Last night at carnival...

(Photo: Charlie Sahner)

Egyptian figurehead on amusement ride looks to the setting sun at last night's final run of the Midway Volunteer Fire Company Carnival.

Rush hour in New Hope

(Photo: Charlie Sahner)

Lambertville Music Hall withdraws application

By Charlie Sahner

The Lambertville Music Hall announced that it will “temporarily withdraw the current application that is before the Lambertville Board of Adjustment without prejudice.”

According to Lambertville Hall Foundation (LHF) President Tanya Cooper, “Hearing concerns of the community inspired our decision. We are, therefore, temporarily withdrawing our application to re-focus our efforts to best reflect the community’s input and preferences, with respect to rescuing and re-purposing this architectural landmark.

“As we have stated throughout this process, our goal continues to be focused on developing a venue that will enhance the lives of all who participate in its’ programming, while positively contributing to the quality of life in both the neighborhood and the city as a whole,” she added.

Cooper went on to say, “We are thankful for all who have taken the time and expressed genuine interest in our project to date. We are looking very forward to working collaboratively with the City to arrive at a successful resolution to produce a truly magnificent and authentic addition to the city of Lambertville”

In the same announcement, Lambertville Mayor David DelVecchio commented, “I applaud the Bridge Street Foundation [parent organization of LHF] for taking this proactive step. While we all want to see the live arts flourish in Lambertville, it is obvious that this proposal had issues that needed to be addressed. I appreciate the Foundation’s commitment to our city and I look forward to working with them on a new proposal that can best meet our shared values.”

 

Stay tuned.

2013 New Hope Film Festival July 12-21

By Charlie Sahner

The New Hope Film Festival, an event that seems to be gaining momentum with each passing year, comes to town in July and features some especially interesting entries this year. For more info on dates, times, locations and the latest gossip, follow the New Hope Film Festival on Facebook.
Founded by D. F. Whipple in 2009, Marianne Speiser and Danny Sailor soon lent their skills to the event, along with Thom Michael Mulligan, an award-winning independent film producer and actor who oversees the festival’s selection process as Executive Director – Submissions. Hollywood screenwriter Mark Rosenthal serves as an ongoing festival advisor. 

The festival’s core mission is “to discover and nurture independent filmmakers, many of whom are seeking world and U.S. debuts and remain overlooked and/or under-appreciated by other forums. This broad and inclusive group includes filmmakers from outside the United States. With the exception of special events, this film festival is a competition with strict rules.”

A time of rainbows all about New Hope

Rainbow over Bucks County Theater in New Hope, PA (Photo: Charlie Sahner)

Aladdin restaurant in New Hope a winner

By Charlie Sahner

I’ll say it from the get-go: I’m impressed by this place.

The fare ranges far beyond Middle Eastern in derivation. Yes, the obligatory kabobs and falafel abound, but this is Mediterranean fusion with a decidedly Egyptian bent and pronounced Moroccan, Israeli, Greek and Italian influences.

The decor is authentic, expensive and well chosen.

The owner Barry is maniacally fastidious. One night last week he yelled at me when I tried to take his arm, “Don’t touch, don’t touch, I’m cooking tonight.” The place is spotless — they don’t pour oil or ghee over every item, and they swap out fava beans for chickpeas on the falafal…all of which means one can completely gorge oneself and not feel bloated or queasy afterwords.

The food tasted fresh, and used in simple combinations felt, well, healthy. This spot will be a blessing for vegetarians, and while not cheap, a $15 platter will feed two, so the value is there.

What’s good? Stordallia, a homemade mashed potato salad with fresh garlic, olive oil and parsley; hummus, smooth and balanced; smokey and subtle babaganoush; crisp, fresh-tasting tabbouli salad; sweetly spiced kofta; a lovely bechamel macaroni; and the oven-baked tagines (mine was made with shrimp and expertly seasoned). For dessert, I’ll be coming back for the rice pudding.

The snapshot of Alladin? Moderately priced, big portions, healthy food, good service, welcome variety. Worth a try.

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

Andrea McArdle returns Bucks County Playhouse in ‘Mame’

Broadway’s original “Annie,” Andrea McArdle returns to the Bucks County Playhouse in Mame, one of Jerry Herman‘s most celebrated musicals. She plays a fun-loving, wealthy eccentric whose independent lifestyle is interrupted when she is left to care for her young nephew. With a razor sharp wit and her own view of the world, she is anything but the traditional caregiver.

Lea DeLaria (On the Town, The Vagina Monologues) takes the stage as Mame’s best friend and “world’s biggest lush” Vera Charles. The score includes “Bosom Buddies,” “We Need A Little Christmas,” and “If He Walked Into My Life.”

May 23, 2013 — June 9, 2013

Tuesdays at 7pm
Wednesdays at 4pm
Thursdays at 2:30pm & 8pm
Fridays at 8pm
Saturdays at 4pm & 8pm
Sundays at 2pm
Additional Sunday performance on 5/26 at 6pm

Tickets Prices:
Front Orchestra: $57.50
Middle Orchestra: $39
Rear Orchestra: $29

Aerial View of New Hope in the 1970s

New Hope police shoot North Main Street man

Bullet holes surround front door of wounded man’s apartment (Photo: Charlie Sahner)

By Charlie Sahner
New Hope Free Press

New Hope Borough police officers fired upon and wounded Steven Cabules, 46, of North Main Street in New Hope last night around 8 p.m. while attempting to involuntarily commit him to a mental health facility, according to witnesses. They say he was holding a single shot stainless steel barreled rifle when officers confronted him at his front door.

No police officers were injured.

Cabules was shot once and taken to St. Mary Medical Center in Middletown. Hospital officials would not release information about the man’s condition Sunday. Detectives for the Bucks County District Attorney David Heckler, who was not reachable, are investigating the incident. New Hope police have not commented.

One witness near the scene who asked not to be identified said that shortly after New Hope police officers arrived, he heard “two or three shots” then someone yelling “drop your weapon”, and another man saying, “oh my god,” followed by multiple shots. Bullet holes visible at the scene bore numerals running from 12 to 19, and markings seemed to indicate that the police fired from two positions — one about 10 feet away near the doorway of an adjacent apartment, and one from a stairway just below Cabules’ apartment.

According to Cabules’ neighbor Robert Jernigan, 41, the wounded man was under treatment for schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder and hadn’t taken his medication in two weeks. Jernigan said he had recently met Cabules and described him as a “Nice guy, big heart, super-intelligent, generous.” He urged Cabules to seek help as his behavior deteriorated and he became involved in several traffic-related incidents. Cabules was also in the midst of a messy divorce, and was already known to police officials, according to Jernigan.

Jernigan said Cabules was in possession of a .357 Magnum revolver and a single shot rifle with interchangeable barrels, and he warned police the man would most likely be armed when approached. Jernigan had been communicating with Cabules’ mother, and notified New Hope police officials of Cabules’ condition after he had been attacked by Cabules with a fork and knife, and Cabules had also spoken of shooting a friend of Jernigan’s, among others.

Last night, Jernigan accompanied a police officer to Doylestown Hospital, where the officer was given a “302″, or order of involuntary commitment. Jernigan claims he repeatedly warned police that Cabules was unpredictable and that they should be prepared to negotiate. Upon returning to New Hope, the officer, according to Jernigan, said, “I’m going to drop you off at the police station and you can stay there.” Jernigan refused, exited the vehicle, and began walking back to his residence on North Main Street. Jernigan said he heard shots ring out approximately 5-10 minutes later.

Said Jernigan, “I told them what he had, I told them his mental state, I told them when you go in his house he’ll have a gun in his hand, and they swore they’d negotiate. I spent three hours in the hospital with the officer waiting to get the papers so he could be taken in and evaluated and given the medications he needed so he wouldn’t hurt himself or anybody else because he was a good guy and he was worth the time. And they [the police] came here and started shooting.”

The Studio Inn is a two-story rooming house located at 131 N. Main St. in New Hope.

First vehicle crosses new Ferry Street Bridge

First car crosses the new Ferry Street Bridge in New Hope (Photo: John Sikora)

A reopening ceremony was held for the Ferry Street Bridge Aug. 23 at 11 a.m., a happy commemoration for a structure so near to the center of the town’s geography and heart. And another step towards the ultimate dream of a working canal bustling again with mule barges.