Human Interest - Bensalem Township

DCED Secretary Rick Siger Other Local Leaders Visit Small Businesses in Bristol Showing Why “Main Street Matters”

Published

2 years ago

August 23, 2024

staff

The Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger recently joined local leaders in touring small businesses in downtown Bristol, highlighting major investments by Governor Josh Shapiro’s bipartisan 2024-2025 budget to support downtown business districts, create jobs, and spur the economy across Pennsylvania.

Governor Shapiro’s 2024-25 budget includes a $20 million investment in the new Main Street Matters program to support the Commonwealth’s main streets, downtown business districts, small businesses, and local communities.

“The Governor’s bipartisan budget includes bold, meaningful investments — like $20 million for the new Main Street Matters program — to make Pennsylvania more competitive, grow our economy, and strengthen our communities,” said Secretary Siger. “Our 10-year economic development strategy emphasizes the importance of investing in our communities to have a strong statewide economy. Main Street Matters will make downtowns more vibrant, help businesses thrive, and enable our main streets to achieve their full potential as economic hubs.”

Main Street Matters, which will build upon, modernize, and replace the existing Keystone Communities program, will be administered through DCED. In May, Governor Shapiro announced nearly $7 million in Keystone Communities grants to support 49 community improvement projects in 25 counties across the Commonwealth – after receiving 117 applications for the program requesting more than $24 million in funding. This demonstrated the clear need for the new Main Street Matters program to invest in the growth and stability of neighborhoods, main streets, and downtown districts across Pennsylvania.

Credit: Submitted

“Bristol Borough has become a true destination for fine dining, shopping and entertainment, having benefitted from investments to revitalize and grow the local businesses along and in the area of Mill and Radcliffe streets,” said Senator Steven Santarsiero. “Local leaders here in Bristol saw the incredible opportunity, they presented a vision with a plan and they have really worked together over the years to make that plan a reality. We are excited to see Secretary Siger and the Department of Community and Economic Development highlight Bristol’s impressive story and we hope it can serve as a model for other towns to be just as successful.”

“I commend Governor Shapiro and Secretary Siger for their vision in conceiving and implementing this incredible Main Street Matters program,” said Representative Tina Davis. “

“The Governor understands that our small businesses are the backbone of our economy. I am thrilled that they have come to Bristol to highlight the incredible work that Bristol Raising the Bar have done in conjunction with Mayor DiGuiseppe and the Borough Council to revitalize Mill Street. I know the Governor’s Main Street Matters Program will help take Bristol Borough to a whole new level.”

During his visit to Bristol, on Thursday, August 22, Secretary Siger and local leaders visited The Forager Cheese Shop and Local Market and also met with the owners and employees of: Papa’s Pretzel Place; HP Smoothie Bar; Isn’t She Lovely; and Bristol Books & Bindery.

“The innovative Main Street Matters program illustrates the importance of partnerships, among state and local government and the private sector,” said Bristol Mayor Ralph DiGuiseppe III. “We’re honored to be part of this exciting rollout and plan to ensure our businesses explore the opportunities it offers.”

Run by DCED, the Keystone Communities program has encouraged the creation of partnerships between the public and private sectors that support the growth and stability of neighborhoods and communities; social and economic diversity; and a strong and secure quality of life. The guidelines for the new Main Street Matters program, which will outline specifically how the program will work and who can be eligible to apply for funding, is expected to be finalized in September.

“Thanks to past DCED programs, Bristol Borough’s Main Street has experienced significant growth in recent years,” said Bill Pezza, President, Bristol Borough Economic Development Committee. “The Main Street Matters program will be a catalyst for additional public/private sector investment and continue to advance the borough as a destination for diners and shoppers.”

The 2024-2025 bipartisan budget delivers on the Governor’s key priorities to make Pennsylvania more competitive economically. In addition to Main Street Matters, it includes:

$500 million for site development, including $400 million for the PA SITES (Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites) program;
$20 million in state funding for small minority-owned businesses in Pennsylvania; and
$15 million for tourism marketing to boost our economy, attract more visitors, and support good-paying jobs — building on the Governor’s launch of the Great American Getaway brand to encourage tens of millions within a few hours’ drive to visit Pennsylvania.

Earlier this month Bristol Borough officials announced they were seeking state and federal funding to expand the waterfront by constructing new docks adding to the already existing slips on the Delaware River. The message is, and was clear.

Main Street Matters.

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Human Interest - Bensalem Township

Police Seek Info on Missing Teen Believed to be in Lower Bucks Area

Published

4 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Jeff Bohen

Police from Plumstead Township Police Department with an assist from Tullytown Borough Police are asking for help from the community in attempting to locate a missing 17 year-old .

Ryan Jaatar Age 17 is 5ft 8in Brown eyes and has not been seen since January 3, 2026, police say.

Jaatar was last seen by his father at their residence in Plumstead Township.

Jaatar’s, according to investigators, is believed to be in the Levittown/Bristol/Croydon area.

Anyone with information, please contact Detective Stacie Arnosky at sarnosky@plumstead.gov or 215-766-8741, ext. 120 or Contact the Tullytown Borough Police Department at 215-945-0999. You can also submit a confidential tip at through this link.

Cops

No Selling Coquito for You LCB Authorities Say to Croydon Deli Owner, Employee

Published

7 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Jeff Bohen

The owner and an employee of the Croydon based State Road Deli Market have been charged for allegedly selling Coquito to customers.

According to state authorities, on Dec 23, 2025, a web complaint was received reporting the State Road Deli Market, located at 2518 State Road, Croydon posted on their Meta Page that they were taking orders for Coquito -coconut-based rum alcoholic beverage- for the holidays.

Investigators from the the state’s Liquor Control Board on Dec. 29, 2025, contacted the tipster who reported that they saw multiple Facebook posts from the premises advertising sales of homemade Coquito. Continued on this date, an open source query yielded the premises’ Facebook page displaying a post with a picture of a bottle of Coquito, and stated that they were taking orders with prices of $8.00 for virgin (non-alcoholic) and $12.00 with alcohol.

(The ” Coquito” posts have since been removed – a review of the deli’s Meta page.)

Investigators on Dec. 30, 2025, reviewed state data that showed the premises was not licensed by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB). Additionally, PLCB certification confirmed that the premises did not have any authority to sell alcoholic beverages within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (CWOPA).

On Jan. 3, 2026, at 3:01 p.m., Liquor Control Officers Messinger and Marrow entered the premises where Ofc. Marrow removed one (1) bottle of Coquito from the cooler and placed it on the counter. The clerk (later Identified as Effie Mae McMahon) confirmed that the bottle contained alcohol as written on the label. Marrow handed McMahon $13.00, and was provided ¢.28 in change, and the sale was rung up.

The bottle was secured, and later placed into evidence with a sample sent for laboratory testing. Continued on this date, a search of PA State Department records identified that the premises’ owner was Wilfredo M. Sanchez. A further open source search identified Wilfredo Miguel Sanchez-Caparachin and McMahon as workers at the premises. A further query of Bureau databases disclosed that neither Sanchez-Caparachin nor McMahon are registered and/or authorized by the PLCB to sell liquor within the CWOPA, officers wrote in court papers.

On Jan. 14, 2026, at 7:15 a.m., Investigators returned to the deli where they noticed four bottles of Coquito in the cooler. A bottle was placed on the counter, purchased for $13.00. The bottle was secured, and later placed into evidence with a sample sent for laboratory testing, investigators said

On Jan. 21, 2026, at 7:01 a.m., investigators Messinger and Marrow entered the premises where Marrow noticed two bottles and purchased one (1) bottle of Coquito, court papers show.

The investigators reentered the deli, identified themselves to McMahon. McMahon was identified after presenting their Pennsylvania driver’s license as being (20) years old.

Authorities seized the remaining bottle of Coquito from the cooler and both bottles were secured, and later placed into evidence with samples sent for laboratory testing. Ofc. Marrow then recovered the currency used to make the purchase from the register. Marrow requested that McMahon contact Sanchez-Caparachin to respond to the premises.

While awaiting Sanchez-Caparachin, McMahon was given Non-Custodial rights and agreed to answer questions, court papers show.

McMahon, according to the probable cause, admitted that they did possess and sell Coquito a rum based alcoholic beverage to Marrow on the above listed dates. McMahon further stated that they have been employed at the premises for over five (5) years and continued working under the new owner Sanchez-Caparachin since May 2023, McMahon also admitted that they assisted Sanchez-Caparachin in making the Coquito under Sanchez-Caparachin’s direction.

At 7:50 a.m. Sanchez-Caparachin arrived at the premises and was identified after presenting their Connecticut driver’s license. Sanchez-Caparachin was given Non-Custodial rights, and agreed to answer questions. Sanchez=Caparachin stated that they are the registered owner of the premises since May 2023 and are the sole operator with their only employee being McMahon. Sanchez-Caparachin admitted to purchasing Bacardi Coconut Rum Liquor at various liquor stores in New Jersey and transported
the rum into Pennsylvania in order to make Coquito and sell it at the premises. Sanchez-Caparachin further admitted that since May 2023 they have made and sold about fifty (50) bottles of Coquito and that they do not have a valid license to sell liquor within the state of Pennsylvania.

On Feb.9, 2026, PLCB certification confirmed that McMahon, Sanchez-Caparachin and/or the premises did not have authority to sell or dispense alcoholic beverages in the CWOPA from Jan. 1, 2025 through Jan. 21, 2026, according to court records.

On Feb. 21, 2026 analysis from the Pennsylvania State Police Laboratory confirmed that all samples submitted contained alcohol, the criminal complaint says.

Sanchez-Caparachin has been charged with selling alcohol illegally, selling of alcohol by a minor, and related offenses.

McMahon has been charged with selling alcohol illegally and a related offense.

Both were charged by mail summons and are scheduled to appear for hearings on April. Neither has a attorney of record listed as of publication time.

Cops, Courts & Fire -Newtown Township

Newtown Twp. Police Reports: “Romance Scam” Investigation Launched, Identity Theft Reported and More!

Published

9 hours ago

March 5, 2026

staff

Newtown Township Police Reports – Feb 20 2026 – Feb 26 2026

2/20/26
At approximately 10:25 am a Newtown Township resident contacted police to report a scam attempt. She received an email from someone claiming to have access to her phone with evidence of her wrongdoings. They threatened to send that evidence to all of her friends unless she paid them in Bitcoin. The resident recognized it as a scam and did not fall victim.

2/24/26
Police were dispatched to a Newtown Township residence shortly before 2:00 pm for the report of a fraud-in-progress. The resident explained that his wife had gone to the bank to withdraw $15,000 in cash due to a message she received from someone claiming to be the FBI. Police confirmed that it was a scam and met with the wife at the bank to verify that her accounts were not jeopardized. No money was lost.

Police were dispatched to a Newtown Township residence around 3:30 pm for the report of a romance scam, where the victim suffered significant financial loss. The investigation is ongoing.

PSA: In romance scams, a criminal uses a fake online identity to gain a victim’s affection and trust. The scammer then uses the illusion of a romantic or close relationship to manipulate and steal from the victim. Operating on dating apps, social media, or email, these scammers often claim to be overseas for work, such as in the military or construction, to avoid in-person meetings. Never send money, gift cards, or provide bank details to someone you have not met in person.

At approximately 6:15 pm a Newtown Township resident responded to headquarters to report identity theft. Police documented the incident and provided the resident with steps to take to protect her identity from future incidents.

2/25/26
At approximately 11:00 am police were dispatched to Acme Market for the report of retail theft. The investigation is ongoing.