Two Longtime Middletown Employees Retire

After years of service, two longtime Middletown employees retired recently.

Parks and Recreation Director Debby Lamanna retired from her position at the township in early March after working there since 1990.

Lamanna started running Middletown’s summer programs before being hired as the township’s first full-time parks and recreation director. In addition to two stints as interim township manager, she helped start the annual July 4th parade and grew the amount of parks in the community, including Spring Valley Farm on the Penndel and Middletown border. She also volunteered with Bucks County Safe Kids and the Middletown Community Foundation.

“What I continue to see is someone who is uncompromising in her desire to do what is best for the community,” Township Manager Stephanie Teloi Kuhls.

“Middletown is simply a better place because of Debby Lamanna,” she added.

“It has been my privilege and honor to work for Middletown Township,” Lamanna said before her retirement.

Lamanna said the volunteers and residents help make Middletown a special place.

Lamanna and her husband John have plans to retire to Florida.

After a 37-year career, fire marshal’s office staffer Janet Buzby moved into retirement last month.

Starting as a volunteer, Buzby moved into a paid administrative position and often worked with victims of fires. She helped them put their lives back together following a disaster.

Middletown Supervisor Bill Oettinger, who works as the fire marshal in Lower Southampton, recalled Janet being a smiling face in the fire marshal’s office and her years of dedicated service.