Local/Regional

Thousands of Bucks and Montgomery County residents paused today to remember the sacrifices carried out by the men and women of the U-S Armed services. Services were held today Memorial Park. Event organizer, Jay Davler says, more and more, people realize that today is not just a day to have a barbeque.

“I think with all the world events and news media and the things we see going on in the world today, I think that’s actually building back the spirit that we had with our military years and years ago.”

Davler adds, every year there seems to be a larger and larger turnout at Memorial Park

It’s not known why a 21-year-old college student from Skippack failed to return home after leaving the University of Rhode Island last Thursday. Matthew Royer eventually made contact with his family, ending a week of emotional turmoil for his parents, who held a news conference on Monday in an effort to reach their son. Dr. Tina Paone urges college students who feel stressed to seek help.

“All colleges and Universities have a counseling center on campus and it is free to all students. It’s important for students to utilize those services. Those are folks who are trained and licensed and they’re there to help students, whether the problem is academic, personal or social. They are there to help.”

Dr. Paone is a therapist and Founder of The Counseling Center at Heritage in Montgomeryville.

Montgomery County officials are getting ready to take the wraps off their new Nava-kit Program, according to Commissioner Chairman, Josh Shapiro.

“They’ll be able to go to an office where, no matter what their issue is, a veteran who needs benefits or a mom who is struggling with a young child with autism or a dad who is dealing with an elderly parent, they’ll be able to speak to one person, this Nava-kit, who will have access to all those different issues right there in their community.”

The Nava-Kit Program is expected to provide a navigator and advocate in one person to those using human service programs. Those programs will also be de-centralized and delivered at locations in Lansdale, Willow Grove, Norristown and Pottstown. Open houses are expected to be scheduled at those locations in June.

The nasty side of nature has once again reared its ugly head by way of
the deadly and destructive force of a category four tornado. Scammers are
likely to prey on the sympathy of the public to solicit donations,
according to Bucks County Director of Consumer Affairs, Mike Bannon.

"These unscrupulous people will call people as way to essentially
obtain money for their own gain. The best way to make a donation toward
the helping people in Oklahoma is through the American Red Cross. They
will likely be the lead organization on relief efforts."

Bannon adds, anyone who wants to donate should visit the Red Cross
website, and never make a donation over the phone or via e-mail. Bannon
was a guest Tuesday morning with Darryl Berger on WNPV's AM-Edition.