by JEN GOLDING in Features
These troubling economic
times have affected almost
every facet of our society, but
many people are unsure what
has caused this mess and who
is to blame. Recently,
Washington has been swept
up in a heated debate over
how to solve this problem
and bring our nation's fundamental
economic troubles out
of the gutter.
by MIKE FRAIOLI in Features
Statistics show over 75 percent of
college students have a credit card,
making it easy for them to pay for
beer, food, books, or a fun night out.
Most use credit cards figuring they
will just pay the money back later.
Unfortunately, they don't realize
that they are spending more than they
have, which puts them in a bad position
later.
by DEBBIE HENRY in Features
When 45-year-old Brian
Kelly was found dead of
probable hypothermia in his
tarp shack in Bristol
Township early last month,
many were no doubt
shocked by the news.
However, in reality, the
only thing noteworthy about
the story was his actual
death, not the fact that he
was homeless and living in a
tent in the woods with several
others just like him.
by KRISTEN WALSH in Features
In the past year, malls have
been looking slightly less
packed. Aside from being
used as a Friday night babysitting
replacement for young
teens, malls across America
have lost some major appeal
due to tighter budgets.
The Oxford Valley Mall in
Langhorne is no exception
and appears to also be a victim
of the economic crisis.
by JOANNA SCHLICHER in Features
The state of the economy is
no secret-it's discouraging at
best. According to the Bureau
of Labor Statistics, the unemployment
rate is 8 percent
and rising. People are losing
their homes or struggling to
put food on the table, and
experts predict this will continue
through 2009.
by Christopher Johnson in Features
When Bucks threw a lifeline
this winter to workers tossed
from their jobs into the
stormy seas of the economic
downturn, Wendy Nieman
and Kathleen Hart were
among the hundreds who
grabbed on and held tight.
Nieman, Hart, and the
many thousands of suddenly
unemployed in our area are
facing the fact that they must
now look for work while trying
to make ends meet.
by CARLWAXMONSKY in Features
Mike Dyszel's determination,
humor, and faith in himself
landed him his current
job at Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
Dyszel, 23, of Bristol
Borough, has always been
one to strive higher and
achieve. He earned a
Bachelor's degree in Business
Management at Rider
University, and later a
Masters degree in Business
Management at Bloomsburg.
by ERIC NOCITO in Features
These days we hear all about
students struggling with their
college debt and loans.
Especially in this recession, it's
not often we hear about a student
who is financially fully
supported by his or her parents
in terms of tuition.
"My parents understand that
going to school full-time is hard
enough as it is without having
to worry about paying my
tuition," said Danny Daloisio, a
20-year-old biology major from
Yardley.
by HOPE KUMOR in Features
She has had to stand a few
times. She says when it's too
full, it's a hassle. And it's usually
like that in the morning.
She comes from Langhorne
and that's pretty far. But taking
the Septa 130 bus is beneficial
to her because she saves
money.
"Buying bus tokens saves
me money.
by SARA MCBRIDE in Features
In these bad economic
times, everyone is focused on
the "bigwigs" getting stimulus
packages and bonuses
while one of the largest struggling
populations is being
forgotten about: the twenty
somethings struggling to
make ends meet and still get
an education.
