"May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears,"
Nelson Mandela
April is rolling along and we are a week away from the biggest party and event in Newtown 18940, Hope on The Vine. Lets quickly recap what has happened in the last week. A huge shout at our meeting two days ago to President elect Shikha Prasher and Chair of The Board Mick Petrucci for facilitating both the meeting and committee reports respectively while I am on vacation with my family. Tomorrow Saturday April 18th our Next Gen group will be hosting a Cornhole Tournament at the Bucks County Community College Gym beginning at 10:30am. Registration is $30 per person and $50 per team. Let's support our Next Gen group since they are such a vital part of our club. As you scroll down the newsletter there will be more information about the Cornhole Tournament.
We then focus our attention to our main event of the year on Friday evening April 24th which is the 5th anniversary of Hope on The Vine. Our HOV committee lead by Stephanie Eubanks has put together what will be a most memorable evening for members and guests. The newsletter below has a link for you to buy your tickets. April 24th, 2026, 7-11pm and the venue is Rafters right here in Newtown.
There is no lunch meeting on either Wednesday April 22nd and April 29th. Our next lunch meeting is Wednesday May 6th, 2026. Lunch fee is always $16.00 and please help us by pre-registering. It provides Joe Garvey and his staff at the American Legion an accurate number for preparation of food.
Please feel free to scroll the newsletter for other events occurring in the next few weeks involving our club and events/activities from other clubs in our area. Our club has and will continue to make a difference in our community. I look forward to seeing everyone for our signature event a week from today. Service above self!
Service above self.
Steve Sabel
President, Rotary Club of Newtown, District 7430
Lunch Meeting - 4/8
Join us for our Lunch Meeting on Wednesday, April 8th at the American Legion from 12:15-1:30pm where we'll welcome Paul Bencivengo, President / CEO of Visit Bucks County (VBC). VBC is the official tourism promotion agency for the County of Bucks and funded by the occupancy tax paid by overnight visitors to Bucks County. VBC works with its partners to generate economic impact and hospitality employment growth by driving travel and related business to experience Bucks County and all it has to offer. Lunch will be served by Joe Garvey so bring $16 and get ready for a great meeting!
Please join us for our Lunch Meeting on Wednesday, April 1st at the American Legion from 12:15-1:30pm. We will enjoy Committee Chair Updates to better understand Club happenings. We'll also hear Classification Speeches from new members which is always a favorite amongst members. Bring $16 to enjoy a nice lunch catered by Joe Garvey! Lunch will be served by Joe Garvey so bring $16 and we'll see you there! PLEASE REGISTER!
Please join us for April's Book Club meeting on April 12th from 3:00-5:00pm. Our selection this month is "Go as a River"by Shelley Read. It is a coming-of-age novel set in 1940s Colorado that follows Victoria Nash, a young woman whose life is forever changed after she falls in love with a displaced Native American man and faces the harsh judgment of her small town. Spanning decades, the novel ultimately explores love, loss, forgiveness, and the enduring power of home as Victoria reckons with the past and the flooding of the town that shaped her life. The meeting will held at Shikha's home - please click below to register.
Hello, everyone! Please consider supporting NextGen's Cornhole Tournament Fundraising event on Saturday, April 18th at 10:30am at the Bucks County Community College Gymnasium!!! If you own or work for a company, the team is looking for $100 sponsors to have a table at the event. The table would be manned by one of your employees and ideally give away some marketing materials or have an interactive activity like a raffle or spin the wheel. You can register by clicking on this link https://www.eventbrite.com/e/next-gen-rotary-cornhole-tournament-tickets-1985196766970?aff=oddtdtcreator. If you prefer not to participate, you can still come to support NextGen, cheer on the players and have some food. Pasta, salad, and desserts will be there. It should be a great event and the NextGen team appreciates all the support we can give!!!
It's almost time for our "Hope on the Vine" fundraising event which will be held on Friday, April 24th from 7-11pm at Rafters. This year, we celebrate our 5th Anniversary! We have many special things planned and are changing things up which promises to make for a fabulous and fun evening. You don't want to miss out! Tickets are $125 per person and $230 per couple and can be purchased as follows:
1. PayPal: The payment link is below so please click on that or you can use the QR code as well.
The Newtown Rotary Club was proud to be a sponsor of "A Cappella at the Rock" where the nation's top high school a cappella groups delivered an electrifying night of harmony and community. This event was hosted by the Council Rock North Choir and featured performances by our own Rhythm of the Rock and nationally acclaimed headliners, Six Appeal. This event took place on Saturday, March 21st and was attended by Rotarians Steve Sabel and his wife Iris along with Paul Salvatore and his wife Debbie. It was a great night and we were proud to support.
Rotarians Supporting "Shop with a Cop"!!!
The Newtown Rotary Club was proud to host our our Camaraderie for a Cause event to support our local Shop with a Cop program with a meaningful donation. This wonderful initiative helps local children experience the joy of the holidays by pairing them with police officers for a memorable shopping trip. It's never too early to plan for the holidays! We had a great time visiting with Community Resource Officer Missy Robinson from the Middletown Township Police Department and appreciate all our police officers do to serve our community. Special thanks to Grey Stone Fine Food & Spirits who hosted us - it is a fabulous venue.
Rotarians Hosting an Easter Egg Hunt!!!
The Newtown Rotary Club’s Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 31st was a joyful celebration that brought the community together for a day of fun and connection. Families and children of all ages enjoyed the excitement of the hunt, with plenty of smiles, laughter, and springtime spirit throughout the event (even though it was freezing cold!). From the youngest participants to longtime community members, there was something for everyone to enjoy. Thanks to our fearless Rotarians who braved the cold to volunteer that day and to Mick Petrucci and Paul Salvatore for co-chairing! We are proud to provide this opportunity each year!
Rotarians Attending a Leadership Conference!!!
Members of the Newtown Rotary Club participated in the March 28, 2026 Rotary Leadership Institute Northeast America meeting, engaging in interactive sessions focused on strengthening leadership and club effectiveness. Our team gained practical tools and fresh perspectives to better serve our community and grow as Rotarians. We were especially proud to have the largest club presence at the event! Special thanks Steve Sabel, Tom Minutella, Kyle Davis, Wendy Robson, Shikha Prashar, Katherine Craig and Kira Altomari for representing our wonderful club with such pride! Here is some feedback straight from some of our participants:
"I enjoyed the Rotary Leadership Conference, as it was both engaging and inspiring listening to long-time Rotarians share their knowledge and experiences. I learned leadership strategies and had the chance to connect with others who are passionate about making a positive impact in our world". Kira Altomari
"The RLI seminar provided a good awareness about how Rotary operates from local to global levels. It also deepened my understanding of collaborative decision-making, facilitating productive conversations and aligning initiatives with Rotary’s core values". Tom Minutella
Rotarians Focused on Health & Wellness!!!
Thank you to Cathy and Jerry Agasar of Agasar Family WellCare for an informative and engaging health & wellness presentation at our April 1st lunch meeting. They provided valuable insights into their holistic approach to care, highlighting services such as primary care, preventive screenings, chronic disease management, and personalized wellness planning. We really appreciated getting lifestyle guidance—including nutrition, stress management, and overall well-being—and how to integrate these activities into everyday healthcare. We are grateful for their commitment to helping individuals and families take a proactive, comprehensive approach to their health.
Lower Bucks Action Committee
Meeting Location
The Lower Bucks Action Committee meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month at Maryann's Homestyle Cooking at 1263 Woodbourne Road, Levittown PA 19057. All are welcome to attend so please contact Chris Potter with any questions at insurancepotter@msn.com! Here is the Zoom link if you would like to attend virtually. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81730525600?pwd=0EqCUZirMaaOl7A3SG0BQWJ6Fn14jb.1
Bedtime Stories at the Homeless Shelter
If you are interested in reading bedtime stories to children living in the Levittown Homeless Shelter one night a month, please contact Chris Potter at insurancepotter@msn.com. He will put a schedule together based on availability. Thank you!
Community Involvement Opportunities!
This section provides Rotarians the opportunity to volunteer and / or attend community events outside of Rotary in the spirit of "Service Above Self"!
The Newtown Library Company
Carryout for a Cause – April 22
Please save the date and consider ordering takeout for lunch or dinner from Applebee's. Twenty percent of your purchase will benefit the Newtown Library Company.
Simply order online at Applebees.com or through the mobile app and enter code DOINGOOD at checkout to participate.
PATHS-Professional Alliance to Help Seniors is a group of dedicated & compassionate professionals committed to providing Seniors of Bucks County and their families with information, resources, and services they need to help them address & resolve issues that arise during the aging process.
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