Pic: New Hope Pa sunset

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.

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.

Joy Behar to debut one-woman show at Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope

 

 

Joy Behar

Comedian and talk show host Joy Behar makes her Bucks County Playhouse debut with three exclusive performances of her one-woman show, “Joy Behar: Me, My Mouth & I” this spring.

Performances will be held Friday, May 9 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, May 10 at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, May 11 (Mother’s Day) at 3 p.m. Tickets for the show went on sale Tuesday, and are priced at $54 and $46. Visit the Playhouse online or call (215) 862-2121.

Behar was the original co-host of The View, where she earned an Emmy award, and was on the show for 16 years. More recently, Behar hosted her own shows: The Joy Behar Show on HLN and Say Anything on Current TV. With more than 30 years on stage and screen, Behar’s one-woman show takes us from her wild childhood in Brooklyn to her role as one of America’s premiere talk show hosts.

Produced by SchrockVision, JoyBee Productions & FACT Bucks County, portions of the ticket proceeds will be donated to FACT Bucks County.

FACT Bucks County (Fighting AIDS Continuously Together) is an all volunteer/501c3 organization dedicated to providing financial assistance to those individuals living with HIV/AIDS who reside in Bucks, Hunterdon and Mercer Counties.

Lambertville police blotter: reckless driving, suspended licenses, $500 bottle of wine stolen

 

(Information in police blotters provided by law enforcement officials, and is assumed accurate. All suspects and arrested persons are presumed not guilty unless proven guilty in a Court of Law or until such rights are waived by the accused.)

CASE #14000458 - On January 27, 2014 at 11:13 a.m. Sgt Robert Brown was detailed to Walker's Wine and Spirits for a reported theft. Employee Mark Voorhees reported a male had taken a bottle of wine valued at $500. Investigation is continuing.

CASE #14000494 - On January 29, 2014 at 1:34 p.m. Det Michael Miloszar arrested Kenneth Muzychko, age 32, of Lambertville at his residence on three outstanding warrants totaling $2,503. Muzychko was turned over to Hopewell Township police.

CASE #14000542 - On February 1, 2014 at 12:15 a.m. Ptl. Anthony Memolo stopped Abigayle Temple, age 33, of Mt. Laurel, N.J. on Wilson Street for failure to maintain lane. Temple was subsequently arrested and charged with DWI, Reckless driving, failure to maintain lane, and refusal to submit to a breath test. Temple was released pending a court appearance.

CASE #14000620 - On February 4, 2014 at 5:32 p.m. Ptl Joseph Weber stopped Raymond L. Lacomba, age 55, of Columbia, S.C. on State Highway 179 after a computer checked revealed that Lacomba’s New Jersey driver’s license was suspended. Lacomba  had three active motor vehicle warrants for his arrest totaling $938. Lacomba posted bail and was released. Lacomba was issued a summons for driving while his driving privileges were suspended.

CASE #14000694 - On February 8, 2014 at 4:07 a.m. Ptl Anthony Memolo stopped Ibnmaalik A. Bingham, age 30, of Trenton on State Highway 29 after police received a complaint of an erratic vehicle traveling north on State Highway 29. Bingham was subsequently arrested and charged with DWI, reckless driving, being an unlicensed driver, having an open alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle, and driving while his New Jersey driving privileges were suspended. Bingham wasreleased pending a court appearance.

CASE #14000700 - On February 8, 2014 at 11:50 a.m. Ptl Vincent Albani was detailed to #115 York Street for a report of a burglary. Upon patrol arrival, Jill M. Lonergan, who is a realtor, stated that when she had arrived at the residence, she noticed someone had kicked in the side door causing damage to the door and jam areas. Nothing appeared to be missing from the residence. The residence is owned by Jerry Steever ,who was notified. Investigation to continue.

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.

Three dates left for the North Pole Express at New Hope & Ivyland Railroad in New Hope

New Hope & Ivyland North Pole Express (Photo: Charlie Sahner)

By Charlie Sahner

I am not a train nut; they’re just awesome to photograph. This one had stinkier coal than usual, and was venting as it left downtown New Hope.

Children and adults of all ages are invited to ride the special North Pole Express they’re having these days, and sip hot cocoa and enjoy cookies while Santa visits with each child and presents them with a special gift. Not a cheap family outing, but unique and memorable.

Hourly excursions still available on Tuesday Dec. 31, 2013 and Jan. 4 and 5, 2014. New Hope & Ivyland Railroad is located at 32 W. Bridge St., New Hope; (215) 862-233.

Kennebunkport on the Nile

Aladdin Restaurant (Photo: Charlie Sahner)

By Charlie Sahner

Barry, the eccentric owner of Mediterranean restaurant Aladdin, purchased a somewhat unfinished, over-sized family portrait at an estate sale this week and placed it temporarily behind an antique Middle Eastern table featuring a smoldering incense holder, creating this unlikely, surreal tableau.

P.S. I've had three falafel sandwiches there this week already. Affordably priced, using fava beans instead of chick peas, and heavy on the tahini. He's even added burgers and fries to the menu for the kids.

Aladdin is located at 82 S. Main St. in New Hope; (215) 862-1110.

New Hope gets a karate school

 By Charlie Sahner

Well it took long enough, but New Hope finally has a dedicated karate school or, in this case, dojang of its own.

In recent years, karateka had to seek study in nearby towns like Lambertville and Buckingham, but now locals can receive bona fide martial arts instruction at the Logan Square Shopping Center in a large, new facility adjacent to New Hope Beverage (itself a worthwhile destination, with a large selection a value priced imported, domestic and micro-brewed beer).

New Hope Karate offers traditional Tang Soo Do, mixed martial arts, kickboxing, self defense and even classes taught in Spanish. Also of note is the Parent's Night Out program, which allows moms and dads the opportunity to drop off kids aged 5-12 for a few hours of fun, including karate, movies and other supervised activities.

Owner and head instructor Robert Reynolds is no stranger to the area or martial arts community. He ran Reynold's Karate and Fitness for many years in Lambertville, and was known on the tournament circuit as a formidable fighter and champion. Tang Soo Do is a Korean martial art that places a somewhat greater emphasis on hand techniques than the popular Tae Kwon Do, and also derives much of its kinetic power from hip rotation, not unlike its Japanese and Okinawan counterparts. This makes the art an easier fit for those students coming to train with previous experience in styles like Shotokan and Goju-Ryu.

Reynolds also enjoys an excellent reputation as an instructor for children, an important membership and financial component for any successful dojo, but this latest offering is more well-rounded with the addition of specialized adult classes, like those featuring the highly effective Israeli Krav Maga self defense system.

Those interesed in seeing New Hope's new martial arts facilty and viewing some "Little Ninjas" (and not-so-little ninjas) in actiion are welcome to view classes in the morning (around 9:30 a.m. to noon) and evening (4:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.) Reynolds says the first week is always free if one choses to sign up, and I'll take him at his word -- this guy's the real deal.