Council Rock School District has confirmed a school bus aide was found naked from the waist down in his car outside an elementary school last month and then boarded a school bus transporting special needs children Superintendent Andrew Sanko on Wednesday confirmed the incident, which occurred April 10 at Richboro Elementary school, in a community letter that was posted on the Council Rock SD News Unofficial Facebook page. The superintendent's letter did not name the former Durham School Services employee but court documents identified him as Glen Martinez More Bucks County News Are Bucks County educators current on mandated reporter training? Districts allow leeway Sanko’s letter states a Council Rock employee found Martinez alone and asleep in his personal vehicle in a “state of undress.” The letter stated that Martinez did not have any contact with students and was not near students while in the car Richboro Elementary School’s principal told police that around 2:50 p.m a teacher at the school was walking special needs students to the van The teacher told police she approached Martinez to ask him to help her get the students on the van his pants and underwear around his ankles fully exposed The teacher told police as she backed away from the car Martinez woke up The affidavit does not say what happened afterward but the teacher immediately reported to staff and the principal what she saw out of concern special needs students who were nearby might have seen him the staff member who found Martinez immediately notified the school principal but “due to the timing of events while the staff member was reporting the concern to the principal the aide boarded the (school) vehicle and the van departed before the situation could be fully addressed,” the statement said There were four special needs students and a driver in the van and at no time was Martinez alone with students on the bus according to Sanko and the bus route was completed “without incident.”  The parents of the students on the bus were informed about the incident Sanko confirmed that the staff member and principal filed a report with ChildLine fired Martinez immediately following the incident The manager of the bus company told police Martinez had previously given the company two weeks' notice and his last day of work was April 11 but “he was let go and not spoken to,” according to the police report The police report provided more details about how the incident unfolded but did not explain how Martinez was able to board the school van with children after he was found Sanko did not respond to an email Thursday asking why Martinez was not stopped from getting in the van; whether the bus driver was notified of the situation and why the students were not held inside the school after Martinez was discovered District spokeswoman Andrea Mangold said the district would continue to cooperate with police on the matter “While this person was not a Council Rock employee we recognize the seriousness of the situation and the concerns it may raise within our community,” Sanko wrote in the community letter “We remain fully committed to maintaining safe and secure environments for all students.”  Martinez worked as a Durham bus aide for three years He had no similar prior incidents or concerns with children no prior substance abuse or mental health concerns School video surveillance shows Martinez arriving at the school shortly before 3 p.m. and the teacher approaching his car about 40 minutes later Martinez is seen on video exiting his vehicle about a minute after the teacher approached his car There is no mention of video capturing him entering the school van Martinez is next seen leaving the van shortly before 4:30 p.m and getting into his car and leaving the property “The video shows Glen Martinez arrives during school hours and a school bus and students being elevated near Martinez when it is witnessed he has his pants down below his knees,” according to the affidavit Police interviewed Martinez on April 21 who allegedly admitted he was sleeping in his car with his pants down and his genitals exposed He told police he removed his pants because he was hot The outdoor temperature at the time was 53 degrees and the forecast was cloudy “Martinez acknowledged that it was not smart to pull his pants down on school property during school hours in the parking lot where special needs students are walking to transportation vehicles,” the affidavit said (This story has been updated to add new information.) Reporter Jo Ciavaglia can be reached at jciavaglia@gannett.com 2025 at 4:54 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Blueprint Cookies is located at the Richboro Plaza Shopping Center on Second Street Pike (Jeff Werner/Patch)RICHBORO PA — A Florida-based cookie company boasting "the best cookies in the world," has opened its first location in Bucks County at the Richboro Plaza Shopping Center but that’s our side gig; our mission is to uplift encourage and empower people in their life journey — or as we like to call it ‘Cookie Journey,’” says the shop’s website Each month Blueprint Cookies introduces new including limited-time specials and vegan and gluten-free options The giant cookies are made fresh each day and are served warm Cookies can also be eaten at room temperature or taken home and heated up The take home box includes warming directions A sampling of the store’s cookie menu includes the classic chocolate chip "Blueprint Cookies is not just about making the best cookies in the world; it's about so much more," Adam August "We want to be the blueprint for hospitality and how companies should treat and support their team members We see cookies as a medium to spread joy and create connections and inspiring them to embrace their unique paths." We can’t wait to welcome you to our cozy corner of sweetness,” the franchise owners wrote on Facebook It also has three locations in Florida (Ft Boca Raton and Plantation) and one on Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. The paving work will take place during the daytime Drivers traveling on Richboro Road in Newtown and Northampton townships should plan for delays this week as a PennDOT contractor undertakes paving operations The work is scheduled to take place Monday through Friday between 9 a.m on a section of Richboro Road between Hanover Street and Holland Road The paving will smooth the section of road that has become uneven following a stormwater management project in recent months PennDOT said a lane closure will be in effect during the construction hours Local access will be maintained within the work zone PennDOT is advising drivers to allow extra travel time when passing through the area The paving schedule is contingent on weather conditions This work is part of a larger $15.9 million initiative to upgrade stormwater management facilities on over 90 state highways throughout the five-county Philadelphia region which is being funded entirely by state resources Sign up for our Evening Journal Email Newsletter!  Get the latest headlines in your inbox each evening at 9 p.m You have successfully joined our email newsletter The Patch is reporting there's a new cookie shop opening in Bucks County, PA on Saturday (February 1) and something's telling me you're going to be a fast fan The cookie company claims they have the best cookies in the world You know you have to go try them now and see if they live up to the hype It's called BluePrint Cookies This will be the very first Bucks County location and only the second location in Pennsylvania The Richboro BluePrint Cookies will be in the Richboro Plaza Shopping Center It's taking over the space where Striff's Cafe used to be Doors will be open for the Grand Opening Celebration from 11am - 7pm both Saturday and Sunday The first 300 people will get a free chocolate chip cookie (who doesn't love chocolate chip cookies?) The first 40 people will get a tote bag and "cookie swag." The cookies rotate on a monthly menu. The switch happens the first of the month. Some of the cookies featured this month are the Red Velvet Cookie They even have an Eagles cookie to celebrate the Birds going to the Super Bowl Of course, with any good cookie, there is merch. You can check it out here READ MORE:  Two Eagles Cheerleaders Going to Super Bowl From Bucks County BluePrint Cookies is located in Richboro Shopping Center at 1079 Second Street Pike Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz Gallery Credit: Wood They say their cookies are the best in the world.\nRead More The Patch is reporting there's a new cookie shop opening in Bucks County, PA on Saturday (February 1) and something's telling me you're going to be a fast fan The cookie company claims they have the best cookies in the world It's called BluePrint Cookies The Richboro BluePrint Cookies will be in the Richboro Plaza Shopping Center. It's taking over the space where Striff's Cafe used to be, on the corner, next to House of Bridal. Doors will be open for the Grand Opening Celebration from 11am - 7pm both Saturday and Sunday. (February 1 and 2). Get ready for some fun. The first 300 people will get a free chocolate chip cookie (who doesn't love chocolate chip cookies?). View this post on Instagram A post shared by BLUEPRINT COOKIES (@blueprintcookies) The first 40 people will get a tote bag and "cookie swag." The cookies rotate on a monthly menu. The switch happens the first of the month. Of course, with any good cookie, there is merch. You can check it out here READ MORE:  Two Eagles Cheerleaders Going to Super Bowl From Bucks County BluePrint Cookies is located in Richboro Shopping Center at 1079 Second Street Pike Big changes could be headed to the heart of Richboro after Northampton Township supervisors approved plans for the sale and redevelopment of the former police station This week, supervisors gave the green light to plans to sell the property at 50 Township Road to a developer with a vision of transforming it and the neighboring property into a mini town center with restaurants fitness studios and more on the corner of Township Road and Route 332 The vacant building sits on 1.33 acres between the Bucks County Courthouse and the former Bucks County Courier Times satellite office that's been empty for what board Chairman Supervisor Adam Selisker estimated to be at least 20 years "I think the town center will be a really nice addition .. I think it'll be a great improvement," Selisker said of the town center "It really takes that entire corner and beautifies it and to me that's an investment in our community and we will get a lot of benefit from it." The plan was one of two valid proposals that the Bucks County Redevelopment Authority received for the property late last year BSI Construction offered to buy the property for $940,000 with plans to redevelop the existing space as a physical therapy and sports rehab facility Richboro Owners Group submitted a bid for $950,000 with plans for a more comprehensive redevelopment of this site and the adjoining .81 acres Their proposal included 16,000 square feet of retail space and more than 25,000 square feet of green space with walking paths and benches Fellow Supervisor Robert Salzer expressed enthusiasm about the Richboro Owners Group offer "This is by far the one (proposal) with the most potential," Salzer said "and I think makes the most sense for the long term betterment of the township." Supervisor Barry Moore also estimated that the town center project would generate about $6 million for the area's tax base The developer now has to complete a lengthy land development approval process that's to include township staff reviews there's to be opportunities for the public to comment on the plans as they come together "I'm excited about this," Supervisor Paula Gasper said "I think this is growth for Richboro and Northampton Township." 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 6:08 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The former Northampton Township Police Station at 50 Township Road PA — A mini-town center could be coming to the heart of Northampton Township the board of supervisors voted unanimously to enter into an agreement to sell its former police station at 50 Township Road to the Trinity Group Richboro Owners LLC for redevelopment Richboro Owners plan to combine the police station property with the former Bucks County Courier Times building next door to create a mini-town center that could include a brewpub/restaurant The township received two valid proposals for the former police station property The other one was submitted by BSI Construction which proposed converting the existing building into a physical therapy and a sports rehab facility focused on athlete recovery and injury prevention The Richboro Owners submitted the highest bid - $950,000 - for the property Plans for the project will still need to go through the township's zoning land development and planning process before ground can be broken The former Bucks County Courier Times building at Route 332 and Township Road This is growth for Richboro and Northampton Township," said Supervisor Paula Gasper who made the motion to approve the agreement of sale "It's going to be an excellent place that we can walk or drive to right around the corner." "This is going to be great for our residents The concept is a rising tide raises all boats Having more of a town center it's going to help all the other businesses in the area "It's going to create jobs for development and from a tax perspective this proposal will put anywhere between $6 million and $7 million worth of investment into the town center which will be a nice tax base not only for the township but also for the county and the school district," said Moore "The developer also has a lot of expertise in this area so I would highly recommend it," said Moore Supervisor Bob Salzer noted that there are still some benchmarks that will need to be met this one by far has the most potential and makes the most sense for the long term betterment of the township." Kimberly Rose said both proposals included good ideas and both were submitted by Northampton residents you're just going to have the development on 1.33 acres of land They are not going to take the building down they are taking the Courier building and the old police station which will give them 16,000 square feet of retail space with yoga studio and a restaurant There will also be 26,000 feet of walkable green space with sidewalks "When you're thinking about the future of our community - thinking big instead of thinking small -the Trinity Group Richboro Owners is definitely the better idea," said Rose "The town center is going to be a nice addition The old Courier Times facility has probably been vacant for 25 years This particular plan incorporates the use of that property It's a really nice reuse of that property in addition to the old police department It takes that whole corner and beautifies it "It's important to note that through the land development process there are opportunities for public comment along the way." 2025 at 2:24 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Pennsylvania's Acting Secretary of Education Dr Carrie Rowe reads "Super Brady: Always on the Move," a children’s book written and illustrated by elementary students to honor a classmate with autism PA – Pennsylvania's Acting Secretary of Education Dr Carrie Rowe on Tuesday joined students at the Richboro Elementary School and Mikayla’s Voice to celebrate Autism Awareness Month with a reading of "Super Brady: Always on the Move," a children’s book written and illustrated by elementary students to honor a classmate with autism “Creating truly inclusive schools means more than recognizing differences—it means celebrating them,” said Dr “When students share stories like Super Brady Mikayla’s Voice inspires us to keep moving toward a future where every learner is welcomed Super Brady: Always on the Move was written by then fourth-grade students at Spring Garden Elementary School in 2017 about their friendships and learning opportunities with their classmate Brady Brady and his classmates worked together to write and illustrate the book and fifth grade classroom across two counties and to every public elementary school in Pennsylvania Pennsylvania's Acting Secretary of Education Dr Carrie Rowe reads "Super Brady: Always on the Move," a children’s book written and illustrated by elementary students to honor a classmate with autism Andy Sanko and Pennsylvania Department of Education Acting Secretary Dr Carrie Wood with Council Rock administrators and representatives from MiKayla's Voice “We couldn’t be more ecstatic to partner with Dr Rowe to spread awareness and promote advocacy for youth with autism,” said Rita Cheskiewicz “Our book Super Brady Always on the Move is a perfect example of the type of valuable dialogue that should be initiated in every classroom - one that encourages friendships among youth of all ages with and without disabilities” The organization’s mission is to inspire students to embrace differences and to speak up for others through their own actions and voices “Mikayla’s Voice reinforces the importance of including all students of all abilities and complimented the culture that exists within our school community and the Council Rock School District perfectly,” said Gina Booth “Our students gained additional perspectives and participated in a specially designed mural project that will serve as a visual reminder of the mission of Mikayla’s Voice: to create a kind safe place where all students feel they have a friend.” the Shapiro Administration has increased funding for special education in Pennsylvania by $150 million Governor Shapiro’s 2025-26 budget proposal continues to build on the foundation the Administration has laid over the past few years including investing an additional $526 million in K-12 education and an additional increase of $40 million in special education funding PDE has been making strides in student literacy providing grants and professional development opportunities for educators and ensuring students have access to effective reading instruction This ensures equivalent coverage of autism benefits is a reality for tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians with autism allowing them to access and afford the mental health services they need in the same way they do for physical health services Mental health parity further prevents insurers from imposing more restrictive limits (like a higher copay or lower annual visits caps) on mental health care compared to medical or surgical care Last week Connor Lenahan stopped at the Richboro Wawa to fill up his 2016 Jeep Cherokee The repairs his car needed after filling up are more than $3,000 Lenahan isn’t the only car owner hit with a four-digit repair bill this week after filling up at the Wawa in the 800 block of Second Street Pike near Bustleton Pike more than two dozen people had reached out to Joan Lenahan through Facebook after she posted about her son’s car experience on several Northampton Township community pages More Bucks County news Who are Bucks County's largest employers? The first one may surprise you Wawa spokeswoman Lori Bruce said there was an issue with the fuel equipment on one tank at the Richboro store and that once the company was made aware immediate action was taken to correct it Bruce provided no details on what the problem involved "We are working with our fuel equipment manufacturer to investigate and understand the issue including the timing of any potential impact," Bruce said in a written statement we believe that this was an isolated incident that may have affected a limited number of customers."  Bruce added that the company has a "quality fuel guarantee" and customers who experienced mechanical problems can submit a claim online. On Tuesday the Bucks County Consumer Protection Department opened an investigation into the incident More than 100 comments appear under her posts and others from people who claim they got gas at the Richboro Wawa on July 17 or July 18 and almost immediately their cars experienced mechanical problems including damage to engine “I filled my car up on Wednesday the 17th at the Richboro Wawa a few miles down the road my engine light went on,” wrote one woman Just barely got home at 10 mph and now I can’t drive it.” “Got gas the 18th at 7pm and car died on Friday afternoon after driving 6 toal (sic) miles Said misfire in cylinders 4 and 5,” wrote someone else he had about a quarter-tank left when he filled up Thursday with regular-grade gas The next day his Jeep started bucking before the check engine light came on and the car stopped running had a question:  When was the last time it was filled with gas Mechanics busy in Richboro after Wawa customers get gasAfter she answered the mechanic said her car was the seventh one that came into his shop that day with the same problems after getting gas at the Richboro Wawa from people reporting car problems who got gas at the Richboro Wawa last week are experiencing the same problems with fuel pumps multiple cylinder misfires and some cars that need ignition coils replaced At least two other Richboro area garages were also seeing customers with the same issues who said they got gas at the Richboro Wawa around the same time Millevoi said he had to replace spark plugs drain the fuel and blow out all the fuel lines the popular theory about what happened revolved around speculation involving delivery mix ups with diesel and regular gas or water contamination in storage tanks It is important car owners have mechanics save samples of the gas removed from the cars so it can be tested of the county’s consumer protection department Gas stations typically have computer systems that monitor gas deliveries and water contamination so if the gas is the culprit it should be traceable Wawa is a good company to deal with when it comes to reimbursement Millevoi said he cannot speculate if the damages he was seeing were directly related to the Wawa gas but in his 30 years in the automotive repair business he has never seen such a coincidence 2025 at 4:21 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(Patch Graphics)NEWTOWN PA — The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will be paving Route 332 (Richboro Road) in Newtown and Northampton townships this week Drivers are advised to allow extra time when traveling through the work area because backups and delays will occur of Flourtown is the general contractor for this project which is financed with 100 percent state funds Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 2025 at 3:59 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Richboro Elementary School Principal Gina Booth and some of her students give a big thumbs up to the new school (Jeff Werner/Patch) (Jeff Werner/Patch)RICHBORO PA — Council Rock officially cut the ribbon on its newly renovated and expanded Richboro Elementary School during a grand opening celebration on Wednesday at the school Principal Gina Booth joined the school’s mascot parents and youngsters in officially opening the school to the community “This represents a new chapter for us and for the community in the history of Richboro Elementary,” said Booth “We have 377 students here who are excited to be in this new space and to continue all the special traditions that they are part of here.” Richboro Elementary School Principal Gina Booth cuts the ribbon on the newly renovated school in Northampton Township The new front entrance to the Richboro Elementary School the school has been closed for the past year and a half while it underwent an extensive multi-million dollar renovation project that included new floors new windows and the addition of air conditioning Every nook and cranny of this building has been upgraded They have created an amazing place for kids to come and learn," said Booth “The kids are so excited,” Booth continued “One of the kids said it’s like having a birthday and getting a big present That first day was so memorable hearing and watching their reactions And the way they respect the new building says a lot about how much they enjoy being here.“ The renovation project also included a 10-room addition at the back of the school that now houses a brand new STEAM room That’s where sixth-grade learning support teacher Judith Silverman was greeting parents The sixth graders are happy to have their own space.” Inside the school's newly renovated library Richboro Principal Gina Booth with former principal Dave Hunter who stopped by to tour the newly renovated school He was principal when the school first opened in 1989 its 377 students attended class at the former Richboro Middle School just down the street It was like a home away from home,” said Booth “We were lucky to have an off-site building while renovations took place It also built excitement for what’s new and what’s coming next.” the school's first principal stopped by to see the newly renovated school He was the school’s principal when the new building opened in 1989 but they’ve really enhanced the whole thing and made it much better.” New windows inside the gym have brightened up the space The first checks are on their way to dozens of Wawa customers whose cars were damaged after filling up at a Northampton Township store earlier this month “I just received an email with a UPS Tracking number for my reimbursement check,”  Richboro resident Joan Lenahan said Lenahan received the reimbursement notice on Monday one week after she dropped off her son’s Jeep at a local repair shop after it stopped running the day after he filled up with regular gas at the Richboro Wawa on July 18 car troubles reported at Wawa gas pumps Dozens of car owners say their vehicles died after filling up at a Richboro Wawa After Lenahan posted her son’s experience on social media, dozens of other customers responded with stories of similar car trouble after filling up at the same store in the 800 block of Second Street Pike near Bustleton Pike around the same time The Bucks County Consumer Protection Department is also investigating the incident Wawa immediately apologized for the incident and a team is taking care of every customer issue that is found to be the result of the gas issue every single customer who reached out to us has been contacted and some of those impacted have already been reimbursed,” she added Wawa has a "quality fuel guarantee" and customers who experienced mechanical problems can submit a claim online. The “impacted equipment” at the store was immediately shut down and it is no longer in use The company is working with its fuel equipment manufacturer to investigate the issue which it believes is an “isolated incident that affected a very limited number of customers,” Bruce added Wawa has provided no explanation for what is responsible for the problem other than it involved equipment on one fuel tank At this point Wawa has not provided any information on the number of customers who have alleged their vehicles experienced mechanical failure after filling up at the Richboro store More than 100 comments appear under Lenahan’s and other people’s social media posts from people who claim shortly after they got gas at the Richboro Wawa on July 17 or July 18 their cars experienced mechanical problems The owner of Millevoi Brothers Richboro Automotive in Richboro got two calls on Monday from people who are having their cars towed to his shop Both got gas at the Richboro Wawa on either July 17 or 18 Since last week his garage has repaired eight cars He estimated he is taking five calls a day from people asking about the issue and what signs they should look for The common repair issues Millevoi has seen are problems with fuel pumps 2024 at 3:29 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Chancellor Center is home-base for the Council Rock School District PA — The Council Rock School Board at its September meeting voted unanimously to approve the appointment of Gina Booth as the new principal of the Richboro Elementary School Booth replaces Daneyelle Jordan who has served as the school's principal since 2015 Jordan is leaving the district "to pursue other challenges," said Superintendent Dr Jordan well and thank her for her long service to our children." through a rigorous process that included five rounds of interviews Booth emerged as the unanimous choice to fill the position A 29-year-employee of the Council Rock School District and a lifelong Council Rock resident Booth was a classroom teacher for 16 years and most recently served as the instructional facilitator at Hillcrest Elementary School Booth has directed the district's Nights for Knowledge and Summer Academy programs She holds a bachelor's degree from Temple University and a Master's degree and teaching certification from Holy Family University "We are confident that the Richboro Elementary School community will be in the best of hands as Gina continues in this leadership position," said Sanko Booth said in her new position as principal she would continue to build on Richboro's "strong sense of community and history to help bring meaningful moments of learning for our students so they too can become lifelong learners." Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardRichboro Wawa customers who got bad gas could see reimbursements soonThe Delaware County-based company has vowed to get back to every claimant as quickly as possible Dozens of customers face repair costs of $3,000 to $4,500 on average Some Richboro Wawa customers whose cars were damaged by contaminated gas may see repair reimbursements in the coming days “Our team is working with every single customer impacted by the incident as fast as possible,” Wawa spokesperson Lori Bruce said in a statement we’re looking at every possible avenue to get these customers taken care of swiftly and are hoping to minimize inconvenience.” Wawa’s latest update comes a week after some customers’ vehicles broke down after fueling up at the Bucks County store » READ MORE: They fueled up at a Bucks County Wawa, then their cars broke down. Who will pay for repairs? Local mechanics said the repairs range from $3,000 to $4,500 At least one customer said he’s been told it will cost closer to $10,000 to fix his newer SUV Wawa identified the problem as “an issue with fuel equipment” that impacted one tank at the Richboro location and the problem was addressed promptly with no ongoing impact Company officials are working with its equipment manager to determine exactly what wrong The Delaware County-based company has repeatedly apologized to customers for the inconvenience Several customers told The Inquirer this week that their cars started “violently shaking” and “bucking” within a day of getting gas at the Wawa. Mechanics in the area who are servicing more than 30 impacted cars but they could not identify what contaminant was in the gas without sending it to a lab The mechanics said they have replaced fuel pumps as well as flushed out all the fuel systems on impacted vehicles Two customers who spoke to The Inquirer said they heard from Wawa’s claims department late this week whose car died last week as she drove her daughter to a Lancaster-area Cub Scout camp The Wawa claims department told her the company would reimburse the cost of a rental car O’Neill had not yet received the funds Friday because she didn’t have the final repair cost from her mechanic declined to answer questions about how many claims have been filed how many customers had received reimbursements and whether other non-repair expenses — such as towing and rental car costs — would be reimbursed for affected customers and we are speaking directly with any customers who were impacted by the issue to quickly review and reimburse all of their expenses in the way that works best for them,” she said we will work directly with them to address any additional questions.” Wawa continues to encourage customers who may have been affected to file a claim on its fuel guarantee page.