Traffic control measures listed
The Lambertville-New Hope Winter Festival, which runs until Sunday, is under way.
The annual event offers seasonal activities highlighting the beauty of the twin river town communities in the winter months.
Twin Rivertown Projects, Inc., a 501c nonprofit corporation of New Hope and Lambertville business owners, residents and others, have selected the New Hope, Lambertville, and Solebury parks and recreation departments and the local food bank, Fisherman’s Mark, as the primary recipients of proceeds this year. The festival also benefits other community organizations such as social services, schools, fire, police and rescue organizations.
A food drive is being held for Fisherman’s Mark. Bring a non-perishable food item to the festival and place in blue donation canisters located at most festival events and along the Jan. 29 parade route.
Events include, among many others:
— The Jan. 27 Taste of Winterfest at the Lambertville Station at 7 p.m.
— Poco, best known for the 1979 hit, “Crazy Love,” will heat up the Stephen J. Buck Musical Theater, New Hope, on Jan. 28 at 8 p.m. The event will feature soft 70s American country rock style. Poco continues the Winter Festival tradition of singer-song writer performances. Tickets are available for purchase at www.winterfestival.net.
— A festival tribute to the Biermans will be held Jan. 29 at Occasions, New Hope, Pa., from 6:30-10:30 p.m. This event will pay tribute to New Hope’s first couple, June and Earl Bierman. For decades, The Biermans, who are founding members of Winter Festival, have supported every community organization with grace and charm. This tribute event will include a cocktail party, including open bar throughout the evening, a sit-down dinner, a festival tribute to the couple, as well as a full cabaret musical performance by New Hope’s Tom Bateman on piano and Mary Szczesniak on vocals. This event is limited to 200 guests.
— Local families can enjoy many free activities. Starting on Saturday at 10 a.m., St. John’s School will feature the perennial Winter Festival favorite, the puppet show, which will be Tuckers’ Tales performance of “Drakestail,” the creative duck who has to retrieve his gold and avoid being destroyed by the wicked king. Children will hear “Waiting for Winter,” told by professional story teller Rebecca Del Piano. Audiences will enjoy theater and dance performances by players from Kristine Lewis Theatre Arts Center, Downtown PAC Players, The Dance Junction, and local elementary schools.
At noon, audiences can go out to the street to see the parade! No charge for admission. Food and beverages available at the PTSO Café.
— The Jan 29 Winter Parade will begin at noon in New Hope. It will feature professional bands, floats, and marchers.
Sports enthusiasts can cheer for their favorite sport. Baseball fans will see Boomer, official mascot of the Trenton Thunder who will be marching. Football fans can cheer the Eagles Mobile Fan Zone in the parade, then stay around to play football video games. The Mobile Fan will be parked in the bank parking lot after the parade and everyone is invited to stop by and play a game. Scorch, official mascot of the Trenton Devils, also will march. The Red Bulls Juggling Team will wow soccer fans with a display of foot and body dribbling and bouncing skills. Local dance and athletic groups also will display talents.
Any youth sports teams or groups are invited to join the excitement and march in the parade. For information, call 397-8937 or go online for a registration form: www.winterfestival.net/parade.html.
The New Hope Chamber of Commerce needs volunteers for the festival and to help create its float for the parade. Interested participants should contact the Chamber at [email protected] or call 215-862-9900.
— The Girls U-10 Solebury Thunder Soccer Travel Team is hosting a S’mores Party during the parade on Jan. 29 at noon. Go to the Stephan House, 28 W. Bridge St., New Hope, for an outdoor feast of s’mores. For $5, a person can get unlimited s’mores, hot cocoa and a roaring bonfire to keep warm as the parade passes by. All proceeds will benefit the Solebury Thunder soccer team.
— Also, on Jan. 29, Lambertville’s newest store will host its grand opening. The Green Living and Building Center, located at 9 S. Main St., is the town’s first entirely eco-friendly business. The “Green Center” offers a range of architectural, construction and consulting services, as well as many sustainable and environmentally conscious building and finish products. Opening at 11 a.m., events will include free mini-workshops on such topics as how to utilize solar power at home and steps to living a greener life. Many professionals will be on hand during the day to answer questions. Works by local artists will be available, as well as eco-friendly gifts. A reception with live music will follow from 5-7 p.m. Visit www.greenlivingandbuildingcenter.com for more details.
— On Sunday (Jan. 30), families can head over to New Hope-Solebury High School for a Pancake Breakfast, SnowFolk Exhibit, and free Winter Activity Center with moon bounce, crafts and more!
— Sunday’s 14th annual Chili Cook-Off, born at the River Horse Brewery years ago, remains the final ticketed event of the festival. The fundraiser will be held at Occasions, Union Square, New Hope.
Who will have the best chili this year? Once the doors open at 1 p.m. on Sunday, ticket holders are given a commemorative beer glass and three beer caps to cast their votes for their favorites. The competition is two-prong: Judges Choice and People’s Choice. The seven judges’ blind taste and judge each restaurant’s sample in several categories. This competition is hosted by the original chair of the Chili Cook-Off, Karen Lewis. For the past three years, Mary Ann Albee has joined her team. As soon as the judges are finished, the lobby is broken down and set up for the crowds, while points are tallied. The Judges Choice will have been selected prior to the arrival of ticket holders. For two and half hours, ticket holders taste the chilies and then cast bottle cap ballots in the marked boxes under the trophies, which awarded to the first, second and third place winners in both categories. A perpetual trophy, inscribed with each winner from each year moving forward, is displayed at the winner’s business establishment for the year. It is Lord Stanley of the Chili Cook-Off. At 3:30 p.m., the counting begins. With over 1,500 bottle caps to count, the secret counters count and recount every competitor’s box’s content. At 3:45 p.m., the trophy presentation begins.
Beginning at 11:30 a.m., there will be a pre-event for the crowd outside. There will be T-shirts and lanyards for sale, as well as entertainment. The NJ Renaissance Faire will entertain. Around noon, Fear No Ice will begin a live ice carving of the one-eyed pirate chef who will stand guard over the cook-off.
Complete event details, including the list of this year’s competitors, as well as a list of all winter festival activities can be found at www.winterfestival.net.
AS PART of the traffic control and security measures New Hope police will implement for the Jan. 29 Winter Festival parade, the following road closures and restrictions will be in effect for much of the morning and part of the afternoon on that day.
Access to the New Hope-Lambertville free bridge will be closed to vehicle traffic from noon-approximately 1 p.m.
West Bridge Street from Kiltie Drive to West Ferry Street will be closed to vehicle traffic from 11:45 a.m. to approximately 1 p.m., and eastbound West Bridge Street from West Ferry Street to Main Street will be closed to vehicle traffic from noon to approximately 1 p.m.
West Ferry Street will be open to vehicle traffic, but only from West Bridge Street to South Main Street. No vehicles will be permitted to enter West Bridge Street from West Ferry Street from 11:45 a.m. to approximately 1 p.m.
West Bridge Street access to and from Union Square will be closed from 11:45 a.m. to approximately 1 p.m. Persons wishing to enter or exit Union Square must do so via Hardy Bush Way.
Stockton Avenue will be closed at West Bridge Street and West Ferry Street from 11:45 a.m. to approximately 1 p.m.
South Main Street from Bridge Street to West Ferry Street and North Main Street at Bridge Street will be closed to vehicle traffic from noon to approximately 1 p.m.
In addition to these road closures, all parking meters on West Bridge Street will be bagged “No Parking” starting at approximately 11 p.m. on Jan. 28. Any vehicle that remains in a bagged parking space as of 9 a.m. on Jan. 29, 2011, will be removed by police at the owner’s expense.
Metered parking regulations will be suspended on Jan. 29 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Any person whose residential parking space falls within the restricted areas may, therefore, park at any metered space within the borough, without charge, during that time.
After 2 p.m., enforcement of all parking regulations will resume.
Persons who are affected by these road closures and/or parking restrictions should take appropriate action prior to the start of the parade. Once the parade begins, police cannot guarantee that persons will be able to arrive at or depart from the affected areas. Informational signs and detour arrows will be placed at locations throughout the borough to assist motorists in avoiding the parade route.
Any questions regarding these measures should be directed to New Hope police at 215-862-3033.