Feasterville Supermarket to Become a Giant

Giant Food Stores announced Thursday that they have purchased the Feasterville Genuardi’s and plan to re-open it as a Giant come the new year.

Giant Foods based out of Central Pennsylvania purchased the Feasterville Genuardi’s along with another Genuardi’s in Warrington.

Giant plans to close the Bustleton Pike and Warrington stores on November 13 at 6 p.m. and plans to re-open the updated stores in the first quarter of 2011.

"We are very excited to have the opportunity to expand our presence in the greater Philadelphia region. We look forward to providing our customers in these areas the superior value and quality they have come to expect from Giant” , said Rick Herring president of Giant.

Genuardi’s, which has closed five local stores recently, has its regional headquarters in East Norriton, PA and is owned by Safeway INC.

Tom Sofield (tsofield@buxmontnews.com)
Online Editor

Lower Southampton Apartment Fire Deemed Suspicious

Internet Photo of the Top of the Hill Apartments

Yesterday evening Lower Southampton police, fire and EMS crews reported to a fire at the Top of the Hill Apartments near Bunswick Zone in the Feasterville section of Lower Southampton, the fire left six apartments uninhabitable.

Four local fire companies responded to the blaze Friday at around 5 p.m., the fire was extinguished a short time later.

Authorities are calling the fire suspicious but have offered no more details at this time.

Tom Sofield (tsofield@buxmontnews.com)
Online Editor

It’s a Scary Business



Valley of Fear operator Tom Yaegel (Tom Sofield)

On a recent afternoon in Feasterville a cool breeze ruffled the multi colored leaves at the Phoenix Sport Club on Bristol Road; the club is the location of the Valley of Fear haunted attraction which Tom Yaegel has operated at this location for almost 15 years.

The haunted hayride, two haunted houses and haunted walking tour nets tens of thousands of visitors every fall season.

The Valley of Fear has its beginnings at Stepping Stone Farm in Buckingham where Yaegel in the early 1990’s started operations of the area’s first widely promoted haunted hayride. You may even remember the advertisements featuring legendary genre actor Vincent Price.

He got the idea to open a haunted attraction after reading about it in an edition of Entrepreneur Magazine. Yaegel said he thought, “Hey this would be popular because people in Bucks County love to get scared and love the outdoors.”

The business of scaring people has changed since Yaegel entered it in the early 1990’s.

Yaegel said the Valley of Fear's busiest nights are Saturday’s close to Halloween.

The National Research Federation released figures early this month that reported that attendance at haunted attractions around the nation was up almost 21 percent compared to a few years ago. They credit the rise in attendance with the downturn in the economy.

Lower Southampton Conman Caught in Central America

Richard Cover (Panama-Guide.com)

A con-man who grew up in Northeast Philadelphia, recently resided in Lower Southampton, was caught after ripping off people in Bucks County, Montgomery County, Panama, Costa Rica and Belize.

Richard D. Cover Jr. also known as “R.J. Erwin”, “Rick Cover” or “Joseph Erwin Cover” was arrested in the Central American country of Belize last Monday and is facing more than 100 felony charges in the United States.

Lower Southampton police told local media that he ripped off local residents to the tune of more than $100,000.

Cover ripped unsuspecting people off using the business name Cover Construction and Remodeling, where he claimed to remodel homes but he never completed the work.

He also stole by telling people including friends to invest in a daycare he owned, he said he would take the daycare public and investors would see returns but Cover kept the money for himself.

The website RipoffReport.com which collects stories of rip-offs from users has a page set up for Cover and five people who claim to have been scammed by him.

About two years ago after Cover got word police in Pennsylvania were closing in on him he fled to Panama leaving his family with young children behind.

In Panama he ripped off American’s who are now living in the country.

Panama-Guide.com reports Cover is a gambler who owns many gambling debts to people including the mob. Lower Southampton police suspect Cover was also running a gambling ring in Philadelphia and acquired debts here before he flew to Central America.

After Don Winner of Panama-Guide.com caught on to Cover’s con the conman after removing his personal documents moved to Belize where he worked at a Coldwell Banker Real Estate office before he was apprehended.

Cover’s arrested was triggered by phone tips to the FBI from an unknown source.

Tom Sofield (tsofield@buxmontnews.com)
Online Editor

One Dead, Four Hurt in Early Morning Crash

A crash between a SUV and pickup truck in Lower Southampton early this morning killed one man and left four others hurt.

(WPVI-TV)

The head-on crash happened on Brownville Road near Bristol Road shortly after 2 a.m. Sunday morning.

Scanner reports indicated that one person was thrown from one of the vehicles and others had to be extricated.



The five injured were rushed to nearby St. Mary’s Hospital where shortly after arriving one person was pronounced dead.

Justin Lauer, 23, of Middletown township was killed in the two car accident.

Tom Sofield (tsofield@buxmontnews.com)
Online Editor

Former Bucks Teacher Guilty of Sexting Teen

A former William Tennent High School mathematics teacher was sentenced in Bucks County Court yesterday to three years probation and was ordered by the court to undergo treatment after he sent sexual messages to a 17-year-old boy he met at B&R Health Club in Feasterville.

Scott Bregman, 48, of Sunrise Court in Feasterville was charged and plead guilty to disseminating explicit sexual material to a minor and corruption of minors.

Lawyers for Bregman state that the teen and two of his friend prompted Bregman to make explicit remarks by asking him explicit questions.

District Attorney’s for Bucks County disagree saying that Bregman was the adult and should have known better.

Bregman a former teacher, camp counselor and high school baseball referee told the Doylestown court after he was sentenced that he was sorry for his actions.

The 17-year-old did not attend Tennent and therefore never was taught by Bregman.

Bregman who met the boy at B&R exchanged phone numbers with the boy after confronting him nude and engaging in a sexual conversation in the health clubs sauna room.Bregman also offered to help the boy with his school work.

The victim told Bregman he was a junior in high school.

On the night of April 1 of this year Bregman sent the boy a “digital picture of himself in a reclined position with his exposed penis roughly in the lower center of picture” according to court documents.

After the photo the boy contacted police from Northampton who spoke to Bregman who admitted to sending the photo of his penis.

When the charges were announced in June school was out for summer.

The court announced that Bregman is banned from being alone with anyone under the age of 18 except family.

The charges were not Megan’s Law offenses so Bregman does not have to register as a sex offender.

Bregman is now employed in the automotive industry.

The 17-year-old victim was not in court because he wanted to put the event behind him.

Tom Sofield (tsofield@buxmontnews.com)
Online Editor

The Rain is Coming



Early this afternoon Valley of Fear Haunted Attraction operator Tom Yaegel was seen preparing the hay that covers the trailers for the upcoming haunted hayride. Yaegel said the hay had to be prepared for tomorrow's rain event which could dump 1-3 inches on the region. A story on the Valley of Fear will be appearing on the site in the next few days...

Lower Southampton Man One of Six Rescued at Sea

The Coast Guard announced Monday evening that six boaters including one man from Lower Southampton were found alive and rescued about 120 miles of the coast of Atlantic City after the Coast Guard spent the day searching after a mayday call was sent at 1 a.m. Monday morning.

Coast Guard crews from New England to North Carolina were called in to aid in the search for the boat, Black Magic, which was out on a recreational fishing trip.
The Coast Guard did not know what happened and caused the distress call to be sent or why the men could not contact family or the Coast Guard.

The 32 foot boat will be towed back to the Jersey coastline by tomorrow morning.

The Black Magic was supposed to return Sunday after a weekend fishing trip for the six men but when it did not their families got worried.

One of the men on the boat was involved in another rescue at sea more than 20-year-ago when he pulled five people off a burning boat.

The names of the six rescued were Bernie Otriemsky, Jerry Lewis, Ed Silcox, Geoffrey McDade, James McDade and Ray Somerville. The hometowns of the men have not been released yet.

Tom Sofield (tsofield@buxmontnews.com)
Online Editor

Pictures from the Storm

DRENCHED

Police closed Byberry Road near Pioneer Road in Upper Moreland early Friday morning due to road flooding. (Tom Sofield)

We are live blogging the storm...click here to read...

A tree limb that fell along Second Street Pike in Upper Southampton Thursday afternoon as the storm began to intensify. (Tom Sofield)

More photos added at 10:45 a.m.

B&R Fitness Club Plans to Re-Open After Suffering Fire Damage

A fire September 25 closed B&R Fitness Center on Street Road in Feasterville, the fitness center is expecting to reopen most of its facility Monday October 11. In a letter to its members it says the fire started in the spin room and the building suffered smoke damage. The letter also says the club will compensate members for the membership time lost due to the clean up from the fire. (Tom Sofield)

Lower Southampton Burglary Suspect Caught in New Jersey

Robert Szczepanski

The suspect of the home burglary that occurred in Lower Southampton on the afternoon on September 11 was arrested in Palmyra, N.J. by police doing random license plate checks of cars crossing the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge into the state.


When police pulled over the Grand Prix they found the suspect Robert Szczepanski, 39, who is from the Frankford section of Philadelphia, driving the stolen car which was filled with cash, drugs, jewelry and deposit bags from a church.

Szczepanski is being held in Burlington County jail on $45,000 bail and is waiting to be extradited to Bucks County.

He is charged in Palmyra with receiving stolen goods and drugs charges. When he is extradited back to Bucks County he will face burglary charges which could land him up to 20 years in jail.

Water Main Break in Feasterville

The Bucks County Water & Sewer Authority is reporting a water main break at Stump Road and Bustleton Pike in Feasterville.

We are told 10-15 customers are without water service in Feasterville and Upper Southampton townships.

BCWSA reports via internet that service should be restored by 7pm tonight.

Lower Southampton Police Investigate Burglary

Lower Southampton Township Police are looking for a man who posed as a pool man and broke into a home on Saturday September 11.


The residence happened to have home security camera in it and captured footage of the burglar who was a white male, early 30’s, red hair, 5’10” and of medium build.

Police say the man entered through an unlocked rear sliding glass door.

The man was caught by the home owner in the homes bedroom taking a jewelry box.

When the suspect was confronted by the home owner he told the man he was a pool man. When asked by the home owner who he worked for the suspect said “Joe” was his boss.

Security Camera Footage
of the suspects car fleeing
the home.

The man who police are calling an “actor” fled the house in a dark blue/green Pontiac Grand Prix. The resident’s security camera caught the car driving away, the car is registered in New Jersey and the incense plate read YYE11D.

Lower Southampton Police discovered the car was stolen after it was reported later by the owner.

If you have any information on this burglary contact Lower Southampton Police Detective Eric Landamia at 215-357-1235 ext. 339.

Tom Sofield (tsofield@buxmontnews.com)

Staff Writer

Playwicki Farms Farmers Market

Although the weather is starting to cool, you can trick yourself into believing its still summer with a visit to Playwicki Farms Farmers Market. Located on Bridgetown Pike in Feasterville, they are open Wednesdays between 4pm and 7pm.


Since June, the farmers market has been operating on the grounds with local vendors offering everything from fresh produce to homemade candles.

This passed Wednesday the draw seemed to be Ianelli's Bakery (Passyunk Avenue) offering fresh Tomato Pie and the Solly Bro's stand with an array of fresh produce.

All of the produce is seasonal and comes from local farms which not only enhances flavor but nutritional content too.

Before you go, check out their website. They have an updated list of exactly who will be there offering their wares.

http://lower-southampton-township.org/playwicki-farm/the-farmers-market/

There are also recipes that cater to the market offerings and a 'Ready and Ripe' link so you can plan your menu accordingly.

The farmers market will be in operation until October.
You can also find other local farmers markets at http://www.farmersmarketsonline.com/

Maura McCormick (mmccormick@buxmontnews.com)
Staff Writer