Last year I came into World Headquarters here in Yardley, PA on a Saturday to catch up on some much needed paperwork.  As I sat in  my office clearing through some bills for editorial and general office expenses, I started to hear Christmas tunes from outside. Much to my surprise, the Yardley Borough Christmas Parade was taking place right outside on Main Street in front of our building.

Yardley is a quintessential small town founded in 1682 and has grown in popularity due to the bedroom community of Lower Makefield. The borough is only one mile square and borders the Delaware River on the east. Only 2 miles away to the north is the historic Washington Crossing where General George Washington crossed the Delaware River on Christmas Eve on a surprise attack by the Hessian Mercenaries consigned by the British Army to fight in the Revolutionary War.

The parade only lasts a short time, but the owners of the businesses which line Main Street come out and serve cookies and candy canes to those in the parade and those watching. This selfish act of holiday cheer sums up this small town which is perfectly suited to our needs as it is only a short train ride into Manhattan from Trenton Station (just across the Delaware River).

This year (this upcoming Saturday), I will be one of the businesses taking part in this little small bit of Americana. And, when you travel around the country and around the world, it is nice to see that Yardley remains true to its small town roots.

-Fran Gallagher, publisher and CEO