Second group emerges to save Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope

By Charlie Sahner

A new group has formed to save the foreclosed Bucks County Playhouse and is making a serious move to purchase the famous structure, according to multiple sources close to the situation.

The move comes at a time when the Doylestown-based Bucks County Playhouse Conservancy, founded by Peggy McRae and backed by the Heritage Conservancy of Doylestown, local lawyer Rick Appel, and Broadway producer Jed Bernstein, have announced their own rescue plan for the Playhouse, seized by lender Stoneridge Bank on Dec. 22.

Said Bernstein last week, “The entire theatre community was aghast at the idea of permanently losing this legendary venue and picturesque piece of theatre history.”

But substantial funding from Bernstein and his Broadway associates has not yet materialized, according to sources familiar with the organization, and the group appears adrift, only recently receiving non-profit certification and attempting to shed its somewhat enigmatic aura.

Enter the new Playhouse rescue group -- one which is "serious and not about to be beaten," according to an individual involved who asked not to be identified due to the sensitivity of the situation.  This latest, New Hope-based group is also non-profit, and intends to keep the Playhouse a performing arts center as part of a complete waterfront revival effort.

Importantly, say sources, the new group is well-funded and moving forward decisively.

Comment from the Bucks County Playhouse Conservancy was not immediately available.


(originally published December 30)

Snowstorm Whacks Bucks County But New Hope Parties On

By Charlie Sahner

Positions available on New Hope Borough advisory boards and commissions

By Charlie Sahner

New Hope Borough Council will be filling several vacant committee and advisory board positions at its January and February meetings, so now is a good time to fill out an application if you're interested in being part of borough governance.

The open positions are:

Park and Recreation Board
1 vacancy with a term of office expiring on December 31, 2013.

Historic Architectural Review Board
2 vacancies with terms expiring December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2013. One vacancy is restricted by state law to appointment of a building inspector.

Shade Tree Commission
1 vacancy with a term of office expiring on December 31, 2014.

Revitalization Committee
1 vacancy restricted to a member of the New Hope Shade Tree Commission with a term expiring on December 31, 2012.

Recycling Committee
1 vacancy with a term of office expiring on December 31, 2011.

Applications for these volunteer position are available at the borough's web site or at 123 New Street.

Baby, it's cold outside!

New Hope section of Delaware Canal beginning to freeze

New Hope Shopping: What to get for the witch who has everything

Bank takes Bucks County Playhouse back from Ralph Miller

By Charlie Sahner

The Stoneridge Bank of Skippack seized back control of the Bucks County Playhouse after no bids for the property materialized at Friday morning's sheriff sale.

Ralph Miller, controversial owner of the New Hope landmark, said yesterday that he was relinquishing ownership of the property.

Miller has been running the theater since 1977, and owed the Stonebridge Bank more than $2 million.  Spokespersons for the bank did not return phone calls requesting information.

The Playhouse had been slated for sheriff sale Nov. 12, but received a reprieve until Dec. 10.  The "sale adjournment" requesting a delay was submitted by an attorney with Philadelphia law firm Fox Rothchild on behalf of Stonebridge Bank of Skippack, filings show.

As previously reported, a group of concerned citizens and civic leaders has been formed and held meetings with additional parties in an attempt to preserve the historic structure as a performance outlet.

A call to the Playhouse ticket office revealed that seats were still being sold for A Christmas Carol, which is running through Dec. 23, but website links to purchase 2011 tickets appeared not to be working.

Opposition mounting to proposed shopping center in Solebury

By Charlie Sahner

As area real estate developers seek approval to build another shopping center in Solebury adjacent to the existing Logan Square commercial complex, the township's Zoning Hearing Board continues to deliberate in secret, and opposition from nearby residents and environmental groups grows.

The proposed commercial development would include a gas station run by nearby Giant Food, a bank, a pharmacy, a chain-style family restaurant, a Dunkin' Donuts and other businesses where the local nightclub Cartwheel once operated before being severely damaged by a 2005 fire.

That space was bought by Penns' Grant Corp., whom will work with with New Cartwheel Partners, which in turn shares interlocking executives with Logan Square owners Solebury Partners Ltd. The consortium is talking to another new commercial center based around the defunct banquet hall Fountainhead, also once ravaged by fire, which already has needed approvals for a new hotel and banquet location.

While the location is already zoned for commercial use, developers require approval of 15 or more zoning variances, including one to construct nearly 400 new parking spaces.

Speaking of the proposed shopping center, concerned Solebury citizen Chris Caputo puts it plainly: "We just don't need it. Residents don't want another traffic light on Route 202, they don't want more chain stores, they're concerned about the look and aesthetics of the area, and about the potential effect on water depletion and potential water pollution.

"This project is the most critical development in Solebury Township and is irreversible, so the decision requires significant thought and public input before it should move forward," Caputo added.

Caputo has collected more than 350 signatures in opposition to the proposed development and plans to present them at the Dec. 21 Solebury Board of Supervisors meeting where the the determination by the Zoning Hearing Board will be heard.

Solebury resident and petition signatory Soren Giese said, "The Cartwheel project will require a record 16 variances to existing ordinances to be completed as proposed. It seems that the developers are turning the process on its head by trying to retrofit current zoning ordinances to comply with their proposal rather than coming forward with a plan that is in alignment with the requirements set forth by the township."

All that we ask is for the township to apply the ordinances as written. We feel that this is the best way to protect our community while at the same time allowing development of those areas designated for this purpose," added Giese.

New Hope resident Terry Marks said of the project, "I'm okay with it as long as there is safe ingress and egress, with a new traffic light at the entrance...but do we need another drug store or another Dunkin' Donuts one half mile from the one on Main and Bridge streets? A gas station that doesn't gouge us with ridiculous prices would be welcome, though."

Joni Lefkowitz-Glassman, owner of the Dunkin' Donuts location in New Hope, commented on the new location she intends to add at the former Cartwheel site:  "A Dunkin Donuts WITH a drive thru, may I add!  Always a good thing when in a rush or in bad weather!"

Area environmentalists are also weighing in on the proposed development. Said Les Isbrandt, former President of the New Hope Historical Society and current head of the Aquetong Watershed Association, "The Aquetong is a beautiful, high quality watershed. When something like this comes along, let's do it right.

"We want to protect the watershed for all of us," he continued.

"It's not just a small step, it has major consequences -- for land use, water, and traffic -- what do Solebury and New Hope gain by this going in? Change is inevitable, but is this change for the better?" asked Isbrandt.

He and other environmentalists are especially concerned about construction of a gas station just a few hundred feet uphill from the Aquetong Creek.

Said one Solebury environmentalist, "When it comes to petroleum products, there's no margin for error."

And impermeable surfaces like parking lots and restaurants also may cause runoff into the already threatened watershed, from which existing municipal wells draw significant amounts of water for sale back to homeowners.

Isbrandt is also concerned by the Zoning Hearing Board's decision to "close the record" at its last meeting and the public's right to input on the board's decision which it says it will render by Dec. 10, a worry echoed by Caputo.

"We were told at the meeting that there will be no further objections and questions," Caputo said.

Another Solebury resident interviewed said that his family hadn't received notice from the township of the zoning meeting in question, as has traditionally been the case.

Peter Augenblick, Chairman of Solebury's Board of Supervisors disagreed that inadequate notice of the zoning meeting pertaining to the proposed shopping center had occurred, saying "We sent notices to contiguous property owners, and all township meetings are listed on our website."

Augenblick went on to explain,"Part of the zoning procedure is considered legal testimony, and they have to close debate off at some point. They are a legally independent organization -- they have their own solicitor. We have no idea where they are in the decision making process. They might be requesting time on Dec. 21 or maybe later, we don't know.

"We try not to interfere.  Zoning is a long way from getting [their decision] to us yet.  But we're the final step. Solebury is not closing the record; we continue to welcome questions and opinions from residents on this issue," he added.

"The Supervisors have already looked at the issue of commercial zoning, but zoning is like cheese; eventually it all goes bad," pointed out Augenblick.

When asked if the proposal's progress was a sign of a political shift by the current board shift away from conservation and towards commercial growth, Augenblick said, "Absolutely not. This is the biggest thing right now in Solebury and everybody knows it."

Still, residents and environmental groups are worried that approval of the proposed Cartwheel complex will form the precedent for unbridled commercial development of Route 202 all the way to nearby Lahaska.

"This development will be the first step to transform our community into another Flemington, Warrington or any other place where strip malls and chain restaurants have taken over," said Giese.

Answers Augenblick, "The Board of Supervisors does not want Route 202 to look like Flemington."

Meanwhile, community leader Caputo continues to urge "residents concerned about the project to attend and speak up at the Solebury township supervisors' meeting at 7 p.m. on Dec. 21 at the Solebury Township building."

Quarry Quagmire, Part 2: New Hope Crushed Stone causing 'major problems' for homeowners and environment, says Solebury

New Hope Crushed Stone and Lime

By Charlie Sahner

The trout have died in Primrose Creek.

The creek originates near Solebury Village, and meets the Delaware River at Phillips Mill, a hamlet steeped in local art history and the site of a Colonial-era mill powered by the creek. The waterway is important not only due to its historical and artistic value but also because it sustains local flora and fauna. Virtually every home in the area depends on the creek as a water source, as do wetlands, fish, birds, and plants.

Two years ago, New Hope Crushed Stone and Lime submitted a request to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) to excavate an additional 50 feet deeper at their quarry at the corner of River and Phillips Mill roads.

At that time, the growing number of lost wells, sink holes, and dry sections of Primrose Creek galvanized Solebury residents, officials, and environmental groups to speak up in opposition to the request, which is still pending before the PADEP.

"The mining activities of New Hope Crushed Stone have resulted in decreased ground water elevations and altered flow patterns throughout much of the Primrose Creek watershed and beyond its boundaries," said the township. "Consequently, many residents have had to lower their well pumps, deepen their wells, or replace their wells."

Solebury Township went on to say that "removing the Primrose Creek stream channel on the quarry property and pumping ground water down to greater than 100 feet below sea level in the quarry pit has caused many major problems for home and property owners in the area" including damage to "potable supply wells" along with "land erosion, impacted fish community and aquatic ecology, damaged wetlands and water pollution."

Other area environmental groups like the Primrose Creek Watershed Association, Bucks County Trout Unlimited, the Delaware Riverkeeper, the Delaware River Basin Commission, and the Aquetong, Paunacussing and Pidcock Creek watershed associations, are also concerned about damage from the quarry.

Kevin Morrissey, head of the Primrose Creek Watershed Association, explained that there has been a significant amount of analysis performed by Solebury Township consultants and the PADEP Aquatic Biology Unit in Norristown in recent years. "These studies have concluded that the quarry is taking more than their fair share of water resources," he said. "The experts have determined that this is an unsustainable condition that will continue to get worse.

"Some individuals have expressed the opinion that the mining interests in this state will overshadow other higher priority concerns such as the right of residents to have a safe and healthy environment for themselves and their children," added Morrissey.

"Our Association believes that the strong support shown by Chuck McIlhinney (R-Bucks and Mongomery) and Bernie O’Neill (R-Bucks) for our efforts will communicate to the DEP Secretary and others in Harrisburg that the security of Pennsylvania residents takes precedence over an aging quarry," he continued.

Operations began in the quarry in the 1940s, and groundwater withdrawals began to increase in order to keep the quarry pit dry. In 1998, say environmentalists and Solebury Township, the Primrose Creek stream channel was removed on the quarry property with PADEP knowledge.

Ironically, in May 2009 a PADEP Aquatic Biology Unit study concurred with Solebury Township’s own study, detailing quarry effects like dewatering, sedimentation and erosion. One year later, the PADEP placed the Primrose Creek on the endangered list.

Environmental groups say they're concerned by the quarry's estimated average water consumption of three million gallons per day, which they believe is drawn from the Primrose and Aquetong watersheds and is ultimately expelled along with sediment into the Delaware River.

Said a Solebury resident living about one mile from the quarry, "Our well hasn't been affected yet, but our windows rattle with each blast on Wednesday mornings, our lawn is beginning to show waves and swells, and tree roots are suddenly being exposed."

Mining is big business in Pennsylvania, and while the Norristown office of the PADEP has confirmed that environmental damage has been caused by New Hope Crushed Stone, the department's Pottsville "Mining" office seems to enjoy a somewhat cozy relationship with the industry. In fact, mining has been designated by the PADEP as an "Industry of the Future", and "is important to Pennsylvania's economy and the needs and interests of PA's mining industry intersect significantly with the visions and roadmaps the mining industry developed with the Department of Energy’s Office of Industrial Technologies."

According to the U.S. Geological survey, Pennsylvania produces about $2 billion worth of coal annually, and nonfuel mineral production, including crushed stone and lime, accounts for more than $1 billion in annual production in the state.

So, after two years of weighing the quarry's request to dig even deeper, where does the PADEP now stand on the documented damage to the Primrose Creek and nearby wells, the formation of sink holes, and killing of local wildlife, and what are the department's planned next steps and overall position on the quarry and its continuing activities?

Says a PADEP spokesperson in a statement, "In touching base with our Watershed Management and Mining staff, I confirmed that we are still reviewing all the information and are discussing the matter with Solebury School officials and the quarry operator.  Our mining folks advise that there have been no recent water losses noted."

The Solebury School?

Officials at the Solebury School acknowledged discussions with PADEP but declined any further comment. The prestigious private school is situated in close proximity to the quarry and neighbors say sink holes have appeared on its grounds.

And while Solebury Township may have once been in the vanguard of the fight for protection of its residents and land, including undertaking studies, legal action, and publicizing environmental concerns extensively on its Web site, the township now seems to be backing away from its prior commitment to resolving the overall quarry issue rapidly, say local environmentalists and political observers.

Some speculate that the results of last year's Board of Supervisors election may have tipped the balance of that group's composition in a manner detrimental to environmental concerns. Others familiar with the situation speculate that Solebury's budget is coming under pressure, and the township is now placing a higher priority on land development and growth of its tax base, as evidenced by the recent proposal for expanded commercial development near Logan Square.

Top Solebury officials did not respond to requests to be interviewed for this article.

Unfortunately, a geographic fault line connects the Aquetong Watershed to the quarry in question, say area conservationists. And that means New Hope and its water supply may be imperiled next as the PADEP lets its decision making process drag on.

As author Norman Maclean once said, "Eventually all things merge into one and a river runs through it."

Meanwhile, the trout are gone from what's left of Primrose Creek, its silty water flowing inexorably toward the Delaware River.

Quarry Quagmire: Fast, loud trucks are tip of iceberg say area groups, public officials

By Charlie Sahner

As previously reported, complaints persist of noisy, high-speed dump trucks and vans crossing over double yellow lines into opposite lanes, bumping or climbing curbs, bounding at high speed over quaint country bridges, and making loud, abrupt stops and turns along Route 32, or "River Road", as it is called in New Hope and surrounding areas.

One challenge is that while the drive leading from New Hope is considered one of the most beautiful in the country, the width of the highway also varies tremendously, often narrowing to almost a single lane in some sections, as it winds through historic towns and over aging bridges to the north and south. Additionally, driving on River Road through New Hope for some truckers is a way to avoid paying the toll at the Route 202 bridge crossing the Delaware River back to New Jersey.

Complicating the situation, River Road becomes Main Street in New Hope, and the same highway is suddenly shared with metered parking spaces, sidewalks crowded with visitors, and aging roadbeds and bridges.

Said State Representative Bernie O’Neill (R-Bucks), "My wife and I recently had dinner outside at the Logan Inn and counted the number of trucks going by -- there were a lot more than you'd expect."

Representative O'Neill, along with State Senator Charles "Chuck" McIlhinney (R-Bucks and Montgomery) and others, have been instrumental in helping the New Hope Residents Association implement a weight limit on the Rabbit Run Bridge and reduce speed limits from 35 miles per hour to 25 at the northern and southern edges of the borough on Route 32.

Jim and Kathy Lyons of New Hope formed the group a few years ago to generate awareness about the noise, excessive speed and shear amount of trucks coming through the borough daily, many of them originating from the New Hope Crushed Stone quarry several miles north at River and Phillips Mill roads, they say.

The group first surveyed the number of trucks coming through New Hope daily on their way to and from the quarry, and produced a petition signed by over 400 residents protesting the amount of quarry truck traffic, speeding, and noise. The association then presented the petition and supporting information at New Hope Borough Council meetings, and met with successive local law enforcement administrations. "New Hope Borough Council gave us great support," says Jim Lyons.

But, still, the flow of loud, dusty, fast-moving trucks runs unabated to this day.

While localities like New Hope and Solebury are limited under state law from using radar-based speed detection equipment, Solebury Police have run unannounced joint truck checkpoints with State Police and seen some success, although communication between trucks drivers can be rapid in these situations, say those familiar with the industry.

And some municipalities in Pennsylvania have successfully moved to limit "Jake braking", or the use of compression release engine brakes by trucks, because they can produce an exceptionally loud, stacatto noise not unlike that of an amplified machine gun.

Nearby Lambertville has succeeded in virtually banning gravel trucks from its riverside road, Route 29, but only after a tragic accident there.

State Senator Chuck McIlhinney (R-Bucks and Montgomery) pulled no punches in saying he doesn't want that to happen on this side of the river.

"I've long been an advocate of moving trucks off of local roads," he said.

"River Road should be a scenic road and not a road used to avoid tolls by trucking companies. These trucks are putting wear and tear on roads and bridges never meant for it," he added.

Perhaps even more ominous is what officials in Solebury Township have been saying about "the environmental impacts of New Hope Crushed Stone quarry".

"The mining activities of New Hope Crushed Stone have resulted in decreased ground water elevations and altered flow patterns throughout much of the Primrose Creek watershed and beyond its boundaries. Consequently, many residents have had to lower their well pumps, deepen their wells, or replace their wells," says the township.

Other area grassroots organizations and environmental groups like the Primrose Creek Watershed Association, Bucks County Trout Unlimited, the Delaware Riverkeeper, the Delaware River Basin Commission, and the Aquetong, Paunacussing and Pidcock Creek watershed associations, are monitoring the situation.

Public information provided by Solebury Township indicates that "removing the Primrose Creek stream channel on the quarry property and pumping ground water down to greater than 100 feet below sea level in the quarry pit has caused many major problems for home and property owners in the area" including damage to "potable supply wells" along with "land erosion, impacted fish community and aquatic ecology (trout, once numerous in the Primrose Creek, are no longer present), damaged wetlands and water pollution."

It gets worse: "A scientifically-based sampling and review of the Primrose Watershed characteristics in comparison to very similar areas in Aquetong Watershed is needed to ensure PADEP will regulate the quarry in a manner that does not impact the quality of life of the residents, as well as preserve and protect our natural resources."

Translation: Our neighbors to the south should keep one eye on their water supply and the other on the State Department of Environmental Protection because New Hope's next.

Says Lyons, "The situation at the New Hope Crushed Stone quarry is an environmental accident waiting to happen, if it has not already begun. The deeper the quarry is allowed to blast down, the void that it creates must be displaced with ground water due to the huge depth.

"The PA Department of Environmental Protection has allowed the quarry to continue. Where is this water coming from? Where are three million gallons of water a day going? The question really is: 'Department of Environmental Protection' --what 'protection'?” he continued.

Fire at Mansion Inn, New Hope PA 11.11.10

New Hope Police extend Prescription Drug Take-Back program

New Hope, PA Borough Hall (photo: Charlie Sahner)

By Charlie Sahner

The New Hope Police Department will offer another chance for the public to dispose of unused and/or expired prescription drugs this Saturday from 10-2 in the lobby of Borough Hall, located in the former St. Martin of Tours Church at the corner of New and West Mechanic streets.

Experts say that prescription medicines have become an expanding area of drug abuse, with pain killers like Oxycontin leading the way. And, obviously, many commonly prescribed drugs can be hazardous to children who may find them, often having been forgotten and left in the back of a bathroom medicine cabinet.

So, why not simply flush those unused meds right down the toilet?

Bad move; those same experts say chemicals like hormones and antibiotics are winding up in increasing amounts in our water. By contrast, the Prescription Drug Take-Back program utilizes environmentally-responsible methods of drug disposal.

Police stress that participation in the program is completely anonymous. Citizens concerned with privacy can remove identifying labels from bottles, or simply dump the contents into the disposal container provided and take the bottle back.

Said New Hope Police Chief Mike Cummings, "For many kids today, their first drug experience comes from prescriptions left by parents in the home medicine cabinet.  This Prescription Drug Take-Back event is a great way to protect kids and the environment."

Group Formed to Save Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope PA

Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, PA

By Charlie Sahner

A group of concerned citizens and civic leaders has been formed and held meetings with additional parties in an attempt to secure ownership of the Bucks County Playhouse and ensure that it remains an artistic asset to the community, according to several individuals familiar with the situation who asked to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the negotiations.

Ralph A. Miller, owner of New Hope's famed Bucks County Playhouse, is having apparent difficulty making debt payments, and barring any last minute financial or legal efforts, the theater will be auctioned off at a sheriff sale in Doylestown on Nov. 12, confirmed county officials and court records.

Sources say that a last-minute payment or related action by the owner would not be unexpected.

Miller has been running the theater since 1977, and owes the Stonebridge Bank of Skippack more than $2 million, documents reveal. Neither Miller, his lawyer nor any official of Stonebridge Bank or its parent company would return phone calls requesting information.

Borough officials have also not yet responded to requests for information.

Sheriff sales are much like regular foreclosure auctions, but are presided over by a sheriff due to a state requirement.

Miller was personally served with a notice of the sale on Aug. 25 of this year, a sheriff's hand bill was posted on Sept. 28, and the final affidavit attesting to the notice of sale was filed Oct. 27, according to court records.

Speaking of the upcoming sale, Mechanic Street Mugs owner and business leader Joel Roberts commented, "The Playhouse has a history going back to the Canal House days associating it with Mechanic Street and its businesses. We look forward to whatever future the playhouse has and will continue to work hand in hand with them to improve the creative environment of this artistic neighborhood."

The Bucks County Playhouse, centrally located at 70 S. Main St., quickly became known as a pre-Broadway theater venue following its 1939 opening, with shows like Barefoot in the Park and Harvey premiering there.

The roll call of actors appearing in Playhouse productions is myriad, as are stories of the rumored off-stage antics of some at local bars, restaurants and gatherings. Playhouse actors have included Robert Redford, Grace Kelly, Helen Hayes, Kim Hunter, Shirley Booth, Paul Lynde, Gale Gordon, Roddy McDowell, Walter Matthau, Merv Griffen and Larry Hagman.

High Heel Drag Race on Mechanic Street in New Hope 2010

By Charlie Sahner

New Hope's West Mechanic Street was packed Sunday night with Halloween revelers and spectators of the borough's Annual High Heel Drag Race.

Contestants had to race uphill to the top of the block near the canal, then back down the street.  The event, sponsored by TearDrop Memories, required that participants wear high heels and carry antique bird cages while running.

Prizes were provided by local merchants, who were quite generous this year.

The legal drag race was immediately followed by a parade of zombies sponsored by Delia's Makeup and Theatrical Supplies.

The whole affair was creepy beyond belief, and the crowd ate it up, so to speak.

Only in New Hope!

Lazy Pre-Halloween Weekend in New Hope

Lazy fall weekend in New Hope, PA (Photo copyright Charlie Sahner)

New Hope / Solbury School Administrators Keep Sending Buses Over Deteriorating Ferry Street Bridge

Look at the pictures, and decide for yourself if you want the New Hope-Solebury or Solebury School student in your family bussed over a bridge the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources says is "deteriorating" and in such "poor condition" that it needs to be completely replaced, but keeps at the same posted weight limit as when built 50 years ago -- 20 tons.

Two parallel roads, feet away, would cost no extra time or money to use, and provide a safe detour until work by the DCNR starts next year.  David Hansel, Director of Operations for NH-S Schools, determines which streets buses travel upon, and could change the route with a snap of his fingers, but won't.   His phone number 215-862-8183.

If the pictures concern you, ask the school administration if they visited the bridge and and can guarantee it's safe for your kids.  Superintendent Ray Bocutti's phone is 215-862-5372 ext. 6226, if you want to go to the top and he's not traveling. 

If you can, go take a look for yourself.  The open sidewalk isn't even safe anymore.

The engineers seem gagged, the State won't respond to the photos below, and the NH-S Administration has expressed no concern or interest so far over the level of risk to our children.

Decide for yourself.

Me?  I'm driving my kid to school for now.

School bus maneuvers around seemingly stunned and stopped car carrier on Ferry St. bridge in New Hope, PA.

One of two completely corroded supports beneath the wheels of the bus.

Broken roadbed. The PA DCNR admits the roadbed is "rusting".

Support, or lack thereof, under still-open sidewalk. The DCNR didn't know about this when asked.

Main supporting beam under school bus pictured above.

Another primary supporting beam.

Does deteriorating Ferry Street Bridge threaten New Hope and Solebury P.A. schoolchildren?

By Charlie Sahner

The State Department of Natural Resources and Conservation has decided to begin completely replacing New Hope's Ferry Street Bridge spanning the Delaware Canal in November of next year, and aims to finish sometime the following spring.

But if the bridge is deteriorating and needs to be replaced sooner than later as the DCNR claims, why hasn't the agency lowered the weight limit of 20 tons, established when the structure was in a much newer condition?

Wayne Nguyen, who is coordinating the bridge replacement project for the DCNR, acknowledges that there has been "some section loss" and that the "deterioration is probably on the deck itself."  While it's true, he says, that the main "beams of the bridge are rusted, there's not a lot of section loss."

When asked about the apparent corrosion of supports attached to the beams, Nguyen said, "The sidewalk has been closed.  We usually inspect every two to three years, but the engineers recommended that we inspect every year."

He said that inspectors from Raudenbush Engineering, Inc. examined the bridge this year and determined that the 20 ton limit was "okay."

When asked if it might be prudent to lower that limit or redirect some traffic, particularly school buses, one block in order to ensure the safety of schoolchildren, Nguyen replied "I'm not sure how much a school bus weighs; unless it weighs more than 20 tons, the bridge should be able to handle it."

In addition to large trucks and tour buses, buses from at least two area schools pass over the Ferry Street Bridge twice a day.

According to WikiAnswers, the "average, 38', 84 passenger school bus weighs in between 11 and 14 Tons (22,000 to 28,000 pounds) curb weight without passengers. When you add 84 passengers, say high school students, that can add up to 14,700 additional pounds in weight, bringing the total up to about 42,700 pounds."

Admittedly, some of the buses using the bridge may weigh less than the average figure quoted, and perhaps the images of a flaking, peeling and corroding bridge depicted above can be explained away by those with an engineering background, unlike this reporter.

But the question remains: are drivers and passengers, especially schoolchildren, being unnecessarily put at risk? 

Pair of young men clinging to barrel in Delaware River saved by hero kayakers

Area where duo rescued; clump of trees on R is where 2nd victim clung. (Photo provided by Jeff Vinsosky)

By Charlie Sahner

Police, fire and rescue vehicles including airboats were called out from New Hope, Solebury, Central Bucks, Lambertville at approximately 2:30 p.m. Sunday as two individuals were reported to be floating downstream on a blue barrel on the Delaware River near Stockton.  Police and rescue units took up staggered positions along the Pennsylvania side of the river and on the New Hope-Lambertville free bridge.

Meanwhile, on the raging brown river below, a life and death drama was being played out, according to Jeff Vinosky, 21, of Fairless Hills and Gary Lewis, 21, of Levittown, who say they spotted the barrel while kayaking on the adjacent Delaware and Raritan Canal.

Just as they entered the river near Prallsville Mills to assist the two men they had seen clinging to the barrel for life, one of those in trouble broke away from the improvised float and swam for a nearby strip of land in the river.

The apparent good samaritans said they were able to reach the first victim and guide him ashore to safey, but couldn't fight the roiling, post-flood waters and crosscurrents from a nearby stream to reach the second, who was by then clinging to a tree near the water's edge. They alerted rescue personnel, and an airboat appeared soon thereafter to secure that victim.

According to witnesses, the two individuals in trouble had toppled their canoe upriver.  One fan of the Facebook site "New Hope PA"  posted Sunday that he had seen two individuals "struggling" in a canoe near the Black Bass Hotel at 1:45 p.m.

Emergency personnel on both sides of the river have been mum on the incident, deferring questions to one another and the New Jersey State Police, who say they have no record of the incident.

This reporter's guess would be that since the two "barrel boys" didn't need transportation to a hospital, and since it's not illegal to canoe or ride in a blue plastic barrel immediately after near-flood level waters on the Delaware, no emergency officials felt like filing a comprehensive incident report on a Sunday afternoon.

Nor, apparently, in giving credit where it was also due.

Let's be clear.  The pair of young victims in the river, by all accounts, were exhausted, pale, uncommunicative and generally "shocky," having been immersed in very cold, fast-moving water for more than half an hour.  However poor their judgment was in attempting to preamble about on post-flood waters akin to the chocolate river in Willy Wonka studded with fast-moving logs, let's not blame the victims.

But let's celebrate the heroes:  Gary Lewis and Jeff Vinosky.  These two stuck to the safer canal near Stockton on their afternoon kayak run, but seeing two people clinging for life in the rushing Delaware was enough for them to paddle without thought into harm's way, grabbing one victim and handing him their life vest, and locating and getting help for the second.

These two should receive a public award.

Scattered Raindrops Fail to Dampen Spirits at New Hope Outdoor Arts and Crafts Festival

Oil by Stephen Brehm (www.stephenbrehm.com)

By Charlie Sahner

The 17th Annual New Hope Outdoor Arts and Crafts Festival came off without a major hitch this weekend, with great weather Saturday followed by a soggy Sunday that didn't deter interest in the event.

Contestents, exhibitors and vendors were varied and interesting, and there was no shortage of junk food to nosh upon while plying the crowded streets.  A crowd favorite: the cup of seafood chowder with buttered roll offered for $2 by New Hope's Eagle Fire Company.

A fun time, indeed!

Engaging work (L) and charming smile (R) of artist Natalie Alleyne (www.alleynestudios.com)

Borough Council Decides Visitors Can't Park Past 11:00 p.m. in Municipal Lot

New Hope files charges against alleged "flim flam" artist Nydia Neubauer (aka Lucy George); says her Bucks County activities reach back to 1970s

Nydia Neubauer, aka Nydia Vega Reeves, Lucy George, Nydia Luz Vega

By Charlie Sahner

New Hope police today filed charges against Nydia Neubauer (aka Lucy George, aka Nydia Vega Reeves) alleging felony crimes of theft by deception, receiving stolen property, identity theft, bad checks, forgery and criminal attempt.

Police say Neubauer "conducted a high end flim flam operation" in New Hope, including "the purchase of three properties, high end jewelry, and passing numerous checks on accounts for which she had no authority."

Two of the three properties are owned by area developer George Michael, and the third was purchased in Philadelphia through New Hope realtors, confirmed Corporal Matt Zimmerman of the New Hope Police Department.

Zimmerman also confirmed that the woman known as "Lucy George" in New Hope, the woman being held in a Monmouth County prison as "Nydia Neubauer", and the "Nydia Luz Vega" depicted in the passport photo (above) are one in the same.

Police estimate that total damages arising from her alleged fraudulent activity could reach $7.5 million, of which $250,000 was in the form of "bad checks."

Amazingly enough, New Hope police are also seeing signs of "old activity in Bucks County dating back to the 1970s."   They believe Peddler's Village may have been among Neubauer's targets back then.

Local police appear to have left no stone unturned in their efforts to build a strong case against Neubauer.

"We have worked very hard on following this case by the numbers to ensure a successful prosecution," explained Zimmerman.  "We intend to make whatever restitution is available to the victims."

Neubauer is currently being held in Monmouth County Correctional Institute in Freehold, N.J., and is expected to be extradited to New York next to face a larceny charge there.

Alleged New Hope Con Woman Lucy "Nydia Neubauer" George Was Arrested in Belmar for Bilking Big Restaurant One Block from Police Station

Passport photo of Nydia Luz Vega, aka Nydia Neubauer, Nydia Vega Reeves, Lucy George, etc.

By Charlie Sahner

Details continue to emerge that Nydia Neubauer (aka Lucy George, Nydia Luz Vega, Nydia Vega Reeves, Nina de Vega, Lucy Micheals George, etc.), returned to New Hope last spring after fleeing Manhattan, wrote bad checks while living in a $995,000 townhouse in local builder George Michael’s Canal Street development, and was arrested at the well-known Connolly Station Restaurant and Tavern at 711 Main Street in Belmar, N.J.

Records obtained from Belmar Police indicate that "on Aug. 19, Nydia Neubauer, 63, of New York, NY was arrested for providing false information, theft of services, fraudulent credit card use, issuing bad checks and being a fugitive from justice at 711 Main St." 

A photocopy of a passport belonging to a "Nydia Luz Vega" obtained by this reporter from an alleged victim in New York City lists her date of birth as "19 Jun 1947", the same birthday recorded by the Monmouth County Sheriff's office as that of the "Nydia Neubauer" they are holding.  Additionally, several local residents and jeweler/victim George Zykos have verified the passport photo of Nydia Luz Vega as being an image of the woman they knew as "Lucy George."

A time line of alleged swindling is gradually taking shape, and it appears to lead from New Hope (circa early 1980s) to Southampton, Long Island, on to New York City in 2002, where it disappears until 2009.  Following a New York Post article in April of this year, it appears that "Nydia Vega Reeves", as she was known in Manhattan, fled to New Hope in May.  Living in New Hope as "Lucy George", she seems to have left the borough in late June and landed at the Jersey Shore in July. 

Apparently, according to arrest records and victims, she had offered a bad credit card and rubber checks to staff at Connolly Station, a large Irish-themed restaurant formed by the combination of two smaller pubs.  The owners also operate Farrell's Stout and Steak in Point Pleasant Beach, N.J. and the Irish Rail in Manasquan, N.J.

Ultimately, the biggest mistake of Nydia's long career may be remembered as her not knowing that the Belmar Police station is located at 601 Main Street, one block away from Connolly Station.

Alleged con artist behind bars in N.J. may have New Hope connection

Nydia Luz Vega (aka Nydia Vega Reeves, Nydia Neubauer, Lucy George) passport photo

By Charlie Sahner

Nydia Neubauer, an alleged check bouncer, is behind bars at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold, N.J., as a “fugitive from justice” on $100,000 bail, according to a prison spokesperson.

Neubauer was taken into custody by the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office on Aug. 19, and according to the prison, her listed aliases include “Lucy Micheals,” and “Lucy Micheals George”.

Upper Southampton Township Police Chief Ron MacPherson confirmed that his department was notified of her arrest by New Jersey police because she was identified as the “Lucy George” sought in an outstanding arrest warrant issued by his department. Southampton police subsequently requested on Aug. 30 that she continue to be detained in the Freehold prison in connection with a fraud case involving a limousine company.

A woman using the “Lucy George” name appears to have operated for at least several weeks this spring in New Hope and Lambertville, N.J., allegedly writing bad checks and occupying a $995,000 townhouse at 42 W. Mechanic St. (below) in local builder George Michael’s Canal Street development in New Hope, according to neighbors, alleged victims and law enforcement officials.

The “Lucy George” alias is one that two local jewelers have come to know well.

Dimitri Politicos, owner of Lambertville, N.J. jewelry store Dimitri Designs at 41 Bridge St., said by phone from Greece that he had been taken for $50,000 in merchandise after being given a rubber check from a “Lucy George” around the same time. While at first suspicious of such a large amount, the jeweler claims she reassured him by referring to “expensive homes” she had “bought” from George Michael.

George Zykos, who owns a jewelry store at 34 S. Main St. in New Hope, told a similar story. Two checks accepted from a “Lucy George” in exchange for merchandise later bounced, he said. After contacting her repeatedly to complain, she returned to his store on June 13 and charged more than $42,000 to an American Express card imprinted with the name “Lucyluz George Jr,” claiming to be a second cardholder. Like the incident in Lambertville, she again used Michael’s name, saying he “would back her” financially, said Zykos.

A spokesperson for Michael declined comment on this story.

An American Express receipt shown to this reporter bore the approval date of June 14 with the name “Lucyluz George Jr” and a charged amount of $42,589.30. Zykos says the card was cancelled the following week and he remains unpaid. An American Express spokesperson declined comment on the incident.

New Hope resident Harry Snavely says a woman calling herself “Lucy George” attended an art gallery opening in New Hope in May.

“She plopped down in a chair and announced to the room, ‘My husband just died and I have $200 million,’” Snavely said.

Snavely claims that she is the same woman who lived in New Hope some 30 years ago under the alias “Nina de Vega.”

A passport photo (above) obtained by this reporter from an alleged victim in New York City who requested anonymity bears the name “Nydia Luz Vega.” Three drivers for a limousine service used by “Lucy George” identified her as the individual depicted in the photo, as did the owner of the art gallery where Snavely says he saw her in May, and a neighbor.

“Lucy George” is described by neighbors as a blonde-haired woman who frequently wore sunglasses, and was approximately 5-feet, 4-inches tall and weighed around 160-170 pounds. Neighbors also say she lived and traveled with two small dogs and another woman, whom she introduced as her maid. The entourage appeared in New Hope in May and departed by the end of June.

Interestingly, “Nydia Neubauer” is an alias used by Nydia Vega Reeves, a “con queen” from New York City according to an April article in the New York Post, who said Reeves had been “dishing out bad checks and renting luxury apartments without paying” since arriving at a plush New York City hotel with two small dogs.

The article also reported that Reeves “is said to owe a California-based real-estate developer nearly $50,000 and New York real-estate adviser Paul Ippolito about $60,000. Reeves, 62, who claims she grew up with Ralph Lauren and inherited $100 million from her late husband William Reeves, was exposed in 2002 after writing bad checks under the name of ‘Nydia Neubauer’ to Denise Rich’s cancer research charity.”

Aside from Upper Southampton, prison and police officials involved in Neubauer’s detention also say New York City authorities are currently seeking her extradition. The New York City Police Department declined to comment.

According to a limousine industry association column in the August edition of Black Car News, “Ms. Reeves most recently conned a number of Pennsylvania Businesses this month going by the name ‘Lucy George.’ Among those businesses were limousine companies, jewelers and real estate developers.”

New Hope Police Chief Mike Cummings acknowledged that his department is actively investigating alleged incidences of confidence fraud involving the writing of bad checks.

“Several people in town have been victims,” he said.  “As the investigation is ongoing, I can’t provide further details at this time.”

Grand slam: second venue cements New Hope's reputation as poetry haven

By Charlie Sahner

Come Monday night, they'll be slamming 'em down at Marcella's Restaurant and Bar in New Hope.

Poems, that is.

Marcella's will be holding its first poetry "slam," or competition between performers of the spoken word.

Organized by Bill Winkler, the event will complement the well established monthly Beat Night held at the New Hope Arts Center.

"The spoken word is alive and well in New Hope," said Bob Jamison, poet, writer and frequent MC at Beat Night, who will be attending Monday's event.

Robert Salup, renowned poet who has hosted slams and readings in New Jersey and Pennsylvania (including a prior slam series at Karla's Restaurant in New Hope) will also be attending -- and hopefully reading -- at Monday's venue.

"Poetry contains as much energy as a Hollywood movie," observed Salup.  "All it needs is poets to make it come alive."

Marcella's is located at 7 E. Ferry St. (right off S. Main St.); 215-862-1700.  The menu recently morphed from Northern Italian to truly eclectic and looks interesting.

But the slamming begins at 9 p.m.   Don't be a square cat.  

Vote in this Week's Poll on Parking

By Charlie Sahner

Until what hour should vehicles be allowed to use the parking lot next to New Hope's Borough Hall (formerly St. Martin of Tours church)?

That's the central question to be discussed and voted upon at the next New Hope Borough Hall meeting in two weeks. 

Right now, the meters at the lot stop running at 9 p.m. (as they do in most places around town), but parked vehicles are expected legally to vamvoose soon thereafter.

Some neighbors wouldn't mind less of a "circus-like" atmosphere, which they attribute to drunken revelers parking at the nearby lot late at night, by and large.  Others ask why this parking lot won't let patrons remain until at least 2:30 a.m., when many bars, restaurants, clubs, and other parking lots close for the night.

What's your view?

Until what hour should vehicles be allowed to use the parking lot next to New Hope's Borough Hall?

9 p.m.?  11 p.m.?  Overnight?

You can vote right now in a live poll (and see the results) at the New Hope Gazette.  Scroll down the far right column until you see the poll, and let your voice be heard!

New Hope-Solebury Lions, on their first home field in decades, rout George School Cougars 42-0

By Charlie Sahner

Highlights from Friday night's game in which the New Hope-Solebury Lions got their first chance to play on a field of their own in nearly 80 years, and used it to their advantage in a 42-0 shutout of the George School Cougars.

Marsha Brown restaurant expansion shot down by New Hope zoning board

By Charlie Sahner

An application by popular New Hope steak house Marsha Brown of 15 S. Main St. to add outdoor seating was stymied last night at a meeting of the borough's Zoning Hearing Board.

The proposal had been sent to the board following a split decision by New Hope's Borough Council on whether to recommend approval.

The meeting was well attended by residents, merchants and borough officials, and by the time it was over, the restaurant's request for 12 variances to facilitate the creation of an outdoor seating area for 24 patrons was denied entirely.

Marsha Brown manager and executive chef Caleb Lentchner was clearly disappointed in the decision.  "For five years we've done nothing but support the town as much as we could, and in our time of need Borough Hall turned their back on us," he said.

Noting that virtually every restaurant in New Hope has some type of limited outdoor seating arrangement, Lentchner asserted,  "Outdoor dining in front of our restaurant would form a small opportunity for us to have a fair chance during these warm summer days.

"We've been denied our ability to compete," he continued.

While not wishing to discuss potential next steps, Lentchner observed, "There's a very strong business community in New Hope, and we're supporting each other during these challenging economic times."

Requests for comment by borough officials were not immediately returned.

Petition to expand hours at New Hope PA public parking lot gains momentum

 By Charlie Sahner

A petition asking New Hope's Borough Council to expand parking hours at the New Street lot adjacent to borough hall is now being displayed at dozens of business locations around town and appears to have garnered at minimum several hundred signatures representing residents, merchants and visitors.

The petition organizers, including local business leader Joel Roberts and Borough Councilperson Bill Scandone, are attempting to demonstrate support for keeping the key parking area open until 2:30 a.m., as are other lots in the borough.

The issue will be taken up at the New Hope Borough Council meeting scheduled for September 21, where a previous proposal to expand parking lot hours until 10:30 p.m. from the current 9 p.m. will be considered.

Scenes with Gene Ween at New Hope's God Save the Qweens

By Charlie Sahner

We spent some video time with co-founder and lead vocalist Gene Ween (a.k.a. Aaron Freeman) of alternative rock band Ween at their New Hope headquarters, God Save the Qweens, 13. W. Mechanic St.

Features acoustic version of Birthday Boy.

A good time was had by all!

Crime Report: burglary in Solebury, auto break-ins in Doylestown

By Charlie Sahner

Solebury Township Police report that there was a forced entry residential burglary on Old Windy Bush Road on Wednesday, Aug. 18 between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.  The apparent point of entry was a rear exterior door, forced open with a one-inch pry tool, said local authorities.

Police in Solebury are looking for a suspect vehicle described as "a dark green older model Jeep Cherokee occupied by two Hispanic males" that was seen on Old Windy Bush Road on Aug. 17 and 18.  The vehicle and occupants were also spotted on Covered Bridge Road, allegedly looking for a horse farm when confronted by a resident after rapping on the front door and a side window of his home, said Chief of Police Dominick Bellizzie.

Bellizzie advises residents to exercise common sense precautions, like locking doors and making sure to activate alarm systems before leaving home.

Separately, Doylestown Police Chief Stephen White said his township has been "inundated" with auto break-ins for months, with an average 10-15 such incidents per week.

The thieves involved are targeting cellphones, GPS systems, wallets, laptop computers and other small items that might be sold easily to purchase drugs or for other purposes.  The suspects are believed to be in their twenties and living in the area or a neighboring county, according to White.

He advises residents, as cannot be repeated often enough, to lock their vehicles and not leave valuable articles in plain view.

Sweet Escape in New Hope is Sensual Superstore with Personal Touch

Just another lingerie store?

Not! This multi-room space is crammed with accoutrements.

By Charlie Sahner

What had been billed by locals for months as a future "lingerie shop" at 6 W. Bridge St. turned out this week to be much, much more.

Sweet Escape is a "sensual store for women and couples," says owner Dawn Ellery.

Tastefully decorated, with an airy, inviting feeling, the store belies the adult store stereotype.

The lingerie serves as a veil, behind which are roomy display areas for oils, unguents, and what might appear to the famous cartoon character Mr. Magoo as an extensive selection of *ahem* plumbing fixtures and thermoses.  Beyond are smaller rooms, with more lingerie, a low-key selection of DVDs, and books for women and couples of all lifestyles.

So what distinguishes this shop from three others of somewhat similar ilk in New Hope?

"The store is open and romantic, dialogue is encouraged, the product mixture is good, and we're creating a more comfortable space," says Ellery.

Reigning king of fetish wear Le Chateau Exotique on West Mechanic Street won't be threatened competitively by this newcomer, but the other two must be sweating.

Ellery aims to utilize the large space for events, including those run by therapists specializing in wellness and sensuality education.  A former corporate benefits manager, she lives in Yardley with her husband and two children.

This store will be a contender.

A grand opening celebration featuring wine, cheese, and giveaways is scheduled for 6-10 p.m., Aug. 28.

215-862-9900.

Interview with myYearbook Co-Founders at Their New Hope PA Headquarters

By Charlie Sahner

myYearbook is one of the fastest growing social networking sites on the Internet, emphasizing meeting new people (read: "dating") through chat and game applications.

How will they compete with Facebook, and why did they choose New Hope for their rapidly expanding headquarters?

Check out the video interview above (you can adjust the volume to your liking) and meet the co-founders of myYearbook at their Union Square headquarters.

Spotlight on parking lot issue at New Hope PA Borough Council meeting

By Charlie Sahner

The focus was on parking lot hours of operation at Tuesday night's meeting of the New Hope Borough Council.

It seems that when the borough took over ownership of Saint Martin of Tours Catholic Church and its adjacent parking lot a few years ago, it also gained the legal right to change parking lot policy.  Net effect: a $3.00-$5.00 lot allowing parking until 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 9:00 p.m. Sunday became a metered lot that shut down at 9:00 p.m. every night of the week.

One can park at other metered locations throughout the borough, pay only until 9:00, and vehicles can be left overnight for no charge.

When Friday Night Fireworks began this summer, some car owners reported being ticketed in the borough lot, although they had returned quickly to their vehicles after the show.  That, in turn, gained the attention W. Mechanic St. business owners, including Joel Roberts, who raised the issue with Borough Council and was invited to speak during the public portion of their monthly meeting by Council President Sharyn Keiser.

(Later in the summer, police tacitly began allowing cars to stay until around 10:30 p.m. on friday nights to accomodate visiting fireworks spectators.)

Speakers on both sides of the issue were respectful and reasoned, with varying resident views of where New Hope's future lies.  Aside from Roberts, Frank Policare of Penn Wealth Planning spoke articulately about returning to a more vibrant commercial era featuring late evening dining and entertainment, and Ernie Bowman, former Historic Archictectural Review Board Chairman, talked eloquently of a period even further back in time when New Hope was a less crowded, quieter place in which to live.

After listening to public speakers representing all sides of the issue, Borough Council voted and proposed a compromise solution providing for lot closure at 10:30 each evening. Councilpersons Bill Scandone and Ed Duffy objected to the proposal, emphasizing the need to help local commerce by extending lot hours until at least 11:00 p.m.

The issue will be heard before Borough Council again on September 21, at which time the proposal for a nightly 10:30 parking lot closure can be approved or denied following public input, or a new proposal for a different hour can be discussed and put forth for a vote during the following month's meeting.

Spatola's Remains King of New Hope Pizza

Louis Vanegas (foreground), co-owner of Spatola's

By Charlie Sahner

When California natives Louis and Eddie Vanegas came to New Hope via New York City some nine years ago, their goal was to make a simple living by baking a great pie of pizza.

And despite several challengers over the years, the brothers Vanegas have stayed on top, occupying an important niche in family-style, value-oriented dining.

Their secret?

"Friendly service," says Louis.  Of course, offering free delivery to New Hope, Lambertville and Solebury doesn't hurt either.

Neither does the pizza itself: traditional style, on the thin side, crispy but not crackly or cornmeal-ensconced.  It's really "Queens style," i.e. not dripping cheese, with light use of a special sauce made with two kinds of tomato.

So, what flavor of pizza to choose?   The clear neighborhood favorite is the Buffalo Chicken pie.

Overall: inexpensive, traditional pizza, along with good subs, salads, cheese steaks and wings; family-friendly.

Spatola's Pizza, 82 S. Main St., 215-862-6041.

Adam Martinez throws a pizza while Louis looks on

Test drive and preview of new Smart Car on display at New Hope Auto Show Aug.14-15

By Charlie Sahner

The nice folks at Mercedes-Benz were foolish enough to lend the Mechanic Street crew the Smart Car they're showing this weekend at the New Hope Automobile Show, and the boyz loved it and petted it and called it George.

Fun car, fun times.

Come see it at the New Hope Automobile Show this weekend.

Peace out!

New Hope - Solebury School Superintendent to Seek Fourth Kindergarten Class

By Charlie Sahner

Superintendent Raymond Boccuti of the New Hope-Solebury School District acknowledged tonight that he will "move forward with a fourth kindergarten class" for the coming school year.

Many New Hope parents of kindergarten-aged children have been concerned about classes exceeding 25 students or more, with at least 77 students enrolled so far and only three classes authorized.

Boccuti said he has been monitoring the situation daily, and now that enrollment for the fall has stabilized, he will recommend a fourth kindergarten class to the New Hope-Solebury School Board on Monday.

Popular New Hope Resident Living the American Dream

By Charlie Sahner

Lots of people in New Hope, PA know Memo (pronounced like the word 'memo') Quieroz.

He says he's 59, but I don't believe it, even though his hair seems to get darker with each passing year.

He's been working for a long time in New Hope, sometimes 20 hours in a row or more, and saving his money so that he could become a businessman once more, as he had been in his native Mexico. He's been a regular fixture about town, working jobs like parking lot supervisor and maintenance person in places like George Michael's Union Square and Canal Street developments, as well as the Four Seasons Mall at 32 S. Main St.

He survived some hard times in Mexico, and worked so hard here that he had a heart attack a few years ago, but bounced back, saved his pennies and has now bought the well known Planet Wear store in the Four Seasons Mall (first store on the left), renaming it "Memo Wear."

Offerings consist mainly of soccer shirts emblazoned with the national colors of various World Cup teams, t-shirts, jeans, jewelry and Lotto games. I bought one of the soccer shirts that he still carries about a year ago from the prior owner; it's held up well and seems high-quality.

Memo himself seems like a high quality guy, and living proof that the American Dream lives on in New Hope, PA.