinds of federal things that they are gonna have to deal with and I don’t know why we should spend money on doing something now when we have a neighbor doing the same thing,” said Councilwoman Holly Kettler. She suggested the borough see where the Falls Township ordinance goes and not rush to spend borough money on similar research.

Councilwoman Tina Grady noted she is very passionate about the issue of recovery, since she is in fact in recovery herself. Grady took the time to crumble misconceptions that all recovery living situations are bad, noting a home in Tullytown which has helped many succeed.

“Yes we have owners that are very much about the money and don’t care about the safety of the residents or concerns of those who are trying to better their lives,” she said. “[But with other homes] there are certain rules they have to follow to live there, [they do] not have anyone living there who is a sexual offender, who is on Megans Law, [they] will not allow it, most will not allow it, they have curfews, they have to work during the day, if they’re not working they have to be job searching.”

While Kutcher noted she does not know much about the subject, the rest of council did not agree that research should begin to take place on behalf of the borough. All members of council, with the exception of Kutcher, voted to table the matter.

“I just feel like we’re putting the cart before the horse, we don’t really know what we’re talking about [that]we need, and we have our neighbor, ya know what, let’s let them come up with an ordinance and see if it sticks, my gut feeling is it’s not, I don’t think we can regulate who can live in our neighborhoods,” said Kettler. “I think this is where a gray area is, when you draw up an ordinance to try and ‘keep these people out’ well where do you stop? That’s my fear, that we are going to be getting into an area that is going to be, again, some kind of federal law civil rights violation.”

While Falls Township passed an ordinance last month requiring homes to be outside of the Falls’ low-density residential zoning district, Bristol Township has been unsuccessful for several years in passing anything similar. Earlier this week, State Rep. Tina Davis stressed her dismay with the township while announcing a bill that she says could assist in getting the ball rolling. Davis’ bill, if passed in Harrisburg, is not expected to go without changes, or take affect anytime soon.

The post Tullytown Tables Research For Ordinance To Regulate Recovery Homes appeared first on LevittownNow.com.

Credit: Pennsbury School District

For the 20th year, Pennsbury High School’s Business, Computers & Information Technology Department held a career fair.

The annual event was held Monday night at the East campus.

“The Career Fair is a district-wide, school-to-career event with emphasis on career exploration for all students, grades K-12. Last year, approximately 1,500 students, parents, teachers, and community members visited exhibits placed throughout the gymnasium, cafeteria, and hallways,” curriculum coordinator Frank Mayo said.

Monday’s event featured more than 150 exhibitors from the fields of government, business, industry and nonprofits.

Students were able to speak one-on-one with professionals about careers and educational requirements.

Credit: Pennsbury School District

Credit: Pennsbury School District

Credit: Pennsbury School District

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Representative John Galloway responds to a question.
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com

Democratic State Rep. John Galloway is looking to expand E-Verify requirements.

The Falls Township-based lawmaker has put forward House Bill 1881 that would “require all Pennsylvania employers in the private construction field to confirm the legal employment status of all employees through the federal E-Verify program,” according to a press release.

“This is a natural expansion of my law from 2012 which requires all contractors bidding on any job which requires prevailing wages use E-Verify to confirm all employees are legally permitted to work in the United States,” Galloway said. “Prevailing wage rules apply to public construction jobs for state, county or other municipal agencies and public authorities and school districts.

The previous bull that passed in 2012 and was signed by Republican Gov. Tom Corbett did face some opposition from a small portion of lawmakers, some from Galloway’s own party, who felt it targeted unauthorized immigrants.

The E-Verify law allows companies to compare information provided by employees or job applicants to a national database of Social Security numbers and Department of Homeland Security records to see if a person is legally permitted to work in the United States.

Galloway told LevittownNow.com in a 2013 interview that E-Verify requirements protect unauthorized immigrants from contractors looking to hire them for less than American workers.

The 2012 law spent years in the works before winning approval in Pennsylvania.

“That law has been very successful and so requiring the same requirements for all construction employees is the logical next step,” Galloway said.

The state representative, whose district covers parts or all of Bristol Borough, Bristol Township, Falls Township, Middletown, Morrisville and Tullytown, said there are about 40 Democratic and Republican lawmakers who support his expansion of E-Verify requirements.

The post Local Lawmaker’s Bill Would Expand E-Verify To All Construction Employers appeared first on LevittownNow.com.

File photo
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com

The new Levittown Regional Rail station in Tullytown is the center of a lawsuit filed Thursday by SEPTA.

According to PlanPhilly, SEPTA is seeking a preliminary injunction against Tullytown due to a dispute over fees. The transit agency claims the borough is interfering with their efforts to build the $37 million train station at the site.

In the lawsuit filed in federal court, SEPTA takes issue with the fees it owes Tullytown, which the transit agency says may not be valid due to federal law. SEPTA also alleges officials from the borough threatened to fine contractors, double permit fees and stop work.

“If they want to say federal law trumps our ability to our job, then we have to decide whether we want to spend good taxpayer money fighting that,” borough solicitor Mike Sellers told PlanPhilly.

A rendering of the new station.
Credit: SEPTA

As part of the station reconstruction, the 1950s-era station will get new, high-level boarding platforms, improved traffic patterns and entrances off Fallsington Avenue and Route 13 and will also be made fully Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible. Officials from SEPTA have said the station will get about 70 new parking spaces and a pedestrian overpass above the tracks.

The current Levittown station serves about 1,200 commuters daily and is crumbling due to its age.

Click here to read more about the dispute

The post SEPTA Sues Tullytown Over Train Station appeared first on LevittownNow.com.

Submitted

Elcon Recycling, which has long-proposed a hazardous waste treatment facility at the Keystone Industrial Port Complex in Falls Township, met with Lower Makefiled Township residents and officials this week to answer questions and common concerns about the facility and it’s processes.

The meeting, which followed the application presentation at the Sheraton Hotel in Falls just last week, was a far calmer approach to addressing the issues that residents and officials say that Elcon has proposed.

By the end of the hours-long meeting, Lower Makefield officials did not take a stand for or against the proposed hazardous waste treatment facility at their meeting this week.

Submitted

While Dr. Rengarajan Ramesh stated that the company does have the option to use rail cars in the future for transporting waste to it’s facility, with permission of course, none of Elcon’s customers have requested to ship that way, leaving rail, a concern for some, off the table. The waste treated by the company will be transported 100 percent by truck, with 20-30 percent of Elcon’s customers coming from inside the KIPC. While Elcon representatives say they have received requests for different traveling arrangements from both Bristol Township and Bristol Borough, currently Elcon’s trucks plan to travel from I-95 to Route 413 to Route 13 to Tyburn Road to New Ford Road to West Steel Road, then South Steel Road and finally to Dean Sievers Place.

Elcon Attempts To Clean Up Narrative Regarding Proposed Facility Near Delaware River

Submitted

Another concern for township board members and for residents, was the statement that Elcon will process 596 of 600 harmful chemicals designated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Dr. Ramesh said that while many have become hung-up on that number, the number isn’t necessarily a definite one. He noted that since companies don’t release their product’s formula, 596 is an estimation of possible chemicals such companies would use in manufacturing their products. Any and all chemicals that Elcon has not agreed to accept would be shipped back to it’s manufacturer.

While some residents in the audience had questions regarding the landfill that Elcon would chose to transport cleaned waste to, Dr. Ramesh noted he’s not sure that landfill would be located less than 20 miles from the KIPC Elcon site.

Submitted

Perhaps one of the largest concerns of residents close to Elcon’s facility is the chances of an accident or leak and how Elcon would respond to such a situation. While Elcon has stated before all of it’s truck drivers and facility staff will be well trained, and that the company does have pollution insurance, Ramesh noted that 100 percent of Elcon’s processes will be enclosed within a building, with a polymer lined, concrete tank being the secondary containment system in case of an accident.

Former New Jersey Governor Jim Florio, who lawyer who also served in the congress, spoke out against the proposed facility. He said raised concerns about possible by-products of the treatment process and where any remaining toxic waste would go.

“It’s your job and our job to keep our communities safe,” Fred Stine of Bristol Borough-based Delaware Riverkeeper Network told the board.

One Lower Makefield resident questioned if having a facility near her home would impact the value.

The post Elcon Presents To Lower Makefield & Tullytown Stresses Opposition to Falls appeared first on LevittownNow.com.

file photo

UPDATED: 9:04 p.m., Thursday: 

Tullytown police Chief Daniel Doyle said the person struck by the train was a woman, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

While not yet determined, the woman’s death appeared to be a suicide, Doyle said.

Some train service was resuming along the tracks as of 9 p.m.

Original Story: 

A person was struck and killed by an Amtrak train Thursday evening near the Levittown Train Station in Tullytown.

Police, fire and medics were called to the area of the train station around 7:22 p.m.

Amtrak service was suspended on the busy Northeast Corridor due to the incident. As of 8 p.m., service remained suspended on the line.

Police were not immediately available for comment.

The post UPDATED: Person Struck, Killed By Train Near Levittown Station appeared first on LevittownNow.com.

Levittown is now home to a brand new Fine Wine and Good Spirits.

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board celebrated the grand opening of the 4,700-square-foot store earlier this month.

The shop is located at Levittown Town Center at 179 Levittown Parkway in Tullytown and features more than 2,750 products.

According to store officials, the new retail outlet offers a “warm, welcoming atmosphere for consumers to browse its extensive selection.” The focal point of the new store is the center table, where customers can find staff to answer questions or provide recommendations. The center table provides counters for highlighting promotional items and educational materials for customers, like a vintage chart, a food pairing outline, a party planning guide, a calorie chart, and tips for responsible hosting and consumption.

The new store also has a “Made in Pennsylvania” section to highlight wine and spirits produced within the state.

The new Fine Wine & Good Spirits store will be open from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

The post New State Store Opens In Levittown appeared first on LevittownNow.com.

A returning SEPTA train pulls into the Levittown station.
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com

Tullytown police have identified the woman struck and killed by a train Thursday evening.

Judith Winiarski, 56, of Levittown, was killed when she walked into the side of a SEPTA train as it passed through the Levittown Regional Rail Station. The 56-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Chief of Police Daniel Doyle said Winiarski’s death has been determined to be a suicide. He added that evidence pointed police toward that conclusion.

The striking SEPTA train, which was initially reported to belong to Amtrak, was heading from Trenton into Philadelphia. Winiarski walked into the side of the train around 7:20 p.m.

The incident stopped service on SEPTA’s Trenton Line and Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor while emergency crews worked the scene.

Passengers on a SEPTA train headed to Trenton were let off at Bristol and were able to board a bus to complete their journey, an official said.

Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com

In August 2015, 27-year-old George Redner III of Levittown committed suicide at the station. The local first responder was remembered at a large funeral just down the street from the station.

SEPTA has worked over the years to try to prevent suicides along the tracks. They have offered training courses to the first responders, held safety blitzes at area stations and installed signs with the number to a suicide prevention hotline along the tracks.

The post Police ID Woman Killed By Train appeared first on LevittownNow.com.

The Pennsbury Administration Building
File photo

Despite the fact that Pennsylvania doesn’t yet have a state budget for 2015-2016, the Pennsbury School District expects to avoid serious cash flow issues.

As of last Thursday, Pennsbury has received $22 million of the $43 million in state funding expected in the 2015-2016 budget. Business Manager Dan Rogers said the district is expected to receive another $11 million from the state in the coming months.

If the remaining money doesn’t come through to match the $43 million allocated from the state by June 30, Rogers said he was “very confident” the district would not have to take “drastic measures” to continue to operate. June 30 is the last day of the 2015-2016 financial year for Pennsylvania school districts.

Rogers said that the district could likely make it through December 31 due to real estate tax collections that will be received in summer.

A temporary measure signed by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf several months back allows Pennsylvania to send funding for special education, transportation and a number other budget items to districts.

In planning for the ongoing state budget impasse, Rogers’ office has drawn up projections on how much the district is expected to spend on payroll, healthcare, debt service and supplies.

Debra Wachspress, vice president of the school board, called out state lawmakers for letting the impasse continue. She called the impasse “awful, pathetic and irresponsible.”

Resident Robert Abrams of Lower Makefield raised concerns about the district’s budget outlook during the meeting. He questioned how the district can look at adding expenses when expected state fund is not coming through.

Wachspress urged residents to call lawmakers to voice their opinion about the budget impasse.

The post Pennsbury Expected To Avoid ‘Drastic Measures’ Due To PA Budget Impasse appeared first on LevittownNow.com.

Credit: Levittown-Fairless Hills Rescue Squad

The sign outside the Levittown-Fairless Hills Rescue Squad building on New Falls Road in Levittown says it all.

“48 heroin overdoes in Levittown this year … 5 of them died.”

The rescue squad that provides emergency medical care to portions of Bristol Township, Falls Township, Middletown, Lower Makefield and all of Tullytown wrote about the sign on Facebook Friday afternoon:

We want to take some time to shed light on a deadly epidemic. This picture represents the overdoses & overdose related deaths our providers have treated so far this year. The purpose, if we can save 1 life, 1 family from the perils of heroin and/or addiction we’ve done right. ‪#‎HeroinInAmerica‬ ‪#‎LevittownPA‬ ‪#‎HeroinAddiction‬ ‪#‎HeroinRecovery‬

The rescue squad’s sign comes at a time when Bucks County authorities are reporting an increase in drug overdoes throughout Lower Bucks County.

“Heroin has a stranglehold on our communities,” Assistant District Attorney Matt Weintraub, who is the chief of prosecution, told a room full of local residents in 2014. “What we’re experiencing nowadays is the heroin epidemic encroaching on a lot of different peoples lives.”

Overdoes or drug-related calls are an every day occurrence for local police and medics.

Police from Bristol Township to Penndel have made good use of life-saving anti-opioid overdose antidote Naloxone, more commonly known as Narcan, since it was handed out to patrol officers in 2015. Just last week, Middletown police saved an overdosing man who was allegedly shooting up drugs in an SUV with his brother.

State officials recently said Pennsylvania saw 2,500 overdose deaths in 2014, with 2015’s death toll only expected to be higher.

“The magnitude of the addiction and overdose death epidemic in this state is astounding — at least seven Pennsylvanians die every day from a drug overdose,” Lt. Gov. Stack recently told a room full of police officials from across the state.

As Weintraub has said in the past: “There are no old junkies. They turn into ex-junkies or dead junkies.”

The post MUST SEE: Sign Brings Drug Epidemic To Forefront appeared first on LevittownNow.com.

Credit: Dave Sommers/LevittownNow.com

It’s spring cleaning season!

On Saturday, volunteers will be cleaning the entire 59-mile Delaware Canal from Easton, Northampton County to Bristol Borough. The canal and towpath are often a dumping ground for users of the grounds.

The Delaware Canal Clean-Up Day will be organized is sections with area coordinators determining meeting locations from the event that will take place between 9 a.m. and noon.

Locally, the clean up will take place between Morrisville and the Delaware River in Bristol.

Falls Township: Railroad Obstruction to Tyburn Road
Jerry Taylor – 215-493-6625 or  jerry.taylor35@verizon.net

Falls Township: Tyburn Road to Falls Township Park
Susan Taylor – 215-493-6625 or susanhtaylor@verizon.net

Falls Township: Falls Township Park to Mill Creek Road
Renee Thompson, Coordinator with Boy Scout Troop 46 – working on May 7

Falls Township/Tullytown: Mill Creek Road to Levittown Shopping Center
Jeff Connell, Canal Tender – 732-581-9464 or jeffconnell@comcast.net

Bristol Township: Levittown Shopping Center (Sonic) to Green Lane
Ed Armstrong and GOAL (Greenbelt Overhaul Alliance of Levittown) – edarmstrong@verizon.net

Bristol Borough: Green Lane to Lagoon Park
Brett Webber, Coordinator – 215-840-2034 or bw@bwadesign.com

Bristol Borough: Lagoon Park to Riverfront Park
Mary Kehoe, Coordinator – 215-788-5918 or jodi.marydave@verizon.net
Jose Acevado, Canal Tender

Anyone looking to volunteer is asked to call 215-862-2021 or e-mail friends@fodc.org.

Last one from today: Bristol Lagoon, and its beautifully restored gazebo from the 1900s, along the Delaware Canal towpath. #friendsonthetowpath #delawarecanal #delawarecanalstatepark #buckscounty #bristol #bristolpa #bristollagoon #landmarktowns #dltrail #towpathred #getoutside #walk #run #bike

A photo posted by Friends on the Towpath (@friends_on_the_towpath) on Nov 17, 2015 at 5:23pm PST

The post Volunteers Needed For Canal Clean-Up Day appeared first on LevittownNow.com.

The Pennsbury School District building in Fallsington – file photo
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com

During a meeting last month, the Pennsbury School District voted to refinance a 2006 bond issue.

The refinancing through RBC Capital Markets is expected to save Pennsbury just shy of $2 million dollars over the life of the bond.

Mike Lillys of RBC Capital Markets said rates are currently at favorable lows, even better than they were in 2015. He explained fear over the economy has caused a strong bond market with low rates.

Lillys said Pennsbury’s strong credit rating, which was recently reaffirmed by Moody’s Investors Service, will help the district on the bond market. Rogers said the credit rate means a lower interest rate for Pennsbury.

Pennsbury business manager Dan Rogers compared the process to refinancing a home mortgage and called it a “great opportunity.”

The deal with new rates is expected to close by the end of April.

Rogers thanked the administration and finance director Joanne Godzieba for their work.

The post Refinancing To Save Pennsbury Roughly $2 Million appeared first on LevittownNow.com.

File photo

Tullytown has joined a growing list of communities in the Philadelphia region that are offering their property as a “safe exchange zone” for online purchases.

From Tullytown police:

Tullytown Borough Police Department has established a “Safe Exchange Zone” at the Municipal Complex where residents can complete online purchase transactions and make child custodial exchanges. The “Safe Exchange Zone” was created as a means of addressing safety concerns brought about by patrons involved with online purchases from websites such as Craigslists, eBay, Facebook, and Classified ads, as well as to provide a safe location for families with visitation rights to make custodial exchanges.

The “Safe Exchange Zone”, which is located in the lobby of the Tullytown Borough Municipal Complex is under continuous video surveillance where buyers, sellers and families can meet to make exchanges Monday through Friday from 8am-4pm. Exchanges occurring on holidays,weekends and evening hours shall be done by advanced appointment only please call 215-945-0999 Monday through Friday from 8am-4pm to schedule.

While the “Safe Exchange Zone” provides a safe area for buyers and sellers to meet, it is important to remember that people you meet online are strangers and can pose dangers. Not every buyer or seller you meet online is someone who is true with their intent. When making arrangements to complete online transactions face-to-face, residents are reminded:

• Complete transactions in the lobby of the Tullytown Borough Municipal Complex

• Never invite strangers to their home or agree to meet at a stranger’s home

• Reconsider any transaction with an individual who refuses to meet at a “Safe Exchange Zone”

• Municipal or Police employees may not be asked to act as witnesses, or be a part of these transactions in any capacity

Several Levittown-area towns already offer a safe place for people to exchange transactions from websites.

The post Tullytown Offering Borough Hall As Safe Exchange Zone appeared first on LevittownNow.com.

Credit: Erich Martin/Levittownnow.com

Credit: Erich Martin/Levittownnow.com

Walt Disney Elementary in Levittown celebrated its 60th anniversary this past weekend.

A number of vendors, food trucks and even Disney characters made an appearance in order to help the school fundraiser and celebrate the birthday of the Pennsbury elementary school. Characters such as Belle, Cinderella, Mary Poppins and Captain Jack Sparrow were all present to bring smiles to children’s faces.

Cheryl Brito, the coordinator of the event and a member of the Walt Disney PTO, said planning began six months ago. Since then, the PTO and Brito have been collecting donations and sponsorship for the celebration.

Even through the morning rain, people came out to have a good time.

“Disney is a huge family,” Brito explained, mentioning that the family will support the event through rain or shine.

Credit: Erich Martin/Levittownnow.com

Credit: Erich Martin/Levittownnow.com

Credit: Erich Martin/Levittownnow.com

Credit: Erich Martin/Levittownnow.com

Credit: Erich Martin/Levittownnow.com

The post Walt Disney Elementary School Celebrates 60 Years appeared first on LevittownNow.com.

A rendering of the new station.
Credit: SEPTAtow

Tullytown is wiping its hands clean of oversight of the new SEPTA Levittown Regional Rail Station currently being constructed.

At Tuesday evening’s council meeting, solicitor Mike Sellers said SEPTA and Tullytown have reached an agreement that ends “all outstanding issues and litigation.” The settlement, according to Sellers, means Tullytown would have no oversight on the project.

The borough council approved the settlement agreement with little comment.

Last month, SEPTA filed paperwork seeking a preliminary injunction against Tullytown due to a dispute over fees. The transit agency claimed the borough was interfering with their efforts to build the $37 million train station at the site on the aging Levittown Regional Rail Station. SEPTA claimed that they were exempt from aspects of local oversight and fees because of federal law. SEPTA also alleged officials from the borough threatened to fine contractors, double permit fees and stop work.

Sellers noted SEPTA and the borough had worked together during the planing and early phases of construction on the project.

As part of the station reconstruction, the 1950s-era station will get new, high-level boarding platforms, improved traffic patterns and entrances off Fallsington Avenue and Route 13 and will also be made fully Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible. Officials from SEPTA have said the station will get about 70 new parking spaces and a pedestrian overpass above the tracks.

The current Levittown station serves about 1,200 commuters daily and is crumbling due to its age.

The post Tullytown, SEPTA Settle Litigation Over Train Station appeared first on LevittownNow.com.

Dr. William Gretzula speaking to Neshaminy residents in 2012.
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com

A longtime Bucks County educator is the final candidate in the search for the new superintendent of the Pennsbury School District.

Dr. William Gretzula, who currently serves as curriculum coordinator for the Upper Dublin School District in Montgomery County, was announced Thursday evening as the final candidate to replace outgoing Superintendent Dr. Kevin McHugh when he retires at the end of this school year.

“The Board intends to formally name Dr. Gretzula to this position at an upcoming public School Board meeting,” according to a statement from the district.

School Board President Gary Sanderson said Gretzula and McHugh will tour the district’s schools and meet with the community in the coming weeks.

Gretzula spent 10 years working in the Neshaminy School District before becoming assistant superintendent and later superintendent of the Bensalem School District. He resigned from leading Bensalem, moved back to the classroom and later led Benjamin Rush Elementary School in Bensalem before moving to the Upper Dublin school system.

Dr. William Gretzula
Credit: Pennsbury

Gretzula, who previously interviewed to lead the Neshaminy School District in 2012, said at the time that he resigned from being superintendent of Bensalem based on his mother’s battle with stage-3 cancer after that caused him to realize he need to spend more time with his two children.

“I’d ensure that teachers would know what they’re supposed to do … but at the same time they will be held accountable,” said during his 2012 public interview in Neshaminy.

According to a press release, more than 741 responses from a community survey about the superintendent search were received. The board interviewed with several candidates and there were multiple rounds on candidate screening.

Pennsbury worked with Bucks County Intermediate Unit #22 to help find their next superintendent.

Pennsbury will host a forum with Gretzula on Wednesday, April 27 at 7 p.m. in Keller Hall at Pennsbury High School West Campus located at 608 South Olds Boulevard. The event will allow the community to submit up to two questions to moderator Dr. Mark Hoffman, executive director of the Bucks County Intermediate Unit, until Monday, April 26 at noon.

Officials said the format for the event has been choose to allow the maximum number of questions can be asked in the time allotted.

The post Pennsbury Settles On Finalist For Superintendent Position appeared first on LevittownNow.com.

Provided by the Pennsbury School District:

Credit: Pennsbury School District

Student speaker, Bianka Paciorek of Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary School, paid tribute to Falls Township Police Officer John Yeager in her speech about the DARE program. Bianka is shown here with Pennsbury’s Director of Administrative Services, Mr. Sherwood Taylor.
Credit: Pennsbury School District

The Pennsbury Partners Program celebrated its 17th annual partnership recognition event on Wednesday, April 20th at William Penn Middle School.

As in previous years, awards were presented to one outstanding business partner and one outstanding non-profit partner of the year.

The 2016 celebration also featured musical entertainment by members of the Pennsbury Concert Jazz Band. The event was organized by Ann Langtry, Coordinator of Communications, and Robin Peters, Partnership Program Assistant.“In addition to benefiting students, partnering with Pennsbury offers many advantages for community agencies and businesses,” said Langtry. “Partnerships with Pennsbury offer image enhancement opportunities, provide greater visibility in the community, and offer the personal satisfaction that together, we are helping to shape the workforce of the future.”

The recipients of the outstanding partnership awards for the 2015-2016 school year included:

• Davis Acura, for its generous support of the Pennsbury Odyssey of the Mind Program;
• The Pennsbury DARE Program, as provided by the Townships of Falls and Lower Makefield.

Student involvement in the 2016 recognition ceremony included comments from Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary student, Bianka Paciorek, and Makefield Elementary students, Lorelei Graffius and Mitchell Beatch, in recognition of DARE, the Non-Profit Partnership of the Year, and PHS student, Kathryn Howarth, in support of the Business Partner of the Year, Davis Acura.

Credit: Pennsbury School District

Among this year’s dinner sponsors were ShopRite of Yardley and Wells Fargo Bank – both Bronze Sponsors. Funds provided by the 2016 sponsors will enable the Partnership Program to provide mini-grants to Pennsbury teachers in the coming school year.

Over the last 20 years, the Pennsbury Partners Program has grown to be a highly successful, collaborative effort involving over 1,000 partners in the Pennsbury community.

For information on the Pennsbury Partners Program, visit www.pennsbury.k12.pa.us/partners.

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