Earth Day volunteer work session At Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve in New Hope

 

Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, a nonprofit nature preserve and botanical garden, is calling for volunteers who would like to get involved in hands-on environmental stewardship to commemorate Earth Day on Saturday, April 12, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at 1635 River Road (Route 32) in New Hope.

Families, individuals, groups and students are welcome to work with the Preserve’s environmental experts helping to protect Pennsylvania’s native plants. The event is free, but advance registration is required by calling 215-862-2924 or email mcguire@bhwp.org .

“There is something for every age here,” said Trish McGuire, volunteer coordinator. “Earth Day Work Day 2014 activities include removal of invasive and non-native plants; general grounds and trails Summer-season preparation; and weather permitting, planting!”

Eco-conscious volunteers will have the chance to meet one another at a delicious complimentary lunch served immediately following the event in the Visitor’s Center. Additionally, the Preserve will validate vouchers for students fulfilling volunteer service hour requirements.

Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve contains nearly 1,000 of the 2,000 plant species native to Pennsylvania, growing in a naturalistic setting of woodlands, meadows, ponds, Pidcock Creek, and some two and a half miles of walking trails. The Preserve is an excellent site for bird watching.

Bucks County Children’s Museum in New Hope planning major expansion

 

The Bucks County Children’s Museum in the Union Square section of New Hope is planning to take a much larger space there, museum President and Executive Director Kelly Krumenacker confirmed today.

“We have received generous support from the Bucks County Tourism Grant Program in the amount of $15,000 for the expansion, and we have also received generous support from local families and foundations,” she said. “We hope to have the new space open by May 1, and we’ll stay open at our current location until then,” added Krumenacker.

“The new space includes a much large multipurpose area for education and parties,” she explained. “We want to serve the educational needs of the community better, and the new multipurpose room will be twice the size of the current one, offering programming from science and arts to crafts and language,” Krumenacker said.

Other additions will include a water and wind power exhibit area, and a canal exhibit that will illuminate the golden age of mule barge commerce along the Delaware Canal, according to Krumenacker.

In terms of funding, “We’ve met about 80% of our financial goals, and we welcome additional contributions by those wishing to help us grow and serve the community,” she said.

While Krumenacker was able to confirm that the museum would remain in the Union Square complex, she was reluctant to discuss the precise location of the new facility.

But a quick look at the Union Square occupant roster shows Dan Kramli’s New Hope Fitness next door moving to a new space adjacent to New Hope Karate at Logan Square around April 1 — a seemingly astute move, given the synergy a karate school might offer, along with free parking for members.

Another adjacent business, caterer Occasions, did not answer phone calls and has the message “thanks for the years” on its website.

All of which might mean that the Children’s Museum is not moving far, if at all — perhaps breaking through walls to expand from its core space. Time will tell.

Shopping -- Jake's Playhouse Opens in New Hope PA

Jake's Playhouse has taken the former Hot Plates retail space and opened its doors to the public.

I'd passed the storefront a few times, trying to discern what a picture of a dog named "Jake" and "fun for the whole family" adds up to, but the windows and signage aren't clear. So I decided to wander in.

It's an attractive, well-organized space filled with children's puzzles and board games, dog treats, and t-shirts and baseball caps with stick figures saying things like "life is good."

The owners already operate two stores in Lake Placid, NY; one called Jake Placid Doghouse and the other A Placid Life, which says it's "what's called a Life is good® Genuine Neighborhood Shoppe."

Never mind that New Hope PA already has a dog store called "Jake's" (Jake and Elwood's House of Chews is located at 122 S. Main Street), lots of t-shirts, and a "playhouse". Apparently, for this new "neighborhood shoppe", what's good in Lake Placid must be good for New Hope.

The store itself is spacious, well-lit, flows well, and the products appear to be of high-quality. Sales help was excellent, as it was at its predecessor.

I bought a yard-long beef chew stick for my dog for $3.00 (the dog was thrilled, BTW).

I hope the store resolves its identity crisis and does well. It's located on Main Street near Ferry Street in New Hope PA; my efforts online to find an exact address, phone number or contact proved fruitless.

Maybe they will fit in New Hope after all...

Peddler's Village Celebrates 38th Annual Apple Festival This Weekend

New Hope PA will be getting even more crowded this weekend as Peddler's Village in nearby Lahaska PA puts on its 38th Annual Apple Festival.

It all takes place Saturday, November 7, and Sunday, November 8, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m, rain or shine. Free admission and parking.

Love fall fruit? Dig into favorite apple dishes from crisp apple fritters and warm apple pie to savory apple dumplings and freshly pressed apple cider. Peddler’s Village restaurants will feature delicious apple specialties all weekend.

One can also take home a bushel of green, golden or red delicious apples from local orchards, or watch authentic demonstrations of cider production in an antique cider press and cooking old-fashioned apple butter in a huge cauldron stirred by hand over an open fire.

Also enjoy the live musical entertainment, jugglers and stilt walkers on the Main Green, shop the handcrafted items at the 40 artisan booths on the Street Road Green, and cheer on the brave contestants in the traditional pie eating contests. (Competitions are held at 3:00 p.m. each day by age category, contestants are chosen by lottery and must sign up from 10 a.m.-2: 45 p.m. at the Hospitality Booth on the Main Green.)

Peddler’s Village is located just off Route 202 in Lahaska PA...about a five minute drive west of New Hope PA.

Tip: If you're visiting New Hope PA this weekend, make reservations and park early, the town gets packed with festival goers, revelers and those enjoying the last foliage of autumn.

For more information, please visit www.peddlersvillage.com or call 215-794-4000.

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.