Bucks County News in Brief

St. Mary Medical Center hosted a ribbon-cutting and blessing ceremony Thursday to mark the expansion of the hospital's St. Mary Community Ministries in Bensalem.

The health care facility, which serves low-income and uninsured residents, has added 3,000 square-feet along with additional programming. Clinic space and a family wellness center offering exercise, dance and other activities have been added.

St. Mary Community Ministries includes the Mother Bachmann Maternity Center, the St. Mary Children's Health Center and the St. Mary Family Resource Center. St. Mary Community Ministries is in the Bensalem Square Shopping Center, Knights and Dunks Ferry Roads. For information call 215-710-2090.

The March of Dimes Foundation announced Thursday that the King of Prussia branch of the organization will honor five Bucks County women for their contributions to the arts, education, health, business and public service.

The honorees are: Beverly Miller, founder and president of Stepping Up & Out, Inc. in Warminster, a marketing and event planning firm; Gail Eister, senior vice president Eastern Regions for FirstService Bank in Doylestown; Lynn Martinsen, health risk manager for the Bucks County Heath Improvement Partnership in Langhorne; Barbara Clark, executive director of the Network of Victim Assistance in Jamison; and Mira Nakashima-Yarnall, president of George Nakashima Woodworker SA in Solebury Township.

The women will be honored Oct. 15 at an event at Spring Mill Manor in Ivyland.

The Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce is now accepting applications from professional artists and crafts people interested in participating in the 15th annual New Hope Outdoor Arts and Crafts Festival on Sept. 27-28, 2008.

Artists specializing in photography, watercolors, jewelry, ceramics, wood, furniture and all fine art mediums and artistic crafts are invited to submit materials for consideration. A jury of arts and crafts professionals will determine exhibitors and select winning artists in four categories. The application deadline is June 15. All work must be completely original. For information and applications visit

» READ MORE: www.newhopechamber.com

or call 215-862-9990.

The Bucks County Choral Society will conclude its 35th anniversary season with a Choral Spectacular next Sunday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lansdale.

The concert features the Choral Society, the Fairfax (Va.) Choral Society and Catholic University organist Edward Alan Moore. Tickets are $15; seniors, $13; students, $5. The concert is at 4 p.m. at the church, 1000 W. Main St. A 20-minute organ prelude will precede the concert. For information and tickets call 215-598-6142 or visit

» READ MORE: www.buckschoral.org

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Daniel Magro, an award-winning graduate of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and Bucks County Community College, will host a film showing Saturday at the Starbucks in Southampton.

Magro, 21 of Southampton, will screen the short film

Happy Campers: A Short Musical Adventure

, along with a feature-length movie,

Portraits of Sari

. Magro, one of four winners of this year's President's Award at the University of the Arts, directed both films and wrote

Portraits of Sari

. Magro founded his own business, DJM Multimedia in Philadelphia in 2002.

The screening will begin at 8 p.m. Admission is free. The Starbucks is at 707 Street Rd.

The James A. Michener Art Museum will host an animal rescue informational fair from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday as part of First Friday activities in Doylestown.

The event, held in conjunction with Doylestown Animal Medical Clinic and Animal Lifeline, will include a self-guided animal safari, dog-theme puppet-making and a discussion of pet weight management. Families may also interact with dogs available for adoption.

The fair is an extension of the museum's "Elliott Erwitt: Dog Dogs" photography exhibit running through Aug. 31. All programs and activities outside of the galleries are free on Friday. Although dogs are the program's focus, museum visitors' pets are not allowed in the building. The museum is at 138 S. Pine St. For information call 215-340-9800.

The Feasterville Business Association will hold its annual Golf Outing Thursday at the Bensalem Country Club. The event raises money for the group's memorial college scholarship fund and other area charities and community endeavors. Cost to play is $115. Tee time is 12:30 p.m. The club is at 2000 Brown Ave. For registration and information call 215-322-6142.

The Ted Lindeman Outreach Foundation will host a gala dinner on Friday to raise money for young families who have lost a parent.

The Jamison foundation, which offers grants to the families, is named for the husband of co-founder Ellen Lindeman, of Hartsville. Ted Lindeman died of esophageal cancer in 2004 at age 33, leaving his wife and two children.

The event includes dinner, live music, a raffle, silent auction and door prizes. Tickets are $55. The gala will be 7 to 11 p.m. Spring Mill Country Club, 80 Jacksonville Rd., Ivyland. For tickets and information call 215-918-2796.

The Peddler's Village 24th annual Fine Arts and Contemporary Crafts Show will feature the work of area artists and crafts professionals Saturday and Sunday in Lahaska.

The event will also include live jazz from the Eric Mintel Quartet (Saturday, noon to 2 p.m.) and Soulminded (Sunday, noon to 2 p.m.) More than 40 artists will exhibit and sell their work in the juried art show. The festival will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. rain or shine. Admission is free. For information call 215-794-4000 or visit

» READ MORE: www.peddlersvillage.com

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The 14th annual Bucks Beautiful Kitchen and Garden Tour, a self-guided walk through private homes, kitchens and gardens in Doylestown, will be 1 to 5 p.m. next Sunday.

Residences built between 1800 and 2005 will be showcased. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 if purchased Saturday or next Sunday; children under 12 are free.

Tickets may be purchased through Saturday at the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce in Doylestown Township, the Doylestown Bookshop in Doylestown Borough and Bucks Country Gardens in Plumstead Township. For information visit

» READ MORE: www.bucksbeautiful.com

or call 215-348-3913, Ext 114.

- Kristin E. Holmes