Young Tree, Reminder of Life, Is Placed at an Ancient Spring Sacred Lenape Place for Tribal Ceremonies
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Bucks Living: Designer House and Gardens inside April 29, 2021 40 pages, four sections including Homes Doylestown plan A9 Volume 19 www.buckscountyherald.com Number 30 [email protected] Young tree, reminder of life, is placed at an ancient spring Sacred Lenape place for tribal ceremonies Barbara Bluejay Michalski prepared the earth this month for planting of an Eastern red cedar tree next to Aque- tong Spring. The tree replaces a de- cayed cedar that had been planted by her grandfather, Chief Whippoorwill, Bill Thompson, three decades earlier. The cedar and a sugar maple were spe- cial additions to Aquetong Spring Park to fulfill a request by the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania for use in tribal ceremo- nial practices. Aquetong Spring, a site of Lenape activity for centuries before the Europeans arrived, continues to play an important role in tribal ceremonies. Michalski, who is a liaison between the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania and the Aquetong Spring Park Advi- sory Committee, blessed the trees on April 19, just prior to the park’s closing for several months of construction. Attending the planting ceremony were members of the Aquetong Spring Park Advisory Committee, Township Manager Dennis Carney (who arranged the logistics) and Peter Schwalm and staff of PLS Landscaping in Solebury. According to the Solebury Township Historical Society, “The spring known as Aquetong by the original inhabitants of the land, the Lenni-Lenape, and known as Ingham Springs by European settlers NANCY STOCK ALLEN is located just off Lower Mountain Road in Solebury Township. The spring water that flows at the rate of 2,000 gallons per NANCY STOCK-ALLEN minute was used to power mills along the Aquetong Creek. In 1870 a dam was Preparing the fertile earth built to create the lake, and now that dam has been removed and the creek will Barbara Bluejay Michalski prepared the earth for planting of an Eastern red cedar tree next to Aquetong Spring. The tree return to its natural, pre-1870 state.” replaces a decayed cedar that had been planted by her grandfather, Chief Whippoorwill, Bill Thompson. New Hope requests parking garage proposals Michael Guarino meeting. They discussed their reser- out what a parking garage is likely River boat the stage vations, citing harsh lighting, size and to cost until we get some design New Hope Borough Council increased traffic. Council members parameters worked out with an ar- for May Day concert passed a motion at its April meet- pointed out that the RFP only asks for chitect who’s also responsive to ing to issue RFPs, or requests for basic design proposals and parameters, other concerns raised by community proposals, for the design of a future not for final project plans. members,” said board member Peter Hundreds of lights will parking garage within the borough. “We cannot do a feasibility study Meyer. “We have made no com- Several community members raised or calculate a return on investment mitments to design or cost figures. brighten the riverside concerns with the motion and with until we know what a parking ga- We’re just looking for an advisor. John Dwyer the parking garage project during the rage is likely to cost. We can’t figure Continued on page C6 May Day, the first day of May, celebrates spring and rebirth. May Day is also International Workers Day. New Hope is a town of artists, whose work is enter- “Super Wawa” opens in Hilltown Township tainment, music, theater and art. The Bucks County Chris Ruvo That prompted some locals to April 22, according to Hilltown Playhouse has seen fit to celebrate spring and rebirth, wonder if the project would ever Township Manager Lorraine Leslie. as well as New Hope’s main industry, “the art of A long-awaited new “Super come to fruition. “The store is open and the gas pumps making art.” Playhouse laborers toil in the field of Wawa” has opened its doors for Those folks got their answer in are up and running,” Leslie said. theater and performance. business in Hilltown. the autumn of 2020 when construc- As part of the project, an older, “The art of making art” is a phrase from ”Putting Challenges stemming from the tion resumed. Despite an especially smaller Wawa at the site was demol- It Together” from Bucks County-connected Stephen COVID-19 pandemic paused con- snowy late January through early ished in order to make way for the Sondheim’s “Sunday in the Park with George” struction on the project at the bus- March, work proceeded at a quick new larger “super” store, which is The Playhouse is bringing a free concert and more tling intersection of Route 113 and enough pace for the convenience approximately 5,600 square feet. to celebrate May Day in style. Broadway actor An- Route 313. destination to open on Thursday, Continued on page C6 drew Polec will sing from a boat on the river in a live riverfront concert. Polec has appeared most recently in a production of “Bat Out of Hell” at New York City Center in its Quakertown chooses Levy for bus transportation Encore Series. He also has been involved in a work- Gary Weckselblatt (RFP), after Levy opted out of its con- the committee’s recommendation. shop on a new Stephen Schwartz (composer of “God- tract last year, Levy and First Student Based on the proposals of the two spell,” “Pippin” and “Wicked”) project with Trevor The Quakertown Community Inc. were selected as finalists by the companies, Levy is expected to cost Nunn as director, called “Warhol on Broadway”). School Board voted unanimously on board’s Transportation Committee $1.23 million less than First Student Polec is the son of former Philadelphia ABC news March 25 to award a five-year trans- of Board President Kaylyn Mitchell, over a five-year period. Prior to the reporter Don Polec. portation services contract – contin- Vice President Ron Jackson, Steaven meeting, First Student offered to re- The free concert will give focus to the many up- gent upon successful contract nego- Klein and Brian Reimers. The Quak- duce its cost by $600,000. That did grades the Playhouse has done to its outside venues tiations – to Levy School Bus Co. ertown Community School District not sway the board. Information can and other facilities. With the return of socially dis- Following a Request For Proposal (QCSD) administration agreed with Continued on page C7 tanced outside dining and drinking, there is a new seasonal menu at The Deck and tweaks to The Court- yard Bar and new landscape lighting. Lower Makefield to seek rebidding on Memorial Park Producing Director Alexander Fraser stated: “The Chris English Township Engineer Andy Pockl Also last Wednesday night, the Playhouse has the most beautiful outdoor setting in said at the April 21 virtual supervi- supervisors moved forward with a the heart of New Hope, and we have used the win- The Lower Makefield Township sors’ meeting that the plan for Memo- planned intersection-traffic signal ter months to make enhancements to our outdoor park that includes the official state rial Park on Woodside Road, home improvement at Big Oak and Make- spaces. We want to create a welcoming atmosphere memorial to victims of the Sept. 11, to the Garden of Reflection Sept. 11 field roads, heard a presentation from Continued on page C7 2001 terrorist attacks is set to receive Memorial, is being scaled back in the Yardley-Makefield Fire Company some major upgrades. hope of reducing the price. Continued on page C7 Bucks County Designer Federal grant will help Chatterbox A2 Crossword C7 House and Gardens to open elevate riverfront homes Op-ed A6,7 Arts C8 Sports B1 Entertainment The 46th Bucks County Designer A $2 million federal grant will keep Calendar B6 C10 House & Gardens, presented by the more Yardley Borough residents out of Village Improvement Association the water. Council President David Bria Police B8 of Doylestown (VIA), opens May 2. announced the award, saying the mon- Dining C2 Real Estate Mearns Mill Manor, 545 Almshouse ey will be used to elevate about eight Business C3 Classified Road, Ivyland, includes more than 20 homes near the Delaware River, to keep Obituaries C4 Homes Section design areas. living spaces out of harm’s way. Page A9 Page B8 Artists of Yardley C8 Classified C6 Page A2 (2) Bucks County Herald April 29, 2021 Activists organize online en,” said one of the event’s lead- ers. “We hope that our event will summit for Women’s help educate the community on History Month what women have accomplished throughout history and what A virtual summit celebrating women continue to accomplish.” Women’s History Month called During the virtual summit, activ- “Passion, Perseverance, and Pow- ists also highlighted current events er: Uplifting Women’s and Girls’ and thoughts about sexism’s effect Voices” took place on March 31. on women’s safety. Specifically, The event was organized by they discussed women who were/ Youth 4 Unity, a student-led are influential in advocating for activist organization, and The women’s rights, the danger of sex- Rainbow Room, a Planned Par- ism, the #MeToo Movement, and enthood program in Doylestown. – as the event was scheduled on The leaders hosted a virtual event Transgender Day of Visibility – that celebrated and recognized the the validity of transgender women. MICHELE HADDON strength and perseverance of all Event speakers discussed the women. hardships and triumphs of being a Earth Day messages “Throughout Women’s Histo- woman. In an open dialogue, com- ry Month, it is important to re- munity members were encouraged Children gather at Burpee Park in Doylestown on April 24 to mark Earth Day.