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Winter promises a chilly visit to Lambertville-New Hope festival

Fisherman’s Mark will be a beneficiary of the festival, with donation canisters for non-perishable food at each major event.

By John Tredrea, Special Writer
   This year’s Lambertville-New Hope Winter Festival is under way and set to run through Sunday (Jan. 27).
   And, indeed, this year’s event actually could celebrate winter, if the extended forecast (Wednesday’s) from the Weather Channel website, is correct. Sub-freezing temperatures are expected today through Saturday, at least, with a 60 percent chance of snow (or snow showers) Friday.
    At 7 p.m., today (Jan. 24), the Taste of WinterFest will held at the Inn at Lambertville Station, 11 Bridge St., Lambertville. This is an evening of fine food, wine and beer. Try “the best from local area restaurants, breweries, vineyards and farms,” a Winter Festival spokesperson said. Tickets are $40.
   On Friday (Jan. 25) night, Pure Prairie League, a band with an international following for decades, will take the stage with special guest Craig Bickhardt at the Stephen J. Buck Memorial Theatre at New Hope-Solebury High School, at 180 West Bridge Street in New Hope, at 8 p.m.
   Tickets are $45 in advance and $50 at the door.
   Mr. Bickhardt recently returned to the southeastern Pennsylvania area after 24 years in Nashville. His songs have been recorded by artists such as B.B. King, Martina McBride, Ray Charles, Johnny Cash, Alison Krauss, Art Garfunkel, Vince Gill, Willie Nelson, Janis Ian, POCO and many others.
   A pre-concert reception will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. at Nikólas Restaurant at Logan Inn, 10 W. Ferry St., New Hope.
   Trolley service will operate between the theater and Logan Inn prior to the show.
   For country-rockers Pure Prairie League, this year’s concert features founding members guitarist/vocalist Craig Fuller, pedal-steel innovator John David Call with veteran bassist Mike Reilly, drummer Scott Thompson and guitarist Donnie Clark.
   Saturday (Jan. 26) will be a busy day, with events including the WinterFest Spectacular Parade, which begins at noon at New Hope-Solebury High School and marches over the bridge into Lambertville.
    Traffic control and security measures New Hope Police will implement for the parade are the following road closures and restrictions, which will be in effect for much of the morning and part of the afternoon.
   — Access to the New Hope-Lambertville Free Bridge, via East Bridge Street, will be closed to vehicle traffic from noon to 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. West Bridge Street from West Ferry Street to Main Street will be closed to vehicle traffic from noon to approximately 1 p.m. Persons wishing to access Union Square by vehicle during that time may do so via Hardy Bush Way.
   — South Main Street from Bridge Street to West Ferry Street and North Main Street from Bridge Street to West Randolph Street will be closed to vehicle traffic from noon to approximately 1 p.m.
   — In addition to these road closures and restrictions, all parking meters on West Bridge Street will be bagged “No Parking” starting at approximately 11 p.m. on Jan. 25. Any vehicle parked in a bagged parking space as of 9 a.m. on Jan. 26 will be removed by police at the owner’s expense.
   Metered parking regulations will be suspended on Jan. 26 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Any person whose residential parking space falls within the restricted area 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.
   Questions regarding these measures should be directed to New Hope Police at 215-862-3033.
   ALSO on Saturday, there will be “family fun” at St. John’s church in Lambertville, with free music and theater performance for children from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
   — Throughout the day, visitors can watch artists create works of art with live Ice Sculpting displays — at 11 a.m. at Lambertville House; 1:30 p.m. at Lambertville Station; and 3 p.m. at New Hope Visitors Center.
   — Other Saturday events include the Rotary’s Beef ‘n Brew at Triumph Brewery in New Hope, from 1-4 p.m. Tickets are $40.
   — From 6-9 p.m., the Lambertville Historical Society will host a silent auction in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Lambertville Autumn House Tour. The event, featuring more than 30 paintings produced by 23 artists in the fall of 2012, also will include live music, hors d’oeuvres and beverages. Proceeds from the silent auction will benefit the society. The event will take place at Rago Arts & Auction Center, 333 N. Main St., Lambertville. Admission is free. Parking is available in the rear of the building, accessed via Cherry Street. Call 397-0770 or visit www.lambertvillehistoricalsociety.org for more information.
    — Beth Hasher, chairwoman of the New Hope Park and Recreation Board, has announced that Justin Guarini will join in the board’s tribute to Doro Kerr, of New Hope, on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at Occasions in Union Square.
   Most folks know Mr. Guarini from his appearances on “American Idol.”
   Singer and actor Guarini most recently appeared in the lead role at the Bucks County Playhouse’s “It’s a Wonderful Life: The Live Radio Show.” He also has appeared in two Broadway plays prior to this appearance in New Hope.
   At 6:30 p.m., the board will honor Ms. Kerr, one of New Hope’s “most distinctive and dedicated citizens.”
   Ms. Kerr married Charles “Chick” Kerr in 1949, and they began their Mariner’s Journal business in 1956. Mr. Kerr died in 2007.
   ”Ms. Kerr has been an active participant in numerous community organizations over the past 50 years,” a Winter Festival spokesperson said. “Today, she serves on the New Hope Borough Conciliation Committee and is a staunch supporter of the Eagle Fire Company, Lambertville Rescue Squad and Planned Parenthood of Bucks County.”
   The evening honoring Ms. Kerr will begin with an open bar followed by dinner. A cabaret will be presented by Ms. Kerr’s granddaughter and local actress/performer JaQuinley Kerr. She will sing a duet with Justin Guarini, of American Idol fame, and recently an actor on Broadway, who just completed a successful run at the Bucks County Playhouse as the lead in “It’s a Wonderful Life: The Live Radio Show. “
   Joining them will be Rodney Mack, principal trumpet for the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, who heads up his own band, The Rodney Mack Philadelphia Big Brass.
   Justin Nawn, who recently opened the Birdhouse Center for the Arts and stars in the acoustic band, “Wear My Leather” with his partner, Brownwyn Bird, will accompany them with a variety of acoustical instruments John Augustine, singer and pianist with the national cabaret act, “Chris Durang and Dawne,” will round out the show’s cast. A silent auction will feature scores of prizes from New Hope and Bucks County dining, shopping and entertainment venues. Tickets for this dinner and event in honor of Ms. Kerr are $85 and are available at www.winterfestival.net.
   Proceeds from the event will help support the New Hope Borough Park and Recreation Board’s efforts to beautify New Hope, including the installation and maintenance of the flower baskets on borough street lamps and New Hope’s Pocket Parks.
   On Sunday (Jan. 27) from 8-11:30 a.m., New Hope-Solebury High School girls soccer will cook a Pancake Breakfast at the NH-S cafeteria. Tickets are: $6.50, adults; $5, seniors; $3.50, children 3 to 12.
   Also that day, the annual Chili Cook-Off will take place from 1-3 p.m. at Memorable Affairs-Occasions in New Hope.
   In addition, questions about New Hope’s origins will be answered during the one-hour Walking Tour of Historic New Hope. The 13th annual walking tour will be presented by the New Hope Historical Society, beginning at 2 p.m. at the Parry Mansion, 45 S. Main St., New Hope.
   This will be the 13th consecutive year that tour guides Barry Ziff and Roy Ziegler lead the tour.
   ”This year, we decided to show folks some of the town’s original gathering places from as far back as the 18th century,” said Mr. Ziegler. “It helps to expand the knowledge of our town and keep the tour interesting each year.”
   The Walking Tour is free. Complimentary hot cider and cookies will be served in the Parry Mansion following the tour.
   For information about other activities planned by the New Hope Historical Society, contact them at www.newhopehistoricalsociety.org.
   FISHERMAN’S MARK will be a beneficiary of the festival, with donation canisters for non-perishable food at each major event.
   Fisherman’s Mark, at 89 N. Main St., Lambertville, has been helping area families with a food pantry and many other services since 1980.
   Its seven programs are: Fisherman’s Mark Food Pantry; Case Management; Information Resource & Referral; Community Outreach; Lambertville Academy; Volunteerism; and Los Puentes.
   More information is available at: www.fishermansmark.org. Contributions to Fisherman’s Mark can be made on the Winter Festival website www.winterfestival.net/fishermansmark.html.
   FOR A COMPLETE LIST of Winter Festival event times and details, and to purchase tickets, visit: www.winterfestival.net.
    Winter Festival is presented by Twin River Projects, Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)3 Corporation run entirely by volunteers. Each year, funds raised at the festival are given to the Parks and Recreation departments in New Hope, Lambertville and Solebury and to community organizations, social services, schools, and fire, police and rescue organizations.