By: Merle Citron
The next time you’re in Welsh’s Liquor Store, look around for a pretty, blonde lady who helps out behind the counter.
She’s Rosemont resident Susan Welsh, daughter of owners Dick and Millie Welsh.
Susan has been a fourth-grade teacher in Delaware Township for the past 13 years and loves it. She also loves to sing, and she does it well. Susan recently sang with the Jimmy Fry Band at a party in Stockton.
"Janis Joplin, Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette and Emmylou Harris are all favorites of mine," she told me. "I’ve been singing ‘Delta Dawn’ since I was about 10 when I made my ‘debut’ with my best friend Nicole Claus and her cousin’s country band."
Susan, a graduate of Pepperdine University, is also a writer, mostly of poetry. But her "great American novel" has been swimming around in her psyche for quite awhile.
As Susan put it, "I now intend to live a structured life of literary discipline by writing every day and by getting published in the near future."
We’re rooting for you, Susan!
Henrietta and Ziskind "Dick" Lieb are originally from Westchester County, N.Y.
Four years ago they moved to Plumstead Township. Dick is a composer and music arranger, and Henrietta makes beads and works on South Street in Philadelphia during the week in a bead shop.
The Liebs don’t live in Lambertville, but love our town for all the same reasons that we do, and they share our same concerns.
"I’m so sad at the loss of open space," Henrietta told me.
I’m sure that Chit-Chat readers are aware this topic is often mentioned in this column. That’s because this topic is often mentioned by many people.
Here’s a hot little item.
Last Saturday, Lambertville policeman Mike O’Rourke and his wife, Joyce, were seen dining with Dennis and Annette Tillett.
Mike and Dennis ate mightily because they needed to prepare themselves for that afternoon’s trip to Point Pleasant Beach at the Jersey shore.
"It was Sharon Polyak’s idea that we swim in the ocean today to raise money for New Jersey’s Special Olympics," Mike explained. "Dennis and I are going in, but Sharon got sick so she can’t."
Then Dennis added, "I will be dressed like a penguin for the occasion. Mike’s gonna wear his Speedo suit."
Good luck guys. It’s a worthy cause but I think Sharon got the hot end of the deal.
Carl Glassman and Dinie Silnutzer, owners of New Hope’s Wedgewood Inn, recently received a letter from Leslie Haines, formerly of Clinton Street, Lambertville.
Leslie lived in town from 1977 to 1987. She now resides in Westminster, Colo. Leslie told Carl and Dinie that she loves Colorado skiing, but still pines for the Delaware Canal towpath that once was in her Lambertville backyard.
Have you noticed that quite a few Lambertville stores sell lovely objets d’art from around the world?
The Celt-Iberia shop on South Main Street carries a wide variety of handmade items from Ireland and Spain. Michael Burns, who is no relation to the poet Robert Burns or the Lambertville architect of the same name, and Richie Cordova, own the store. They have had the good fortune to be able to travel extensively and, in so doing, fell in love with the artistry of the Celt-Iberian cultures.
Michael explained, "As far as we know, we’re the only store in the nation that combines the best arts and crafts of both cultures, which, by the way, are historically connected."
Stop by the shop between 6 and 8 p.m. Saint Patrick’s Day for refreshments and the live music of harpist Kristin Gleeson.
Joe Moore is a man on the move.
He lives in West Amwell and is a man of varied interests. At 58 years of age, Joe is currently a ski and toboggan instructor in the Poconos. Four years ago, he decided to take up snowboarding.
Originally from California, Joe has lived in the Lambertville area for 25 years. At one time he used to own the Circle A Ranch across from the high school.
Joe is the president of the Eastern Pantera Association, which runs the New Hope Auto Show. His specialty is the exotic car division. In September, Joe was the track steward at Pocono Raceway for the Italian Extravaganza.
You’ve probably seen Brian Mantz around town because he has cooked in many of the area restaurants.
The last 11 years have found Brian working as the dessert chef at Anton’s at the Swan. Brian is a very hard-working man, who is also a single parent of 16-year-old Scott, a ninth-grader at South.
"Scott is a real good kid," Brian smiled. "I think he likes school, although he’s not pleased that he’s presently on crutches with a broken ankle."
The Mantz men live in Stockton.
"Being a single parent means being responsible for everything," Brian noted.
That doesn’t seem to prevent Brian and Scott from including in their family their dog, Daisy, and three cats. Brian, of course, cooks for everybody.
How lovely to see Barbara Coles who spent so many years helping customers at Kline’s.
Barbara is married to Allan Coles, who is a retired United Airlines pilot. Now Allan works three days a week at Finkle’s, enjoying the contact with the public.
Interestingly, Barbara and her son, Joe Troutman, have started a new business venture together. They are in the aerospace engineering services business, and their company is named Integrated Design Solutions LLC.
Actually, it doesn’t make much difference what Barbara touches. The outcome is always the same organized and well-managed.
Good luck on your new venture, Barbara and Joe!
Although Alexis and Bill Campbell of Woodcrest have only been in town for two years, they have involved themselves in our community with a passion.
Alexis and Bill were happily ensconced in the state of Washington when Bill’s job took them across the country. Although they didn’t know what to expect from life in New Jersey, living in Lambertville has made them happy.
Alexis comes from a corporate finance background, which makes her election as this year’s president of Artsbridge very dynamic and challenging.
Welcome to town, Alexis and Bill, and I hope you stay involved.
Janet Hunt, owner of the Coryell Gallery, is blending her love of art with her love of language.
Janet has been spending more time in Italy, loves the language and wants to improve her ability to speak and understand Italian. So it comes as no surprise that Janet is taking an Italian language class with Barbara Ceglia. Janet says she enjoys the class, and Barbara says that Janet is a terrific student. Bravissimo, Janet!
And there you have it folks, a little chit and a little chat.
