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Donegal Jewelers: Selling unique jewelry you won’t find elsewhere

May 22, 2013 By

DONEGAL PROFILE by June Portnoy

Why drive all the way to the jewelry stores at the mall where you’ll often find the same merchandise at every store when you can shop in your own neighborhood to find one-of-a-kind jewelry? Donegal Jewelers in Doylestown sells contemporary, antique, estate and unique custom jewelry.

“You can be sure you won’t find many others walking down the street wearing the same jewelry you purchase here,” says Alexa Breslin, storeowner and Bucks County resident. “Our selection is very different from what you’ll see at the large retail stores. Each piece is unique.”

Alexa, who grew up in a family who owned a jewelry store, brings years of experience to her enterprise.

Many customers come to Donegal Jewelers to purchase engagement and wedding rings.

“We can custom design the ring you envision,” says Alexa. “Simply bring in a sketch or picture of what you want, and we’ll recreate it for you, or help you design it from scratch.”

In addition to the unusual and unique, Donegal Jewelers also keeps up with the latest trends in jewelry, offering a large variety of styles. Its Irish Celtic jewelry is quite popular, so come in if you’re looking for a Celtic knot work pendant, ring or cross.

And don’t assume that since this is a small boutique store, you’ll pay higher prices, because this just isn’t the case.

“Our prices are actually excellent for the what we offer and the personalized customer service we provide,” says Alexa, who is virtually always at the store.

She is very knowledgeable about all merchandise at Donegal Jewelers and is always happy to offer suggestions to customers.

“If someone comes in looking for a particular piece, I will go out of my way to locate it for them,” says Alexa.                

With graduation upon us, Alexa adds that jewelry with birthstones make great gifts for this occasion.

You are welcome to come in and browse Donegal Jewelers anytime with no pressure to buy something. This is a warm, comfortable environment where you will not feel intimidated.

Donegal Jewelers also buys gold and silver. Alexa encourages you to shop around for the best prices to find out firsthand that her store offers comparable, or better, values.

Whether or not you buy here, feel free to bring your broken jewelry to Donegal Jewelers, which specializes in jewelry repairs. Also, come here to get your ring sized, set a stone, get your battery watch replaced or have your set of pearls restrung.

Donegal Jewelers offers an excellent layaway program. Simply pay 10% of your purchase and then make your payments at your convenience. No extra fees are associated with this layaway program, and if you decide you’re no longer interested in buying the jewelry, you’ll receive a refund of your deposit in full. It’s a great way to shop!

Store hours are Tuesdays through Fridays from 10:00am until 6:00pm, and Saturdays from 10:00am until 4:00pm.

Stop by anytime to see what’s new at Donegal Jewelers, located at 25 N. Main Street in Doylestown.

For more information call 215-348-3488 or visit www.donegaljewelers.com.

PHOTO CAP: Angela Breslin (left), owner of Donegal Jewelers, shows Amanda Levy a necklace

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Filed Under: Doylestown Observer Business Profiles Tagged With: , , , ,

April is Appreciation Month at Vera Fran

April 26, 2013 By

All office professionals will receive 15% off any item purchased at Vera Fran Consignment Boutique, 1776 S. Easton Road, Doylestown, during the month of April.

Administrative Professionals Day recognizes and celebrates the work of secretaries, administrative assistants, and other office professionals.

For more info call 215-345-8372. 

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Filed Under: Doylestown Observer News Tagged With: , , , ,

Families and disagreement over cremation arrangements

April 24, 2013 By

submitted by Jason “Oz” Oszczakiewicz, Owner/Supervisor, Varcoe-Thomas Funeral Home of Doylestown, Inc.

Today, families may have disagreements over having a loved one cremated or buried for final disposition. There are many instances of a parent or loved one that has not preplanned their arrangements and clearly stated in their Last Will and Testament that their wishes were to be cremated.

This can cause disagreements and rifts between families, since some members may have heard their loved one note their wishes about wanting to be cremated, but there is no written proof or evidence of their final wishes.

I often inform families when they preplan cremation arrangements that they inform their attorney to note it in a Last Will and Testament and they also sign their own cremation forms and fund their arrangements so they are paid in advanced and guaranteed into the future.

Family members may not only disagree when it comes to the disposition of assets for an estate, but they may also disagree on signing off on cremation authorizations to have a parent or loved one cremated.

This can be a major concern, because a court injunction may be required to intervene to have the cremation arrangements carried out as planned.  Most firms may require all children to sign off on authorizations if a parent passes due to the fact that all state laws are different when it comes to the degree of lineage.

Some states only require the signature of an executor/executrix, a funeral advocate (a person designated to carry out funeral arrangements) or the majority of signatures of all legal age children or surviving family members to carry out cremation arrangements. This means that three out of five children can sign off on cremation authorizations to carry out the wishes of a parent if the other children are not in agreement.

Therefore, I suggest parents or family members discuss their wishes with their children or family, state their wishes in a Will and preplan their arrangements so they can be informed of all the different forms of cremation arrangements that are available.

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Filed Under: Doylestown Observer Columnists Tagged With: , , , ,

Weis Markets: Offering an exceptional shopping experience for over a century

April 24, 2013 By
WEIS PROFILE

 

by June Portnoy

Weis Markets, which recently opened a store in Doylestown, started out as a small neighborhood store in Sunbury, PA in 1912. Although it now operates 165 stores in five states, its headquarters have remained in Pennsylvania, and Weis Markets has maintained its hometown values and local ties to the community.

“Unlike some of our other competitors who are based in other parts of the country or world, our management lives and works in the communities we serve,” says Dennis Curtin, Director of Public Relations at Weis Markets. “In a very real sense, we’re the hometown store with strong roots in the communities where we operate.”

By being a part of its communities, Weis Markets’ team can closely watch for new trends in the marketplace, so they can move quickly to meet changing customer needs.

“We’re always looking for customer feedback from our customers to ensure we stock the products they want,” says Dennis. “We strongly believe one size does not fit all, which is why we stock local favorites.”

When it first opened, Weis Markets bought its produce and dairy products from farmers who were often their customers. Today, 100 years later, Weis Markets is one of the single largest purchasers of Pennsylvania agricultural products.

“We were local before local was cool,” says Dennis. “In a given year, we buy 25 million pounds of local produce and our Weis Quality milk comes from Pennsylvania dairy farms.”

[Read more...]

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Filed Under: Doylestown Observer Business Profiles Tagged With: , , , ,

Donegal Jewelers launches gold recycling service

March 29, 2013 By

Donegal Jewelers, located at 25 N. Main Street in Doylestown, has announced the launch of its gold recycling service. Consumers have the opportunity to recycle their unwanted gold, silver, platinum and diamond jewelry.

Do you have broken, unattractive or mismatched jewelry? Restyle your unworn jewelry pieces into something new!

Donegal Jewelers offers hundreds of mountings or can design a unique piece of jewelry using your old gold, silver and gems.

Consumers can bring in their unwanted necklaces, chains, bracelets, rings, earrings, pins and pendants for a new design, a trade-in on a piece of jewelry in the shop, or for CASH.

Recycling your old jewelry is an excellent way to help the environment while receiving the benefit of a beautiful new piece of jewelry or some extra CASH in your pocket. Gold mining has been proven to be one the most environmentally harmful activities by man. The higher the demand for gold, the greater the need for mining becomes.

Help minimize gold mining activities and protect the environment by repurposing your unworn and old jewelry at Donegal Jewelers.

Store hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10:00am-6:00pm, and Saturday, 10:00am-4:00pm. Closed Sunday and Monday. For more info call 215-348-3488.

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Filed Under: Doylestown Observer News Tagged With: , , , ,

York Children’s Foundation grant benefits children

March 25, 2013 By

On Tuesday, February 26th, Jason “Oz” Oszczakiewicz, owner and supervisor of the Varcoe-Thomas Funeral Home of Doylestown presented a grant in the amount of $500 to Ariana Burrows of Tabor Children Services, Inc. of Doylestown.

The York Children’s Foundation awards grants to non-profit organizations whose sole purpose is to support children. When families select a casket from the York or Matthews Casket Companies, a donation is made to the York Children’s Foundation in memory of the deceased. 

Ariana Burrows, the Chief Development Officer of Tabor’s Children’s Services, stated the funds will be used for families facing significant child welfare issues that live below poverty level that lack transportation to medical and dental appointments.

Over the past two years, Varcoe-Thomas Funeral Home has sponsored grants totaling $3,000 for local organizations such as the Central Bucks YMCA, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bucks County, the Plumstead Christian School, and Potential, Inc. of Newtown.

Organizations that are a 501(c) 3 non-profit corporation, whereby funds benefit children or children’s organizations may contact Jason at info@varcoethomasfuneralhome.com if interested in qualifying for a grant.

The grants are awarded on a quarterly basis up to $5,000.

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Central Bucks East Patriot Players presents ‘West Side Story’

March 20, 2013 By

by Aubreylyn Zazyczny

Based on the eternal love story of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, “West Side Story” displays the constant battle between love and war, as set in the 1950’s slums of New York City.

The foreboding rivalry of the American Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks, is a fight for turf, color, and muscle, and nothing will deprive these misfits from the pride they receive from rumble to rumble – Nothing, that is, but the interception and the irony from both sides. Tony, a former Jet, and Maria, Bernardo, front of the Sharks’, naïve, little sister, desperately fall in love.

And despite all that is wrong and all that is right with their relationship, the forbidden lovers plan to flee, and go where they can live and love without rumbles or rebellion, somewhere, a place, with peace and quiet and open air. However, Shakespeare’s tragedy didn’t come with a happy ending.

And in the intense epilogue of this musically enchanting production, Tony and Maria pull the breaks on all the chaos and bury their families’ strife.

The Central Bucks High School East Patriot Players takes their turn on this Broadway classic in hopes to embody and express the time of segregation and prejudice throughout this dramatic art. Played by the renown of the CB East stage, seniors Kyle McClellan (Tony), Katie Hynson (Maria), Patrick Fehr (Riff), Tim Farley (Bernardo), and Kari Lochstoer (Anita), give their best and final performance.

Previous to “West Side Story,” the Patriot Players have held the productions of this past winter’s “The Little Mermaid Jr.,” as well as “Grease,” “Aladdin,” and “Les Miserables.”

These performances have all sold out prior to the show dates, and so it is firmly suggested all tickets are purchased before the show, which can be accessed by contacting Mrs. Amy Mahar at westsidestorytickets@comcast.net.

The Patriot Players are gladly inviting the community, their friends, and family in supporting the arts, April 12th, 13th, and 14th, to see their spring production of “West Side Story.”

For further information regarding the show and/or tickets, contact Central Bucks East High School at 267-893-2300. The school is located at 2804 Holicong Road in Doylestown.

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Altomonte’s Italian Market & Deli: Bringing authentic Italian food to Bucks County

March 20, 2013 By
ALTOMONTE PROFILE

 

by June Portnoy

Altomonte is a small town in southern Italy where Michael and Frances Grispino, founders of Altomonte’s Italian Market & Deli, were born and raised.

Michael worked as a butcher in a small butcher shop in town. Frances’ family lived in a farming area in Altomonte. A big part of her life consisted of picking fresh crops, and then preparing and cooking them. 

In 1969, Michael and Frances moved to this area, and 40 years ago they established Altomonte’s. They applied the skills they acquired in Italy to their business in order to bring authentic Italian food to this community.

Today, Michael and Frances co-own Altomonte’s with their grown children, Maria Nappi and Vince Grispino.

“We remain the only authentic Italian market in the area,” says Maria. “In fact, 90% of our groceries come directly from Italy, such as San Marzano tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegars. We use these authentic ingredients to create our ready-to-eat foods.”

Like the food Frances once prepared in Italy, the food at this market is simple and pure, using only the finest ingredients.

If you like to cook, you can get all the ingredients you need to prepare your own Italian meal. If you don’t have time to cook, but want a homemade, Italian meal, indulge in the market’s hot bar with lots of ready-made, meals-to-go, freshly prepared from scratch.

Stop by after work for dinner, and you’ll find entrees like lasagna sold by the slice and Italian specials like ‘Arancini’ Sicilian rice balls. In addition, 20 types of soup, plus a large fresh salad bar is available.

Michael runs Altomonte’s Deli much like the butcher shop he managed in Altomonte.

“We get fresh meat from local farms, but we grind it ourselves, so it’s fresh,” says Maria. “We don’t pump red dye into our meat for it to appear fresh because it already is.”

Altomonte’s Deli has been named number one in Bucks-Mont for over 10 consecutive years. 

In addition to roasting its own beef, turkey and pork, it also carries Boar’s Head and Dietz and Watson. The Deli sells a variety of lunch meats, including unique Italian meats like Prosciutto, Bresaola and Mortadella, plus sandwiches to go. Lunch specials are available everyday.

Catering is a large part of Altomonte’s business. Whether you’re planning a birthday party, communion, graduation party or a funeral reception, Altomonte’s can provide the perfect catering tray for any occasion. A favorite is its antipasto tray. 

Altomonte’s also owns a wholesale bakery where it bakes the most delicious rolls, bread, and tomato pies, plus a large variety of Italian desserts and cookies that you can find at its market and deli.

Keeping Italian customs alive in Bucks County, Altomonte’s will sell such traditional foods as St. Joseph’s Day cakes & Lagane’ e Ceci soup for St. Joseph’s Day on March 19th.

Shop here for such Easter classics as leg of lambs, spring lambs, chocolate Easter eggs shipped directly from Italy plus Neapolitan Pastieria pie made with ricotta cheese and orange-blossomed water.

“After all these years, our customers still thank us for opening our market and deli here,” says Maria. “We are so proud to be part of this community. We are not some big corporation. We live here, our children go to school here and we are committed to being good citizens of this great town.”

For more information or to call for take out, call Altomonte’s Market & Deli, located at 812 N. Easton Road in Doylestown, at 215-489-8889.

You can reach its Warminster location at 85 N. York Road by calling 215-672-5439. Also visit www.altomontes.com.

PHOTO CAP: Pictured from left, Vincent Grispino, Frances Grispino, Jillian Mele, Michael Grispino and Maria Nappi.

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Filed Under: Doylestown Observer Business Profiles, Focus on Food Tagged With: , , , ,

Twilight Wish welcomes Carol Thomson to board

March 11, 2013 By

Twilight Wish Foundation, headquartered in Doylestown, has announced that Carol Thomson recently joined their board of directors. 

Carol, a resident of Warrington, has been elected treasurer of the board and takes over from Barbara Traub who served in that position for the past two years. Thomson has been a CPA for over 25 years, beginning her career with Price Waterhouse Coopers. She is currently working as a consultant and controller for various clients.

“I’m really excited to be joining Twilight Wish,” said Carol. “This is a great opportunity to continue to serve my community and to offer my talents and energy to a wonderful organization.”

Twilight Wish Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization that grants wishes to seniors who are over 68 years old, have an income of less than 200% of poverty level annually or who live in a nursing facility and cannot make their own wishes come true. 

The mission of Twilight Wish Foundation is to honor and enrich the lives of deserving seniors through individual wish-granting events that connect generations. In the years since their founding in 2003, Twilight Wish Foundation has fulfilled the wishes of over 1,865 seniors, thanks to volunteers, corporate and community involvement and donations.

If you are interested in making a senior’s heartfelt wish or lifelong dream come true, visit www.twilightwish.org or call 1-215-230-8777 ext. 104.

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Filed Under: Doylestown Observer News Tagged With: , , , ,

Peggy Farley receives promotion

March 8, 2013 By

Peggy Farley Peggy Farley, MBA, is an outstanding community advocate and Bucks County female leader.

Recently, she was promoted from director of programs to an associate executive director for the Hepatitis B Foundation in Doylestown – but this is really just the tip of the iceberg.

Peggy is a dedicated healthcare advocate, community resident, educator and much more. A dedicated advocate for the Hep B Foundation for approximately nine years, Peggy’s new responsibilities include establishing an overall strategy for outreach and education by overseeing the development, expansion, implementation and evaluation of activities, and identifying new programs.

She works to help the Foundation provide annual patient workshops to educate patients, their families and friends regarding the hepatitis B virus.

Peggy is also an active member of the community – serving on the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce’s Women in Business committee. She is also an adjunct professor at Delaware Valley College.

Peggy attended Delaware Valley College where she received her bachelors of science degree in business administration/marketing and a master’s in business administration. She also attended Bucks County Community College.

PHOTO CAP: Peggy Farley

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Filed Under: Business Notebook, Doylestown Observer News Tagged With: , , , ,
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