Culture Wars In Central Bucks; Target Announcement Top 2023 Stories

DOYLESTOWN, PA — The Central Bucks School District grabbed national attention throughout the year as the cultural war played out first in the board room and then at the election booth.

Efforts by the Republican majority to protect parental rights, keep politics out of the classroom, to shield students from sexually graphic library material, and to protect female athletes from unfair competition from transathletes made headlines throughout the year and prompted a complaint by the ACLU over discrimination in the district.

The policies also drew heated criticism from Democrats who accused the board majority of banning books and pride flags, marginalizing the district's LGBTQ+ student population, tarnishing the reputation of the district, and costing the district more than a million dollars defending itself against accusations by the ACLU.

After months of negative press, voters went to the polls in the spring and in November to decide where they stood on the culture wars. They gave the Democrats an overwhelming victory at the polls, electing all five Democrats to the school board and changing the political direction of the district.

At its final meeting, the outgoing board majority gave Superintendent Dr. Abe Lucabaugh a lucrative separation agreement, which drew heavy criticism, especially from the incoming board which has vowed to challenge the agreement on legal grounds.

In one of the saddest stories of the year, in June 9-year-old Joey Malcomb Jr. went missing in New Britain Borough. After an intense search by first responders, his lifeless body was recovered from a neighborhood pond, his fishing rod and his bike left on the nearby bank.

The year also brought big news on the retail front.

Two big announcements included the closure of the Regal Cinema at the Barn Plaza in Doylestown Township and the announcement that a Target would be coming to Doylestown Borough.

The year also brought the opening of the new Marshall’s and Home Goods stores and Bucks County’s first PJ Whelihan’s at the Cross Keys Place Shopping Center in Plumstead. The year also brought the opening of a new Wawa gas station and convenience store on Easton Road in Buckingham Township.

Here are some of the stories that made headlines in 2023:

Central Bucks Gives Superintendent 5-Year Contract, $86,000 Raise
In a 6 to 3 vote in June, the Central Bucks School Board approved a new employment agreement with Superintendent Dr. Abe Lucabaugh and a 40 percent increase in his salary. Supporters argued the increase was well deserved while opponents said it was excessive. Five months later, as one of its last actions as a board majority, the Republicans gave Lucabaugh a lucrative separation agreement.

Democrats Win Across The Board In Central Bucks School Board Race
The Democrats swept into office with all five candidates defeating their Republican opponents. The win gave the Democrats majority control of the board for the first time in district history. As their first actions, they vote to suspend previous policies implemented by the Republican board and to legally challenge a separation agreement between the former board majority and departing Superintendent Lucabaugh.

New Britain Boy Who Drowned Monday Had The 'Biggest Heart'

Joey Malcolm Jr. was no doubt doing what little boys love to do - exploring the world of nature at the local pond - when suddenly something went wrong. The solitude of a quiet, close-knit New Britain Borough neighborhood was broken by emergency vehicles as police and rescue crews raced to the scene to search for Joey who had gone missing.

Target To Open Store At The Doylestown Shopping Center

In April, Target announced that it would be opening a 73,000-square-foot store at the Doylestown Shopping Center on North Main Street joining ACME, Staples, Rite Aid, Penn Community Bank, Famous Footwear, Starbucks, Wendy's, Turning Point, and other businesses.

Regal Barn Plaza In Doylestown Closes Its Doors

In February, the 14-screen Regal Barn Plaza movie theater on Easton Road in Doylestown Township closed its doors as part of a bankruptcy filing by its parent company, Cineworld Group. At year's end, Brixmor was detailing plans to redevelop the former cinema and the former Applebee's restaurant, which also closed in 2023.

Doylestown Township Breaks Ground On $12.9M Central Park Project

Township officials gathered on a cold afternoon to break ground on a park enhancement project that will include a new 18,000-square-foot community recreation center, new athletic courts, and a comfort station.

Doylestown Borough Cuts Ribbon On Broad Commons Playground

As Doylestown Borough leaders and parents watched, they smiled broadly as the kids scurried through the play area at Broad Commons Park climbing up ladders, crawling through secret passageways, scaling giant boulders and making their way inside a child-size replica of Fonthill Castle.