HARB meeting shocker: New Hope Borough Council takes Odette’s proposal out of historic review board’s hands

New Hope Borough Council President Claire Shaw (file photo)

 By Charlie Sahner

 

Several members of New Hope’s Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) appeared shocked and dismayed Tuesday night as it was revealed by Borough Council President Claire Shaw that their request during a prior meeting to retain an independent structural engineer to assess the practicality of preserving the former Odette’s restaurant had not only been overruled, but that “Council decided to handle this from this point forward.”

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.”

GOV. CORBETT QUITS FIGHT AGAINST SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

(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

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett said Wednesday he will not fight a Tuesday court ruling striking down the state’s ban against same-sex marriage.

“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.

Tulips alongside a church in Lambertville, NJ

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(Photo: Charlie Sahner)

PA Senate promotes ‘prompt legislative action’ on medical marijuana bill

By Charlie Sahner

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.

New Hope retail roundup: Will Bucks County Caramel Corn Clusters dominate South Main snack scene? Plus bye-bye Verizon, hello Mohan

Bucks County Caramel Corn Clusters in New Hope (Photo: Charlie Sahner)

Feverish positioning for the busy warm season ahead continues, with Bridge Street flavored popcorn emporium Bucks County Caramel Corn Clusters moving to South Main Street, Verizon vacating 30 W. Bridge Street and women’s fashion retailer Snapdragon taking its place, New Hope perennial retailer Mohan Mohinani opening an apparent third location at the former Beyond the Wall poster shop, and Four Seasons Mall favorite Guy Stuff opening its newly-expanded space.
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.

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.

Snapdragon at 30 W. Bridge St. (Photo: Charlie Sahner)

And last, but by no means least, Guy Stuff in the Four Seasons Mall on South Main Street has re-opened, and is bigger and badder than ever, with expanded lines of Airsoft, pointy things, and politically incorrect signage, all of which seems to draw a good size audience.
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…

Picture of the Day

New Hope PA (Photo: Charlie Sahner)

Can’t decide what to drink? Here’s a few tips…

(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.

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.

Daffodils in New Hope PA (Photo: Charlie Sahner)

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.