Smashing attendance records and welcoming autumn in style with food and drink, The 12th Annual Upper Bucks Foodie…A Culinary Adventure, brings the community together to celebrate the harvest as it delights the senses and intrigues taste buds.
The 12th Annual Upper Bucks Foodie…A Culinary Adventure will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 12 at Sands Chrysler Jeep Dodge dealership located at 501 North West End Blvd., Quakertown.

“Since its beginning in 2005, Foodie continues to blossom. We’re delighted the community has embraced this event, our signature night out, filled with food and drink samplings (and cigars!!),” said Tara King, executive director for UBCC.
Jarod M. Sands, general manager of Sands Chrysler Jeep Dodge said the event keeps growing and praised the Chamber’s Foodie committee and its stewardship, helmed by Susan Dale (co-owner, of Spinnerstown Hotel).  Sands have hosted the event since it began.

“It’s a great local event with local people who own, run and manage local businesses. It’s really a networking opportunity for over 300 people with a fantastic benefit of local helping local,” Sands said.

Dale said while Foodie began with the Chamber business members a dozen years ago, its appeal has grown to embrace the entire community.

“Foodie events are here to stay. Ours appeals because there is something for everyone, and there is always something new,” Dale said.

Sands said Foodie represented grassroots, face-to-face commerce, which is refreshing in the face of “big business and internet (based) businesses. That’s what the Chamber does really well. It makes a place for the local business community,” Sands said.
He said every year is discovery, with a generous helping of surprise.

“So many times at this event I hear someone say, ‘Did you try this? Where are those people from?’ I think they (the exhibitors) benefit from the exposure. It’s so great to rave about this little gem, who I didn’t know was even there,” Sands explained.

Amy Recinos, pastry chef and owner of Amy’s Creative Cakes in Milford Township, said she has been a long-time supporter of Foodie, as a Chamber member and table exhibitor.

“It is always fresh. You see new businesses there, and it keeps growing,” Recinos explained.
Recinos has been known to test new flavors at the Foodie, like her butternut squash cupcakes. “They flew off the table,” Recinos said.

Dale agreed Foodie is a platform to roll out and test new, or emerging dishes.
 
Jim Jenks, owner and winemaker at Unami Ridge Winery in Milford Township, said the standout benefit for attendees is fellowship. “You get to see people you don’t normally see,” Jenks said.
And Jan Hench, owner of McCoole’s At The Historic Red Lion Inn and McCoole’s Arts & Events Place, has been bringing her creative fare to the table since the beginning.

Sands said Foodie is a way give back to the next generation of young business leaders and entrepreneurs.
“Foodie is a trusted way to bring together the business community for an evening of great local food and drinks, while raising funds for PFEW, our future business leaders…we at McCoole’s look forward to both supporting and participating in this lively event,” Hench said.

Proceeds from Foodie benefit Chamber educational programs including Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Foundation week, a summer program held in Erie Pennsylvania, offering rising high school juniors and seniors the entrepreneurial chance for hands on learning about what it takes to run a business.
 “It’s a great, local event,” Sands said.

For more information on the 12th Annual Upper Bucks Foodie or to buy tickets log onto www.ubcc.org/foodie.

There’s no second chance at a first impression.
 
From carpet cleaning to floor waxing and treatments, post construction and remodeling cleaning, meticulous detailed maintenance to keep showrooms, offices and homes looking their sparkling best is Don Rider’s mission.
 
Rider, who owns A.C.R Clean, LLC in Ottsville, prides himself on developing long term relationships with customers, because he knows the value of first impressions. They’re priceless when they hit the mark, and can spell disaster when they miss.
 
But more than doing a superb job every time, Rider has built his young independent business by having a mission driven purpose: he keeps his word, is flexible, and works with customers to meet their needs, from regular monthly visits to last minute calls or minor disasters.
 
Greg Boyd, maintenance director at Arbour Square of Harleysville, is a happy, loyal customer. “(I) have been using A.C.R. since 2013…(he) is always prompt and courteous,” Boyd said. He appreciates Rider’s “job satisfaction guarantee” a simple pledge to do the job right, or keep coming back until it’s done right, at Rider’s own expense.
 
“I use A.C.R. to strip and wax my café floors, kitchen deep cleaning, general cleaning, smoke restoration, carpet treatment, cleaning and stamped concrete floor scrubbing and cleaning,” Boyd said.
 
Rider said his business is based on “personal touch. I am at every job, and I like to do things right the first time,” Rider said.
 
Attention to the little things, like making sure wall and carpet corners and edges are spotless and collaborating with customers when he spots problems to solve them, demonstrates his dedication to craft and client.
 
Terry Gillis, director of maintenance at A&T Subaru in Sellersville uses Rider’s company for carpet care at A&T’s Subaru and Chevrolet dealerships. “We also get a non-skid treatment on the floors three times a year. Don is professional, keeps his word and does excellent work,” Gillis said.
 
With years in the professional cleaning services industry, Rider struck out to found his own business in 2013. He wanted to create a sustainable business based on providing services supported by a reputation of dependable, exceptional results.
 
“I started my business buying used tools. Now I maintain a specialty cleaning niche and have more than $50,000 of tools in one truck,” Rider said.
 
Rider controls successful outcomes by knowing the job, understanding client expectations and investing in top-grade equipment.
 
His recipe for success includes listening to customers to best understand their cleaning needs and concerns and by evaluating the physical conditions and characteristics of every job personally.
 
Ultimately, Rider would like to expand by adding trucks and operators who value the same things he does: Hard work, meticulous attention to detail and building relationships. “I’d like to invest in running a second truck,” Rider explained. For that, he needs to find someone willing to work as hard as he does.

For more information on A.C.R. Clean  call 267.221.3356 or visit their Facebook page at ​https://www.facebook.com/ACR-CLEAN-LLC-490884924341514/.