Editorial

                The first day of summer is less than two weeks away, but the annual festivities of the warm weather have already started.

                As many of us continue to struggle in these difficult economic times, some vacation plans will be put on hold and others will be outright cancelled.  But that doesn’t mean you and your family can’t have fun this year.

                Some of the “most-looked-forward-to” events in our region are those of the annual fire company carnivals.  These local fund-raising festivals are not only reasonable alternatives to traveling miles for similar entertainment, but they help to raise funds for lifesaving equipment and services for the entire community.

                Several of the carnivals offer specialty foods and discounted ride prices on special nights.  Many offer fine musical entertainment for those who just want to get out and enjoy the sounds that come from an outdoor bandstand.  And, of course, there are the games.

                There will be plenty of carnival fun in our four-county corner of the Commonwealth.  Take a look below and plan to go and enjoy great food, music and fun!

                In Bucks County, the Milford Township Fire Company runs through this Saturday night on the grounds of the Milford Township municipal building on Krammes Road, off Route 663, and just outside of Spinnerstown.

                Back in Montgomery County, the Red Hill Fire Company carnival is scheduled for June 23, 24, 25 and 26 will be held on the grounds of the fire company between Fifth and Sixth streets in Red Hill.  In Lehigh County the Lower Milford Fire Company will hold their carnival on June 23, 24, 25 and 26 at their firehouse on Limeport Pike in Limeport.

                Over to Montgomery County again, the East Greenville Fire Company will hold its annual event on July 7, 8, 9 and 10 at their headquarters at Fourth and Washington streets in East Greenville.  Jumping back over to Bucks County, Trumbauersville Fire Company offers two extended weekends of carnival fun on July 22, 23, 24 and July 29, 30, 31 at their location on North Main Street in Trumbauersville.

                Swinging back to Montgomery County, Sassamansville Fire Company carnival is scheduled for August 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 at the grounds of the firehouse on Hoffmansville Road in Sassamansville.

                The great thing about all of these events is that they are located within seven miles of the Upper Perkiomen Valley!  They are primarily organized and run by local volunteers; and the proceeds go to the fire company.  Carnivals are still a major fund-raising activity for some fire companies.

                Plan to visit one or more of the local fire company carnivals this year.  It is a wonderful way to have fun, meet people and help the community at the same time.

                As headlines, news stories and police reports chronicle the unthinkable in our hometowns, we all need to remember that our “four-county corner” of the Commonwealth is indeed a good place to live and work. 

                A possible murder-suicide in Marlborough Township, an alleged attempted homicide in East Greenville, a suspected theft of a six-figure amount from a trusted employee - and these are just the local headlines from this week.  There’s more coming next week.

                We live in a volatile time where tensions are raised and tempers are close to boiling nearly every day and nearly everywhere.  Tolerance seems to have become a thing of the past as more and more people and organizations become aware of a sense of “entitlement.”   Patience fades as we all become emboldened by the sense that somebody owes us something and that society should be focused on me – or my cause.  Narcissism seems to be at an all time high.

                Add to that the unstable economy, the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico causing the worst ecological disaster in the history of the United States, fighting two wars in foreign lands and the list just seems to go on and on.  People who once reached for the brass ring now find themselves grabbing at straws of sanity.  Just when you thought it was safe to smile again, another deluge of bad news permeates the media and sends us back to an unhappy place.

                Somewhere along the way we took veterans and bonafide heroes off our pedestals and replaced them with sports figures earning seven-figure salaries and loud-mouthed TV political analysts spewing hate and intolerance. 

                But there is still plenty of good to be found - and you don’t have to look hard.  Our local “Relay for Life” events speak volumes for what can happen when a small community unites for a common cause.  The American Cancer Society benefits when these events happen and the search for the cure and cancer patients themselves become the ultimate beneficiaries.

                The Upper Perkiomen Valley Relay for Life kicks off this Saturday at 10 a.m. on the grounds of the Upper Perkiomen High School.  The festivities continue through 9:30 Sunday morning.  This isn’t a competition – rather it’s a coming together of people to raise money for a common purpose.  Yes, the groups and teams are grateful for your donations but nothing will inspire them more than something that will cost you a lot less – your attendance.  All it takes is for you to set some time aside and stop in and walk around the stands, listen to a speaker or two, take in some of the events and thank the participants for their efforts.  

                Just remember that when things seem like they couldn’t get any worse, they can.  Make it a point to enjoy today and smile.  Do your part to make today better than yesterday – not just for you but for those around you and even for those you don’t know.