Renovation Is Underway at Frenchtown Bookshop
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The arts are alive in Bucks County Pages C-8 to C14 February 25, 2021 40 pages, four sections including Homes Donors came through A3 Volume 19 www.buckscountyherald.com Number 21 [email protected] Renovation is underway at Frenchtown Bookshop A groundbreaking ceremony celebrated the start of renovations for the new Frenchtown Bookshop and Cafe in the former Book Gar- den building, an 1860s Victorian mansion on Bridge Street in Frenchtown, N.J. The store is scheduled to open this spring, af- ter structural renovations that include removal of interior walls to create a single large retail space and the installation of a large bay shop window for streetside browsing. The architect is Michael Margulies of Eclectic Architecture, who oversaw the historically-sensitive renovations of the classic storefront buildings on Frenchtown’s Race Street. The store will sell new books for adults and children and related toys and gifts. A cafe, serving traditionally-brewed tea and coffee, with seating will take advantage of the build- ing’s porches. The owners, husband and wife Scott Shel- don and Barbara de Wilde of Uhlerstown, plan JESSICA LASCELLES to sell worthwhile books, carefully chosen to Frenchtown, N.J. celebrated the groundbreaking for renovations to its new book store by tossing colorful paper strips across inspire curiosity, connection, and compassion, the entrance. The shop, in the former Book Garden’s building, will open this spring. with a special emphasis on the art, literature, and natural setting of the Delaware River Towns. They will schedule a wide range of readings, concerts, book clubs, and hands-on Community feedback sought in Stockton, N.J. workshops to build on Frenchtown’s vibrant community. Special purchasing programs will be available for schools and schoolteachers. Historic inn would be expanded, guest rooms and amphitheater added The opening of the bookshop will coincide Jodi Spiegel Arthur According to the borough’s with the opening of the new ArtYard, the arts website, the building was “es- center being developed two blocks away. The family that hopes to tablished in 1710” first as a pri- reopen the Stockton Inn and vate residence, and “is believed add an amphitheater and well- to have been converted to an ness center to the property has inn around 1832.” The now Delaware Canal asked Stockton Borough to shuttered inn, once a stage- consider redevelopment as a coach stop, attracted New York 21 announces new planning tool for the site and celebrities during its heyday has expressed a desire to meet in the 1930s and ‘40s. It has with members of the commu- been memorialized in a song, board chairman nity to discuss their concerns “There’s a Small Hotel (with a At its January annual meeting, the Board of regarding the proposed project. wishing well),” with music by Directors of Delaware Canal 21 elected Rich- Avon Road Partners has a Richard Rodgers. ard Henriques of Brownsburg to be its new contingent agreement to pur- The family’s plan calls for chairman of the board, replacing co-founder of chase the inn, a historic icon at revitalizing the inn’s restau- the organization, Allen Black of Point Pleasant. the end of Bridge Street, visi- rant and guest rooms, and Black was elected to the newly created posi- ble to those crossing the Del- adding a new approximately tion of chairman emeritus. Black had request- Avon Road Partners seeks to redevelop The Stockton Inn and aware from Centre Bridge in 20,000-square-foot, three-story ed the change in status, having led the relative- surrounding property. Bucks County. Continued on page C6 ly new nonprofit since its inception in 2012. “Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere,” Black said. “I expect to remain quite active in Delaware Canal 21 and its efforts to save the Landmark Hospitality buys New Hope’s Landing Delaware Canal from extinction through de- ferred maintenance.” Ownership an addition to several dining and lodging establishments Henriques is a senior fellow at the Center for High Impact Philanthropy at the University of Freda R. Savana “It’s been my life,” said Chris Bollen- Plans call for the adjacent Fred’s Pennsylvania. Prior to his appointment at Penn, bacher, who opened the restaurant when Breakfast Club building to be razed and he served as the CFO of the Bill and Melinda For almost half a century, The Landing he was 22. “I’ll miss it and I’m thankful replaced with a two-story, 44-room “bou- Gates Foundation in Seattle, and prior to that, restaurant and bar along the Delaware to everyone who supported us. It’s a won- tique hotel,” Cretella said. The club’s Dick was the senior vice president of finance River in New Hope has been a beloved derful town.” 1,400 members will be welcomed into the and corporate controller at Merck & Co. part of the community. With its scenic The Cretellas plan to reopen the busi- newly designed Landing, he noted, where Henriques said he is honored and humbled to views and flair for friendliness, crowds of ness, which has been closed since No- breakfast will be served for hotel guests follow Black and to help advance the group’s locals and tourists flocked to the unique vember due to the pandemic, in April and and the larger community. mission to sustainably water the 60 miles of the spot. operate it much as before until the fall, All the plans are preliminary and no Delaware Canal. It should be known, he con- Owners Chris and Denise Bollenbach- when sweeping renovations will begin, formal hearings have begun. Informal tinued, that in the words of an avid supporter, er announced last week that they’ve sold said Frank Cretella. All The Landing’s meetings with borough officials, Cretella Black remains “Inspirer-in-Chief.” their riverfront business to Landmark staff has been offered jobs with the new said, have found support. Hospitality’s Frank and Jeanne Cretella. business, he said. Conti\nued on page C6 Continued on page C6 Riegelsville and Ottsville fire companies to merge Response to shortage of volunteers, diminishing fundraising opportunities Shamrock Count Cliff Lebowitz formalization of the change, targeting the uary Nockamixon supervisors’ meeting, is back for 2021 beginning of next year for moving for- Shick noted a membership challenge of In response to funding limitations and ward as a new entity. 50% of the volunteers being over 45 years It’s time again for the Herald’s annu- al “Count the Shamrocks” contest. other serious challenges, the Riegelsville The Riegelsville entity, a full-service of age, and less than 15% 22 and younger, To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on Community Fire Company and the Otts- engine and rescue company, was estab- suggesting a shortage down the road. He March 17, shamrocks will be hidden in ville Volunteer Fire Company are going lished in 1898 and serves the Borough also noted response to his company’s an- photographs next week in the Herald. to consolidate into a single entity. of Riegelsville, as well as Durham and nual fundraising drive at that time, which Readers can count the shamrocks to The announcement was made by Otts- Nockamixon townships. The Ottsville en- had always been less than hoped for, as be eligible for a raffle of prizes donated ville’s Fire Chief Bill Shick at the Feb. 18 tity, established in 1940, also full-service downWith from volunteer 26% to time 18%. increasingly need- Nockamixon Township public board of engine and rescue, serves both Nocka- by local businesses: ed for training, maintenance, and equip- Be sure to look for the shamrocks supervisors meeting. mixon and Tinicum townships, and also ment, members no longer had time for next week, March 4. Shick said both companies had voted serves parts of Bedminster and Haycock fundraising, he said. Since that presen- to consolidate, and that they were hiring townships. a consulting company to prepare a draft In an in-depth presentation at the Jan- Continued on page C7 Lower Bucks Hospital administers Municipalities’ state police fees Chatterbox A2 Crossword C7 coronavirus vaccine may rise in 2021 Op-ed A6,7 Arts C8-14 Police A13 Lower Bucks Hospital in Bristol held its Springfield residents will be coughing up Sports B1 first COVID-19 vaccine clinic Tuesday, for more for police coverage if the governor’s Entertainment B6 Real Estate police fees proposal becomes reality. Taxpay- members of the public who met the 1A crite- Dining C2 Classified ria. The event was historic for the hospital as ers fund the four-man police force, but each it administered the Pfizer vaccine to commu- would pay an additional $8.69 annual fee for Business C3 Homes nity members. Register at buckscovid.pow- state police coverage. The township relies on Obituaries C4 Section erappsportals.usVaccine-Registration. state police to cover the overnight shift. Classified C6 Page A5 Page A9 January Light C11 Page A2 (2) Bucks County Herald February 25, 2021 CB East educator Library of Congress and its TPS Reines is a board-certified physi- awareness of the need for loving formance. She involved musical partners. Upon the guides’ comple- cian, pharmaceutical research scien- homes for youth in the community. coaches and teachers in online in- named contributing tion, NHD will distribute the series tist and executive. He served in lead- structional sessions. teacher for Library online. ership roles at Johnson & Johnson In recent months she directed The cohort of 15 teachers will and Merck Laboratories, and cur- Bucks Country occasional outdoor meetings while of Congress begin its work with National His- rently consults with a variety of bio- Gentlemen give award maintaining safe COVID-19 prac- National History Day (NHD) has tory Day and Library of Congress tech, pharmaceutical, and venture to musical director tices.