Letter to Yenta 04/20/06
I live in Solebury Township and would like to do more shopping in New Hope. The issue is that many of the stores in New Hope do not effectivly target their market when making choices of product offerings. If you want to increase revenue, you need to put together a marketing plan which appeals to both weekend visitors and locals. Remember there are seven days in a week...not just two. You will increase your revenue overall by encouraging weekday purchases. Give some thought to how you can appeal to local individuals for everyday purchases and you will pick up a portion of my daily spending wallet!

Letter to Yenta 04/20/06
Ah My Dearest Yenta,
You know that it has been some time since I have written to you. Quite frankly I have been enjoying concentrating on things important to me. I have been concentrating on my family, my businesses, my reenacting, a few small film projects, and even some television work. I had deliberately stopped writing to you, reading newspapers and attending borough council meetings. I needed a break. I did this just to see what would happen. Guess what? My happiness level has shot through the roof.

But I guess you know why I am writing to you. I bet you even had it timed to the second when I would contact you. I thought hard about ignoring “just another local” and their “drive by” attack on me. But I decided he needed to be taken down a peg. I could start in so many places with that annincephalic reptile but since he made it personal, I guess I would like to start there.

Using me as an example for or against chains and comparing my establishment with Rita’s is actually a very good comparison.

Now for the record I have no argument with Rita’s, their owners etc.. I welcome them as a new business in the community. I also am a very good friend of the property owner there. I look forward to them being an asset to the business community. It is only because of “just another local” that I even mention Rita’s and the good people there.

You may compare me with anyone when they have accomplished any part of the following. Then and only then can they be placed on the scale of comparison with me:
Start your 59th season in New Hope.
Stay open year round.
Give job skills to almost 70 young people a year ( some 4,000 people over the years.)
Attend council meetings, zoning meetings, HARB meetings, planning meetings.
Join the Chamber of Commerce, serve on the board of directors, be vice president, work on every committee to improve the town.
Run for public office.
Serve in public office.
Advise elected officials in public office.
Help protect the vote by doing public appearances as an 18th century icon.
Form special business group to address particular issues.
Form local reenactment group to honor the town’s vast history.
Fund that group.
Defend purpose of that group against false historians.
Provide for the edification of the town and the education of the youth by producing annual event and parade.
Build all the equipment to sustain that event.
Be an ambassador for the town whenever called upon.
Join surrounding organizations to network and bring business to town.
Help out with the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and every other group with a cause that needs a donation or facilities.
Or simply stay in business this long against floods and natural disasters ( and some disasters that are man made).

Once someone has done any five things on this list, that’s when you can make a comparison.

In the meantime, and for the record, I did paint after the flood. Front and South Side walls, awning and trim. Inside as well. The North side wall is a real problem. The ground adjacent is not mine and it is a nightmare to coordinate with the neighbors to paint that wall. The heavy traffic also makes it very dangerous. So there are only limited times when painting can be done. It gets painted every 4 or 5 years, period. However your attitude tells me that you only understand instant gratification and will not take into consideration the harsh environment of being on Main Street. The constant soot from traffic makes painting and cleaning constant operations. The dirt from the water installation and subsequent repaving didn’t help. Not that you, “just another local” would see, know or understand that. As long as it is plastic and “LOOKS” perfect than you are satisfied.

Also, I have been blessed with unbelievable foot traffic. Until you understand those numbers (it is more than the total of your fingers and toes together) and the maintenance that it requires, keep your mouth shut.

I have, as usual, some really exciting projects that I am working on. One in particular will help the town (Dear Yenta announcements will follow). Also, since the flood I have been preparing plans for an expansion and renovation to my property. Don’t think you “local” had any thing to do with that decision.

Your cowardly unsigned letter and your flippant good bye marks you as one of the self congratulating, “legend in own room” idiot that the town has had to suffer. I have more time in the bathroom in Borough Hall than you do in New Hope. There are people who have lived in New Hope for only five minutes and “get it”. There are some who take a little longer. You will never “get it”.

You may not be caught “dead” in my store but be assured I may catch you there. You see I know you, and I know all about you.

Where were you in the flood? Who did you help? How much damage did you sustain? Did you loan out your pumps and generators and tools and gasoline and food and water to whoever needed them? I did. Did you have those items ready for such an emergency? I did. Did you help sick neighbors clean out muck infested basements? I did. I also stayed and battled the elements to defend my property and business. Just like I will defend my all against scumbags like you.

You have offended me.

In the time period that I like to study, gentlemen had a method to settle their differences. Although you are no gentleman and personally I think you are a bottom feeding scum sucker, consider your face slapped. I will meet you on the field of honor any time and anywhere because I am the better man.

Next time, sign your letter you coward.

Robert V. Gerenser

P.S. Uncle Charlie thanks for the kind words.
P.P.S. To all my friends I know how angry this has made you. Just let it go, I have said it all.

Letter to Yenta 04/19/06
To the feller who’s concerned about Gerenser’s: I had a strawberry cone there just yesterday, and I’m still alive. It was pretty darn good, matter of fact, and...hey...wait a minute...are those spots before my eyes? I’m getting woozy.....ughhhhhhh....
-Uncle Charlie

Letter to Yenta 04/17/06
It seems everyone has a solution to the sad and depressed state of commerce in the borough of New Hope,so I thought I'd give my 2 cents worth...
This town has a unique and special laid back feeling to it,hence all the weekend traffic which theoretically should bring business. So many discussions whether to allow chains or not,. have been discussed on this site, the newspapers. Though I would not like to see the whole town turn into a Soho or Westport Ct., there seems to be room for improvement. Hot Plates,Strawberry Jam,The Paper Plate, Variete, some of the cute shops on mechanic St. the art galleries, Diana Michaels are good examples of non chain stores that are well maintained and have something to offer. There are others that I have not mentioned, that are definite assets to this town. However, if there were some "everyday" stores where locals could shop, foot traffic could alleviate some of the traffic and improve the commerce of the town. Some of the merchants who complain about the lack of spending, should look objectively at their own business and see what needs to be done to improve the appearance of the store and the quality of the merchandise...if there were better things to purchase, more bags would be leaving with our tourists and visitors, and quite possibly a better caliber of shopper. Ironically, Lambertville looks much better these days than New Hope. Signs are posted on each corner of all businesses, which makes it so easy to know what stores are in town. By the way Rita's ice cream is a chain and Gerenser's ice cream isn't...which establishment would you rather buy ice cream from...I know I wouldn't be caught dead in Gerenser's--did he even clean or paint after the flood of 2005? One can only hope!
cheers, A New Hope local

Yenta Column 03/24/06
Dear Dazed and Confused,
Certainly everyone understands your state of mind...and that the Chamber has its issues. Even though it may be difficult to "let go", you might try to offer some positive resolution to the problems. You should definitely start by going to the meetings that you are getting second-hand reports about. After all is said and done, everyone will move on...including these officers of the Chamber at some point. So, you can rest easy that nothing too drastic here will affect the town and at some point you will get a new group of "fearless leaders". Calm down and enjoy the ride!!
-The Yenta

Letter to Yenta 03/22/06
I have to respond to the "mourners"...I know I probably write way too much in here sometimes but this time I just can't stop myself. I know that Hurricane Michael has had a devastating effect on the Old New Hope Inn and adjacent properties but hopefully there will be some nice buildings coming up there again someday...but to call him a "republican"?? UGH! I shudder that we have to go that far!! Can't we all just get along?? We who live on Mechanic Street and do business here are all working to make it as nice as possible...so please come back and watch how we change from a pile of rubble into whatever. -the Mug Man

Letter to Yenta 03/21/06
Can we just mourn? We've been coming to New Hope since the early 70's and have seen all sorts of change, but this is the unkindest cut of all. The last time we walked up Mechanic Street, a favorite haunt from the History House to Krista's and the Canal House, we saw a slum. On our most recent visit, Mechanic Street was a pile of rubble. I was in Biloxi,MS after Katrina, and that was horrible, but Money has done the same to New Hope. How sad, how republican. Enjoy the profits.

Letter to Yenta 03/20/06
To Dazed & Confused: The difference between critical and spiteful is that the latter frequently marginalizes any constructive dialog around it. Developers and slickers are the only benefactors of spiteful ruminations. As the saying goes, bad officials are elected by good citizens who don't get involved. -JC

Letter to Yenta 03/18/06
Has anyone else noted that everyone that talks about business here in New Hope or stands at a Borough council meeting to speak...or verbalizes about the Chamber of Commerce in some newspaper always seems to mention how long they have been either a resident or in business in town. It seems sort of unnecessary and as a 5 year resident and 3 year business owner I can tell you that it really doesn't make your point of view any more valid. In my 3 year old business I constantly get visitors coming in telling me its been 20 years or 10 years or 40 years since they last were here in town and how much things have changed. I understand how they feel but I have to tell them that New Hope isn't like every town. If you live here even 6 months you'll see that the town is in a constant state of change. Its a historical town that may have old buildings and quaint bridges but its very "POP Culture". Even our nightclubs (that have been in business for decades) may look like old venues but the music is current and reflective of modern America. It says a lot about a town that changes its spots as much as we do here. It says here is a bunch of people involved in the world around them...isn't this FUN? Noisy Bells...motorcycles...hard to find parking spaces...tattoo parlors...spaces to rent...million dollar condos...Starbucks Coffee...Latex body paint...fine art...here is a town that refuses to be historical and loves living in the NOW (floods and all). ....and it WORKS....sorta.....we just have to stop telling each other how lazy others are or how we think the guy down the street should post his hours or how friendly he needs to be.
The Mug Man (5 yr resident - 3 yrs in business - very friendly)

Letter to Yenta 03/17/06
We still love what's left of you folks. Keep the faith.

Letter to Yenta 03/17/06
Just got off of the phone with another of the party goers from last nights meeting at Mothers restaurant. I thought that you might really appreciate this. This person feels that there might be a shortage of splints and slings in New Hope, because the chamber board spent the entire night patting themselves on the back. Why am I not surprised?
Still----Dazed and Confused
New Hope

Letter to Yenta 03/17/06
I must apologize to you and all of your readers because I did not get to the meeting at Mothers restaurant last night. I had so many things going on that I just could not get there. I did make a number of calls to people that were there and heard that it was quite a show. Instead of a meeting of the minds I heard that it was a meeting of the mindless. Anytime someone got up to speak, the QUEEN BEE and her supporters would jump all over them from different directions. I guess this is what makes New Hope the place that it is. It is like watching a weekly soap opera like West Wing where people just need to be in power. As I said in my other letter to you, the president must need this position to inflate that BIG EGO of hers. After listening to some of the people that attended the meeting it sounds more like a comedic soap opera like Desperate Housewives. But here in our town we should call it Desperate New Hopers.
Still---Dazed and Confused
New Hope

Letter to Yenta 03/17/06
In reply to Mr.Sdorow's letter in 3/16 Herald...A primary reason for lowering the meter times was not to let the Bars off the hook. It is to promote the "friendlier" image that we all desire...imagine leaving one of our fine restaurants to find a ticket on your car....the urge to write off this town is quite strong. After 35 years in this area, I find the biggest gripe from visitors is parking availability, not cost. I agree with you on the readability of the meters, even in daylight some of them are so fogged over even the Police have difficulty reading them...A suggestion at last nights Borough Council was to replace those "sorry" stickers on the meters with a similar sticker noting the hours of operation..these can be read at all times of the day...As to "Free Holiday" parking issue, there is much more than opinion to back up the employee situation. I have spoken to the Doylestown Business Alliance President, she told me that the misuse of the parking spaces was so bad that they actually had to curtail the program even before the Holidays were over, and it was not just employees...business owners, courthouse employees,residents parked all day, leaving little space for the shoppers.I also spoke to the president of the Giftware Association of America..his experience was the same..Doylestown has not had free Christmas parking for several years, and opposition on that subject is so strong that it will never be revisited...Lambertville only had free parking for the week before and the week after Christmas...It may have been a friendly town, but it was deserted in December. I had business in L-ville three times,during shop hours, and you could find parking anywhere, in contrast to New Hope, where you had to go to the edges of town to park. Even Peddlers Village has a problem, not just limited to holidays, as so many employees and owners park as close as they can to their businesses. This problem also exists in shopping centers....This situation leaves the shoppers the least desirable spaces...A very good way to recapture a friendlier image is if many shops here would not be so unfriendly when a visitor asks for quarters. Many are turned away to find change elsewhere..We have it in our power to be friendlier..Tom Rice, New Hope

Letter to Yenta 03/17/06
Though as colorful as the new version of the crash into Chateau is...as I recall it is incorrect. The store was hit by a Grandmother who failed to negotiate the turn (or stop sign). It was her Grandchild in the car.
That is not surprising. In most of the world history often takes on more color and embellishments as memories of the facts fade . However, in New Hope warped perceptions exist in the present. Unforunately the people in power are aggressively shaping the future with that same kind of short sighted, convoluted, logic that made us once believe the world was flat. -23 year Resident

Letter to Yenta 03/17/06
Power to the Tenderloin! -JC

Letter to Yenta 03/17/06
Apologies not needed but gratefully accepted. Being, as someone once said, the Tenderloin of New Hope, Mechanic Street is proud of its "over 18" shops and happy that some of the most intelligent, funny and energetic people in town own and work in them. The mayor stated a few weeks ago to one of our owners, when asked why he has yet to be seen on Mechanic Street, that we had nothing here he wanted. I guess he has no need for whips or tattoos, not to mention a massage, vintage clothing and paintings, pop art or a nice...achem...mug, but in the past three years Mechanic Street has reemerged as one of the most visited and vibrant streets in town and we boast that in our one block of town we have 4 of the oldest and most popular restaurants of the area. We also mourn the loss of Edith's Fortune Telling shop to Main Street. Sometimes one cannot predict the future but being on Main Street has worked wonders for her fortune. Zoubi was always behind her store as an outdoor bar and restaurant and moved indoors when they bought the building. It remains one of...if not the best...restaurants in town. Maybe the mayor doesn't want anything on Mechanic Street but lots of other people seem to. -Joel E Roberts

Letter to Yenta 03/16/06
Personally, I've always found Chateau's window displays very appealing. Far better than a Mcdonald's or CVS. -JC

Letter to Yenta 03/16/06
Please tell Mr. Roberts and the Mechanic Street Merchants Association, that I’m sorry that I misspoke that only Karla’s and Wildflowers, were the only 2 businesses that were open 10 years ago on Mechanic Street. Silly me! I don’t know how I could have forgotten the 2 sex toy stores and the 2-tattoo parlor. I stand corrected.
How could anybody have forgotten watching Channel 6 News from Philadelphia, and seeing the car that drove through the side window of Chateau Exotic? It trapped the mother and her small son in the fitting room, while she was trying on a French maids outfits, or was it leather PJ’s, whatever. It all started when a little girl was left alone in the car while Mom was inside the rectory talking to the now “retired” pastor. The little girl got behind the wheel of the family car up on the hill, and decided to go window shopping at Chateau Exotic. How could anyone forget seeing on TV… all those leather spanking paddles and whips hanging on the wall amid the broken glass? I understand they were picking dildos up in there for days. But luckily, New Hope had a back up sex toy store only a block away, so tourism was not effected much, while the Chateau was boarded up. But remember what I said, “there is no such thing as bad publicity”. It had slipped my mind that the “Chateau” moved form the corner store to the safety of the old Ember Glo Gift Shop space, making room for the now closed Mexican Bodega. (We all miss those lottery tickets and catchy CD’s from Mexico, not to mention those cute hustlers standing on the corner)
So here again, as always in New Hope, everything turns into a win-win situation. We learn two things from all this blah, blah!
1. Peddlers Village may have free parking but does NOT have 2 tattoo parlors AND 2 sex toy stores, so the shoppers to these establishments must still put quarters in the meters here in New Hope.
2. With the institution of all day kindergarten, by the local school board, Moms can now go shopping with out taking the kids into the fitting room with them. And mothers don’t have to worry about the kids driving the car when left alone, and causing all that embarrassment. Now our tax dollar help run a full day kindergarten and all the kids are in the safety of our school system all day. All the moms going downtown to shop should offset the cost.
One other correction Mr. Roberts, 7 years ago the Zoubi space was a fortuneteller’s & palm reading studio. The palm reader has moved around the corner ruining that Coney Island look on West Mechanic Street, with 2 tattoo parlors and 2 sex toy stores and a palm reader that was all on the same street, but no more.
This will all be discussed at the Chamber meeting at Mother’s on Thursday Night…..Be there.
Signed: A longtime former business owner and current resident

Letter to Yenta 03/16/06
I would like to respond to Cranky Dave. I agree that the roar of motorcycles can be annoying, as well as the jet skis in the river. However, those disturbances are intermittent and usually limited to the weekend and are the sounds of recreation. I also don’t think there is anything the local governments can do to prevent this noise, although the New Hope Police have made several serious attempts at tamping down the more egregious offenders of motorcycle noise. The “Bells” at Marsha Brown’s are an every day disturbance from morning till night, and are the sounds of a restaurant advertising itself. Marsha Brown’s had to apply for permission from the New Hope Council to play these “bells” for a 90 day trial period and if permission is permanently granted could probably be fined or sued for violating a Liquor Control Board regulation that says music cannot be heard outside the premises. While the chiming of the hour may not be music, the little ditty that is repeated before and after certainly is. I can only hope that at the end of the 90 day trial period the New Hope Council will no longer permit this amplified simulation of church bells. Otherwise what is to prevent every restaurant in New Hope from coming up with its own version of some amplified sounds that it finds “charming”?
-Please Let Me Relax in Peace

Letter to Yenta 03/16/06
Hello New Hope - Was just passing by Yenta as I do once in a while to see the latest goings on in town. This place is getting busy. Joel, looking forward to hanging out and shooting the breeze. Look for Sarah and I sometime in July. We'll let you know once we set a date. Looks like there's plenty to talk about. -Dean
PS: We were spending a couple days in Sonoma a few weeks back and met someone who had moved to Sonoma from Atlanta and we happened to start talking about the "recent" flooding in New Hope and the first thing he asked was if there's a lot of development along the river that is taking place. He seems to think the development is causing the flooding and that the same thing is happening in an area in Atlanta as well. Thought I'd pass that along for whatever it's worth. How true it is I can't be sure.

Letter to Yenta 03/16/06
To the venter speaking to the durability of businesses on Mechanic Street. As the Spokesperson for the Mechanic Street Business Association I have to tell you that I think you are wrong or maybe just haven't been here for a while. There are more than just the two businesses you spoke of on this small street that have been here for over ten years. Since the new Canal street project removed 6 of our businesses and over 60 parking places. we are down to approximately 25 businesses. Besides the one's you mentioned, Karla's and Wildflowers Restaurants, we also have Zoubi, another fine eatery, Lion's Den and Living Arts Tattoo parlors and Image Makers Art gallery, Seven Cranes on E. Mechanic St and even the Exotic Boutique and Zykos Jewelry shop are all nearing your 10 year mark. So sometime in your walk about town come by and eat here or sit out in the fine weather in front of the Mug Shop and shoot the breeze with the Mug Man. -Joel E Roberts

The Yenta Column 03/16/06
Dear Mr. Mugman. I never received. Please send again. Put Yenta in the subject column and double check the email address is entered correctly. Also remember to do a screen refresh when checking if a recent letter has been added (directions at top of page under-reload/refresh link). Have a great day! -The Yenta

Letter to Yenta 03/16/06
Dear Ms. Yenta,
Are you mad at me? I have sent you now three submissions and have yet to see them on your site? You must be mad at me...are you?
-the Mug Man

Letter to Yenta 03/16/06
Dear Yenta,
I truly enjoy this column and have fun in trying to figure out who the unsigned writers are? Well add my name to the list of mystery.. I must write to express my feelings on a variety of items but I promise I shall be brief...... I have been in New Hope for decades..I have worked in town, owned a shop in town lived in town spent money in town and yes been on the board of the chamber as well... I am a landlord, with very very reasonable rents....did anyone ever think of how much money a landlord LOSES on tenants with excuses and non payments for months on end?? Our forefathers quarenteed us THE PURSUIT of happiness, so go pursue... and do something creative with your time .... and imagine, OH what a place New Hope would be...

Letter to Yenta 03/15/06
Dear Yenta
I attended the New Hope Borough Council meeting Tuesday night 3/14/06, and was dazed and amazed also. Some of the business owners/chamber members sounded so foolish, were rude to the audience and council, booing, yelling etc. plus most of them stayed in the back of the room, so their bad behavior could not be seen by those in the front, only heard!

Some business owners seem to blame their lack of business on the parking meters which have been in use in New Hope since the 1950’s (look at the old post cards, meters were even on West Mechanic St back then)

The parking meters have become the scapegoat for many of the perceived problems of the shop owners. With some buildings in downtown now selling for millions of dollars, landlords have to charge extremely high rents…. rents that these newer shops can not afford to pay. It’s called “working for the landlord”. Due to these high rents, many of the dreams of these new shop owners are ruined, after spending all their savings, cash from their second mortgage, retirement funds, etc to open their new shop, only to have it fail. No wonder they are mad and pissy. Just look at the turnover of tenants in the small shops on West Mechanic Street, how many were there 10 year ago? I can only think of Karla’s and Wildflowers, some shops have had 6 or more different tenants in that time period. It’s nothing new, it’s part of doing business in New Hope, shops come and go, with some poor locations even turning over twice in 12 months. But metered parking that has been here for fifty years, still gets blamed for those failures by the new comers.

As I walk around downtown, people always ask me how to get to Peddlers Village, as they complain that so many of the stores in Downtown New Hope are closed on weekday afternoons. (And these folks have already paid to park and now find many shops closed, no wonder they to are mad) They also state that the town is getting shabby looking, and there are not very many places to get something to eat at a reasonable price. I’m told also many of the shopkeepers refuse to give them change for the meters. They look at the posted outdoor menus and find that they can’t afford the extremely high prices and off to Pedddlers Village they go. Customers do not flock to Peddlers Village for only the free parking. They go to Peddlers Village because they know they can find the stores OPEN, with nice surroundings and a variety of different priced restaurant choices. New Hope has turned into a weekend shopping town, and it is the fault of many of the storeowners whose stores are only open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. (Including the current Chamber President’s shop) and close very early in the evening. (You can’t make any money when you are closed)

The U.S. Commerce Department reported in today’s Intelligencer, that February retail sales had the largest decline in six months. Maybe this fact plus $3.00 gas have caused local business to drop. The Intelligencer also reported recently, that the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board released data showing that two of the top three hard liquor sellers in Bucks County, were two bars in New Hope, and by a very large margin. So I guess the visitors are still coming, at least to drink anyway, since the bars are the top sellers in all of Bucks County, now with a population over 650,000.

Borough Council on Tuesday night, felt that it could help solve some of the problems of the small shop owners. So the Borough Council rolled back the parking meter enforcement time by 3 hours, giving free meter parking on South Main Street from 9 p.m. until 12 Midnight, 7 nights a week, and by raising the parking ticket fines from the current $15 to $18. (Connie Gering, the Chamber President had asked for a $20 fine) The bar owners present at the meeting cheered. The residents present were amazed at the stupidity and the small shop owners were siting there dazed, scratching their heads, wondering how this roll back helped them, since they are mostly closed between 9 and Midnight. A few of the retired older residents in the audience tried to voice their objections as to all this revenue the police department was going to lose, but were cut short by Council President Richard Hirschfeld, he didn’t want to hear it. Also everyone was told if you own a business in town, you must belong to the Chamber of Commerce, by Mr. Hirschfeld, as he only wants to hear from “one” voice for the entire business community. (Thank god, the independent merchants association no longer exists, as then there would be two voices and who then might he listen to?)

They only thing this roll back seems to accomplish, is to provide free parking at night to the bar & nightclub patrons, as most of the small shops are all closed by 9:00 p.m., with most being closed by 6: 00 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday. The borough council is now giving free parking to the same bar & nightclub crowd, that are the cause for extra police foot patrols in the first place. Another great bonus to all of this is, with free parking after 9 p.m., the bar goers don’t have to bother to get up from their stools to go feed the meter, they can just sit there and drink even more. I guess the borough council feels that they will make up for that lost night meter revenue, by the police issuing more DUI tickets. By having put more drunk drivers on our local streets, the police can now leave WAWA and go catch them. And it also helps New Hope to appear more tourists friendly, by making the daytime shoppers, who receive an overtime parking ticket now, pay $18 instead of $15. Thank you to the Chamber of Commerce, for suggesting this increased fine, as the daytime shoppers who get parking tickets, now get to donate $3 more to the police department. (No wonder the Chamber is so screwed up) I guess this all makes sense to the Chamber and the Council, but since I am not a member of either, I’m not privy to the grand secret plan. I will just have to trust our local officials.

Now that all these night time bar patrons have all this extra money in their pockets, as they didn’t need to feed the meters, and all the shops are closed. Maybe, we can get the bar goers to just slip that extra money under the door of each small shop, on the way to their cars. (This will help the shops pay the high rents & new taxes) And luckily for shopkeepers, the borough does not provide those pesky dollar bill changers on the street! As paper dollar bills are much easier for a drunk to slip under the door, than all those loose quarters.

So I guess it turned out to be a win win situation after all, well for everybody except the residents who don’t own shops or bars. But I just thought of an additional bonus! Maybe next year, New Hope will top the list for selling the most liquor in any town in the ENTIRE State of Pennsylvania, not just in Bucks County. Remember what they say….“there is no such thing as bad publicity”. Thanks borough council and chamber of commerce, for putting more drunk drivers on our local roads. The Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) of Bucks County does not thank you, but the landlords association for higher rents and more high priced condo’s, does thank you. But the senior citizens in New Hope who have moved out of their homes and out of the Borough, due to high taxes and high rents, doesn’t thank you either.

PS: Sorry I forgot to thank the New Hope-Solebury School Board for adding full day kindergarten and music lessons and raising our school taxes. (the stay at home mom’s also thank you for getting them out of the house to go shopping) A special thank you to all the new school board candidates, who lied to us, during the last election.

Signed: A longtime former business owner and current resident (well as long as I can still afford to live here anyway)

Letter to Yenta 03/15/06
Dear Yenta,
I find that New Hope is an amazing place. Every time that I go to your site I learn something new. Today, after reading the letter from the former president of the chamber, Mr. Prouty, I was amazed. I was amazed to hear that a person, Ms. Gering, could be elected president of such an important organization after only one week as a member of the organization. And, from what I have read, now she wants to restrict who can be an officer so no one can do what she has done. Is she crazy or does she have an ego the size of one of New Hope’s new condos? After reading all that she has NOT done over the past year and she wants to run for a second year, it has to be EGO.
I have a business in New Hope and have never met this woman. I was a member of the chamber in the past but dropped out a couple of years ago. But the more I find myself reading about the chamber, the less I am liking it. I am planning on going to the meeting on Thursday at Mothers. I really want to see what all of this is about. No offense to you Yenta, reading it is one thing but being there is another. I will let you know what I think.
- Dazed & Confused, New Hope

Letter to Yenta 03/14/06
As a former Chamber board member and a holder of the record for shortest term Chamber President (1 day), I am very discouraged in our current chamber President. Did you know that Connie Gering herself was elected outside the bylaws in effect at the time of her election, but now she is fighting against the very same thing because it is not to her benefit! Have your attention? Then let me give you some little history. As you read this remember this is fact, not opinion.

In 2004 Brian Fitting was president of the Chamber nearing the last quarter of his 1st term. I privately approached Brian asking if he was planning on running for a second term, and if not I expressed my interest in running for the post. Brian was agreeable to this and offered his backing, or at least that's how it appeared.

At the General meeting and election, Brian seemed to have changed his mind. He had now decided not to give up the President seat. Following the general meeting I was nominated and unanimously elected by the board. Brian failed to nominate himself and offered no objection to my election at the time of my election. Though he did object to keeping our present treasurer George Till and insisted that Mr. Ed White take the position. Mr. White just as Mrs. Gering had just been elected as a board member.

You can imagine my surprise the next morning when I received a message from board member JD Coleates that board members were calling Triumph confused and angry on how the election went. Somewhat confused by this, since I believed the night before that I had the approval of the board, here is what I did not know at the time that only one single, solitary board member called with a question.

But under this mistaken assumption and in order to set the record straight, I decided to resign my post as President until this could all be sorted out. Big mistake on my part for trusting “you know who”. But I did feel that I could not run a chamber without the support of the entire board. We needed to be a unified board, at least that was my thought at the time.

This whole maneuver places Tom Rice as acting President since at the time he was Vice-President. It was approximately one week later when the board met to hold a re-election, which was to take place between Brian and myself. After some much heated debate between board members we decided to have a vote. And just what did Brian Fitting & JD Coleates do? They threw Connie Gerings name into the ring for President. Now keep in mind that Connie had only just joined the chamber and was elected to the board by the general membership in which her name had to be hand written on the ballots because it was not put on until that day. (Starting to smell a plot here? Figured out whom was behind it yet?) Not knowing anything about the state of the chamber, not knowing what needed work etc. she agreed to run for election of President.

As a result of the heated debate situation, Connie was elected as President. So as you can see, Connie herself was elected outside the bylaws and yet strangely, this is the very thing she is fighting so hard against. A year ago when she was elected I felt that a big mistake had been committed and believe I have been proven correct. Want proof? Just name one significant positive event or fundraiser that was not already in place. Anything that she has had her name attached to. Can’t do it, can you?

What we need now is a change. We need someone who is going to actively promote the town, motivate people, invigorate business owners and build a business community. We need someone who is going to work with the New Hope Boro Council; someone who is going to walk around town & discuss issues; has a full time business in town and is available during the week. And to me the most important quality is someone whose main source of income is based on how their business is doing in New Hope not another town. Ask yourself this: do you want someone whose primary source of income comes from a full time business in New Jersey and has a part time sideline here in New Hope?

To me the choice is clear and I am fully backing Catalina Castells for Chamber President. I hope you will to.

Robert Prouty
Wild Endeavors

Letter to Yenta 03/14/06
Dear Yenta,
How can "Please let me relax in peace" hear the bells over the deafening roar of the bikes that were in town this weekend? I’ll take Westminster chimes over a Harley with straight pipes any time of day. I guess noise pollution is different things to different people. -Cranky Dave

Letter to Yenta 03/14/06
I live in Lambertville and I find the bells at Marsha Brown’s to be very intrusive. I resent being made aware of what time it is every hour on the hour when I am trying to relax on the weekend. Now that the weather has turned nice I am spending time outside gardening and the “bells” are proving to be very annoying. I think it is sound pollution and I hope New Hope can silence then. Please be kind to your Lambertville neighbors.
Signed - Please let me relax in peace at home.

Letter to Yenta 03/14/06
A response to Mugman's comments: Allot of media companies these days censor what they report based on the sensitivities of their major advertisers (not to mention that many of the larger ones also have those same advertisers on their "Boards"). This turns the concept of a free press into one that's only free to a few. New Hope (and most other towns) seem to increasingly be mirroring the ethics and sensibilities (or lack thereof) of our federal administrations of recent times (Republican & Democrat alike) and the large corporations. If this community isn't beyond outraged by "some" of the COC's board members trying to hardball censor what gets reported on by the local papers (because that's just "standard" business practice), then what's the flippin point? It would simply mean there's no ethics left to preserve. Sell the town, borough government, schools and community associations to the highest bidding corporation. -JC

Letter to Yenta 03/13/06
With all due respect, a senior officer of the Chamber of Commerce threatening the Herald and Gazette with financial punishment because he didn’t like them covering news of member dissatisfaction is completely unacceptable by any standard.
-Uncle Charlie

Letter to Yenta 03/13/06
Let's not get too upset here folks, with people going to the papers asking to have advertising pulled like the last Yent-ite exclaimed. I'm sure by next week or next month those same people will be back asking for the local rate for ads. Its usually standard practice to vent one's frustrations to the adverting manager. When this Chamber election eventually goes down I'm sure everyone will be back to being nice to each other and a lot better things will start happening to all its members and maybe to the rest of the town too. I think all this ego venting, whining and Bush Bashing (oh wait, maybe we can all just say this was HIS fault) has been GREAT for clearing the air around town adding many new and old members to the Chamber and will eventually benefit everyone. They have a lot of work to do and should begin looking forward and planning for future events and campaigns as some of them have already presented. I wish them a nice election and hope they can settle their disputes.
This is a very small town here and we need to all work for its future viability. Me? I'm gonna start selling large Cappuccinos with ice cream, cigarettes and ice waters. Can a Mug shop sell beer??

Letter to Yenta 03/13/06
Dear Yenta-
I believe the proposal to roll back the hours of metered parking in downtown New Hope and increase the fine for overtime parking to $20 is ill advised. Over the years, borough council, regardless of its membership, has consistently justified metered parking as a way to pay for the extra police protection necessitated by the many bars in town without having to raise the taxes of residents. But the proposal to stop metered parking at 5 p.m. instead of midnight would be unfair to businesses that are open only during the day. While daytime shoppers would feed the meters and receive tickets for overtime parking, customers of bars and restaurants that serve alcoholic beverages or are BYOB would pay little towards the extra police protection that their presence in town necessitates. The loss of parking-meter income from evening parking might even instigate more intensive daytime ticketing, further harming the daytime businesses.

Given that police protection also is needed during the day, I believe that the fairest and most palatable solution would be to have metered parking during all New Hope business hours, from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Thus, the clientele of all downtown businesses would have to contribute to police protection. I also would recommend not raising the price of parking tickets to $20. Anyone who speaks to people who park in New Hope already knows that one of the main reasons people don’t come to town is their experience with parking tickets. Raising the parking ticket fine would only exacerbate the problem. Having metered parking from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. would eliminate the need to increase the overtime parking fine—and perhaps even permit it to be reduced to $10.

Moreover, I would recommend that borough council improve the signage and lighting on streets with parking meters so that people who arrive in town after dark are clearly informed that the meters are still in operation after daytime hours. During my nighttime walks through New Hope, I consistently encounter people who are unaware that they’ve parked at a meter that is still in operation. Most people who receive tickets for overtime parking might be upset by it, but realize that they bear some responsibility for receiving one. In contrast, those who believe they’ve been hoodwinked into receiving overtime parking tickets by poor lighting and signage are more likely to become so angry that they do not return—and tell their friends and relatives not to come to New Hope.

Requiring nighttime visitors to carry flashlights with them (ironically, as I’ve seen some police officers do at night when checking the meters!) does not seem to be a reasonable expectation. It’s one thing for borough council to have nighttime parking-meter hours in order to avoid residents’ having their taxes increased to pay for police protection, but it’s another thing to have “stealth” nighttime parking that creates innocent victims who end up despising the town. I also believe council should install coin machines at various downtown locations to provide quarters in return for $1 or $5 bills so that visitors can obtain coins with which to feed the meters. By the time visitors find a business that is willing to provide quarters, they may return to find that they’ve already been ticketed.

And as for free Christmas holiday parking, the rationale given for not providing it—that employees will take up most of the spaces—seems like an overstatement without evidence, other than mere opinion, to back it up. Businesses are not permitted to open in New Hope unless they designate parking for their employees in their own lot or elsewhere in town. If free Christmas parking returns to New Hope, perhaps a 3-hour limit would reduce the possibility of employees parking all day in the same spot. A few tickets given to employees for overtime parking during free parking weeks would help solve the problem—if, in fact, it exists.

Regardless of the extent of practical benefits that free Christmas parking might bring, the lack of it contrasts markedly with other towns in the area that offer free Christmas parking. Potential visitors interpret this as “Lambertville and Doylestown = friendly towns” and “New Hope = unfriendly, money gouging town.” Every positive experience with a town enhances its public image. Every negative experience erodes it. The recent PBS special portrayed New Hope at its best. Unfortunately, too many people also experience New Hope at its worst.

Les Sdorow
156 South Main Street
New Hope, PA 18938
267-897-9308
lsdorow@comcast.net

Letter to Yenta 03/12/06
Dear Yenta,
Oh God! I am so angry, I could spit tacks. A friend just told me that works at one of the local papers that someone from the chamber board came to the paper and told the editor that they were pulling advertising (Triumph Brewery etc) unless they stopped articles and letters critical of the chamber. I was watching this on the sidelines. But now THREATENING THE PAPERS! I know from a hundred conversations before that editors and writers do not like becoming part of the story but I think that the Intel or someone should check this out. This is plain wrong. Intimidating free speech, even the letter section? Who do they think they are? As a local, I and my friends have used many of the businesses that are on the chamber board. Now I don’t think so at all. Give them a call to let them know about your disgust with their heavyhandedness.

Letter to Yenta 03/12/06
A couple thoughts: First, I think we as merchants must always keep our businesses fresh and responsive to customers, particularly local customers. Since opening as a general store a couple of years, we’ve evolved from a themed concept gift shop to more of a candy-toy-WaWa with an art gallery sticking out the side. I never even wanted to carry soda pop, let alone tobacco products. But our customers tell us what they want by voting with their wallets. We give them a helpful attitude, quarters, napkins and pretty flowers out front (well, rotting cabbages as we speak...). But all those Starbucks and Rita cups one sees can be deceptive. Elsewhere in New Hope, antiques, paintings and rugs have been sold for delivery midweek, and more than one pocket or purse carries a new jewelry purchase. Of course, we don’t sell any of those things, but you can’t get saline solution or three kinds of Bun Bar anyplace else in town... ;-)

Still, statistics show that visitor numbers are down. If I were King (as long as you asked) I’d conduct focus groups within the next month in Manhattan, Bergen County, Suburban Philadelphia and find out quickly whether New Hope has suffered name recognition or reputational deterioration to the point that more and more of our target demographic audience are going to other tourist destination choices. That may sound like marketing jargon, but in my opinion we’d be a lot better off if we heard more of that marketing talk from the folks in charge. I’d also appoint Brian from Aritzen Arts in charge of marketing, because Second Saturdays has been a smash hit and brought some excitement back to our weekends. Now, if we could only get one free metered parking sticker for every resident family in town, we could lure the folks on top of the hill back downtown for shopping and dining. They are the best customers around!

Now if you’re not interested in New Hope Chamber of Commerce chatter, skip the rest of this....

I am a candidate for Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce. There are nine of us running for six spots. This hasn’t happened in a while. Usually, anyone who runs just get puts in. So there are no rules. For example, does a member vote for one candidate, three or six? I’ve asked senior officials to provide me with rules for my election night, and I’ve received stunned silence. “Why don’t you help us fix it, rather than complaining,” they say.

I and other Chamber members have also been asking for a general meeting. We haven’t had one in nearly a year. The Chamber said (In the Doylestown Intelligencer, no less) that there would be one on March 16 at Mother’s Restaurant. Then a Chamber guy fellow posted here and said that it will be an “open meeting of the board.” Another Chamber official has been telling everybody as of yesterday that it will be an “open meeting.” It may sound complicated, but we who want to run for top offices need a General Meeting to discuss the new rule that allows only those currently in power to run for office, and unopposed at that! We keep asking, “Is the meeting on the 16th a general meeting, or just one of those board meetings we can appear in front of if we’re polite and agreeable?”

So far we haven’t gotten a coherent written answer. And we’ll keep asking questions, politely. They haven’t figured out yet that it’s Main, Bridge, Ferry, Mechanic and Union asking for answers this time, and we do it here ‘cause we don’t get answers out there on the streets.

Maybe Howard Cooperman’s right after all. It’s all about showing up every day and having quarters for the visitors.

-Uncle Charlie

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