It is with shock and profound sadness that New Hope Borough Council mourns the loss of its Vice President, Laurie McHugh. Laurie died last week in a car accident. She was 58.
An active member of the community, Laurie was first elected to Council beginning in 2016 and quickly earned a reputation as a thoughtful, fair, and professional representative of New Hope’s diverse residents and businesses.
In addition to her role as Council Vice President, Laurie served as Council Liaison to the Shade Tree Commission and Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce, helped form the Borough’s first Junior Council, and served on the ad hoc committees overseeing the Visitor Center and reviewing the Borough’s parking needs.
During the pandemic, Laurie took the lead in helping our restaurants and boutiques find innovative ways of operating during Covid restrictions and ensuring that residents and visitors knew that New Hope was open for “contactless” business.
Laurie came to the Borough after a long career in international real estate investment. She was the cofounder of the Bucks County Dragon Boat Association, an internationally competitive organization dedicated to creating a welcoming and inclusive experience.
Just this year, Laurie’s latest project, Union Chill in Lambertville, opened its doors as the city’s first authorized craft cannabis dispensary. Laurie’s vision for this women-owned business centered on community integrity, social responsibility and economic success.
Memorial arrangements will be announced in the comings weeks.