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Human Interest - Falls Township

Bucks County Community College Honored Distinguished Alumni

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Bucks County Community College (BCCC) honored four distinguished alumni at its 59 th Annual Commencement ceremony in May. The awards, presented by the BCCC Alumni Association, acknowledge the outstanding achievements and contributions each has
made to their profession, their community, and their alma mater.

The 2025 honorees are:

President’s Distinguished Award: Razin Karu, ‘17

Credit: Eric Parker- BCCC

Karu is passionate about civic engagement, social justice, interfaith relations, and volunteering. He earned an associate degree in history from BCCC in 2017, where he established the first-ever Muslim Students Association and served as student government president. After graduating from Bucks, he completed his bachelor’s degree at Temple University with a double-major in history and political science, a minor in global studies, and a certificate in political economy.

Karu worked as a constituent services advisor for State Representative Perry Warren (D-31) and as executive director of the Muslim Society of the Delaware Valley, where he directed all programs and activities for the Muslim Youth Center of Philadelphia and the Islamic Cultural Center of Willow Grove.

In 2023, he was appointed by Governor Josh Shapiro to serve as the executive director for the commission on Asian American and Pacific Islander affairs. Karu helps the commission gather information regarding AAPI Pennsylvanians’ experiences and needs, and provides the governor with information and recommendations on how best to meet those needs.

Professional Achievement Award: Kenneth Kuzma, ‘81

Credit: Eric Parker- BCCC

Kuzma is a distinguished law enforcement professional with over 36 years’ experience at the federal, state, and local levels. After graduating from Bucks, he earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Temple University. He then dedicated his career to investigating and combating international drug trafficking, organized crime, weapons violations, public corruption, and financial crimes such as money laundering and asset forfeiture.

Kuzma began his career in 1986 with the City of Philadelphia Juvenile Probation Department, where he supervised high-risk youth and developed court-mandated probation plans. In 1996, he joined the Drug Enforcement Administration as a special agent. Over a 20-year career with the DEA, Kuzma led major domestic and international investigations, aided in the historic 9-11 response and recovery in New York City, and received many honors and awards.

From 2018 to March 2025, Kuzma was a narcotics agent with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, applying his expertise to investigations such as domestic and international drug trafficking, organized crime, weapons violations, and gang-related crimes. An accomplished investigator, instructor, and mentor, Kuzma has trained countless federal, state, and local agents, provided drug identification seminars to universities and high schools, and delivered expert testimony in federal and local courts.

Community Service Award – Damita Harvey Harris, ’04

Credit: Eric Parker- BCCC

Harvey Harris has worked for nearly 20 years with No Longer Bound, a nonprofit prevention services organization whose mission is to empower the community by providing educational programming and training to address drug and alcohol abuse, increase positive social development, and improve overall well-being. She also established the Bristol Cares Coalition to support positive youth development in Bristol Township.

Harvey Harris is also a facilitator of NAMI Bucks County’s “Black Minds Matter” support group, which is a shared strength group dedicated to the mental and overall wellness of the Black community. She also volunteers as a board member for Friends of Silver Lake Nature Center and treasurer for Struble Elementary School PTO, all while working full-time and raising a family.

In 2025, BCCC honored her with the Martin Luther King, Jr., Humanitarian Leadership award. Harvey Harris graduated from Bucks in 2004, later earned a Bachelor’s  in business administration from Peirce College and a Master’s in education from Holy Family University. She worked full-time at NJM Insurance Group for 21 years, where she is currently a senior talent development specialist.

Centurion Award: John Sheridan, ‘85

Credit: Eric Parker- BCCC

Sheridan has been a music and multimedia professor at BCCC for more than 30 years whose influence resonates throughout the academic and artistic communities. His academic credentials include a Master of Arts from New York University, a Bachelor of Music from Temple University, and an Associate of Arts from BCCC. Beyond his academic achievements, Sheridan has built a remarkable career as a professional musician, performing jazz, funk, fusion, and blues for over 40 years.

Sheridan’s dedication to excellence in education has been recognized many times. In 2013, he was honored with the prestigious Lindback Award for teaching excellence. He’s also been named in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers (2000), Who’s Who in
America (2002), and Who’s Who in the World (2004).

Outside the classroom, Sheridan is deeply invested in fostering opportunities for students. He adjudicates high school competitions and conducts jazz improvisation workshops. His leadership extends to advocacy, as he has spent the past decade lobbying state lawmakers for increased community college funding — an effort in which he actively involves his students, providing them with invaluable real-world experience in civic engagement.

In addition, Sheridan currently serves as president of the College’s American Federation of Teachers.

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Cops, Courts & Fire -Bensalem Township

NJ Man Has Aggravated Assault Charges of Police Held Over for Trial

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A Millville, New Jersey man accused of stealing a vehicle and subsequently striking a Bensalem Police officer last year, when attempting to flee a traffic stop had all of his charges held over for trial at preliminary hearing last week.

Late last month Magisterial District Judge Michael W. Gallagher ruled there was enough evidence presented by the Commonwealth to sustain two felony counts of aggravated assault, felony fleeing, felony theft and related offenses filed against Devit Sanchez of New Jersey.

According to the probable cause, on Friday, August 8, 2025, Bensalem Township Police conducted a stolen vesicle investigation at the Sunoco Gas Station, located at 1432 Street Road,  The stolen vehicle was identified as a 2020 Acura ILX. white in color, bearing NIN97NMP, The vehicle is listed in NCIC as stolen out of Mount Laurel, NJ. Police were alerted to the stolen  vehicle traveling in the area of Bensalem Twp.

Police saw the stolen vehicle at the gas pumps of the Sunoco Station and a male entering the driver’s seat.

Officers pulled behind the stolen vehicle af the gas pumps and another Bensalem officer pulled in front of it, and the driver reversed the allegedly stolen vehicle rammed a patrol car causing the officer’s head to hit the interior roof.

Sanchez then fled the Sunoco Station at a high rate of speed traveling Eastbound on Street Rd. Bensalem officers pursued the vehicle that fled onto Northbound I-95 exceeding speeds of over 100 mph. The pursuit was eventually terminated and the vehicle got away.

Surveillance footage from the Sunoco Gas Station was obtained by the Bensalem Police, court records show.

Investigators circulated the video surveillance to other police agencies and to the public depicting the stolen vehicle and driver. Through investigation, a suspect was developed, identified as Sanchez, according to the probable cause.

On  October 7 , Police conducted an interview with Sanchez in which he allegedly admitted he was the driver of the stolen vehicle in this incident that hit an officer’s police car and fled.

An arrest warrant  was issued on January 27 for Sanchez and he was arrested on Feb. 2.

Sanchez remains in County Jail unable to post bond although a county judge reduced his his bail to half of the original set, to 10 percent of $100,000.00

He is scheduled for a formal arraignment in Doylestown on March 13 and is legally represented by the Bucks County Public Defender’s Office.

No trial date has been set as of publication time

 

 

 

 

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Human Interest - Bensalem Township

Pig Iron’s Franklin’s Key Returns This Summer to Light Up Philly’s 250th

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Credit: Pig Iron Theatre Company

Celebrated for its jaw-dropping special effects, imaginative  stagecraft, bold costumes, and original score, Pig Iron Theatre Company’s Barrymore Award-winning  production Franklin’s Key returns this summer following last year’s breakout world premiere that  captivated audiences and critics alike.

Pig Iron remounts its hit sci-fi adventure June 11 to 28, 2026, at the intimate, 220-seat venue -Plays & Players Theatre- located at 1714 Delancey Street, Philadelphia.

Set across iconic Philadelphia landmarks and steeped in the city’s real scientific legacy, Franklin’s Key is  an ideal cultural experience as the nation celebrates the Semiquincentennial. The show transforms  Philadelphia’s history of invention, revolution, and curiosity into a thrilling live adventure, making it a  natural fit for theater lovers exploring the city during America’s 250th commemoration. Fans of The  Goonies, Stranger Things, Harry Potter, and National Treasure will enjoy the artistry and mystery of this  thrilling live, immersive stage production. Last year’s debut generated strong audience demand,  extensive press attention, and praise for its inventive storytelling and visual ingenuity. Broad Street Review called the show “visually mesmerizing,” highlighting its blend of history, science, and myth as “a  timely look at who wields power and knowledge.”

Co-Director Dan Rothenberg offers, “This love letter to Philadelphia brings together sci-fi fans, history  nerds, and science enthusiasts. We were so delighted to hear audiences say it was the one show that  they could bring grandparents and kids to, and nobody felt left out. While the show offers adventure and  humor that keeps younger audiences engaged, the intrigue of secret societies and a story rooted deeply  in Philadelphia’s culture is sure to fascinate audiences of all ages. Our goal is to offer everyone a wild ride  that makes history and science surprising and arresting and twisty.”

During the War of Independence, the British feared Benjamin Franklin could control the weather.  Franklin’s Key asks: What if that were true? A mystery unfolds for audiences in an alternate reality where  Franklin’s undiscovered technology has been hidden underneath some of Philadelphia’s most treasured  landmarks for centuries. Set in present-day Philadelphia, Franklin’s Key follows two teenage prodigies:  Temple (Jameka Monet Wilson), a self-taught scientist, and her brother Arturo (Alton Alburo), a gifted  musician. The two uncover an ancient mystery, setting off a chain of events that draws them into a secret  battle between rival factions seeking to harness the incredible yet volatile powers of Franklin’s long-lost  technology. Aided by a cast of misfit friends, Temple and Arturo traverse hidden tunnels under the city,  leading them from abandoned subway platforms to the iconic statue of William Penn atop City Hall and  the building-sized organ inside the old Wanamaker Department Store. With time running out, the team must navigate a labyrinth hidden underneath Philadelphia, evade powerful enemies, and unlock the  secrets Franklin left behind before his discoveries fall into the wrong hands.

Almost all of the original Barrymore Award–winning cast returns for Franklin’s Key, reuniting the  celebrated ensemble that first brought the production to life and earned widespread critical acclaim in  Philadelphia. Their return underscores the production’s impact and the continued collaboration at the  heart of Pig Iron’s work.

Franklin’s Key runs approximately two hours with a short intermission and is recommended for children  ages eight and up. Previews run from June 11 to 14, with an opening, invite-only performance set for  Monday, June 15, at 7 p.m.

Ticket prices start at $45, with 20% discounts for patrons 18 and under or 65+, and group discounts are  available for parties of 10 or more. Click here to purchase tickets. To book a group of 10 or more  people, please email boxoffice@pigiron.org

Click here for more information.

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Human Interest - Bensalem Township

‘A Tribute to the Tenors’ Salutes More than a Dozen Singers 

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Credit: BCCC

Bucks Live! – the series of cultural events at Bucks County Community College (BCCC) that brings world-renowned entertainment to Newtown – proudly presents “A Tribute to the Tenors” with John D. Smitherman.

Smitherman, one of the original Three American Tenors, showcases his incredible vocal range, commanding stage presence, and heartfelt storytelling. With a voice equally at home in operatic arias and popular classics, Smitherman takes audiences on a musical journey celebrating the greatest tenor voices of all time.

The concert will be in the intimate Zlock Performing Arts Center, located on the BCCC’s main campus at 275 Swamp Rd. The concert takes place at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 13. .The Zlock Lobby Bar serves drinks and snacks starting 90 minutes before curtain and during intermission.

Smitherman pays homage to more than a dozen songsmiths, varying in style, including such iconic artists as Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, Tom Jones, Mario Lanza, Andy Williams, Luciano Pavarotti, and others. The show features many favorites, including “You Raise Me Up,” “It’s Impossible,” “Magic Moments,” “Time to Say Goodbye,” and many more. 

Reserved seating tickets are only $25, and free for BCCC students with current student ID. 

Click here to reserve tickets.

Click here for directions and a campus map..

 

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