Let's Save Halloween

It has been a tough week for North Penn area kids, their parents, and their neighbors. To be sure, we were spared the worst of Superstorm Sandy's wrath. Yet, there are families in our community right now without heat and electricity and many of our streets and parks are unsafe due to fallen trees and power lines. Some of our schools will be cancelling the planned Halloween parties and parades for this year. With several of our local schools still without power at this time, it is likely that more cancellations will occur.

I don't envy the borough and township supervisors who are being asked for answers and decisions regarding whether to postpone trick-or-treating tonight. Nor the school officials who are faced with similar decisions. Some neighborhoods in our area have been ravaged while others look just as they did on Sunday.

Most of our local boroughs and townships have refrained from making a call about tonight's festivities. Others have suggested proceeding with great caution. One has requested that families wait until Saturday night to trick-or-treat, though rumors suggest not all residents will follow that advice. It is a bit confusing and it has kept me and the local news outlets pretty busy today as we try to stay on top of the latest declarations.

But, I have a suggestion... If we can all agree as a community, for the sake of our children, to answer the door with a smile and a piece of candy or other treat, whether it be tonight or Saturday night, I believe we will have saved Halloween.

As adults, it is easy to forget how fun it once was to dress up and traipse around the neighborhood in the dark in hot pursuit of delicious candy (often on a school night, woo woo!). Let's do our part, regardless of whether we agree with their parents' decision to let them go out tonight or Saturday night, and help make this a Halloween to remember - for how fun it was. Its as simple a treat and a smile. :)

School Readiness Program Expands to North Penn

The Parent-Child Home Program (PCHP), an evidence-based school readiness program that has been in existence for nearly 50 years and is administered locally by Friendship House, is expanding into the North Penn and Souderton areas! This in-home visitation program is for families who are struggling with some factor which places them at risk, such as low-income, low level of education, teen parents, single parent, and/or a developmental delay of the child. Counselors work with the parent/caregiver to show them how to encourage their toddler's development and prepare him/her to be successful in school, thus increasing rates of graduation for participants. In addition to the many educational and developmental benefits that result from participating in the program, families are allowed to keep the new toys or books that are given to the child during the sessions, as well. 

More information about the PCHP program can be found on the Friendship House website. General information about the Parent-Child Home Program, which is available at various locations across the country and internationally, can also be found at Parent-Child.org.

Interested families may contact Julie Berry, Coordinator, and Stacy Dori, Regional Director at 610-327-2200). The year-long program begins this month, so interested families should call as soon as possible!

When Was Your Last "Great Date Night"?

When Was Your Last "Great Date Night"?

Can you remember?... Or have you, like many parents, put your love life on the back burner? Do you have any fun plans for this weekend? How about next?

If you haven't carved out a night for Mom and Dad in a while, here's a great reason to do so next Friday night...

Singer, songwriter and humorist Mark Cable will be in town next Friday night, October 19th at 7:00PM at Christ United Methodist Church in Lansdale. Mark is an accomplished guitarist and singer whose everyday-life songs and off-the-wall sense of humor have stirred audiences across the U.S. to laugh, to cry, and to think about the things in life that matter most. He's released 17 CD's and been touring full-time for over 25 years.


Tickets are just $20 per couple and can be purchased at the door or in advance from Nathan Snyder (215.527.5075) who, himself, is a local parent of two young children. All attendees are asked to bring along a share-able dessert to contribute to the dessert buffet.

Learn more about Mark Cable and the "Great Date Night" at www.MarkCable.com.