PTC Announces 2025/26 Season Celebrating Stories of Home Heritage & Human Connection

Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick a Republican (PA -1) attended Monday night’s Bristol Borough Council meeting to announce he secured a $2 million federal grant Bristol’s new yet to be built centralized consolidated fire station.

“Last night, I was proud to attend the Bristol Borough Council meeting to formally deliver great news: $2 million in federal funding has been secured for Bristol’s new consolidated fire station” Fitzpatrick said in a statement.

The congressman said he and and borough officials had been meeting in recent months to discuss the needs of the of borough first responders. And that  one issue was clear: firefighters were operating out of four aging facilities that no longer meet the demands of modern emergency response

Fitzpatrick said a single, centralized fire station that will strengthen coordination, improve efficiency, and reduce response times when seconds matter most was identified as a priority was included in the FY26 federal funding package so we could bring this vision to life.

The new centralized station will replace the outdated facilities with a modern, centralized hub for fire and emergency response, supporting both volunteer and career firefighters, officials have said.

The new fire station will include on-site living accommodations and with plans to house a Bucks County Rescue Squad substation, strengthening readiness and emergency coverage across the Borough and throughout Bucks County, officials said.

Fitzpatrick said, his office is working across the aisle so to speak, with state Rep Tina Davis’ office to secure as much funding as possible so there will be no cost to Bristol taxpayers.

Davis and state Senator Steve Santarsiero, just before the holiday season kicked off into full gear last year, announced a $1 million grant for the fire station.

Bristol Borough Fire Association President Steve Reeves said Borough first responders were truly grateful tp Fitzpatrick for his work on securing the funds for the station.

Reeves said the station will enhance public safety in Bristol Borough

Officials have estimated a $1o million price tag for the new centralized fire station.

The funds come from the 2026 fiscal year federal funding package recently passed by Congress.

“I can’t think of a more worthy project” Fitzpatrick said.

Credit: Submitted

State Representative Kristin Marcell (R-Bucks) announced that she will  run for re-election in 2026, pledging to continue her record of independent, common sense  service to the people of the 178th District. 

“Working together with legislators, community leaders, and residents, we are finding common  sense, common ground solutions to the challenges Pennsylvania faces while still holding strong  to the shared principles of our community,” said Marcell. “That is the kind of record people want  in today’s divided government, and the kind of service I will continue to provide if re-elected.” 

Marcell has made common sense and the ability to bring differing sides together a hallmark of  her time in Harrisburg, which is how she was able to pass legislation into law in a divided  government, and bring Pennsylvania’s protracted FY2025-26 budget stalemate to a positive end. 

“From the beginning of last year’s budget process, I made it clear that we needed to come  together to focus state spending on priorities like education and job creation, oppose ideological  policies that would increase energy costs for residents, and protect our state’s Rainy Day Fund,”  Marcell explained. “By joining with like-minded legislators from both sides of the aisle,  rejecting extreme partisan politics, and sticking to the core goals of our community, that is  exactly where we ended up.” 

Marcell’s commitment to putting solutions above partisanship has resulted in the passage of  several pieces of her legislation through divided government. Her initiatives to improve patient  safety and care in nursing homes; to educate the public about the dangers of human use of  xylazine; and, to address “porch piracy” have all become law.  

Marcell pledged to once again follow the philosophy that has served our community so well: do  what’s right for the people she serves.  

“I will continue to fight for responsible, bipartisan government that focuses on the priorities of  Bucks County. I know those priorities – spending tax dollars responsibly, improving our  education system, keeping our communities safe, and sparking the job growth that helps families  reach economic security – because I have listened to the people I represent,” said Marcell. 

Along with working for legislation that helps our state, Marcell has also built a strong record of  delivering for our local communities and residents. She has helped secure millions of dollars in grant funding for projects that benefit Bucks County, and delivered strong constituent services  that have helped thousands of residents address their issues with state government. 

Marcell was born and raised in Bucks County and graduated from local public schools. She holds  a Master’s degree in public policy from the George Washington University and a Bachelor of  Arts in Policial Science from the Pennsylvania State University. Prior to being elected to the  State House, Marcell spent more than two decades in the private sector, helping provide strategic  and communications counsel to businesses in numerous fields.  

Marcell and her husband, Steve, are the proud parents of two children and reside in Wrightstown with their dog, Lilo.

The 178th District includes the townships of Northampton, Upper Southampton, Warwick and Wrightstown.

The date and time is set for the 2026 St. Patrick’s Day Parade celebrating Irish culture in Levittown scheduled to take place Saturday March 14 beginning at 10:30 a.m.

The parade kicks on from Conwell Egan Catholic High School and ends at New Falls Road in Levittown.

The 2026 Bucks County St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee has selected Jeff Sproehnle as Grand Marshal for this years parade. Sproehnle is a  39-year veteran of the Middletown Township Police Department. Prior to his retirement in 2011, he rose to the rank of Detective and managed many notable cases serving residents of Middletown Township and Bucks County.

Credit: Submitted

A long-time member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH), Sproehnle served as Division 1 President for eight years, stepping down in 2025. He has been instrumental in supporting fundraising efforts such as the Hibernian Hunger Project and initiatives benefiting veterans in need.