LAMBERTVILLE/NEW HOPE: Pride parade focuses on marriage equality

May 17 event will start in Lambertville, crosses bridge to Pennsylvania

   New Hope and Lambertville are celebrating the 200th anniversary of the bridge spanning the Delaware River. On May 17, the bridge will be used as a symbol to spur the movement for marriage equality. The annual Pride Parade will start in Lambertville before marching into New Hope. The theme, “Bridge to Equality,” will highlight the fight for marriage equality in Pennsylvania and across the country.
   The parade will begin at Lambertville City Hall. It will proceed to the Lambertville House Inn on Bridge Street, where the parade will pause briefly as Lambertville Mayor David DelVecchio performs a same-sex marriage. It will continue down Bridge Street and pause again on the state line, allowing New Hope Mayor Larry Keller and others to join the marriage float before the parade continues into Pennsylvania.
   Suggested parade viewing points are at the Lambertville House, the New Hope Lambertville Bridge, Karla’s, John & Peter’s, Havana and Fran’s Pub.
   The parade begins at 11:30 a.m. and will conclude at about 1 p.m. Following the parade will be the vendor fair and block party in the Bucks County Playhouse parking lot. The day will end with a Pride Dance Party at the Raven.
   For information on New Hope Pride (May 11-18), visit the New Hope Celebrates website at www.newhopecelebrates.com.
Country Gospel Concert
May 18 at Mt. Airy
   A Country Gospel Concert, featuring Bill Clinton and Band, will be held at Mt. Airy Church on May 18 at 7 p.m. Mr. Clinton and his Country Music Band will present a concert of gospel and country music. Tickets are $15 or two for $25 and will be available at the door. For information or tickets, call 609-397-0977. The church is located at 39 Mt. Airy Village Road, just off Route 179.
Courthouse Quilters
will gather May 18
   Courthouse Quilters is inviting quilt enthusiasts to the May 18 meeting, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Darcy Lodge on Route 513 in Frenchtown. Guest fee is $5. This meeting will feature a Members Market, where a wide range of items will be on sale. Established in 1988, the guild is dedicated to preserving our quilting heritage by promoting fellowship among those who love to make and collect quilts. The guild organizes educational activities, charitable projects and a biennial quilt show scheduled for Oct. 3-5 at Prallsville Mills, Stockton, For more information, contact Judee Shuler at 908-337-2540 or [email protected]. To learn more about the guild and the show, visit www.courthousequilters.com.
Land Trust Farmers’
Market opens May 18
   The regular weekly Hunterdon Land Trust Farmers’ Market at the historic Dvoor Farm, 111 Mine St. on the Route 12 circle, starts May 18 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. featuring about 20 vendors, and free tours of the Dvoor Farm house by professional historic planner, Dennis Bertland, and barns by architect Chris Pickell. There’s plenty of free parking. For more information, visit: www.hunterdonlandtrust.org or call 908-237-4582.
Masonic Association sets
event at Round Valley
   The West Jersey Masonic Association will hold its Square and Compass 5K, 10K Twilight Run at Round Valley Recreation Area on May 31 at 6:15 p.m. Proceeds go to support the WJMA, an association of Masonic Lodges in the Hunterdon, Warren counties area. The course winds through the recreation area. All registered runners will receive a free tech T-shirt with the run logo. For further information, to register or see the course map, go to the Facebook page: facebook.com/wjma232.
Special training set
for soccer players
   Soccer players intending to participate in any high school boys and girls soccer teams, as well as current and incoming Middle School soccer players, are invited to a week of soccer training and skills development. Sessions will be divided into middle and high school players. All middle and high school soccer players are welcome regardless of where they attend school.
   From July 21-25 from 5:45-8:15 p.m.. soccer trainer, Pascal Clerigo, will provide evenings of soccer training and fun. The sessions will be held at the First Pentecostal Prayer of Faith Church field on Route 518.
   The cost is $125.00 per player and is due once child’s enrollment is confirmed. Enrollment is limited, based on a first-come, first-served basis.
   For more information and/or to sign up, contact Jim Mastrich at 609-921-3665 or [email protected].
Summer program set
for area youngsters
   The City of Lambertville will run a Summer Recreation Program for children (7-12), who live in Lambertville, Stockton and West Amwell Township. It will begin June 23 and end Aug. 1. The program will provide opportunity for children to learn basic fundamental sports skills, engage in physical exercise and take part in sports competition at a developmentally appropriate setting. The fee is $50 per child per week. For additional information, visit the city’s website at www.lambertvillenj.org.
Want to attend
a military academy?
   Students interested in applying to any of the five military academies are invited to attend an information fair for students on 10 a.m.-noon on May 31, in the Conference Center at Raritan Valley Community College on Lamington Road in Branchburg. Congressman Leonard Lance’s annual free event allows students in his Seventh Congressional District to meet with academy officials to learn about the admissions process.
   Representatives from the Military (Army), Naval, Air Force, Merchant Marine and the Coast Guard academies are expected to participate. Representatives from Mr. Lance’s congressional staff will answer questions from students about the nominating process.
   To receive an appointment to a service academy, students must first receive a nomination from their congressman, senator or the vice president of the United States. Students with questions should call Nick Bahnsen in Rep. Lance’s Flemington office at 908-788-6900 for information.
Kalmia seeks gardens
for June 14 tour
   The Kalmia Club of Lambertville needs Lambertville gardens to feature in its 2014 Hidden Gardens of Lambertville Tour on June 14, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., rain or shine. The self-guided tour starts at the club’s historic pink clubhouse, 39 York St., Lambertville, and will showcase a wide variety of garden types and plants.
   . Gardens can be small, shade, flowering or themed. Participants must open their gardens to the public for the all-day event, but club volunteers host the tour itself, which raises money for community service efforts.
   If interested, email [email protected]. For tour tickets, visit www.kalmiaclub.org.
Jason Fuhr
Charity Golf Classic
   The Jason Fuhr Charity Golf Classic will continue on July 28 at The Bucks Club in Jamison, Pennsylvania. Registration will be at 7:30 a.m. and shotgun start at 9 a.m. Continental breakfast, refreshments on the course and buffet luncheon will be included. Foursomes and individual golfers are welcome. Sponsorships will be available and donations accepted. Net proceeds are donated to local charities. To register or for additional information, contact: Tim Losch at [email protected] or 609-397-1306.
Want to learn
to knit or crochet?
   Do you know how to knit or crochet, but wish you had someone else to knit with for company? Do you want to learn? Join others at the Hunterdon County Family Success Center (FSC) every Thursday from 5:30-7 p.m. Not only is there a warm, inviting home-like setting, but dinner is included. All age groups are welcome. For more information, contact Penni Trionfo at the FSC at 908-237-0465.
Lambertville Food Pantry
helps those in need
   The Lambertville Food Pantry is located behind St. John’s Church on Bridge Street. Hours are Wednesdays from 2 to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon.
   If in need of help or struggling to make ends meet every week, you might qualify to use the food pantry,” according to Joe McGrath, coordinator of the Lambertville Food Pantry. “I can help you figure out if you do qualify. Give me a call,” he said.
   Participation in certain government welfare programs for the needy will automatically qualify some households and individuals to use the pantry’s services.
   The Delaware Valley Interfaith Council has operated the pantry continuously since 1981.
   There is an ongoing need for certain items: toilet paper, cereal, oatmeal, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, canned fruit, fruit juice, tomato sauce (glass), diapers, deodorant, cookies, coffee, snacks.
   Send donations for the food pantry to D.V.I.C., P.O. Box 705, Lambertville N.J. 08530. For information, call Mr. McGrath at 609-638-7888.
Homestead market
   The Homestead Farm Market serves Hunterdon and Bucks counties with locally grown produce, home-prepared foods and catering as well as supplies and staples needed for gardening. Hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The market is at 262 N. Main St., Lambertville. For information, visit www.homesteadfarmmkt.com or call 397-8285
Stockton has
indoor market
   The Stockton Farmers Market, 19 Bridge St., will be open every weekend: Friday from 3 to 7 p.m.; Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call Dawn at 609-610-3532 for information.
VFW Post 7921
   The Lambertville VFW Post 7921 meets the second Wednesday of every month at the Lambertville American Legion Post 120 on Cherry Street at 7 p.m. “We are always looking for new members,” said Commander Georg Hambach, who may be reached at 609-658-6824.
Coryell’s Ferry
Stamp Club
   Founded September 1946 to serve the collectors of Eastern Bucks County and Hunterdon and Mercer counties, the Coryell’s Ferry Stamp Club meets the first and third Monday of each month. Those interested in stamp- collecting and related subjects are welcome. For information, call 215-598-7534 or 908-806-7883.
Donate to LAEF
online now
   The Lambertville Area Education Foundation can take donations online. Visit: www.laef-for-the-kids.org and click on the green “make a donation” button. Join the mailing list by clicking on the “sign up for our newsletter” button on the home page. And, “like” us on FACEBOOK.
   The foundation welcomes contacts from community members who would like to contribute money, goods or time to the organization. The foundation’s board is eager to get suggestions about contacts for corporate sponsorship of its local fundraising events. Potential supporters should contact Jill Myers at [email protected].