Parking free for a week in river towns

Businesses want residents to know New Hope and Lambertville are "back in business."

By: Linda Seida
   LAMBERTVILLE — The Lambertville Area Chamber of Commerce took two steps Monday to help the flood-damaged city get back on its feet, starting with a $1,000 contribution to the City of Lambertville Emergency Fund, which will aid residents who need help meeting the most basic needs, such as food and heat.
   Tom Martin, president of the chamber, presented the donation to Mayor David Del Vecchio during a meeting of the City Council Monday night.
   Mayor Del Vecchio called the donation "significant." He noted merchants, too, have had a "tough year and a half" after dealing with a bridge closing for six months, a flood last September and the most recent flood earlier this month.
   After the donation, the council unanimously voted to approve the chamber’s request to bag parking meters and offer free parking to residents, tourists and shoppers from April 25 to May 1 in an effort to promote local businesses.
   The free parking will help the business community let tourists and shoppers know the city is "back in business" after the flood, according to Mayor Del Vecchio.
   "We want to put up a ‘business as usual’ approach," Mr. Martin said.
   Mr. Martin added, "The New Hope Chamber of Commerce and the Lambertville Area Chamber of Commerce encourage neighbors and friends to come back and shop" and help "celebrate the recovery."
   The period of free parking also is a kickoff to the spring-summer season for merchants, according to Mr. Martin. Upcoming events include the third annual Indoor Sculpture Exhibition in New Hope April 30 to May 29; Lambertville’s annual Shad Festival May 21 and 22; "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" in New Hope May 13-15, an event for the gay community that benefits the Human Rights Campaign and FACT of Bucks County with a portion of the proceeds going toward the New Hope-Lambertville Relief Fund; New Hope History Day May 22 and Memorial Day weekend May 28-30.
   The period of free parking will coincide with a period of free parking in New Hope. The New Hope Borough Council approved a request by the New Hope Chamber of Commerce for free parking last week.
   Lambertville and New Hope are "sister towns," Mr. Martin said Tuesday, although "each has its own identity, each has its own form of charm."
   Donations to the city’s relief effort should be sent to City of Lambertville Emergency Fund, 18 York St., Lambertville, 08530. The envelope should be marked to the attention of Bambi Kuhl. Ms. Kuhl can be reached at City Hall at 397-0110.
   Another relief effort has been mounted by the river towns’ chambers of commerce to aid residents and business owners affected by the flood. Donations may be sent to the New Hope-Lambertville Flood Relief Fund, P.O. Box 633, New Hope, 18938.
   For more information, call (215) 862-9990 or e-mail [email protected].