Doylestown resident sounds alarm to council about kratom-infused drinks – Bucks Round-Up – November 19, 2025
Doylestown resident sounds alarm to council about kratom-infused drinks
A Doylestown man is urging borough officials to take a harder look at an increasingly common substance he says is endangering people in addiction recovery. Devin Refice, a longtime recovery advocate and former director of Avenues Recovery Center in Jamison, told council members that slushie-style drinks infused with 7-hydroxymitragynine — or 7-OH, a potent compound derived from the kratom plant — are quietly driving relapses and new addictions. Though legal, 7-OH products are sold in convenience stores and parks across the borough. Refice said he is watching residents develop daily habits that can cost hundreds of dollars a week. Borough Council President Jack O’Brien said Monday’s presentation was the first he’d heard of the issue and asked the solicitor to explore what authority, if any, local government has to regulate sales. Several states have banned kratom entirely, and Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering tighter statewide rules including ID checks and product labeling.
Township takes up budget in hopes of holding the line on taxes
Haycock Township residents are bracing for what next year’s budget will bring after months of controversy and a $75,000 shortfall tied to an alleged long-running insurance scheme. At a town hall on Monday, residents finally saw line-by-line drafts of the 2026 budgets, which maintain the current six-mill rate and hold average property assessments steady. The calm tone of the meeting marked a shift from the frustration that dominated recent sessions. Supervisor Linda Levinski walked residents through the $805,900 general fund budget and pledged transparency as the township continues unraveling outdated and often opaque administrative practices. Former employee Chris Bauer, whose actions prompted the financial fallout, left behind disorganized records now being sorted by volunteers. The township plans to hire two part-time workers to stabilize operations. Meanwhile, the future of the Haycock Township Community Center remains uncertain after the county shut down the fire company’s portion of the building over a failing septic system and overlooked code requirements. Officials say repairs and compliance upgrades will take time.
Judge nixes Hulmeville residential development plan
Bucks County Court of Common Pleas Judge Jordan Yeager has nullified Hulmeville Borough Council’s move to allow a residential developer to build units on a 45-acre tract along Trenton Road under “conditional use.” The homes and apartments would go on an expanse that includes the “Hulmeville Hill,” a favorite sledding destination for locals. Yeager wrote that the council improperly gave Superior Holdings LLC a conditional use designation with 37 specifications which include preserving the old Harriet Black farmhouse. The judge reasoned that the developer did not meet important zoning stipulations. He said Superior did not provide sufficiently detailed building plans, create rear or side alleys for the majority of proposed homes, plan enough road access points, or adequately preserve green space. Council members approved the plan for 39 single-family homes, 49 townhouses, and 33 apartments two years ago. Whether the borough will pursue a redesign or let the proposal die is unknown at this writing.
Officers will let their beards grow to raise food donations
Perkasie Police are once again ditching their razors for “No Razor November,” raising funds and collecting pantry staples for Pennridge Fish, which assists struggling families across the Pennridge School District. Officers in the department commit to letting their beards grow as a measure of support to the community for additional donations for those less fortunate at this time of year, particularly with Thanksgiving just a week away. Donations — from canned meats to pancake mix — can be dropped off at the department’s South 9th Street headquarters as Thanksgiving approaches.
Joe LeCompte hosts LeCompte in the Morning on WBCB 1490. Bradley Vasoli is the senior editor of The Independence.
