| Back Letter to Yenta 2/16/98 Have you seen the fence between the Logan Inn and the UMC parking lot? It's now double the size - can't even walk through with the dog. What's the beef? Signed - let's talk. Letter to Yenta 2/16/98 Hi Yenta: What's this I hear about fireworks on the fourth? True? untrue? What's the real reason the fire company doesn't want the fireworks? Let's all work on having the show this year, safely and spectacularly. Signed - will volunteer to help. Letter to Yenta 12/5/97 From Riff1972@aol.com Hey yenta! Whats all this talk about earned income tax? Why is everyone so against it? It seems to me that new hope is always on the verge of being in the red. All the politicians seem to regard this issue as pandora's box. If the borough were a business, it would have gone out of business by now. The politicians are all talking about cutting the budget....soon there won't be anything left. As demand for service grows and income remains the same it won't be long before the town is in some very difficult finances. Why not enact the earned income tax. It just might be what the town needs to maintain not just status quo but to thrive. Letter to Yenta 11/18/97 From:Interested Citizen Hi Yenta!! Do we still have a Yenta? Let's congratulate Marty at Mother's Rest. for all the new brickwork - it looks super. Still no action on the parking lot behind the UM church - it's still sealed off. Good work on the pavement at the shopping center - action at last!! The new Borough Manager is starting off with a bang - we already are getting financial information we can depend on. Watch for the New Hope welcoming signs - courtesy of PIP - they should be posted at the entrance to the town shortly. The Chamber and PIP are paying for professional tree decorating this year - nice work. Let's all come out for the official tree lighting. Signed - interested citizen. Letter to Yenta 10/23/97 From:Unnamed attorney This is in reference to your September 19, 1997 column. During part of my career as an attorney, I have studied crimes and crime reporting in Bucks County. First, you would be amazed just how many crimes occur in Bucks County. It is not the Camelot that it appears to be. Unfortunately, because of the nature of our society, police and police detectives are necessary to keep the peace and to apprehend criminals. I am not a resident of New Hope, however I did have the opportunity, as a member of the bar, to follow the two recent bank robberies you speak of. Your facts are clearly wrong. It is not even close to say that these crimes of violence were solved by a single phone call which led to the apprehension of the criminals within twenty minutes. The truth is that these bank robberies were solved by the concerted effort of several law enforcement agencies, using tried and true police work. And yes, instead of demeaning the New Hope Police Department, you should be commending them, especially the services of Detective Zimmerman. It is because of such dedicated employees that the streets and shops of New Hope are safe. In the future, please use your useful column to tell it like it is, and not to libel dedicated public servants. Thank you. Letter to Yenta 10/18/97 from New Hope Resident Dear Yenta: Let's all get behind the Feb. 6,7,9 effort for the Winter Carnival = this is a New Hope/Lamberville event this year!!! It's made "doubly" (is that a word?) difficult because of the unknown weather conditions. Last year was warm and zapped out all the cold weather stuff. This year we are planning on a great effort to help our business men and enhance both our towns. Let's get behind the effort!!! PIP in New Hope is in charge this side and we have an already established group on the Lambertville side. Go team - yeah!!! Letter to Yenta 10/16/97 from New Hope resident How often do you update your news or do I have to do something this end to empty something on my computer and update? There's a lot going on with politics, the backdoor into New Hope, the Police Dept., February Winter Carnival, news about the Art Festival, etc. What's happening with the walking/bike path between Staples and TSP. The telephone poles are being rearranged - is somebody doing something? Also, what happening at the south end of town? Lots of action with earth moving equipment and huge pipes. What's is going to look like or do we have to wait and see. - signed - an interested citizen. The Yenta Column 9/19/97 Well, the Yenta is back from an incredible summer of touring. Now the fun begins – reading all of the back Gazettes to catch up on the local news. Of course, my research on the happenings of the summer has not been limited to the Gazette. I have been cruising the local yard sales, restaurants and bars, garden parties and businesses and of course, kibitzing with friends, acquaintances and yes, borough council members. Research needs to be complete you know. As one would expect, there are a variety of viewpoints on every subject. The biggest shocker is the travesty on top of the hill. What a surprise? They clear cut the Heritage site, and sold off pieces of the property to other developers. Was this in the original discussions? The Yenta can’t remember. Can you? Has the developer paid any money to the borough yet? I hope so, they’re going to need it to pay the prospective borough manager (How much? Sixty grand!!?) Maybe council should put in some extra hours of work on revenue generating activities rather than rhetoric – other than Ralph and the budget. Did anyone notice the great(?) efforts toward soil and erosion control – you know-the mud flowing down S Sugan and S Main Street. Not to worry! Can you believe it? New Hope had an armed robbery! Or at least that was what was reported. And then, to add insult to injury – it happened again several days later. But, it wasn’t our first. Probably thirty or so years ago someone tried to rob the Solebury National Bank and the Chief ended up pulling him out of the window by the seat of his pants. Well, back to present day – our illustrious, highly paid detective joined forces with the FBI, PA State Police and County Detectives and after weeks of intense investigation the fruits of their labor were rewarded when the suspects were apprehended in Hamilton Township. Oh, you mean the real story wasn’t published in the Gazette. The fact that the tip leading to the capture of the two UNARMED robbers came from a woman who happened to pull into the bank lot as the one robber exited the bank and crawled into the trunk of the get-away car. The woman thought this action rather odd and copied down the license number of the car, then called the Hamilton Twp Police who apprehended the two thugs within twenty minutes. It is of interest that none of the police activity of any law enforcement agency had anything to do with the capture. Nice try Matt. Maybe next time! Going away for awhile really creates a buildup of great material for the Yenta. A concerned citizen faxed in asking what was going on with the parking lot behind the Methodist Church. Well, I took a walk and found that her report was true, The Logan Inn actually spent money and blocked off the church parking lot. Now, the little old ladies and people with disabilities have to deal with the front steps of the church or try to maneuver over flagstones to get to the handicap ramp, Way to go Logan Inn! Your priorities are really out of whack. Why don’t you spend the money on some of the previously suggested repairs or plantings or cleaning up your unkempt yard instead of picking fights with ministers and old church ladies. Oh, you mean what you really don’t like is the Mo Java Cafe. Goodness knows, you don’t want to be known as a group that supports giving kids a positive option. If that is the root of the problem, maybe you should sit down with Pastor Joe and discuss it. The Yenta understands that you have actually received a letter of apology from Pastor Joe and a request to sit down and discuss your differences in hopes of a resolution. Come on Logan Inn – be a good neighbor!! that’s what this town is all about. Meanwhile at borough hall, Jay, Jake and Fred have composed a letter stating their opposition to hiring a borough manager. The Yenta applauds their position. Of course, you can disagree. But they do make a good point – in spite of their many ineptitudes, they didn’t run the borough into debt. But they also didn’t position the borough for growth. Monday night at borough hall should be very interesting. Why don’t you all come out and support your position on a borough manager – whatever position that might be. The election is coming up. Start watching. Fireworks will fly for sure. On the street the Yenta overheard that borough officials in business for themselves may not be paying their business privilege tax. Is there any truth to that rumor? The borough used to use prisoners to work on the streets. Is that practice still used? Or are they working for others while in town? Rumor has it that the last council meeting was apparently called off because Sid and Gary were not going to be present. Maybe they are looking for new jobs. On a sad note, those of you who frequented Farley’s Bookstore or who were students at the Solebury School will be saddened to learn of the sudden death of Christopher Ross. His great wit and intellect, his love of laughter and good cheer will be missed by all. Christopher would have been enthralled and so will you be, with the upcoming production of the Tempest to be performed by the incredibly talented youngsters of the Writer’s Studio Theatre at Deer Park Pavilion on Friday and Saturday, September 26 and 27. Tickets are nearly sold out! Call 862-9414 to reserve your seats. Pasqual Vacquer has done it again. And the costumes!! Enchanting!! If you're looking for a mystic experience – sit on Holcombe island and watch the sun hit New Hope. Wow! For those of you who aren’t – try a jet ski! Accolades! Artist Dorothy Grider who has a permanent exhibit at the Kentucky State Museum is going to Kentucky to be honored with a luncheon at the Museum. More on her return. Meanwhile, Melania is going strong. If you’ve never stopped at her house and studio on North Main Street, you should treat yourself. Joe Crilley should be drifting back into town any day, back from Nova Scotia. The Carpenter’s visited family in Denver – big reunion, great time! Louis at Tastebuds is recovering nicely. You can E-mail the Yenta with your comments or opinions – the slate is clean. The Yenta Column 7/24/97 Politics as usual in the boro! Paul Witte admonished council for spending more time on sidewalks as an issue than on sewer and water. Which do you find more important – blue spray painted x’s or effluent and polluted wells? The rest of the meeting was spent debating over whether the council should waive fees for the synagogue’s construction permit fees and the new teen coffee house business privilege tax and whether or not it changed zoning. Then it was brought up that these teens were all congregating at the church – perish the thought! Teens congregating at church! Council did in all its wisdom manage to give Bob Gerenser a vote of support in his bid to gain the role of George Washington for the annual crossing (Fred wasn’t at the council meeting and therefore didn’t wreck the unanimous support). Off the political scene and on to social events. PIP sponsored another successful barge ride with the help and support of many of the local businesses, while the Ferry Street residents ran a great block party on Sunday evening. Looks like that will be an event repeated in various locations around town. Jack Rosen got some great shots – you can count on that. The summer camp activities for Solebury Township and Solebury School are in full swing. Louis of Tastebuds in recovering from surgery and doing well (not quite so sure about John). In other surgeries around town Bijou (Jim Martin’s 4-legged sidekick) is doing great and Blossom (the lovely chocolate cocker spaniel) has totally recovered from her annoying skin problem and has received her mid-summer coif. Ginger Shelley celebrated a birthday – she can’t seem to remember which one. On the other hand, Susan Trindle celebrated a birthday – she remembers hers – 11th. The battle of the "Letters to the Editor" over the impact of the Marshall Tract goes on. Hats off to those who are making comment. The more input the better. The Yenta is in receipt of an inquiry with regard to the Marshall Tract – What about water? Perhaps the readers of the Gazette could respond to that. The Yenta and many others I’m sure remember what happened when the well for Fieldstone was drilled? Are we in for more of the same? The Yenta predicts - yes we are!! The Yenta has a question for the candidates – Where are you? Everyone seems very silent of late. Are we out of issues to address? Are things running that smoothly? Perhaps some of the candidates would like to write to me and state their positions on the issues as they see them. I would be more than happy to give them space. Kudos to Mr. Mayor for proposing his town watch – the auxiliary police program however, might be a little heavy handed, seems to have Gestapo overtones. The Yenta repeats the question to Ruth Fitting, Staples and Borough Council – where’s the sidewalk? Good luck to the new school superintendent – Dr. Barbara Burke-Stevenson. The Yenta hopes that your stay is long. That would put you far ahead of all the others. On the fitness front, a new studio has opened in Lambertville offering the Pilates Method. For those of you unfamiliar with this form of exercise, it is a system of exercise using memory and musculature to create mental and physical harmony. If you’re looking for a new experience in fitness – the Yenta highly recommends calling Zane Rankin at the Pilates Studio in Lambertville. The 16th Annual Restaurant Olympics at the Yellow Brick Toad under the watchful and creative eye of David Duthie. The Yenta is looking for a strong team of women from the New Hope-Lambertville area to upset the Pennington Wildflower six year reign. John and Sylvia Walsh continue to produce "the best Musical Fireworks" ever for the New Hope-Solebury Free Library. If you missed this one, you missed a great show! There was something for everyone – even the Yenta. On the Performing Arts Festival front – you can still get tickets for upcoming performances. The Yenta knows all – and what the Yenta doesn’t know, you can tell him (or her)!
Date: 7/4/97 ....open to all you have to say. All you have to say about everyone and everything; politics, social affairs, gossip and more (as long as it's fit to print!). The Yenta has been waiting years for this golden opportunity, and you can share in it daily. Have you read the last few "Letters to the Editor" in the Gazette from the candidates for counsel? It reads like a school yard fight over who gets to pick sides in kick ball. By the time they decide who the captain's are and who's on whose team, recess is over! When are they going to address the issues? By the time they get to them, will it be too late? Do they really think that everyone in town is so stupid? What about sewer, water, taxes, streets, budgets, accountability and audit trails? Groups like PIP and the Arts Commission (both of which function outside of the petty bureaucracy) seem to be able to spend their money wisely and without excessive amounts of dissention.They even manage to start and finish projects. What's wrong? Any ideas and suggestions for making our town better? Let the Yenta know. The flowers, lamp posts and benches popping up around town are absolulely terrific. They look great and add to the ambiance of town. Suggestion for the Logan Inn-- pay attention and clean up your front. Maybe you ought to rip down that ugly fence and rope, put in some ground cover and make it inviting. You've done a great job painting the building. D'ont stop-- a little paint on the back lattice and some weed pulling would continue to enhance one of the most beautiful buildings in town. Those businesses that aren't jumping on board to spruce up their storefronts are really missing the boat. Diana opened her new jewelry store; Cornucopia is still deciding what it wants to be; Mark Fresco is doing a nice job on Mechanic street., while we all wait with baited breath for the completion of Mark Higgin's cottage. Pat LaCorte is opening New Hope Travel on Mchanic street, which by the way is looking great. There was a nice get together to honor Jim Magill's term as mayor-lots of notables stopped by. Keith and Fillipo have once again made yet another tasteful and thoughtful improvement to the Mansion Inn and the town--those weeping cherry trees and brick sidewalks are simply lovely. Another 4th of July with the fireworks falling victim to Fred Williamson and Bob Gerenser's personal prejudices. Cecily Laidman led her 2nd Annual Fieldstone 4th of July parade. You had to be there to believe it! Artbridge ran another great show at Prallsville Mill. The Marquis of Debris is still on the loose and the Yenta looks forward to his imput--perhaps an outlet for his liberal thoughts. Shocking! Staples/Ruth Fitting-where's your sidewalk? Schools out--maybe the Levy's have a point. One more super. This one looks to have have a life expectancy like the last nine, or ten or... When will they learn?--perhaps school is the teacher and kids, not the building and administration. Noise pollution-any thoughts? You can hear the jet skis at the top of V2 hill and in Lambertville, NJ at Woodcrest. Maybe the complaints are justified. Three cheers for the United Methodist Church. They've opened the doors of the Mo Java Coffee house as a place for teens and folks of all ages! Praise the Lord! "Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. (So does New Hope!) Begin it now!" The Yenta knows all--and what the Yenta doesn't know, you can tell him (or her) (or it). |