Bucks County Herald – June 28, 2007

NOVA Ken Biehn

Dear Friends,

Good morning. Bucks County Judge Kenneth G. Biehn’s last day on the Bucks County bench was last Friday. He gave 42 years of remarkable service to Bucks…first as an Assistant County District Attorney; then succeeding Ward Clark as District Attorney; joining him as a common pleas judge; and finally becoming the President Judge.

Biehn is one of Quakertown’s favorite sons. Born and raised in Quakertown, he was a star student and basketball player. He was a member of the team that won the Bux-Mont basketball championship in 1957 that put him in the Pennridge-Quakertown Athletic Hall of Fame. After graduating from QHS, it was off to Duke University and its law school. Most important, that’s where the judge met his wife Julie.

As you read this letter, Ken and Julie are celebrating their arrival at their retirement home in the Adirondack Mountains of New York.

The Biehns and Merediths have been family friends for decades. Two days before his retirement, I had the fun of introducing him at a reception for NOVA (Network of Victim Assistance of Bucks County) at the Washington House in Sellersville. The judge and his wife have been pillars in the NOVA organization since its inception in 1974.

He spoke about NOVA’s mission which supports, counsels, and empowers victims of sexual assault and other serious crimes and works to eliminate violence in Bucks County through advocacy, community education and prevention programs.

Barbara Clark is NOVA’s Executive Director. She told us that the agency’s professional staff and trained volunteers have served more than 75,000 area residents. NOVA’s conducted more than 15,000 violence prevention and awareness programs in area schools and community centers. NOVA has three offices in Perkasie, Jamison and Levittown.

Judge Biehn said that NOVA was originally formed to help rape victims. It became one of the first organizations in America to address victims’ rights. His wife, Julie, led NOVA’s educational outreach and has spoken to more than 100,000 students about violence. “NOVA’s become an advocacy group to provide services to crime victims,” Judge Biehn began.

He provided insight about his thought process for sentencing guilty felons. “Before I sentenced anyone, I thought about how to rehabilitate the prisoner, the crime’s affect on the community, and the impact upon the victim,” Judge Biehn continued. He noted that a victim’s impact statement always influenced his judgments and his sentences.

NOVA is embarking upon a capital campaign to raise $1.9 million. “With decreases in government grants and the uncertainty of such funding in the future, we must raise critical funds now,” the NOVA appeal states. Former Governor Mark Schweiker and Kim Gronendahl are the campaign Co-Chairs.

Kim’s a very busy lady and devotes much time to Planned Parenthood of Bucks County. I asked her why she was so involved with NOVA? “I’m impressed with NOVA’s crime prevention program, counseling and advocacy services that they provide to victims in our community so that the victims can feel empowered and safe again,” Kim replied.

Kim had high praises for Mark Schweiker. “Mark’s been fabulous,” Kim added. “He’s making a real effort and is devoted to the campaign.

I asked her about the goal.

“NOVA’s seeking capital, programs and endowment resources required to continue our role as the voice of victims of crime in Bucks County,” Kim answered.

The NOVA campaign committee has formidable members. The brochure lists: Jan Boe, State Representative Paul Clymer, Christiana Dowling, Jodie Greiser, Elliot Kolodny, Connie Lindenmuth, Richard Manfredi, Sue Maslow, Charles Moyer, Neil Schwan, Maureen Serpico, Molly Walter, Commissioner Jim Cawley and Charley Martin, Ben Derby, Dorothy Gaboda, Karen Kern, Karen Lasorda, Hansen Long, Shari Miller, Christiana Paugh-Greenwood, Kathleen Scobey, and State Senator Robert Tomlinson.

You can help NOVA’s cause by becoming a volunteer or sending a check to 2370 York Road, Suite B-1, Jamison 18929. Or call 215-343-6543 or email them at novainfo@novabucks.org. Their web site is www.novabucks.org

Judge Biehn made it clear as he spoke to NOVA supporters last week. “It’s most important for victims to feel that they are not powerless,” he concluded. Bucks County owes a great deal to this judge. His presence has made Bucks County better, safer, and more respected. We’ll miss him.

Sincerely,

Charles Meredith