Ep. 25: America 250: “People just say semiquin”

Be sure to mark "semiquin" on your 2026 calendars, because it’s the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence. America250, along with local chapters, is and has been dedicated to ensuring this year is celebrated properly. In this episode, Commissioner Bob Harvie, who leads the Bucks250PA Commission, discusses the group's efforts and how their goal is to stamp this county with a legacy that will interest residents and visitors beyond the semiquincentennial. And for Bucks County, the celebrations won’t stop on the 4th of July. It goes all the way to Christmas Day at Washington Crossing Park. Jennifer Martin, Executive Director of the Friends of Washington Crossing and John Godzieba, Board President of the Friends of Washington Crossing, talk about the park’s historical significance in the 1776 fight for freedom…and how John gets to replay that pivotal moment each year in the shoes of General George Washington.Bucks250PA on social media: Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Washington Crossing on social media: Facebook, Instagram and X. Follow us on social media: Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Check us out online: BucksCounty.gov Music credit: Music by Ivan Selivanov from Pixabay Music by freesound_community from Pixabay Sound Effect by freesound_community from Pixabay 

Bucks County Human Services is the county’s largest division, comprising hundreds of staff members across multiple departments. From the Area Agency on Aging to Children & Youth, this division truly addresses and considers the needs of residents. A primary focus within Human Services is mental health.In this episode, you’ll hear from Rachael Neff, Director of Human Services Division. She provides insights into the various departments under the division’s umbrella and discusses both upcoming and ongoing projects and initiatives. And later, Tom Roskowski, Co-Chair of the Bucks County Suicide Prevention Task Force and veteran, shares the County’s efforts from an organizational perspective.Follow the Suicide Prevention Task Force on social: Facebook and Instagram If you need to, call, text or chat 988: 988lifeline.org Follow us: Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Check us out online: BucksCounty.gov Music credit: Pixabay Calm soft Music by Viacheslav Starostin No copyright Music by Mykola Sosin

In 2021, the Bucks County Planning Commission's role in County government expanded to include sustainability staffers with the goal of reducing the county’s carbon footprint and figuring out how to be more sustainable. Just a couple of years later, the County Commissioners passed a pretty monumental agreement for the department called the Sustainable Energy Partnership of Southeast Pennsylvania. The County of Bucks spends over $1 million in energy costs each year for its multi-building operations, and taxpayers deserve the best bang for their buck. In this episode, we’ll chat with Evan Stone, Executive Director of the Bucks County Planning Commission and frequent guest of the podcast, about his department's functions and his specific interest in stormwater management. And later, we’ll chat with Neale Doughtery, Director of Sustainability, and Cassandra Goodmansen, Environmental Planner, about their plans to help a county workforce of over 2,000 go green. Follow us: Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Check us out online: BucksCounty.gov Music Credit: Creative technology -- Music by Ivan Ohanezov from Pixabay  Our daily life -- Music by FASSounds from Pixabay 

Main Street in Doylestown Borough connects two significant Bucks County Government buildings: the Administration Building and the Justice Center. While the Justice Center is primarily known for its court functions, it also houses other offices that occasionally attract public interest.In this episode, we’ll have a conversation with Bucks County Sheriff Fred Harran, who dedicated most of his career to Bensalem but initially aspired to be on stage. Later, we’ll hear from Jury Manager Morgan Grove about jury duty. If you’ve recently received a jury summons, she’s the point person behind the scenes.Follow us: Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Check us out online: BucksCounty.gov Music credit: Music by Mikhail Smusev from Pixabay Music by Mykola Sosin from Pixabay 

Agriculture supports one in ten jobs in Pennsylvania, according to the PA Department of Ag. In Bucks County, Delaware Valley University is training the farmers and ag. Professionals of the future. In this episode, you’ll hear about the changes the county has gone through when it comes to agriculture from William Penn to Del Val, and in between we learn about Commissioners Bob Harvie and Diane Ellis-Marseglia’s family roots in the county.Special thanks to Pennsbury Manor and Delaware Valley University. Follow us: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram   Check us out online: BucksCounty.gov Music credit: Sunrise Serenade by Umasha Pros from Pixabay Epic background piano by Maksym Dudchyk from PixabaySakura Mediate Beat by Vlad Krotov from Pixabay

Some 50 years after the Vietnam War, the Bucks County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge Program is giving families a chance to honor their fallen heroes in a permanent and special way. Bucks County, in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (PAVVMF), is working to dedicate county-owned bridges to the 136 county residents who died in the Vietnam War.     In this episode, you’ll hear from Matt Allen, Director of Bucks County Veterans Affairs, Ed Preston, PAVVMF Chairman, and Jetta Erkes Lapore, the sister of a fallen Vietnam Veteran.  To learn more and view an interactive map of dedicated bridges, visit BucksCounty.gov/MemorialBridges.   Follow us: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram  Check us out online: BucksCounty.gov Music: Whip by Praz Khanal and Eco technology by Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay  

Bucks County was the first county in Pennsylvania to enact a comprehensive plan in 1961. At that time they were planning for 1980, now they’re planning for 2040. In this episode, Evan Stone, Executive Director of the Bucks County Planning Commission and Mike Roedig, Director of Planning Services, break down what exactly a comprehensive plan is, specifically Bucks2040, and why it's needed. Margie McKevitt, the county’s Chief Operating Officer, talks about top priorities from the plan and how the department we think has an obvious name actually does a lot more than you may think. Follow us: Facebook, Twitter and InstagramCheck us out online: BucksCounty.gov *Want to create music for Bucks County Conversations??? Email: [email protected] for more information. 

In 2023, the Bucks County Government broke ground on three huge projects, expanded existing programs and kickstarted new initiatives. In this episode of Bucks County Conversations, Commissioners Bob Harvie, Diane Ellis-Marseglia and Gene DiGirolamo will tell us how the year went and what they are looking forward to in their second term in 2024.Follow us: Facebook, Twitter and InstagramCheck us out online: BucksCounty.gov

In Bucks County, Co-Responders assist officers in 18 police departments as of 2023. Co-responders are social service professionals who work collaboratively with police to divert people in need of social services away from the criminal justice system. The program aims to decrease the time law enforcement spends responding to situations involving social service needs to provide a more effective emergency response. Since the program launched in 2020, the co-responders have received more than 1,100 referrals. In this episode of Bucks County Conversations, we talk to co-responders Cara Gadzinski and Christopher Doheny to hear about their experiences on the job. Follow us: Facebook, Twitter and InstagramCheck us out online: BucksCounty.gov

Bucks County officials, police officers and community members have been painting murals with a specific purpose for the past couple of years. The purpose is L.O.V.E. Is The Answer, a movement started by A.J. Ali whose goal is to improve community-police relations. The movement began when A.J. was stopped “one too many times” by police and decided to make a movie, ‘WALKING WHILE BLACK: L.O.V.E. Is The Answer.’In this episode of Bucks County Conversations, you’ll hear from A.J. about his journey to finding L.O.V.E. and creating a movement. You’ll also hear from Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia and District Attorney Matt Weintraub about how the movement started in Bucks County and why we use paint to spread the word.Follow us: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Check us out online: BucksCounty.gov