Letter to Yenta 04/08/07
In response to Mr Cooperman's candidacy for Borough Council, I welcome his efforts and wish him all the best for his election. I believe that from all the "More of the Same" campaigning, or NON campaigning, that the present council members are doing its refreshing to hear a candidate that actually has a vision of where he wants this town to go. I believe, along with Mr Cooperman, that the present borough council for New Hope has demonstrated a serious lack of concern for the business community and its shop owners. In case after case they have voted for developer interests in the borough and fought tooth and nail against business concerns like parking space cutbacks and metering. I don't know how Mr. Cooperman would vote on these issues, maybe he can tell us, but it can't be worse than some of the present candidates. The issues, though, are not about borough council arrogance.
I really don't care about the personalities of the various candidates, I mainly care that there be some shift in the focus of this council to find some consistent image of this town. Are luxury condominiums really why tourists come to New Hope? Do they really believe that people come to this town to snap quaint pictures of Disney'esque developments? I believe tourism is the bread and butter of New Hope and the more visitors we have on our streets the better the town will be. I have noticed even as concerns my own building...as nice and new as it is...people consistently take pictures of the older shabbier buildings around it rather than my shiny new one. Go figure! So are we to be a town of shiny new luxury residences that are of no interest to visitors or do we work to keep the reasons people come to New Hope and improve the accessibility of our restaurants and shops to them by improving such things as parking and overzealous ticketing. So far, under this council's administration, our town is doing a good job of increasing our tax base...increasing the values of the borough buildings...and increasing the rents on the shop keepers. No wonder the only people that can afford rent on the main corners in town are major national franchises. If electing some new candidates onto the council who believe, maybe, in "LESS of the Same" I think we might consider it for a sounder future for the town. Its up to us though so just think about it and vote your heart on this...and ask the candidates how they feel when you see them around town.
-the MUG Man

Letter to Yenta 04/07/07
New Hope Borough Council has an "Underdog" candidate running against three incumbents. HOWARD COOPERMAN, resident and owner of the Howard Gallery of Fine Art, is asking Democratic voters to support his decision in the May 15th Democratic Primary Election.
Although I'm a relative newcomer, I've been around long enough to love the town, learn more about it, and serve the community and its people.
One of the main reasons I have decided to run is to represent businesses in New Hope. I'm running because I would like to bring a fresh perspective and sense of energy to Borough Council. Being a political "outsider" does not concern me. I've never minded being underdog before.
It is my belief that local residents are best served by a vibrant local economy promoted through a partnership of Borough Council and business leaders. As a citizen, resident, tax payer, and business owner, it would be my pleasure to represent all others in the community.
Attending my first Borough Council meeting over a year ago, opened my eyes to a very arrogant councilman who shall remain nameless. I was in total disbelief that this person was permitted to speak down to a resident attending that evening. There was no look of concern from any of the other councilmen or higher up's from the Borough. They were apparently used to this kind of belittling coming from behind the microphone. Had that kind of disparaging tone come from the audience, they would have been removed from the cafeteria by the constable for the lack of respect. What an eye opener!
Those voting residents looking for a democracy will want to support Howard Cooperman, because I'm looking forward to supporting you, and New Hope Borough.
On May 15th, send a message to Council and G.R.I.P. (Get Rid of Incumbent Politicians)
In an effort to better serve you please accept my invitation to share your concerns with Borough Council, and how you would like to see me make a difference.

respectfully submitted,
Howard Cooperman

Letter to Yenta 03/31/07
BRAVO, old yeller!!! c from mmi

Letter to Yenta 03/25/07
"Ladies and gentlemen: the story you are about to read is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent."
Nine years ago a contract was awarded in the small town of Liechtenstein by the Commonwealth of Transylvania for a camel ride. Now this camel ride had been in existence since 1953 and over the years had passed from one business owner to the next. The previous camel ride owner George Stephanopoulos had run the business for 20 years. It was decided by the powers from Hapsburg in Transylvania in 1998 that a change need to occur.
A change for the better ?
For seven years the new owners of the camel ride Paul Rayban and Lee E. Robert unbeknownst to most people were quietly pillaging and sacking the camel ride that they owned. It appears their financial needs were great. To maintain two Tugboats in the Puegot Bay was an expensive habit, among other expenditures. The pillaging really intensified when a certain Dave Goodnight signed on as Chief Camel Ride Manager. At this point Mr., Rayban, Mr. Robert and Mr. Goodnight all agreed to help the town of Liechtenstein by helping themselves, FIRST. They ALL had their hands in the cash register and in the bank accounts of the small fledgling company. This caused the business to slowly fade, year after year.
Mr. Rayban and Mr. Robert became aware that the scam that they had been running for 7 years was about to come undone. So in the seventh year of operation at the eleventh hour sold the camel ride business to a Jerry Hurrah. The rats had left the sinking barge but one rat stayed on the barge, Mr. Goodnight.
Mr. Hurrah was now the fifth owner of the historic camel ride in the town of Liechtenstein.
Well the powers that be in Hapsburg that work for the Commonwealth of Transylvania got wind of the camel ride scam by way of a few honest souls surrounded by a sea of thieves. In the 9th year of operation of this current 10 year contract. These Hapburgian bureaucrats decided, after much hesitation, to finally do something. Alas this legal effort was unprogressive, though restitution/ tribute money did eventually change hands.
But no guilt or innocence was determined for two of the three key culprits. The third one pleaded guilty and was charged with 3 felony counts.
Now it appears the current owner of the camel ride Jerry Hurrah feels he can no longer continue to run the camel ride in the small town of Liechtenstein. He has publicly made his distress know on The Liechtenstein Yenta web site. Asking the good people of Liechtenstein to help him, help them. This arrangement sounds oh so familiar. He claims financial hardship, but what has he done to help the camel ride become profitable, and help the people of Liechtenstein.
He has kept a convicted felon handing the money and running the operations of the camel ride. The manger who shall not be officially called a manager. This should tell you something loud and clear.
For one season, when there was a problem with the water in the public bathroom on the site, did nothing. No Port o Poddies rented to help his customers. Did not make arrangements to connect to Liechtenstein public water at this time. It is very tough for senior tour groups after a long bus ride, to get off a bus and have no bathroom facilities available before their camel ride. Eventually the Commonwealth of Transylvania did place Port o Potties on the site at the taxpayers expense.
For two seasons, no set camel ride schedule so that even the tourist office of the town of Liechtenstein knew what was going on. When was the next camel ride? . Who knew? And when the office was told by camel ride operators a specific time, that time turned out not to be true.
The State of Transylvania spent 1.3 million dollars rebuilding the Camel Lock #11 in the town of Liechtenstein. A wonderful gift to promote the camel ride business. Did the camel ride people do anything to promote this monumental accomplishment; did they make any attempt to use this Camel Lock, a 100 percent pure promotional gold mine?. No the camel ride people ignored the whole thing.
They did not have a phone machine for a month and a half during the height of the Fall season last year. What that did was make it impossible for bus group and/or individuals to leave booking information. It also sends a message loud and clear that they did not care about the camel business and that the business might be permanently closed.
They have a Web site that is hard to find, and gives conflicting information.
Has had no real promotion of the camel ride other then a sometime available brochure that contains mis/information about ride times and dates.
Is complaining about a business cost that every previous owner of the camel ride has managed to absorb. The electrical costs for a pump they do not own. A pump that they do not pay any money to maintain or service. Maybe the state of Transylvania needs to pay for all the light bulbs and light fixtures used by stores in the town Liechtenstein. The Commonwealth can also give every store eight thousand dollars towards their electrical costs. After all, they are in Liechtenstein and Liechtenstein needs them as well to prosper.
So there you have it folks. Of course there is so much more I could add to this list. So many little ways the camel ride business has slowly been destroyed over the last 9 years.
These characters know so many ways to annihilate a business.
Intelligent people will see this for what it is. Not some bigger canal issue, of an anti Liechtenstein campaign or that the big bad Commonwealth of Transylvania doesn't care.
No Liechtenstein just gets to add one more negative problem wearing it down. Floods, water lines, bad economy, aggressive ticketing, 9/11. excessive vehicular noise, chamber of commerce, bough council, suburbia., the weather........................the list is growing so long.
So many negative aspects added together, pulling Liechtenstein down into the quick sand of time.
Signed - Old Yeller

Letter to Yenta 03/23/07
I first visited New Hope in the early 1970's, and immediately fell in love with the village, There were wonderful shops, affordable restaurants, a general store which sold everything from ice cream to iron skillets. The Golden Pump Cafe where you could have a pancake, egg, and ham breakfast for less than $3.00, and motel rooms, or B&B's, rented at a reasonable rate. Antique shops, and art galleries were plentiful. Total strangers engaged in casual conversation and the charm of the village drained away the tension and stress of city dwellers who escaped to New Hope to reconnect with nature and civility .I always made certain that visiting friends from other parts of the US, England, Australia, and the Netherlands had the opportunity to visit New Hope, as it represented the best of what the US once was.
Across the river Lambertville languished, stores remained unoccupied. You might walk over the bridge, but soon returned to New Hope, as Lambertville offered very little to the visitor.
Slowly, at first, and then with accelerating speed, greed and development reared it's ugly head. Landlords increased rental fees to the point it was almost impossible for the smaller shops to remain profitable, farmers had little choice because of the increasing tax rates to sell their land to developers as the appearance of shopping centers and McDonalds further blighted the once "quaint" and artistic community. More antique shops and art galleries fled to the other side of the river where reasonable rentals existed in Lambertville which has now become a major rival for tourist trade..
As the development expanded, it soon started to overwhelm the infrastructure, Rt.202 and Bridge street became congested. Traffic jams, which previously were limited to a couple of cars waiting for a duck hen and her chicks to cross the road, became a long line of rush hour commuters, seeking to beat their fellow drivers through the stoplights. Individuals who had built mega mansions along railroad tracks, which had existed for 100 years prior to their arrival, started complaining of the noise of the steam locomotive. And now, we have the smoke nazis who want to eliminate smoking in most public places. PROGRESS, nope, really don't think so.
As offensive as I find the term "NO HOPE" to be when referring to this once beloved village, I am beginning to understand why the term is being used more frequently. If the local politicians could find a way to restrain their self serving, egotistical, attitudes, and dedicate themselves to the purpose of serving the public good there might well still exist the opportunity to retain at least a modicum of the New Hope which once was.

Letter to Yenta 03/22/07
To " MUG Man " he is a true Patriot. Three cheers to him " Huzzah, Huzzah, Huzzah "
Signed a fellow loyal patriot.
"Old Yeller"

Letter to Yenta 03/22/07
I usually get a kick out of Mug Man and his point-of-view, but I'm at a loss to understand his latest missal... - Mr. Mugman, what were you talking about? did you have a point? -John

Letter to Yenta 03/19/07
Here's some historical "food for thought" to those who think that those of us who whine to our "Yenta" about the shortcomings of the borough or complain about the economy or rant about the miserable parking are actually hurting New Hope's image to all the readers out there. They say we hide in our anonymity and can say anything we want, fact or fiction and therefore we only present the bad side and never the truth...that they stopped reading The Yenta but still want it stifled to a password'd blog so those that DO find her don't have to read the "claptrap" she spouts from nameless rants.

I say this: On January 10th, 1776 Thomas Paine anonymously published in Philadelphia, the first pamphlet named Common Sense. In it, written under an assumed name, he treasonouly denounced British rule 6 months before the Revolutionary War, giving such whining reasons as "Even if Britain was originally the 'mother country' of America, that makes her current actions all the more horrendous, for no true mother would harm her children so deplorably." and "Society represents all that is good about humanity, government represents all that is bad about it." or "Every thing that is right or natural pleads for separation. The blood of the slain, the weeping voice of nature cries, 'tis time to part!" All this said and set forth for discussion as a public forum of the time. It was tremendously popular. Out of a population of 6 Million, one in 5 bought the first publication. Only The Bible outsold this publication for its time. Many other thinkers and writers, philosophers and jurists submitted and published their thoughts on such weighty subjects as the rules of War in a Democratic Society and some of the first Anti-slavery missives, all said anonymously. Thomas Jefferson took writings and ideas from Common Sense and worked them into his Declaration of Independence. But most importantly, the publication of this one pamphlet was primarily responsible for the inclusion of the basic freedom to freely speak ones mind in a public forum in the Bill of Rights.

Buy it or blog it...publish it or just press ENTER...and read...it is a fundamental right of a free democratic society to write, read, think, and share treasonous thoughts under an alias. It matters not if what is said be truthful or just persuasive in reason. We all speak our minds in here and do our best to sound intelligent. This is a free discussion of our town and our world and its helpful for us to share with those who want to read it.

FYI: In February of 2003, 18,469 hits were made on the website that carries The Yenta...In February of 2004, 40,000...In February of 2005, 50,000 (that's 50,000 hits per month, folks!) Like it or not a lot of people are reading what you are writing and liking it enough to come back.

On January 10th, 1776, someone "we THINK" was Thomas Paine wrote, "I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense . . ." Is that such a bad thing???

the MUG Man

Letter to Yenta 03/14/07
Actually, I wasn't saying that nothing was wrong with the way matters are being handled (or not) - just that this was nothing unusual about that. Certainly New Hope is not alone in failing to deal with the changing way-of-life in the area, or in not doing-so efficiently. One only has to look a bit north, toward Easton or Phillipsburg, to see other examples of failure. I am just saying that many people do not recognize that changes are taking place, or that they are those causing such changes.
Over the last 30 years, many people have come out to our area to enjoy "country life", but once here, have found it lacking the many amenities they are used-to. Developers have siezed on this fact to offer many large, high-end homes, as well as other elements of the urban infrastructure. That, effectively, has destroyed the very thing that the new arrivals were seeking.
Now, even with the slump in the housing market, these developers are continuing to "stay the course", in order the enhance their bottom line. They already have a lot of money, making it possible to hire high-powered legal assistance to force their agendas through the objections of the people. As rural communities turn increasingly into commuter residential estates, the thing that once attracted tourists dissappears, as do the tourists. The result is that once thriving small business centers become "bedroom communities".
The on-going discussions on Yenta regarding what to do to rebuild the unique businesses that served visitors to Town are moot, as you are losing the things that attracted those visitors. Having worked in the tourist industry in New Hope for a number of years, and being a long-time Delaware Valley resident, I have seen these changes first-hand. I have, sadly, had to come to accept what is happening, but really do feel that all "progress" is not for the good. - John

Letter to Yenta 03/13/07
I haven’t heard too much on Mr. Lachman’s move to Peddlers Village. I think it’s a pretty symbolic statement on the state of things.

Letter to Yenta 03/13/07
While John seems to think that nothing is unusal vis a vis what is happening in New Hope relative to other areas of the region and the northeast corridor in general, the major difference is that other areas seem to manage the progress/change in a whole lot better fashion. Change is the thing that happens when you weren't planning on it and change is not necesarily good or bad in and of itself. It's about what you have learned and how you apply it to the next task at hand. The same mistakes are made and ideas put forth here because the same people are always at the helm whether it be elected or appointed. There is apparently no real clear acknowledgement of what is behind us. It's how they feel about the present and their own futures. There is no clear cut plan for a future which is inclusive of the divergent cultures which reside herein, silently the ideas of same are beng excluded from the equation. Consensus seems to have escaped the lexicon of the mighty. Ask questions and you are perceived as not being "on board." Service should be altruistic and not self centered or self serving. There is service to the community in one's dissention. What a concept!
New Hope is once again perceived as being down at the heels by our guests and is talked about quietly on the street by business people, residents, our township neighbors as well as our guests. One need only listen carefully and quietly. The talk is at once eloquent, pitying and filled with longing. Perception is reality, even if it is one's own.
"Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom."

Letter to Yenta 03/11/07
Yenta, Having moved into New Hope in 1968, at the age of 19 and raising my first daughter to the age of three there and then moving out in 1972, I can comfortably say that New Hope is a lost cause, as is all of Bucks County.
The only time I visit New Hope is when I need to go to Farley's. What was once a most beautiful community has turned into a trash hole. I must say that it was well on it's way even then in 1968 but we atleast, then, had the winters to ourselves and the locals could come out of hiding and be at peace. My wife and I hosted near all of the wonderful peeps in the town then. We lived at #5 W. Mechanic St. I say this for New Hope as well as all of Bucks County. The farmers have been sowing strange seeds indeed. Rooftops as far as the eye can see, as far as the heart can bear.....no,.... farther.
This was my home. I will leave soon. Bruce DeLaney
p.s. as regards the comment made in an unsigned letter, ahem, Main Street, New Hope, Pa. IS a "created" main street, not by any means the Main Street that I remember.

Letter to Yenta 03/04/07
Just an observation, "New Hope Celebrates" but doesn't seem to give a damn. So far not one suggestion for mounting a campaign of some sort to save the canal. By the way, this wekend we treated our residents, visitors and guests to lots of dead fish floating in this monument to the early commerce of the region. -Sojourner Truth

Letter to Yenta 03/04/07
The transparency of this town has not been made more clear to me than this week's Gazette article in Re:The Historical and Architectural Review Board Awards. Yet another example of the public backslapping which this town seems to covet. The commercial award was given to a property that has restored only the East and North facing sides of it's building. The west and south side were not even repainted to match. The south side which faces the creek looks like a junk pile and the west side doesn't look much better, what with a seemingly abandoned truck along the train tracks. I refer to the Higgins property at the corner of West Ferry and Stockton Avenues.
Beauty then is only skin deep and The Emporer wears no clothes!
Why not wait until the restoration is complete and give the award then rather than just fill in an award category. Duh!
-Sojourner Truth

Letter to Yenta 02/28/07
What is happening to New Hope is nothing unusual, nor different, from what is happening throughout the Delaware Valley. The entire area is in the process of becoming a suburb of New York City (although what happens when it bumps into Philadelphia is unclear), and the rural life of the area is finished. Having somewhat grown up in this part of the country, I have seen the transition from the rural farming communities, with country traditions going back a century or more, to a bustling urban lifestyle of heavy traffic and modern "conveniences". I have watched farm after farm disappear, to be replaced by suburban housing developments, and have seen most of the local small industry fade away. I have seen my great volunteer fire company struggle to meet increasingly high demands from the State, and lack of interest by the people who have moved into the area.
New Hope's tourist industry was sparked by the history of this area, and by the artistic community that once flourished in the verdant countryside. Unfortunately, people today seem less interested in history, and the countryside that artists loved no longer exists. The day of the bedroom community has arrived in this small river town, and all that matters to the modern developer is the "bottom-line".
New Hope has two big draws for tourists, in the railroad and the canal-boat ride. The railroad seems to be doing alright, but nature and economics have dealt the canal, and the boat ride, a staggering blow. Having three "hundred year floods" in 18 months has been devastating to all in the valley, and the price now to repair the canal, to what it once was, is enormous, and it is doubtful if the State will have the funds.
I'm afraid I can't see much hope for New Hope, as it has been, nor for the wonderful old Delaware Division of the Pennsylvania Canal. Times change.., and not always for the best.., but perhaps we have to recognize the reality of the situation, and move on...
-John

Letter to Yenta 02/27/07
To Andrea and Larry Rossi:

The paucity of water in the canal is but one more signal that the death knell for the New Hope experience has been sounded. My heart aches for Mr. Horan and the plight which he faces, perhaps lucky him that tax dollars which we all pay to the state may come to his rescue, others of us that are loosing our businesses are not so lucky. No one can or has come to our aid.

As of this writing and an informal count, come the end of March there will be twenty commercial spaces for rent within the Main Street historic boundaries, five businesses are for sale, some publicly some quietly. The reasons are legion but certainly the business community itself must bear the bulk of the responsibility and recognize its own implications in this problem.That the businesss community chose the current business leadership is one thing, that there is no civic and business partnership is another. That the artistic/architectural and historical orgainizations know how to say "gimmee, gimmee" without recognizing their responsibility as individuals and the community as a whole to keep downtown strong is quite another. Has this community never heard of the adage, "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours." I particularly read with amusement the message from the MS's Scherlis, Slavish and Murdoch. Honey, I have not seen you in my store in years, Beth and Tina you stopped coming when I said I could no longer afford to support the fund raising efforts at the Michner, that's when I needed you most, that's when you turned your back on me. Your comments and advice are sanctimonious claptrap! Would most merchants know you if they fell over you, I think not.

This town, in case anyone needs reminding, since 2002 has suffered a bridge closing because of the ineptitiude of the Delaware bridge authority which only seems to rehabilitate its bridges, not maintain them, there is a difference. Street closings during the height of the Spring and Summer tourist seasons for the installation of a public water sysytem which is still inoperable and the devastation of three floods. Simultaneous to these events we are plagued with a Boro Council that does not or refuses to accept the role and responsibility which it plays concurrently with the business community in the economic vitality of this town. That town may have been reopened after each flood event in a shorter time period than the previous flood is one thing, and laudible, that it is "up" but not running is yet another. Pocket parks that take upwards of three years to complete at exhorbitant costs and civic governments intention to move to the highest point in New Hope do not stimulate the local economy, revitalize a sodden business climate, or create confidence in New Hope's ability to see the future and react to it NOW. We have a civic government that has created pseudo civic governing boards which use strong arm tactics to purposely destroy, deflect and delay any real downtown econmic growth which is sustainable and that will remain within the community. Our elected governing boards and those created by them seek to preserve the architectural, historic and artistic integrity of this town yet seemingly ignore the very fundamental infrastructure, economic integrity, which is necessary to maintain those parts of the whole which make up the New Hope experience for our residents, business owners and our guests. We are, in case no one has noticed,av tourist based economy, one which totally funds our police department. I can think of no jobs, (save for government and thereby regulatory,) created or economic stimulus packages promoted by this council or its extended governing bodies. In fact every time that a new business or initiative is hindered by these groups they contribute to the decline in New hope's ability to get the job done, compete within a local and global sphere, and to a general malaise and further decline in individuals economic prosperity and the towns tax base. Our downtown district is not one which is economically driven by a local clientele, but which is used by locals to support any number of charitable endeavors, which favor the art, history and the architcture of this town. When a town does not support a downtown district voluntarily, it supports a downtown district for however long revitalization takes through higher taxes. To my mind voluntary supports feels better than enforced, through higher taxes, support does.

There will be those that will argue that Mr. Horan's business, from which he intends to derive an income, should not be saved by the state, and perhaps however flawed they are correct, but people, once again, "it takes a village." Sadly, not this one, but more sadly, should Mr. Horan be saved by the the rest of us, and this is not an indictment of Mr Horan personally, experience with the human condition tells me that nothing will be given back on his part to promote the "general welfare" of this town.

-GC Variete

Letter to Yenta 02/25/07
We just read Jerry Horan's letter about the possible end of water in the canal and are horrified that our beautiful, alive, flowing canal could turn into a scar on the earth across New Hope and Solebury if it were without water. The canal has been a part of New Hope since the 1830's. It is a historical landmark, a sanctuary to wildlife in our area and the subject of countless works of art. The death of this vital site would symbolize the death of New Hope. If the town cannot pull together to mount a campaign to " Save the Canal", the residents of the community would be turning their backs on their responsibility to preserve the culture and history of our area. We must let the DCNR ( Department of Conservation of Natural Resources) know that we demand their help in preserving and conserving this historic site and icon of Bucks County and the towns of New Hope and Solebury.
Suggestions to mount the campaign are welcome. -Larry and Andrea Rossi

Letter to Yenta 02/23/07
Hello to all,
I wanted to give you a heads up on a situation I'm up against pertaining to the Canal and The Boat concession . Since acquiring the Concession from the state i have been up against the same troubles as my neighbors however; the compounded costs in maintaining the water that flows through the new hope have exhausted the revenues to keep this company alive. Ive tried getting the DCNR to understand and help support this but to no avail. This season ahead doesn't look good .
I cannot afford to keep pumping the water into the canal. Therefore the barges will sit in dry dock . And new hope losses a one of a kind treasure and tourist attraction.
I have 90 days to convince the DCNR that the canal helps the town not just the barge company and they should support the canal and keep it watered and the mules can get back to work.
This community has such strong ties to many important persons. If you can help i certainly can use it.
PS : The cost to maintain the water i pay for runs approx. 8,000.00 a season

Delaware River Canal Boat Company
Jerry Horan

Letter to Yenta 02/16/07
Uncle Charlie, you are so right on!! It takes courage to speak up and state the truth about the sad state of affairs in New Hope. There is no cohesive marketing plan for New Hope and there should be. Every shop should be open every day. You never know where your next sale is coming from. It only hurts other businesses when your shop isn't open. We only wish there were more people who think as you do.
Honey Scherlis
Beth Slavish
Tina Murdoch

Letter to Yenta 02/07/07
Silver Stones, Variete, Wild Endeavors, Meow Meow, Red Hot Mommas...the list of deceased businesses grows. Each one a viable model, someone's dream, the town's loss. The culprit? The economy, the Web, competitor towns, incessant parking tickets, landlords who continue to keep rents at New York City levels, a Borough Council that hates business, cares nothing for creating jobs or a diversified local economy, an unqualified, self-promoting clique who've hijacked the Chamber, everyone focused on some party or event that will draw visitors, rather than a cohesive marketing strategy for the town, a unified image, slogan and campaign to raise awareness and position us for the long haul. The answer? Keep your store, gallery and restaurant open as much as you can, even when it's cold, even when nobody's in town, even when you think you'll have no sales. Petition the police department to stop the harassment of our customers. Keep your prices in line at least with the malls, if not the Web; people are too savvy to pay tourist rates anymore. And fight. Fight every day to stay open, friendly and consistent. Help each other. Never forget the locals. Never forget that owning a store in New Hope is an honor and responsibility, not just a step on your personal growth path. God bless this beautiful place and the people who struggle to make a living here every day, and bless the people who love this place and visit year after year after year. -- Uncle Charlie

Letter to Yenta 01/30/07
In attempt to use this blog for positive purpose I have a few questions:
Which type of stores is New Hope missing that could help bring locals into town?
Are there innovative methods that could be used to create promotional cost effective events? What are 3 simple things every merchant can do today to make a difference tomorrow?

Letter to Yenta 01/27/07
Hi - just chill out about New Hope. Let New Hope be - period. Turn your head the other way, and the little river town will find its way. It has done that for the past couple hundred years. The yammering from the short twenty years of your active life is but a replay from the town hall records. Or else:
Let the acidic right wing-nuts and tadpole-hugging lib'b'berals fight it out over the chalk lines on the field below Bowman's tower in a tract of land named "Deer Run" (where deer no longer run, of course). Maybe New Hope will have a San Antonio river walk (or "canal walk") with open air restaurants. Don't worry, it'll get better for your beanie babies. We'll outlaw that horrific monster "Steam Engine Train" so that we don't pollute the air with H2O steam and loud whistles! But guess what? - I, and Simon Legree, will still be hunkering below that bridge only to pop up as those scary river people! And New Hope will continue on . . . .

Letter to Yenta 01/25/07
I swore I would never say anything negative about anyone from town and the things they say about other people...but this week's "Gabbette" just about made me break my promise. I refuse to mention names but read it yourself it's there in print for the world to see...another quotable quote from the mouth of the same man that accuses his fellow merchants as being lazy and stealing the parking meters from customers. As a board member of the Chamber of Commerce, one would think that he'd know better than to ever say anything unsupportive about fellow members or the efforts they attempt to make a living in this town, especially to the press!! In response to a reporter's question as to how he makes it through the cold winter he states, "we won't be open Saturday nights in January, February or March whether its first, second or fifth Saturday...it just does not pay, quite frankly!" I'm sorry but for all the effort that Second Saturdays in New Hope has put together to increase evening business and lure people who live here back into town with a trans-river event every month for him to publicly denounce it "frankly" as just not paying I believe is reprehensible. If this is the way his fellow members of the Chamber feel about Second Saturdays, which I doubt, then I sure hope someone there has the sense enough to speak UP for the efforts that Brian Hanck and the Second Saturdays group have put out for this very successful town wide event. I know we all have a right to say what we feel but honestly, sir, a person in your position should know there are things you feel and think, and there are things you publicly say to the press...they are not always the same. -The MUG man

Letter to Yenta 01/17/07
Hey Newtown guy and Variate Greg - You guys make real sense to me on the "merchant" thing and especially the DUI thing. Keep up the momentum and don't let the bull$%&@ get in your way... -The old Beatnik

Letter to Yenta 01/17/07
Bravo and touche to the letter writer about Newtown. To my colleagues are you listening? I have participated and done most of the stategies as outlined therein most of you have not and do not. There is strength in numbers and you don't seem to recognize what needs to be done individually and collectively. Maybe I'll go to Newtown!
-GC Variete

Letter to Yenta 01/16/07
I write this in response to the question posed by a previous entry on 1/11/07 ... "Tell me where you can find more than 15 restaurants, it may be more like 20,and over 60 stores all in a 3 block radius on an original Main Street (as opposed to a "created" main street atmosphere pseudo town)..."
Perhaps you have not recently visited the historical town of Newtown PA - a hop-skip-jump from New Hope. Newtown offers more than 20 Dining & Lodging establishments, more than 20 Beauty & Spa services, 17 Fashion & Apparel stores (only 1 corporately owned), 12 Art & Antique based businesses, 14 Home Decor & Specialty Shops, 6 Cultural & Entertainment, 4 Sports & Fitness, 3 Floral, 5 Convenience & Grocery Stores including a lovely Natural Market and more.
As for the question of History: The up-to-date and information Newtown.org website home page quotes "In 1684, William Penn's surveyor, devised a plan for a new settlement initially called New Township. In time, the name was shortened to Newtown. We're still here with over 300 years of art, history and adventure."
Newtown promotes A-HA Fridays (imagine that...a creative and different approach to the played out name of First Friday or Second Saturday) as well as Girls Night Out on the 3rd Thursday of each month including Dinner & a Movie for $25 a head. They market their events well through advertising as well as a subscriber email/newsletter keeping us up to date on what's in store and reminding people to come back.
September 2006 Newtown put on the Newtown Brew Fest, which I understand was a big hit. Again. Something different. New Hope has a brewery. don't you?
People - I am not saying Newtown does everything perfect or even well. But they obviously are doing something right!
I have grown weary of the New Hope of today trying to ride on the coattails of the years past. Yes, there was a day and a time that New Hope thrived. No doubt about it. But that isn't right now. Why? For too many reasons to list in this entry. I follow your comments on the Yenta and I rarely hear even that of a whisper of responsibility from the merchants of your town. Imagine what would happened if you, the merchants, took some responsibility for yourselves and your businesses.
Yes. We have a questionable economy. and we have questionable leadership in our country. and 9-11 happened. and so did the Tsunami & Katrina and a entire world of terrible things. And of course there is the War. and Box Stores. etc etc etc. But its reality. Its the here and the now of today and its probably not going anywhere any time soon. What does spending your time reminiscing of the yesteryear get you? more customers? increased sales? higher profits? Seriously.
Times have changed. Consumers have changed. The Internet has brought change. How many businesses in New Hope have an up-to-date website. How many of you have a "guest list" that you can send a monthly newsletter or email informing your best customers of new arrivals, products, services, SALES? When was the last time you attended a community networking meeting to smile and meet new faces and invite them to your store.
Top of the mind awareness, innovative and progressive ideas, and some leadership is what you people need. Clean streets, sparkling clean windows, an inviting aroma through out your store, friendly smiles, and getting up from behind your counter to great people would be a start. Ask people if they have been to your store before. Explain your products and services. Extract information from them. Find out where else they shop & dine. find out what they are looking for that they cant find. SELL.
You will never be truly successful until you take the time to learn everything you can about your customer -including what she/he eats for breakfast. Do you think successful companies invest significant money on market research because they have nothing else to do with their time and money? Maybe you cannot afford to pay someone else to do this for you. But with a little time and effort you can extract this data from your best customers.
In general 20% of your business comes from 80% of your customers. 80% of your business comes from 20% of your customers. Who are your "Twenty-Percenters"? Find the key as to why they love your store and keeping coming back and you will find the key to attracting more of the same. You already know who these people are.
I understand you face challenges with your boro and township and chamber and the disconnect can make many things challenging. But this doesn't absolve you from your own sense of responsibility. It doesn't provide a scape -goat for your behavior. They are not preventing your from marketing your business and being nice to people when they come to your store. Are they?
Stop sulking and complaining. and please stop the bickering. It seems it has consumed you.
Get up to tomorrow and make it a new day in a new year. Write a list of what you are going to do for your store. What is your STRATEGY going to be? Show the rest of the town how its done. and if you are feeling neighbor-like help encourage another business to do it to. Take it from someone who has been in retail for as long as many of you - Retail is not for the faint of heart and its certainly not for the complacent. it's long hours, staying open when you don't feel like it, being customer service oriented AND it is much much more than opening up a store with pretty things in a tourist town and waiting for people to walk in and buy them.
Retail will never be easy. But it's much easier when you are progressive in your actions.

Sorry for the long email Yenta - i just couldn't help myself anymore.

p.s. to those of you bantering about the alleged covert operation to issue more DUI's in New Hope. If you are driving over the legal limit then you should be arrested and issued a DUI (and if i had my way tarred and feathered). If you are a responsible individual you've got nothing to fear. Personally, i think every township should issue more DUI's. I don't want drunk people on my roads endangering myself and those I love. I cannot believe people have nothing better to do with their time then write to the Yenta about this issue.

Letter to Yenta 01/15/07
To those complaining of DUI enforcement: If you do not have a blood alcohol level above the legal limit then you have nothing to worry about. To those that drive while above the legal limit, I have no sympathy. It could very well be my family that gets killed because of your irresponsibility. There have been many DUI deaths on our local roads over the past 5 years, and if stepped up enforcement helps reduce that statistic then I am for it. Should we ignore the problem and let folks drive drunk?
The average person needs to have four drinks in one hour to hit a .08. Yes, it can vary but I doubt that one or two casual drinks at dinner would put you over the legal limit. If you act responsibly, you will not get a DUI. -Keith

Letter to Yenta 01/15/07
To Lukeoil Guy: I guess you don’t get it. Driving customers to make their purchases across the river, for whatever reason, doesn’t really help to boost commerce on this side of the Delaware. I do buy my gas in New Jersey. And after I fill up I park the car on one of the non-metered streets and do some shopping or have a nice reasonably priced dinner at Bell’s. I have to say your attitude fits the current downtown climate pretty well.
PS Nice article on Lambertville in the Bucks County Courier Times this past Saturday. -Cranky Dave

Letter to Yenta 01/15/07
Not purchasing a companies products has some effect; complaining while contining to purchase is being part of the problem. Drive to Lambertville to fill up. I've been doing that for years. Just the last 10 would amount to about $30K of my business they lost.

Letter to Yenta 01/15/07
To Cranky Dave: "The only gas station this side of the river?" Come on, Dave, Lukoil does not have a monopoly in the state of Pennsylvania. There are other gas stations all around New Hope. If you don't want to pay Lukoil's prices, go somewhere else. If you can't be troubled to drive a few miles to get lower prices, then don't complain. The problem then is you.

Letter to Yenta 01/15/07
Yes they are being pushed into writing DUI's.The person indicating that this is not so is wrong and this is not from someone who has a DUI. By the way there are ways to pressure townships to comply not by phone calls to the chief of police it's called withholding state funds.

Letter to Yenta 01/12/07
Yes, we operate under the free enterprise system, but that doesn’t make it right for companies like Lukoil to unreasonably inflate their prices because they’re the only gas station on this side of the river. As the only brewery in town I’m glad that Triumph hasn’t followed their lead or I’d be paying $15 for a pint of beer. -Cranky Dave

Letter to Yenta 01/12/07
I do not read the Yenta very often but today I was glancing through and I saw the comments someone wrote in on how the state is pressuring New Hope and Solebury for more DUI'S. Do you honestly think that the State Capital got on the phone and called the Chief of Police and said, "You need to arrest more people for DUI"? Then after that the Chief sat down with all of the officers and said "OK men from now on we target the Raven. Anyone seen leaving there gets arrested. Is that what you think of the local police department? They go to work everyday to keep the community safe for you and your family. If someone goes in for a friendly drink, they have nothing to worry about. If you look at the records you will see that most people who get arrested for DUI in this town from ALL of the bars have a BAC of .18% or higher on average. Since the legal limit is .08%, It is safe to say that most of them had more than just a friendly drink. As far as LUKOIL is concerned, last time I checked we live in America and have that little concept of "Free Enterprise". What evidence do you have that they are violating any laws or that they are giving kickbacks to anyone? You sit here and make blind allegations that the police department is arresting people without probable cause and that they target patrons of The Raven. When I read your entry into the Yenta, the only thing that I can think of is that you are bitter over being arrested for DUI, and that you need to blame the state, the local police departments, and Lukoil for something that you are solely responsible for. Take responsibility for your actions and don't blame everyone else. I use Lukoil all the time for gas and to have my cars serviced. I find their work to be excellent, yes they do charge more for gas than other places, but since they are a local business I have no problem paying it to support them.

Letter to Yenta 01/11/07
C from MII: An umbrella by virtue of what it is seeks to protect and contain that which is standing beneath it and I believe that the umbrella which New Hope should be and it's leadership has intentionally and without regard left some of our friends, neighbors and colleagues out in the rain, and baby, it's cold out there!
No one is dismisssing the myriad of personalities and virtues within this town. What has happened, at least to me, is that the plethora of ideas which come from a diverse population are not being put to good use because I believe there is a lack of clear leadership from the three sectors within a community, (civic, economic and cultural and not necessarily in that order) which make a community work. When is the last time you were ever polled by economic and civic leadership before they reached a decision which may in fact concern you? We are all adults, created inherently equal with a brain and we all have ideas. Harnessing ideas from the participants at large, (you,me and our neighbors) and those three regulatory sectors requires that a leader come from one of those areas and be persuasive enough to get others to follow. Or it may simple be that a potential leader from any sector just be allowed to emerge!
The brain must speak to the heart and once combined the hands and feet get into motion. It is not enough for the members of a community to just go along with what is dished up. They need to feel that they are welcomed at the table of diversity, (diversity which they bandy about like a medal,) from which they may all sup and be fulfilled.
Insofar as New Hope wearing a shabby party dress, were you proud of your neighbors that could not put a wreath on their doors or a light in their windows this past holiday season? Were and are you proud of the fact that your neighbors do not feel any responsibility to you to be opened when they say they will be? Do you not feel any responsibility to your colleagues and customers? You may not and that is okay but sad, but I do feel a responsibility to you and my other colleagues and that is where I am coming from. This town has the potential to be quintessential anything. Do you not understand that in its prime New Hope was the model from which other small towns based themselves upon, do you not think that other towns selected the best of New Hope and took it for their own and do you not believe that we have allowed them to do so by not being on top of our game and utilizing the diversity of thought which allegedly resides here. That is what I call a depressed town. Are our windows shiny and bright,? Are our sidewalks clean and trash receptacles apparent? Have we removed old signs. Do we look like we care about ourselves and our neighbors.? Do we look like we are acting in concert with one another when we tell a customer looking for a location, "never heard of them," without directing or picking up a phone to call the information center in an effort to aid the customer and abet each other? Are we friendly towards those who think differently or are we afraid? Are you proud of the fact that civic leadership uses the divisiveness which exists to thier own advantage without once in my recollection seeking to be a mediator? I am not, these people represent me, a citizen, whom they were elected to serve, because they asked to serve and that is not what I am about.There is no reason to fear each other, but fear pervades because of that pie syndrome you spoke about. There is enough for everyone yet I know of a specific instance, and many others like it where a new restaurant took over an old restaurant's location and customers have been told by the old restaurant that the new only opens when it wants, some nights yes and some nights no and never for lunch, when that is in fact patently not true. Is that being and feeling secure and unafraid of each other? Is that what you call community? Is that what you call there being enough pie for everyone? People are afraid because they face an uncertain future and they face an uncertain future because they are waiting and wanting to be led, but mainly they are afraid because they are lazy and unconcerned about how they themselves may lead the man or woman that is right beside them. All of which, again at least to me, is primarily caused by their disatisfaction and dissapointment with the leadership which purpots to exist, all of which promise something new and different when all they offer is bread and circuses. People, it seems, march vision tunneled ahead without regard, concern, caution or caring for the object of their success, other people.
I do not wish this to be a construed as being argumemntative with you, I agree in principle with most of what you outline but to think of New Hope, because it may have 10 or 20 restaurants and over 60 shops, as successful leaves plenty out of the definition. Yet, admittedly it does allows you the luzury of only a connotative definition of success. Definitions like defining moments are something which the masses can all agree upon and which allow for a more concise mode of communication. The defining moments that make a community worthwhile are missing, just plain, simple and truthful.
There has to be something upon which we can all agree and use that as a springboard for the success we all wish to enjoy for ourselves, but first you have to care enough to only want the same good things for other people that we all would wish for ourselves. I do not see that happening here and I see no evidence of a substantive move in any direction from any leader to promote the pursuit of happiness and goodwill towards all people.
-GC Variete, see I told you there would be more!

Letter to Yenta 01/11/07
GC: Regarding posture and demeanor issues, you're right. I stand corrected. -JC

Letter to Yenta 01/11/07
JC: I did not say that the project was a good one and you have missed my point. Good or bad project, should a person that went before any governing or pseudo governing board in this town be treated poorly? I think not. The point is that this town is getting a reputation for not treating people well or fairly. Diversity is thought process, accepting of diversity is the art of thought processing. -GC Variete

Letter to Yenta 01/11/07
I think the following comment by the Mugman hits the bulls eye "I think if we are to have people running for the Borough Council, Historical Review Board and the Chamber of Commerce we should ask what THEIR vision or "dream" of New Hope is or more importantly, what their vision of its future is". Without this (in writing and published), votes are blind and the town develops according to the tastes of the officials, not the voters. As far as Rocki Rockstar's proposed "Waterview type" extravaganza in the heart of town . . . . come on Greg . . someone comes in and proposes eclipsing the sun and river in the heart of town and tea & crumpets should be in order? To some of us property values and window dressing are not at the top of the food chain. I rarely have anything positive to say about the present council, but blowing off this Bullwinkle dung project was right. Look at the rendering and imagine that thing in the heart of town! -JC

Letter to Yenta 01/11/07
What???A depressed small town? Shabby party dress? Tell me where you can find more than 15 restaurants, it may be more like 20,and over 60 stores all in a 3 block radius on an original Main Street (as opposed to a "created" main street atmosphere pseudo town) Dating back to George Washington and thriving all the way since then thru thick and thin up to the year 2007???? Diversity of thought and personality is what IS under the umbrella and it's been there for centuries!! Where do you find another town like it? Well we have to say Lambertville, our sister city of course! But where else, tell me, i'd love to know! -c from mii

Letter to Yenta 01/10/07
The point, MUG MAN is that there is no one right vision as you suggest there might be. New Hope and it's citizens, it's economic, civic and cultural growth will only occur when the people fight as hard for what they don't want as they think they fight for what they do. You get what you tolerate! Diversity of thought and personality is a hard thing to put under one umbrella and New Hope has not prepared or challenged itself for this rainy day. Inwardly New Hope is a depressed small town that wants to go to the party but thinks that the party must and will come to them, outwardly it wears a shabby party dress.

Letter to Yenta 01/09/07
Hi Yenta, I read with interest the comments that boro merchants, residents and our guests make about our town and wonder is anyone really listening to what is being said and is this service able to make a difference or does it just add fodder as fuel to the fire. At best it allows the strata of personalities, some with vision and some without, to air their thinking and to learn that they are not alone. It allows for solitary contemplation of the larger and smaller issues of our day, some close to home and hearts. A New Hope version of London's infamous Speaker's Corner if you will, a place to start a dialogue. Unfortunately the dialogue starts, comments are made back and forth, the visions begin and then are shrouded by the inaction of the players and participants. It seems as though New Hopians are just not yet "mad as hell and not going to take it anymore."

New Hopians, at least to me, think that we have the lock on diversity, art, culture, history and civic responsibility. We do not and yet we think that past performance will steady the tide no matter what the future, the raging river, the new faces of our residents and guests, economic, civic and cultural upheaval will bring. We abrogate our responsibility to the past, we ignore the fleeting present and we descend into a very uncertain future, primarily because we have diresepcted our cultural and historical past. We look to a future that is envisioned as solitary meandering because we lack most clearly civic, cultural and economic leadership. Within this one and one quarter sqaure mile boro there is malaise, there is frustration and there is a certain fear that cannot be calculated or be construed as healthy. There is an underlying current which runs stronger than any river and it is voiced here regularly and written about in our local newspaper, that New Hope may be pretty to look at, that it has unlimited potential, but that it is just not "nice." I refer to an article which appeared in last week's Gazette in which a developer came before the borough to discuss a project and came away feeling like he was not treated well, and to the demise of the Main and Bridge Street project which fell apart because, and I loosely paraphrase here, there was the perception on the part of the builder, that he did not want to cajole, hand hold and argue with the powers that be for two years before the project could get off the ground. Perception is reality, if one feels badly treated, if one feels that arms and brains and hearts were not open and outstretched then chances are that the message intended was the correct message received. I do not believe that an effort has or will be made by the boro to reintroduce the Main and Bridge Street project and I do not believe that any effort will be made to correct the perceptions of last week's victim. For it seems that, rethinking an issue is not New Hope's strong suit. One need only witness the impassioned pleadings at a Boro Council meeting to know that minds are made up, "thank you, now sit down," or ask their friends and neighbors why they don't particiapte. The civic, cultural and economic leadership have been seized by a few and they carry that leadership around like a dog with a bone. Even my dog Buddy relaxes his grip and gives up his toys!

Liberal and outwardly Democratic, yet perceived as dictitorial, New Hope has it seems not been able to grasp the mantra of one of it's national icons, that it "takes a village." When I came to New Hope to live and work, thereby investing my life in this boro I believed that it was my responsibility to conduct business in an orderly, easy manner and to conduct a business that added something to the spirit of the community at large, a place where there was something for everyone, the general store pot belly stove and the New England cracker barrel if you will. A purchase was not necessary every time, but everytime you were special, we were glad to see you, our arms were as open when you left as they were when you entered. That was my perception of my responsibility to my neighbors and some came in as customers and many if not all have left as my friends. I hoping to have left an indelible mark upon them each time because each time the experience was different. Sometimes we laughed and sometimes we cried. My responsibility was my role in carrying on the traditions of the past, nodding to the present while never loosing sight of the future. The majority, sadly to say do not see their hands and the roles which they play in making this village work in a way in which we may all be proud. Yes, it takes a village, and yes sadly the preponderance of the evidence suggests this is not the village which believes it has or acts upon it's responsibility to and for each other.

We are closing our doors in New Hope, but not to New Hope, as I wind down my days there there will be more I am sure that I will have to say, stay tuned!

-GC Variete

Letter to Yenta 01/09/07
A few years ago I chose to make New Hope my new home and started a business here. I never thought to look into its Town Plan or study the structure of its political and economic base, I just moved here because I liked the energy and thought a town with so many different "characters" wouldn't notice a new one too quickly. I didn't notice the parking problem or the fact that sometimes during the holiday season a merchant or two dared to park his POV at one of the free meters and go to work. I didn't realize that one had to seek out the Chamber of Commerce and ASK to join. I thought the Historical Board was a reasonably well run operation and I did my best to conform to what they asked of me. I had my own little urban development project and it seemed to get done with little complaint or community notice and breezed through the zoning and borough council boards with hardly a bump in the road. I've always believed though that its a good idea to have a vision of where one wants to go and try like hell to make that happen. Uncle Charlie calls that the "dream", I suppose. I had a dream of my life and I think its sort of coming true every year that I can stay open and sell my mugs to people. I think if we are to have people running for the Borough Council, Historical Review Board and the Chamber of Commerce we should ask what THEIR vision or "dream" of New Hope is or more importantly, what their vision of its future is. This is such a small town and so much can be accomplished if the right vision is found and followed.

Here's mine: I see New Hope as a noisy little river town with interesting and affordable Mom and Pop stores where people come to find things they can't get in shopping malls and big city stores. I see New Hope with a thriving day and night crowd that enjoys the experiences of quaint restaurants and lively theaters, clubs and galleries along well lit and safe streets. I see New Hope as a place you can experience on many levels with children, friends and lovers, your mom, your boss, your working partners or just by yourself with your camera and a few bucks for an ice cream cone...(and a pocket full of quarters). I see New Hope as a place to come to and then go home, wherever that may be. I believe New Hope should remain a visitor based economy rather than a community of expensive townhouses where people can come and get scared by ghost stories rather than rent and house prices. I love the noise people make when they are having fun and walking around in a place they will remember for the sound of a steam engine whistle rather than an expensive parking ticket. I see New Hope maybe as I want it to be for me and I wonder how those we elect see it...don't you? -the MUG man

Letter to Yenta 01/06/07
Several years ago I had a high profile, high rent store on Main Street. This was a business enterprise, not a hobby. I tracked daily sales, weather information and the like.
After the first year, it became obvious that weekday sales in January, February and March did not come near covering the cost of having the store open. In fact, sales were often zero during the week. I was losing too much money by being open.
Consequently, in subsequent years I opened only Fridays through Sundays. My customers knew of my hours through a seasonal mailing as well as signage at the store. This practice enabled me to minimize my winter losses.
Any business that has been in operation for more than a year should have adequate records to determine high and low sales days and seasonal patterns. Deciding on which day to close isn't a guessing game; it should be based on fact and experience. If you don't keep those kinds of records, perhaps you should consider a different livelihood.

Letter to Yenta 01/04/07
Hi Yenta, and therein lies the problem, the suggestion that a merchant do one thing this week and another thing the following week is exactly what customers don't want or need. Pick a day, make a choice based upon the available data, post the decision and live with it. "Is this anyway to run an airline?"

Letter to Yenta 01/03/07
Yes we should respect the past and in particular our historical buildings. There are a number of landmark structures (The Logan, The Mansion and dozens more).
Many of Main Street's historical buildings would be unrecognizable to their original builders. Look at the picture windowed flat roofed storefronts added to the front of many of the 100 year old + buildings. If we are trying to remember the New Hope of old, how about restoring those buildings by tearing off the 1950's additions?
Do we hold onto the New Hope of our youth or do we continue to build it into a vibrant town where the merchants prosper, residents are proud and tourists flock to?
I know New Hope will find its' path. I see so many quality renovations and inprovements in town. I just hope our current business owners can survive so they can prosper too.

Letter to Yenta 01/02/07
Although I no longer work in Town, I hope I may be allowed an observation. In the 10 years I worked in New Hope, in the tourist industry, I lost count of the number of customers who commented to me about their favorite store or shop, or attraction being closed without prior notice. Many said they had traveled a great distance to shop in those businesses, only to find that they had "taken the day off".
I can understand a shop owner having to close for inventory, or to take a "mental-health day", but, at least, they should put up some sort of advance notice of it. If a business posts store hours, they should always adhere to those hours, or the whole town gets a poor reputation. -John

Letter to Yenta 01/02/07
New Hope and Solebury are being pressured from the state capital to write more tickets for DUI’s based on complaints from outlying townships complaining that they don’t write enough. Main target is the Raven where they shoot them like fish in the barrel. No one can ever have a friendly drink again. Also the biggest crook in town is Lukoil who charges far and away the largest amount to impound a car as well as the highest gas prices in the state. I do not know who they split it with but maybe an investigation is in order. It is sad to see a once friendly boro reduced to fear each day.

Letter to Yenta 01/01/07
Hey Uncle Charlie, I know exactly what you mean by the Tuesday or Wednesday dilemma! The trick is to try both, Tuesday one week and Wednesday the next cause basically its never the same and ya just never know! But cheer up on the Closing Bug. Think of New Hope as one big pie and every store and restaurant is a slice of that pie. Well, when some stores and restaurants choose to cut down on hours and days, it's just all the more for the ones that stay! Believe me, the people that roll thru town in the winter do so whether all the stores are open or not and they will spend whatever they were going to spend on who's there and open , so if thats you , great! And if its not me cause I have to take my yearly buying trip, or just take some time off for my own mental wellness so that i can treat my customers with a smile when I get back , so be it! New Hope is not a mall or a peddlers village and thats why i love it so much! It's kind of like New Years Day. Years ago we were one of very few establishments in New Hope open on New Years day. And let me tell you it was one of our better days! Kind of a last Hurrah before the drought comes! I refer back to the pie theory. Now some others have caught on and the pie on that day has become a much smaller slice! Oh well! So dont fret, open, close, 2 days , one week, one month or two, it doesnt make that much of a difference. The few people that come in Jan and Feb will come wether you are open or not. And if you're open they might just come in!
Happy New Year to all and may we all have a prosperous and healthy 2007!
-Cathy from Made in Italy

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