Sunday, November 28, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Community Events happening this week
On Wed, 11/24 there will be a Community Pep Rally in the gym of the HS at 6 pm. I'm sure the cheerleaders, band and many others will put on quite a show to get everyone hyped up for the following days' football game.
On Thursday, 11/25 (Thanksgiving Day) the Morrisville Student Loan Breakfast will be held in the cafeteria of the HS from 7 am until 10 am.
This organization provides interest free loans to Morrisville graduates who wish to continue their education.
Adults $6 and kids (12 & under) $4
That all leads up to the Annual Morrisville/Bristol Thanksgiving day game (on Thursday 11/25) that begins at 10:30 am at the Athletic Field.
Ending a great season at home with the biggest rivalry around should prove to be exciting for the football players and supporters alike.
Candidates say board appointments based on politics
TEXT SIZE Increase text size Decrease text size
By: GEMA MARIA DUARTE
Bucks County Courier Times
MORRISVILLE SCHOOLS
Residents Dave Stoneburner and Damon Miller sat in the same spots they usually do on the third and fourth Wednesdays of each month.
As they always do, they diligently listened to the issues discussed at Morrisville school board meetings, such as the possibility of starting a track team club and getting a more comfortable ride for students attending Bucks County Technical School instead of crowding them into one bus.
But last week's meeting was personal for them. They were two of four candidates hoping to be appointed to the board. A seat was left vacant last month after the board ousted Robin Reithmeyer because of poor attendance.
Neither got the job.
Yvonne Ruthrauff did. Mark Coassolo was the other candidate, but he wasn't at the meeting.
No surprise in the choice, Stoneburner and Miller said, but plenty of disappointment.
They believe Ruthrauff will be a rubberstamp for the majority.
But board members said she was the most qualified and would be the best person to work with.
Jack Buckman said he voted for Ruthrauff because "(she) was humble and had concerns about the schools and the community before I came on the board. I used to be on (the borough's council) + and then she was telling me things had to be looked into at the schools. All the others came across as forceful and too confident. I feel (Ruthrauff) will speak up when it's necessary."
John DeWilde voted for her because "she seemed the most willing to work with the rest of the board members."
For board member Marlys Mihok, Ruthrauff was the most open-minded candidate and willing to learn new things. Ronald Stout said Ruthrauff "seems to think along the same lines as I do. We need good education and want the money to go to the kids."
Al Radosti said he's known Ruthrauff a long time and, without giving specifics, said she was the best choice. He added that she's been involved in the community a lot.
Ruthrauff said she wants to work with the board and not disappoint the public.
Stoneburner and Miller have made previous runs for a school board seat with no luck. Still, they continued attending meetings and being involved in the district hoping their knowledge of the issues would land them a seat.
It didn't this time.
Ruthrauff was the only candidate nominated, and appointed by a 6-0 vote. Two board members, Brenda Worob and Gloria Heater, didn't attend the meeting.
Although they said they have nothing against Ruthrauff as a person, they worry about her knowledge of the issues affecting the district.
"(The board is) looking for 'yes' people that won't bring anything new to the table," Miller said. "They aren't representing all of Morrisville; they are only representing a portion of the community."
"They picked what was best for them, not what was best for the students," Stoneburner said, adding that Ruthrauff doesn't attend meetings regularly.
But Stoneburner and Miller will be back, they said, sitting in their regular seats.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Tech School Board Meeting - 11/22 at 7:30pm
if this can be posted to the front page today by the blog Admin would so appreciate it....feel like we never get a breatk from fighting for our kids...i know this blog is mostly read by Morrisville residents but if everyone can pass on to their friends it would help get the word out.
FOR ANYONE IN ANY DISTRICT WHO KNOWS A STUDENT GOING TO BUCKS COUNTY TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL OR HAS A CHILD IN THE SCHOOL PLEASE READ THE POSTING FROM OUR PARENT BOOSTERS PRESIDENT BELOW AND PLEASE ATTEND THE BCTHS SCHOOL BOARD MEETING ON MONDAY 11/22. THIS IS SO VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR CHILDRENS TECHNICAL AND ACADEMIC EDUCATION.
Message....
I know there are alot of rumors flying around about changing the schedule at BCTHS. I think this all stems from how the sending school districts perceive the Tech. We all know what a great school this is, mainly because our children are offered a great technical education in addition to a highly competitive academic education. However, after being a guest at a meeting with administrators from other schools, it is evident that everything revolves around the PSSA scores and the No Child Left Behind guidelines. And because we have a higher ratio of students with an IEP, this makes it more difficult for BCTHS to achieve the expected AYP scores. But the school boards tend to look at our overall performance, without taking into account all the factors. So I think it's time we make our voices heard! There's a Board Meeting this Monday, Nov. 22nd, at 7:30 PM in the Board Room (K hall, which is at the first parking lot on your right). I'm hoping we can get as many supporters as possible to let the sending school districts know how we feel about BCTHS. The current schedule works well for our kids (as they can see by the 82% passing rate on the NOCTI tests!). Changing the schedule won't automatically raise our PSSA scores. My son was in learning support while at BCTHS, and there was no way he was making proficient on the PSSA's (I'm not downing my son-it's just a fact!). Hopefully, we can make the board members see our point so they continue to fund BCTHS. Remember, BCTHS is dependent on the sending school districts for funding. So, as you can see, it's time to get involved! We need all the boards' support in order for our children to continue to receive the quality education they're entitled to (and, as taxpayers, we are entitled to!). Please try to attend this meeting! And pass the word around to anyone not on this list! There's power in numbers!!
Friday, November 19, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
A new board member and an overcrowded bus
Students say tech bus is overcrowded
By: GEMA MARIA DUARTE
Bucks County Courier Times
morrisville schools
The school board also appointed a new member during its meeting Wednesday night.
Morrisville School District has two new things: an appointed school board member and a school bus problem.
Three students complained of the overcrowded conditions on the single school bus that about 50 students have been riding since Monday - and parents want an immediate solution.
Morrisville students heading to Bucks County Technical School in Bristol Township had been riding in two school buses from the former M. R. Reiter Elementary School. That changed when the district cut one bus to save money.
Acting Superintendent Bill Ferrara said the problem would be taken care of immediately, but a permanent solution needs to be worked out.
Two school students told the board that the bus ride is unsafe.
"We are falling off our seats," said Robert Fox, 16, adding that if the school bus gets into an accident, the liability may be on the district for the unsafe bus condition.
Jake Wilson, 17, said there's no room for school projects or sports gear on the bus. He added that Safety Officer Dave May supervises the students from the outside of the bus, so he hasn't witnessed the students' discomfort.
Wanda Kartal, a parent, wanted the school to find a solution.
"On (Friday), the tech parents received first notice that on (Monday) there would no longer be two buses transporting students to and from the tech school," she told the board. "No other information was provided, not even what time the one bus would be picking the kids up. No other notice was given, not even at the superintendents meeting, the school board meeting, or during the tech school updates."
She continued: "Since Monday, I have witnessed 50 kids rushing to board the bus and several kids hopping off the curb to be first in line due to overcrowding on the one bus. My son, who attends the tech school, told me he had to squeeze between two other students and that kids were hanging off the seats, blocking the aisles with their bodies and backpacks."
Ferrera said it was too late to get either a bigger bus or two buses for today, but accommodations will be made for Friday. And he will personally walk the aisles of the bus or buses.
Shortly after that discussion, the board moved on to appoint Yvonne Ruthrauff to replace former school board director Robin Reithmeyer, who was kicked off the board in October for not attending meetings. Reithmeyer told the newspaper that she had family and health issues preventing her from attending meetings.
Ruthrauff, whose son graduated in 2008 from the district, said her goal on the board will be to provide area students a good education at a good price for the district.
Before the vote, board Director Marlys Mihok read a letter, which said that she had a conversation with Reithmeyer on Wednesday afternoon, notifying the former director of the board's intention to replace her at the meeting and if she had any intention of fighting for her seat.
Reithmeyer confirmed Wednesday night during a phone interview that Mihok called her at work. And she responded, "I find it amusing that after 13 months you reached out to me."
Reithmeyer said the issue wasn't her year of absence, according to the letter she received from the board's solicitor Thomas Profy dated Oct. 25. The letter questioned her absence from the August and September meetings, which she had medical explanations for, but the board didn't ask for the material, she said.
Near the end of Mihok's letter she said, "It is my opinion that Robin Reithmeyer never attended another Morrisville School Board meeting after the November 2009 general election because the results did not favor the candidates that Robin supported by displaying their lawn signs on her property."
Gema Maria Duarte can be reached at 215-949-4195 or gduarte@phillyBurbs.com. Follow Gema on Twitter at twitter.com/deadlineduarte.
November 18, 2010 02:06 AM
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Cookson re-injured as Bulldogs fall in title game
Cookson re-injured as Bulldogs fall in title game
By: JEAN-PAUL LAUTENSCHLAGER
The Intelligencer
The Morrisville quarterback was forced to leave after re-aggravating a shoulder separation, and Calvary Christian rolled to the win.
BRISTOL TWP. - The pigskin slipped out of his grasp, and with it went the momentum and the hope of another district title.
The Morrisville Bulldogs fell to Calvary Christian Academy, 47-14, in the District One Class A championship at Harry S Truman's Hank Johns Field. It was the first time since 1992 that Morrisville made a playoff appearance. It's the third crown for Calvary and the first since 2005.
The No. 1-seeded Bulldogs coughed up the football four times and the Cougars took advantage. The miscues resulted in 13 points for second-seeded Calvary.
"We knew coming in that they are good football team. They don't beat themselves," said Morrisville coach Jim Gober, who made his playoff coaching debut.
Calvary scored its third touchdown at the 7:25 mark in the second quarter, taking a 20-7 lead. Looking to avenge a 53-14 loss in Week 8, the Bulldogs marched to the Cougars' 2-yard line on seven plays. Morrisville (7-4) converted a fourth down, and quarterback Matt Cookson connected on a 38-yard pass to wide receiver Eric Wilcox. The sideline and Morrisville faithful gasped after the next play.
"It was pretty close, but when I got hit, I wasn't worried about the touchdown," Cookson said of the hit that re-aggravated his Grade III shoulder separation. "He hit me in the perfect spot."
The hit forced a fumble and, instead of the drive ending in a touchdown, it ended in a touchback. The Cougars recovered the ball and scored two plays later. Jerry Peralte broke free for a 75-yard run, and teammate Ian Richardson capped the drive with a 3-yard touchdown for a 27-7 lead.
"It's a whole different ballgame if we would've scored. That fumble gave them momentum and it killed us," said Cookson, who threw for 123 yards and ran for 19. "If it's 20-14, you never know what could've happened."
What did happen was more ball control and a balanced Cougars attack. Richardson and Calvary quarterback Doug Smith each had two rushing touchdowns. Calvary will play the winner of District 12 the weekend after Thanksgiving.
"We just couldn't get into the end zone for some reason," said Morrisville co-captain Austin Crist. "I wish it was a different result, but we can't win (playing) like this."
Morrisville had 12 first downs and only punted three times. Sophomore Jimmie Miller rushed for 40 yards, including a 34-run with less than a minute to play. With Wilcox at quarterback, Morrisville was forced to change its game plan. The Bulldogs passed on 17 of 28 plays after that fateful fourth down. Morrisville was penned deep in its own territory, and its best field position on the first four series was its own 23.
Luckily for Morrisville, however, still has one game remaining on the schedule - the annual battle against Bristol.
"The fact that we are here after all we came through is a good thing," Crist said. "Thanksgiving will be another chance for a championship."
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Board interviews residents for vacant seat
Board interviews residents for seat
By: GEMA MARIA DUARTE
Bucks County Courier Times
MORRISVILLE SCHOOLS
Four Morrisville residents want to be the next school board member, but when the music stops, there will be only one chair.
They all want to take the seat once held by former board member Robin Reithmeyer, who was booted from the board in October because she didn't attend a meeting the past year.
Two of them, Damon Miller and Mark Coassolo, have run for school board before and lost. The other two, Yvonne Ruthrauff and Dave Stoneburner, are interested in getting involved with the district. The final vote will be made at the Nov. 17 meeting.
During a special meeting Wednesday, held immediately after the work session, the majority of the board interviewed the four candidates by asking seven questions to some and more to others. Each candidate had up to 15 minutes to respond. The questions included qualifications, reason for interest, dealing with delicate discussions, challenges facing public education, and meeting attendance.
They all are available to attend meetings, they said. And if, for whatever reason, they can't attend a meeting, they would communicate with the board.
Miller, Coassolo and Stoneburner said their interest for the seat is to practice financial responsibility and student education. And the trouble facing public education is parent involvement, said Miller and Coassolo.
Stoneburner is a single man tired of high taxes. Miller is involved with different district committees and groups. Coassolo has a child in the district and wants school spirit in the community. Ruthrauff volunteers in the community and wants to find solutions to district problems.
Gema Maria Duarte can be reached at 215-949-4195 or gduarte@phillyBurbs.com
Football playoffs tomorrow!!
DISTRICT ONE CLASS A
Morrisville vs. Calvary Christian, 7 p.m. at Harry S Truman
Monday, November 8, 2010
Special meeting for vacant school board position
NOTICE
The School Directors of the Borough of Morrisville Sch-ool District will hold a Special Meeting for the purpose of interviewing prospective candidates for the vacant school board position. The interviews will commence following the 7:30 p.m. November 10, 2010 Agenda Meeting and will be in 15 minute intervals. The meeting will be held in the LGI Room located in the Morrisville High School and is opened to the public. At the conclusion of the interviews, current school board members will vote for the new board member who will be seated on the evening of November 17th. All potential candidates must send their letters of interest to Mr. Paul DeAngelo, Business Administrator, Borough of Morrisville School District, 550 West Palmer Street, Morrisville, PA 19067 by November 9, 2010.
Marlys Mihok
Secretary
1t N 7
Appeared in: Bucks County Courier Times on Sunday, 11/07/2010
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Big Win for the Bulldogs last night
Big win for the Bulldogs last night!!
Field goal in OT gives Morrisville stunning win
BAL FOOTBALL: Morrisville 3, Springfield 0 (OT)
The Bulldogs will go into the District One championship game on a high note after upsetting BAL rival Springfield on Matt Cookson's clutch kick.
MORRISVILLE - The Morrisville Bulldogs took a ferocious bite out of the Springfield Spartans' football team Friday night.
Matt Cookson booted a 27-yard field in overtime, boosting the Bulldogs to a 3-0 victory at Robert Morris Field on Senior Night. The win kept Morrisville as the top seed in the District One Class A playoffs, which start next week.
"I am still completely overwhelmed. I'm speechless," Cookson said. "This is the best thing ever."
Morrisville will take on Calvary Christian for the District One championship this Friday (7 p.m.) at Harry S Truman.
The Bulldogs' defense held Springfield scoreless through regulation and only gave up six yards in the overtime series, stonewalling the Spartans' offense. Morrisville (7-3 overall, 3-3 Bicentennial Athletic League) didn't gain a yard in overtime.
On fourth down, however, the Bulldogs looked to kicker and quarterback Cookson. Julian Walker bobbled the snap, but got it down in time for Cookson to end the game and upset Springfield.
"I was so nervous. My hands were shaking," said Walker, who held on field goals for the first time Friday.
Earlier this season the Morrisville offense ruled the headlines. In Week 10, however, the Bulldogs' defense was the only spotlight in the victorious post-game huddle.
"Our defensive coordinator, coach (Demetrius) Roberts put together a solid game plan," said Morrisville head coach Jim Gober. "The biggest thing we concentrated on today was we didn't want to make mistakes."
With 2:37 remaining in the game, Springfield (7-3, 5-2 BAL) started its final offensive series with a 4-yard run, then a 32-yard pass to get to the Bulldogs' 22. Defensive back Rich Laypo stopped Spartans running back Clay Ewell for a short gain, forcing fourth down. Luke Whealey hauled in Doug Bauer's 16-yard pass in the end zone. The touchdown was called back because of an illegal shift penalty - Springfield's sixth miscue of the game. Austin Crist forced a turnover on downs when he sacked Bauer for a loss of 4.
Springfield more than doubled Morrisville's total yards on offense, 292 to 110, respectively. Ewell led the Spartans' attack with 34 carries for 183 yards - an average of 5.4 yards per rush. Springfield outgained Morrisville in passing yardage, 32-25.
"This is best game I have ever played with this team," Crist said. "This is what this team has now become - all heart."
With less than four minutes to play, the Bulldogs ended a 12-play Spartans drive when Ewell rushed to the 6-yard line and fumbled after a hit by the Morrisville defense. Lineman Gary Boyd recovered to preserve the scoreless tie.
Senior Matt Beyer led Morrisville with 43 yards on six carries. Cookson ran for 41 yards and threw for 25.
"We're thrilled with the way we played, and hopefully we continue with this wave of emotion next week against Calvary," Gober said.
Jean-Paul Lautenschlager can be reached at jpradio@hotmail.com
November 06, 2010 12:20 AM
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Districts concerned over exercise, nutrition
Districts concerned over exercise, nutrition
The Pennsylvania Board of Education is hoping to tackle the growing childhood obesity problem by encouraging exercise and healthier food in schools and even a sort of recess for middle and high school aged students.
But many area school districts have issues with the state's proposed revisions to school physical education and nutrition guidelines. Though they agree with the intent, district officials call the state regulations an unfunded mandate that would cut into academic programming and focuses on nutrition goals that are unreachable at this time.
The Board of Education approved the draft Chapter 12 regulations in May, though by September it had backed off on some of the more stringent physical education requirements.
The regulations are still under review and have not yet been submitted to the governor or state legislators, according to Steve Weitzman, a spokesman for the Department of Education.
"Obesity is almost an epidemic, with one-third of kids either overweight or obese," Weitzman said. Besides the risk of health problems, "there are consequences to academic achievement."
He noted that obesity has been linked to discipline issues and lower test scores in schools.
Weitzman could not give an estimate of when the proposed regulations would go into effect.
On the nutrition side, the proposed regulations would require each food item offered by the cafeteria to contain 35 percent or fewer calories from fat, 10 percent or fewer calories from saturated fat, and no more than 0.5 grams of trans fat. Nuts, seeds and cheese would be exempt from the standards.
Sugar levels would need to make up less than 35 percent of a food's total calories.
Each food item sold as part of the lunch entree must have fewer than 230 milligrams of sodium per portion, though a la carte items can contain as much as 480 milligrams of sodium.
Pennridge officials say the nutrition requirements would be too limiting and would likely increase the cost of school lunches.
Most entrees the district offers - such as its homemade soup - now would not meet those new sodium levels, and food suppliers are not even offering products with those levels yet, said Karen Castenada, director of food services at Pennridge.
"Manufacturers are working on taking out sodium. We're at a starting point," she said. "It's not something you can just do immediately."
She said she would prefer to see such guidelines phased into the school districts, with attention paid more to a balanced meal, rather than focusing on the nutritional value of each, individual food item.
Without a balance, you'll likely lose students' interest in school lunches and perhaps defeat the purpose of the new nutrition guidelines, she said.
"If the only thing you're offering the students is healthy food and no more processed (food) and not as much variety, you're going to have more kids that are going to want to brown bag it," Castenada said. "The best way to go about it is to have lots of healthy choices. If (students) come to the cafeteria and buy a slice of pizza but have salad and fruit juice, it's still a balanced meal."
School districts say promoting healthy foods is already a priority.
Upper Moreland School District recently received a farm-to-school grant that will allow it to plant a vegetable garden in the high school's courtyard, said Superintendent Robert Milrod.
He expects the garden to be planted sometime in the next year, with the harvest being incorporated into school lunches.
"We think that will give people a healthier point of view regarding their environment and also what they're putting into their bodies," he said.
At Pennridge, cafeterias are making a lot of entrees, like soups and buffalo pork subs, from scratch. Even the less healthy choices, like pizza, are made with whole grain flour and a blend of skim and whole mozzarella, Castenada said. Chicken patties and nuggets are baked, not fried.
The state's proposed revisions to Chapter 12 also would require schools to provide at least 30 minutes of "moderate to vigorous physical activity daily during the regular school day."
The regulations state that 20 minutes of the requirement should be in the form of "scheduled recess" for elementary and middle schools or a "physical activity break" for high school students.
The first draft of the regulations also proposed weekly targets for formal physical educations classes: 150 minutes per week at the elementary level and 225 minutes per week in middle and high schools.
But administrators across the state blasted those goals, saying it would require them to hire new phys-ed teachers and build new gymnasiums.
Based on that feedback, the state Board of Education backed off from the physical education requirements, according to a September letter sent to "education stakeholders" in the state.
Still, school districts aren't sure how they will be able to incorporate what some describe as "recess for high school students" into an already packed school day.
Jennifer Foight-Cressman, assistant superintendent at Centennial School District, said Centennial supports the spirit of the law.
"We are committed to educating the whole child and recognize that happy, healthy kids are also better learners," she said.
But some of the proposed requirements would put a strain on instructional time and resources, she added.
Arlene Zielinski, an assistant superintendent at Pennridge, said she was "stunned at the kinds of pictures that came to mind when I imagined every high school student getting an unsupervised, unstructured 20-minute recess."
Adding such a physical activity break would mean a straight loss of instructional time.
"If you put that in, what comes out?" asked Curtis Griffin, superintendent of Hatboro-Horsham School District.
Even during elementary school recesses, administrators can't force a student to be active, she said.
Some students, for instance, spend recess reading a book.
"What are you going to do? Pull the book out of their hand and make them run around?" Zielinski asked.
Pennridge is one of several school districts in the state whose school board passed a resolution against the proposed Chapter 12 changes.
"At some point, schools can't handle everything. (Health and physical fitness) belong as a choice for families to make," Zielinski said. "We're charged with instruction. That's what we should be doing."
Some area school districts, however, are taking a wait-and-see approach to the proposal.
Milrod of Upper Moreland called the regulations "very impractical to implement." But, he added, "Sometimes the world of politics puts out information at one extreme to put us educators in a bargaining position where we try to come up with a solution."
Theresa Hegel can be reached at 215-538-6381 or thegel@phillyBurbs.com.
November 04, 2010 02:21 AM
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Fitz wins over incumbent Murphy
Fitzpatrick triumphs in 8th
Riding a wave that carried Republicans to control of the U.S. House, Mike Fitzpatrick avenged his most bitter political defeat Tuesday by booting Congressman Patrick Murphy from office.
According to the unofficial voting machine results, Fitzpatrick took 54 percent of the vote to Murphy's 46 percent.
As hundreds of supporters at GOP headquarters in Doylestown chanted his name, Fitzpatrick said, "I'm incredibly humbled by this decision made by the people. I won't let you down."
Murphy, a two-term Democrat, spoke to emotional supporters at the Italian Mutual Aid Fifth Ward Association in Bristol.
"Tonight, we may have lost a battle, but the fight for our country must go on," he said. "I will never back down from my pledge to you to fight for the greatness I believe our country can achieve. I hope no matter what happens, I will continue to make you proud. I'm honored to continue the fight in this community. And my faith in America, and all of you, will never fade."
About 8,500 absentee ballots need to be counted - beginning today - after allegations of fraud tarnished the final weeks of the campaign. That won't impact the 8th District race, as Fitzpatrick led by more than 17,000 votes.
The Bucks County Board of Elections agreed last week to impound the ballots and count them at the courthouse to preserve any evidence of alleged ballot fraud.
During his concession speech, Murphy said he spoke with Fitzpatrick's camp. When the crowd booed, Murphy said, "They won fair and square + well, not fair and square, but you know +"
Four years ago, facing a voter backlash as the country soured on President George Bush and the war in Iraq, Fitzpatrick lost to Murphy by just more than 1,500 votes in an election where nearly 250,000 were cast. Democrats gained control of the House that year and increased their margin in 2008.
Republicans returned the favor Tuesday night, as Americans had their first chance to react to the policies of President Barack Obama and a Democratic House and Senate with large majorities.
"I've been through a lot the last four years and had the opportunity to reflect on what went wrong in Washington, and why the people fired my party," Fitzpatrick said. "That experience and that reflection have not been lost on me. This election was a referendum on President Obama's handling of the economy and it was also a referendum on Pat Murphy because Murphy is Obama."
Murphy, one of the first national figures to endorse Obama over Hillary Clinton, has been a solid vote for the Democratic agenda that included massive spending with the stimulus, bank, auto and state bailouts and health care reform.
Fitzpatrick, 47, made that the primary focus of his campaign, hammering away at Murphy with statistics that show unemployment has more than doubled during the Democrat's four years in office while the nation's debt has increased by $5 trillion.
He also echoed GOP talking points about shrinking government and with it, its taxes and regulations on small businesses.
And just as Fitzpatrick tried to tie Murphy to Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Murphy, 37, used the "Bush-Fitzpatrick" phrase early and often during several debates and news conferences.
Murphy jumped on Fitzpatrick from the day the Republican won the primary. He criticized him for his decade as a Bucks County commissioner and derided him as a "Fitz-flopper" for position changes during his one term in Congress.
But Fitzpatrick, who survived a battle with colon cancer, pulled off a political triumph that was seemingly unthinkable a year ago.
At the Moose Lodge in Doylestown, about 150 members of the Kitchen Table Patriots, a Bucks County Tea Party group, celebrated Tuesday night and reflected upon what their young movement has achieved.
"No matter what happens, this isn't the end, this is the end of the beginning for us," said Furlong's Paul Crovo, who said he wasn't politically active until joining the group last summer.
Members knocked on thousands of doors leading up to the election.
Marianne Davies, co-founder of the Kitchen Table Patriots, said the group invested "a long time and a lot of work. But we are going to hold Mike's feet to the fire."
Pat Poprik, vice chairwoman of the Bucks County Republican Committee, said, "We've won and we've lost and winning is a lot better."
Staff writers Rachel Canelli and John Mullane contributed to this story.
Gary Weckselblatt can be reached at 215-345-3169 or gweckselblatt@phillyBurbs.com
U.S. Representative 8th District
1 seat
2 years
The 8th District includes all of Bucks County, some districts of Abington, Upper Dublin and Upper Moreland in Montgomery County and two wards in Philadelphia.
Republican Mike Fitzpatrick 126,404
Democrat Patrick Murphy (I) 109,157
Vote totals don't include absentee ballots, which haven't been counted yet.
November 03, 2010 02:10 AM
Galloway wins in the 140th district, defeats Jane Burger
By: Christian Menno
Bucks County Courier Times
1 seat n 2 years
The district includes Bristol, Morrisville, Tullytown, Falls, two districts in Bristol Township and one district in Middletown.
Republican Jane Burger 6,413
Democrat John Galloway (I) 10,954
Vote totals don't include absentee ballots, which haven't been counted yet.
State Rep. John Galloway has won a third term, defeating Republican candidate Jane Burger for the 140th Assembly seat Tuesday.
"I am humbled and honored that the voters in my district once again elected me to represent them in Harrisburg," said Galloway, a Democrat. "I ran on my record of achievement with a positive, issues-oriented campaign and I was proud of that. I look forward to addressing the many challenges ahead of me."
His opponent, Republican Jane Burger, said she was proud of her numbers even though more than 63 percent of voters - not including those casting absentee ballots - supported Galloway.
"It was an uphill battle in a heavy Democratic district," Burger said Tuesday. "We knew it was going to be a tough fight, but I am happy with the support that I received. It shows that the voters are beginning to look at the candidates and not just voting along party lines. Voters will be watching to make sure that Galloway works for the people and not for special interest groups. He worked for his re-election, and I wish him well."
Galloway now will have a chance to show his effectiveness as a legislator without the benefit of per diems - the daily expense allowance lawmakers are entitled to without producing receipts. Galloway, 50, said he has sworn off per diems after last year, when he took home one of the highest totals in the House.
He went to Harrisburg in 2006 as a legislator who ran on a reform platform. He became the only state representative to introduce legislation seeking a referendum calling for a constitutional convention.
"I want to shift from a local property tax to a state tax," he added Tuesday after the election. "That could either be an income tax or a sales tax that will change the way we fund our schools. And I want a constitutional convention to do it."
- Christian Menno
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Reithmeyer not sure if she'll fight for seat
From the BCCT:
Reithmeyer not sure if she'll fight for seat
MORRISVILLE SCHOOLS
The school board vacated her seat after she didn't attend any school board meetings for a year.
For the past 12 months, Robin Reithmeyer hasn't attended a single meeting as an elected member of the Morrisville school board.
And it's taken the board that long to remove her from the seat.
The board took action last week, after a year in which neither Reithmeyer nor school board members talked to one another. During each meeting over the year, members had assumed she would show up at the next meeting, one board member said.
Reithmeyer said last week that illness and family crises made it impossible for her to attend meetings. And she's uncertain whether she'll fight to get back her seat.
"I'm undecided," she said, adding that she found out about the board's action Thursday morning.
Head board directors - President Bill Hellmann, Vice President Alfred Radosti and board secretary Marlys Mihok - knew about the death of Reithmeyer's father in December. But they weren't aware of Reithmeyer's health problem, Mihok said last week.
She added that a policy requires school board members to call her when they plan to be absent. Reithmeyer said she's not aware of the policy, but did call the secretary assigned to the board, Jeanne Corrigan. Since Corrigan doesn't talk to the media, the newspaper couldn't confirm that Reithmeyer called her.
Reithmeyer said she told former Superintendent Elizabeth Yonson about her health troubles and thought Yonson would have told the board members.
Neither Hellmann, Radosti nor Mihok reached out to Reithmeyer to address her absence.
"No, I can't say we tried to contact her," Mihok said.
So when Reithmeyer was a no-show for nearly a year, the board directed solicitor Thomas Profy to take action. A letter was sent to Reithmeyer dated Oct. 25, two days before Wednesday's school board meeting, informing her that the board intended to declare her seat vacant.
"She could have let one of us know of her illness," Mihok said. "If she couldn't contact us personally, a note could have gone a long way. + With regret, we vacated her seat. It's for the best of the community."
The non-communication between Reithmeyer and the majority of the board isn't a surprise.
Reithmeyer often clashed with fellow board members - mostly with Mihok, Hellmann and member Brenda Worob - on major issues such as school renovation projects and finances. Arguments between Reithmeyer and the board majority would sometimes get heated.
She often said the board majority hurried into decisions and was too focused on saving money. And she accused Hellmann of being closed-mouthed about his thoughts and plans. In many issues she was the lone vote, such as opposing implementing an early retirement incentive plan.
Board members have 30 days from Wednesday to replace Reithmeyer, according to the board's solicitor.
Whom will they appoint?
"Someone to contribute to the school district and (who) has common sense," Hellmann said after Wednesday's meeting.
Before Wednesday's vote, Profy sent a letter to Reithmeyer dated Oct. 25, informing her that the board intended to declare her seat vacant under the Public School Code, which "authorizes a Board of School Directors to declare a vacancy, if a School Director neglects or refuses to attend two successive regular meetings of the School Board unless, of course, detained by sickness and/or an otherwise necessary and justified absence," the letter states.
The letter continues, "You will be given an opportunity to show that your absence was caused by sickness and/or an otherwise necessary and justified absence has caused your failure to attend the two previous successive regular meetings of the school board."
Reithmeyer responded to Profy with a letter dated Oct. 27, which was also copied to William Ferrara, acting superintendent, and Paul DeAngelo, the business manager. In the letter she asked that her letter be distributed to all board directors.
"On Aug. 25 I was in the emergency room at St. Mary Medical Center; clearly out of the district and unable to attend the school board meeting. I spoke to both Jeanne Corrigan and Paul DeAngelo that afternoon and asked that they state only that I would not be in attendance. I did not feel it was anyone's business and asked that it not become a public issue," Reithmeyer said in her letter.
She was at the hospital because her mother was admitted, Reithmeyer said last week in a phone interview.
The letter continues, "After being hospitalized Sept. 16 through (Sept.) 18, I was under a doctor's care and not released to normal activity at the time of the Sept. 22 meeting. I did not realize that my private struggles with health and my family needed to be made public. + Additionally, I will not be at the Oct. 27 meeting because I will be out of the district at the time of the meeting."
She added, "I truly hope that everyone on the board will be held to the same standard."
School director Worob hasn't attended meetings in a few months also because of a recurring illness.
"Brenda keeps in constant communication with us, keeping the board updated about her health," Mihok said. "So it's different."
Gema Maria Duarte can be reached at 215-949-4195 or gduarte@phillyBurbs.com
November 02, 2010 02:10 AM