Update: Alleged "Con Woman" Being Investigated by Police in New Hope PA

By Charlie Sahner

An alleged con woman has been operating in New Hope recently and local police are investigating her activities. The alleged suspect bears a strong resemblance to a grifter known in New York City to owe large amounts of money and to have written bad checks and rented apartments without paying. Here in New Hope, several incidences of alleged scamming are being looked into, and at least one alleged victim is a well known local businessman. More to follow on this fast breaking story.

Alleged Financial Scheme in New Hope PA Under Active Investigation

By Charlie Sahner

New Hope Police are actively investigating alleged incidences of confidence fraud involving the writing of bad checks, confirmed Chief Mike Cummings. "Several people in town have been victims," he said this morning. "As the investigation is ongoing, I can't provide further details at this time."

In recent days, rumors have been circulating in New Hope of an alleged large scale "swindle".

More to come as this case unfolds.

New Hope Business Leader Takes on Visitor Parking Tickets

Joel Roberts, like many raised in the Midwest, is the type of guy who tries to be friendly and helpful to everyone he meets.

He owns Mechanic Street Mugs in New Hope, PA and helped start, and runs, the Mechanic Street Merchants' Association and Second Saturdays in New Hope.

Some too young too know any better mistake him for Jerry Garcia; actually, he's related to Benjamin Franklin, and if you look closely enough there's a resemblance.

Most days you can see him out in front of his store at 10 W. Mechanic Street, sanding wooden bowls or finishing a crossword puzzle. He likes Rib Night at the Candlewyck Lounge. He avoids talk of politics and religion whenever possible.

But something finally got his goat several weeks back: reports were emerging among fellow merchants as diverse as Meshell Kimbel (God Save the Qweens) and Frank Policare (Penn Wealth Planning) on Facebook and elsewhere about visitors' vehicles being ticketed by police during and after the weekly Friday Night Fireworks event which begins at 9:30 p.m.

Seems that when the borough took over Saint Martin's Church and its accompanying parking lot, one of New Hope's largest, the tacit policy of allowing patrons to leave their cars after the lot's closure at 9:00 p.m. was discontinued.

Says Roberts, "A lot of our customers every day, but especially on Friday nights now that fireworks have started, question us store owners about the wisdom of this policy. I tend to believe them and feel that having a public parking lot close at nine p.m. and then ticket those people that remain is a really BAD plan. How do we explain to them that they can move their car to a meter on the street if they can find one and park for free but the borough lot is closed to the public?"

If the borough hall is going to be the place where borough meetings are held, how do we expect to tell attending people that at 9:00 they must remove their cars and move them to a street meter when the meetings run past nine p.m.?" he added. "This policy or ordinance makes no sense and should be changed in my opinion and others here on Mechanic Street."

Roberts fired off a letter to Borough Hall and, following a second epistle, was invited to appear before Borough Council at its next monthly meeting on August 17 to present his concerns.

Explains Council President Sharyn Keiser, "We want to hear from everyone in the vicinity [of the parking lot]; Council is not going to make a decision without their input."

According to Keiser, not only are residents of New Street potentially affected by parking policy at the lot, but also those of West Mechanic Street and the nearby Riverwoods/Village Two housing development.

"We want to be fair to everybody," she said.

She also said that those attending official borough functions typically held in the evening, like Council meetings and community events, are not being ticketed.

And lately, the borough seems to have stopped ticketing vehicles parked in the lot during weekly fireworks displays on Friday nights, although their owners shouldn't dawdle too long after the show is over in returning to their cars and trucks and moving them.

Still, Roberts will be seeking clarification and improvement of Borough Hall parking lot policy at the August 17 meeting so that New Hope's evening visitors throughout each week aren't turned off by unexpected violation notices on their car or truck windshields.

"I think that the parking lot policy could also be changed to "No overnight parking" and accomplish the same thing as attempting to close a public lot and leave people to only park on public streets at public meters," he said.

Power Outage Shuts Downtown New Hope PA for Three Hours

By Charlie Sahner

A power outage struck downtown New Hope today for three hours following the arrival of a thunderstorm with high winds at around 3:00 p.m. Facebook user "Wedgwood Inn" reported that "a lightening strike on a utility pole and electrical wires near Aquatong and 202 did the deed."

In a recorded message, PECO indicated that 703 customers were affected. Many stores, restaurants and events were forced to shut down, and groups of bored, worried merchants could be seen chatting between darkened storefronts.

Some businesses like Gerenser's Ice Cream remained open, owing to a large portable electric generator. Outside the town's center, businesses like McDonalds hummed along unfazed.

Fortunately, the storm brought with it cooler, more comfortable temperatures.

New State Run Liquor Store in New Hope Looks Like a Hit

By Charlie Sahner

It's probably too early to tell, but last week's opening of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board's new Fine Wine & Good Spirits store at the Logan Square shopping complex in New Hope already shows signs of being a hit with consumers.

A visit to the new wine and liquor shop revealed a well rounded selection of products, competitive prices and a steady stream of excited customers. Said one departing customer with a large paper bag (the store tries to be environmentally responsible), "Great selection, well laid out, and easy to find what you want."

Commenting on the new location, PLCB Chairman Patrick J. "PJ" Stapleton said, "We are thrilled with the New Hope Store and we hope consumers are as well. It is a prototype store which means we will take the feedback from consumers to find out what works and what doesn't work and to see if there are things we can do better. Our rebranding effort is a work in progress."

A focal point of the new store is a center table, where consumers can find staff to answer questions, provide tasting selections, and ring them up quickly. The atmosphere is more Barnes & Noble than the typically dark and claustrophobic spirit shops one encounters.

The wine offerings seemed to represent many of today's most popular bottles, with a naturally heavy emphasis on domestics from California, Pennsylvania and other states. France and Italy were given equal weight with countries like Chile and Australia, which again reflects current consumer tastes, but also means the variety of Bordeaux, Cotes du Rhone, Barolo and other more traditional favorites was somewhat limited. All in all, the wines were fairly priced and well displayed, with numerous highlighted specials.

The liquor selection was impressive, dominated by a huge offering of various vodka brands. Surprising was the relatively large choice of cordials, rums and bourbons, including some hard to find bottles. Among these were the incomparable Booker's Bourbon on sale for $41.99, and Ron Zacapa 23-year-old, arguably the world's smoothest rum, for $44.99. Even the Bacardi 8 was a good buy; at $19.99 it was $7.00 less than I last paid in New Jersey.

Competition from New Jersey liquor vendors minutes away is a serious challenge, for sure. Pennsylvania's relatively archaic laws mandating that liquor and wine be sold in state stores and beer largely at discount outlets, restaurants and bars have put the state at a disadvantage in the past. But alcohol taxes have been rising in the Garden State of late, and the PLCB seems determined to compete effectively.

Says Stapleton, "Our selection and pricing is very competitive with New Jersey. We believe our store in New Hope will be a destination and people from both Pennsylvania and New Jersey will shop in it."

A movement afoot in the Pennsylvania Legislature to privatize alcohol distribution also adds urgency to the PLCB's effort to become a more consumer-focused retail business.

"The public-policy decision regarding government's appropriate role in the sale of wine and spirits in PA is a matter for our elected public-policy makers -- the Legislature and the Governor to decide," commented Stapleton. "Our job at the PLCB is to spend our time, energy and resources creating the very best consumer experience we can. We are focused on that effort every day and think Pennsylvanians will continue to be pleased with the changes we've made," he added.

So far, those changes appear well-received. The new store is "very pleasant," said Glenn Ricci of New Hope. "Everybody is very cordial and helpful, the place looks great, and everything's nicely displayed so it's easy to choose."

Another exiting customer, a tall, distinguished gentleman wearing sunglasses, a Panama hat, and a beatific smile, when asked what he thought of the store responded simply, "Lovely. Just lovely."

"Grand Reopening" Celebration for Delaware Canal Overlooks New Hope Problems

By Charlie Sahner

The public was invited to the party today in Easton, PA celebrating the "grand reopening" of the Delaware Canal and adjacent towpath following repairs necessitated by three devastating floods on the nearby Delaware River from 2004-2006. The organizers, a mixture of private groups and state bigwigs, mention in their publicity efforts that it's really the towpath part that's open from Easton to Bristol, PA...they'll fill it all up with water later.

But what exactly is a towpath without a canal? If it's smack in the middle of the #1 tourist destination in Bucks County, one might call it a fiasco for the residents, visitors, merchants and wildlife of New Hope.

Of course, the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) confirmed on July 9 that they will not have the the New Hope portion of the Delaware Canal repaired and refilled this summer. A spokesperson for the DCNR said the problem was funding. "It won't be until at least the fall until we can start," she said. "The money is not in place at this point."

But interviews with several individuals familiar with the DCNR and construction say bureaucratic indecision and a lack of a cohesive, strategic approach to the entire New Hope canal section is to blame. "They just don't know what to do in Harrisburg," said one individual who asked not to be identified. "They can't make a decision, they're over their heads and don't know what to do."

Another person familiar with masonry and plumbing who asked to remain anonymous said that the biggest problem areas could be lined with dark green plastic, which would be virtually unnoticeable once the canal is refilled with water.

But could a plastic liner last a year or two to allow time for more enduring restoration work during the off season?

"Hell," said another individual familar with the situation who asked not to be identified. "It could last three, four years, or more."

So, if the state doesn't have funding in place to repair one of the busiest sections of the Delaware Canal and truly complete the project, why not? Is the DCNR official in charge unable to get the job done, or is New Hope just a low priority for the Harrisburg department?

We may never know.

Meanwhile, sporadic work continues almost daily at different points along the aging canal walls, mostly repointing the masonry and moving dirt around. The activity has a distinctly piecemeal appearance to the casual observer. Ducks and geese sit in hot, caked mud waiting for relief; the giant lock at the southern end looks frozen and forlorn.

There will be "no joy in Mudville" today, and no celebration anytime soon in New Hope for a water filled, functioning canal.

Taking it to the Streets: Zoubi This Week Unveils New Sandwich Lineup Named for Famed New Hope Highways and Byways

By Charlie Sahner

I'll take a Kiltie Drive, and go heavy on the humus please!

Zoubi, the famed West Mechanic Street culinary conglomerate comprised of restaurant, patisserie, and take-out elements, is evolving yet again, particularly in the Zoubi Food store at the corner of New Street.

With fans aplenty for its savory standbys like raucus rubbed ribs, irresistible iron grilled shrimp, heavenly pastries, and handmade ice cream, this take-out lover's paradise is boosting its lunch menu with new panini, salads and a sandwich menu inspired by New Hope's famed thoroughfares.

So now you can order a Bridge Street (pate compagne with cornichons, mustard, chutney, onion and greens on baguette), Riverwoods Drive (white tuna salad on croissant), or the outrageous New Street (peanut butter and bacon on white toast with fig jam).

Zoubi will also offer new hoagies, grinders and other lunch specialties, along with free local delivery with a minimum $20 order (a move that will extend their sales range to merchants and businesses at, for example, nearby Union Square and beyond)

Says head honcho and pastry chef extraordinaire Shawn "Cakes" Lawson, "We're always trying new things and adapting to meet the needs of the community."

At around $6.00 a pop, the new sandwich selection should deliver even more Zoubi bang for the buck.

But do the sandwiches match the personalities of their asphalt namesakes? You can decide.

Meanwhile, I'll have a Route 202 (old fashioned meatball sandwich).

New and W. Mechanic Streets, 215-862-1156.

Movie Makeup Artist to Unveil New Hope PA Locale

By Charlie Sahner

Now this could get interesting.

What I thought was going to be just another makeup/cosmetics/beauty store looks like it may become a unique phenomenon in the New Hope merchant biosphere.

First off: owner Delia De Cock has been a makeup artist for fashion, theater, TV, and has headed makeup departments for movies, which means she can retail regular cosmetics and offer beauty services to the general public with some authority.

What becomes intriguing is that she's also done special effects in films and is versed in permanent makeup, also known as "medical tattooing." That translates into tattooed, flawless looking eyeliner, lip liner and eyebrows that last for years, and also masking scars.

But De Cock can also make scars. Phony ones, thankfully, along with fantasy and aging makeup, facial and body hair simulation, prosthetics and a range of other exotic specialties borne of her special effects and character makeup training. And she'll offer all of these theatrical supplies and services to the public and professionals alike.

Being a block or two away from the Bucks County Playhouse and driving distance to other regional theaters should also boost De Cock's business prospects.

Although where De Cock might really rock is around Halloween time, and also doing drag.

A musician and fencer in her spare time, she turns out to have a friendly, flexible, down-to-earth personality, and has a cute family going, despite the edgy, fashion-savvy exterior.

Coming in a couple of weeks to 17 West Mechanic Street.

Any suggestions for a catchy name?

Lambertville Canal Creep Still at Large

By Charlie Sahner

Law enforcement officials continue to search for an unknown man that severely beat a Lambertville, N.J. woman 11 days ago as she jogged alongside the Delaware and Raritan Canal. She apparently fought back fiercely enough to send the attacker scurrying away down the towpath.

The July 1 attack took place just beyond Lambertville's border with West Amwell Township, and the motive remains unknown.

With police continuing to actively seek the assistance of the public and the suspect remaining at large, we asked the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's office whether the investigation was getting bogged down. Said spokesman Dan Hurley, "The investigation has not stalled. We continue to receive and track down numerous leads. The investigation remains active and being investigated on a daily basis.

"The New Jersey Park Police have stepped up patrols in the area," he added, "There is still considerable investigative work to complete and we continue to seek the assistance of the public as it is likely more than one person saw the suspect either prior to or after the crime."

Meanwhile, local towpath joggers seem to be taking extra precautions. Said one Lambertville woman, "I used to run early in the morning on the towpath, and I haven't been lately."

New Hope, P.A. Police Chief Mike Cummings confirmed that his department's increased foot patrols along the Delaware Canal towpath will continue indefinitely. While acknowledging that New Hope is fundamentally a "safe" town, Chief Cummings said the Department is staying vigilant and leaving no stone unturned in protecting the Borough's citizens. "Criminals don't have borders," he explained.

As if to underscore that point, Solebury Township, P.A. police on July 3 arrested Javier Aliel Lopez Marroquin, 26, of Hamilton, N.J., and charged him with indecent exposure and open lewdness.

Marroquin was observed exposing himself along the banks of the Delaware River near Route 32 and Aquetong Road at approximately 4:00 pm on July 3. Solebury Police had issued a warning just the day before that "over the past week incidents involving indecent exposure on the Pennsylvania side of the Towpath" had occurred. At least one of those incidents may have taken place well north of the arrest area, past the Bridge at Rabbit Run on Route 32 in Solebury, according to sources.

Said Dan Hurley of the jogger investigation, "We responded to the recent arrest on the PA side of the river and are looking at all past incidents looking for similarities. We have not ruled out anybody at this point in time as it relates to the potential suspects in this attack."

Readers with any information or tips on the jogger case can contact the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s office at 908-788-1129.

New Hope PA Sidetracks Art Gallery Presents "Moby Dick on the Delaware" Starting this Weekend

By Charlie Sahner

New Hope Sidetracks Art Gallery, inspired by the lost white beluga whale that traveled up the Delaware a few years ago, is bringing “Moby Dick on the Delaware” to New Hope all summer long. Featured are the “Moby Dick Suite” of painter and print-maker Bert Yarborough of New Hampshire and Provincetown; the aluminum sculpture, paintings and ink drawings of Timothy Woodman of Provincetown; and one major color lithograph from “The Passion of Ahab” by Benton Spruance, the mid-20th-century American lithographer. Also featured are works by 18 Sidetracks Gallery artists, many local.

The show opens Saturday July 10, with a public reception from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. Yarborough's work is particularly impressive and demonstrates the classic Sidetracks aesthetic.

New Hope Sidetracks Art Gallery neighbors the New Hope Arts Center at 2A Stockton Avenue, where Bridge Street meets the railroad tracks. 215-862-4586 for more info.

Sounds like a whale of a time! ;-)