Carved pumpkins depicting the Headless Horseman and Vanderbilt "V"

Who the Heck are We Supposed to Vote For?

Many voters in the New Hope PA Borough Council elections are still scratching their heads this weekend over whom to pick next week . If you think you know who you're voting for, please tell the rest of us what to do by clicking our anonymous survey link located in the upper right column of this page.

Shopping: Finkles Hardware in Lambertville NJ -- "The World's Most Unusual Hardware Store"

What can be said? Finkles Hardware in Lambertville, NJ is too awesome for words.

I've bought all kinds of things there over the years: an unusual Mexican florescent bulb I couldn't find anywhere else, a neat four-head screwdriver, a can of acrylic white house paint I used for priming oil painting canvas.

The owners say they specialize in "decorative and industrial hardware, plumbing and heating, electrical and lighting, and structural steel," and that "no project is too kooky for our staff."

One's first impression on entering is of a 1950s-era appliance store stacked to the rafters with cans, boxes, coils and bins filled with every mechanism, tool and part devised by mankind over the last, say, 75 years.

As Finkles website points out, "We have so much inventory that we stack it from floor to ceiling. No item is too hard to find!"

And if they don't have it, they'll special order it. I've found the staff to be friendly and knowledgeable over the years.

Those in the plumbing, electrical and construction fields have kept Finkles a trade secret for quite some time, but if you own an old home or if you just want to catch a glimpse of "The World's Most Unusual Hardware Store", visit 7 Coryell Street in Lambertville NJ, Monday to Saturday, 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., (609) 397 0914.

It's a Lambertville original!

Dining Out: Karla's Bar and Restaurant in New Hope PA

As I sat outside at Karla's Bar and Restaurant reading the lunch menu on a warm afternoon last weekend, I was happy to learn they'd won a Best of Bucks Award for 2009, and pleased to see a new, broader menu with more entres that looked intriguing. I was more surprised on closer inspection to see that they'd also lowered prices!

Let me get this straight: restaurant gets recognition, freshens up menu, and then lowers prices?

I asked manager Cynthia, "Is it me, or is this menu looking less expensive?"

"It's still tough out there," she said, referring to the overall economy. "We want to do our part for the customers."

Now, owner Louis is admittedly known more for being a shrewd, if not opportunistic businessman, than a philanthropist, but I was impressed to see this key downtown business doing something right and timely. Louis is smart, and he's a survivor.

I had a hot cider and cheddar burger, medium rare; my dining partner, the Greek salad with fresh bread. All solid. Nice view, attentive staff.

All you need at that point is Ricky behind the bar with fresh mint for Mojitos and an afternoon to kill.

Haven't seen the Locals Night menu yet; write in and let us know what you think!

Karla's is located at 5 West Mechanic Street in New Hope PA, 215-862-2612.

Superkind Woman and Parrot on West Mechanic Street, New Hope PA

Who is Bill Scandone and Why is He Running for New Hope PA Borough Council?

Last week, Bill Scandone left a flyer in my mailbox asking for my vote in the upcoming New Hope PA Borough Council election. Four seats are up for grabs this November, and for the first time in quite a while, it appears the Republicans have a full slate and are going to give the four Democratic incumbents a run for their money. Bill's one of the Republican upstarts this year, not that "Republican" or "Democrat" mean that much in a small town like New Hope.

The thing that caught my eye about Bill's flyer was that he listed his email address and phone number on it. Now, it's not unusual for smarter candidates to campaign door to door in the closing weeks of local elections, and to claim they want to "listen" to constituents' views, but they don't usually leave a personal calling card: billscandone@comcast.net or 215-595-6304.

So I emailed him, and he agreed to meet and talk about the campaign. I had seen "Scandone" signs around town, and had also heard there might be actual competitive races in the upcoming elections. Rumors have also abounded that a couple of high-ranking local politicos are promoting a candidate to depose one or more incumbents, partially motivated by last spring's bloodless coup in Borough Hall.

There's two things I learned about Scandone fairly quickly: he is actually listening to people, and he is running a serious campaign. When I met him, he'd already spent the morning at a local diner shaking hands by the front door.

A former head of International Compensation and Benefits for Pfizer, Scandone, 62, lives on Kiltie Drive, likes dogs, goes bicycling, knows lots about fixing the bike path that runs along the Delaware Canal. Bill had been President of the New Hope-Solebury Education Fund, where he helped raise money for worthwhile local teaching initiatives.

I asked whether he's aligned with any group or individuals involved in the Borough's opposing factions and alliances, and he said he's running because "I wanted to do more, to give back to the community."

"After speaking with those involved in Borough Council and the New Hope-Solebury School Board," says Scandone, "I felt I could be more impactful on Borough Council. I believe in the concept of social responsibility," he added. "I intend to be a public servant to this community, and I don't know if that's happening now."

One key element of Scandone's plank seems to be a concern for "revitalizing the downtown."

Says Bill, "There's many stores and galleries closed, and when they close, there's a snippet of the identity of New Hope that is lost."

I asked him why he felt residents should theoretically be concerned about the welfare of local shops and businesses. Replied Scandone, "As a resident I feel I have a vested interest [in the business community]. There has to be a balance. At the end of the day what you don't want vacant shops."

Scandone is not opposed to franchised businesses, as long as their identity meshes with that of New Hope, and he is especially interested in seeing more restaurants and galleries. Admittedly, his economic proposals do not appear overburdened with specificity at this point, but his basic approach is clear enough: he has lots of experience in negotiating and consensus building and believes he can bring the right people together to start "spreading the good word about New Hope."

"New Hope is at a crossroads and could be eclipsed by other places, and New Hope could financially lose out," he continued.

"I've got the time. I've got the experience. I really am committed to this."

Sure does seem to be the case. The weeks ahead will certainly hold unexpected twists and turns, but this much is for sure: Bill Scandone seems like a serious contender.

Dining Out: Kids Not Welcome Here

The New Hope PA restaurant above not only admonishes against parking nearby and using their restrooms if one is not a patron, but also makes it pretty plain with front door signage that, frankly, "kids aren't welcome here."

In this author's opinion, a ridiculous, unfriendly, impolite manner to treat our town's visitors. Most parents are nice enough to leave strollers parked outside, but if strollers don't fit, that means wheelchairs don't fit and evacuation in a fire could be interesting.

Funny thing is, the food's not bad, but not memorable, either. The lack of hospitality leaves an impression, though.

Below, two local restaurants that are kid-friendly.

Table Outside, Senor?

With temperatures soaring into the 70s, restaurants with outdoor seating in New Hope PA were in high demand. This popular destination just north of the Bridge on N. Main Street is running a luncheon special to boot, which is great because I've eaten there and it's the real deal although usually a bit pricey.

A Spectacular Day in New Hope PA

New Hope PA Police Chief Mike Cummings out doing some good community relations work while chatting with Howard Cooperman, owner of Bucks County Gallery of Fine Art.