Bensalem Township School District will continue to be led by Superintendent Samuel Lee after he was reappointed in a split vote during Monday's board meeting Lee has been the top administrator since 2015 after spending five years as superintendent of the Bristol Township School District Board President Joseph Pettyjohn voted to reappoint Lee to another term alongside Vice President Kim Rivera and board members Marc Cohen "I extend my heartfelt thanks to the board of school directors for their confidence in my leadership and their unwavering commitment to the success of our students," Lee said after the vote "I look forward to building on our shared successes embracing new opportunities and continuing our mission to provide the best possible education for all." Rivera spoke from her experience as a school board member for the past 16 years calling Lee the "most dedicated superintendent" that she's ever worked with and I think what the board needs to do is let them do their job," Rivera said Rebecca Mirra and Karen Winters cast the four dissenting votes What's in Lee's new superintendent contract with Bensalem?Lee's new contract includes a raise with a yearly 3% cost of living increase over the four-year term The contract was not made public ahead of the vote and a records request is pending with the district The raise would bring Lee's annual salary up to around $232,000, board members said. This would make Lee one of the 10 highest-paid school superintendents in Bucks County if other administrators' salaries remain stable based on data from the 2023-24 school year The contract also gives Lee a $600 monthly stipend for cellphone and car mileage reimbursement "How can we grant a raise like this when we can't afford other things that our children need?" Mirra asked The contract also requires all board members to include Lee on any correspondence they have with district staff which some members worried would restrict their ability to receive honest answers with their boss watching "I anticipate it will be used as a tool to silence staff," Ferrandez said and was not included in other superintendent contracts they looked at in comparison "As a school board member I should be able to communicate with staff to gain insights into the challenges and successes within our schools," Winters said Winters added that Lee has a longstanding habit of leaving emails from board members unanswered it has quite often happened that my emails aren't responded to even when I ask a direct question and having more emails in a box is probably not going to help that," she said Nicholas countered that this requirement is the best way to ensure that Lee is in the loop with everything board members are discussing and working on so that nothing falls through the cracks Pettyjohn argued that the salary and the contract stipulations are "not out of the norm" and that Lee's experience in the district "serves us well." Every board member spoke highly of Lee's character and his passion for helping students But some still expressed doubts that he is the right administrator to carry the district into the future specifically pointing to low test scores as evidence of a need for new leadership "Our district is not performing well academically — its a direct reflection of the superintendent," Winters said In 2024, Bensalem students scored below the state average in every subject on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment a series of tests given in grades three through eight each year to determine students' proficiency in English and math Students in grades four and eight additionally are tested in science "Our mission is to educate," Ferrandez said if you look at our scores for the past 10 years of Dr Lee's tenure — including before COVID — there has been decline." "No amount of successes in sports or kindness is going to address our math scores." But Nicholas pointed to a lack of student interest in standardized testing as one potential reason why the test scores may not accurately reflect the district's proficiency in certain areas She also noted that many of the district's students are coming from other areas and could be starting from a lower baseline than some of their peers we don't know what they had as a background," Nicholas said "It makes me nervous when we try to focus only on test scores because it's not fair." Test scores for the current school year may not be publicly available until the fall Lacey Latch is the development reporter for the Bucks County Courier Times and The Intelligencer. She can be reached at LLatch@gannett.com 2025 at 10:58 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Bucks County Board of Elections has announced the candidate slate for municipal offices and school board in Bensalem Township PA — The Bucks County Board of Elections has released its unofficial list of candidates running for municipal offices and school board in the Bensalem Township School District voters choose their candidates for the Democratic and Republican parties but many school board races feature candidates cross-filing for positions four-year terms on the Bensalem Township School Board Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Just over a week after reportedly becoming the latest Lower Bucks County restaurant to close Bensalem’s TGI Fridays might not be shutting its doors after all The restaurant on Street Road closed permanently on Jan according to a note that was left on the front door in the days since Multiple employees and customers posted online about the closure the sign was removed by someone working inside the building He said they'd be reopening in the coming weeks but had no official information at the time and did not identify himself TGI Fridays did not respond to multiple requests for comment on Wednesday and no one answered the phone at the restaurant The uncertainty at the Bensalem location comes as the national chain progresses through bankruptcy proceedings TGI Fridays Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last November with plans to “explore strategic alternatives in order to ensure the long-term viability of the brand,” according to a release at the time of the filing "The primary driver of our financial challenges resulted from COVID-19 and our capital structure This restructuring will allow our go-forward restaurants to proceed with an optimized corporate infrastructure that enables them to reach their full potential,” Rohit Manocha owns and operates 39 restaurants in America The overarching brand has franchised to 56 franchisees in 41 countries all of which are independently owned and therefore not included in the bankruptcy process The TGI Fridays in the Oxford Valley Mall previously closed last October just before the bankruptcy filings The only other TGI Fridays that is still open for business in Bucks County is on West End Boulevard in Quakertown, according to the online store locator Lacey Latch is the development reporter for the Bucks County Courier Times and The Intelligencer. She can be reached at LLatch@gannett.com 2025 at 7:47 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Bensalem Republicans have announced their candidate slate for the May 20 primary election PA — A familiar face will not be found on the ballot in the May 20 primary election Longtime Bensalem Councilman Joseph Pilieri is not running for re-election with his spot taken by newcomer Will Walker as the Republican party announced its slate of candidates for the election including those running for the Bensalem Township school board Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo is seeking his 32nd year in office while council members Michelle Benitez and Stacey Champion seek their second terms Bensalem Township School Board candidates include incumbents Sheldon Per and Marc Cohen The GOP ticket is rounded out by candidates Mike Brill for treasurer and JP Patel for auditor Walker is a longtime resident who said his background and leadership ability make him an ideal candidate to replace Pinieri Walker is a Bensalem High School graduate who is a partner with United Capital Financial Advisors "I consider myself a traditional conservative Republican who values family "Our Bensalem leadership has done an excellent job in these areas over the years and I respectfully ask for the opportunity to build on the work that our local team has done." Five Bensalem Township officers were justified in the fatal shooting of an armed felon who led police on a pursuit before barricading himself inside his car and pointing a firearm at them in January In a letter to Bensalem Township Police Director of Public Safety William McVey DA Jennifer Schorn wrote that based upon her review of the evidence she concluded the officers acted within the permissible scope of the township’s use-of-force policy and the best practice guidelines Bucks County Police Departments use who were placed on administrative leave until the DA investigation was completed Zachiry Derrek Kerschner, 30, of Lehighton was killed Jan. 24 after a traffic stop turned into a 35-minute police pursuit through multiple towns followed by a two-hour standoff that ended with his death   No officers were injured in the incident vowing that he was never going back to jail Kerschner had an unidentified passenger in the vehicle The subsequent shooting investigation revealed that at one point during the standoff Kerschner pointed a gun at the man and ordered him to remain in the car The latest on the Philly plane crash NTSB preliminary report on fatal Philadelphia medical flight shows no distress call Kerschner was driving a Ford Fusion shortly before 4 p.m the day of the shooting when he was stopped by Bensalem Police near the intersection of Route 1 and Old Lincoln Highway for a vehicle code violation Kerschner told police that he was on house arrest Officers attempted to get Kerschner to come out of the vehicle Bensalem and Pennsylvania State Police pursued the vehicle before boxing it in at Bristol Pike and Penn Street in the Andalusia section of Bensalem They had loved-ones call and attempted to persuade him to surrender and repeatedly told police he was armed and not returning to jail Bensalem SWAT made the decision to deploy tear gas to get the men to exit the vehicle After a second tear gas canister was deployed The officers immediately pulled Kerschner from the vehicle and began life-saving measures He was pronounced dead at Jefferson Torresdale Hospital Whenever deadly force is used by law enforcement officers in Bucks County it is standard procedure for the District Attorney to investigate to determine whether the use of deadly force was justified The evidence Schorn reviewed included police reports body worn camera and patrol car recordings and Kerschner’s criminal history The Bucks County Detective’s investigation found that Kerschner had used methamphetamines and other illegal drugs the day of the incident The one found in his hand had a live round jammed in the chamber “Despite the officers' repeated directions to comply with police commands Kerschner created a situation in which (the officers) had no other reasonable choice but to fire their weapons in defense of themselves and others to neutralize what was a deadly and imminent threat,” Schorn wrote in her determination letter Reporter Jo Ciavaglia can be reached at jciavaglia@gannett.com It is just one of the potential plans that the Bensalem School Board is still considering as they continue discussions about building a new middle school for grades six through eight While the plans are still very preliminary New look for CR, Neshaminy elementary: Neshaminy and Council Rock open new, improved elementary schools. What students can expect The former middle school, originally Bensalem High School from 1953 to 1969, at Street and Hulmeville roads had been shuttered and largely unused since 2011. The Bensalem School District sold the property in 2020 to Jignesh “Jay” Pandya owner of the Boston Market fast food chain The aging school building was demolished to make way for "The Hub," Pandya's plan for a massive mixed-use space including 40 residential units in a total of 11 buildings that would also host retail and office space But the plans fell through when Pandya filed for bankruptcy last June and the land went up for Sheriff's sale later that summer Property records indicate that the land has yet to be sold has been asked to look into the feasibility of having two or three physically separate new buildings that share larger spaces such as the cafeteria gym and auditorium in more of a campus layout — either on the land in front of Robert K Shafer Middle School on Hulmeville Road or on the former Armstrong site across the street If they wanted to build on the Armstrong parcel the school district would have to regain ownership of the roughly 35 acres on the west side of Hulmeville Road either through a traditional sale or using eminent domain Much of that land isn't viable for buildings The district would also need to get the parcel rezoned for a school after it was changed to mixed-use to make way for "The Hub." Both plans would likely involve selling or leasing one of the existing middle schools the district office or other district assets to help offset costs Wakeup call for Pennsbury middle school: Why Pennsbury is changing start times at the high, middle schools But not everyone is happy about the idea of buying the Armstrong parcel back including board members Kim Rivera and Marc Cohen I am not this much interested in buying Armstrong back I think you're going to have community members here screaming and carrying on that we sold it and why are we buying it back?" Rivera said "We should've kept it if we thought that we were going to build," she said The architect will be back in front of the school board in February to further discuss the two plans in addition to completing an updated capacity study throughout the district With the May 7 deadline looming, Pennsylvania is opening its driver's license centers an extra day each week to exclusively handle Real ID requests These Real ID Days will be held on Mondays when the centers are typically closed One Bucks County location — the driver's license center in Bensalem — is participating in the upcoming Real ID Day on Feb “PennDOT is committed to making it as convenient as possible for Pennsylvanians to obtain a REAL ID if they want one,” PennDOT Deputy Secretary for Driver and Vehicle Services Kara Templeton said in a statement “Because we’re seeing an increase in demand we decided to offer our REAL ID Days as a way to ensure we are meeting the needs of the public and providing them with the best possible customer service.” For a complete list of REAL ID Days events, visit PennDOT’s website What is Real ID and do I need one?The Real ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005 to establish minimum security standards for state-issued identification cards and driver's licenses It's designed to help prevent fraudulent identification according to the Department of Homeland Security Real ID is not mandatory for Pennsylvania residents Standard driver's licenses and identification cards are still available individuals must have an alternate form of federally acceptable identification (valid passport et cetera) to board domestic commercial flights and enter certain federal facilities once the deadline is reached How long will it take to get my Real ID?Pre-verified customers may apply online to receive their Real IDs in the mail within 15 business days You can also go in person to a PennDOT driver license center to have your documents verified and your new ID mailed to you If you want your Real ID right away, visit any PennDOT REAL ID center to have your documents verified and receive your Real ID on the spot You can learn more about the Real ID and the application process on the PennDOT website Another restaurant chain has filed for bankruptcy — this time it's popular Tex-Mex chain On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina "The Company intends to use the (bankruptcy) proceedings to drive operational improvements and pursue a sale of substantially all of its assets," said a statement announcing the filing The company is citing macroeconomic factors and a rapid loss of liquidity as primary factors in the filing “This restructuring is the best path forward for On The Border. It allows us to address several financial and operational challenges and emerge stronger and refocused on our growth," Chris Rockwood, the company’s president, said in the release March 5 "The support we’ve received from our vendors and lenders will help ensure that we can complete the sale process quickly and efficiently while remaining focused on our employees and guests.” Red Robin eyes closures: Red Robin could close around 70 underperforming restaurants; see Bucks County locations What does this mean for Bucks County locations?There is just one On the Border location in Bucks County Just outside the Neshaminy Mall in Bensalem, the restaurant was previously one of the "high-performing" stores determined worth keeping when the mall was purchased for redevelopment in July it's unclear exactly what the future holds for this location as it continues to operate as usual in the days following the bankruptcy filing The next closest locations are across the river in New Jersey or to the west in Allentown Last month the chain closed 40 underperforming locations across the country. The company currently operates 60 corporate restaurants across 18 states, with an additional 20 restaurants in the U.S. and South Korea operated by third parties, according to a recent court filing The Dallas-based chain opened in 1982 with a Tex-Mex menu of mesquite-grilled fajitas burritos and specials — such as $2 tacos on Tuesdays and endless enchiladas it expanded throughout the United States and in 2007 the brand went international when it opened its first store in South Korea One man is dead and another is in police custody after a car stop turned police pursuit followed by a two-hour standoff turned violent Friday night in Bensalem The Bucks County District Attorney's Office is leading the investigation into the police shooting to determine if it was justified The office will not release further comment or the names of the individuals involved Bensalem police conducted a car stop on a vehicle for a window tint violation in the area of Route 1 and Old Lincoln Highway on Friday shortly before 4 p.m when the driver and his passenger refused to cooperate Bensalem Director of Public Safety William McVey said and indicated they were not going back to prison Officers attempted to communicate with the driver to get him to exit the vehicle but after 45 minutes the driver fled the scene More Bucks County news Man drowned at Bensalem complex, lifeguard couldn’t find him in cloudy pool: lawsuit Bensalem and Pennsylvania State Police pursued the vehicle on Route 1 then back onto Route 1 before boxing in the vehicle at Bristol Pike and Penn Street  at the Liberty Gas station in the Andalusia section of the township Police cars surrounded the suspect’s vehicle which went on to strike at least one police car Bensalem SWAT was deployed and Philadelphia Police SWAT unit also responded to assist and brought in a BearCat an armored tactical vehicle used in dangerous situations Bristol Pike was closed between Biddles Lane and Penn Street during the standoff Police attempted to negotiate with the individuals in the car before deploying tear gas in an attempt to bring the standoff to an end  During the incident the driver again said he was not returning to jail and he was armed As police began a second deployment of tear gas the driver produced a handgun and pointed it at officers who responded with gunfire and police removed him and started medical aid but he was later pronounced dead at Jefferson-Torresdale Hospital The unidentified  passenger was not injured It was not immediately known Saturday if the passenger faces criminal charges The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave per department police until the District Attorney finishes its investigation "The Bensalem Township Police Department would like to thank the PA State Police and the PhiladelphiaPolice Department for their assistance," McVey said in a press release "We are thankful that no bystanders or officers were injured during this encounter." (This story has been updated to add new information.) 2025 at 11:52 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Bensalem Democratic Organization announced its slate of candidates for Mayor and Township Council on Thursday PA —Bensalem Township School Director Stephanie A.G Ferrandez will try to unseat longtime Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo in the November general election The Bensalem Democratic Organization announced its slate of candidates for Mayor and Township Council on Thursday the Democratic council candidates running in the May 20 primary election are Jesse Sloane Also on the Democratic ticket are Santos Ramos and Zach Winters an attorney operating a law practice in the township is serving her second term on the Bensalem School Board “We are at a turning point in Bensalem,” Ferrandez said “If we don’t take steps now to create a vibrant small business community which is family friendly and rooted in assuring a safe then we will be overrun by opportunistic development Stephanie has been a clear voice for improving transparency,” Allen said “She’s known for consistently demanding answers on behalf of the community insisting on transparency and consideration of what the taxpayers can bear when considering the possible middle school construction project.” When asked why she is challenging a 32-year mayoral incumbent in DiGirolamo “I’ve realized that to ultimately achieve the best for our kids She highlights the need for a comprehensive planning process — one that’s proactive and forward-looking we should be planning ahead," Ferrandez added "Everything from proactively revitalizing the Neshaminy Mall properties to bringing in social opportunities for young adults such as a community indoor sports and pool complex.” Ferrandez isn’t the only name voters will recognize on their ballots come Election Day Former council members Sloane and Tokmajian are seeking election for another council term They are by Union carpenter Joseph Wenzel Jr “Jesse and I were very productive during our first term on Council,” Tokmajian said “We preserved more than 25 acres of open space supported sensible development projects while pushing back on ones that did not benefit residents We strived to make sure that residents’ tax dollars were put to good use by supporting our first responders and ensuring those services were well-funded.” "The experience Ed and I have working to improve township services prioritizing the safety and security of our community combined with Joe Wenzel's energy and work ethic will be that spark that drives Bensalem forward,” added Sloane which is why we are deeply invested in ensuring the brightest possible future for Bensalem." Which student-athletes have stood out among the crowd this season See everyone who was voted Athlete of the Week in our weekly polls this spring And be sure to vote each week − this week's Boys Athlete of the Week and Girls Athlete of the Week polls will run from Thursday until 8 a.m Sophomore Gina Oliverio has blossomed into an essential part of the lineup for Bensalem’s  softball team Oliverio put in plenty of work during the offseason to improve her game It’s paid off greatly for Oliverio and the Owls Oliverio hit a home run and a double to drive in two runs for the Owls and she scored four runs to secure a win and deal the Panthers their second loss of the season She is constantly taking extra reps and asking questions,” Bensalem coach Erin Smith said “She has really been focusing on little things this season offensively and it has made her dangerous.” Oliverio has been a key player in leading the young Owls to each of their four wins so far this season as the team’ leadoff hitter and center fielder she went 2-for-4 with a stolen base in the 8-6 win; against Lower Moreland and a stolen base; and she drove in two runs in a 7-4 win over Archbishop Ryan Oliverio continues to put in work and is a true student of the game “She steps up to the plate and people doubt her because of her size,” said Smith “I can’t tell you how many opposing coaches move in on her and she smokes the ball I’ve seen Gina grow so much over the last two seasons and the reality is she’s nowhere near the peak of her potential.” Fun fact: Oliverio shares the field with her twin sister Senior Ryan DeMatteo was up to the challenge DeMatteo and his teammates found themselves down 6-5 at halftime DeMatteo refused to leave New Jersey without putting his team in the win column DeMatteo had a hand in seven of the team’s nine goals “Ryan is one of our team captains and leads through example both on the field and in the classroom,” said Neshaminy coach John Donato “He is also a talented hockey player for the Neshaminy hockey club.” tallying 27 goals and 17 assists through 12 games He contributed two goals and four assists in the following game against Hatboro-Horsham “(Ryan is also) a force in both clearing and riding Schmidt had impressed head coach Jim McKeon so much that she was promoted to varsity after five games While her first two pitching appearances were impressive the Tigers fell short of winning and found themselves 0-7 Schmidt was determined to end the winless streak pitching a complete game in which she allowed just two earned runs and needed only 66 pitches to earn the 9-4 win “We are very excited for her,” said McKeon “She is the epitome of hard work and dedication We gave her the opportunity to play up on varsity and she has exceeded our expectations.” In her next start against Villa Joseph Marie striking out 10 through seven innings in a 3-2 victory allowing three hits and one walk while striking out three as the Tigers won their third straight game “Kendra is the type of kid that everyone roots for but no one is surprised when she succeeds,” said McKeon “I look forward to coaching her for the next three seasons.”  After graduating several starters from last year’s team including All-Catholic goalie Jack Kennedy Lansdale Catholic boys lacrosse coach Paul McGovern was looking for some younger players to step up this season Junior Christian Fuller has done just that “Christian has always been a student of the game,” said Fuller Fuller has a save percentage of 67 percent and has also developed into a team leader for the young Crusaders who have also been battling injuries this year “With players being injured and missing time Christian has kept us in every game,” said McGovern “He has exceeded every expectation I had for him this year.” In a game against Catholic League rival Conwell-Egan Fuller rejected 11 shots on goal to secure a rare shutout in a 12-0 win he saved 13 of 15 shot attempts to give the Crusaders another PCL victory After putting in plenty of work in the offseason Fuller’s hard work and dedication have continued during the season as he works with the Crusaders’ goalie coach “I couldn’t have asked for anything more,” said McGovern A Michigan man has been charged after he allegedly drove more than 700 miles to Pennsylvania and started a house fire has been charged in Bensalem Township with six counts of attempted homicide and arson The charges come after a two-story home in the 5200 block of Merganser Way was destroyed at 5:22 a.m. on Feb Six adults were forced to evacuate the residence some of which jumped from second-story windows Surveillance footage showed a suspect exiting a 2021 Volkswagen Passat and approaching the residence at 5:01 a.m. The suspect then runs back to the vehicle 15 minutes later as smoke begins billowing from the home Police used the vehicle’s license plate to identify Jones and determined that he is the ex-boyfriend of a 21-year-old female who recently engaged in an online relationship with a 22-year-old who lives at the residence on Merganser Way “He drove over 730 miles — 11 hours — to do what he did and drove directly back home,” William McVay, Bensalem Township Director of Public Safety “This family was extremely lucky to survive this Jones had murderous intentions.” The Kent County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the arrest of Jones He also had what appeared to be burns on his arm He is awaiting extradition back to Bucks County “We would especially like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the Bensalem Township Police Officers and Bensalem Detectives who took a grainy image of a vehicle and turned it into the arrest of a suspect who traveled over 700 miles and 11+ hours each way to commit crimes that nearly cost six people their lives.” ©2025 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit mlive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. JLL Capital Markets facilitates sale of grocery-anchored retail center in suburban Philadelphia MSA Your browser doesn't support speech synthesis PHILADELPHIA, Mar. 10, 2025 –  JLL Capital Markets announced today that it has arranged the sale of Bensalem Shopping Center a 109,057-square-foot grocery-anchored retail center with a 6.41% cap rate in Bensalem which sees over 32,600 vehicles per day and Hulmeville Rd. Bensalem Shopping Center enjoys a strategic position with excellent visibility and accessibility Situated along the main retail corridor in Bensalem the center is just 15 miles north of Center City Philadelphia and benefits from its position in a densely populated sits on an 8.8-acre lot and is currently 100% leased the largest Indian grocery chain in the United States Other notable tenants include Dollar General JLL Capital Market’s Investment and Sales Advisory team representing the seller was led by Senior Managing Director Jim Galbally and Director Patrick Higgins "This transaction highlights the continued investor interest in well-located grocery-anchored retail centers with strong tenant mixes," said Galbally "Bensalem Shopping Center's 100% occupancy below market rents and strategic location in a densely populated affluent submarket make it an attractive investment opportunity in the Philadelphia MSA retail market." “Grocery-anchored demand remains robust in the mid-Atlantic,” added Higgins “The diversity of new capital seeking to gain exposure to the asset class and geography continues to drive pricing and demand for well-located product throughout our region.” JLL Capital Markets is a full-service global provider of capital solutions for real estate investors and occupiers The firm's in-depth local market and global investor knowledge delivers the best-in-class solutions for clients — whether investment sales and advisory The firm has more than 3,000 Capital Markets specialists worldwide with offices in nearly 50 countries For more news, videos and research resources, please visit JLL’s newsroom founded by Michael Pearlstein in 1987 through a merger with his father's Empire Realty Company has grown from its family roots in Philadelphia to a national presence with over 120 properties in 18 states The company's expertise spans transactions acquisitions and management across the United States building on decades of real estate experience insights and opportunities from global commercial real estate markets straight to your inbox 2025 at 10:37 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Bensalem Education Foundation doled out nine grants at Tuesday's school board meeting (Bensalem Township School District)BENSALEM TOWNSHIP PA — The Bensalem Education Foundation doled out nine grants totaling $4,335 at Tuesday night's school board meeting The foundation awards grants through an application process that occurs once each year in the spring BEF is a 501(c)3 organization that relies on donations and supports the purpose of improving teaching and learning in Bensalem through innovative educational initiatives These are the schools that got the grants: Congratulations to the 57 Bensalem High School students recognized at last night's school board meeting for qualifying to compete at this year’s PA DECA state competition with six advancing to the International Competition DECA is a business club that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing and management in high schools and colleges around the globe Ron Morris thoroughly enjoyed coaching the Bensalem boys basketball team but he didn't often get to see his three children play their games during this past season Bensalem qualified for the PIAA Class 6A state playoffs three times under Morris who compiled an overall record of 96-60 (60-20 in the SOL) Its best District One tournament finish was fourth in 2019-20 “I preach family first and that’s what I’m going to do,” said Morris I always stress to them you’d rather live with sacrifice than live with regret I have to sacrifice what I love to not regret missing their games.” Oldest son Antonio Morris played his freshman year at the County College of Mercer in Randolph Daughter Ella is in seventh grade and on the Magic AAU squad “I’ll be just a dad going to the games now,” Morris said He overcame a stroke in August 2020 which resulted in the upbeat Morris enjoying moments that matter even more “Ron Morris is one of the best guys you will ever meet in the game,” said Pennsbury coach Wes Emme in 2023 “His energy is infectious with his team and it drives us as his competitors to always be at our best.” Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes.com; @TomMoorePhilly is a sports columnist for PhillyBurbs.com Support our journalism with a subscription 2025 at 12:22 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Bensalem Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo has announced that he will once again seek office in the upcoming elections DiGirolamo has served as mayor for 31 years in Bensalem Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo has ruled the roost as the township's leader with a track record of sound fiscal responsibility and building a community that has been recognized as one of the most family-friendly in the nation I am Bensalem," the mayor told Patch in an exclusive interview recently DiGirolamo is showing no signs of slowing down which is Bucks County's Republican stronghold has the GOP once again endorsing DiGirolamo's candidacy for mayor in the upcoming May 20 primary election and the one in November where a Democratic challenger will try to end his tenure Bensalem Township School Director Stephanie A.G. Ferrandez has announced that she will run as a Democrat in the primary for mayor in hopes of taking on DiGirolamo come fall But the mayor —who turns 88 on April 13 — doesn't bat an eye about the challenge DiGirolamo said his campaign is off and running "I will take on the challenges on my record," he said "I will continue to do this as long as God allows me." 2025 at 7:43 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Interstate 95 was closed for several hours Sunday night due to a gas leak PA — Interstate 95 has reopened after a section of the highway was closed Sunday night due to a gas leak PECO responded to the 800 block of Tennis Avenue around 7 p.m Crews found that a 4-inch high-pressure natural gas main was damaged and it appeared to have been intentionally cut, a PECO spokesperson told NBC News Philadelphia. Pennsylvania State Police said Interstate 95 southbound lanes reopened at Woodhaven Road around 10 p.m NBC New Philadelphia reported that Tennis Avenue's overpass over Interstate 95 was also later reopened The northbound lanes were closed for some time on Sunday at Academy Road BRISTOL TOWNSHIP — Bensalem took the field Friday night as if it had a lot to play for Though they were outside the District One playoff cut line (ranked 19th at the start of the evening) scoring on two of their first three possessions en to a 42-13 win over host Harry S Truman at Morgan Stadium Aidan Mayfield ran for 167 yards and scored four touchdowns to help Bensalem close its season at 5-5 overall (3-4 in SOL Continental) Myles Annan and Thomas Bailey added rushing touchdowns for Bensalem which built a 21-0 lead by the 8:13 mark of the second quarter “It was real important for us to get off to a fast start,” Mayfield said It was our goal to come out fast and we did exactly that.” The Owls took control of the game by putting two scores on the board in a three-and-a-half minute span of the first quarter Annan sprinted 39 yards to put his team up 7-0 with 5:14 left in the opening session Hasson Lucas sacked Truman quarterback Raheem Bradley just outside the goal line and Mayfield returned the subsequent punt to the 4-yard line; he scored two plays later before adding his second touchdown on a 17-yard burst with 8:17 left in the half 0-7) three scores down and with a steep hill to climb “It’s definitely hard to play catchup with a team like that,” said Truman coach Cordero Newkirk The Owls did some of their best work along the line of scrimmage “We had a lot of transition on our O-line,” said Bensalem coach Alexander Houston "We moved Jake Quinlan to right tackle tonight I thought they played well along with Kyree Sanders Mayfield scored his third touchdown on an 8-yard run three minutes into the third quarter Bailey triggered the running clock with a 61-yard dash with 4:15 left in the third frame DeAndre Webb ran for a touchdown for the Tigers with 8:31 left in the fourth quarter and Braeden Rich caught a 53-yard scoring pass from Billy Danhardt on the last play of the game The Owls go into their offseason on a high note Mayfield figures to be one of the best backs in the Bucks County area in 2025 and an offensive line that will likely still be maturing next fall will show the way The Tigers are working to build a foundation Myles Annan’s 39-scamper for the game’s first touchdown on a second-and-20 play after Bensalem was frustrated early by fumbles and penalties set the tone for the evening Truman squandered an opportunity to build momentum when it lost a fumble on the second-half kickoff Mayfield collected his 167 yards on 15 carries Three of his runs were of 41 yards or more • Mayfield’s numbers were impressive but his running impressed as well He picked up significant yardage after first contact • How about one for the entire Bensalem offensive line • Braeden Rich scored the Tigers second touchdown in an impressive catch and run on the game’s final play They said it“We came up a little short in our quest for playoffs I thought we were right there in a couple games that are really annoying me right now But I think we took a step forward as a program as far as what it takes I’m really proud of our guys," said Bensalem coach Alexander Houston “They competed way better this year than last year," said Truman coach Cordero Newkirk they’re doing what they’re supposed to do (and) their grades are up They’re on the tight track to compete next year." 2025 at 3:44 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Bensalem Republicans paid their respects to former District Justice Leonard J Brown is being mourned by the Bensalem Township community after passing away last week at the age of 80 Bensalem Republicans paid their respects to Judge Brown or Len when among his friends in the GOP and community Brown served the citizens of Bensalem and Bucks County as a District Justice presiding over the busiest court in Bucks County Judge Brown was elevated to Senior Judge status He spent his last several years on the bench presiding in various courts throughout the Commonwealth providing his expertise and wisdom wherever it was needed within our judicial system Bensalem Republicans said Brown lost the love of his life his son is well known to anyone who entered Len's Courtroom or golfed with Len at Bensalem Country Club or shared breakfast with him at the Club House Diner," Bensalem Republicans said in a Facebook post Brown beamed with pride as he spoke of his son's progress in school or details of his most recent military assignment Brown was proud to include Matt's wife Olga in his stories and to let the world know that he was soon to be a grandfather to their first child "Our Bensalem Republican Party is grateful to Judge Brown and His Family for his service to our Community The thoughts and prayers of our entire Bensalem Community are with them as they mourn his passing and celebrate his life The cast of Lin Manuel-Miranda's "In the Heights" includes Bensalem High School graduate Shannon Sharpe Bensalem High School graduate Sharpe hit all the right notes in her professional debut — 'Big,' at Bristol Riverside Theatre Now she's back at BRT in the ensemble of Lin Manuel-Miranda's 'In the Heights.' Shannon Sharpe is a former professional football player out of Chicago who has huddled with the haloed heroes of the Hall of Fame has intricate moves her moniker match probably never considered playing the field as a tight end has kept the Bensalem Broadway hopeful on her toes the differences between a pass de ball and pas de deux I could see how disappointed my teachers were when they realized they didn't have Shannon Sharpe the football player as a student," laughs the local professional But that's where the disappointment ended — quickly Sharpe hit all the right notes in her professional debut in "Big," at the Bristol Riverside Theatre "My best friend's grandmother knew someone at the theater and introduced us," she says subsequently snaring the spotlight with her spot-on audition audiences got to know her as a teen teeming with talent My introduction into the professional theater world with an ensemble role in the theater's current production of Lin-Manuel Miranda's 2008 Tony Award-winning musical Talk about introductions: "Heights" was a stunningly successful starter kit of a kinetic musical who'd go on to win a MacArthur "Genius" grant in 2015 the year the composer's revolutionary "Hamilton" was shaking the theater world around him But it was "In the Heights," which first brought Miranda into the scope of the Broadway musical cognoscenti Based on the compelling vibrating Latino community of Washington Heights in New York City the musical offers Sharpe a flatout affinty for her own sense of community having grown up with a connection to Bucks County cornerstone now of the Bensalem resident's burgeoning career After seeing "Sweeney Todd" as part of her Bensalem High senior trip to Broadway What shows on her bio is a gap between high school graduation "I'm in the second year of my gap years," which she is quickly filling in with showstoppers "I did 'Mamma Mia!' the first gap year at Neshaminy summer stock." Taking stock of where to go after "In the Heights" offers a glimpse of this post-grad's unambiguous ambition at age 19: "Broadway is my goal," she says serenaded by an aura of confidence filled with its own sweet sounds of heightened hopes theater critic and novelist who lives in Abington He writes columns about theater and the arts "In the Heights," the 2008 Tony Award-winning musical about the pulsating Latino sounds and sights of Washington Heights in New York City continues to April 27 at the Bristol Riverside Theatre Join our readers whose generous donations are making it possible for you to read our news coverage. Help keep local journalism alive and our community strong. Donate today The Bucks County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame welcomed the Class of 2025 on Thursday at Brookside Manor in Feasterville The Langhorne-Middletown Fire Company’s Super 21 Truck will be returning for the very special 25th anniversary Kiwanis-Herald Sesame Place Classic on Sunday Central Bucks South posted a 4-0 lead in the first inning en route to a 7-0 shutout of visiting Central Bucks East in Tuesday’s Suburban One League Colonial Division game the Doylestown Rugby Academy high school girls team traveled to Downingtown to play the Downingtown girls team Doylestown was victorious by a score of 43-26 The Archbishop Wood baseball team guaranteed itself a winning Philadelphia Catholic League season with Monday’s 7-0 victory over Cardinal O’Hara Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Our guide features topics that range from home buying to home maintenance and repair delivered Friday afternoons Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don't miss out on updates A weekly guide to Arts & Entertainment delivered Wednesday evenings Delivered Saturday mornings with a recap of the best stories from each week Have a notification delivered on Thursdays to your inbox Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account 2025 at 10:04 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}PennDOT has scheduled three REAL ID days at the Bensalem Driver License Center with the first one on Monday Kathleen "KC" Tomlinson)BENSALEM TOWNSHIP PA —PennDOT is hosting three REAL ID days at the Bensalem Driver License Center with the first planned for Monday The REAL ID Days will take place on Monday and May 5 at the center at 4201 Neshaminy Boulevard from 10 a.m While getting a REAL ID is optional in Pennsylvania residents will need a REAL ID-compliant license/identification card or another form of federally acceptable identification (such as a valid passport or military ID) starting on May 7 to: Federal REAL ID regulations require that PennDOT must verify the below documents: 2025 at 8:56 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Bensalem School Directors react to Patch about a new contract for Schools Superintendent Samuel Lee PA — Bensalem Schools Superintendent Samuel Lee received a new four-year contract following a close vote on his contract extension The superintendent's contract was extended for four years starting on July 1 and running through July 29 Several school directors explained their positions to Patch following the vote last month and Jiten Patel voted for the contract extension I'm in favor of it," School Director Marc Cohen "He’s the most experienced superintendent in the state Lee has served as the district's superintendent since 2015 He was Bristol Township's schools superintendent for five years before his current position and has over 40 years of education experience School Director Rebecca Mirra said that she and the other "three moms" on the school board —all Democrats — voted against the contract renewal for several reasons "Transparency in board decisions is crucial," Mirra said "The administration’s failure to attach the proposed contract for public review before the vote suggests secrecy Our duty is to align decisions with community priorities — taxpayers deserve to know how their money is spent and how school leaders are expected to perform." School Director Karen Winters told Patch that the school district is not performing well academically which is a direct reflection of the superintendent "This is not an easy decision for me to make," Winters said "I have spent a lot of time deliberating about it and have quite literally lost sleep over this It was also made purely for professional reasons Let me state at the beginning that I think Dr that is not enough for me to vote for this contract the school district has declined in test scores Last year’s PSSA scores showed low growth and low achievement in math and science compared with other school districts in the state Winters said there are also several provisions of the contract that she disagreed with including a $600 monthly stipend for cell phone and mileage reimbursement "We are charged with being stewards of the district’s money," Winters said but he should have to provide documentation His cell phone should not be completely paid for by the district either and it is my opinion that doing so is not being a wise steward of district funds." Winters also finds it "ludicrous on both a practical level and a philosophical level" that there is a portion of the contract that states that board members will not communicate with district staff without copying Dr Lee is about to become inundated with emails that he doesn’t need to read," Winters said I should be able to communicate with staff to gain insights into the challenges and successes within our schools We are charged with making informed decisions that accurately reflect the needs of teachers It is likely that making informed decisions is about to become much more difficult because no one will be honest with me due to fear of retribution Why does my employee get to dictate who I talk to?" 2025 at 1:45 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}TGI Friday's has closed its Bensalem Township location the second closure in Lower Bucks County over the past few months PA —TGI Friday's has shuttered its Street Road location as the national chain goes through bankruptcy procedures Posters on Bensalem's Facebook community pages reported that the restaurant closed its doors last week Patch called the eatery on Tuesday to find its phone number disconnected in trying to reach the local location The closure marks the second for the eatery in Lower Bucks County In late October, TGI Friday's closed its location at the Oxford Valley Mall in Middletown Township Several TGI Fridays have shuttered in the Philadelphia region recently, including three in New Jersey recently. TGI Fridays has closed many of its locations since last year and is considering filing for bankruptcy, according to Bloomberg TGI Fridays announced the closures of 36 "underperforming" restaurants TGI Fridays is preparing to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the near future, Bloomberg reported last week Harrison Jones visited Bucks County for the first time nearly three weeks ago allegedly to set fire to a Bensalem home with a half dozen people inside On Friday the 21-year-old Michigan man returned, this time in handcuffs with a police escort to answer for his alleged crimes.  Jones faces 13 felony charges including six counts of attempted homicide four counts of arson and related misdemeanors in the Feb 10 fire in the 5200 block of Merganser Way Bensalem District Judge Michael Gallagher denied Harrison bail citing the seriousness of the charges Teacher charged with harassment retires Centennial teacher cited for grabbing, hitting autistic students retires. Here's his deal Gallagher also barred Jones from contacting the victims and visiting the property and ordered a mental health evaluation if a county judge decided to grant him bail He told the judge he lived with his father and his father’s fiancee in Michigan and his most recent job was at McDonald’s attended the arraignment via video conferencing Bensalem police allege that Jones drove 700 miles to Bensalem where he then set fire to the home of a man involved in an online relationship with Jones’ ex-girlfriend Six people inside the home were sent to the hospital The family’s two dogs were killed and the two-story home left uninhabitable A woman in the home told police that she heard one of her dogs barking then noises like someone was moving around on the first floor shortly before 5:30 a.m When she went to the stairs to investigate she noticed a man in a dark-colored hoodie at the bottom steps The woman thought it was her 22-year-old son but the noises continued for a few minutes When the woman went downstairs to see what was going on walls and ceiling in the kitchen and living room engulfed in flames At least one person escaped by jumping out of second-story windows The subsequent investigation determined that the fire was intentionally set based on its speed and explosiveness Bensalem police used video from home surveillance systems traffic cameras and license plate reading technology as well as cellphone records to identify Jones as the suspected arsonist Michigan took Jones  into custody after finding evidence at his home that he set the fire Bensalem police have suggested jealousy as a possible motive for the crime; Jones allegedly was supposed to drive the Michigan woman to visit the Bensalem man the week of Valentine’s Day The Bensalem School Board will finally make their long-awaited decision about the future of the district’s middle school program Tuesday The scheduled upcoming vote follows a contentious business affairs meeting Nov 19 where the board reviewed the results of a survey that asked for community input about the proposals that could trigger school closures and grade realignments and redistricting teachers and staff were in the audience wearing bright yellow shirts that read “Do what’s best for all children.” The four potential plans include: All but the fourth and cheapest plan include the closure of Benjamin Rush Elementary School teachers and staff are adamantly opposed to citing the overcrowding issues that are already plaguing the district “We’re running out of space in our elementaries we have to address that,” said board director Stephanie Gonzalez Ferrandez mentioning that overcrowding has forced the English language classes the music program and more to be held in the foyer of Rush which was designed and managed by an outside third-party who has worked with the district in the past received 999 responses in the two weeks it was active The survey was comprised of open-ended questions that asked respondents to outline the qualities that they want to see from a new middle school There was not a question that simply asked respondents to choose their preferred plan of the four proposed options And while the results provided a guideline for what many people would like to see included in a new school — like small class sizes extra emotional support for students and a large cafeteria and auditorium — it did not clearly indicate which of the four proposed plans are preferred by most residents in the school district more than 60 respondents expressed strong concerns about closing Rush Elementary on Hulmeville Road where families in the surrounding neighborhood rely heavily on being able to walk to school But because the survey didn’t explicitly ask respondents to pick their plan of choice it’s not exactly clear if there is a consensus among the public some directors on the board expressed dissatisfaction with the survey results explaining that while its helpful to know what parents and students want out of an ideal school they were looking for more specific direction in their decision-making ahead of the vote “Our obligation is to vote for whatever our community wants to happen as far as this decision is concerned,” school board Director Rebecca Mirra said “We are in charge of choosing based on what the community wants,” she said which is not possible using the survey results alone do they want two buildings?” Director Deborah King asked Some parents felt the same about the design of the survey and took it upon themselves to circulate their own questionnaire that would give respondents the option to choose their preferred plan a mother of two young children in the school district teamed up with a handful of other parents she met at an earlier school board meeting to design and circulate a multiple-choice survey that they felt better answered that question for the board Rafferty said the survey indicated to her just how badly people want to be heard on this issue especially after receiving more than 100 responses on the first day alone "If we as a community can help answer what they need that they weren't getting I'm happy to spend a little bit of time and money to do that for my kids," she said Of the 215 people that completed Rafferty’s survey there was an even split between constructing a new middle school entirely or renovating the two existing buildings and splitting the student body between the two indicating that there isn’t a clear consensus among district residents "Whatever you decide," Rafferty told the board at the end of the meeting "I hope that you review the priorities the community shared and use the importance level to help guide the implementation that will be coming." teachers and staff have expressed frustration with this process Ferrandez and Director Karen Winters — sent out an open letter just a couple days before the meeting claiming a lack of transparency from Superintendent Dr King and Mirra both mentioned not being provided more information to inform what will be a monumental decision for the future of the school district “We have asked questions upon questions about getting the literature on how children will be effected by this kind of change and we didn’t receive anything,” King said save for about 300 pages of information that she said was sent to them just the previous day They also claimed a general lack of responsiveness from Lee in general but especially regarding their questions about the middle school project if we had questions answered,” Ferrandez said they might not have felt that this open letter was necessary “I think there’s a perception that we’re just trying to create drama,” Ferrandez said “The vast majority of my emails go unanswered,” Winters added Rivera said she was “appalled” by the letter and the fact that the four board members who authored the letter did not include the other five members on the board “You’re saying that you don’t trust your superintendent or your cabinet,” Rivera said to which the board members and the audience vocally agreed “Its clear from this letter there’s not a whole lot of trust from four board members coming back to administration,” Lee said The Bensalem School Board will finally be voting on this project during their meeting on Tuesday Justin Ellis is a lifelong Bensalem resident a parent of four kids spread across grade levels "The proper way to do it is to be transparent with the community," Ellis said which he said has not been done leading up to this point and now the vote is just around the corner "It looks like a couple of them already have their decision made and they're trying to push this through and that's not what's best for the community," Ellis said "They're not thinking about the whole picture." he would keep all six elementary schools open while getting an authentic picture of what the community wants for the middle school before deciding between building a new school or renovating the existing buildings Ellis said there would also need to be some slight redistricting to better spread out students and reduce overcrowding Ellis said it would then open up space for grant-funded pre-k programs to move into the elementary schools not only would children be better prepared to enter school but it would also significantly reduce the financial burden for childcare for many families "There's a way for the whole community to win," Ellis said anyone from the public wishing to speak must submit an official comment card to the board prior to the start of the meeting Blank cards are typically set out in the lobby ahead of all public meetings 2025 at 9:10 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}State Sen KC Tomlinson is hosting their inaugural Family Fun Day Saturday at Bensalem High School PA —It's the first Family Fun Day sponsored by two Lower Bucks County legislators at Bensalem High School at 4319 Hulmeville Rd will offer helpful information for families from state and local exhibitors as well as refreshments and plenty of activities and entertainment for children of all ages Featured activities and entertainment include an inflatable obstacle course I know how important family time is,” Farry said “My hope is this event will bring families of our community together for a day of fun activities while also providing parents valuable information on programs and benefits available to them.” Most of the event will be held indoors and will be rain or shine For more information, visit senatorfarry.com 2025 at 9:14 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Bensalem Police have launched patrols in all-terrain vehicles to go after illegal ATV riders (Bensalem Township Police Department)BENSALEM TOWNSHIP PA — The Bensalem Township Police Department is deploying its new all-terrain vehicles to combat illegal ATV riding on private property and public streets The Bensalem Township Police Motor Patrol Unit has begun patrols for motorcycles and ATVs illegally riding on roadways "We have taken a zero-tolerance stance on this type of activity," police said "If you are found to be riding in violation of Pennsylvania laws the Bensalem Township Police Motor Patrol Unit began ATV patrols in numerous township areas Officers will continue patrols on various days of the week The Bensalem Township Police Motor Patrol Unit will utilize police ATVs and cite anyone engaged in this illegal activity Police are also warning parents that their children's actions will include them paying all fines "It would benefit you to talk with your kids and let them know that riding on roadways and private property is against the law and you should discourage this type of activity," police said Aidan Mayfield and his teammates didn’t need a strategy adjustment.  Aidan Mayfield scored 15 points for Bensalem in a District 1 Class 6A win over Owen J Roberts Friday night (Photo: Matt Allibone/CoBL) The 13th-seeded Bensalem boys’ basketball team was favored to continue a strong streak of play against No.20 Owen J Roberts in the first round of the District 1 Class 6A tournament Friday night But the Owls came out extremely slow in the first quarter — scoring just three points and trailing by seven after eight minutes.  Head coach Ron Morris quickly set the tone for his players.  “We just came out sluggish,” Mayfield said “We got a great speech from coach (Morris) and he got us motivated and lit a spark in us “And then you saw what happened.”  Bensalem proceeded to dominate the rest of the game on its way to a 57-33 home victory The Owls gave up just two points in the second quarter and six in the third quarter They led by 26 points with just over two minutes left in the fourth quarter when Morris decided to remove his starters.  Mayfield led a balanced Bensalem offensive attack with 15 points Star senior guard Amir Drummond added 11 while fellow senior Christian Lee added 10.  The Owls (15-9) will get fourth-seeded Garnet Valley in the second round of the playoffs next Tuesday The winner of that game will clinch a berth in the state playoffs while the loser remains alive in the consolation bracket.  The Wildcats reached the postseason for the third time in the past 16 seasons and will bring back the bulk of its lineup next season.  “That was a position we’ve been in before,” Morris said of the early deficit “And our kids don’t even blink an eye We challenged them to start turning it up and defense and we did that.”  The Owls entered Friday night both riding strong vibes and shaking off rust They won six of their final seven regular season games to clinch the Suburban One League Patriot title but lost to a dynamic Plymouth Whitemarsh team in the SOL quarterfinals last Friday Then they had a week off from competition.  They also spent the last week celebrating the Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl win along with the rest of the region When the Bensalem Township School District decided to cancel classes Friday due to the parade the Owls asked Morris if they could attend the celebration as a team.  Morris knew that wasn’t a good idea — instead scheduling a shootaround and then a team breakfast where they could watch the festivities on TV.  Even if the Owls didn’t get to hear Jalen Hurts speak in person they got a pep talk from Morris inspired by the Super Bowl MVP “I told them: ‘We’ve got to keep the main thing the main thing,’” Morris said “And that’s to be focused on the game We can’t have the distraction of being outside in the cold all day on your legs And we knew this was going to be a battle.”  a strategy plenty of teams use against the fast-paced Owls But Bensalem shot just 1-for-10 in the first quarter and didn’t create any transition opportunities on the other end of the court.  The Owls started to dial up more screens in order to give Drummond more space in the lane to either facilitate or get to the rim.  they started to grab rebounds of the defense end to kick start their fast breaks.  Bensalem outscored Owen J Roberts 13-2 in the second quarter and 18-6 in the third The Owls held the Wildcats to a 21% (12-for-56) shooting performance.  “We knew once we got the lead they would have to go man-to-man and press,” Morris said “And our speed would help us separate things there We’ve played 10 games decided by five or less points We’ve been in all different styles of basketball and that has us prepared.”  Morris credited Drummond for playing tough and energetically despite a tough shooting performance in the first half (two points) And 6-foot-2 senior Trevor Morris scored eight points while providing toughness in the paint against the bigger Wildcats.  Wildcats senior Elijah Cline scored 14 points in the final game of his high school career.  Mayfield provided a spark for Bensalem throughout the game with several key buckets — scoring down low on an inbounds play and going coast-to-coast after grabbing an offensive rebound.  entered the season as a defensive specialist but has since grown into the Owls second leading scorer at just under 11 points per game.  “Aidan is just so strong and can finish around the rim,” Morris said “He’s really quick and has the agility to get around defenders in the open floor He’s so fun and I’m blessed to coach him and this group.” The Owls will have their hands full with a Garnet Valley and Morris said he doesn’t know much about the Jaguars he believes his team is “peaking at the right time.”  “We got to start watching film,” Mayfield said “It’s going to be a tough game 2025 at 10:37 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(Google Maps)BENSALEM TOWNSHIP PA — The Village Center — a longtime township shopping center — has been sold for $13.8 million ShopOne Center’s REIT Inc. of New York City, in collaboration with joint venture partners —London investment firm Pantheon and a leading global institutional investor —acquired Goodnoe’s Corner in Newtown Township for $15.38 million in March which is anchored by ACME and Wells Fargo Bank “We are excited to expand our presence in the Philadelphia market with these high-quality assets,” said Chris Reed “These acquisitions align with our strategy of investing in well-located grocery-anchored and convenience-oriented centers that serve as essential retail destinations within their communities.” Village Center in Bensalem is near Interstate 276 and visible from Bristol Road and Hulmeville Road Tenants ACME Markets and Wells Fargo have been at the center for 46 and 47 years “Goodnoe’s Corner and Village Center are high-quality retail investments with long-term stability and strong tenant mixes,” said Scott Woodard first vice president of investments in Marcus & Millichap’s Philadelphia office “The sale highlights the strength of continued demand for well-located retail assets in affluent The acquisition of Goodnoe’s Corner and Village Center brings the total number of shopping centers in ShopOne's joint venture portfolio to 20 encompassing more than 2.0 million square feet The Pennsylvania expansion reflects ShopOne's commitment to growing its footprint in key markets and enhancing the value of its portfolio through strategic acquisitions and active asset management and operating platform focused exclusively on designing and executing strategies in U.S grocery-anchored neighborhood shopping centers through joint venture partnerships with institutional investor clients The company’s retail centers are located in established trade areas and are supported by a diverse mix of non-discretionary ShopOne said it is committed to maximizing the value of its portfolio by capitalizing on embedded growth opportunities through driving rents and pursuing value-enhancing redevelopment opportunities Patch Staff Writer Jeff Werner contributed to this report will be open for special hours on two upcoming dates: residents can also apply for a REAL ID during the center’s regular business hours but rather the date when enforcement begins Obtaining a REAL ID may not be immediately necessary for individuals who do not plan to fly or enter a federal facility soon after May 7 2025 at 4:18 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Mohhamed Alam (Bensalem Township Police Department)BENSALEM TOWNSHIP PA — A 62-year-old township man has been charged with sexually assaulting three children between the ages of 3 and 11 years old after he lured them into his bedroom with candy Bensalem Police have charged Mohhamed Alam of Bensalem and believe there may be more victims Police received a referral from a child welfare organization Bensalem Detectives and members of the Bucks County Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) interviewed a juvenile female who stated Alam inappropriately touched her multiple times when she was between the ages of 7 and 11 years old she was at his home for a community event when he lured her into his bedroom provided her candy from a candy jar in his bedroom and had her get into a YOGA pose by forcing her to spread her legs while he touched her inappropriately and she stated that between the ages of 5 and 8 years old she was touched inappropriately multiple times by Alam in his bedroom after being given candy from a candy jar in his bedroom The third juvenile was interviewed and stated that she was assaulted by Alam on multiple occasions between the ages of 3 and 9 years old and had her sit on his lap as he touched intimate areas of her body She recalled that he was in a state of arousal while she was on his lap Bensalem Police executed a search warrant at Alam's home and recovered evidence that supported the juveniles' recollections of the assaults in his bedroom Alam turned himself in on Thursday and was charged with indecent assault and corruption of minors He was arraigned by District Justice Joseph Falcone and released after posting 10 percent of $100,000 bail Anyone who believes they may have been assaulted by Alam should contact Detective Brian Oliverio at (215) 633-3669 to make a report 2025 at 9:03 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A Philadelphia man was found dead Wednesday in a wooded area near the Pennsylvania Turnpike on Wednesday PA —A Philadelphia man has been found dead in a wooded area near the Pennsylvania Turnpike Bensalem Police were called to the 2100 block of Gibson Road for the report of a black man lying in the wooded area between Gibson Road and the Pennsylvania Turnpike on Wednesday Glenn Vandegrift said the man was dead when police officers found him His family contacted the Philadelphia Police Department and reported him missing on Jan detectives were advised that Akil was suffering from cognitive issues and had walked away from his home on previous occasions Police said Akil's family was notified of his death The Bucks County Coroner’s Office responded and transported him to their facility for further investigation 2025 at 8:23 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Bensalem Township Fire Rescue Department said a Yates Road home suffered significant damage during a fire early Monday morning (Bensalem Township Fire Rescue Department )BENSALEM TOWNSHIP PA —A fire that caused "significant damage" to a Yates Road home is under investigation The Bensalem Township Fire Rescue Department's fire investigators have been on the scene of a house fire that occurred on Sunday night on Yates Road The home sustained significant damage throughout its structure Investigators have determined that the fire originated in a sunroom located in the rear of the home Fire officials said the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation Fire crews were on the scene for about two hours (Bensalem Township Fire Rescue Department) A 21-year-old Michigan man is accused of driving more than 700 miles to intentionally set fire to a Bensalem home last week The Bucks County District Attorney's Office and Bensalem police have scheduled a news conference for Monday at the township building where they will reveal more information about the fire and subsequent investigation Michigan is charged with six counts of felony attempted murder Officers with the Kent County Sheriff’s Department in Michigan arrested Harrison Jones at his home last Thursday He remains incarcerated there without bail to await extradition Police allege that Jones set fire to a home in the 5200 block of Merganser Way in the township's Mill Creek Farms development during the early hours of Feb Six people in the home escaped the fire, but they were transported to local hospitals for treatment, according to a post on the Bensalem Township Fire Rescue Department's Facebook page 2025 at 7:24 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Lower Bucks County fire crews battled a large brush fire in Bensalem on Tuesday afternoon (Third District Volunteer Fire Company)BENSALEM TOWNSHIP PA —Fire crews battled a large brush fire in a wooded area in the township Tuesday afternoon as it was contained from nearby homes thanks to the help of residents The Bensalem Volunteer Fire Department and mutual aid crews responded late Tuesday afternoon to a wooded area on Tremont Avenue Fire officials said the brush fire broke out between the CSX railroad tracks and SEPTA tracks The brush fire then extended to a home on Ramble Road Fire officials thanked local residents who helped and "knew the woods like the back of their hands." including the Third District Volunteer Fire Company were on the scene for an "extended length of time," officials said 2025 at 10:47 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Harrison Jones (Bensalem Township Police Department )BENSALEM TOWNSHIP PA —A Michigan man has been charged with six counts of attempted homicide after he drove over 700 miles to "intentionally set" a township house on fire due to being jealous over an ex-girlfriend Bensalem Police have charged Harrison Jones of Rockford with six counts of Attempted Criminal Homicide and related offenses after they said he lit a home in the 5200 block of Merganser Way on fire at 5:22 a.m Police said Jones traveled over 700 miles and 11+ hours each way to allegedly commit the crime in which six adults evacuated from the home some of whom had to jump out of second-story windows to escape the flames "His ex-girlfriend had an online relationship with a 22-year-old man who resides at the Merganser Way address," Sgt "We speculate that jealousy was involved." Police said a 21-year-old male resident had an online relationship with a woman who lived in Michigan and was supposed to come to Bensalem to meet in person for the first time this week Fire engulfed the two-story single-family dwelling and the six adults were transported to nearby hospitals with injuries Bensalem Fire Rescue and Bensalem Police Detectives are investigating the cause of the fire it was discovered that the fire appeared to be intentionally set and incendiary in nature Nearby home surveillance captured a black sedan as it passed the home on Merganser Way and stopped at the Mallard Drive intersection at 5:01 a.m Police said Jones exited the vehicle with an object and walked toward the home the subject appears to run back to his waiting vehicle and departs the area on Mallard Drive towards Portside Drive smoke could be seen billowing up from the rear yard of the home The only lead in the case was a grainy image of a black sedan from a neighbor's surveillance system Detectives utilized township intersection cameras to identify and track the vehicle entering and exiting the township the car passed through an intersection with Automated License Plate Readers installed Detectives found that the 2021 black Volkswagen Passat had a Michigan registration and the car was registered to Jones Detectives interviewed residents of the home on Merganser Way and then contacted the Kent County Sheriff’s Office in Michigan and requested assistance with the investigation The Kent County Sheriff’s Office obtained a search warrant for Harrison Jones's residence and seized the 2021 Volkswagen Passat When the Kent County Sheriff's Office made contact with him Jones also had what appeared to be burns on his arm Bensalem Detectives contacted the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office and received approval for an arrest warrant for Jones charged Jones and the Kent County Sheriff’s Department arrested him He is awaiting extradition back to Pennsylvania A jackpot-winning Pennsylvania Lottery Match 6 Lotto ticket worth $3,380,000 from the Friday "The ticket correctly matched all six winning numbers will earn a $10,000 bonus for selling the big winning ticket," according to the lottery More than 72,700 other Match 6 Lotto tickets also won prizes in the drawing Players are reminded to check every ticket 2025 at 1:42 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(Patch Graphics)BENSALEM TOWNSHIP PA — Intersection reconstruction will close Rockhill Drive and two U.S April 7 under PennDOT's $116 million project to reconstruct and improve a three-mile section in Bucks County Rockhill Drive will be closed at Horizon Boulevard from 8 p.m 1 to Rockhill Drive and westbound Rockhill Drive to southbound U.S 1 heading for the east side of Rockhill Drive will be detoured north on U.S turn left onto southbound Old Lincoln Highway and turn right onto Neshaminy Boulevard to access Rockhill Drive 1 heading for the west side of Rockhill Drive will be detoured north on U.S and turn left onto southbound Old Lincoln Highway to access Rockhill Drive Motorists on westbound Rockhill Drive heading for southbound U.S and turn left onto southbound Old Lincoln Highway to access the ramp to southbound U.S Motorists are advised to allow extra time when traveling near the work area because significant backups and delays will occur All scheduled activities are weather-dependent The work is part of PennDOT’s U.S. 1/RC2 contract that will reconstruct and widen U.S 1 from south of the Rockhill Drive Interchange to north of the Penndel/Business U.S For more information on this project and PennDOT’s U.S. 1 reconstruction program in Bucks County, visit www.us1bucks.com 2025 at 12:52 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Bensalem Police said law enforcement in the township on Wednesday are issuing warrants and not conducting an ICE raid PA —Law enforcement knocking on doors in the township Wednesday is not associated with an ICE raid The Bensalem Township Police Department said that Bucks County Sheriff's Department Warrant Unit members are currently in the township Bensalem Police said the deputy sheriffs are serving routine arrest warrants "Any activity is not associated with the U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency," the police said ICE raids have been taking place across the country since President Donald Trump took the oath of office on Jan keeping a campaign promise to crack down on illegals in the United States rounding them up and deporting them to their countries of origin Bensalem police can finally say they are bringing home the bacon after trapping a ham that's been on the lam.BENSALEM TWP. (WPVI) -- Bensalem police can finally say they are bringing home the bacon after trapping a ham that's been on the lam that has been on the loose for an entire month Action News has been following the search for "Porky" the pig The elusive swine finally fell for a special trap on Tuesday near Newport Mews Drive in Bensalem Township Porky is scheduled for a checkup at the Ross Mill Pig Farm in Jamison One woman remains hospitalized in critical condition after a fire Tuesday night in Bensalem that left 11 apartments uninhabitable Bensalem Fire Company responded to a fire alarm in the B-building of the Primavera Square Apartments in the 700 block of Station Avenue around 6:30 p.m a 911 call confirmed a ground-level apartment had caught fire with flames outside the windows said Bensalem Battalion Chief Robert Sponheimer Did punishment fit the crime? Her life was cut short by teen driver in Bucks County. Family says there was no justice The unidentified occupant of the apartment was found at the front door to the apartment and she required assistance to evacuate The woman remains hospitalized at Jefferson University Hospital with effects of smoke inhalation The occupants of four neighboring apartments also required assistance with evacuation; they were also taken to local hospitals where they were treated and released All apartments in B-building are uninhabitable with moderate to heavy smoke damage and the apartment where the fire started was severely damaged The cause of the fire remains under investigation as of Wednesday (This story was updated to add new information.) A portion of Rockhill Drive in Bensalem will close next weekend for intersection repairs related to an ongoing $116-million project on a 3-mile stretch of U.S according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation the department said the closure is part of a series of jobs in the area starting with a single-lane traffic pattern from 9 a.m 22 on both directions of Rockhill Drive between Old Lincoln Highway and Neshaminy Boulevard This change is to take place so that bridge painting can be done That same section of Rockhill Drive will then be closed for intersection repairs starting at 7 a.m when three detours will be in place for access to and from U.S Nifty eatery: This retro restaurant is coming to Bristol Township. We have the details. Drought brings water restrictions: Here are the latest water restrictions in Doylestown, Bucks County amid drought conditions Motorists are then to contend with overnight single-lane travel and 15-minute traffic stoppages on both directions of U.S 1 between Rockhill Drive and Route 413 (Bellevue Avenue) for a traffic shift It's part of PennDOT’s U.S. 1/RC2 contract that's to reconstruct and widen U.S For more information on this project and PennDOT’s U.S. 1 reconstruction program in Bucks County, visit www.us1bucks.com Chris Ullery can be reached at cullery@couriertimes.com Against a wall a grinder-like machine whirs All these years in the trade — more than a half century — and he’s still happy in his work among the last old time shoemaking and repair shops in Bucks County But, he may not be at it not much longer. A dispute over rent with his landlord will likely have Dominic's Shoe Repair out by Nov 30 after nearly 40 years in the Bensalem Center off Street Road He rolled up a drooping sleeve of his plaid work shirt and took a seat behind his shop’s counter Behind him were shelves bearing products like “Hoffco Liquid Shoe Dressing,” “Halyn’s Leather Balm” and “Fiebing's Reptile Cleaner.” “Landlords – they’re gonna do what they want Young tradesman At 17, skipping college and starting life as a fine woodworker in Bucks County I don’t have much that I could actually do,” he said A call to the lawyer representing the shopping center’s owner was not immediately returned for this story honorably discharged from the Navy and the Air Force,” he said He has grandchildren and great grandchildren But you have to know your stuff when it comes to footwear He picked up a pair of white and orange Air Jordans that need regluing ‘But I paid a 175 bucks for them.’ I told him ‘You bought the Brooklyn Bridge.’ Funny when you’re honest with people “With six children you can’t afford not to work ‘Let me know if you want to get back into shoemaking we have some used equipment.’ And that’s how I started in 1970.” He still has that equipment and it works fine He’s explaining them when a woman came in with a leather purse (This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.) JD Mullane can be reached at jmullane@couriertimes.com.