Local/Regional

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.

A community event will be held this evening in Hatfield. It’s called “Experience Hatfield” in Hatfield Borough. The activities will run from 5 to 8 in the Borough. Hatfield Borough Council President, John Weirman says it will be a walkable event, but…..

“As we did last year, there will be a trolley that’s going to continuously run the routes, making stops at 6 of the marked locations, that’ll be available also.”

Hatfield Borough residents and folks from neighboring communities are welcome to come out this evening.

The 52nd Annual Penn View Christian School’s Country Fair and Auction is set for Friday and Saturday at the school’s Franconia Township Campus. Penn View’s Kelly Yetter says the event’s signature foods will be ready all who attend.

“We make 15-hundred strawberry pies, and grill and sell over 6-thousand pieces of chicken.

The event runs today(Friday)from 4 to 9pm and Saturday from 7:30AM until 2pm.

The Executive Director of the Montgomery County Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness says a local institution’s abuse of the mentally ill forever changed health care, according to Carol Caruso.

“Byberry, one of the state hospitals in Philadelphia, there were family members who went in and took pictures of people chained to walls and that kind of thing.”

Caruso urges people not to ignore the signs of mental illness, particularly with children and teens.

“When a student is getting good grades and then is suddenly failing and sleeping too much, that’s a clear signal that something is wrong.”

The National Alliance on Mental Illness, Montco Chapter, will hold an awareness and fundraising walk Saturday morning at 10AM at Montgomery County Community College.

May is Mental Illness Awareness Month.