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Natural Beauty Abounds at ‘Art That Blooms’ Festival in Newtown
Fourth annual collaboration between floral design program and art students takes place November 15 – 16 at Bucks County Community College Take in the beauty of nature combined with artistic creativity at the fourth annual “Art That Blooms” festival Saturday and Sunday, November 15 and 16 at Bucks County Community College in Newtown.
The theme of the two-day event, which is free and open to the public, is “Fusion: Where art and flowers collide.” One of the highlights will be floral designs created by the College’s floral design students inspired by 12 works of art created by students in the College’s School of Arts and Communication on display in the Hicks Art Center Gallery.
In addition, dozens of floral showpiece entries will line the halls of the Hicks Art Center. The stunning showpiece floral displays will be interspersed with incredible paintings, beautiful glass sculptures, and rich wood working.
The festival includes demonstrations by both the School of Arts and Communication as well as the Continuing Education Department floral design team, students and alumni. Demonstrations take place every half hour, and free “make-and-take sessions” will be available.
“A crowd favorite treat throughout the weekend are the make-and-take sessions that we have for both kids and adults,” said Renee Tucci, one of the floral design instructors at the College and national president of the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD). “We have doubled the number of spots that we will offer for these sessions, but there is still limited seating. A sign-up sheet to participate will be posted one-hour prior to the start.”
New this year is a “makers market” fair selling handmade arts and crafts, featuring 10 vendors. A snack stand will also be available.
“Art That Blooms” takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, November 15, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, November 16. An awards ceremony takes place at 3 p.m. Sunday, announcing the winners in the categories of “Showpiece,” “Designer of the Year,” and “People’s Choice.” To learn more, visit our Art That Blooms web page.
The free festival takes place in the Hicks Art Center, located on the campus at 275 Swamp Rd., Newtown, Pa., 18940, where there is ample free parking. For a campus map and directions, visit our Newtown Campus web page. For more information, email coned@bucks.edu.
Madeline Marriott of Holland Named Bucks County Poet Laureate
Madeline Marriott, a freelance journalist and independent bookseller, has unique body art: the closing line from a meaningful poem inked on her arm.
“I take my poetry very seriously,” the Holland resident said with a light laugh. “I’ve got it tattooed on me.”
That devotion to the written word has led Marriott to being named the 2025 Bucks County Poet Laureate by officials at Bucks County Community College. Marriott, at age 23 the second-youngest laureate in the 49-year history of the contest, rose to the top of 65 entries, according to Professor Ethel Rackin, Ph.D., the program director.
Marriott will be celebrated with a reading and reception at 1 p.m. Saturday, November 15, in Tyler Hall on the College’s Newtown Campus, joined by 2024 Bucks County Poet Laureate Lake Angela, and preliminary contest judge Nicole Greaves.
The judges also selected three unranked runners-up who have also been invited to read November 15. They are Tricia Coscia of Morrisville, Annika Crawford of Washington Crossing, and Lynn Fanok of Perkasie.
Marriott, who placed as a runner-up last year when she first entered the contest, says the monthly poetry groups that meet at the Newtown Bookshop where she works have been an incredible inspiration. In fact, the poet who runs the workshops – Lynn Fanok – is a runner-up this year.
“I feel so honored, since I’m around poets from the area all the time at the bookshop, and they’ve been so helpful to me,” said Marriott. “I’m relatively new to this area’s poetry group, and to writing poetry and putting my work out there, so having their wisdom is just awesome.”
But Marriott, who holds a bachelor's degree in English from Lafayette College in Easton and is pursuing a master’s degree in writing at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, is not new to writing. She recalls writing stories on her desktop computer as a kid, and her dad, who was also an English major, instilling an early appreciation of the written word by reading Robert Frost’s poems to her.
The poems Marriott submitted to the contest contain themes of love, heartbreak, change, and relationships.
“I write a lot about my own experience, such as the young-adult transition into being an adult,” said Marriott. “I also write about being a witness to the difficult things my friends are going through as well.”
Her poetry’s reflection of both herself and others stood out to the final judge, poet Jennifer Tseng, who noted that Marriott’s poems bring to mind the ambigram – a word that can be oriented two ways for a different meaning – of “me/we.”
“Here the ‘me’ is always connected to another; the ‘me’ is always part of a ‘we,’” said Tseng. ”Sonically subtle and satisfying, these are the poems of someone who has the power to see the ‘we’ everywhere, in everything.”
Marriott, who co-founded the English Club and the yearly Poetry Slam at Lafayette College, has had her poems appear in the Turning Leaf Journal, Engine Idling, and more. Her first children’s book will be published in May. When she's not reading or writing, she stays busy coaching kindergarten and first-grade soccer, watching Philadelphia sports teams, and hunting for the best latte in town.
The Bucks County Poet Laureate reading and reception takes place at 1 p.m. Saturday, November 15, in historic Tyler Hall, located on the campus at 275 Swamp Rd., Newtown, Pa., 18940. Admission and parking are free.
Established in 1977, the Bucks County Poet Laureate Program is the longest continuously running poet laureate program in Pennsylvania. It’s coordinated by the College’s School of Language and Literature under the direction of Professor Ethel Rackin. Past laureates continue to give back through Poet Laureate Community Projects and the Volta Center for Writing Arts, housed at the College’s Newtown Campus Library.
BCCC & the Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society Present Two World-Class Artists
Bucks County Community College, which has been bringing world-renown performers to Newtown for 60 years, presents a series of classical guitarists in concert this season.
“By partnering with the Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society, we can bring a unique opportunity to experience world-class artistry in the suburbs,” said Peter Chiovarou, director of Community Programming and College Events. “It’s an amazing chance to hear international performers of this caliber right here at Bucks.”
The next performance takes place at 3 p.m. Saturday, November 8, with Adam Cicchillitti, an award-winning Canadian guitarist known for his luminous tone and inventive programming. Classical Guitar magazine called him “a virtuoso at the top of his game” and CBC music described him as an “ardent ambassador for classical guitar,” including him on their list of the top 30 musicians in Canada under 30 years old.
The season continues at 3 p.m. Saturday, December 6 with Leonela Alejandro, a rising star from Puerto Rico whose spirited performances have been praised for their warmth, precision, and expressive power. Winner of the Rose Augustine Grand Prize in the 2024 Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artist Competition, Alejandro has garnered attention as a soloist, captivating audiences with her powerful and energetic performance style, and has performed throughout the United States and Europe.
Save the dates for two more Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society events in the spring semester, featuring David Leisner on Saturday, January 31, and Laura Snowden on Saturday, March 7.
All performances take place in the Zlock Performing Arts Center on Bucks’ Newtown Campus, located at 275 Swamp Road, Newtown, Pa., where there’s ample free parking. Tickets are $27 – free for BCCC students with current ID – and are available online.
The classical guitar concerts are part of the Bucks Live! series of innovative programs that entertain, inspire, and enrich Bucks County’s cultural landscape. For a full schedule of Bucks Live! performances this season, visit the Zlock Performing Arts Center website.
New Fire & Emergency Response Training Announced to Address Emerging Needs
On Sunday evening, October 26, Bucks County Community College President & CEO Dr. Patrick M. Jones, Ph.D., was honored to serve as the keynote speaker at the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce Emergency Services Awards Dinner celebrating the county’s volunteer firefighters and EMTs.
During his remarks, Dr. Jones announced that Bucks County Community College will soon launch a new course in Fire and Emergency Response Training for Data Centers and Lithium Battery Incidents, ensuring local first responders are prepared for emerging challenges with electric vehicles and the growing number of data centers in our region, including the new Amazon Web Services facility in Falls Township.
He also recognized Bucks student Jamyz Lacey-Holly, a volunteer firefighter with the Lingohocken Fire Company and recipient of this year’s Don Whitney Scholarship. Lacey-Holly, of Furlong, completed more than 380 hours of EMT and fire training at the College, earning multiple national certifications. A member of the inaugural cohort of the College’s new Veterinary Technician degree, Lacey-Holly plans to make firefighting his career and hopes to “be the kind of firefighter who makes kids feel safe and inspired.”
Dr. Jones thanked the first responders, including Lacey-Holly, for their service and their family members for their support of their loved ones.
Student Talent Shines with Comedy, Drama, Music, and Dance
Bucks County Community College invites the public to a variety of student performances — ranging from comedy and drama to music and dance — from November 3 to December 8 that highlight the talents nurtured by the School of Arts and Communication.
“Through these performances, our students share with the community the results of their hard work and artistic growth — showcasing how a quality education in the arts can inspire, connect, and enliven,” said Dean Carolina Blatt, Ph.D. “I invite the community to campus to enjoy these performances and experience the tremendous musicianship and other talents of our students and faculty.”
Comedy and drama take center stage
The series opens and closes with the Bucks Student Comedy Improv Show at 7 p.m. Monday November 3, and again at 7 p.m. Monday, December 8, in the Zlock Performing Arts Center. Communication faculty member Jason Scott Quinn, a New York City-based actor and improvisor, has taught Introduction to Improvisational Performance at Bucks for eight years. Each show, which is free and open the public, features 12 students taking the course with Quinn this fall.
“The November show will be a shortform improv show, performing scenes and games inspired by your suggestions in the style of TV's ‘Whose Line is it Anyway,’” Quinn explained. “December is a longform improv show, during which each group of performers will act out an entirely improvised comedy based on a single suggestion.”
Next, the student-run Bucks Drama Club stages Louisa May Alcott’s classic “Little Women” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 19, Thursday, November 20, and Friday, November 21, in the Zlock Performing Arts Center.
Directed by Bucks Drama Club President Shane Laverty and Vice President Liam Sullivan, the play features Jane Gonzalez as Meg, Briahnna Fein as Jo, Zoe Mongeillo as Beth, and Emma Kohler as Amy, as well as an additional 14 cast members and a long list of crew members. Tickets for “Little Women” are $12 and can be purchased online.
A week of free music, song and dance in December
When the calendar turns to December, the spotlight turns to music and dance. The following free performances get underway at 7 p.m. in the Zlock Performing Arts Center, and tickets can be reserved online.
On Monday, December 1, the Bucks Percussion Ensemble performs on various pitched and non-pitched percussion instruments, covering music of varied historical, cultural, and stylistic backgrounds and genres. The eight students are under the direction of Professor Mark Pultorak, who has been teaching at Bucks for 27 years and has been a professional drummer for four decades.
That’s followed by the Bucks Cover Band Ensemble on Tuesday, December 2. Directed by professional guitarist and longtime professor John Sheridan, 14 students from different majors will perform multi-genre pop music.
On Wednesday, December 3, the BCCC Concert Choir and Madrigal Singers join forces for a holiday concert. Featuring Gabriel Fauré’s “Cantique de Jean Racine” as a centerpiece, the combined ensembles will sing holiday favorites, folk songs, patriotic pieces, and a medley of rock songs by artists who passed away in 2016.
The 35 singers are led by Professor Rochelle Reed, a 20-year faculty member and professional vocalist, and accompanied by Timothy Harrell, the organist and choirmaster at Trinity Episcopal Church in Solebury, Pa. Reed also directs the BCCC Concert Choir’s annual appearances performing The National Anthem at Citizen’s Bank Park before Philadelphia Phillies games.
The music ensembles are part of the highly acclaimed music curriculum in the School of Arts and Communication, which is designated as an All-Steinway School by the legendary piano maker.
Finally, the Fall Dance Showcase on Friday, December 5, promises an evening of diverse movement, expression, and innovation in dance.
“The showcase reflects the dedication, artistry, and growth demonstrated by the students throughout the semester,” noted Tia Kern, the dance program coordinator now in her sixth year at the College. “The program highlights both individual expression and collaborative effort, showcasing the dynamic energy of the department as a whole.”
This year’s program features performances from 20 student dancers, the debut of original works by the department’s composition students, pieces choreographed by faculty, and a special performance by the College’s dance team.
Bucks County Community College is an accredited institutional member of both the National Association of Schools of Music and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, a distinction held by very few community colleges in the nation.
All performances take place in the Zlock Performing Arts Center on the College’s Newtown Campus, located at 275 Swamp Road, Newtown, Pa., where there’s ample free parking.
Get a Taste of Your Future at Culinary Arts Open House October 29
Tour state-of-the-art culinary facilities, watch cooking demonstrations, sample foods prepared by culinary students, and meet chef instructors from 6 – 7:30 p.m. Bucks County Community College, which has been launching careers for more than 60 years, invites prospective students to a Culinary Arts Open House from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 29, in Founders Hall on the Newtown Campus.
Attendees will learn about associate degrees and certificates in the Culinary Arts and Baking and Pastry Arts programs. Each program of study prepares graduates for various culinary positions in restaurants, bakeries, catering, institutional food service, the hospitality industry, and more.
Professor and chef John Angeline, coordinator of the culinary and hospitality programs in the College’s School of Business, Innovation and Legal Studies, says the industry’s job outlook is strong.
“Employment in the culinary industry is projected to grow about 7–to-8 percent through 2033 – faster than the average for all occupations — as the restaurant sector continues to expand and add hundreds of thousands of new jobs nationwide,” said Angeline.
What’s more, Bucks County Community College’s culinary programs help students get immediate experience, Angeline noted.
“Our programs stand out for their immersive, hands-on learning experiences, mentorship from industry professionals, and strong career connections that prepare students for success from day one,” Angeline added.
During the open house, attendees can also tour the state-of-the-art culinary facilities, meet chef-instructors as they hold demonstrations in the kitchen, sample cuisine prepared by Bucks culinary arts students, and talk to current culinary students and alumni. Representatives from the admissions office will also be on hand to provide information about how to apply.
Bucks County Community College is located at 275 Swamp Rd., Newtown, Pa., where there is ample free parking. For a campus map and directions, visit our Newtown Campus web page.
For further information, contact the School of Business, Innovation and Legal Studies at business@bucks.edu or call 215-968-8227.
