Thank You So Much!
The New Year is off to a great start thanks to all of you who so generously responded to the Friends’ Year-End Appeal. We asked you to help us do more in 2015, and you did just that. Your contributions have certainly helped to replenish the Canal Improvement Fund.
The Friends are very grateful to Greg DiNardo, President of Bi-State Construction Company, for contributing half of the cost of the additional work that was required to correctly complete the timber sill replacement project at Locks 15/16 in Smithtown. The masons did an exemplary job of removing rotted wood, replacing wood, repositioning and replacing stone – all done at the bottom of the 20-foot-deep lock chamber. The Friends were literally able to keep the walls from tumbling down at Locks 15/16 and Lock 18 in Uhlerstown by funding the replacement of deteriorating timber sills. By utilizing contributions, the Friends were able to pay $57,751 for these painstaking projects. Mr. DiNardo donated $7,655 of his company’s services.
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Getting Together for the 32nd Time
Even if the By-laws didn’t require it, the Friends would want to have an Annual Meeting. It’s such a good opportunity to meet fellow members, try the many wonderful “covered dishes”, and learn what’s been happening and what’s in store for the Canal and our organization.
The Friends’ 32nd Annual Meeting and Covered Dish Dinner was held on November 11 with more than 70 people in attendance at the Audubon Barn in Solebury Township. Our special guests for the evening were David Kemmerer, the Director of DCNR’s Bureau of State Parks; John Hallas, Assistant Director of the Bureau of State Parks; and Rick Dalton, Delaware Canal State Park Manager.
Following the covered dish dinner, which was particularly appetizing this year, Friends’ President Brett Webber opened the meeting. He presented an illustrated summary of the year’s activities and thanked outgoing Board member Greg Taylor for his valued service.
Peter Sperry gave a summary of the Friends’ financial condition, including details about the expenditure of Canal Improvement funds.
The Nominating Committee presented the slate of candidates for positions on the Board of Directors. Pam Can and David Schaeffer were elected to two-year terms; and Judith Franlin, Joan Fullerton, Stephanie Garomon, and Lynn Vogel were re-elected to additional two-year terms.
Outstanding volunteer efforts were also recognized. The local group, New Hope for Our Canal, was commended for its enthusiastic campaign to improve the appearance and functionality of the Canal in the New Hope area. Working in partnership with the Friends, they raised over $43,000, which has been used to pay the electricity bills for the pump that provides river water for the 3.4 mile section of the Canal from Centre Bridge to Lock 11. The funds also have allowed two historic stone walls to be repaired and invasive vegetation to be removed.
Veteran Canal Walker Jack Merkl was awarded with a new book to read. Jack watches over the walkers on the Friends’ annual 58.9 mile Canal Walk. In his car, he follows them along the route over the five successive Saturdays. He transports the lunches and anyone who wants or has to return to his/her car. He is also master of the game, “Where’s Jack?”, the Canal Walk version of “Where’s Waldo?”. Who knew that there were so many places to hide along the Canal. When he is found by the walkers, he always has a mystery in hand, so his present of the latest John Grisham novel was right on target.
Following the presentations our State park guests were introduced. David Kemmerer gave an encouraging update about the state of Pennsylvania’s State Parks, especially the Delaware Canal, which received additional funding to take care of some of the maintenance backlog, particularly bridge and culvert repairs and replacements. The effects of the incoming administration of Governor-elect Tom Wolf are still to be determined. The Friends’ membership expressed its hope that DCNR Secretary Ellen Ferretti would be allowed to retain her position.
The evening closed with hopes for even more progress.
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Close, but not Quite Covered
Last fall several more sections of the Canal were adopted by Canal Tenders. The goal of having complete coverage for the entire 58.9 miles is closer to fulfillment.
Janice Armstrong and Stephen Schlosser are taking care of the Berm Lane to Lock 19 section in Upper Black Eddy.
Jose Acevedo moved from informal caretaking to becoming the Canal Tender for the Lagoon Park to Beaver Street section in Bristol Borough.
Thank you to our new volunteers and all the other Canal Tenders who are at work all year long!
There are still some sections that need to be adopted.
The section of the canal north and south of Mill Creek Road in Falls Township is in need of a Tender because of the unexpected death of Kip Mitman. Kip lovingly cared for the Canal for many years. He worked in his neighborhood incessantly, but also turned out for projects all along the Canal, including last summer’s eradication of cattails in New Hope. He did everything from picking up trash, to cutting brush with his machete, to rescuing fish. We and the Canal will sorely miss him.
Other sections that haven’t been adopted are:
- Levittown Shopping Center (the Home Depot end) to the Ramada Inn
- Green Lane to the Lagoon Park in Bristol Borough
- Beaver Street to Riverfront Park in Bristol Borough
Please let us know if you can help close these gaps.
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Welcome, New Friends
1740 House
James Alden
Elaine Barkan
Linda Dimario
Mary Ditzler
Jean & Ken Holland
Holly Hedge Estate
Will Krohn
Dr. Howard Lee
Michael Lemme & Paul Bressi
C.J. Lonoff
Patricia Maguire
Bill Mathis
Barry Mazer
Michael McCullough
Kathleen Meier & David Perry
Mr. and Mrs. Craig Miller
Kent Milstead
Mueller’s General Store and Kitchen
Sandra Myerson
Caroline Oakes & Reid McCarthy
Pauline & Faelton Perkins
Melissa Rider
Cynthia Schaffer
Pearl Schaffer
Ronald Sheetz
Dr. and Mrs. David Svahn
Thomas Tighue
Lorraine Tucker
Dr. and Mrs. Harlan Weisman
Marnie and Jan Yunger
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Our Business and Institutional Members
Learn more about these Friends by clicking on their links here.
Founder
Golden Pheasant Inn, Erwinna
Tinicum Civic Association
Benefactor
Rockwood Wealth Management, New Hope
Walter’s Nursery, Inc., Point Pleasant
Patron
1740 House, Lumberville – NEW Member
Acadia Mortgage, LLC, New Britain
The Boat House, Lambertville
Brett Webber Architects. P.C., Philadelphia and Erwinna
Donnelly Marketing Services Associates, LLC
Ellenoff, Underwood & Norman, Doylestown
First Savings Bank of Perkasie
Holly Hedge Estate, New Hope – NEW Member
Newman & Company, Inc., Philadelphia
Newtown Bicycle and Fitness
Odell Painting, LLC, Ottsville
The River House at Odette’s, New Hope
The Thompson Organization, Doylestown
William B. Parry & Son, Ltd., Langhorne
Member
Ahlum Gallery, Riegelsville
Appalachian Mountain Club, Delaware Valley Chapter
Borough of Morrisville
Bucks County Riverboat & Trolley Companies, Upper Black Eddy
Cramer Bakery, Yardley
Dilly’s Corner, Centre Bridge
Edgar H. Denson, Post #79 American Legion, New Hope
First National Bank & Trust Company of Newtown
First Savings Insurance, New Britain
T. Foster & Co., Inc., Yardley
Fox Chase Bank, Lahaska
Gratz Gallery & Conservation Studio, New Hope
The Grundy Commons, Bristol
Hobensack & Keller, Inc., New Hope
Homestead General Store & Coffee Roasters, Upper Black Eddy
La Chele Medical Aesthetics, New Hope
Leisure Craft, Warrington
Liberty Bell Wanderers, Philadelphia
Logan Inn, New Hope
McCaffrey’s Markets, Yardley
Mueller’s General Store & Kitchen – Easton – NEW Member
NAM Planning & Design, LLC, Lumberville
John Paton, Inc., Doylestown
Peddler’s Village, Lahaska
Pete’s Bike & Fitness Shoppe, Flemington, NJ
Porches Bed & Breakfast, New Hope
River Road Business Alliance, Erwinna
Sand Castle Winery, Erwinna
Shearer Penn Corp., Trenton, NJ
The Stephan House Inn, New Hope
Tinsman Bros., Inc., Lumberville
Univest National Bank & Trust Co.
The UPS Store, New Hope
Yardley Borough
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Canal Tenders at Work
The Delaware Canal is a cleaner, more pleasant place to visit thanks to all the people who have volunteered to be Canal Tenders. They are vigilant year-round. They pick up trash, clear away limbs, report problems, and care in every way for the sections of the Canal that they have adopted.
To find out more about becoming a Canal Tender, visit the Get Involved page at www.fodc.org or call 215-862-2021. It would be wonderful to have a full complement of Tenders this summer.
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Help Wanted
Much of the work of the Friends gets done within the structure of five committees.
- The Advocacy, Restoration and Maintenance Committee deals with the bricks and mortar projects, clean-ups, nudging, planning, etc.
- The Education and Recreation Committee delves into programs, signage, exhibits, etc.
- The Membership Committee builds the organization.
- The Fundraising Committee sustains the organization through fundraising and volunteerism.
- The Finance Committee make sure that the bills get paid and the future of the organization is ensured.
The Board of Directors would very much like to have assistance, guidance, and insights from Friends’ members. Please consider joining a committee or helping out with specific tasks of interest to you. For more information, call 215-862-2021 or e-mail friends@fodc.org.
