Conquering Chiari One Step at a Time

By Diane Davies-Dixon

September is Chiari awareness month.  All across America a walk is held on the same day to raise money for research and spread awareness of the neurological disorder.

In patients with chiari the bottom of the brain, the cerebellum descends out of the skull. Pressure is put on the brain and spine causing a multitude of health problems.

This is the second year that a walk will be held in Levittown.

Christine and Donald Mulherin organize the walk in remembrance of their daughter Ashtyn Jeanne Mulherin who passed away in October 2010 from complications of chiari. They also have a daughter Alyssa who was diagnosed with chiari.

“I don’t want anyone to go through what Ashtyn did,” said Christine.

There is another family from Levittown familiar with the struggles of everyday life with this condition.

Photo By Diane Davies-Dixon

Niki and Steven Ramirez of Levittown have four daughters who suffer from the disorder. Twins  Shayna and Bryanna, 7, Arianna, 3 and Giovanna 16 months old.

The first to be diagnosed with the disorder was Shayna.

At 18 months she began having seizures. It was during an MRI looking for the cause of seizures that the doctors discovered she had Chiari. Shayna is the only one of the four girls who has not had surgery.

After learning of Shayna’s disorder Niki wanted her other daughter Bryanna tested. Bryanna was having trouble walking, talking, fine motor skills and crying a lot.

One month later Bryanna had the first of 23 chiari surgeries.

To read more go to: http://levittownnow.com/2013/09/20/conquering-chiari-one-step-at-a-time-across-levittown/

Machining skills competition

By Diane Davies-Dixon

An international machining skills exchange and competition is under way in Bensalem.

Photo by Diane Davies-Dixon

The contest, which runs through Thursday, involves eight teams of industrial problem-solvers — five from China and three from the U.S. The teams are mostly made up of employees in the field of machining, along with students from Vicennes University in Indiana.

The Phillips Corp., in partnership with Cross Cultural Exchange of China, is hosting the competition under the direction of Fred C. Joseph, president of Phillips’ CNC Applications and Education Division in Bensalem.

The competition is designed to benefit Bensalem manufacturer Rey Trucks, which produces the parts, called trucks, that hold the wheels on the bottom of skateboards. The company is looking to improve its production process, according to a press release from Phillips.

“Each team has to come up with a design of their own,” said Chris Tan, coordinator for the Chinese teams participating in the competition.

Photo by Diane Davies-Dixon

Joseph said the teams will be judged on safety and technical standards by a panel that includes employees of Prism Engineering in Horsham, EMP Industries in Ivyland and three representatives of Chinese companies.

The designs and products developed by the teams will be owned by Rey Trucks once the competition is over.

“The team that wins gets recognition and gains knowledge,” said Joseph. “I want to turn this into an Olympics where all countries are involved.”

A celebration of the Irish

By Diane Davies-Dixon

No need to wait until St. Patrick’s Day to celebrate the Irish.

Irish eyes were smiling on Saturday when the Bucks County James F. Cawley Sr. Division 5 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians hosted the second annual Bucks County Irish Festival.

The event took place under the pavilion in Historic Fallsington at the Fallsington American Legion at 300 Yardley Ave.

“There are four divisions in Bucks County,” said Keelan. “This is the only one that has a festival.”

Live music by folk singer Billy McGovern played as the festival began and people began to arrive, many dressed in green.

“We are hoping the festival grows,” said Keelan.

Mary Ryan of Levittown, member of Ladies AOH Division 1 in Bristol, brought her family to celebrate for the second year.

“There’s good food, good people and the money goes to charity,” Ryan said. “I come for the family friendly fun.”

Gathered under the pavilion decorated in Irish pennants, families mingled among one another creating new friendships.

Jude Spellman traveled all the way from of Wilkes-Barre for the festival.

“The dancers were fabulous,” said Spellman. “Very, very good.”

Spellman enjoys the atmosphere and new friends he makes at the festivals.

“I am looking forward to next year,” said Spellman. “Hope it keeps getting bigger.”

To read more go to: http://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/news/local/a-good-day-to-be-irish/article_ec5c4e7e-6838-5318-a5ef-159e46480465.html

Zucchini racers return to Morrisville

By Dixon Davies- DixonSunday turned out to be the perfect day for racing. A Zucchini 500 race that is
.

Dozens of excited boys and girls showed up for the third annual Zucchini 500 hosted by Morrisville First at the Morrisville Senior Servicenter in Morrisville.

Morrisville First is a community group program administered by the Bucks County Housing Group which is funded by a grant provided by the Wells Fargo Foundation. The idea to host zucchini racing was inspired by the races once held in Lower Makefield, according to Donna M. Griff, co-community development coordinator for Morrisville First.

Photo by Diane Davies Dixon

“I started searching the Internet about them,” said Griff. “This year we added the decorating contest.”

Creation stations filled with eager children were set up with all the supplies needed for a zucchini make-over.

Barbie doll heads, pins, hats, duct tape, race flags, fuzzy wire, eyes, etc.

Some participants decorated masterpieces at home and brought them to the contest.

Several people passed by the contest table before realizing the dachshund on the table was really a zucchini beneath the brown furlike texture.

This year there were 24 zucchini racers and 22 zucchini decorated for the contest.

“This is a good venue with the car show,” said Griff. “They are both related to racing.”

Families gathered outside the caution tape that surrounded the homemade wooden race track, cheering the racers on.

Only four zucchini cars raced at a time and the first to cross the finish line was the proud winner for that heat.

Many of the people who wandered into the zucchini race pit had never heard of such a race and found the race cute, they said.

“The zucchini race is a conversation starter,” said Sam Krushenski, of Morrisville, chairwoman of the race.

The cost was $3 to race and each child was given a zucchini. Participants were also welcome to bring their own homegrown zucchini or store-bought ones to the event.

Each zucchini was given its own race number to wear down the track, just like a real race car has.

To read more go to: http://www.phillyburbs.com/00redesign/news/local/zucchini-racers-return-to-morrisville/article_13fb99e4-8e57-54a6-b236-91fe517bfb8f.html

Heroes run honors the fallen in Lower Southampton

By Diane Davies-Dixon

They honored the fallen by challenging themselves on the streets of Lower Southampton.

The brisk morning air greeted more than 165 men, women, children and even a few canines as they arrived at Russell Elliott Memorial Park in Lower Southampton on Saturday for the Feasterville 911 Heroes Run.

It was the first Feasterville 911 Heroes Run held by the Travis Manion Foundation in association with the Lower Southampton Veterans Advisory Council.

Both the foundation and advisory council share the mission of assisting veterans and the families of fallen heroes.

Not long after the death of 1st. Lt. Travis Manion in Iraq in April 2007, the Marine’s mother, Janet Manion, founded the foundation in her son’s name. Her plan was to honor the fallen by challenging the living, according to the foundation.

Before leaving for his second and final deployment to Iraq, Manion said “If not me, then who”. Those words inspired his mother to carry on and help families of other fallen service members, veterans and active duty troops.

Those words also inspired race director Steve Softly.

Richard Billy 9/11 survivor FDNY.
Photo by Diane Davies-Dixon

“Honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice,” said Softly.

“Do not run with heavy hearts,'' he said. "Run, cheer, show the world we are united.”

The 911 Heroes Run unites communities internationally with the goal to never forget the sacrifices of the heroes of Sept. 11, 2001 and the wars since: veteran, first responder, civilian and military.

Runners final lap
Photo by Diane Davies-Dixon

The annual run began in Doylestown. Now about 50 cities participate in the 911 Heroes Run. Even some military bases organize a run in support, according to Gerry McGowan of Chalfont.

Gerry McGowan
Photo by Diane Davies-Dixon

“I have been running since the first one held in Doylestown,” said McGowan.

“It is for a super cause,” said McGowan. “Everything they do is great. They help people find jobs when they come back home.”

Phyllis and Richard Billy traveled from Upper Dublin to show support for fallen heroes of Sept. 11, 2001.

Richard Billy is a survivor of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center. Billy was a firefighter with Engine Company 24 New York Fire. He retired in 2005 after 22 years of service.

to read more go to: http://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/news/local/heroes-run-honors-the-fallen-in-lower-southampton/article_32cd4e80-d644-5fde-83cc-1f3e6ff09a60.html#.UivCdgM78rA.facebook