Newtown, PA April 2024

Invest Patiently In Life

ENTERTAINMENT

DIVE INTO OUTDOOR DINING

HOME + DESIGN

SPRUCE UP HOME INTERIORS

HEALTH + WELLNESS

DEDICATE TO HEALTHY WEIGHT

Steeping Our Lives

Investment by definition is the act of devoting time, effort, energy or finances to a particular undertaking with the expectation of a worthwhile result. We can invest in a lot of things such as our community, our relationships, our finances and our health with the hope that the effort will have a positive impact. We can invest in our community by supporting our local businesses, schools and local organizations. We can serve the community through volunteerism and investment in future generations.

On a larger scale, we can participate in public surveys and stay educated and involved with future city planning. Investing in our finances helps create wealth, meets long-term financial goals and secures our retirement. On a personal level, we can invest in our families and enrich relationships by giving time and effort to the people in our lives that mean the most to us. This type of investment has the most meaningful impact to not only ourselves but to the people closest to us.

One recent way to have "invested" in a local group was to vote for Washington Crossing Historic Park’s Brewfest to support its nomination in the 2024 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice travel awards. For this designation, a panel of beer experts was asked to nominate their 20 favorite beer festivals across the country, and our local Brewfest made the cut. Voting is now closed.

If you're seeking to invest in self-care, please review the article we have in this edition on page 18 regarding a local weight management program. Consultations with Dr. Meg at The Well Lounge are open to anyone looking for support in overcoming their weight loss struggles. One does not need to be a Well member to schedule a consultation with her.

While investing in ourselves, relationships, community and finances can look very different from person to person, the effort we put into these areas of our lives are done with the common goal of having a positive impact that yields results. In this edition, we wanted to share some of the ways that we can invest in our community and with those that we love.

DANA WEISSENBERG, PUBLISHER @NEWTOWNCITYLIFESTYLE

Dana Weissenberg

Dana.Weissenberg@citylifestyle.com

Julie Brown Patton | julie.patton@citylifestyle.com

Catrina Tier | catrina.tier@citylifestyle.com

Brian Wagner

John Fiduccia, Julie Brown Patton, Lori Hawkins

Lynn Goodwin, Debra Porter, Marie Schrier, Bartholomew Studios

Considering buying, selling or investing in real

city scene

1: Matt Peters garnered Newtown Business Association's Distinguished Service Award. 2: Priya Trivedi received Newtown Business Association's Humanitarian Award. 3: Newtown Business Association's President's Award went to Steve Sabel. 4: NBA's Unsung Hero Award presented posthumously to Riki Brennan, Newtown Veterinary Hospital's former office manager. 5: Thanks to local business owners and managers for sponsoring Newtown Business Association's special award designations. 6: Welcome, Officer Kallie Kohnow to Newtown Borough Police. She's a 2020 Pennsbury High School graduate. 7: It's so inspiring to see local horses enjoying themselves in free-spirited ways.

CITY SCENE

LYNN GOODWIN

LYNN GOODWIN

LYNN GOODWIN

PROVIDED BY OFFICER KALLIE KOHNOW

BRIAN WAGNER / BWAGS PHOTOGRAPHY

LYNN GOODWIN

LYNN GOODWIN

8-17: Newtown City Lifestyle recently hosted a customized women’s wellness event at barre3. Expert guest speakers were: Victoria Petty, M.D.; Jennifer Perna, P.T., D.P.T., O.C.S.; Jennifer Smith Grozalis, D.C.; and Kelly Jones, M.S., R.D., C.S.S.D., L.D.N. Medical and wellness topics were addressed, such as age-associated nutrition, gynecological and hormonal questions, swifter recovery from conditions and injuries, and physiological components of female wellness. Healthy food options and vendors also were available at the event.

Photography by Brian Wagner

18: Newtown Rotary Club members recently hosted a Casino fundraiser that amassed $22,000 with 170 attendees. 19: Newtown Rotarian President Mick Petrucci proposed helping Chandler Hall, a nonprofit senior community in Newtown. 20: Congressman Fitzpatrick (far right) recognized Newtown Rotary Club/Chandler Hall. Rotarian District Governor 7430 Diane Donaher (flag) on-hand. 21: All proceeds from the Rotary's Casino night benefited Chandler Hill's hospice and memory care services.

DEBRA PORTER

DEBRA PORTER

DEBRA PORTER

DEBRA PORTER

Capital Health Newtown Honored As NBA Business Of The Year

Capital Health received the Newtown Business Association's "Business Of The Year" award for 2023. "Capital Health has stepped up and become a major supporter of our events the past few years, including as a major sponsor of Welcome Day. And each year they asked how they can get more involved," says Dave Marcolla, NBA president. "They have also been helpful to us in providing speakers for our meetings. We felt they deserved this recognition."

13th Annual Washington Crossing Brewfest Tickets On Sale

At press time, early bird tickets were on sale for the Washington Crossing Brewfest scheduled for May 4 from 12:30-4:30 p.m. General admission tickets are $55; a limited number of $17.76 designated driver tickets exists. For groups, tickets can be bought in person at the Washington Crossing Visitor Center until April 15. This year, organizers indicate the IPA selection was expanded. The event is expected to sell out. Email info@washingtoncrossingpark.org with questions.

Grant Received For Pedestrian Safety Improvements

Newtown Township officials were  awarded a $326,931 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to install pedestrian improvements at two unsignaled intersections in the township: North Sycamore Street and Silo Drive, and at a mid-block crossing at Tara Boulevard and the Newtown-Yardley Road. The grant funding reportedly will be used to install overhead and postmounted rapid flashing beacons, federally compliant signage, pedestrian push buttons and high-visibility crosswalks. Residents lobbied for safety improvements since 2022.

Want to be featured?

Photography Courtesy of Washington Crossing Brewfest Scan to read more

50th Anniversary: NOVA Gala “A Starlit Evening”

On April 19

NOVA supporters will host A Starlit Evening, a black-tie optional gala on April 19 from 6-10 p.m. at a new location: Spring Mill Manor, 171 Jacksonville Road in Ivyland. The gala will raise funds to support NOVA’s free and confidential victim services for children and adults and the continuum of violence prevention programs that NOVA brings to the community each year. To purchase tickets, make a donation, or receive more information, visit NOVABucks.org/a-starlitevening. Guest speaker is Karen Gross.

Photography provided by NOVA

Welcome Back, Outdoor Dining Experiences

Erini Restaurant Spring Ambiance And Menu Awakens The Soul After Winter

It’s an exciting and busy time for Erini restaurant's Chef Nick Fifis and staff as they prepare for another season of outdoor dining at the iconic location in nearby Ewing. From flower planting to menu prep, the countdown to Shangri-La is on.

It starts with a total cleanup and treatment of the grounds to guarantee a “crispy and fresh look” says manager Kyle Hillman. "It’s important to the team the outdoor areas don’t look weather-beaten or aged, but instead bright and new."

The Erini team takes great pride in ensuring each season outdoes the previous. This requires “every year adding a little more; something new to see,” says Chef Nick. It could be a chandelier, lighting or more fans discreetly and strategically placed to keep the area cool.

There are four separate outdoor patios, each with its own function and features. The upper patio, first to open, offers the most sun, something craved by diners after long winters. The others,

with the Tiki bar and Tiki garden being focal points, activate shortly after. All the outdoor areas have water attributes, from a waterfall to fountains.

Flowers are abundant and a main characteristic of the restaurant. Erini makes a large investment and plants new flowers in what Chef Nick describes as “the perfect getaway." From the canna lilies to the thousands of other bulbs, the flowers perfectly accent the beautiful place to eat.

The menu gets a seasonal lift with spring items, such as the watermelon feta salad, caprese salad and the highly anticipated “Jersey tomato salad," made exclusively with tomatoes sourced from a specific local farm each year.

The relentless work to prepare the outdoor dining grounds and a conscientiously selected menu make Erini a destination with a resort-like feel. Guests' all-around smiles and photo-taking create the vibe of being on vacation, which is the goal of Erini’s crew, in addition to feeding their loyal customer base.

609.882.0303 | EriniRestaurant.com

ARTICLE BY JOHN FIDUCCIA

"The menu, ambiance, smiles and phototaking at Erini creates vibe of being on spring vacation." “

Dedicate To Healthy Weight

THE WELL'S DR. MEG SHARES BENEFITS OF INVESTING IN WEIGHT MANAGEMENT

ARTICLE BY JULIE BROWN PATTON PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN WAGNER

Meg Zakarewicz, D.O.

Meg Zakarewicz, D.O., a double board-certified physician who practiced family medicine for a decade-plus before shifting her focus to weight management in 2019, provides her passion for healthy weight loss and composition via The Well Lounge in Newtown.  Newtown City Lifestyle asked Dr. Meg about the four pillars of her medical weight management program, which are nutrition, physical activity, mindset and medication, and how those pillars complement The Well Lounge spa's medical, wellness and aesthetics offerings.

She says The Well's medical weight loss program differs from other weight loss approaches in that it's completely personalized and comprehensive. "I meet each patient exactly where they are on their journey. Weight issues are often multifactorial and can include nutrition, physical activity challenges, lifestyle incongruencies, behavioral struggles and hormonal and metabolic inefficiencies."

She says she applies her knowledge of nutrition science, exercise physiology, psychology, metabolism and pharmacology to help patients overcome their unique challenges.

Typically, she starts by having patients keep accurate food journals for one week. Next, she does in-depth analyses of what patients are routinely consuming as 'fuel' compared to their calculated fuel requirements.

"Then, we begin changes to improve their metabolic efficiency that feel sustainable and comfortable," she adds, considering total fuel requirements, fuel timing, macronutrient breakdown, micronutrient deficiencies, present body composition, metabolic health, lifestyle and patient preferences.

There's no doubt adequate and appropriate physical activity is essential to metabolic health, states Dr. Meg.

She says she combines best practices regarding physical activity recommendations, patients' metabolic health, limitations, goals and preferences.

Looking at physical activity in isolation isn't a great strategy to improve weight, she asserts. "It's important to understand while the math part of 'eat less, move more' seems to make sense, there's much more to

consider," says Dr. Meg. "We're human beings who live in complex human bodies. Considering physical activity is certainly a valuable part of the equation when it comes to managing weight, but it must be considered with regard to metabolic efficiency, fuel requirements, hormonal health, recovery and sustainability."

Dr. Meg admits there are hundreds of effective strategies for losing weight. But, 90 percent of people who lose weight gain it back, she says.

"My approach considers the sustainability of the changes we're initiating. I work closely with my patients to overcome mental and emotional challenges related to their weight struggles. I support them in changing their relationship with food, shifting body image issues, creating healthy habits and mindsets and overcoming years’ worth of frustration," she says.

"I help them to find balance and sustainability. We also tackle issues, such as sleep hygiene and stress management, that have been making their metabolisms less efficient."

To stay mentally motivated, Dr. Meg says she works with patients to set expectations and goals that are realistic, both short-term and long-term.

"Working to strike the right balance between accountability and support helps my patients build their own internal motivation, set achievable goals, and maintain motivation throughout the process," she adds.

Weight loss medication may or may not be part of a patient’s journey with Dr. Meg.

"Medication can be a valuable adjunct to therapeutic lifestyle changes, including physical activity recommendations and nutritional optimization. If medication is utilized, it's always as an adjunct to therapy. We talk about what medications are available, side effects, risks and expectations. For appropriate patients, medication can be a safe, effective addition to the treatment program," she concludes.

215.360.3940

TheWellNewtown.com

"Our medical weight management program complements the offerings of the Well Lounge by providing a path to overcome metabolic struggles and help patients to look and feel their best."

YARDLEY FAIRLESS HILLS

HOMEGROWN FOOD MADE EASY

VEGETABLE GARDEN INSTALLATION

PLANTING & MAINTENANCE FRUITS & BERRIES

backyard-eats com (215) 928-7502

@backyardeatsphl

Balloon Deliveries, Event Celebration Balloons, and Yard Cards

215-801-2412

interior design assets

ADVICE EDITORIAL: 3 REASONS TO INVEST IN HOME INTERIORS

ARTICLE BY DONNA HOFFMAN, FOUNDER, IMPECCABLY

DESIGNED HOMES

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BARTHOLOMEW STUDIOS

The reasons to invest in home interiors are a different discussion than the myriad of strategies for how best to invest in them. This article delivers on both perspectives: how-to and why.

Interior design by Donna Hoffman/ Impeccably Designed Homes.

STRETCH SPACE WITHOUT A SLEDGEHAMMER

Most clients wish some area of their home was bigger, whether to better support a particular “feeling;" accommodate a favorite piece of furniture, or to create a “sense of spaciousness," purely for enjoyment’s sake.

Architecture can be pushed. By interior design.

For space cravers, some powerfully effective sleight-of-hand design devices include highmounted drapery panels, a restrained use of overscale patterns, leaning into receding wall colors, carefully controlling the contrasting color ratio in a space and strategizing furniture scale. In the right combination, these deliberate design strategies can markedly appear to lift a ceiling, make windows look bigger, create the illusion of pushing walls outward, or all three.

INCREASE SQUARE FOOTAGE FUNCTION

Studies point to room design as having the measured ability to enhance focus and productivity or diminish it; to create restfulness and relaxation or its opposite.

For example, data associates higher ceilings to enhance creative thinking, while lower ceilings optimize linear focus and finite detailed thinking. Using this example, if planning a renovation that includes adding a home office for a full-time workfrom-home lifestyle, a graphic designer might be well served to push for a higher ceiling height. An accountant may not.

Environmental psychology aside, ideal furniture layout and scale are significant drivers in any space’s function and no amount of aesthetic detailing can fix a miss.

Yet beyond function, driving devices is another reality. Undesigned rooms and empty rooms are unused rooms. Interior design powerfully enhances square foot usage by transforming unused rooms into often-used ones, and little enjoyed spaces into favorites, all through the benefit of investing in interior design.

Interior design by Donna Hoffman/ Impeccably Designed Homes.

AUGMENT DAILY LIFE

“Raise the aesthetic in a home and the people in that home feel and function better," is a favorite popular quote, possibly because it’s from this article’s author. But it happens to be true.

Beyond the daily, life-enhancing effects of waking up to, coming home to, and living life in an environment that’s aesthetically pleasing, the opposite of this environmentally driven lift is shown to be problematic.

Half-empty, or poorly designed spaces are shown to be actual daily irritants to the percentage of the population who are particularly sensitive to the environment.

Dosing a home with perfect-to-the-inhabitant mood-driving colors, ideal function, soul-stirring art and objects of beauty, and all organized in a beautifully thoughtful way, can have as great an impact on enhancing mood as an environment lacking these qualities can be detrimental to it.

Think Five-Star hotel replete with creature comforts and fine design appointments vs. a sterile roadside motel.

While not all people need a beautiful environment, there are masses of us who do. Regardless of budget, investing in beautifying the space where most of life is spent pays great dividends to those sensitive enough to require it, and wise enough to know it.

ImpeccablyDesignedHomes.com

As a multi-award-winning interior designer, Donna's company, Impeccably Designed Homes, specializes in high-end, luxury interior design, from single room design to whole homes of 20,000 square feet and more; from decorative design to full-scale renovation; and new construction.

Donna is deemed a design thought leader in Forbes , Real Simple , TV and radio. She's also called the "nation’s No. 1 design coach," after founding TheInteriorDesignAdvocate .com  online courses that empower DIYers and design professionals internationally.

Interior design by Donna Hoffman/ Impeccably Designed Homes.

INVEST IN

'Silent Morning' creation by Connie Cruser via Arts & Cultural Council of Bucks County

LOVE OF ART

Infuse Life With Enriching, Inspiring Experiences From Local Art

ARTICLE BY JULIE BROWN PATTON

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Owning art allows people to be surrounded with beauty, creativity and inspiration in living or working spaces. Artwork also creates an environment that reflects personal tastes and can be a source of daily joy, making it more than just a financial investment but also an emotional one. Check out these examples of local sources of artwork; these images are merely samples of their vast, collective artwork.

1. ARTS & CULTURAL COUNCIL OF BUCKS COUNTY

Administrative Offices:

275 Swamp Road, Newtown | 215.290.8370

Community Meeting Center:  181 E. Court St., Doylestown BucksArts.org

2. COUNTRYSIDE GALLERY & CUSTOM FRAME DESIGN

2 S. State St. | 215.968.2246 CountrysideFrames.com

3. ARTWRKD

126 S. State St., #300  | 215.377.9766   ArtWRKD.com

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HICKS ART CENTER GALLERY AT BUCKS COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

275 Swamp Road  | 215.968.8425  HicksGallery.Bucks.edu

Consider attending one or all of this art center's spring workshops: April 13-14 Cyanotype Printing and Viking Knit Bracelets; April 20-21 Turn A Tripod Stool and Hardcover Binding, Zines and Journals. Enroll through the online link: SelfService. Bucks.edu/Student/InstantEnrollment.

'Hello Beautiful' creation by Race Kuhn via ArtWRKD

'Enthralled' pastel by Elissa Goldberg via Arts & Cultural Council of Bucks County

An upscale destination for handcrafted custom framing design and a fine arts gallery located in Newtown.

Planting Spring Flowers

Helpful tips for planting spring flowers

Sun-Loving Plants:

Spring is here! We compiled a list of flowers that - depending on your planting zone - can be planted in the season.

Plumbago

Has beautiful dark blue or white flowers on a large shrub of 3 to 5 feet. This tends to freeze down in winter and comes back from roots in the spring.

Hibiscus

The tropical variety will not survive the winters so move those pots inside. The plant can get up to 5 feet tall and there are many different colors and varieties. The perennial varieties will freeze to the ground but come back in the spring. The variety Moy Grande is known as the dinner plate hibiscus. The Texas star hibiscus has beautiful flowers in red or white.

Bougainvillea

These colorful plants can be planted in baskets and pots, not in water-logged or low areas where water might collect. They will grow best when given enough space to spread out, and should be planted in an area that will allow them a minimum of 5-6 hours of sunlight every day. Colors include orange, pink, purple, white, red, tangerine and fuschia to name a few.

Purslane

This is great in baskets for trailing leaves with lots of colors. The bees love it!

Butterfly Weed

This 3 to 4-foot bush is a must for monarch lovers. Monarchs feed on the leaves before making their cocoons. It has beautiful orange and yellow flowers.

ARTICLE BY LORI HAWKINS

Shade-Loving Plants:

Lantana

This is a great hot weather plant that comes in many colors and varieties. Trailing varieties only get about 1 foot tall but can get 3 to 4 feet wide. There are bush varieties that get 4 feet tall and dwarf bushes only get about 2 feet tall. It comes in yellows, purples, reds, oranges, pinks, fuschia, and many others.

Greggs Blue Mist

This fuzzy light blue flower is a butterfly favorite.

Pentas

This is another bee and butterfly favorite that grows about 10 to 12 inches tall. There is a graffiti variety in different colors that works in beds or pots.

Vinca/Periwinkle

This plant comes in upright or trailing varieties. There are many colors to choose from: lavender, white with a red center, peach, white and red pink to strawberry.

Sages

There are many varieties of sage. The Texas sage is a shrub that has beautiful lavender flowers - a favorite for bees. They usually bloom around the time it rains. Henry Duelberg variety is a smaller bush 18 to 20 inches tall with blue stalks of blooms. Russian Sage is a tall silver lacey foliage with light blue flower spikes and grows to 4 feet tall. Deer tend to stay away from most of the sages.

Turk’s Cap

This plant makes a large bush of red or pink flowers. It has low water needs once established and can tolerate drought conditions and hot temperatures. Prune back plant in winter if it gets too leggy.

Impatiens

These need more water than most other plants and come in many colors. They are valued for their vibrant colors, abundant blooms, and tolerance for shade.

Caladiums

With lush multicolored leaves, many larger than the palm of your hand, caladiums have become one of the most popular foliage plants for shady or semi-shady gardens—with many recent introductions being sun tolerant.

devote senses to Springtime's Florals

“The Earth Laughs In Flowers" ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Flowers don't worry about how they're going to bloom. They just open up and turn toward the light and that makes them beautiful."

~Jim Carrey

events

A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS

APRIL 4TH

Brown Bag And Ballet In New Hope

Mill Ballet School | 12:00 PM

Experience dance like never before at Roxey Ballet's Brown Bag and Ballet. Get a peek into the rehearsal world of professional artists as they craft and perfect choreography for upcoming productions. Stretch and move alongside these talented dancers. Get up close with the creative process, engaging in conversations about choreography, training and artistry. Bring lunch. Head to RoxeyBallet.org for details.

APRIL 12TH - 14TH

15th Anniversary Weekend Party

Green Parrot | 12:00 PM

The Green Parrot Restaurant Pub & Patio team has live music planned for their special weekend celebration: Friday, The Beasts and a DJ from 8 p.m. to midnight; Saturday Joe + Krista from 6-9 p.m. and The Zone full band from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. They also state there will be no cover charges all weekend.

APRIL 13TH

Earth Day 2024

Honey Hollow in New Hope | 10:00 AM

Celebrate Earth as an amazing planet during many great programs and activities at this festival hosted by Bucks County Audubon Society, all geared toward family-friendly experiences. Earth Day Festival 2024 will take place outdoors (rain or shine) until 3 p.m., so dress for the weather. For further details, email bcas@bcas.org or phone 215.297.5880.

APRIL 19TH

Spring Fling Gala

Inn at Barley Sheaf | 6:00 PM

Green up leftover winter blues through the 11th Annual Spring Fling Gala hosted by the Bucks Beautiful group. To become an event sponsor or donate an auction item, email info@bucksbeautiful.org or call 215.340.3639. The evening includes a seated dinner, silent live auction, raffle and live entertainment. Master of ceremonies and disc jockey will be Geoff Panettieri of Party Scene Events.

events CONTINUED

APRIL 20TH

Live Music With Sister Blue

Newtown Brewing Company | 5:00 PM

A Philly native, Sister Blue, fronts a driving Blues band, with powerful vocals and stinging guitar leads. For variety, Sister Blue also leads an acoustic duo, playing blues and ragtime, including renditions of her favorite Bessie Smith songs, as well as compositions of her own. She's known as "a belter of the Blues." She's slated to play until 8 p.m.

APRIL 28TH

Bucks Culture Fest

Bucks County Community College | 10:00 AM

Bucks County Culture Fest is an opportunity to celebrate all that makes the community special. Join other attendees at the Linksz Pavilion on the Newton Campus of Bucks County Community College for this special day. There will be performances, interactive learning experiences, crafts, art, food trucks and more. The fest concludes at 3 p.m.

TERRAIN CAFE AT DELVAL

OUR SPRING + SUMMER MENU IS HERE Dine at Terrain Cafe for brunch, dinner, or at our vibrant bar. Make a reservation on OpenTable now by scanning the QR code to the right.

2100 lower state road, doylestown, pa | 267.289.3639 | @terraincafe