Rain doesn't dampen Puerto Rican Day festival

By Diane Davies-Dixon

Even the rain could not dampen the spirits of the community Sunday for the 42nd annual Puerto Rican Day Festival at Lion’s Park in Bristol.

The aroma of authentic dishes mingled in the air with the scent of rain.

The event is sponsored by the Puerto Rican Cultural Association of Bucks County.

This year, for the first time, the event featured pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino horses and a Pirate Roberto Cofresi, better known as El Pirata Cofresi, re-enactment.

Also included in the event: live music, authentic cuisine, cultural workshops and novelty vendors.

While cultural music was playing throughout the park families strolled around taking in the history of Puerto Rico. Some in the crowd return to Bristol for Puerto Rican Day because it is part of their culture.

Nilda Hillyer of Bristol Township was raised in Bristol and returns to her roots for the special event.

“The music is my favorite part,” said Hillyer. “It is my heritage.”

Hillyer also noted that she did not know about the Paso Fino horses. A lesson learned about her culture.

“The horses are so pretty,” said Jasmine Hillyer, 8.

Nicole Roemhild of Bensalem returns every year in anticipation of running into family and friends to celebrate her heritage with good music.

“Some cultural things become cliquey,” said Roemhild. “But not Puerto Rican Day.”

“I see a lot of my family here.”

Nick Fitzgerald of Philadelphia returns to Bristol on Puerto Rican Day for the atmosphere.

“I like the feeling that is generated,” said Fitzgerald.

The party-like environment is what draws him back, noted Fitzgerald.

The horses tapped around giving the crowd a demonstration on the smooth, natural, four beat lateral gait they possess.

to read more go to:http://www.phillyburbs.com/my_town/bristol/rain-doesn-t-dampen-bristol-s-puerto-rican-day-festival/article_a6575a47-622b-5747-bb8b-853348774455.html?TNNoMobile

Hope for Hannah

By Diane Davies-Dixon

There's a sign that greets visitors on the front door of a home in the Farmbrook section of Levittown: "No crying, this is a happy home."

Yet it's hard to remain upbeat for Vicki Pizzullo these days. She broke down within minutes of a reporter's visit to discuss her daughter Hannah's health. At 6 months old, the baby has an incurable illness that has overwhelmed the family.

Videos of newborn Hannah wiggling about in her seat making multiple attempts to get her thumb in her mouth show a normal, healthy baby. But those simple movements became painful at 4 months old. 

“She would start screaming when she would eat,” Pizzullo said, her voice cracking while choking back tears. “Everything just happened so fast.”

Hannah, who stopped eating because of the pain, would soon be diagnosed with a rare and fatal strain of leukodystrophy, also called Krabbe (pronounced Crab A) and Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy.

Krabbe is a genetic disorder that affects both the central and peripheral nervous systems, according towww.huntershope.org.

An important enzyme needed for the production of a protective covering for nerve cells known as myelin is lacking in Krabbe babies.

It is the deterioration of that covering that causes Hannah pain.

The journey for her and her family began in June.

Her father, Justin Ginion, and Pizzullo took Hannah to a hospital and were told Hannah had acid reflux and was dehydrated. She was sent home, according to Pizzullo.

“The blood work showed nothing wrong,” said Pizzullo.

“This is my third baby,” said Pizzullo. “I knew something was not right.”

to read more go to: http://www.phillyburbs.com/my_town/bensalem/hope-for-hannah/article_d7d20ea3-f36b-5aad-add2-328a82dcd9f1.html#user-comment-area

Turning a first date into a family business

By Diane Davies-Dixon

How many people can say the first date with their boyfriend or girlfriend turned into a family business?

Corey Winter, a Bristol resident, can.

Ten years ago, he took his then-girlfriend, Jackie, to a hobby shop on their first date. That was the night Jackie bought her first RC car and found herself hooked on radio controlled racing, known among fans as RC racing.

Apparently she found herself hooked on Corey as well, since the two later married.

“It is an excellent hobby,” Corey said of his hobby-turned-business. “I was at a flying event one day with a buddy joking about opening a hobby shop. It started as a joke.”

Corey, who’s been flying RC airplanes for more than 20 years, was working in a collision center and had always dreamed of owning his own — until he was injured at work.

Today, he and Jackie own the Ultimate RC Hobby Shop and Raceway at 801 Cedar Ave. in Croydon. The business has a pit area with full electricity and a place to set up tools to work on the cars, which can cost hundreds of dollars.

About three years ago, the couple opened a hobby shop in Bristol. But customers wanted a track to race on. So, after one year in Bristol, they moved to the bigger location in Croydon, according to Jackie.

“It was very scary making the jump to a bigger place,” she said. “We wanted to do something that would be different that people would really like.”

Jim Griggs, 54, has been racing RC vehicles for 30 years. These days, he spends two nights a week at the Croydon track racing his custom-painted vehicle.

“This is my home track now,” said Griggs, a Levittown resident. “Thursday nights (when racers practice to compete on Saturdays) are priceless.”

to read more go to:http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/courier_times_news/croydon-hobby-shop-conceived-on-local-couple-s-first-date/article_11dba444-7d2c-5e71-bd6d-daca813e1ec7.html#user-comment-area

Turning rocks to roses

By Diane Davies-Dixon

Turning a concrete slab and plain rocks into a place of beauty dressed in roses for residents has been the mission of two men residing at Grundy Gardens retirement complex in Fairless Hills.
For the third year, Jackie Coyte, 69, a resident of Grundy Gardens for four years, and Wilson Drews, 76, a resident for three and a half years, have been brightening up the outdoor patio just outside the community room with colorful flower gardens.

Coyte is in charge of the perennial garden outside Grundy’s community room. In his piece of paradise he’s planted 17 different species of perennials.
There are a variety of peonies, lilies, roses, calla lilies, dwarf cannas, corn flower, irises, cabbage and others in the perennial area.
Among the many flowers in the perennial garden are irises whose root stock date back 100 years and once grew at the site, according to Coyte.

The contractors who built Grundy Gardens gave some to resident Shirley Moser who gave them to her son for his garden. At the time Grundy Gardens did not have a garden to plant them in.
To read more go to:http://www.phillyburbs.com/my_town/bristol/retirees-turn-rocks-and-concrete-into-a-floral-eden/article_4ff42216-436b-58be-ade1-e7c3e3dde793.html?mode=jqm