State/County - Bensalem Township

PennDOT, Safety Partners Highlight Traffic Safety During ‘St. Patrick’s Day

Published

12 months ago

March 13, 2025

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PennDOT, Pennsylvania State Police(PSP), Marple Township Police Department, Pennsylvania DUI Association, and AAA recently held an event to promote traffic safety during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday. The event aimed to remind drivers that drinking and driving is dangerous and should never be an option.

“Impaired driving poses a significant threat to public safety, as it increases the risk of crashes, injuries, and fatalities on the road,” said Marple Township Police Department Chief Brandon Graeff. “The majority of such tragedies are entirely preventable, so promoting impaired driving safety through education and enforcement with public campaigns such as these is crucial to protecting individuals, families, and communities.”

Every year, alcohol-impaired driving casts a shadow over the festive spirit of St. Patrick’s Day by taking the lives of community members. According to PennDOT data, in the Philadelphia region during the 2024 St. Patrick’s Day holiday period, beginning on Friday, March 8, and running through Sunday, March 17, there were 59 crashes involving an impaired driver, resulting in three fatalities.

“Remember, it’s not just about you! Other people on the roads also want to get to their destinations safely. Don’t let alcohol or drug impairment cause you to be a risk to yourself and others on the road,” said Pennsylvania DUI Association Regional Program Administrator Jim French. “Impaired driving is completely irresponsible, entirely preventable, and can be deadly. Make the right choice: get a ride.”

Drivers should prioritize safety on St. Patrick’s Day by planning ahead if they plan to drink. It’s important not to wait until after drinking to figure out how to get home. Alcohol impairs judgment, so drivers should arrange for a designated sober driver or use a rideshare service or taxi to ensure a safe ride home. Walking while impaired can also be dangerous, so designate a sober friend to get you home safe.

If drivers realize they cannot drive, they should give their keys to a sober driver to ensure they get home safely. If a friend has been drinking and is thinking about driving, others need to be proactive—take away their keys and assist them in finding a safe, sober ride home. If you see someone driving under the influence, call 911.

The 2023 iteration of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety Annual Traffic Safety Culture Index describes Americans’ perceptions of, attitudes toward, and engagement in dangerous driving behaviors and identifies profiles of risky driving. When it comes to impaired driving, drivers overwhelmingly perceived driving after drinking alcohol (95 percent) as very or extremely dangerous, yet seven percent of respondents reported having engaged in this behavior in the past 30 days.

“Don’t rely on the ‘luck of the Irish’ this St. Patrick’s Day weekend,” said AAA Mid-Atlantic Manager of Public and Government Affairs Jana Tidwell. “Whether you’re attending a house party or pub crawl, if alcohol is part of the festivities, designate a sober driver, use a ride share such as Lyft or Uber, or take public transportation to ensure you get home safely. Drunk driving is 100 percent preventable. There’s no excuse.”

Related Topics:PennDOT & Safety Partners Highlight Traffic Safety During 'St. Patrick's Day

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Human Interest - Bensalem Township

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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.

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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

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Human Interest - Bensalem Township

Floral Design Program Wins Again at Philadelphia Flower Show

Published

9 hours ago

March 5, 2026

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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.