State/County - Bensalem Township

PennDOT, Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania DUI Association Highlight ‘Operation Safe Holiday’ Campaign Across Southeast Pennsylvania

Published

4 years ago

December 31, 2021

staff

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania DUI Association held an event today at the Bucks County Public Safety Training Center to outline regional impaired driving safety efforts during “Operation Safe Holiday,” a statewide campaign to promote safe transportation practices throughout the holiday season.

“Death and injuries caused by impaired drivers are 100 percent preventable. The importance of not getting behind the wheel when impaired cannot be stressed enough. We want people to go out and have a good time, but we also want people to be responsible,” said Leo Hegarty, Regional DUI Program Administrator of the Pennsylvania DUI Association. “Please make the conscious decision not to drive while impaired.

According to PennDOT data, in the Philadelphia region, during the 2020 holiday travel period beginning the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and running through January 2, 2021, there were 226 impaired driving crashes, resulting in seven fatalities. The tragedy of these deaths is felt year-round, but most strongly during the holidays for many.

PennDOT encourages people to plan before heading out for holiday festivities by doing the following:

Plan a safe and sober ride home ahead of time.
If you’re hosting a gathering, make sure all your guests have a sober ride home.
If you are impaired by alcohol or drugs, do not drive.

If you know someone who is impaired, take their keys and don’t let them get behind the wheel.
Call 911 if you see an impaired driver.
Always wear your seatbelt – it’s your best defense against impaired drivers.
Remember traffic could be increased because of the holidays. Stay calm, slow down and watch for pedestrians always

The Pennsylvania State Police and hundreds of municipal police departments statewide will participate in the “Operation Safe Holiday” campaign this year to increase traffic safety enforcement through the New Year’s holiday. “This holiday season, more people will be out, and it’s important to remember it’s up to each one of us to keep the roads safe,” said Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Jessica Tobin. “Police will do their part to keep Pennsylvania safe by holding people accountable, and we want everyone who may be driving for the holiday to do their part by obeying all traffic laws, so everyone gets to their destination unharmed.”

Drivers are also reminded to obey Pennsylvania’s Move Over Law, which requires drivers to move over or slow down when they encounter an emergency scene, traffic stop, or disabled vehicle. The goal of the Move Over Law is to protect law enforcement, emergency medical providers, and other first responders when responding to crashes.

For more information on PennDOT’s highway safety efforts you can visit www.PennDOT.gov/safety.

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Human Interest - Bensalem Township

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

Published

9 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.

State/County - Bensalem Township

Burlington Bristol Bridge to Close Overnight Beginning Friday for Maintenance Work

Published

12 hours ago

March 5, 2026

staff

The Burlington County Bridge Commission announced that the Burlington Bristol Bridge will be closed to all vehicle traffic from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. overnight beginning tomorrow (Friday March 6,) to Tuesday, March 10, weather permitting, for maintenance and repair work.

Human Interest - Bensalem Township

Floral Design Program Wins Again at Philadelphia Flower Show

Published

14 hours ago

March 5, 2026

staff

Dr. Patrick M. Jones (left), President & CEO of Bucks County Community College, and Carol Tyler admire the College’s floral design program’s exhibit at the Philadelphia Flower Show featuring “Joan of Arc at Orleans” by Stella Elkins Tyler. The sculpture, donated to the College by the Tyler family, is the centerpiece of the College’s award-winning “Rooted in Art” exhibit. The College was founded on the Tyler estate in Newtown more than 60 years ago. Credit: BCCC

In only its second year, Bucks County Community College (BCCC) picked up another medal at the prestigious horticultural expo for its ‘Rooted in Art’ tribute to Stella Elkins Tyler.

BCCC’s floral design program has once again taken home a prize in only its second year participating in the Philadelphia Flower Show. Students, alumni, and instructors earned a bronze medal for “Rooted in Art,” reflecting the College’s origins of being founded on the Newtown estate of artist and educational philanthropist Stella Elkins Tyler. The exhibit features Tyler’s sculpture “Joan of Arc at Orleans,” donated to the College by Carol Tyler, who visited the show with College President & CEO Dr. Patrick M. Jones (Feature Pic). The College was founded on the Tyler estate in Newtown more than 60 years ago. The exhibit features seven original floral designs, each interpreting the connection between nature, art, and education, alongside six selected student works from the College’s School of Arts and Communication.

Credit: BCCC

A team of 20 students, alumni, and instructors from BCCC’s floral design program helped install “Rooted in Art” at the Philadelphia Flower Show, which reflects the College’s origins of being founded on the Newtown estate of artist and educational philanthropist Stella Elkins Tyler. The exhibit features one of Tyler’s original bronze sculptures, “Joan of Arc at Orleans,” pictured in the background.

Credit: BCCC

Melanie Poff (left) and her mother Els Poff, both Certified Floral Designers from Doylestown and students in BCCC’s floral design program, helped surround “Joan of Arc at Orleans” by Stella Elkins Tyler with botanical beauty at the Philadelphia Flower Show. The sculpture is part of the “Rooted in Art” exhibit, reflecting the deep connection between art, education, and nature that Stella Elkins Tyler championed throughout her life.

Credit: BCCC

Amparito Arriaga, a Certified Floral Designer from Exton and a student in BCCC’s floral design program, installs part of the “Rooted in Art” exhibit at the Philadelphia Flower Show. The exhibit features seven original floral designs, each interpreting the connection between nature, art, and education, alongside six selected student works from the College’s School of Arts and Communication.