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Letter to Yenta 05/19/03 To the person who wrote about the recent re-opening
of the Visitor's Center: To those who wrote about trash: Thank you, Yenta, for the forum. Letter to Yenta 05/18/03 To the person expressing concern about the trash lining
up River Road. Although it may seem like you are alone in your concern
about the unsightly conditions of River Road just south of New Hope,
you are not. For years I have complained to anyone who would listen
about this problem. I bombarded PENDOT with letters and phone calls
until they finally added more "No Littering" signs between
New Hope and Aquetong Rd. By the way, PENDOT only cleans this area twice
a year. Of course, they can post all the signs they want but unless
the local law enforcement agencies enforce these laws, careless passers-by
will continue to litter as they please. Unfortunately, this appears
to be a trend that is making its way into our Borough as well. Many
areas of New Hope, as well as many stores, are also becoming very unsightly.
Add to this all the development taking over this once charming little
town, and the New Hope we once knew is fast becoming a thing of the
past. Most politicians, businesses and "that developer" are
squeezing what they can out of New Hope without any regard for its future.
They don't care what happens to New Hope 5-10 years from now as long
as they get their money today. Letter to Yenta 05/18/03 The newly renovated Visitors Center had its grand opening last Friday and celebrated in grand fashion (thank you Karlas for your generous donation of some excellent hors d'hoeuvres). The press was there, the committee raising the money was there, and many other interested people - but only one member of the business community was there!! No one from the Chamber of Commerce, the Independent Merchants Assn. or the business community showed up, except Sid Ginsburg. Thank you Sid. I guess all the other business people think the Visitors Center is for the benefit of the residents. If it's not needed by local business, maybe we should turn it into a kids coffee house or a senior citizen center. Any ideas? Letter to Yenta 05/16/03 Some time ago I wrote a letter in which I mentioned
the noise made by the bikers who congregate in town every Sunday. I
was not suggesting that anything can, or should be, "done"
about these bikers. They certainly have the right to hang out where
they want to, and I know some of the "wannabe outlaws" have
to use "tuned" exhausts, and otherwise act like idiots by
revving-up every chance they get. Letter to Yenta 05/15/03 Oh my, the motorcycles are making too much noise for
you? Tough! New Hope has always been and hopefully always will be a
gathering place for riders on Sunday morning before going on their rides
through Bucks County. Letter to Yenta 05/14/03 Bob - That was a pretty low move to hitch onto the Savioni Fashion Show and Party, especially using a political connotation. The Savioni party has been months in the planning stage and net proceeds will benefit the orphans of 9-ll. What on earth were you thinking? Letter to Yenta 05/06/03 Last week was filled with people writing letters attempting to justify their mistakes and dismal track records. Clearly Richard Hirschfield is beginning to realize that he has so offended the resident voters of New Hope that he could lose in the Democratic Primary election. He is so worried that he wrote a letter, convinced Jerry Delevich to write a letter and even had the developer George Michael write a letter. It is the letter from George Michael that says it all about Council President Richard Hirschfield. The letter is dated April 28,2003. It was hand delivered by employees of Village Two to "Homeowners of Village Two". The letter is from, " George Michael, Georgetown Builders, Inc." Several newspapers should be running this letter, but if you received one you know what I am talking about. On the surface the letter is a chatty, "aww-shucks, "gee-wizz" attempt to garner sympathy for Mr. Michael's failing construction project in Village Two. Beneath the surface the letter is begging the community to forgive Mr. Michael for the continued inconvenience caused by his project. By extension it asks for the exoneration of Council President Richard Hirschfield for allowing the commencement of the project with now admitted bad plans, bad engineering, inadequate financing and no performance bond. No where in the letter does Mr. Michael apologize. Should Mr. Michael be allowed to proceed with the demolition of the New Hope Inn in the same manner then no neighborhood in New Hope will escape the inconvenience. The inconvenience caused by a Council president acting like a business partner with the developer rather than a dedicated public servant. Mr. Michael's future performance on construction projects if projected from actual events in the on-going saga at Union Square and in Village Two will be an inconvenience of monumental proportions. The person who has allowed this debacle to occur is Council President Richard Hirschfield. Mr. Hirschfield praises the developer's project at Union Square and proudly paints a picture of success that he alone is responsible for. Nothing could be further from the truth. The previous Borough Council before Mr.Hirschfield had created a special "blighted district" for that entire 27-acre area (I know "blighted" sounds bad but it is the process to rebuild certain areas.). We were actively working with the Bucks County Redevelopment Authority. We had suitable use for that land. We were developing the Borough Parking Lot and the "Back Door Road" as an asset to the people of New Hope. We had the plan for greenspace, and a community center for adults and teens. The Michner Art Museum was already on board. A major pharmaceutical company was set to build their corporate headquarters. Bucks County Community College had expressed an interest in opening a satellite campus there. All at no cost to taxpayers and maintaining complete Borough control of the project. Instead Mr. Hirschfield's Borough Council stopped that project in favor of the developer's project. Union Square has been fast tracked with "partial preliminary plans" which allows the developer to proceed without the town knowing exactly what the project will look like. Mr. Hirschfield fired a diligent Borough Manager over the express objections of residents because she was holding everyone equally to compliance with our zoning laws. Mr. Hirschfield has made other changes to Borough Personnel and changes made to the membership of Borough Boards in the hope he could find compliant people who have sympathy for the developer. Mr. Hirschfield is actively revising our zoning laws, with the help of the developer's attorney, where do you think that will lead? Mr. Hirschfield actively seeks ways to ease the developer's burdens while not caring about the burdens placed upon lesser residents, I.E. the good people of New Hope. I am asking for your support in this primary election. I am running unopposed on the Republican ballot. Your vote for the other fine Republicans and me will show that the voters of New Hope are fed up with thoughtless and un-remorseful development. I urge all thoughtful Democrats who have had enough
of a Borough Council Sincerely Yours, Letter to Yenta 05/06/03 I would like to voice my concern in regard to the April
8th Council Meeting. Since there is a lengthy process involved before
committee recommendations and Council approvals, I urge you to voice
your concern to the committees at the beginning of this process. Respectfully, Letter to Yenta 05/06/03 I'm concerned about the litter that seems to permanently line River Road on the south end of town, between Odette's and Lurgan Road. Is anyone responsible for cleaning this mess up? It only seems to get worse. Last week, what looked like an official work crew did a great job picking up the litter between Lurgan and Washington Crossing. Any reason the stretch between Lurgan and New Hope is consistently neglected? In the 5 years I've lived in this beautiful town, I don't recall it ever being cleaned up. Just my pet peeve. Thanks for listening! Letter to Yenta 04/29/03 Dear Yenta: I have been following your column for a long time, and I think it’s great! This is my first time writing to you. At the beginning of this writing, my wife and I are just hanging out at home today. Her contractions are about seven minutes apart. I think we might be going to Doylestown Hospital tonight to have our baby. This is our first one, and I am overwhelmed with happiness. Along with that also comes some fear, as a hospital can be a scary place. I pray to God that all the medical news will be good. Happiness doesn’t mean wealth – to me it means that our new family will have our expenses met and still be comfortable enough to enjoy simple pleasures - like watching our baby play with wrapping paper and empty boxes on her birthday, or helping her dip her toes in the ocean for the very first time. That’s what it’s all about. I shouldn’t worry. Life’s been good to me so far. And I live in the best town I could hope for. I first came to New Hope in the mid 60’s, visiting from Trenton, N.J. In the late 60’s, during a summer vacation from high school, I found a job downtown – making ice cream (at what is now the Bridge St. Café) for Gerenser’s Store on S. Main St. I missed the early 70’s in New Hope, as I was working in construction in N.J. By the mid 70’s, I was travelling around the country, assisting in the training of standard bred racehorses. It was fun playing cowboy, seeing America – and getting paid for it! This country offers so much. Through all of my travels, I never came across any place I liked better than New Hope, and I made it my home in the early 80’s. I rented a room from George Keys at 49 W. Ferry – a building that now includes Tastebuds Restaurant. My room was next to the railroad tracks, and I clearly remember tourists that summer coming right in my front door – assuming my home was a shop. I thought of it as an amusing aspect of living in a resort town. I felt the calling of the horses late that fall, and
I wintered in Florida while sub-letting my room in New Hope. Before
returning to New Hope in the spring, I asked my landlord whether I could
open a business from my room – since the tourists seemed to like
coming by my place anyway! George said my room was in the commercial
district, and it would be O.K. with him. I obtained a license from the
Board of Health, and opened my first New Hope business – The Spa
Juice Bar. Soon afterward, I was able to purchase the first half of my building on S. Main St. It was around that time that I first met the girl who was to become my “destiny” (Annette) – at Zadars, here in New Hope. In the late 80’s I bought the second half of my building, and shortly afterward, Annette opened a business across the street from me and bought her building in the mid 90’s. For the past 5 years, I have been renovating my house and I added a three-story addition on to the back of my building overlooking the river. This project is nearing completion, but the two most wonderful things to celebrate in the new millennium were my marriage to Annette, and the birth of our baby girl, Brooke Lynn Rosenberg, on April 11, 2003. (7 lbs., 7 oz. & 19 ½” tall). New Hope has created a wonderful life for me, and now it represents the beginning of a new generation of life and experiences for our little family. It’s still the ideal place to have a business and raise a family. As a business owner, resident and now a parent, I felt that this is the perfect time for me to become more involved in representing those aspects of the community as a member of Borough Council. I would like the future generations who live in or visit our wonderful town to be able to also have good memories of New Hope as a caring, vital place – full of excitement yet careful about maintaining its rich history and friendly small-town atmosphere. Our family would like to invite everyone and anyone who shares our little piece of the universe (known as New Hope) to come to an open house party at our home on the river: 150 S. Main St. (next to the Christmas Store) Let’s talk about New Hope and bring the community closer together! I look forward to meeting you and representing your concerns and ideas as a member of Borough Council. (And I appreciate your vote on Primary Day, Tuesday, May 20th). Thank you Alan Rosenberg Letter to Yenta 04/28/03 As long as we are complaining about highway nuisances, how about those horde of motorcyclists who descend upon New Hope every Sunday? They drive back and forth through town, revving their unmuffled engines, causing many headaches on what should be a "day of rest", also scaring the horses and small children. Is there any way to curb the noise - motorcycles don't need to be banned, but there should be a noise ordinance enforced on these inconsiderate people. Letter to Yenta 04/25/03 No official sighting - not even a good rumor.....Now if someone wants to talk Krispy Kreme then we would have something to talk about. Letter to Yenta 04/23/03 Say it ain't so a dunken donuts on south main St. I moved here from NYC and now I feel like I m back with the news. Can the owner of the poster shop really need all that sugar money? Like Linda R. say's "donuts make my brown eyes blue". Is there some kind of law for such commercialism in such a small town? Thanks - RC Letter to Yenta 04/22/03 So much for the written word and it's propensity to
be misunderstood. My disgust is directed towards those quarry trucks,
"trash trucks", and, yes, those Lincoln Navigators and the
like. For all three, yes, I do get upset when they pull out in the road
ten yards in front of me causing a near heart-attack, but for the latter,
the Self-Uber-Volk, who, upon my turning right onto the road from Giant
when they're 100 yards back at the light-just-turned-green, race like
hell to Letter to Yenta 04/21/03 Do you have any information regarding the history of the Hiawatha Water Co. at one time located in New Hope. I have a bottle with the name Hiawatha Water Co., New Hope, PA and am interested in the age of it. Thank you for your help. Letter to Yenta 04/20/03 To all those who dislike trucks on the local roads: Perhaps you should try to show a little respect for the vehicle. Not race them to the next light, cut them off, etc... Yes, I know what I am talking about as I have been driving for 35 years and the acts of the drivers of vehicles is outrageous. Do any of you know what a yield sign means, I doubt it. Watch the cars at the yield sign in Lambertville means get out in front of the other guy even if it means causing the on coming vehicle to slam on their brakes, even though they have the right away. Don't believe me? Stand in front of Walkers in Lambertville and watch them, or better yet go on any interstate and watch the "4 wheelers" ignore the yield signs on the oncoming ramps and pull out in front of others causing panic for those doing the limit on the highway. YIELD does not mean you pull out in front of others. It means you give to the traffic on the highway and only proceed if the road is clear. Yes, I think all trucks should be banned from local roads, this should include all delivery trucks to your homes, oil, gas, building products, etc. No food should be delivered to the local stores or products for their shelves to sell. These roads were being used by trucks long before any of the overpriced underbuilt developments were even thought of but now the truck will be banned because the public is in fear of them because they lack the driving skills to mingle in with them. Trucks and the work they do keeps you living in the style you demand. Try to respect them and you will get the same in return. Sure there are the few that are boneheads, for example the "trash truck" that struck the store in Lambertville and killed the clerk. But I would like to think twice before I play chicken with a two ton car against a 40 ton truck. I am getting tired of the complaints against the majority of driver of large trucks when the majority of problems are caused by cars and drivers not thinking............ Letter to Yenta 04/20/03 Yes, I was talking about the big quarry trucks (but
also others that are just as large, loud and fast) that barrel through
our quaint little town. I do not expect everyone to jump at my every
whim - that's an insult! No, I am not a life long resident of this town
but I do have the best intentions in mind… I come from a very beautiful
place myself but I'm not expecting the town to put up sandy white beaches
all over the place am I? Or change the weather to sunny, dry and 80
degrees everyday? New Hope has slowly become my home over the last four
years. Anyways, if there is anything I can do to keep people from being
run over by these awful metal monster trucks I will. More than once
have I had to shield my baby's eyes from the little stones and dust
that blew up behind one of those things. I find it ridiculous they're
even allowed on such a quaint street! I have heard that one of the reasons
there are so many in New Hope, is because Lambertville doesn't allow
them through anymore… Is there any truth to this rumor? Letter to Yenta 04/19/03 Thankyou so for putting a letter in about my best friend for 20 years. He was the most giving person I have ever met. 15 years ago when I was pregnant I asked Thor to be my childs Godfather. Letter to Yenta 04/17/03 I believe she's talking about the quarry trucks that race like the Red Ball Express up and down the river roads on both sides of the river. On early morning commuting drives to Trenton on the PA side I swerve away from them while they barrel north, or when I take the NJ river road to Trenton I slam the brakes when they race out of the quarry there without any regard to oncoming traffic. I recall a time recently when a video store in Lambertville "got in their way" by being inconveniently located in the path of a run-away truck. The aggressor (the video store cashier) lost her life and became a loss to her loved ones. The company's trucks? They keep on truckin'! Remember that we are in an era of commerce at any cost, and to think otherwise is unpatriotic, if not seditious. Verstehen Sie? Letter to Yenta 04/17/03 What big trucks are you talking about ? As someone who has lived in the city of New Hope I know of no big trucks using the Main Street in New Hope. Unless they are making deliveries or pickups. No BIG truck would want to be in New Hope. Again this is a matter of someone who has a problem with a particular item and wants everyone to submit to their whims....... Why don't we just close down the town and have a police officer stationed on each roadway checking who comes in so that they meet the "new standards" of the few. Letter to Yenta 04/15/03 Our Borough Council, with two notable exceptions, is not your representative. It is easy to make them become representative of your views. Here's how. We are in the middle of the Spring Primary
Election Season. I am amazed at how many very well educated people do
not fully understand the process. Let me explain because never has the
process been more important. Currently in New Hope there are about 835 Democrats, 810 Republicans (when did they lose the majority?) and 450 Greens, Libertarian, Independent, Other or no party. If you are a Green,Libertarian,Independent or Other than you will not have an opportunity to express your opinion in the Spring Primary because you are running no candidates! To save the Historic integrity of New Hope and gain control over the rampant developer we need every one so inclined to register with the Democratic Party by next Tuesday April 22,2003. You can still vote for whomever you choose in the Fall General Election. This year three terms will expire on Borough Council. Therefore there will be three people chosen for Borough Council in the fall election. Currently there are exactly three very good Republican Candidates on the ballot in the spring primary. They are running unopposed, so nothing exciting is happening there. However on the Democratic side of the ballot there are FOUR candidates running for THREE positions. The candidates as listed on the ballot are as follows Jerry Delavich, Alan Rosenburg, Rey Valesco, Richard Hirschfield. Clearly one of the four will lose, Who the Democrats decide upon in the Spring Primary will determine the future of New Hope. If you were appalled at the shameful display at last weeks Borough Council meeting in which Council President Richard Hirschfield ignored the pleas of 80 citizens and led the vote to allow the demolition of the New Hope Inn than a wise vote would be to vote for the first three candidates. On the other hand if you love the fact that we have a developer who can do anything he wants in New Hope than vote for Richard Hirschfield. For the record, I am a life long Republican and if I
wasn't already one of the Republican candidates for council, I would
register as a Democrat to stop I have voter registration forms, if you need them stop in my store. Sincerely Yours, Letter to Yenta 04/14/03 Dear Yenta, Letter to Yenta 04/13/03 He is "Right". "On the Money", "Bullseye", et al. He speaks for many in New Hope. I'm an old FDR New Dealer, and I see my old friends coming around again! Thanks Letter to Yenta 04/13/03 Quality Of Life issue - ban the revving of motorcycle engines! A simple law and a simple sign. At the outskirts of town, a sign alerting motorcyclists that needless revving (opening the throttle while stationary to attain maximum noise pollution) is subject to a $75 fine would help. We need a "Rudy", or at least a "Chief Brody", for this town! A plea for aural peace! Letter to Yenta 04/05/03 The Borough Council agenda for this Tuesday's (April
8th, 7:30PM New Hope Only public participation at this meeting will alter the process. I could list the arguments. Some arguments have been
made on your pages Dear Have you spoken out about the earned income tax? That's on the agenda Tuesday. Who loves Berkheimer Associates as Tax collector for both the earned income tax and the occupational privilege tax? Berkheimer is on the agenda. Do you love the new sport of buying buildings in New
Hope and then leveling Buildings that have been obliterated so far: Someone said about me in last weeks Gazette that I fight everything. That is not true. I have been consistent in what I have opposed or championed. I have fought against corruption. I have been vocal in my opposition to the perpetrators of that corruption. I have been vindicated much later when people tell me, "you were right". Please believe me Dear Yenta I am "right" now. The town can't afford to wait to see if I am "right" or not this time. We may in fact be too late to save the New Hope Inn from demolition. But we can let this Borough Council know that enough is enough. No more buildings should be executed. Will you be heard? Robert V. Gerenser Letter to Yenta 04/01/03 To S.C. - Hey, I can relate to sensitivities one may have to such displays - but you can't argue about the menu - it deserves the maximum Michelin stars. So shut up and eat! Letter to Yenta 03/25/03 People can choose where they eat and which establishments they patronize. What consenting adults or privately owned establishments allow or don't allow should be no business of the government or individuals who believe their morals should be embraced by everyone. Better to have the periodic conflict that goes part & parcel with freedom than to have the John Ashcroft's or the moral majority shoving their definitions of morality and freedom down everyone's throat. Letter to Yenta 03/24/03 I am writing this letter in hopes to clear up any questions
of fact or fiction reguarding the activities at a certain establishment
located between Sugan and Old York Road. Recently I had read a article
featuring this establishment in the National Inquirer. After reading
it, I had two feelings going on inside me. Letter to Yenta 03/22/03 Dear residents of George-Michaelville (formerly known
as New Hope), Letter to Yenta 03/19/03 My Dear Yenta, Sincerely, Letter to Yenta 03/19/03 Don't say never regarding the park in the center of
New Hope. Who would Letter to Yenta 03/15/03 Having a park on the river next to the Theater is a great idea, but I doubt it would ever happen. Reason being the value of the property. Where do you expect to raise the money to purchase prime center of town property and then the cost of tearing down the structure and remaking the site into a park? What will happen is the property will eventually be turned into another overpriced restaurant or purchased by our beloved developer, G. Michael's, and then it will be more high rise apartments overlooking the river? Of course this plan would be immediately approved by the council since it seems to me anything he wants to do is all right with them no matter how outrageous the plan is. Letter to Yenta 03/12/03 You are absolutely right in your perspective (war in
Iraq). Trouble is, we have no trip-wire. Whether real or manufactured,
think of it - Firing on Ft. Sumter (ergo Civil War); Explosion of the
Maine (ergo Spanish-American War); Assassination in Sarajevo, and later
sinking of Lusitania for us, (ergo WWI); Pearl Harbour (ergo WWII);
Gulf of Tonkin (ergo Vietnam); Kuwait invasion (ergo Desert Storm);
Letter to Yenta 03/11/03 I first broached this idea a long time ago. I think it would be a wonderful addition to New Hope. The summer people would love it too. I can see out-of-doors concerts, maybe fireworks on the Fourth, and how about the old fashioned Street Fair that I remember from my youth. It was such fun to pitch pennies (well, today it'd be quarters)in dishes and Win-The-Dish for Mom! I think the Exchange Club had a Wheel of Fortune booth, and I'm sure the fire dept. did too. (I still have a picture somewhere of my brother and I with our faces painted as lions...this had to be in the late fifties.) How I wish there was some way (maybe Grants from the State?) to do this! It would be beautiful, restful with benches where folks could appreciate the River. (And before anyone says it would "attract the wrong element and be a nuisance, so you'd close it up at a reasonable hour in the summer 8-9 P.M. like the State Park does. Just a thought.) Letter to Yenta 03/08/03 Re: Post-Zadars Letter to Yenta 02/26/03 Spelling & disparaging remarks aside, the comment on "not providing an infrastructure to support all the development" rings true. When the infrastructure can no longer handle the growth, the tax payers (new breed or old), will end up footing the bill. Most of the developers don't give a rat's behind what they leave behind for the tax payers to clean-up or live with. Council members long term visions for the community have never been articulated in print, if any exist. Most voters don't seem to care anymore (until after the fact). There must be a way to reverse this trend! Letter to Yenta 02/26/03 Congratulations to the "new breed" Letter to Yenta 02/24/03 The ever expanding development in New Hope is not going to change until the residents get together and say enough. Mr. Michaels seems to do anything he wants, build anywhere he pleases and gets approval from the "elected" officials. Perhaps there is some gratuitous money floating around in that town. After 45 years in the New Hope area, I packed up and left. The overpopulation and lack of controls on the developers is outrageous. At least when Levitt built Levittown he provided the infrastructure to support the homes. He built communities unlike the develpers of today who only want to throw up their stucco coverd strifoam shethed homes and run with the profits. In Village two for example the new town houses were not wanted by the majority of the residents, but their so called elected representatives sold the office building anyway. I wonder how much kick back was envolved there as I know one individual all of a sudden has the resourses to purchase more rentals in Darien section after the sale of the office building was completed. Water was sold from Village two for both Summit and Riverwoods because the developers wells could not handle the amount of water needed to support the homes that were built, but of course the develper will get away with that little error. I read in the intel that a resident on the "Hill" was complaining about the smells coming from the resturants in town... Yo stupid what do you expect when you buy a home above the town... Don't you check out the situation before you buy. And to the clowns you bought homes across from the Cartwheel and now complain about the music at night... Duh! what do expect when you buy across from a night club.. Again, it is obvious you did not check out the property before you bought... Sounds stupid to me.. Oh well New Hope will never be what it was as long as the "New Breed" of resident come in and then want to impose themselves on everone else Letter to Yenta 02/17/03 Thor Michael Aschenbrenner died Feb. 13, 2003. He was
42. He was a lifelong resident of New Hope. Letter to Yenta 02/17/03 Don't forget the birds - clear away some snow and crumble some bread for them. They'll find it even if you don't usually provide for them. Crumble some of the bread really fine or the squirrels will eat it all. Thanks. Letter to Yenta 02/12/03 I've recently seen several instances where local folks
have been verbally accosted and labeled un-American for publicly stating
views against a war in Iraq. This is McCarthy style intimidation.. The
freedom to voice diverse viewpoints without fear of recrimination is
one of the most important things we have to protect. A lack of grass
roots debate merely insures that the bullies and bigots among us thrive
and influence. Letter to Yenta 02/12/03 Re: New Hope Gazette Letter to Yenta 02/04/03 Be sure to attend the events of this year's Winter Festival
- Feb. 7,8 & 9, 2003, beginning with an Annie Haslam concert on
Friday and continuing with a Mummer's Parade through New Hope and Lambertville
on Saturday at noon. The Mummer's Invitational Competition takes place
at the Lambertville Station parking lot immediately following the parade.
It's an exciting event brought to you by many volunteer organizers of
the Winter Festival who have worked hard all year to bring this to you.
Let us show them that we appreciate their efforts by attending as many
events as possible and don't forget the Chili & Beer Bash at the
River Horse Brewery on Sunday afternoon. See you there.
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