Letter to Yenta 12/30/05
Congratulations to the owners of Love Saves the Day. You did an excellent job on re-doing your building. It looks great.

Letter to Yenta 12/29/05
An excellent article to consider when the town of New Hope is in jeopardy of losing (and now actually losing) it's individuality: csmonitor (in pdf)
Amie Gold - Suzie Hot Sauce

Letter to Yenta 12/28/05
When is the clean-up of the canal scheduled for volunteers in the coming Spring? More companies now, including the one for which I work, are granting a paid day off for local community volunteer work. This is a great incentive for those living in the community, and a benefit for the contribution of work needed to beautify the town.
Since my company is one of the largest in its industry, I imagine other companies may offer the same "community involvement" programs. New Hope should take advantage of this and promote these volunteer work opportunities. I believe more companies would offer this to their employees if a simple acknowledgement of the individual and her/his employer is printed in the Gazette or Intelligencer. (Note: my company does not even expect this) And to be frank, we're experiencing an influx of those employees able to afford the million dollar condos, so why not ask their employers for some one-day contribution to the community? (Higher property taxes notwithstanding)

Letter to Yenta 12/28/05
I am so confused by the letter of 12/21. Do the owners of the Logan Inn own that piece of land or not?

Letter to Yenta 12/21/05
It is a shame that the owners of the Logan Inn have claimed The Cannon, The War Memorial and The Christmas Tree as their own. This patch of land was always considered the New Hope town square. The Chamber of Commerce planted the tree over 20 years ago. Now the Logan owners feel it belongs to them and they will decide when the tree lighting takes place. The Chamber always paid for the lights and the electric to the many past owners of the Logan Inn over the years. A Saturday night tree lighting did not help the slow dinner business at the Logan on Sunday night, so the Logan would not agree to change the night. Sunday night is a school night for the little kids, and many parents asked that the Santa arrival be moved to Saturday night.
The borough council received a park land grant and was in the process of buying back the patch of land as the Federal Bankruptcy Court during the bankruptcy of one of the past owners, decided it was part of the Logan Inn property along with the Indian on the Pole (now at the Parry Mansion) The borough was unaware of the proceeding until it was to late. When the current owners were in the process of purchasing the Logan (6 or 7 years ago) it was asked that the borough hold off on making it a public park as it would complicate and hold up the transfer and sale. Now the Logan feels they control the Christmas Tree and when and how it lighted. To add to the insult to the community, the Logan erected an advertising sign (Did they get a sign permit?) wishing the community a Happy Holiday with their names on the sign, so there can be no mistake among the public that the Logan Inn considers it their property. I'm sure the Servicemen who names are on the monument and died for this country, are looking down amazed at the greed. It just goes along with the current thinking of the new developers, who are bent on changing the historic district. Do the right thing . . ., and deed it to the borough.

Letter to Yenta 12/19/05
With a property tax hike in the works, its goal to allow pay increases to New Hope's finest and not lose them to higher paying muni's., I have to wonder if a feasibility study has ever been considered with a goal of merging Solebury and New Hope police departments. We share a school district and fire company, beside, New Hope is all of 1.2 square miles in size. Have to think that the elimination of a police chief, likely a detective and a few officers, not to mention administrative overlap, would allow for a nice cost savings over time without sacrificing law and order. How many cops does it take to respond to car/deer accidents and DUI's anyway?
Pretty sure that the state covers the cost of such feasibility studies and seems somewhat of a no brainer if one puts aside the politics.

Letter to Yenta 12/16/05
I believe that parking is the perpetual problem that could make or break this town. There are several concerns that the new Chamber of Commerce and Borough Council will hopefully address in the near future:
1. There have been comments from SO MANY people outside of New Hope who have mentioned that they're "never going to shop in New Hope" because of the ridiculous parking situation. I am personally in favor of bagging the meters during the holidays - but with bags or stickers that are CLEARLY marked with "Happy Holidays from New Hope" or something similar. Can't employers ask their employees to refrain from parking in the bagged spaces , or is there a way for the Borough to arrange to give each business a windshield voucher (or two) for free parking in a designated lot (like the high school) during that time? We're scaring the customers away by asking them to pay-to-shop and then brave the winter weather and icy sidewalks. And the businesses have had enough trouble luring people back to town after a horrendous year of floods and torn-up streets...
2. I hope the Borough Council re -addresses the "midnight parking" issue, at least during the weekdays. It's difficult to see the meters at night, it's difficult to see the signs that state the enforcement hours, and it's not a very welcoming way to encourage visitors to dine or shop here. Not everyone carries around flashlights so they can read each town's rules on parking. Maybe on weekends when the bars and restaurants are in full swing it makes sense - but I don't see the logic in enforcing the meters until midnight on a Monday night in the residential section of North Main Street. It's as if we're "setting up" people to pay the $15 fine - for failure to see or know the rules. Are there stickers that glow in the dark? Or other ideas that would make the meters more people-friendly?
3. Union Square and PNC lots should have roofed (and well-lit) areas over their parking-slip machines. Again, this would be more courteous to the visitors. Did you ever try to read one of those machines at night? I go by memory, and, fortunately, I remember which buttons to push. But the poorly lit machines are setting people up to get fined.
4. Someone complained about getting a ticket for parking in a "compact car" space. The only explanation I can think of would be that it may not be a matter of how LONG the parking space is, but rather how TALL the SUV is that parks there. Most of those "compact-only" spaces are located near intersections where cars are trying to pull out of side streets or alleys. If there is a large vehicle (truck or SUV with dark glass) parked in one of those spots - it's impossible to see, and accidents are just waiting to happen. Rather than remove the parking space entirely, they allow it - as long as the parked car is small enough to allow better visibility for cars pulling out into oncoming traffic.

Perhaps the parking issue(s) and feedback from the holidays could be brought up once again after the new Council convenes in January?

Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays to ALL!
Janine Witte

Letter to Yenta 12/06/05
The decision by the Chamber of Commerce not to pursue free parking was a monumental mistake. The irony is that it was already in the Borough budget...business leaders only had to ask. But no. “The parking will be used by employees of businesses! The free spaces will be used by residents!” Good! It’s the only thing that the merchants in town do to give back something to the residents and overtaxed workers, and the concept of the Borough helping the merchants to survive is a hugely important precedent that has now been blown out of the water forever. Instead, this Christmas all anybody can talk about is how yet again the merchants of New Hope have shown their inability to agree on anything. Vague promises of future marketing plans are having less and less credibility while area residents take their business to Peddler’s Village where stores are actually open for business and decorated for the holiday. -Uncle Charlie

Letter to Yenta 12/06/05
Annual Monroe Crossing of the Delaware River
The Coryell’s Ferry Militia will once again transport Lt. James Monroe across the Delaware River from the Ferry Street landing in New Hope to the Lambertville side on Saturday December 10th, 2005 starting at Noon. This year PBS is going to film segments of the crossing to place in a documentary about New Hope.
See the following PDF file for more info - Bob Gerenser

Letter to Yenta 11/30/05
Re: the letter of 11/29 ...Free Parking...I am a shop owner in New Hope since 1996 . My shop is right on the street so I see the parking situation in "real" time..The problem is that the free parking seems to be taken up by employees of the various businesses, and their cars sit there all day....the real customers cannot find a convenient parking spot...many leave and go elsewhere....Doylestown found the same problem existed and has dropped their free parking program.....even if the business owners speak to their employees, they cannot monitor , as we are busy in our shops.... FYI, I have been in retail for over 40 years and see this problem everywhere , even in Malls, where employees face reprimands and even termination. From 1971 to 1996, when my shop was in Peddlers Village, it was a constant problem ....even the threat of fines had little effect.....If you have a solution, all the businesses in town I'm sure would welcome it .We would like to find a way to reward and encourage Christmas shopping....This is a COOL town......Thanks for the ear.....Tom Rice

Letter to Yenta 11/30/05
Tom Lingonfelder, please remove your political sign from the corner of S. Main and Windybush Rd (32&232). Most of the other signs have been removed and we thank you.

Letter to Yenta 11/29/05
On my almost daily read of your column, I just noticed a letter commenting on the Chamber Christmas festivities at the park. I had a GREAT time! It was different having it there but, as always, there was a great spirit. There was a good crowd! The chamber worked very hard in making it special and getting the word out. I loved their posters and the colonial theme of both the posters and the festivities. I was greeted by George Washington and a colonial miss at the beginning of the lane. George was clanging a bell letting me know to go down to the park. Another colonial lady was pouring refreshments and giving out cookies and brownies. I personally loved the brownies. A piano was there and with friends I sang Christmas carols. Santa, that jolly old elf, arrived in a Hummer and was greeted with the enthusiasm that is reserved usually for mega- rock stars…but, of course, we are talking about Santa. As for what day of the week it was on, to me that was incidental. What is important was that community got together and people of good will wished each other the best for the holidays. If some were disappointed in not having it at the big tree at the Logan, there is always next year. Carl Asplundh and the Logan Inn have been chamber members for a long time and Carl has served on the chamber board. Both he and the Logan Inn have been extremely generous to the chamber and other non-profits. I have always admired Carl and the Logan Inn is one of New Hope's treasures. I don't need to know the entire backstory behind the change in venue, but that large tree in the heart of town does seem to symbolize New Hope and the Holidays. Perhaps next year, festivities can be held simultaneously in both places. Many thanks to Santa, his reindeer (I mean, the constables and their Hummer) and to all those hardworking chamber members etc who made this a fun event.
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah! - John Dwyer

Letter to Yenta 11/29/05
Speaking of parking, Thumbs up to Union Square for donating all their parking funds to the New Hope Fire Department last weekend. Nice job!

Letter to Yenta 11/29/05
I have lived in New Hope for many years and have always enjoyed the Holiday festivities. However, this year there seems to have been some changes (and not for the better). In past years, the Chamber of Commerce always participated in the lighting of the tree at the Logan Inn in the center of town. This year they lit their own little tree in the park on Ferry Street on Saturday. Why Saturday when Sunday night has been a tradition for so many years? There were lots of people there, but what was missing was the spirit and the lighting of the Logan Inn's big tree. Each year the Chamber would provide a choir and lots of music. The Logan would provide cookies and hot chocolate and apple cider (it was a very special experience). This year they had refreshments at the park lighting, but it was not the same.
I have attended borough council meetings for years. Each year the chamber would go before council to ask for free parking from after Thanksgiving to Chrismas. However, this year the chamber did not make the request and we do not have free parking. As a resident, I was not for free parking, but it did become a tradition in town and I benefited by it as did other residents. During that time of free parking I would do my shopping in town and grab a bite to eat in town and not worry about feeding the meter and getting a ticket.
I must say that I am glad that I do not own a shop in town. With the floods and power outages and the increased cost in gas the free parking would have given the shop owners a bit of a break and it would have been an incentive for people to come to town.
I hope that the chamber of commerce gets its act together for next year. We need these businesses in town and must support them. I guess that this year we will have to pay for parking if we want to shop and eat in town.

Letter to Yenta 11/22/05
My husband and I just moved to New Hope last April. We really love the town and are looking forward to becoming more involved with the community. We regularly shop, eat and walk around town and, especially now, it is so nice to watch the holiday decorations go up. In the spirit of supporting our community we are going to do all of our Christmas shopping exclusively at stores in New Hope and Lambertville. We hope that this will help further the recovery of our beautiful town, since this last year of flooding took such a toll on many of the fine businesses here.
Warm wishes for the holiday season, Amy and Axel

Letter to Yenta 11/20/05
Maybe we should consider an ordinance for height restrictions with buildings along the river and canal. We need to prepare for the possibility that if we allow one property owner to raise their structure that current or future owners will want to do the same. What do we want our "downtown" to look like? I know that some areas have restrictions where as you can only build w/in the original lines of a building. Maybe we should consider vertical restrictions.

Letter to Yenta 11/19/05
On building up of structures to have their finished 1st floors above the 100 year flood; it will definitely alter the aesthetics of downtown for the worse. But, absolutely no one can fault the owners of any properties that have been flooded repeatedly over the past few years for wanting & needing to build up. Only those of us that have actually had our homes flooded repeatedly know the full impact, disruption and costs of being flooded repeatedly. With ocean temps expected to remain several degrees above normal for the foreseeable future, the prospects for more frequent hurricanes and their remnants to cause more frequent floods is a reality. Building up for those frequently hit is a survival necessity, not some design option.

Letter to Yenta 11/05/05
I've said for years now...why doesn't the Boro make a deal with the High School to use their parking lots? They sit nearly empty all summer (just when we need parking) We could have a colorful jitney or mini-bus make regular round trips to drop off and pick up people at various spots in town. The little park by the river would be fine for this.Or Mr. Michael could allow it to stop near his new condos, wouldn't the new residents appreciate the convenience? This would pay for itself in no time.
As someone once said to me, "We don't have a traffice problem in New Hope, we have a problem with the same cars going 'round and 'round looking for a parking spot!" Too true.
Then we could also negotiate with the Bridge Commission for parking rights to the large field near their building north of town and let folks park there. (Same jitney picks up there too)
How pleasant and "pedestrian friendly" New Hope would be then. Why, we could even close some of the side streets to cars, and actually allow visitors to walk in the streets! This is what New Orleans does in the French Quarter. Some of the streets are open during the day, and closed at night... and vice-versa, it's simple AND IT WORKS.
P.S. And the School District could use the money earned by doing this to help reduce our @#$%^^&*!!! TAXES. VOTE WITH YOUR WALLET ON TUESDAY!
An OLDE New Hoper

Letter to Yenta 11/05/05
Yes indeed, the High Heel Drag Race is an annual happening in New Hope – see the picture at the starting line in the Nov. 3rd New Hope Gazette. The event is now held at Union Square in New Hope since the hill on Mechanic St. proved to be too much of a challenge for guys in 3 inch high heels. How do the ladies do it!!! Check for next year’s event at the New Hope Chamber of Commerce website.

Letter to Yenta 11/03/05
To that old hippie in his SUV...Happy Birthday! and I FEEL your pain! I think if you fit into the slot which you seem to say you did then you deserve to be considered a compact car. Who says an SUV is NOT a compact anyway? I know that in my Jeep Grand Cherokee I too seem to fit into all parking spots on that street. Is it the size of my tires that makes me NOT a compact car? ...and since when does this town reserve spots for anyone? (Oh Yes, the mayor) Again, this sure seems to me that we are making too many restrictive laws. When was the last law passed that made a visit to New Hope easier? Hey YOU! Move that car...you can't do that HERE! Pay that meter. Move on or I'll give you a ticket! Nice town you have here but where CAN I park?? Don't know buddy, but please come back after you park in Lambertville. Ya gotta love New Hope...we do everything to get visitors to come here then make them as miserable as we can. -Mug man

Letter to Yenta 10/28/05
I was wondering if New Hope still had the Drag Race on Mechanic Street on Halloween weekend? Does anyone know anything about this? I know they used to have it in the past, and I would love to see it this year if they are having it. I found an old post from 2001 on your website that mentioned it, but nothing recently. Thanks, Colleen

Letter to Yenta 10/28/05
Ok, Here's the deal. Last night (10/27/05) my wife and I drove into town for a walk and some dessert. I parked in a spot that I have parked in many times before. My wife noticed the new sign posted there reading "Compact Car and Motorcycle Parking Only". It was a Thursday night and we wanted to walk and there was only one other car on the block and no one in town as I'm sure any store or restaurant that was open would attest to. After some birthday pie and coffee ( did I mention that it was my birthday? ) any way after our dessert at Wildflowers we walked through the EMPTY streets back to our car to find yet another birthday gift from the town.. You guessed it - a parking ticket. I should mention her that my vehicle is not a compact car nor a motorcycle. No matter I am paying the ticket. But someone help me with an observation I made. The parking space that I had transgressed onto for a compact car or a motorcycle was a good 3 to 4 feet longer then the SUV that I had parked there. If providing "special" parking spaces for compacts and motorcycles, shouldn't the spaces be of comparable size to their intended vehicles, otherwise what's the savings in space. Just another stroke of genius on the part of the council wizards. Don't misconstrue, I'm not angry about the ticket (maybe angry at my own stupidity for parking where I did as my continued to point out during our ride home) If creating compact and motorcycle parking is intended to increase parking spaces shouldn't the spaces be realigned to the correct size. As I see it the boro spent money for sighs to adjust the town's parking but WHERE IS THE GAIN????? Thank you Yenta for letting me vent. I'm heading into town to pay my fine and measure some random spaces for potentios skateboard parking only.. The Angry Old Beatnik

Letter to Yenta 10/24/05
Dear Yenta:
I, for one, am excited and encouraged that so many local and county Democratic candidates have decided to forego their nights and weekends to introduce themselves to voters. Running for public office is such a huge commitment of personal time and resources – whether it be for tax collector, school board member, recorder of deeds, or district attorney. These people, and their dedicated volunteers, have been handing out fliers, going door-to-door, making phone calls, and attending functions – all with the purpose of serving and representing their communities.
Despite 2005 being an “off-year” election, the candidates’ enthusiasm, professionalism and energy are truly admirable. As all grass-roots activists know, it’s important to come out to vote – because it’s the best way to build a solid base for shared principles and values. Democracy simply wobbles under apathy.
Paraphrasing a previous letter to the editor by a Democratic chairperson: you slowly, steadily build support from the ground up – even during those “less-dramatic” years. These offices are as important as any, and the candidates deserve our attention and our votes!
Hats off to the candidates, and here’s hoping for a good turnout at the polls on November 8.
- Janine Witte

Letter to Yenta 10/18/05
The latest request at the last New Hope Borough Council meeting comes from the condo owners at East Mechanic & Waterloo Streets. The owners want to raise the building 8 to 10 feet above the street and make parking spaces under it. The excuse is that the River has flooded the building twice in the past year. This building was built circa 1830 and has been standing for 175 years and flooded each time the Delaware River has reached flood stage over that time. This building sits in the Historic District and they knew that when they purchased it. Should all building be allowed to put parking under them, using flooding as the excuse to create more on site parking? This would set a dangerous precedent! Let's raise maybe the Logan Inn or Marsha Browns or the Ice Cream Store, I'm sure they could all use the extra parking.
The borough council should turn this request down at once. When you purchase riverfront property in a historic district it is at your own risk. Why do newcomers want to change everything in town after they get here?

Letter to Yenta 10/16/05
Hats off to Janine & Caroline for their well-reasoned posts.
Charging for metered spaces after 6:00 p.m. is something even New York City doesn’t do. I’ve tried getting a couple of “club” owners to go to Borough Council meetings...they say it doesn’t help because Council has already made up its mind before each meeting, and they’re burnt out on town politics. The metered hours could be rolled back to at least 9:00 with just a minimal show of strength, but of course you have to play the Goldilocks Game at meetings: bring 3 or 4 supporters to the high school and it’s not enough, bring 10 supporters and it’s deemed a divisive and rancorous mob.
I think we could roll back metered hours to 6:00 p.m., make the rules more clear, and even take the fees back to .65 per hour by raising tickets from $15 to $25 so as not to hurt the police department budget. This would also serve to penalize repeat offenders parking in residents’ spaces, instead of penalizing good folks trying to obey the law. Look to Doylestown: cheaper meters, more parking lots with validation available, a thriving weekday business environment, and an actual movie theater instead of yet another frozen confection franchise plastering the town with its coupons.
It’s time for the merchant class to consider other means beyond borough meetings and elections with predetermined outcomes. Since administration policies are not only failing to promote commerce but in actuality appear to be seeking the destruction of the business community, considering a boycott of the $375 business privilege tax may be in order at this point. Further, there may well be legal grounds to seek recovery of previous taxes paid over the years.
As the New Hope Gazette recently pointed out in its feature article about New Hope, the borough is at an historic crossroads. A new opposition is forming slowly, quietly...not strident or reckless or needlessly confrontational, but methodical, persistent, multi-faceted, and fed up with living under elitist, undemocratic rule.

Uncle Charlie

Letter to Yenta 10/15/05
I, too, have heard nothing but complaints about the extended parking meter hours. Unless a good Samaritan happens by and tells a visitor that the parking enforcement goes until MIDNIGHT, they're out $15. Several people have said they would never come back here to shop, because of the meter hours.
And how the heck does an out-of-towner SEE the posted hours in the dark, or see the amount of parking time registered in those "smart" LCD meters? We saw a group of very concerned kids one Saturday night, struggling to read their meter with a cigarette lighter! Is this "visitor-friendly?" Or is it assumed that everyone walks around with a tiny flashlight in his or her pocket, for after-dark meter reading?
One good way for the business community's needs to be represented, is to make sure that a shop owner gets elected to Borough Council next time! It's necessary for balance, proper representation, and weighing other perspectives.

Janine Witte

Letter to Yenta 10/14/05
Indeed, yes, Baby Gap is what you can expect to see on Main Street if local officials continue insisting they understand business better than local business owners (viz for example the arrogant, dismissive comments of councilmen in regards to the extended hours of parking meters, when they insisted that the business representatives who said it would hurt many businesses were wrong, and told them it would affect only bars and clubs).
If council continues to refuse to talk with, support, or understand the current business community, you'll see Gap and worse.
I wonder how many people know about local landlords and members of the business community who have declined major profits, and accepted considerable loss, by refusing to rent to chains such as Subway, Dunkin Donuts, and Baskin Robbins? Continue the move to condos, continue to fail to support local merchants, continue the current trends, and these are the businesses you will see on Main Street, coming soon. How do we know?
Because they've been trying to get here for years. They have been held at bay by some crazy New Hopers with more heart than money.
Picture the corner of Main and Bridge: Starbuck's, Subway, Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins, and maybe a nice quaint CVS (hey, I grew up in a town with an adobe Woolworth's). Is this New Hope? Is this where you want to live? If you don't support local businesses, now, it *is* where you *will* live.
I don't represent the business community anymore, but by Heaven I still love them, every great success and crackpot dreamer in the lot. I even love the ones I don't much like. Until you've spent some time with these people, you don't know the full wealth of this town. I praise the people who live on Ramen noodles and peanut butter and work two jobs for a dream. I praise the people who believe they can make something new, and make a difference.
I praise the people who started on side streets and made it to Main. I praise their raw courage and willingness to be unique. More power to them all. And maybe, just maybe, some of the dismissive could give them just a little respect.

Caroline Dechert

Letter to Yenta 10/12/05
To all the Yenta readers who complained over the years about the incredible mess along Rt 32 just south of the Boro,,,you should see it now. Many thanks to the Richard H. and John E. who brought the joint resources of Solebury and New Hope together to get the job done. .

Letter to Yenta 10/10/05
To the letter of 10/9 which claims the merchandise is the reason the merchants are suffering you've got to be kidding. Just ask those people walking around WHY they are here and I think you'll see that they are here for the food...the arts...the mule barge or train rides...the shops or the spirit of the town. Whether this is a bedroom community or not is of no consequence this is a fun town to stroll around in and absorb the aromas and maybe even hear some nice loud music as you do. If its the merchandise that was "everything" they would shop at a mall. Here the merchandise is just the icing on the cake because they just might find something they can't find anywhere else but mostly this town majors in QUAINT. The merchants that make it here will either adapt to find the stuff that sells and "make it" or they won't but I don't think we want a BABY GAP on Main Street just because its a proven success...do we? How about a "Quaint" Baby Gap?? like our quaint Rita's....? Yea right!

Letter to Yenta 10/09/05
I personally don't believe that New Hope morping into a bedroom community is the reason that the local businesses aren't doing so well. I think it has more to do with what those small business are selling. The businesses may be unique and independently owned, but are they really selling things that will continue to draw people to New Hope? There were many weekends this past summer and early fall when town was full - parking went all the way up North Main Street. However, if you looked at most people walking around town, very few were carrying purchases. This has nothing to do with the luxury condos on S. Main, or the proposed condos on Mechanic Street - it has everything to do with the merchandise offered by the local businesses.

Letter to Yenta 10/08/05
I'm sure the developers have been getting all the legal approvals required. As to the remolding and displacing though.... many small shops (at least those in business for their livelihood - without alternate incomes) don't appear to be doing very well in recent times. Development into a wealthy bedroom community has the predictable result of making the place a less interesting/unique destination to visit. Businesses will either have to morph to types that service the locals or move elsewhere. The number of shops the locals can actually keep afloat is likely a small fraction of what presently exists. Closed businesses will make more property available for more condos. Folks wagering millions on development surely thought all this out long ago.

Letter to Yenta 10/08/05
Even bad press is good? The council members running this year should think before they speak. and stop patting themselves on the back for a job NOT well done!!!! People who have been around for years and years know the truth and so do they. As for The "developer" Tom Scannapieco, show us the approvals from the army corps of engineers for your catastrophe at the end on South Main Street. also how about the Department of Environmental PROTECTION (DEP). people with deep pockets are able to re-invent the NEW New Hope to suit their needs and who cares about anything or anyone else. all the animals who have been displaced as well as people for dollars. Next time you poor people get flooded out in the borough look to the OVER developement of your historic town. I don't think what is being crowded into this Quaint town is very HISTORIC..
Amanda Knoll

Letter to Yenta 10/06/05
OK so who cares how long Uncle Charlie has been here or if you have lived here for 25 years? This isn't about the past of New Hope, folks, its about the future and the way that different people see it. Just read Sean Patrick Murphy's article in the Gazette called "New Hope in Flux" to see the HUGE difference. In a photo, Tom Scannapieco, New Hope developer and zoning board member states he thinks that New Hope can grow in a way that does not change the character of the town yet further on he states he believes that night club use makes the town noisy and unruly and that there is a lack of respect among the night users for personal property. For those of us who choose to live inside the beltway of New Hope this has always been a given and we either learn to LIKE the late night thump of the town or we move to the 'burbs of Village Two. Tom seems to think his quiet little village on the Delaware where car door openings and loud conversations wake up the gently sleeping residents is HIS future. I say if you don't want to live with the lions don't move in next to the den, Tom. Tom likes the arty feel to our town but only when its quiet art. New Hope at night is as safe as it is during the day and our police force does a great job protecting our property and our citizens, so lay off the night crawlers, Tom and buy yourself some other property you can turn into a hospital zone. We like the "THUMP!" That said, you can see where these developers are heading. Building more and more expensive condos in the downtown area is their way to effect their agenda. The roar of motorcycles vs. the light hum of a BMW winding its way to its million dollar garage.
Its time for us to choose...do we like this town as it IS/WAS with its exciting thump or do we accept the changes that our leaders are so quietly guiding us to. The members of our Borough Council all agree that if we vote for them we vote for more of the same. The lack of a different candidates says a lot about what WE want or care about...so what's the choice here? If you accept this premise then stay home and let things continue as they are or come to Council meeting and voice YOUR opinion...they DO listen. WHERE IS THE 5 YEAR PLAN FOR NEW HOPE???

A downtown'r

Letter to Yenta 10/05/05
I've been around here for 25 years. For me, the disturbing effects of the "luxury" developments have less to do with the actual structures (though it's hard to duplicate the effects of aged character on the soul) and more to do with its effects on the fabric of the community. There used to be an amazing range of folks from many walks, backgrounds and philosophical orientations here. That mix made New Hope both an interesting and warm place to live for everyone. A large portion of the folks I've been privileged to know here over the years have moved away, due to the areas continued development into a high priced hot spot. I fear the final result will be a tidy little borough filled with all the same types of people (probably corporate executives). Several thousand Georges & Richards in a sea of luxury condo's, who will eat each other alive - along with those around them. The absence of long term zoning and planning initiatives by Boro Council(s), a voter base that lets this fly and media management for profit is the long and short of it. With many of the residents not having even been here long enough to know what's been sold out, it's probably water under the bridge at this point. But, I'll keep putting my 2 cents in while I'm here. At very least, New Hope's character & warmth of old will remain a treasured memory for folks who were fortunate enough to have lived here in it's pre gentrification days. What a “community” of characters it was!

Letter to Yenta 10/05/05
The New Hope Chamber of Commerce Outdoor Arts & Crafts Festival was outstanding this year! The artists booths were in the street, leaving the sidewalk open to shoppers. I saw many people wandering in and out of the shops on the west side on North Main. And families were able to spend more time (and money) since there were things for the kids to do, and food for them to eat. Adding the trolley was a stroke of genius. Visitors to New Hope were able to park and travel throughout the town on the trolley, for free! Many were saying that it gave them a chance to visit the shops on South Main because they did not have to walk. The artists also were doing a good business, and many who had participated in the past sold more of their goods than ever before. Congratulations to the organizers and participants. This was the best yet, and I only see it getting better over the next several years.

Letter to Yenta 10/04/05
Couple of points/questions...
Uncle Charlie's has only been around for what - 2 years? This George Michael thing was happening around the same time, if not before, Charlie was trolling on the Yenta (10/26/03) looking for retail space to rent. Why didn't Uncle Charlie reseach the area that he was moving into before moving there?
Any one ever look at the buildings that "house" the stores on Mechanic Street. Notice how most of the them were residential buildings that have been converted - which means Mechanic Street wasn't always a commercial street. If everyone is so concerned with preserving the history of New Hope, does that mean those properties should be converted back to houses?

Letter to Yenta 10/04/05
When "Uncle Charlie" said New Hope had double standards he sure knew what he was talking about. A few years back the New Hope Methodist Church(now Marsha Brown's) tried to change an ageing front door from a six panel to a four panel (everything else would remain the same) and the HARB board turned them down. Then along came Marsha Brown an ViVoom! instant change in the entire front of the building in the historical district. Go figure!!!

An oldtime New Hoper

Letter to Yenta 10/03/05
The gutting will continue. There's still money to be made! Token donations will be provided for media spin purposes. The exodus of the town's "characters" will continue. When it's all over, there'll be a big fancy oil rig with a dried out well underneath.

Letter to Yenta 10/03/05
Kudos to Uncle Charlie. I'm behind him 150%. I don't live in the borough but live in Solebury Twp because of the borough. I love New Hope and all the funky richness that is the heart and soul of New Hope to many who live outside the borders of the town. I patronize the town's resturants and shops on a regular basis. That is to say my wife and I dine in town 4 days a week on average - no kidding, and I do all my Christmas shopping and other gift shopping in town. Where will I eat and shop if the town fills up with condos. Will the condo residents have us in for dinner? Will they have home demonstrations where I'll be able to purchase Tupperware or maybe some nice Longaberger baskets. YYYYUUUUKKKKKKK............. No more condos George - PLEASE. How about working with the New Hope merchants and refunk the town I love so much..

The Angry Old Beatnik

Letter to Yenta 10/02/05
Mr. Michael’s latest project, “Canal Street”, like its New York City counterpart, is overpriced, crowded and tacky.
This week, as asbestos was being scraped off the ceilings of former New Hope Inn rooms, doors wide open to the street, the contractors’ trucks were already double parked and blocking sidewalks. Anyone around town will tell you there’s a double standard: just try to change the color of the shutters on your house a hair, but a big developer can essentially drop a Disney version of New Hope into our historic district with the blessing of town fathers.
As for the store owners on the block, or I should say the ones who haven’t yet put personal gain ahead of neighborhood interests, we intend to fight any condo development east of the canal on Mechanic Street. The passive-aggressive destruction of the merchant base through conversion of commercial property to residential must stop now.
And to those who use the term “for the record” in their epistles, “for the record” means you sign your name to your letter. The stakes are just getting too darn high.

Uncle Charlie

Letter to Yenta 10/02/05
Congratulations to the New Hope Chamber of Commerce!! I don't know how they did it, but they managed to take a beautiful, well-respected (JURIED) Art Show and turn it into a tacky street fair complete with funnel cake, tattoos, hair braiding and face painting. Oh, did I forget to mention the rock and roll band? Nice touch. I'm sure the shop owners on the west side of Main Street were thrilled that their businesses were completely blocked. Good job! What were you guys thinking?
PS: My congratulations to the New Hope train station for importing those tacky old arcade games from some decrepit Jersey shore boardwalk!! Taste knows no bounds.

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