Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Shops of North Main Street raise money, find homes for Bucks County pets
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| New Hope shops raise money for Bucks County SPCA |
The Bucks County SPCA brought both dogs and cats to the adoption event, and organizers say that all of the animals found homes. BCSPCA Executive Director Anne Irwin and Director of Education and Outreach Nikki Thompson were on hand to accept the donation.
Businesses who raised funds for the four-legged friends included Dunkin’ Donuts, New Hope Shoes, Ginnie Burke Collections, Cockamamie’s, Ferry Hill Treasures & Gifts, Topeo, Top Notch Accessories, Village Toy Shop, and La Bella Vita.
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| (L to R) Herb Millman (Cockamamie’s) and new family member Parker, Ginnie Burke (Ginnie Burke Collections), Robert Seneca (Topeo), Nikki Thompson of BCSPCA (top), Leslie Gauthier of Village Toy Shoppe (bottom), Anne Irwin (BCSPCA), Candace Paryzer (La Bella Vita) and Joe Young (Dunkin’ Donuts) helping Bucks County animals find homes |
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Friday, October 17, 2014
Another fall foliage photo on Solebury Mountain
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| Fall foliage on Solebury Mountain in Solebury, PA (Photo: Charlie Sahner) |
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Rendering of proposed Playhouse Inn in New Hope PA next to Bucks County Playhouse
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| Rendering of proposed Bucks County Playhouse Inn in New Hope |
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Pic: New Hope Pa sunset
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| New Hope PA sunset (Photo: Charlie Sahner) |
This was taken at sundown from the cemetery at St. Martin of Tours, now New Hope Borough Hall.
Friday, July 25, 2014
A pleasant return to New Hope PA
Along with cool mornings and sometimes unpredictable gardens, the bees seem to have come back...this one near the gate of the former Towpath House.
Friday, July 18, 2014
Chamber of Secrets, Part II: Will New Hope business group’s prospects for the future be haunted by its past?
By Charlie Sahner
Conversations with leading Chamber of Commerce officials in recent weeks reveal an organization with no shortage of enthusiasm for improving the prospects of New Hope businesses. But can the business group get where it needs to go without accounting for past irregularities in the wake of recent revelations about financial problems?
And, despite the recent tightening of chamber disbursements by Treasurer Grover Stults, fundamental ethical compliance and control procedures remain absent.
One common ethical compliance procedure and Internal Revenue policy revolves around record retention. An examination of New Hope Chamber of Commerce Federal tax returns from 2006-2012 (2013 has not yet been submitted) shows numerous preparers indicating that the organization had a document retention policy, and also provides detail on which officer was charged each year with maintaining statements and records.
Nonetheless, the inability of current and former chamber officials to detail budgetary and tax return line items or produce records, along with an examination of available chamber documents, appear to reveal that substantial financial and cultural history may be missing. One example: current chamber leadership cannot provide detail on whom held officer, board and committee positions in recent years.
Said Treasurer Stults, “Roger [Green] can probably get your lists of responsible parties, because I fail to have them.”
Asked if the chamber currently has a record retention policy, a conflict of interest policy, and/or a competitive bidding policy on contracts and other expenditures, Stults replied, “We are redrafting the bylaws and other policies and rules of conduct to document more stringent operating procedures for those who will follow in our footsteps.”
In fact, the chamber doesn’t appear to have ever had a conflict of interest policy, according to tax returns, along with “whistleblower”, prejudice, equal opportunity employment, or harassment policies.
Said Chamber President Green, “We cannot categorically state whether the Chamber has a record retention policy, conflict of interest policy, or competitive bidding policy on contracts and other expenditures. We can state that if such policies exist, they do not appear pervasive in the Chamber’s day-to-day activities and decisions.
“Also, we can state that historical records one would normally expect to find at a longstanding Chamber of Commerce are not readily available in the New Hope Chamber,” added Green.
“We are committed to enacting a complete set of policies that promote clarity and transparency before the end of this Board’s term in March,” he continued. “We expect to approve a system of financial guidelines at our meeting next Tuesday. We have assembled draft guidelines for how to conduct completely transparent elections, and hope to complete these within the next one to two months. We welcome help from our members and the entire Greater New Hope community in identifying items to include in our fundamental set of ethical compliance and control procedures.”
Identifying a set of procedures should not prove daunting. A quick glance at internet resources reveals several compliance plans from chambers around the nation. One group with its ethical policy act already together is the South Columbia County Chamber of Commerce in Oregon. Back in 2006, they published an excellent code of ethics policy online, and the document begins, “Chambers have only one class of stakeholders…Members. The Chamber must earn the respect and trust of its Members. Trust is earned with routine ethical behavior, built around honesty and fairness.
“Members are not just customers,” the document continues. “Members expect more value and deserve more respect than is available in the typical customer interaction. Directors and Staff have a fiduciary responsibility to all members…Service differentiates; democratic control provides a decision making environment that elevates creating value for the Members above profit accumulation at the Chamber.”
Green apparently shares that concern for creating member value, saying, “When this Board assumed leadership on April 1, our top priorities were to stabilize Chamber finances and build bridges to other organizations that are our natural partners. We have made great strides in these areas already.
“Long-term critical success factors include building a system of clarity and transparency and determining better ways to support our members in their pursuits to build high-value, successful businesses in New Hope and the surrounding towns,” he continued.
Another ethics-related question on the Federal income tax form 990 typically submitted by chamber tax preparers requires a declaration of any family or business relationships between officers, directors and key employees. While a review of available tax records indicates this line has always been checked “no,” anecdotal information suggests that this may not have always been the case and, yet again, information on specific processes and transactions is scant.
And there are other line items in Chamber of Commerce tax filings dating back several years, including relatively large expenditures referred to simply as “parties,” “award ceremonies,” “awards,” “PR,” “advertising,” “technology,” and “art show,” among others, that lack meaningful breakouts. One example would be the Arts and Crafts Festival, which grew from revenue of roughly $70,000 in 2010 to $80,000 in 2013, while event expenses exploded from $17,000 to $40,000.
When queried about festival expenses, Chamber Secretary and Arts and Crafts Committee Chair Linda Rowe said, “While I would love to answer your questions regarding finances that was not my job with the show! Since I started on the committee, I have been solely responsible for the logistical side of the show. I can tell you that over the past three years we incurred additional expenses when we had to move the venue from North Main Street to Union Square one year and then to the school the past two years!”
But the cost of additional security, transportation, and rental expenses still doesn’t add up when trying to account for the rapid growth in event expenses, and current chamber leaders who can speak with any specificity to that point are hard to find.
Examples of other anomalies visible in chamber tax records over time include employees that appear incorrectly designated as “consultants,” late IRS filings and/or use of EZ versions of IRS forms, and funds earmarked for fireworks being used for other expenses or fireworks expenses being listed as chamber expenses during periods when the organizations may have been separate.
For those interested in reading the information for themselves, New Hope Chamber of Commerce tax returns from 2006 to present are available online.
Asked the difficult question of whether or not chamber leadership currently has total control over its finances, Green said, “Operating under the Draft Financial Guidelines prepared by our Treasurer and President, the Board believes we have complete control on all expenditures going forward. We do not have a complete, clear understanding of all the various financial transactions and decisions that occurred before we came together as a Board this past April.”
Accountant Peter Augenblick, who prepared the chamber’s tax returns in 2012 and 2011, would not return phone calls seeking information.
Asked about prior budget expenditures and other financial matters, Chamber Treasurer Stults sidestepped more than 15 questions posed by this reporter, saying “Fifteen is a BIG number. Are you willing to compensate me at $200 per hour to find your answers?”
Stults goes on to say, “It is my additional goal to give Linda [Rowe] and Sharon [Flanagan] the support they need to orchestrate another successful Arts & Craft Show. I appreciate your focusing on the past, while I am charting a course for a successful future.” Rowe, Flanagan, and a former chamber president were at the center of a controversy involving cash awards received at a 2013 ceremony.
While the desire to move on during a crisis and focus on the future
is not unusual, can the New Hope Chamber of Commerce fully move forward
on its vital quest without a thorough accounting to the business
community of what went on in the past?
Time will tell. But Green says he’s committed to operating more transparently.
“Within the week, we will announce a date for a community meeting
at which all Greater New Hope businesses, whether Chamber members or
not, can come ask questions and state their opinions about how the
Chamber can serve the community,” he said. This will be the first of a
regular series of open meetings.”
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Chamber of secrets: controversy swirls around cash awards to New Hope business group officials at 2013 holiday party
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| New Hope Chamber of Commerce office (Photo: Charlie Sahner) |
By Charlie Sahner
It was a relatively warm, dry evening during an otherwise cold and
stormy winter as Roger Green, then vice president of the New Hope
Chamber of Commerce, sat at an event registration table in the Raven,
greeting arriving guests at the business group’s annual holiday party.
“I am given this stack of checks to review,” continued Green. “I look at the first couple of checks, I know what they are, I know why they’re there, and I assume we are operating in an honorable system where people wouldn’t do anything like cut themselves checks without approval.
“The first check is to the restaurant for the party, and the second one was a check for the awards, by which it is meant the plaques and statues that were given out at the party,” Green continued.
“And then there were a couple of other checks, then the four checks to some individuals on the bottom. So I just sign them, because I know what the first two are, and we’re committed and the party’s going on.”
What Green didn’t know at the time was that “the co-chairs of Arts and Crafts authorized disbursements of $3,600 of cash awards. The two co-chairs (Connie Gering and Linda Rowe) and Sharon Flanagan each received a $1,000 award, and Linda Rowe was authorized to convert $600 into ‘crisp bills’ to be given to key Committee members,” according to a document Green later prepared in December, 2013 entitled “Financial Problems.”
That document was purportedly shown to then-president Connie Gering, board member Brandon Wind, long-time chamber member and official Sharon Flanagan, and the chamber office manager, among others, in various forms in the weeks following the Holiday Party.
Confirmed Rowe in a statement, “The $600 was given to the six committee members at $100 each. The awards were given at the annual holiday party to the entire committee.”
Green says he found out that something was wrong with chamber finances some ten days following the Holiday Party on Dec. 14, when he received a call from Gering saying there was an immediate monetary shortfall that needed to be addressed.
Soon thereafter, Green and then-secretary Flanagan began “investigating all charges to determine what had gone wrong,” documents show.
Says Green, “Connie claimed that the chamber was out of money because Nick [Gialias] had been an inept treasurer, and therefore he should immediately be fired and taken off the board, and she should be able to fix it. Nick said ‘Connie has been in the books, she’s been using the debit card despite my repeated request not to, and for all these reasons, we can’t get a handle on this thing.’”
As Green continued probing, evidence quickly revealed that one of the award checks in question had been given to Flanagan.
Says Green, “I think most intense moment for me was when I found out they had cut themselves these checks. To me that was unimaginable behavior.”
“The other amazing moment was going through the budget and finding that the holiday party was never in the budget, and having Sharon Flanagan tell me ‘no, it was included in with the holiday event.’ And then going through the line item on the holiday event and noticing that there was nothing on the line item that looked like it could have been for the holiday party,” he continued.
Gering disagrees: “Included in the Arts and Crafts event budget was a projected $5,000 for “coordinating fees” to cover management expenses. A precedent was that the coordinator of Restaurant Week had always been paid, as had some of the people working on Friday Night Fireworks.
“As mentioned above, the event budget including these fees was approved by the Executive Board and was included in the Budget that was approved by the Board,” added Gering. “Because of the hard work done by committee members thereby bringing in the event under budget, checks totaling $3,600 were awarded to committee members, myself included. If there was a mistake, it was that these were noted as “Awards” and presented at the Holiday Party. “
Gering also disputes the assertion that the holiday party was not properly accounted for in the chamber budget, saying, “Each event committee of the Chamber develops a budget for that event. These budgets break down projected revenue and expense categories. So, for example, the Arts and Crafts budget breaks down anticipated expenses for things like advertising, supplies, rentals, etc.
“These budgets are then reviewed and approved by the Executive Board. The projected totals for revenue and expenses are then included as event line items in the Chamber’s annual budget, which is then reviewed and approved by the entire Board. All event budgets are sent to the Treasurer and are available for review by any Board member or Chamber member.”
In terms of approvals needed for actually spending budgeted funds, Gering states, “Once the event budget has been reviewed and approved per the above process, the event committee has the responsibility and authority to make purchases and commit funds within the total budget for that event; it does not have to take each expenditure back to the Board or Treasurer for approval since this would be onerous and inefficient; again, with the provision that the event committee is not going over budget. Chamber bylaws state ‘If a Committee budget has been approved, the committee Chair shall sign invoices to authorize actual disbursements.’”
Gering also said that then-treasurer Nick Gialias indicated the chamber’s budget was “on track” at both the October and November board meetings of 2013, right before the Holiday Party at the center of the controversy. Gering argues that this shows Gialias knew about the expenditure for the holiday party and that money spent on the event was not the direct cause of the chamber’s financial mess.
Responded Gialias, “That refers to the annual budget, and the items that were budgeted; this doesn’t include items that were not budgeted, nor approved, and just spent without any approval.”
Rowe said, “The awards are budgeted by the committee and approved by the board of directors at the May board of directors meeting and the 2013 A&C budget did allow for this.”
Rowe currently holds the position of secretary on the chamber’s board of directors. “The top three people were to be awarded $1000 each, which I did question,” she added.
“According to Sharon Flanagan, the co-chairs considered these expenses within their purview to authorize without further Board discussion,” reads a section of “Financial Problems.” Flanagan was a member of the 2013 Arts and Crafts committee of the chamber, and has held a variety of positions on the chamber board over the years, in addition to her role helping manage the annual festival.
The document goes on to say, “Chamber By-Laws permit expenditure up to the approved budget limit without line item approval from the Board or any Executive Officer. Sharon and Connie Gering both noted that there was a $3,500 line item for “Awards” in the approved Arts & Crafts Fair budget. Sharon asserted that the Chamber Board permitted these payments during discussions about Restaurant Week, when the Board “agreed to continue the discussion” about the appropriateness of paying volunteers at a later date. She further asserted that paying other groups for parties or dinners constituted an appropriate precedent for paying cash in this case,” continues the document.
“An alternate interpretation might consider that self-dealing disbursements are a different ethical class of spending than any other,” asserts another passage from “Financial Problems.”
“The Arts & Crafts Chairs never alerted the Board that the “Awards” line item referred to payments to themselves,” the document continues. “Connie took a strong stand against paying volunteers when asking the Board to reabsorb Restaurant Week at our July [2013] meeting. The Board supported Connie’s stand by voting to reabsorb Restaurant Week, expressly because “it was wrong” to pay volunteers. Finally, the co-chairs never asked the Board or Executive Committee to confirm their interpretation of their right to make these disbursements.”
Said Gialias, “Just because you put a vague budget item in your budget, it still needs to be expensed, and that was never done here.”
“All event budgets are supposed to be submitted to the treasurer for review. In this case, no event budget to my knowledge was sent for the holiday party.”
Further, says Gialias of the budgeting process, “These are estimates going in and they’re not very detailed. The purpose of having the treasurer approve them at the time they’re wanted is because you need a more detailed explanation of what those expenditures actually are when you fully realize them, and they need to be accompanied by invoices and receipts.”
In terms of the belief that a committee chair can sign invoices, Gialias says, “No, that’s wrong. The committee chair doesn’t do that, the treasurer does that.
“You have the ability to authorize, but you can’t cut the check for it, that has to be done by the treasurer.”
Gialias further contends, “The thing I take issue with is that committees can disburse their own funds by signing checks. That’s not true. The treasurer must sign the check, unless there’s a situation where the treasurer can’t sign the check, in which case he’ll appoint someone like the vice president and a co-signer on the account.” In fact, Gialias’ trip abroad in December, 2013 caused him to appoint then-vice president Green as signer of the fateful Holiday Party checks.
Commenting on the state of chamber finances immediately after the Holiday Party, Gialias said, “We had gone from around $8,800 to $300 without me as a treasurer approving any expenses. I was shocked to see that, and that it all happened within a week.”
“Later, we discovered the cost of the holiday party, which I recall being $3,500, and I had a major problem with that because it’s way too much to spend for this kind of event at this kind of organization, where we really don’t have that kind of money,” he continued.
Gering sees different reasons for the chamber’s budgetary shortfall: “In January, Sharon [Flanagan] reported to the Board that what she found there was approximately a $10,000 deficit in our last fiscal year that was carried forward but wasn’t noticed because the revenue generated by the Arts and Craft Show provided the necessary operating cash. (Note last year, the A&C show netted the Chamber approx. $58,000; we were able to come in under budget on the expense side by approximately $4,794 due to the hard work of the committee members.”
Flanagan bolsters the view that debt from previous chamber administrations weighed heavily on chamber finances and contributed to the group’s near-insolvency in December in a memo to fellow board members obtained by the Free Press. “We weren’t doing well. Because of treasurers long past, we are playing catch up. But that doesn’t mean that there is a problem.”
“We have an accountant as treasurer who will make sure that we are compliant and back on track again, explained Flanagan. “Past chamber boards have taken on more expenses than we could sustain, given our income, and it finally caught up with us with the last chamber board.
“The money maker that drives the Chamber is the New Hope Arts & Crafts Festival, which is a healthy ongoing event, unless something is done that undercuts that,” continued Flanagan. “If someone else takes over, it will likely take 8 years to rebuild it, because that is what it has taken to build it from a $6000 profit to a $58,000 profit, and the quality will likely degrade, as it has for so many art festivals that are run by impersonal entities. And the chamber will get a small amount of the profits.”
In her memo to the board, Flanagan sees other reasons for the chamber’s precarious December financial situation: “Fireworks was in the black, the [holiday] tree was not. We have not received grants that we expected to receive, so that has hurt. Especially for the holidays.
“Having been included in this, as I should be, I just want to know what the problem is?” she asks.
Rowe said she believes that chamber treasurers for the past four years have been “well-intentioned” but “in over their heads,” saying she also “over the past two years, asked for an audit of the books to be done at the change of office.”
Said Gialias, “In a non-profit organization, I think it’s especially important that we’re transparent and everything sees the light of day. We have a very clear policy that all expenses run through the treasurer. This is important not only to make sure things are honest, but also helps to manage the cash flow of the organization that particular committees may or may not be aware of, and in this case, this was not done.
“I think we’ve had a very clear policy of that dating back to [chamber treasurers] Bill Scandone and Ryan Fuller, where all expenses have to be approved by the treasurer, whether it’s debit card, which we regulated very highly, or whether it’s a written check,” added Gialias.
In his opinion, the “$10,000 carryover debt” described by some others was not the main issue contributing to the chamber’s cash crunch in December of 2013. “Issues like that can be fixed and addressed,” he said.
“I’ve really worked very hard on making the chamber an organization that is solely focused on doing things to help the business community here, and I would like to see us continue on that path,” continued Gialias. “We have to make sure things like this don’t occur in the future.”
According to the “Financial Problems” document, “Linda and Connie deposited their checks shortly after the Holiday Party. They subsequently made full restitution of their $1,000 awards when notified by Roger (and, in Connie’s case, Brandon Wind) that the Board intended to pursue disciplinary action unless the money was returned. Upon learning that the Chamber was essentially out of funds, Sharon chose not to deposit her check, and it was subsequently destroyed.”
The notification by Green to Gering took place at a meeting attended by board member Brandon Wind, according to Green and two additional sources who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation. Wind would not comment.
Said Green of the meeting, “We told Connie that if she didn’t give the money back, we were going to take the case to the general membership.”
Gering did not address the alleged meeting in her statement, but in the past has said she stepped down from the chamber presidency last winter to more fully be able to attend to her duties as newly-elected New Hope Borough Council member.
Green, slated to take over as president of the chamber in April, assumed the position some three months early. “By February we were on our way to a better place financially,” he said.
Grover E. Stults took over as treasurer of the New Hope Chamber of Commerce on April 1, 2014. A Certified Public Accountant by trade, with a reputation for candor, he recalled his first remarks to the chamber leadership: “I’m the new sheriff around here.”
“I want documentation of expenses; I want to see an invoice; and I want to see an invoice from the chairman saying we received the items that we were billed for,” he recalls saying.
“I have full access to everything, and I’m here to say I want to make sure it goes to the betterment of the business community of New Hope,” he continued.
“We’re not handing out debit cards like tissue paper. We have them, and we’re not handing them out,” Stults remembers saying, along with a phone call to the chamber’s bank: “I don’t care where they are, Mr. Banker, cancel them right now. This is a non-profit organization that needs to have controls, and until I figure out what’s going on, cancel the cards.”
In terms of the current state of chamber finances, Stults said, “We’re solvent, we’re back on our feet, and Roger and the board are cooperating with my suggestions.”
“We’re making changes,” he added.
One change that would be welcomed by many chamber members interviewed for this article would be smaller allotments for meetings, member events and parties involving expenditures for food and other refreshments. One chamber official estimated that expense as representing nearly 40% of membership dues collected.
Said prior treasurer Gialias, “It’s way too much. I could see 4%.”
Said Green of the controversy, “The chamber serves at the will of, and in support of, the businesses in New Hope. That requires a standard of us, it requires that we operate in sunlight at all times, it requires that we have a stable financial footing, it requires that we have dialogue with our members, and it requires that we act with a vision of what we can do to support our members.
“The view used to be that the chamber runs events that bring people to town. In pursuit of that, they would buy products and services online to get them cheaper than through businesses in town that sell the same thing — we don’t do that anymore,” said Green.
“They figured that once they created events, that was the end of the story, so we would have food trucks at the Arts and Crafts Festival that competed with people who sold the same thing in town, and who were not allowed to put food trucks there. That won’t happen anymore.
“The view of the chamber that I inherited was that it was basically an events company centered around the Arts and Crafts Festival and Fireworks, which bring people to town, but that’s the end of our responsibility,” he added.
“So we’re overhauling the events so that they not only strengthen the image of the town, but also bring and keep people here to enjoy everything that the town has to offer.
“Secondly, the chamber is not a club, it’s a service organization, and it needs to reach out to other organizations that are important to the businesses of New Hope,” Green said. “We started working jointly with the Lambertville Chamber of Commerce and more closely with the borough manager here in New Hope. We have an expanded view of who we are and what we’re doing, and we’re putting in place the financial controls necessary to do that and to be able to provide a transparent look at the financials of the chamber, because if we’re going to ask for people’s trust and money, we need to do that,” he added.
“This Chamber has done many good things for New Hope,” said Green. “New Hope Celebrates was spawned in the Chamber. The Arts & Crafts Show has become a tremendous success, abetted by the efforts of a dedicated group of volunteers seeking nothing for themselves but to help our community. The Chamber-sponsored Fireworks have improved the regional reputation of New Hope, and, I expect, will return next year with a program designed to support our merchants better,” continued Green.
“Nonetheless, the business community of New Hope has operated with varying degrees of distrust and skepticism toward the chamber for years, and unfortunately I think that these episodes show that was not inappropriate.
“And while I was not a direct participant, I am the president of the organization, and I want to apologize to the members because I feel they were not treated appropriately, and they were not given the transparency they deserve nor, frankly, the focus on what makes their businesses do best,” he said.
“Accountability and transparency are the only ways to run a business,” added Green. “We will make sure that every single penny is accounted for, and we’ll make sure every voice is heard. I believe we’re doing the things necessary to earn your trust and rebuild the chamber.”
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Despite admitting he was ‘man in white van’, suspect in alleged Solebury child luring not charged by Bucks County DA
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| Solebury Township Police circulated this photo of a van similar to that of the suspect during their May manhunt |
By Charlie Sahner
A Perkasie man who confessed to Solebury Township Police that he was the operator of a white van involved in an alleged child luring attempt, and who was also questioned on a similar purported incident by a Pennridge Regional Police officer, will not be prosecuted by the Bucks County DA’s Office.
The decision appears to be based on a legal technicality and the results of a polygraph test, according to interviews with law enforcement officials and publicly available information.
On May 13, Solebury Township Police said they received a report of an incident during which a white male in a white van allegedly attempted to convince three boys in the North Pointe development to approach his vehicle so he could “give them a basketball.”
The three boys, aged approximately 10-11, had been playing in a residential driveway when approached, were immediately suspicious, and told their parents.
Four days later, Solebury Township police say they were alerted to a purportedly similar incident that was investigated by a Pennridge Regional Police officer. In that incident, three boys of similar age to the three involved in Solebury were also offered a basketball by the alleged suspect in his van while playing outside their home. The Pennridge officer apparently did not make an arrest, and the Pennridge Regional Police Department did not return a call from the Free Press seeking comment.
Subsequently, one of the boys involved in the Solebury incident was able to identify the alleged suspect in a photo lineup. At that point, according to Detective/Corporal Roy Ferrari of the Solebury Township Police, “The suspect confessed, and said he was a ‘scrapper’, and that he picks through garbage and finds sporting goods, which he offers to children.” He also indicated that “in Philadelphia, his gifts are appreciated,” said Ferrari.
Ferrari told the suspect, “I find your behavior in Solebury to be suspicious and alarming.” Solebury Police requested a charge of misdemeanor in the first degree for attempting to lure a child into a vehicle, they say.
But the Bucks County DA said the suspect’s actions were “not substantial” and that he would not prosecute, said Ferrari, “because when the [Solebury] kids ran away, he threw the basketball after them, although he originally said ‘come and get it’.” Additionally, said Ferrari, the suspect passed a polygraph test ordered by the DA’s office. The usefulness of polygraphs is the subject of some controversy among scientists.
Solebury Police Chief Dominick P. Bellizzie said he requested an explanation of the decision, and in a May 29 letter, the DA said that “he felt that the suspect’s actions didn’t warrant criminal prosecution because he never invited them into the car, and he left the ball behind when the children ran away.”
While Solebury Police were quick to underscore their respect for Bucks County DA David W. Heckler's decision, their frustration level is clearly running high. After an all-out manhunt by veteran Detective Ferrari quickly netted a suspect, the technicality of whether the suspect allegedly said “come over here” or “come inside” seems to have played a large role in the DA’s decision not to pursue charges.
The Bucks County DA’s office did not return phone calls seeking comment.
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
New Hope Borough Council president risks appearance of conflict of interest by not recusing herself from review of project next door
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| Proposed project site (foreground) and Claire Shaw’s property (background, fenced) |
Shaw disagrees: “I have no intention of recusing myself from the decisions on this project. The location of my property to the proposed site is not a conflict of interest and I find your suggestion that it may be, offensive.”
As previously reported, members of New Hope’s Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) were shocked at their June 3 meeting by Borough Council President Claire Shaw’s pronouncement that not only had their request to retain a structural engineer to assess the feasibility of preserving the former Odette’s restaurant been overruled, but also that “Council decided to handle this from this point forward.”
Getting a structural engineer to assess the cost of preserving the remaining portions of the historic 1784 structure is vital to HARB members because it lets them assess practicality of preservation efforts and their financial burden on the project applicant.
In response to questions by HARB members, Shaw asserted at the June HARB meeting that, ”We are not really getting a study, we’re having an open house…council will then decide if we want to request a formal structural report. Based on what we see and hear, the seven of us will decide what to do next.” Council and HARB members attended a tour of Odette’s last week organized by the applicants although HARB members had asked to delay the tour until they first reviewed a valid structural engineer’s report.
Under further questioning on June 3, Shaw explained, “I think this was sort of taken out of your hands because they [the applicants] were not treated very fairly at the first go around with this board.”
HARB member Dee Dee Bowman responded, “We simply stated that we did not think their report was adequate.”
“Because of what transpired, right or wrong, Council decided to handle this from this point forward,” said Shaw.
But what Shaw did not mention was that she had already received a verdict by an outside structural engineering consultant indicating that the two previous structural reports contained “insufficient information to make an opinion” according to minutes of a May 13 meeting of Borough Council. At that meeting, Shaw mentioned she had received a decision from the engineering consultant that showed structural reports submitted by the applicant to be inadequate, and then initiated discussion of the planned tour or “walk-through” of the Odette’s property.
It is not clear whether HARB members were informed about the result of Shaw’s study, despite their continuing requests for a valid structural report. One HARB member who spoke on condition of anonymity because of their fear of retaliation indicated that they had never heard of it.
“What was taken out of ‘HARB’s hands’ was their request for an independent structural study. No advisory board has the authority to obligate or expend Borough funds. Only Council has that authority,” said Shaw.
“As I stated in a communication to Ian [Haight-Ashton] on April 25, 2014, ‘although I have been told HARB would like to ask questions of the engineer performing the analysis and offer direction on the structural study, this will now fall within Council’s jurisdiction. Of course, Council will share the structural study at the appropriate time.’ In my opinion, HARB was inappropriate in stating a demand for an independent study when, at that time, the previous studies completed by the applicant had not been provided to our engineer.”
But, of the three Borough Council members who responded to questions by the Free Press, all indicated they were not involved in any decision to take the review of the Odette’s proposal out of HARB’s hands. When queried whether he was asked about taking the Odette’s proposal away from HARB, Council Member Cliff Montgomery said, “I was never asked.” Montgomery also indicated he was not aware of any meeting or vote on the matter, and that he doesn’t think this matter should be taken out of HARB’s hands because they were “unfair” to the applicants.
Said Council Member Nick Gialias of the purported
council decision to take over responsibility for Odette’s review from
HARB mentioned by Shaw on June 3, “There was no meeting, no vote, and I
wasn’t involved.”
“I think the more informed we can be, the better we can
make a fair decision,” added Delevich. And despite Shaw’s assertion on
June 3 that “council decided to handle this from this point forward,”
Delevich said, “I am not aware that council has taken this over.”
Several colleges and universities with faculty specializing in
political, philosophical, and organizational ethics were contacted to
find out if they thought it’s a good idea for a public official to
recuse themselves from consideration of project next door to their
property to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.
Mark Cobb, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Humanities at
Bucks County Community College, said, “I do think it would be wise to
recuse themselves, generally speaking.”
Bill Pezza teaches at Bucks County Community College’s Social &
Behavioral Science Department, and his academic credentials include a
fellowship at the Robert A. Taft Institute of Government. He said,
“Generally, and without wishing to comment on the specifics of this
situation, elected officials have no more or fewer rights than any other
citizen and individual, and they’re elected to exercise judgment.
Generally, there may be a legal reason not to recuse, however, the
optics of it may dictate something different, and that’s ultimately up
to the elected official and the judgment of taxpayers. The most
important thing is that all of this is brought to the light of day, and
that people can exercise their judgement with full exposure to the
facts.”
James Abruzzo, Co-Director, Institute for Ethical Leadership at
Rutgers Business School, said, “Public officials have a responsibility
to every citizen to act in a disinterested manner. Inevitably, a
governing body must decide on a situation that could benefit one of its
members. In that case, there could be the appearance of a conflict of
interest. I am not qualified to decide if something is illegal, but it
could be construed as unethical. The best solution is for the person
involved to declare his conflict; to provide input into the situation if
asked; but to then remove himself from the voting process. This not
only removes the conflict, it removes the perception of a conflict.”
Linda K. Treviño is Distinguished Professor of Organizational
Behavior and Ethics, and Director of the Shoemaker Program in Business
Ethics in the Smeal College of Business at Penn State where she has been
on the faculty since 1987. Her research and writing on the management
of ethical conduct in organizations is widely published and recognized
internationally.
She also agreed that not recusing oneself from consideration of a
project next door to one’s property could prove problematic for a public
official. “Generally speaking, at minimum, there is the appearance of a
conflict of interest.”
Saturday, June 7, 2014
11-year-old boy allegedly shot with pellet gun by clerk at Guy Stuff store in New Hope
The 11-year-old son a New Hope restaurant owner alleges he was shot in the back by a counter clerk at Guy Stuff in the Four Seasons Mall, 32 S. Main St., at approximately 6:30 p.m. as he attempted to depart the store after being asked to leave.
According to the alleged victim, the purported assailant then stated, “Well, I told you to leave” in response to his scream of pain. The gun appeared to be a spring piston type BB or pellet pistol said the youngster, who also said he was shot at a distance of five feet.
New Hope Police questioned the boy extensively after he fled to his father’s restaurant on South Main Street, then left, saying they were going to pay the store in question a visit. They did not return during the time this reporter was on scene and no arrest was apparent. Police were not able to be reached for comment as of press time.
A Guy Stuff counter person confronted with the allegation refused to comment. Another sharpened a hatchet while making eye contact with this reporter. The store manager, who claimed not to be present during the incident, said of the wounded child, “He is known to be a very big liar.” Store owner Jason Glazier was not immediately available for comment.
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
HARB meeting shocker: New Hope Borough Council takes Odette’s proposal out of historic review board’s hands
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| New Hope Borough Council President Claire Shaw (file photo) |
By Charlie Sahner
New Hope’s Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) considered a conceptual plan April 1 that would see the remains of the famed but flood-ravaged Odette’s cabaret club torn down and replaced with a four-level “boutique” hotel/banquet hall designed to look like a 19th century paper mill. Shaw lives in a home once occupied by the original “Odette” next door to the site.
During that previous meeting, HARB questioned the assertion of the applicant — investment group Gateway to New Hope, LLC — that restoring the original Odette’s wasn’t possible, and that “the only way to go” was to level the existing site dating back to 1794, and attempt to utilize some original fragments of wood and stone in a massive new construction.
HARB also decided to appoint a new structural engineer in conjunction with Gateway to New Hope to assess whether the original building could be salvaged prior to touring the site and reviewing the historical appropriateness of the proposed plan.
HARB Chairperson Iain Haight-Ashton punched a hole in that concept early in Tuesday night’s meeting, saying “Everything right now is in the hands of Borough Council” while introducing an agenda item requested by HARB member Jeff Frydman of South Main Street.
Frydman raised a concern that the informational tour of the Odette’s building by members of HARB would apparently be conducted prior to receipt of the report from the structural engineer.
“The decision has already been made and we have to stand behind it,” replied Haight-Ashton.
“I don’t understand why we don’t have a structural engineers report when we go into the building,” said Fydman.
Said Haight-Ashton, “It’s important to have this information in front of us…but, that being said, I respect what Council has done.”
“Why can we just advise Council to get the [structural] report and take a look?” asked Frydman.
“Because Council made that decision and, you know, when the air is all you’ve got to breathe, I’m sorry,” replied Haight-Ashton, shrugging his shoulders.
Shaw, who was present in the audience, said in response to questions by HARB members,”We are not really getting a study, we’re having an open house…Council will then decide if we want to request a formal structural report. Based on what we see and hear, the seven of us will decide what to do next.”
“So, what is our role now?” asked Frydman.
“Your role?” responded Shaw. “To be HARB. I think this was sort of taken out of your hands because they [the applicants] were not treated very fairly at the first go around with this board.”
“We were very fair, and we were honest, and we were going according to guidelines, Claire. We did not do anything unfair,” shot back HARB member Dee Dee Bowman. “We simply stated that we did not think their report was adequate.”
“I wasn’t there, I can only speak to what I heard,” retorted Shaw.
“Did you ask any of us?” queried Bowman.
“Because of what transpired, right or wrong, Council decided to handle this from this point forward,” said Shaw.
“So, we’ve been fired,” responded Frydman.
“No, bypassed,” asserted another HARB member.
“The president of council believes we bullied applicants, which is patently false,” asserted Bowman. “If you had interviewed any one of us prior to accepting that statement then you would have known what actually happened.”
In fact, in a document obtained by the Free Press entitled “Harb Update,” Haight-Ashton refers to a meeting that occurred around May 11 with Shaw and Council Vice-President Rey Velasco that was held “to discuss concerns regarding the current historical structures report from the Gateway Group on the Odette’s property.
“Claire and I are on the same page,” continued Haight-Ashton. “No matter what was said at the last HARB meeting regarding this report, the final outcome is that Claire announced at Tuesday’s council meeting that she will be giving the contract out to Cook & Brown Associates to do a new report.”
Haight-Ashton went on to state, “I would have liked to see the structures report completed and used as a guide during the open house, but the decision on the order was out of my jurisdiction. We are all passionate volunteers with a great respect for history. Regretfully, we sometimes have to put aside our passions for the sake of solutions.”
Addressing Shaw near the end of Tuesday’s meeting, Frydman said, “I just want to be clear that I think we all agree there has to be a [structural] report.”
“Well, we don’t know that there’s going to be one, Jeffrey, at this point” said Shaw. “And that’s where it sits.”
Thursday, May 22, 2014
GOV. CORBETT QUITS FIGHT AGAINST SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
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| (L to R) Rev. Michael Ruk of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, New Hope Councilwoman Geri Delevich and Ted Martin, head of Equality PA (Photo: S. Casano) |
By Charlie Sahner
“Given the high legal threshold set forth by Judge Jones in this case, the case is extremely unlikely to succeed on appeal,” Gov. Tom Corbett said in a press statement. “After review of the opinion and on the advice of my Commonwealth legal team, I have decided not to appeal Judge Jones’ decision.”
Executive Director of Equality PA Ted Martin reacted to the Governor’s decision:
“We sincerely thank Gov. Corbett for allowing this judgment to stand. Words cannot express what this means to the loving couples and families in Pennsylvania who have waited so long to be recognized. Marriage matters to all families, and we rejoice with them today.
“We also understand that what matters is not that we share the exact same beliefs with everyone in the commonwealth, but that we respect each others differences and treat everyone equally. That is why we appreciate what Gov. Corbett did today and we hope that we will be able to work together to continue to build bridges of understanding. Thank you for letting love win,” concluded Martin.
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Friday, May 9, 2014
PA Senate promotes ‘prompt legislative action’ on medical marijuana bill
Following an “informative” hearing earlier this year regarding legislation to legalize the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes, the Senate Law and Justice Committee will hold a second public hearing on the issue on June 10, Committee Chairman Sen. Chuck McIlhinney (R-10) said today.
The hearing would focus on an amendment to Senate Bill 1182, the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Act. The amendment is designed to ensure prompt legislative action on the bill.
“The first hearing in January offered a valuable opportunity to shine a light on this issue and remove any misconceptions about the legalization of medical cannabis,” said McIlhinney. “This approach now offers lawmakers an opportunity to narrow our focus and work toward a final product that can earn prompt consideration,” he added.
“I look forward to continuing the discussion of helping Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable through medical cannabis, and am hopeful for the advancement of Senate Bill 1182 before the current legislative session ends,” said Sen. Mike Folmer (R-48), who is the prime sponsor of Senate Bill 1182. “Education through medical testimony, as well as from individuals who could have a second chance for an improved quality of life, has been very beneficial, and I sincerely thank Senator McIlhinney for holding these hearings.”
The hearing is scheduled at 10 a.m. in the Capitol Building in Harrisburg.
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
New Hope retail roundup: Will Bucks County Caramel Corn Clusters dominate South Main snack scene? Plus bye-bye Verizon, hello Mohan
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| Bucks County Caramel Corn Clusters in New Hope (Photo: Charlie Sahner) |
First up: Bucks County Caramel Corn Clusters is holding its grand opening at 87 South Main St. on the weekend of May 3-4, having vacated its former West Bridge Street home. The new store has been renovated with no expense spared, and looks clean and inviting.
Owners confirmed they’re also taking on the space next store, previously occupied by New Hope Candle Shop, which will initially take the the form of a “coffee and gelato bar” that could ultimately morph into a cafe. All in all, this airy, well-lit snack spot with driven owners and top-notch interior design could become a dominant force in the competitive downtown food service sector.
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| Mohan’s new store |
New Hope Indian fashion mogul Mohan K. Mohinani has opened the doors of his new women’s and kid’s clothing mart in the former Beyond the Wall poster location on South Main Street. Signage will ultimately reveal its name, but if you haven’t had enough of Mohan’s unique fashion vision, this is more Mohan than you’ve ever dreamed.
Women’s fashion retailer Snapdragon has hung its shingle up the hill at 30 W. Bridge Street, the former Verizon store. A quick glance revealed a well-organized selection of women’s clothing, accessories, home goods and gifts.
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| Snapdragon at 30 W. Bridge St. (Photo: Charlie Sahner) |
New Hope’s own version of musical merchant chairs is sure to heat up even more as temperatures outdoors climb. Next up: what the heck are they planning on doing at 46 N. Main Street? Rumors are flying…
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Can’t decide what to drink? Here’s a few tips…
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| (Photo: Dan Engongoro) |
By Nick Gialias
How does one decide what to drink?
Sounds easy enough. But the process can range from simply buying the cheapest booze possible to spending weeks of pensive contemplation picking the perfect bottle.
Gone are the days of loyal consumer brands. Today’s drinker is more adventurous and looking to experience all the possibilities because there is incredible access to products from around the world that could never have been imagined 20 years ago. The Internet has afforded us access to information, and therefore learning and sharing of experiences.
The challenge nowadays is deciding what to purchase in the vastness of shelves and product displays. Who knows what all these bottles are? What if I waste money on the wrong thing?
First off, drinking should be fun. There’s alcohol in it for a reason, so relax.
Here is a short course in making better choices when picking out alcoholic beverages:
It’s about context — the WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY and HOW(s) of drinking.
WHO: Is it an intimate gathering with in-laws or a reunion of frat brothers?
WHAT: Are we eating a fancy meal or bar hopping?
WHERE: A private room at the cigar club or a back yard BBQ?
WHEN: Morning, noon or night?
WHY: Are we having a discussion about the dis/advantages of French vs. American oak or looking to catch a morning buzz over eggs benedict?
HOW: Are we using large crystal snifters or red solo cups?
Asking these questions and others helps make better beverage decisions by putting context in the proper perspective. While Chimay Blue might be a beer worth storing in the cellar to truly appreciate, a PBR makes more sense while floating on an inner tube down the Delaware River.
The second part of context is understanding the product via culture, geography, agriculture, and the cuisine of its representative region. Knowing a little bit about a place and its people can help one better understand what to expect. For example, in the U.S. we like “BIG”, so expect big beverages with strong flavors and high alcohol. We also like “clean” which translates to fruitiness in wines (sometimes with sugar, too), hoppy bitterness in beer, and the sweet flavors of vanilla and caramel in whiskey.
The same could be said for bottles coming out of the “New World” like South America, Australia and New Zealand. On the other hand, “Old World” (i.e. Europe) beverages (particularly wine and whiskey) often have a characteristic funkiness or earthiness to them. Although this style takes getting used to, there is much to appreciate when you discover its nuanced nature. Of course, these are generalizations since New World producers nowadays are creating Old World-style products and vice versa. However, this rule of thumb generally holds.
A basic guideline used in food and wine pairing helps put this into practice — “What grows together, goes together”. Take the Easter meal, for example. People will be getting together for brunch or early dinner with family and friends. This is a good time to try something different, see how it complements your meal, and learn what your family and friends like. Spend a bit of time thinking about the origin of the meal you’ll be enjoying and about the types of things your company appreciates. For example, if your company enjoys stinky cheeses, they may enjoy an old world wine from France or Italy. If they prefer mild cheeses, try something from the new world, like the California or Australia.
Pairing beverages with your meal is a lot of fun, and when a good match is found, it’s immensely satisfying. It’s worth picking up this month’s edition of Food & Wine magazine as an excellent reference for pairings. Enjoy the process of exploring and don’t be afraid to make a “questionable” choice; that’s all part of the experience. Even Aldo Sohm, Chef Sommelier of Le Bernardin, New York’s internationally acclaimed four-star seafood restaurant, will try six or more wines with a new dish to find the perfect pairing; and he’s an expert.
So give it a try. After a few drinks, simply catch a buzz and enjoy it.
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Luke Elliot to play John and Peter’s on April 18
Singer/songwriter Luke Elliot will be live in concert at John and Peter’s on April 18 at 9:30 p.m. (or thereabouts).
Elliot’s music has been steadily gaining more and more attention since his debut EP, “Death of a Widow,” was released by Yerbird Records in 2010. The EP gained him a dedicated fan base that followed him through a circuit of venues across the Northeast. The music, comprised of an eclectic mix of genres and ideas, gained him critical acclaim as an artist to pay attention to.
Beginning in New York’s Lower East Side, Elliot and his band quickly made their way from the dive bar scene to some of New York’s more popular venues, from the Mercury Lounge to the Bitter End.
“Sound is limitless,” says Elliot. “I feel like there are so many possibilities for each song. Every note, every verse is so subjective. It’s personal for the artist and for the person listening. I feel privileged to have the ability to do both, and would like to continue for as long as possible.”
John and Peter’s is located at 96 S. Main St. in New Hope.
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Playwright Christopher Durang to star in role he wrote for ‘Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike’ at Bucks County Playhouse
Playwright Christopher Durang (Photo: Susan Johann)
Playwright Christopher Durang, who won his first Tony Award in 2013 for his Broadway comedy Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, will make his debut in the role of Vanya when the play is presented at Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope. The production will run from July 17 to Aug. 10, it was announced.
The cast of the play, which is set in Bucks County, will feature Durang (in the role performed on Broadway by David Hyde Pierce), and Marilu Henner, best known for the long-running TV series Taxi. In Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Henner plays a B-movie star, and Durang portrays her long-suffering brother. Additional casting will be be announced.
The production is directed by Sheryl Kaller, director of Terrence McNally’s Mothers and Sons at Bucks County Playhouse.
An accomplished writer and actor, Durang is not the first playwright to perform in his own work at Bucks County Playhouse — he follows in the footsteps of Thornton Wilder, who made his acting debut in his landmark play Our Town 75 years ago when the Bucks County Playhouse first opened.
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Raven Restaurant in New Hope gets a makeover, revamps menu, hires up
The Raven Restaurant is updating its look and menu during a month-long
renovation, and will temporarily close its doors on April 14 to begin
work on the transformation. Meanwhile, the Raven Bar will continue to
serve lunch and dinner.
Complete article here.
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Dean Ween Group came on ‘like a freight train’ at John and Peter’s Wednesday night
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| Micky Melchiondo aka Dean Ween and group at John and Peter's in New Hope (Photo: Ralph Smith) |
By Ralph Smith
New Hope favorite son Mickey Melchiondo (aka Dean Ween) brought his Dean Ween Group to John and Peter’s in New Hope Wednesday night to warm up for their upcoming tour, which will kick off at the Otto Bar in Baltimore.
Having not known about the gig until reading about it on Facebook an hour before it was to start, I was not happy about going out in the rain and dragging myself downtown, but boy was I glad I did.
Considering the show wasn’t even announced till about 7 p.m., it was rather surprising that the place was so packed on a nasty Wednesday night, but when the band hit the stage at 10 p.m., it was standing room only.
And what a night of music it was.
The band whipped out a few more tunes four-piece including It’s Gonna Be a Long Night, eternal favorite Piss Up A Rope, Ode to Life, and My Own Bare Hands (all with Mick on vocals), then Moistboyz front man and long time collaborator Guy Heller popped onto stage for lead vocals.
From there on, they tore through an evening of old and new material — Ween songs like a steaming version of Gabrielle and A Tear For Eddie, plus a number of new originals which I believe were being played for the first time in public like Night Crawler (written by Mickey and a John and Peter’s bartender), Bums, and I’ll Take It Break It (a personal favorite), I’m Gonna Get High, and One For Garry. And just for good measure, a few cover tunes, the best of which was a great Sweet Jane complete with a long guitar intro.
I can’t say enough good things about this band: Guy Heller’s naked-to-the-waist, chain-smoking, man-on-fire act is as strong as any other front man in modern rock and his lyrics are brilliant. This was the group’s first gig and they only managed two days of rehearsal, but they came on like a freight train. Ray Kubian on drums, and New York City’s favorite bass player, Dave Dreiwitz, are a sledgehammer rhythm section. Ray’s solid, trip hammer beat is the perfect engine for the act and Dave’s wonderful, spot-on bass cannot be surpassed.
And the guitar playing…well, it’s just too good and their styles so different. Mick’s claw hammer, all-wrong style of playing is perfectly backed by Joe Kramer’s perfect fingering and delicate technique.So different, and yet they play like they are joined at the hip.
I can’t recommend this band highly enough. Check out their upcoming shows and make one if you possibly can. You won’t regret it.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Monday, March 17, 2014
Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope announces summer lineup, details restaurant plans
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| Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope (Photo: Charlie Sahner) |
By Charlie Sahner
Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope announced this week that its summer season for 2014 will include stage productions of Chapter Two, Deathtrap, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, and Ain’t Misbehavin’.
Playhouse officials also offered a glimpse at their new restaurant — a riverside cafe using joint arrangements with neighboring restaurants to offer small plates to accompany full bar service at tables along the Delaware River and Aquetong Creek.
The Playhouse’s production season starts with with Neil Simon’s romantic comedy Chapter Two, directed by Marsha Mason (who starred as ‘Jennie’ in the film version). Performances begin May 22 and run through June 15.
Running from June 19 through July 13 will be the comic thriller Deathtrap, written by suspense master Ira Levin (Rosemary’s Baby).
Later in July, Marilu Henner makes a return to the Playhouse in Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike by Christopher Durang. Henner plays the narcissistic movie star Masha, who surprises her siblings at their Bucks County home. Sheryl Kaller directs this comedy that won the 2013 Tony Award for Best Play. Performances run from July 17 through Aug. 10.
Lastly, come August the theater echoes with the songs of Fats Waller in Ain’t Misbehavin’. Directed by Hunter Foster and choreographed by Lorin Lotarro, the duo will attempt to recreate the Golden Age of Harlem nightclubs. Based on an idea by Murray Horwitz and Richard Maltby, Jr., the show runs from Aug. 14 until Sept. 7.
“We are thrilled to welcome Marsha Mason and Marilu Henner back to Bucks County this summer, and look forward to sharing these fantastic shows with our subscribers, neighbors and new friends,” said Robyn Goodman, executive producer of the Bucks County Playhouse, in promotional material posted to the organization’s website.
The Playhouse also provided greater detail on its riverside cafe, which will afford an outdoor dining and drinking experience along the banks of the Delaware River and Aquetong Creek. “We’re partnering with local restaurants in offering hot and cold small plates with our full bar before and after each show,” said the announcement. On a practical level, that means a portable bar will be moved out onto the existing rear deck of the building, which will serve as a staging area for service to customers at tables lining the waterways below, confirmed a Playhouse spokesperson.
First partner signed on? None other than Cafe Blue Moose, who will provide the food items in portable plastic containers. The system seems to neatly satisfy local ordinances and the county health department. Blue Moose is located within a few hundred feet of the Playhouse cafe, as is Nick Gialias’ much-anticipated eatery featuring small plates.
Playhouse officials also confirmed they will be featuring “an unplugged musical schedule showcasing local emerging musicians,” a move that should be well-received by municipal officials (it’s non-amplified and limited to the Playhouse front courtyard), warm weather music lovers, and local musicians looking for a new venue.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
New Hope-Solebury School District Facility Committee attempts to define scope of campus revitalization
By Charlie Sahner, New Hope Free Press
While the Facility Committee of the New Hope-Solebury School District
discussed several items at their meeting Tuesday night, including
updates on Field 13, the UES outdoor ‘pavilion’ learning center, and a
potential parking space lease with the owners of the proposed Odette’s
boutique conference center, the center ring was clearly occupied by an
attempt to reach a recommendation on the “level of campus revitalization
project.”
At stake is a multiyear, multimillion dollar overhaul of the School
District’s main campus on West Bridge Street that would address student
needs, repair and conserve existing infrastructure, and initiate
construction of other sections that will improve the functioning and
security of the UES, Middle School and High School. Most everyone agrees
that improved maintenance and security are desirable.
But the direction, cost and scope of the project has been the subject
of heated debate for some time, with several school board members
clearly setting their long-term sights on NH-S moving up in state
academic rankings, others wanting to prioritize updating the school
system’s sports facilities to ease what they perceive as congestion,
shortage of fields, and gender-based access equality concerns, and a
vocal group asking what all the construction is about and what it will
cost the taxpayers.
In the end, the Committee, with Chair Jonathan Adar keeping a firm
hand at the helm, narrowed possible revitalization recommendations from
three to two.
Said audience member and New Hope resident Mel Brand, “A lot of this
building is basically going to Solebury Township — the head of parks and
recreation wants space, and it’s going to be for their stuff after
school, that’s what it is.”
“Our first priority is to take care of the students; recreational
should be whatever is left,” said Ed Duffy, former New Hope Borough
Council Member.
School Superintendent Dr. Raymond Boccuti said, “After years of
looking at short- and long-term needs of the district, last evening at
the public board meeting, the facilities and finance committees were
directed to work together to move forward. So, we’re now working through
three design options to address all of these needs, and we took a step
forward tonight by focusing in on two of those options. After the next
Finance Committee meeting, I think the Facilities Committee will be
gearing up to make a formal recommendation to the School Board.”
looking at short- and long-term needs of the district, last evening at
the public board meeting, the facilities and finance committees were
directed to work together to move forward. So, we’re now working through
three design options to address all of these needs, and we took a step
forward tonight by focusing in on two of those options. After the next
Finance Committee meeting, I think the Facilities Committee will be
gearing up to make a formal recommendation to the School Board.”
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