57 essays, poems, and engaging tales written by fifty-four "characters with character" including artists, news editors, elected officials, restaurateurs, shopkeepers, clergy, students, historians, visitors, and locals with one thing in common...they have all fallen in love with a town called New Hope, Pennsylvania.

Here is your chance to get an insider's view of New Hope. Partake in the history, explore the area's natural beauty, become acquainted with the locals, and discover for yourself why this town holds a special place in so many hearts. When you turn the last page, you will feel as if you have made a host of new friends and that you, too, have become part of the New Hope story.

As one author quipped, "Thanks for embracing me, New Hope-'cause I'm hugging you back with everything I've got." Feel the exuberance and the warmth. Step into the circle. Catch the good vibe in Embraceable You . . . and pass it on!

Embraceable You

We're All Part of the Story New Hope, Pennsylvania

iUniverse, Inc.

Copyright © 2009 Up River Productions, Inc.
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4401-7780-4

Contents

Acknowledgments.......................................................................................xIntroduction GERI DELEVICH...........................................................................xiA Lasting Impression-A Magical Moment with Jack Rosen ALAN FETTERMAN.................................1Whistle-stop Town HEATHER A. CEVASCO.................................................................4What Exactly is New Hope? JANINE WITTE...............................................................6Visions of Our Past WILL RIVINUS.....................................................................12Nature's Peace MCKENZIE RAE..........................................................................16Selma Burke-Rich in Friendship PAUL LICITRA..........................................................8Covering New Hope Becomes a Deeper Pursuit SCOTT EDWARDS.............................................23Townie JOEL E. ROBERTS...............................................................................6A Tribute to Mother (Joe) Cavellucci MARILYN BULLOCK.................................................28The Original Ghost Buster LYNDA JEFFREY PLOTT........................................................30The Inn-Place for Haunters ADIKENT THOMAS JEFFREY....................................................31Curtain Call ADIKENT THOMAS JEFFREY..................................................................33Embrace the Mystery ADELE GAMBLE.....................................................................35Love at First Sight-Thanks, Abbie Hoffman NORMA QUARLES..............................................38Heaven on Earth LORETTA DEGENOVA.....................................................................42Together We Can Make a Difference REVEREND CHARLES J. STEPHENS.......................................44Proud To Represent New Hope CHUCK MCILHINNEY.........................................................47Rainbow Room Does New Hope THE YOUTH OF RAINBOW ROOM.................................................49Welcome to the Big Top, the Greatest Town on Earth SHARYN KEISER.....................................51An Editor's Eye: In New Hope, the Gazette was the People's Paper BRIDGET WINGERT.....................53Haiku NEVIN RAE......................................................................................56Came for the Summer ... Stayed Forever DEE ROSENWALD.................................................58Harley Heaven LANCE SIMMENS..........................................................................60A Little Corner of the World ELIANA YOUNG............................................................62New Hope-Inside and Out ROY ZIEGLER..................................................................65Feels Like Home ANNETTE KATONA ROSENBERG.............................................................67Our New World Camelot BARRY ZIFF.....................................................................70Caring and Charming Rivertown BERNIE O'NEILL.........................................................74The Perfect Blend LOUIS LICITRA......................................................................77Certainly Embraced Me RHEA RAWLEY....................................................................79John Larsen ROBIN LARSEN..............................................................................83Progressing to New Hope HOWARD SAVIN..................................................................86All You Need Is Hope JOHN HENSEL.....................................................................88Embraceable You MATTHEW CASEY........................................................................91An Ideal Town JEN MILLER.............................................................................93I'm Happy Mom ... Believe Me FRANK DELUCA............................................................95My New Life MARIE DELUCA.............................................................................99New Hope's Hopes LUCIANNE DILEO......................................................................101Just Like Paradise DOROTHY GRIDER....................................................................102Remembering the Coffee Houses JON CASE...............................................................107On Being "Mother's" JOE LUCCARO......................................................................112There's No Place Like New Hope PATRICIA CILENTI......................................................115Funky and Fun SERENA WEIL............................................................................117Rearranging My Life JOHN BYERS........................................................................118An Example of Being Earnest SUSAN SANDOR.............................................................123New Hope Shopping DENISE ZIENOWICZ...................................................................125Crystal Palace Magic LYNDA JEFFREY PLOTT.............................................................126A Decade On ... A Decade Off ... A Decade On WENDY GLADSTON..........................................130Welcoming Hope REVEREND GINNY MILES..................................................................132Our Town MATTHEW CASEY...............................................................................135Living the Green Dream HOPE BLAYTHORNE...............................................................137Moving On DOROTHEA HAMMOND...........................................................................139New Hope: Journey's End P. D. CACEK..................................................................143Resurrection Park DANIEL BROOKS......................................................................146It Has a Way of Finding You LAURA SCHROCK............................................................151The Gift That Keeps On Giving CURT PLOTT.............................................................153Nakashima, Knowledge, and New Hope STEPHEN A. GLASSMAN...............................................158Afterword MARILYN CICHOWSKI..........................................................................161About the Editors.....................................................................................162

Chapter One

A Lasting Impression-a Magical Moment with Jack Rosen By Alan Fetterman

In the arena of culturally progressive communities, the Delaware Valley region is highly regarded, and the Delaware River is its meandering stream of strength. In turn, magnificent towns and communities have sprung up on both sides of the river, like cultural blossoms. The town of New Hope is one of them, a vibrant treasure trove brimming with history, cultural diversity, and artistic legacy.

As an insatiable artist, I have created art throughout the region including, of course, in New Hope. But as an artistic loner, I have always kept solitary and isolated in my journey. This changed one day when I was driving through New Hope and thought I saw the renowned photographer Jack Rosen, a magnificent American portrait photographer. I was unsure because we had never met.

The little I knew of Jack was that he was a deliberate, persistent, and committed man who passionately devoted himself to capturing the day-to-day life of human existence in a box of light, so he could present images for others to see and therefore feel. I knew that his work was highly acclaimed and appeared in many publications across the United States.

As I passed by the small caf where he was sitting alone with his own thoughts, I became fairly certain that it was Jack Rosen. I drove on for a short distance, found a spot to park, walked back to say hello and express my admiration for his work-if it was Jack Rosen.

When I arrived at the caf, I had no doubt. I put out my hand and said, "Hi. My name is Alan Fetterman. I wanted to tell you that I respect your work." He looked me dead in the eye, grinned, and squinted as though he snapped a picture with his eyes.

He replied brightly and abruptly, "I know your work, Alan Fetterman! As a matter of fact, I am looking at your shit right now. Oh don't worry, my work is shit and your work is shit because that's what an artist leaves behind."

At first, I was simply floored by the coincidence. What are the chances? There was Jack Rosen, a man I had never met, sitting quietly alone at a table on a side street looking at my work in a book, and I come by as though we had both arranged a meeting that day. Then I thought, "Wow! What a punchy guy to make such a bold and grotty statement about both his work and mine."

I quickly realized the honesty and directness of what he said and appreciated the fact that his thoughts were rich in spirit. I replied, "I like that." We talked a bit about his metaphor and then about how much dedication and commitment it takes to be an artist. We both agreed that it takes all of what one can deliver in order to be true.

After ten or fifteen minutes of conversation, I asked him if I could snap a photo of him sitting just where we met, to remember the moment. He said, "Yes, that's fine." I went to my Jeep, came back, and took the picture of Jack. I said, "Someday I would like to create a painting from the photograph on behalf of this magical moment." I asked if that would be all right with him. He nodded and said, "Yeah, sure. I like that." So the first and only time I met Jack Rosen was in New Hope, when he was sitting alone at an outside table of a little caf looking through a book of my artwork. That experience was both serendipitous and magical. Many months went by while I pondered creating the painting about our chance meeting. Then one day, within a few hours the painting came out. I am not very methodical or premeditative as an artist. I am driven much more by fervor and need. When I complete a painting, I am always astonished because it comes out as such a surprise. For a few minutes, I pondered the fate of this painting and then I put it down.

After several days, I decided to put the painting up for sale and if by chance it sold, I thought it only fair to offer half the money to Jack. It seemed to me that we had been partners in all of this, and I wanted to divide the profits of the sale with him. I called him that day on May 17, 2006, in order to share my thoughts about the painting and what we would do. The phone rang. Someone answered, "Hello." I replied, "Hello, Jack." After a fleeting moment of silence, I heard the words, "No, this is his son Rick. Jack just passed away an hour ago."

In the end, the painting was a gift born from an artistic exchange and the ambient river of life's flow, as well as from the beloved town that the late Jack Rosen called home-New Hope, a vibrant treasure trove, brimming with history, cultural diversity, and artistic legacy.

Whistle-stop Town

By Heather A. Cevasco In Loving Memory of My Father

When I was a very little girl (three- or four-years-old), I remember my father, Ed Cevasco, taking me with him when he went to work at the New Hope & Ivyland Railroad. At the time, I didn't know how much these weekend adventures with my dad would mean to me when I grew older. As a wide-eyed and curious toddler, I was captivated by the mystery and lore of those vintage trains. I loved to watch the fire of the coals burning. I would take a deep breath to smell the diesel, and nothing pleased me more than to hear the long-short-long sound of the train whistle blowing. Even today, many years later, the beautiful and haunting sound of a train whistle takes me back to my childhood days. In my mind's eye, I can still see my dad heading down those tracks.

Before I was born, my father enjoyed his twenty-eighth birthday celebration on board the train. Knowing that my dad had an absolute fascination with trains, my mother planned this trip as a surprise for him. After the round-trip excursion, my dad happened to strike up a conversation with some of the train workers who informed him that there was always a need for volunteers. Well that did it! Without skipping a beat, my father signed up as a volunteer. He joined the crew as a "fireman" shoveling the coal into the steam train. Eventually, he learned all the other skills necessary to run the steam train - good old Engine Number 40 and the diesel engines, too. It did not take long before my dad (the ultimate railroad enthusiast) had worked his way up to become the president of the New Hope Steam Railway.

I spent many of my weekends at the train yard, either working in the gift shop or helping to sell tickets. In those days, the railroad station was my favorite hangout. I loved being there and spending time with my dad. There was nothing he loved better than working at the station, running the locomotives, and chatting with the tourists. When my dad got married for the second time (to my stepmother), it wasn't in a church-no, it was on the train. We all stood at the front end of one of the diesel engines and watched them take their wedding vows. When they were pronounced "Husband and Wife," the train whistled like crazy!

New Hope has always been such an amazing town. As I grew up spending my weekends at the railroad station, I felt so at home and at ease. What an incredible place! In between train trips, I would walk around town popping in and out of my favorite stores such as the Now and Then shop and Love Saves the Day. Many of the shop owners knew me as "the girl from the train." I remember walking around town always feeling happy and safe. A place I frequented quite often was the small snack shop across the street from the railroad station. They had the best hot dogs around. It didn't take long for the weekend crew working on the trains to dub me their official "gofer." At the drop of a hat, I would make a quick run across the street to pick up dozens of hot dogs, chips, and ice cold sodas.

As I grew older, I got interested in acting, and I made my way from the railroad station to the Bucks County Playhouse. This theater has been a landmark in the Bucks County area for many decades. What a privilege it has been for me to work at the Playhouse alongside so many wonderfully talented individuals.

In looking back over the past years of my life, I honestly cannot count the number of times I hopped onboard one of those old New Hope & Ivyland locomotives. I also have no idea of how many acting roles I have assumed or how many stage productions I have attended at the Playhouse.

But I do know that I have countless memories of growing up in this wonderful town of New Hope.

"All Aboard!"

"Break a Leg!"

It doesn't get better than that.

What Exactly is New Hope?

By Janine Witte

A friend of ours once quipped that New Hope is the place where "the black sheep from all families come to stay." It is a haven for those who prefer to color outside the lines-for those whose motto is "live and let live." Residents embrace New Hope's eclectic mix of backgrounds, incomes, and lifestyles, whether they are proud descendents of New Hope's original families, recent transplants, or they wish to escape communities of conformity. We moved to New Hope in 1979. To my delight, I learned that our first house on Mechanic Street was once owned by my childhood hero, Jon Gnagy (the amiable, goateed host of the 1950s "Learn to Draw" TV program). The discovery of one of his art gum erasers hidden in a dark corner of a built-in cabinet was my proudest archeological find.

When we moved to North Main Street a year later, we learned that the canal-side cottage we just bought was once a "party house"-a gift from Mrs. Carson (who owned the riverfront house right across the street) to her husband. She had commissioned a former Frank Lloyd Wright student, Antonin Raymond, in the 1940s to design and build the tiny cottage on the wooded property adjacent to the towpath. Mr. Carson and Albert Einstein both worked in Princeton, New Jersey, and were good friends. As the story goes, Einstein used to stay overnight at the party house and play cards there with Mr. Carson and his other friends. We could only imagine the laughter, cigar smoke, and cold cuts sandwiches that entered the small, paneled rooms of this cottage on Friday nights!

Renowned portrait artist (and inventor of the character "Mr. Clean") Alden Wicks and his wife, Trippy, were the second owners of the cottage. They added another room to accommodate their family, and when they sold it to us, it was described as a house with a lot of "potential." However, it instantly felt like home to us. Over the years, we added more office, kitchen, and bedroom space, and crafted it into the contemporary home where we reside to this day. The creative spirit and inspiration of Einstein and Wicks remain, even though they would not even recognize the fully renovated "cottage." In 1980, Paul and I were married on the back deck of our home-in a secret, spontaneous summer ceremony. Our wedding reception (attended by six people, including the minister and witnesses) was held in the rear garden of Mother's Restaurant, along with the other Friday night dinner customers. We laughed heartily, as our other friends found out one-by-one that we were just married. Some hid in the bushes while we dined and emerged later as their suspicions were confirmed. One person sent Angelo, "the singing telegram," to serenade us during our meal.

As relative newcomers to New Hope, with its inherent small-town charm and vibrant history, we were rapidly seduced by its collective energy and spirit. Art was (and still is) an integral component of New Hope's core appeal, and there were regular gallery shows, which became electrifying community social events. Occasionally, artists and other residents would face unforeseen personal or medical problems. Within weeks, New Hope would rally to sponsor a benefit, auction, or fund-raiser in that person's honor. There were frequent public tributes to community activists who donated their time and services to New Hope's betterment. This was a caring, diverse and intellectually stimulating community. We were comfortable being part of it. We were home.

In the early 1980s, it was not unusual to see a Saturday morning parade on South Main Street-with a Borough Council member riding an elephant (an ironic sight in itself, since this Council member was a die-hard Democrat!) -and the beloved Grand Dame of the drag queens perched on the back of a convertible, doing her pageant wave while dressed as a flamboyant Martha Washington!

Mother's Restaurant was the gathering spot for weekend breakfasts and local chatter. Lines would form long before the doors opened at 9 AM, but there were plenty of distractions to make the time pass, whether it was conversing with fellow breakfast-goers, or salivating at the dessert and deli counter.

Spontaneous parties and gatherings abounded on the streets and in the neighborhoods. One weekend, we gathered on a friend's front stoop and formed a jug-and-washboard band-performing to the astonishment and delight of passersby. One curious pedestrian stopped, removed his trusty ukulele from its case, and joined in the fun! Congenial teens with unusual-colored hair, body piercing, and all-black attire sat and talked for hours on the Methodist church steps, generating astonished expressions from weekend tourists walking by. Artists, business owners, and other residents congregated at the sidewalk cafs and ice cream parlors-expressing opinions about politics and current events (two thousand residents with two thousand different opinions) or relaying humorous anecdotes. We used to joke that it would take forty-five minutes to walk the half mile from our house to the traffic light in town because there were so many friendly, talkative people all along the way.

As the 1990s emerged, New Hope became a poignant force in our lives. A local friend and microbiologist, Dr. Timothy Block, approached us with the story of a mutual friend whose child was diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B. We had never heard of the hepatitis B virus (HBV), and we questioned Tim's reasoning for approaching us specifically. Tim had just returned from a consultation with Oxford University professor and Nobel Laureate, Baruch Blumberg, who discovered the hepatitis B virus and was part of the team who developed the first HBV vaccine. With Dr. Blumberg's encouragement, Tim believed that we could help in some way, by starting a foundation devoted to creating awareness of HBV, with a primary objective of eventually discovering a cure for those who were chronically infected (hundreds of millions of victims worldwide).

Having since become accustomed to the idealism and spontaneity of New Hope happenings from the past, we did not flinch. Instead, we jumped right in and launched the Hepatitis B Foundation (HBF), along with Tim Block and his wife Joan. Paul designed the logo. We created flyers and literature, the first of which was our periodic newsletter, "B-Informed," under the direction of Jamie Fox. Interested New Hope residents attended our first organizational meeting, and our small ad hoc group chose me as its first president for a three-year term. With that came months of work, filing legal papers, registering as a tax-exempt organization, and acting as liaison with the IRS. Our new members became activists-writing letters, recruiting board members, and garnering support for our cause. Tim switched his focus from herpes research to HBV research and advocacy, and Joan emerged as a professional public speaker and the masterful editor of the HBF's award-winning, multilanguage website www.hepb.org. We could not have done this without the initial outpouring of support we received from the people of New Hope when the Foundation formed in February of 1991.

(Continues...)

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