Newtown Rotary Spotlight December 26, 2025 (Dec. 13, 2025)

Newtown Rotary Spotlight

December 26, 2025

"Service Above Self" since 1953

"It's the most wonderful time of the year."

An Andy Williams Christmas time classic from 1963.

For The Rotary Club of Newtown, not only is our December a month to remember but a wonderful time for our members to partake in holiday projects and events. Two Saturday's ago a number of Rotarians volunteered their time to unload large boxes of Angel Tree Gifts from the Newtown Post Office and Northampton Library. Roughly 1600 gifts were to be distributed/picked up for those in need from children to adults. Talk about a major impact in our community. Then last Tuesday, our club and a number of Rotarians put together an Ice Cream Party at the Homeless Shelter. A huge shout out to Paul Salvatore for arranging the event, Shari Donahue for dishing out awesome ice cream and of course an appearance from the one and only Santa Claus.

We followed up the next day with our Wednesday lunch meeting including birthdays of the month, committee chair reports and a wonderful classification talk from Ken Naglak.

A few days ago, members and guests came as one to the American Legion to prepare Christmas Dinner Food Trays for those less fortunate in the Homeless Shelter and various hotels/motels along the Route 1 Bensalem area and Route 13 Bristol area. Yesterday on Christmas Day, service above self took center stage as fellow Rotarians cooked a Christmas Dinner at the Homeless Shelter.

These are the events that define the success of our club. Thank you again to Paul Salvatore for putting together these projects and events.

As we enter the 2026 calendar year, I want to clarify to all the members of the club the fees for both our lunches and dinners. Our lunch fee is $16.00 and our dinner fee is $25.00. Joe Garvey puts out a wonderful spread for us from soup to nuts/dessert. Don't hesitate to ask Joe or any of his staff for takeout of food. They would be happy to accommodate you with a care package to go.

Fellow Rotarians, the floor is yours. The club is looking for speakers and opening up to our members to provide suggestions of individuals/organizations to come visit our club. Please feel free to let me know if you have an individual/organization that would make a great fit in speaking to the club. Also are there any Rotarians interested in forming a Speakers Committee? My email address is sec103ru85@gmail.com. Send me your suggestions and ideas.

Our dinner meeting on January 7th, 2026 will be special. Wear your Phillies apparel or any sports apparel of your favorite team as The Rotary Club of Newtown welcomes Phillies TV play by play announcer Tom McCarthy. A major thank you to fellow Rotarian Pete Manetas for arranging this meeting and getting Tom to speak. If you plan to attend and bring a spouse/friend or child, make sure to register prior and pay in full on arrival at the American Legion. The club wants to provide an accurate count of those attending to Joe Garvey and his staff.

What a year it has been for The Rotary Club of Newtown. Lets raise the bar in 2026. To all of you and your love ones, have a fantastic New Year! Service above self.

That's a wrap!!

See you on Wednesday AM at the American Legion. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Steve Sabel

President, Rotary Club of Newtown, District 7430

Monthly Dinner Meeting - 1/7

Please join us for a very special Dinner Meeting as we welcome Tom McCarthy! Tom is the Philadelphia Phillies’ lead television play-by-play announcer, known for his energetic, clear, and personable broadcasting style. With decades of experience and a deep knowledge of the game, he’s become a trusted and beloved voice for Phillies fans. What a wonderful opportunity to hear from Tom and have a chance to ask him any question on your mind! Guests are welcome and seating is limited so please RSVP to the invitation request when you get it! Important: WEAR YOUR FAVORITE PHILLIES GEAR to show our love of the team to Tom! Thanks!

RSVP Here!

Lunch Meeting - 1/14

Please join us at our Lunch meeting on Wednesday, January 14th at the American Legion. This meeting will feature our annual "Students of the Month" recognition program as fellow Rotarian, Rob Brown, recognizes students from Council Rock School District for their outstanding achievements! Lunch will be provided by Joe Garvey so bring $16 and let's enjoy this very special event!

RSVP Here!

Book Club - 1/18

Please join the Newtown Rotary Book Club as we read "My Friends" by the #1 New York Times bestselling author, Fredrdik Backman who also write "A Man Called Ove". This is an unforgettably funny, deeply moving tale of four teenagers whose friendship creates a bond so powerful that it changes a complete stranger’s life twenty-five years later. Our Book Club is open to anyone who loves to read and would enjoy the opportunity for some fellowship with a great group of people! If you have any questions, please contact Laurel Collins at LAUREL8690@YAHOO.COM

RSVP Here!

SAVE THE DATE!

Hope On The Vine - 4/24/26

Rotarians Honoring Veterans!!!

Wreaths Across America - 12/13

The Newtown Rotary Club was honored to participate in the Wreaths Across America event on Saturday, December 13th, joining with our community to remember and honor our nation’s veterans. Taking part in this meaningful tradition allowed us to pay tribute to the brave men and women who served and sacrificed for our freedom. We were proud to stand alongside volunteers and families as we helped ensure that our heroes are never forgotten. Special thanks to Donna Miller for organizing the event on our behalf. #serviceaboveself

Rotarians Sorting & Delivering Gifts!!!

Angel Tree Gifts - 12/13-15

The Newtown Rotary Club met to gather and sort hundreds and hundreds of Angel Tree Gifts for children of all ages that were donated over the past month at the Newtown Post Office and Northampton Library. These gifts will be delivered to over 90 Council Rock families in our community. We are proud to play a key role in this event to help make the holiday season a little brighter for the families in need. Thank you to Paul Salvatore (this is his baby!) all of the Rotarians who volunteered!

Rotarians Serving Ice Cream!

Holiday Party at Levittown Homeless Shelter - 12/16

On Wednesday, December 16th, the Newtown Rotary Club brought smiles to the Levittown Homeless Shelter with a joyful Ice Cream Party for residents and families. The event was made extra special thanks to the generous ice cream donation from Shari and Tom Donahue, owners of Zebra Striped Whale and the highlight was a visit from Santa himself! Rotarians served up sweet treats, sang Christmas carols and spent time connecting with the community and spreading a little holiday cheer. The evening reflected Rotary’s commitment to service, kindness, and making a positive local impact. Thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers who took part in this event, we appreciate you! And special thanks to Tom and Shari - you're the best!

Rotarians Serving Christmas Dinner!!!

Homeless Shelter Meal - 12/24-25

The Newtown Rotary Club stepped up this holiday season to prepare and deliver meals for local families in need. Our wonderful volunteers dedicated their time to cooking, packaging, and organizing meals to support the community during Christmas. Through this coordinated effort, the club prepared enough meals to serve 250 people, twice over the holiday period. The initiative provided not only nourishment but also reassurance to families during a meaningful time of year. It was a strong example of the Rotary Club’s commitment to service and caring for neighbors in need. Special thanks to Paul Salvatore and Joe Garvey for their leadership and support in making this effort possible.

Community Volunteer Opportunities!

This section provides Rotarians the opportunity to volunteer for community events outside of Rotary in the spirit of "Service Above Self"!

Jan 07, 2026 6:00 PM

Tom McCarthy

Phillies Play-by-Play Announcer

Please join us for a very special Dinner Meeting on Wednesday, January 7th at 6:00pm at the American Legion as we welcome Tom McCarthy! Tom is the Philadelphia Phillies’ lead television play-by-play announcer, known for his energetic, clear, and personable broadcasting style. With decades of experience and a deep knowledge of the game, he’s become a trusted and beloved voice for Phillies fans. What a wonderful opportunity to hear from Tom and have a chance to ask him any question on your mind! Guests are welcome and seating is limited so please RSVP to the invitation request when you get it! Thanks!

Jan 14, 2026 12:15 PM

Rob Brown

Council Rock Students of the Month Recognition

Jan 21, 2026 12:15 PM

Cheryl Castro, President & CEO

Pearl S Buck International Mission & Impact

Feb 04, 2026 6:00 PM

Milt Moser

An Evening with Milt Moser and His World Travels

View entire list

Committee Updates!

Lower Bucks Action Committee

The Lower Bucks Action Committee meets the first and third Tuesday of the month at the Garden of Eatin Restaurant in Levittown, PA at 7:30AM. These meetings are also carried over zoom, and here's the link : https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83025874518?pwd=cm9lblJ1RllSVENyUng0am92eW5Sdz09

ALL members of the club are welcome - particularly if you can't make a scheduled lunch or dinner meeting and a breakfast meeting or meeting on Zoom works better. Any member who has interest in service projects in Bristol, Bensalem, Middletown, or Falls Townships would also want to check us out. For more information, please contact Kim Praria kdboice@hotmail.com