'First Fridays' start this week in Hopewell.
By Ruth Luse, Editor Emeritus
May’s first weekend brings more 125th anniversary celebration events in Hopewell Borough.
The first Cruise night of the season is set for Friday, May 6. For information, see hopewellcruisenight.com/.
In addition, that night will feature the first of what planners hope will be the beginning of a “First Fridays” tradition for the Hopewell business community.
Lisa Sprague and Ryan Kennedy, members of the Hopewell Economic Development Committee and the 125th Anniversary Committee, have partnered to create this initiative to promote local businesses in the borough.
Participating businesses will display window clings to let people know they will stay open late on the first Friday of the month. The plan is to host this event monthly through October.
“We hope people will stroll the streets of Hopewell, be tempted to wander into the local businesses and shop, visit local art galleries, and then stay to dine in one of our wonderful local restaurants,” said a spokesman.
The window clings were created and donated by Lisa and Mark Hewell, owners of SpeedPro, and the design was created by another volunteer, Janice Schroeder.
Participating businesses include: Ebb, sticks and stones, twine. Sophia Rose Designs, Beth Ann Designs, Morpeth Contemporary Gallery, Hopewell Antique Shop, Mahbubeh’s Antiques, The Bear & the Books, Seeds to Sew and A Step in Stone.
On Saturday, May 7, the inaugural Handmade Hopewell Makers Street Fair will take place on Seminary Avenue from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Borough shop owners Beth Judge, of Beth Ann Designs, and Jennifer Ghannam, of sticks and stones toy shop, are the organizers of Handmade Hopewell.
“The event was conceived as a way to share both their love of their town and handmade things with a broader audience,” said a spokesman.
The event is free and will take place rain or shine.
For information and continuous updates, visit http://www.HandmadeHopewell.com or visit the Facebook page, Handmade Hopewell.
