The  Poquessing Pathfinder Online
The Friends of Poquessing Watershed Inc. of Philadelphia and Bucks County
Dedicated to the Conservation and Beautification of the Poquessing Creek and Its Environs

NOTES FROM THE PRESIDENT
 
 
 

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SOMEDAY MY PRINCE WILL COME

 is a refrain we have been expressing for years. And, like the Disney fairy tales, many of us believe that only
magic will make Poquessing a “real” park. Well, the planets and stars must be converging and aligning because things
are coming together to actually make our dreams reality.
 On June 19, Bensalem Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo and the Heritage Conservancy hosted a reception at Pen
Ryn mansion to announce Bucks County’s Lower Delaware River Conservation Plan. Bensalem’s plan for the
Poquessing was outlined and grant money was awarded and matched by the township to begin the program. As
FOPW, we were invited to participate in the project.
 Here is where the “stars converge”. I believe you all know that Fairmount Park Comm. has been awarded a
5-year $26 million grant from the William Penn Foundation. Within the grant are funds allocated for development of
Poquessing Park. And, both counties have almost identical visions about what they plan for a park.
 Now is the part where FOPW becomes pivotal. As neither county was aware of the other’s plans, we
managed to hook them up. On July 8, Jim Donaghy (FPC), and I met with Tony Belfield and the Council in Bensalem
to get acquainted and begin coordinating activities. To quote a Bensalem member, “Great, now we don’t have to re-
invent the wheel!”. FOPW shared a 1976 environmental study that had been done for the City Planning Commission.
FPC made and distributed copies. This study proved quite valuable as it gives starting points and perimeters, creating
immediate levels of common ground. Fortunately, FOPW had archived the study, because no one seemed to be aware
of its existence. We all came away from this first meeting with a win-win feeling.
 Our next meeting is the last week of August. Please note on the General Membership Meeting Schedule that
FOPW plans a November information meeting about our programs.

THERE IS A FREE LUNCH (WELL, MAYBE)

 On a-perfect-spring-day May 21, The Philadelphia Foundation hosted its annual Community Tour of Lower
Bucks Co. As a philanthropical community foundation, TPF develops, manages and allocates resources to a 5-county
area; and, under this umbrella, administers the Charles T. Bejuki Memorial Scholarship Fund.
 Mrs. Marianne Bejuki, Tony Eisele, Carl Retzback and I had an informative tour of the Levittown, Bensalem
and Bristol areas. We learned much about what is being done in housing rehabs, women’s and children’s health, and
social community development.
 Lunch was served on the lawn at The Grundy Foundation’s Victorian Mansion overlooking the Delaware.
However it wasn’t quite free for me as I had been requested to speak. I’ll pay that price anytime when I get to stand by
the Delaware on a glorious day, speak to such a gracious audience, and spread the word about the Poquessing Creek,
the Friends group, and how the Bejuki fund became a donor to the Foundation.

                                                                            Dianne Welsh-Retzback
 
 

 TIDINGS FROM TONY (EXECUTIVE V.P.)

Question: Why is there a Friends of Poquessing Watershed?
Answer: Because the Hopi Indians can’t do everything!

Let me explain.
With the end of the century nearing, we await a new Millennium.
Well, the Hopi Indians also await a new age. Only they call it the Fifth World.
But what has that to do with us?
They (the Hopis) have more or less assumed responsibility of Mother Earth. Her well-being, if you will.
Now, obviously, they can’t do it all alone. And that’s where we come in.
From an article on Hopi prophecies: “The Hopi have been placed on this side of the Earth to take care of the Land
through their (ceremonial) duties, just as other races of people have been placed elsewhere around the earth to take
care of her in their own ways. Together, we hold the world in balance, revolving properly.”
So you see just as the Hopis can’t do it all alone, neither can we. But we can do our part. We can show concern and
care for our immediate area of Mother Earth.
And by so doing, perhaps we - like the Hopi Indians - can also be “at-one” with the Great Spirit.
 

                                                        Tony Eisele
 

HAIL HAIL THE GANG’S STILL HERE!
 (WITH SOME NEW FACES)

The May election brought two new faces to the FOPW Board.

Dr. Robert Palma - V.P. Education and Environmental Affairs
Deborah Scott      - V.P. Membership

We welcome Bob and Deb and appreciate their time and energy.

A special thank you to Marie Pinciotti who previously handled membership. Because of family illness, Marie had to
resign her position. However she and Joe still plan to interact with the Board. We value their input.

We also thank our re-elected officers for being willing to serve another term:

V.P. Town Watch  - Donna Smith-Remick
V.P. Trails/ Cleanup - Mike Mulray
V.P. Ways and Means - Josephine Edwards
Treasurer   - Carl Retzback
Executive V.P.   - Tony Eisele
President   - Dianne Welsh-Retzback
 

WHAT ARE WE UP TO?!!

 We Still Support the Arts...
especially when they involve young talent and the schools. We were again a Friend’s Choice Award
sponsor for the Fairmount Park Commission’s Art & Essay Contest, the theme of which was “A Close
Encounter With a Fairmount Park Ranger”. We chose to sponsor Benjamin Rush Middle School in our
watershed. The winner, who received a $50 Savings Bond from FOPW and a $50 Savings Bond from FPC,
was 6th grader Lesya Parkhomchuk. Congratulations! You did great work. Tony Eisele presented for
FOPW at the awards ceremony May 12.

We Still Award a Scholarship...
 for the Charles T. Bejuki Memorial Scholarship Fund. This year’s winner was Kathryn Doering from
Archbishop Ryan H.S. who plans to attend LaSalle University this fall. We wish her much success.

We Still Try to Clean Up the Watershed...
as we did Earth Week in April with the 7th grade students at St. Anselm’s School. In two hours we
managed to stockpile many, many bags of trash and piles of metal objects from the area along the creek
behind the athletic field. The “kids” did a great job! The Earth thanks you.
On May 17, nineteen volunteers converged on the Creek at Waldemire Drive to clean up in conjunction
with Philadelphia Cares About Fairmount Park Day. It was a successful day; only two volunteers fell in the
Creek, Captain Sewer showed up, the lunches were delivered on time and all of the trash was picked up by
the trash trucks before 3 PM.

We Still Try to Educate the Community...
about the environment and particularly about WATER. On May 3, we were part of the Franklin Mills Mall
Community volunteer signup day and we hosted a tour of a portion of our watershed, conducted by the
Philadelphia Water Department. Unfortunately, we had too much water from the heavens (rain) which put
a damper on the tour; but a few brave souls showed up.

We Still Monitor the Water...
twice a month, as we have for over seven years; and we continue to work with the Delaware Riverkeeper,
the PA DEP, the Philadelphia Water Dept., and other related agencies.

We Still Maintain a Town Watch...
to patrol on the weekends and to interact with the 7th and 8th Police Districts and other concerned town
watch groups.

We Still Want and Need More of You...
to come join us in any or all of our activities.
 

 FROM THE CREEK’S EDGE

FOPW FALL SOCIAL AND FUND RAISER
Set aside Wednesday Oct 1st for a fun day with our members and friends.
There will be a brunch at the home of Jo Edwards, then a trip to Smithville (near Mount Holly, NJ) to tour
the Smithville Mansion. The cost will be about $12.00.
CALL FOR DETAILS 637-8658

ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS FOR 1998!
We will be selling Entertainment Books again this year at $25.00 each. The books will be available at the
General Membership meetings in Oct, Nov, and Dec.  We have a limited supply, so get your book early.

AN EARTH FRIENDLY TIP:
INVITE A LADY BUG TO YOUR GARDEN
Nothing can ruin a gardener’s day faster than a troop of plant-eating aphids, mealybugs and spider mites
wreaking havoc on a beautiful garden. You can head off these plant predators by using the lucky ladybug, a
safe and organic alternative to chemical pesticides. Ladybugs, also called lady beetles, devour aphids,
mealybugs, spider mites, thrips, whiteflies and soft-bodied scale insects at a rate of up to 40 per hour.
 Invite ladybugs into your flower beds by planting angelica, butterfly weed, goldenrod, marigolds,
roses and yarrow. In your vegetable garden, cucumbers, eggplants, peppers and tomatoes will appeal to
these garden heroes.
 If you have trouble gaining the attention of these pest-eaters, you can purchase live ladybugs from
your local or mail-order garden supplier. Use at least 100 ladybugs per 1,000 square feet of garden space.
To release your ladybugs, spread a handful around the base of a pest-infested plant. Be sure to sprinkle
your plants with water before you free the ladybugs so they will have plenty to drink, and they will make
your garden their home and soon lay eggs. Provide a place for them to hibernate, such as a pile of dead
leaves, hay or mulch.
 If you are not ready to release your mail-order ladybugs when they arrive, you can safely store
them in the refrigerator for up to three weeks.

GLEN FOERD COUNTY FAIR
 You can see from the enclosed flyer that the annual county fair is Sunday, September 28. We will have a
booth and be selling mums as usual. However we are in need of some hand-made crafts for our table.  If
you could be so kind to donate anything, FOPW would be very appreciative. Call Jo Edwards at 637-8658.

                                                                                        Thanks.
                                                                       Jo Edwards