Dear Neighbor,
I had a great time with my family and staffers at the 111th Annual Doylestown Tree lighting ceremony! We ran into our incoming District Attorney in Bucks County, Joe Khan, and super intern (in our office) Ethan Bolanos. The downtown was packed and Santa arrived just on time.
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I feel so fortunate to live in a community that seeks out ways to come together to celebrate the holidays and anniversaries that are important to us.
Some of the other events I plan to stop by this season include:
I hope to see you out and about, and that you’re having a peaceful holiday season so far.
Sincerely,
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Reverence for our caretakers with the Nurse Honor Guards of Bucks County
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Shortly before Thanksgiving, I stood with a group that always stands with others in need: our nurses. Making the trip to the Capitol were the Nurse Honor Guards of Bucks County, a volunteer-run, nonprofit organization comprised of active and retired nurses who united in in 2021 to honor those who devoted themselves to the profession.
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As someone who spent many years representing nurses when they suffered injuries, trauma and assaults, I know firsthand how difficult this work is and how lucky we are to have a profession full of such good people serving their neighbors and those in need.
The group honors nurses who have passed away by performing memorial services, where a member recites the Nightingale Tribute and lays a white rose on the casket/urn, symbolizing the nurse’s dedication to the profession. A triangle is rung after a roll call for the nurse. After the roll call, the words are spoken that the nurse is officially released from their nursing duties. A lit Nightingale lamp is carried up at the beginning of the ceremony and extinguished and presented to the family with personal condolences. A beautiful tradition for those who have given so much.
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Support for occupational therapists
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While in Harrisburg for session recently, I met with the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association (POTA), including one of our neighbors from Chalfont, as part of their advocacy day at the Capitol.
We talked about a bill I co-sponsored to expand access to speech therapy and other therapies; HB 1848 is currently up for consideration in the PA House Human Services Committee.
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Occupational therapists give hope to our young people and a second chance to so many. I think I can speak for everyone, when I say we all appreciate the work they do in our communities.
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Welcoming local student Rayan Shah
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I had the pleasure of welcoming a Bucks County student to the House chamber as a guest page for the day! Rayan Shah is interested in learning more about the role state government plays when it comes to what types of mental healthcare are available.
The angle that interests Rayan most is suicide prevention awareness.
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He’s creating an advocacy website in that regard and works on awareness efforts with Attitudes In Reverse, a group that aims to save lives by educating elementary through college students about mental health, related disorders, and suicide prevention. He’s also looking for more opportunities to do relevant volunteer work at school.
I’m so glad I was able to welcome Rayan to the Capitol (& snag pics with Speaker McClinton to show folks back home!) and I’m grateful for his efforts to look out for our neighbors’ wellbeing.
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Renaming Ferry Rd. for Judge R. Barry McAndrews
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This week I had the privilege of helping to honor Judge R. Barry McAndrews, a name many of you may recognize. Judge McAndrews lived an incredible life of service as a veteran, a jurist, and a person who left our community a better place than he found it. He improved the quality of justice and had a deep understanding of his important role in a larger process. In an era where so many are quick to change democratic norms, he showed humility, discipline and respect for our system of justice. That is a hallmark of true public service.
To honor his legacy, I joined members of the McAndrews family, Sen. Santarsiero, Rep. Labs, and local officials at the Bucks County Courthouse for a ceremony to officially rename a portion of State Route 1006 (Ferry Road) as the Judge R. Barry McAndrews Memorial Highway in honor of the judge’s distinguished judicial career and leadership.
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A Marine veteran, McAndrews’ career serving the public began as an Assistant Public Defender (1968-1969), acting as co-counsel in the notorious Mary Mamon murder trial. He became Judge McAndrews after he was appointed to the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas by Governor Bob Casey in 1991; he was elected President Judge in 1999 and served until his retirement in 2003. During his tenure, he was a vocal advocate for the creation of the new Bucks County Justice Center, which opened in 2015. He passed away in March 2024.
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Through the highway renaming, we hope that residents will be reminded that the democracy we cherish and the concept of justice before which all are equal is possible because of people like him, who honorably served their country and community in humble service to principles much bigger than themselves.
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Thank you for e-recycling with us!
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It was another busy Saturday morning last month as Sen. Steve Santarsiero and I hosted another electronics recycling event -- our first one in early October was so popular that we knew we had to hold a second. From old stereos and VCRs to printers, vacuums, and everything in between, a whole lot of storage space has been cleared out across Central Bucks County!
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Thanks so much to all of the student volunteers who helped us to keep running smoothly and efficiently! And thank you as well to the community for the generous donations of food and supplies for the Bucks County Opportunity Council. It’s wonderful to see our community come together to support neighbors in need.
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A joyful read-aloud at the Free Library
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I was delighted to join in the Free Library of New Hope and Solebury's Community Read-Aloud featuring The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser. I appreciated its focus on the power of a close-knit community, while my Chief of Staff found the housing-policy and tenants’-rights-driven plot line equally compelling!
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Our libraries are such vital community hubs — places that connect us, support us, and offer books and other media but also so much more.
That’s why I’m proud the recently passed state budget includes an additional $5 million in funding for our libraries and $6 million more for adult and family literacy programs. These investments strengthen our neighborhoods, expand opportunity, and keep stories like this alive for every family.
Thank you to the Free Library of New Hope & Solebury for hosting such a special event!
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Learning about the Nakashima Foundation for Peace
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I recently had the privilege of visiting the Nakashima Foundation for Peace in Solebury, a National Register of Historic Places site and a remarkable cultural asset in our community.
It was an honor to meet the inimitable Mira Nakashima and learn more about her father George Nakashima’s legacy in woodworking, architecture, and design. Their family’s story and the world-renowned craftsmanship that continues on-site today is truly extraordinary.
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The Nakashima studio remains a working furniture workshop, grounded in a deep respect for natural materials, especially American black walnut, which grows abundantly in this region and is particularly well-suited to the organic forms and meticulous craftsmanship that define their work. Nakashima pieces can be found in major museums and collections around the world, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
I’m grateful for the Foundation’s work and proud to support its mission of peace and historic preservation, and efforts to ensure this world-renowned craft and tradition continue to thrive here in Solebury Township.
If you haven’t explored their work, I encourage you to learn more about the Nakashima family and the legacy they continue to build — or stop by our monthly mobile office hours at the New Hope & Solebury Library, which features Nakashima originals and offers a chance to experience this remarkable craftsmanship in person while you say hello!
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Celebrating Solebury School's Centennial
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It was a pleasure to visit Solebury School recently and present our citation to its Head of School, Tom Wilschutz, in honor of the school’s Centennial year. I enjoyed touring the campus and seeing their forward-thinking approach to sustainability in its operations and infrastructure, as well as learning about their exciting plans for the future, including potential collaboration with Solebury Township on the neighboring “Lake Solebury” project.
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Solebury’s commitment to creativity, community, and student-centered learning has shaped generations in its 100 years. Congratulations on this remarkable milestone and may the Solebury School continue to educate and inspire many future generations to come!
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Event to support The African American Museum of Bucks County’s move to a permanent location: “Preserve the Legacy. Complete the Vision”
?? December 11 | 6 to 9 p.m.
?? Parx Casino Racetrack
The event will feature a full-course dinner and drinks, and a silent auction of artworks by local artists. Baritone vocalist and actor Keith Spencer will perform a one-hour program, “We Shall Not Be Moved: Songs and Speeches from the Civil Rights Movement.” A posthumous tribute will be paid to the late Dr. Walter P. Lomax, Jr., the respected physician and philanthropist who lived in Bucks County while practicing medicine in Philadelphia, taking great care to bring healthcare access to the region’s most vulnerable citizens. The event will also feature Patricia Mervine, local historian and author of the book "Boone Farm: Its People and Place in Middletown History."
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Dog licenses available now through Bucks County Treasurer
Online purchases for 2026 regular and senior dog licenses are now available through the Bucks County Treasurer's Office. Please remember that all dogs two months or older must be licensed by January 1 each year.
To apply or renew your dog license online: https://www.doglicenses.us/PA/Bucks/.
If your dog has recently passed away, please email treasurer@buckscounty.org with the most recent license number or address to have its name removed from future renewal notices.
You can also obtain your license by mail or in person at the Treasurer’s Office. Please note that all documents must be original (no photocopies), and checks should be made payable to Bucks County Treasurer. Click here for more information.
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Pennsylvania State Capitol
27B East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120
(717) 772-2361
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District Office
80 North Main St., Suite 1A
Doylestown, PA 18901
(267) 884-0395
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