Fame Touches the Walls of Hotel Fauchere

On a beautiful afternoon that brought out the charm of the town of Milford, PA, the Hotel Fauchère held a special celebratory reception on Sunday June 7^th to honor those who have been recently chosen to be inducted onto their Wall of Fame. This prestigious honor is primarily bestowed upon the hotel’s former guests along with some noteworthy individuals who have either visited or have taken up residence in the area. Theses individuals have included Silent Film Star Mary Pickford and former President William “Bill” Clinton.

The considerable accomplishments of the current inductees have not only received local, national, and international accolades for their creative achievements, but their endeavors have touched the lives of those who have experienced them. Their names and their contributions to better the world through their art were announced by The Hotel Fauchère co-owner Sean O'Brien Strub upon which the veil concealing their photograph was lifted and each recipient who were present came forward to share their words of appreciation. They were:

Jimmy Sheehan who is an artist whose work combines elements of gestural abstraction, drawing, and iconography which are considered simultaneously epic and intimate. He currently lives in Godeffroy, NY, where he is an art director and designer. He also has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions in New York City and elsewhere. Mr. Sheehan has recently been the subject of a documentary film titled, “Trusting the Struggle” which was produced and directed by Libba Marrian. You can learn more about Jimmy Sheehan and his work by exploring his Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/jimmysheehanart or his Website at www.jimmysheehan.com.

Barbara De Vries who is a designer of clothing, jewelry, and other accessories that enhance the human form through their adornments. She began her advocation by making clothes for herself, along with creating designs in jewelry for her friends, while living in her native city of Amsterdam which is the capital the Kingdom of the Netherlands. She later became a model and did shows for Yves Saint Laurent while living in Paris, France and appeared on the cover of Cosmopolitan (aka Cosmo) Magazine. After Ms. De Vries served as Sr. design director for Calvin Klein, she found plastic on the beach on an island in the Bahamas called, “Eleuthera” from which she made jewelry and founded Plastic is Forever. Ms. De Vries currently lives in Miami, FL where she spends her time designing, working as anti beach plastic pollution activist, and teaching beach plastic workshops locally and in the Bahamas. You can learn more about Barbara De Vries and her work by exploring her Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/pages/Plastic-is-Forever-by-Barbara-de-Vries/117262538299908 or her Website at www.plasticisforever.net.

Ronny Whyte who is an accomplished Jazz singer and pianist has been featured on Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz on National Public Radio and received the ASCAP Award for his lyrics to the song, “Forget the Woman” which was recorded by Tony Bennett and his music for “The Party Upstairs” which won the MAC Award for Best Song of 2006. Mr. Whyte has performed at The Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York’s Town Hall, Washington’s Corcoran Gallery, and the Mellon Jazz Festival in Philadelphia, PA. Mr. Whyte currently produces and hosts a weekly jazz concert series titled, “Midtown Jazz at Midday” at St. Peter’s in Manhattan, NY. Mr. Whyte divides his time journeying between the New York area and his house in Milford, PA where he enjoys being an avid tennis player, skier, gardener, and gourmet cook. You can learn more about Ronny Whyte and his work by exploring his Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/pages/Ronny-Whyte/222077051190627 or his Website at www.ronnywhyte.com.

David Lender who is an author of thrillers draws upon his experience as a former investment banker who worked in mergers and acquisitions for Merrill Lynch, Rothschild, and Bank of America to create six novels, six short stories, and novellas. He is also well known for his Sasha Del Mira Thrillers and White Collar Crime Thrillers Series. Mr. Lender lives in northern New Jersey with his family and a pit-bull named “Styles.” You can learn more about David Lender and his work by exploring his Website at www.davidlender.net.

Martha Lorin who is a Jazz singer whose debut LP titled, “The Best is Yet to Come” featured jazz icons Pee Wee Ellis, Larry Klein, Mark Isham, and others led her to tour throughout the US, Asia, and Europe. She later began a collaboration as lyricist with pianist/composer Frank Collette that resulted in several Billboard Award winning songs. Ms. Lorin has performed at The Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall, The Iridium Jazz Club, South Bend Jazz Festival, Trio's Jazz Club, Pearl's, Feinstein's at the Regency, Judy's, 88's, Metropolitan Room, Green Mill, Catch 35, Bailiwick Theater, The Milford Theater, The Gardenia, and others as well as recording large number of CDs. Ms. Lorin lives in Milford, PA and more information about her and her music can be found by exploring her website at www.marthalorin.com.

Robert La Fosse is a dancer who joined The American Ballet Theatre in 1977 and was invited by Jerome Robbins to join The New York City Ballet as a Principal Dancer in 1986. In addition to his work in classical ballet, Mr. La Fosse has also starred in Broadway productions such as Bob Fosse’s “Dancin'” and Jerome Robbins’ “Broadway” for which he received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor. In addition to performing, Mr. La Fosse is also a choreographer whose works include “Rappacini's Daughter” which was created for Mikhail Baryshnikov. Mr. La Fosse has written an autobiography titled, “Nothing to Hide.” You can learn more about Robert La Fosse by exploring the website at www.dance.barnard.edu/profiles/robert-lafosse.

Those inductees who were not present for the adfternoon were Christopher Makos www.makostudio.com and Paul Solberg www.paulsolberg.com who are photographers along with Ron Kuby www.kubylaw.com who is a civil rights attorney and radio host as well as Bob Guccione, Jr. who is the eldest son of Penthouse founder Bob Guccione and is best known for founding music magazine titled, “Spin.” Their absence didn't diminish the contributions they made to the arts and the community as those who knew them shared stories filled with a plentiful amount of accolades through. These conversations allowed these inductees to be truly present in spirit. The images of those inducted onto The Hotel Fauchère Wall of Game will be on display in the stairwell between the first floor and the Bar Louis level of the establishment. You’ll be able to see more photographs taken during the ceremony and reception in The Fame Touches the Walls of Hotel Fauchere Gallery at www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153927779913761.1073741857.91146283760&type=1.

The Hotel Fauchère in Milford, PA was build by Louis Fauchère who was born in 1823 in Vevey, Switzerland. He immigrated to the U. S, in 1851 where he found employment as a Master Chef at New York’s famous Delmonico’s Restaurant. He moved permanently to Milford, PA in 1867 and purchased a small saloon known as the “Van Gorden and La Bar” (which had previously been known as “The French Hotel”). Louis Fauchère became known as “the crazy Frenchman” by his neighbors and began expanding the Van Gorden and La Bar in the late 1870’s until it became The Hotel Fauchère that is known today. Louis Fauchère died on September 11, 1893 and the hotel remained in the family until it was sold in 1976.

The Hotel Fauchère in Milford, PA is currently owned by Sean O'Brien Strub and Richard L. Snyder. In addition to owning The Hotel Fauchère, Sean O'Brien Strub serves as the director of The Sero Project www.facebook.com/TheSeroProject which is a national network of people with HIV and is known for seeking a seat in the U. S. House of Representatives as the first openly HIV+ candidate. Besides owning The Hotel Fauchère, Richard L. Snyder is also owner of Snyder Quality Llamas www.snyderqualityllamas.com and has served on the Board of Pinchot Institute for Conservation and as vice-president of the Historic Preservation Trust of Pike County.

The Hotel Fauchère offers its overnight guests rooms whose amenities include flat-screen TV with cable, iPod docking stations, Frette linens, Kiehl's bath amenities, radiant heated bathroom floors, and warming towel racks along with complimentary wireless and hard-wired internet access. The Hotel Fauchère also offers fine dining facilities in its Delmonico Room and Bar Louis. You can learn more about The Hotel Fauchère and all it has to offer by exploring their Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/hotel.fauchere.milfordpa.

Photography by Paparazzi Paul.