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Eating locally: for our bodies, our economy, our planet

February 22, 2012 By

by Anne Biggs, Board member, Bucks County Foodshed Alliance

Wouldn’t we love it if someone could just tell us the surest way for us to provide our families with the most nutritious, delicious, safe, environmentally responsible and economically viable food? The answer might start with just five simple words – buy local: know your farmer.

Yes, it really begins with that concept and works outward from there. Fortunately, convenient sources of local produce, meats and eggs, dairy, baked goods and prepared foods have multiplied in recent years. It should be easy enough for most Bucks Countians to locate a farmer, roadside stand, farmers’ market or local store, co-op or eatery that sources locally, especially in-season from about April through November.

The “locavore” movement has been pushed by consumer demand for freshness, better flavor, greater nutrient content and the absence of hormones, antibiotics, pesticides and herbicides, petroleum-based fertilizers and the food safety issues that seem to come with industrialized large-scale farming and CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations).

Also encouraging and supporting the local food movement is the Bucks County Foodshed Alliance (BCFA), a grassroots organization of farmers, consumers, chefs, environmentalists and other local businesspeople. The six-year-old nonprofit is committed to improving the variety and availability of locally produced food, supporting local farmers’ ability to grow and market their products, increasing the demand for local, sustainably grown food through education and advocacy, and providing trusted information about locally produced food in and around Bucks County.

BCFA operates two seasonal farmers’ markets of its own – Wrightstown on Saturdays and Lower Makefield in Yardley on Thursdays – and serves as liaison between other markets across the county. BCFA also offers regular programs that include films, speakers and summer farm tours; hosts an annual Farmers Forum to examine issues of interest to our food producers; and has partnered with such organizations as Heritage Conservancy and the Doylestown Food Co-op.

Most of Bucks County’s small local vegetable farms are certified organic or operate using organic or sustainable practices that naturally improve soil health to grow nutrient-dense, flavorful crops without chemicals. That means not only do consumers get a healthier head of broccoli or basket of tomatoes, but they also aren’t eating the poisons in their food or contributing to ground water contamination by those same chemicals in the form of run-off.

In the case of meats, besides sustainable practices and the absence of chemicals, look for pasture-raised. Chemicals kill off some of the wide variety of plant life that can provide a range of needed nutrients to grazing animals, including beef cattle and lambs, and can eliminate the yummy insects that chickens, ducks and turkeys love to scratch up and eat to supplement their vegetarian feed.

And, it’s been postulated, since sustainably-raised local chickens never receive ground-up chicken scraps leftover from the processing, they produce eggs that are rarely, if ever, linked to those feared food-borne illnesses carried by eggs raised in CAFOs.

Did you know that a beef cow, left to his own devices, will choose the most nutritious grasses to eat? We tend to forget that their stomachs are made for grasses, including hay. Current industry feedlots persist in feeding grain, mostly corn, which bulks them up faster and increases their production of the methane gas that messes with our ozone layer. Grain-fed cows also miss out on a whole lot of great trace nutrients.

Pasture-raised animals give us meat and eggs that are vastly more nutritious with far more omega-3s than that from grain-fed animals and caged chickens. And even “certified organic” and “free-range” from the grocery store might not guarantee that the chickens were raised humanely or had leisure time in the sunshine to peck around a yard.

Besides the petroleum products that are used to fertilize large-scale industrial farming operations, petroleum also comes into play when the food in our grocery stores is transported to us. If you’re eating fresh grapes or strawberries in winter, chances are they have traveled many hundreds of miles, from as far away as Chile, to reach your table. When you focus on eating locally and reading labels on the grocery store produce you’re considering buying, you may find that even the organic fruit you thought was such a healthy, safe choice was shipped all the way from China – where, incidentally, the criteria for “certified organic” might not meet U.S. standards.

When you “know your farmer,” you can ask her how she grows her vegetables, fruits, chickens, eggs, hogs, lambs or cattle. Or travel to the farm and take a look. While you’re there, enjoy the beauty of the countryside, the fresh chemical- and petroleum-free air, even the smells of the farm. It means your food is coming from Mother Nature, and who knows more about it than she?

To learn more about the Bucks County Foodshed Alliance call 215.598.3979, e-mail admin@BucksCountyFoodshedAlliance.org, or visit www.BucksCountyFoodshedAlliance.org.

Filed Under: The Family Health Edition Tagged With: , , ,

When selecting a dentist, consider the factors

February 21, 2012 By

submitted by Dr. Michael Spadafora, D.D.S.

When selecting a new dentist, there are many factors to consider.  Some of these factors – like location, flexible hours and cleanliness of the office – are easy to evaluate. Others, such as the dentist’s education, his level of expertise, his use of current technology and his payment policies, can be determined with a little effort.

One factor, however, is a little harder to nail down, but is extremely important in maintaining your family’s oral health. This factor is communication.

When a patient first enters my office, I try to get to know him. This takes place in the new patient exam, where I carefully examine the patient (this includes an oral cancer screening) and speak with him about his dental wants and needs. The patient usually will have some digital diagnostic x-rays taken, and sometimes I will recommend having study models prepared.

After this first meeting, I take all of the information that has been gathered and I sit down to prepare a treatment plan, which is later presented to the patient. Occasionally, the patient has a problem which dictates one treatment option (a root canal, for example). Usually, however, there is more than one way to treat a dental problem.

These different options are not always optimal, but can often be used as stop-gap measures. The patient may have issues that preclude him from selecting the optimal treatment. Financial, time, and/or personal issues may convince the patient to delay or phase his treatment. Communication becomes the important element in this situation.

As the patient, you need to communicate these issues to the dental team. The dental team needs to understand your issues, and adapt the treatment plan to work within your situation. You and your dentist need to openly communicate about your dental health. If you can’t communicate well with your dental team, you may be better served in a different office.

I always talk to my patients about optimal dental treatment. This is a starting point, a goal to which to aspire. But life gets in the way. A good dentist will work with the patient towards the achievement of optimal dental health, handling the detours and enjoying the journey.

Filed Under: Northampton Herald Columnists, The Family Health Edition Tagged With: , , ,

When should my child see an orthodontist?

February 21, 2012 By

submitted by Dr. Cathleen George, orthodontic specialist

Dental development for every child is different, therefore Dr. Cathleen George, a Buck’s County orthodontic expert in early interceptive treatment, recommends a screening for all children before the age of seven-years-old.

The American Association of Orthodontists also declares seven as the magic number for orthodontic screening. Orthodontic treatment may not always be necessary at age seven, but vigilant examination can anticipate the most advantageous time to begin treatment. If early treatment is unnecessary, a reputable orthodontist will continue to provide free developmental growth monitoring.

An orthodontist plays a pivotal role in a person’s dental health, and early screening often provides a critical ‘window of opportunity’ to correct many orthodontic and dentofacial irregularities prior to puberty. A complimentary comprehensive screening should include a full series of dental and facial photos, digital x-rays, a digital intra-oral scan, study models and a complete cephalomalic analysis.

A few of the many benefits of early treatment include; correcting oral habits, creating room for crowded teeth, correcting dentofacial and jaw discrepancies, lowering the risk of trauma from protruding teeth, influencing proper jaw growth and harmony, creating a full smile with limited extractions, a more favorable stable outcome, and improved self esteem and confidence. 

Although young persons are the most common orthodontic clients, nowadays many adults also seek to perfect their smiles. Some practices cater to adults with semi-private treatment rooms, Invisalign, and advanced orthodontics, which shorten treatment time.

There are many orthodontic practices to choose from, just be sure to do your research and pick the one that best meets your treatment needs.

Filed Under: Doylestown Observer Columnists, The Family Health Edition Tagged With: , , ,

GNC in Newtown: Helping you make informed decisions about your health

February 21, 2012 By

GNC by June Portnoy

With the costs of healthcare becoming so astronomically high, people are looking for ways to stay healthy more than ever before. As a result, people are turning to GNC in Newtown for vitamins, minerals, herbs and nutritional supplements that will boost their immune system to prevent them from getting sick and help them live a longer, healthier life with fewer medications.

“Buying our products is like purchasing insurance to stay healthy for as long as possible,” says Karen Lane, co-owner of this store with her husband, Jeffrey. She adds, “Our focus is on health and nutrition, and our products fill a deficiency in one’s diet and gives customers natural energy.”

According to Karen, it’s her store’s exceptional customer service that sets it apart from other nutrition stores, even other GNCs. “Many of our customers would never consider going to another GNC even if it is more conveniently located to them because we have gained their trust over the years. In a small community like Newtown, customer loyalty is most important to us.”

A family-owned and operated business where the family members are routinely on-site is rare these days, but that’s what you’ll find at GNC at Newtown. Karen and Jeffrey, who bought this store 15 years ago, do it all, from waiting on customers to cleaning the store. Their store manager, Bernie Valente, has been with them for 13 years, so when you come in, you’ll typically see the same faces all the time year after year.

In addition, Karen and Jeffrey only hire experienced staff members and require employees receive three to six months of training and ongoing learning of new products on the market. This experienced, knowledgeable staff strives to put the right product in their customers’ hands. They help educate customers about their options based on individual needs. The store is stocked with inventory that can seem overwhelming at first, but the helpful sales associates will take their time getting to know each customer, so they can offer well-informed recommendations about which product will work best for them.

“We give our customers good, sound, reliable information and often become their source for information,” says Karen, who prides herself on following all the advanced scientific news and studies. “We often become aware of effective products long before they become mainstream in this country. We also encourage customers to do research on their own.”

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Newtown Gazette Business Profiles, The Family Health Edition

Performance Spine & Sports Medicine: Redefining holistic care

February 21, 2012 By

PSSM PROFILE

 

by June Portnoy

You no longer have to suffer from lower back pain, sciatica or knee or shoulder injuries.  Nor should you consider surgery as your only alternative to treating musculoskeletal disorders. Performance Spine and Sports Medicine (PSSM), an established practice but new to Bucks County, offers non-surgical, holistic approaches that will help you feel better faster and stay healthy longer.

“We provide a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, integrated office where providers work together to optimize patient outcomes,” says Dr. Kevin Hsu, a board certified, fellowship-trained interventional pain management physician.

In addition to Dr. Hsu, the clinical team at PSSM also includes two physical therapists, two chiropractors, a podiatrist and an athletic trainer. Therefore, it offers multiple services all under one roof.

“By working in conjunction with multiple disciplines, we can better pinpoint a diagnosis,” says Dr. Hsu. “There’s strength in numbers.”

What makes this office truly unique is that all providers are on staff and work at the Newtown office five days a week, so there is no fragmentation of care. This is unlike many other integrated practices where providers might come in once a week.

Also, all patients are treated at this office, as opposed to having to go off-site for therapy. Because all doctors work together full time at the same location, they see the same patients and work together to coordinate care and ensure each patient receives the best possible treatment.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Newtown Gazette Business Profiles, The Family Health Edition Tagged With: , , ,

January 2012 Community Guidebook

January 25, 2012 By

January 2012 Community Guidebook

Filed Under: The Family Health Edition Tagged With: ,

Christmas music from England, Scotland and Wales

December 12, 2011 By

The 65 singers of VOICES Chorale and the chamber group Sotto Voce, accompanied by lute, recorders and viola da gamba, will offer audiences outstanding Christmas music from England, Scotland and Wales on Sunday, December 18th, 3:00pm, at Anchor Presbyterian Church, 980 Durham Road (Route 413), Wrightstown.

This festive concert with organ, piano and early instruments features music from England, such as C. H. H. Parry’s “Welcome Yule”; Joubert’s “There is No Rose of Such Virtue”; William Mathias’ “Sweet Was The Song the Virgin Sang”; Harold Darke’s “In the Bleak Mid-Winter”; and John Rutter’s “What Sweeter Music,” as well as Scottish and Welsh lullabies and wassails. The audience will also hear “What Christmas Is to Me,” a recent composition by 10-year-old Emily DeLia, one of the winners of VOICES’ 2010 Children’s Music Composition Contest.

Conducting will be Dr. Lyn Ransom, Music Director, Andrew Monath, Associate Conductor, and Sergio Hernandez, conducting intern, with Jack A. Cleghorn at the piano and organ. Early instrument players, led by Lewis Baratz, will offer an instrumental prelude 10 minutes before the concert.

General admission tickets are $25; for children/students with ID, $10; Family Pass, $55; party of six, $100. Advance sale, $5 off on general admission and Family Pass tickets. All tickets can be bought online at www.VOICESChorale.org, by leaving a message at 609-637-9383, or at the door. The venue is handicapped-accessible.

Filed Under: The Family Health Edition Tagged With: , , , ,

Centennial Singers Holiday Concert is Dec. 17th

December 12, 2011 By

For 37 years, the Centennial Singers have been raising their talented voices in song at concert venues and as participants in the Southampton Fourth of July Parade, where they usually take home a prize. Amazingly, some of the founding members are still singing with the chorus, whose participants range in age from 18 to 80.

The celebration continues this December 17th at 8:00pm with a traditional annual Holiday Family Concert under the direction of former Centennial School District music teacher, Carmen Amato, and accompanied by piano virtuoso Charles DeMets. Held at Log College Middle School, 730 Norristown Road, Warminster, the concert will include both modern and standard holiday songs, selections from Handel’s Messiah, a cookie buffet at intermission, a visit from Santa for the kids, a sing-along, and a quilt raffle.

To provide an accessible musical outreach to the entire community, all Centennial Singers concerts are always free, although donations are welcomed. Tickets are not necessary. You are invited to just come and enjoy the soaring sounds of the season.

For more information call 215-657-2415.

Filed Under: The Family Health Edition Tagged With: , , , ,

Experience Pennsbury Manor by candlelight during their annual ‘Holly Nights’ celebration

November 30, 2011 By

On Friday, December 2nd, Pennsbury Manor will be lighting the lights for their annual Holly Nights celebration. A tradition for over 35 years, this enchanted evening is filled with the sights and sounds of the holiday season. Starting at 5:30pm and continuing until 9:00pm, the night will be filled with activities for the entire family.

Grab your coat, gather family and friends and join in the celebration as William Penn’s 17th-century plantation comes alive. Step back in time as hundreds of luminaries and candles cast a warm glow around the 43-acre historic site. Follow the pathways to the Yule log bonfire to warm up or toss in a sprig of green. This traditional “Burning of the Green” is said to represent past woes and to assure good luck in the New Year.

To add to the festive flavor of Holly Night, music will be provided by a variety of musical and vocal ensembles including: The Men of Harmony, Harmony Trio, Levittown Choraliers, Newtown Recorder Consort, Truman High School Holiday Ensemble, William Penn Middle School Chorus, Wing and a Prayer Brass Ensemble, and the Pennsbury High School Falcon Strings.

Demonstrations of open hearth cooking, blacksmithing, joynery, and soap making by colonial craftspeople dressed in period clothing will be ongoing throughout the evening.

Continue along the pathway to the Manor House where guides will greet you in colonial dress for a candlelit tour of the Manor House; decorated for the holidays. Stop by the stable and take in a traditional 17th-century Mummer’s Play performed by the role players. Before departing for the evening, don’t forget to visit the Gift Shop where you can purchase unusual gifts and decorations to take home.

Admission to Holly Nights is $10 for adults, $9 for senior citizens, $5 for children 3-17, and children under three are free. Free parking and hot-mulled cider are included with admission. Information is available at 215-946-0400 or www.pennsburymanor.org. Individuals with disabilities who need special assistance should call in advance to discuss their needs. 

Pennsbury Manor is located just outside Tullytown in southeastern Bucks County. Due to road closures please check their Web site for up-to-date directions.

Filed Under: Morrisville Times Events, The Family Health Edition Tagged With: , , , , , ,

‘A Lake Afton Holiday’ at the Old Library

November 30, 2011 By

On Saturday, December 3rd, when crowds flock to Main Street for Yardley’s annual Christmas Parade, visitors will be welcomed to the Old Library for a “Community Open House” from 2:00 to 6:00pm. The tree and trains will be in their glory, and cookies and mulled cider will be served.

For those who have “Yardley presents” on their lists, a variety of items will be available for purchase including the Old Library by Lake Afton notepaper that depicts an evocative scene created by artist Karen Hoffman. “Yardley,” the Images of America book by Vince Profy that contains photographs of the town and its people, is a must for those who want to know more about where they live. Old Library ornaments and Yardley inscribed items such as tea towels, tote bags and wine glasses will also be on sale.

The “Covered Dish Dinner” on Sunday, December 4th at 5:30pm is a perfect chance to share holiday cheer with friends and neighbors. Please bring along your favorite six-serving covered dish and enjoy sampling the offerings of your fellow great cooks. Plates, utensils, and beverages will be provided. 

All the “Lake Afton Holiday” festivities will be held in the Old Library, 46 W. Afton Avenue, Yardley. Proceeds will benefit the Historical Association’s efforts to maintain the Victorian library building and its collection of books, documents, and ephemera related to Yardley’s history.

For more information about the Association’s activities, call 215-493-6253, e-mail yardleyhistory@yahoo.com, or visit their Web site at www.yardleyhistory.org.

Filed Under: The Family Health Edition Tagged With: , , , ,
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