Newtown, PA September 2024 by City Lifestyle

LETTER

True fashion isn't just clothes; it reflects your inner self.

"Let your clothes do the talking when words fall short." Today, we want to celebrate and explore the fascinating world of style. Style is not limited to the clothes we wear or the way we adorn ourselves; it encompasses every aspect of our lives. From the way we decorate our homes to the music we listen to, from the books we read to the way we carry ourselves in conversations, style permeates every facet of our existence. It's the thread that weaves together the tapestry of our lives.

Style is deeply personal. And it evolves as we celebrate our quirks, passions and desires. Style is a form of self-expression that communicates who we are, how we perceive the world and what we value. In this way, style becomes a powerful tool for connection, as it enables us to find common ground with others who share our aesthetic sensibilities.

As individuals, we have the freedom to embrace established styles, blend them together, or forge entirely new paths, becoming trendsetters ourselves. We hope this edition inspires you to forge new paths or perhaps explore familiar ones. There is so much here locally to uplift our spirits, boost our productivity and ignite our creativity.

The best style is an authentic expression of who you really are. And that’s something no one on earth can duplicate.

Here’s to being uniquely you!

DANA WEISSENBERG, PUBLISHER @NEWTOWNCITYLIFESTYLE

September 2024

PUBLISHER

Dana Weissenberg

Dana.Weissenberg@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Julie Brown Patton | julie.patton@citylifestyle.com

SALES DIRECTOR

Catrina Tier | catrina.tier@citylifestyle.com

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Brian Wagner

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Hayley Weltz

MARKET SUPPORT DIRECTOR

Heather Lazar

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

John Fiduccia, Madeline Marriott, Lindsey Vogel, Julie Brown Patton

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Tom Grimes Photography, Judy Musto

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Branden Cooper

LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsi Southard

inside the issue

Newtown Real Estate

city scene

WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN

1-6: Showing Style Through Autos via 2024 Rebels vs Redcoats Car Show held at Washington Crossing Historic Park. 7: Standard Pennsylvania license plates getting first significant redesign in 25 years; available in 2025.

BRIAN WAGNER / BWAGS PHOTOGRAPHY

ROUNDUP OF

Local YMCAs Merge Into River Crossing YMCA

Board members of YMCAs of Bucks County, Hunterdon County and Greater Valley YMCA voted to merge with one another to become one regional organization now known as River Crossing YMCA. YMCA has locations in Newtown, Doylestown, Fairless Hills, Warminster and Quakertown in Bucks County. Camps also are located in Doylestown, Warminster, Fairless Hills, New HopeSolebury and Quakertown. Members and participants across River Crossing YMCA have access to all branches and programs, including Y Wellness 24/7.

by Courtesy of YMCA

Newtown Borough Hires Full-Time Officer

Newtown Borough Council members hired Tiffany Winik as the borough's newest full-time police officer. She's worked as a part-time officer in the borough since 2021 and "has served the borough very well," states Newtown Police Chief James Sabath. "She also has experience as a Bristol Township police officer and as a Bucks County park ranger. They're sorry to see her go because she was an excellent employee," he adds.

Will Newtown Get First 11-Court "Picklr" In Pennsylvania?

At press time, Newtown Township officials were exploring the process for converting the former Bed, Bath & Beyond store into an indoor, premier Pickleball Club. The vacant storefront is located at the Newtown Shopping Center. If granted, conditional use approval of plans by Utah-based “The Picklr” would result in a facility that offers professional-grade outdoor surfacing, a pro shop, a private event area, league play, tournaments and drop-in play, court reservations, locker rooms and showers.

Photography

Photography by Judy Musto/ Newtown Borough

Annual Newtown Black & White Dinner Slated For Sept. 7

The 8th annual Newtown Black & White Dinner is to be held Sept. 7, with all proceeds benefitting the historic Newtown Theatre. During the event, 1,000 black-and-white clad diners will gather on Newtown Borough’s closed-down North State Street for a one-of-a-kind alfresco picnic held in the middle of the street. Tickets are $30 per person for theatre members and $40 for non-members (price does not include pre-ordered dinners). For information and tickets, visit online TheNewtownTheatre. com/BlackAndWhiteDinner

Photography Provided by Andy Smith

Photography: We Laugh We Love

OBTAIN PERSONAL, NATURAL OUTDOOR OASES FROM ECO-CHIC GARDENS PROFESSIONALS

Bio-Beauty Landscape Design

ARTICLE BY JULIE BROWN PATTON | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN WAGNER

“

“Our approach is to embrace and respect the land, choose plants wisely, and make every space we create functional, sustainable and awe-inspiring.”

When people who deeply care about nature collaborate with one another, good gardens become great ones. Eco-Chic Gardens' specialists have been working with home gardeners, homebuilders, homeowners associations and landscaping professionals since 2007 to create sustainable models for landscaping.

"Our approach is to embrace and respect the land, choose plants wisely, and make every space we create functional, sustainable and awe-inspiring," explains Kimberly Lock, Eco-Chic Gardens owner, president/ CEO and horticulturalist.

Eco-Chic Gardens was founded on a passion for plants, then backed by extensive botanical knowledge and experience. Cofounders Kimberly and Ann Laughlin indicate sustainable landscaping isn't only the ecologically responsible thing to do; they assert it's a way to bring authentic, lasting joy to people through bio-diverse horticulture.

"At its core, landscaping is all about nature. It reflects having the right plan for the right place. We take everything into account, including soil, culture, stormwater management and intended overall functions, such as whether the space is for meditation, entertainment or pollinators, before getting down to the details," states Kimberly.

“We listen closely to how our clients want to use their outdoor rooms to complement their unique lifestyles. It’s all very personal.”

Eco-Chic Gardens' services include landscape design, installation and maintenance, as well as seasonal planters and outdoor living spaces for individual, working and recreational environments.

Kimberly says outdoor living spaces should be as comfortable as bedrooms. "It's not just a place to enjoy warmth of the sun and the sound of birds; it's a place to feel at home. Outdoor living is beautiful, cozy, functional and healthy."

This eco-conscious landscaping team completes projects throughout Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. Kimberly says the six-step process they follow is designed to ensure clients are "100% satisfied."

"During final walkthroughs, we discuss future maintenance, plans moving forward and share post-installation care guidelines. We, in essence, form landscape partnerships with our clients," she adds.

Eco-Chic Gardens landscapers hold memberships in the several U.S. and regional groups, such as the Pennsylvania Landscape & Nursery Association; National Association of Landscape Professionals; Bucks County Chamber of Commerce; and the Hardy Plant Society/Mid-Atlantic Group.

"It's our job to minimize our ecological footprint. In everything we do, we use the most sustainable practices, providing exceptional results for clients and the land beneath us. We even hand-weed, apply organic deer repellent and do naturalistic pruning in our maintenance services," asserts Kimberly.

She says with enhanced landscape projects contributing up to a 20-30% increased value to homes or business properties, they also understand that these outdoor spaces are investments for their clients, ones that deserve to be guided by best management practices.

As an innovative destination, Kimberly says she plans to host workshops, lectures and future special events at the team's headquarters. With the proper guidance, tips and decisions, she says many homeowners discover they no longer need to purchase new plants with each season.

SPECIAL EVENT OPPORTUNITY: For hands-on ideas about accentuating functional outdoor living areas, consider attending Eco-Chic Gardens Plants and Planter Sales event Sept. 20-21. Friday hours for the event will be 3-7 p.m., and the Saturday hours will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will be hosted at the team's newly renovated 1800s farmhouse office located at 890 York Road in Warminster, which includes transformational display gardens as examples.

215.323.4846

EcoChicGardens.com

Hometown Style

FAMILY,

LEGACY, TRANSFORMATIVE

POWER OF HARD WORK AND DESIGN SENSE

ARTICLE BY LINDSEY VOGEL, CO-FOUNDER, THE SANDHILL CO. PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

In the heart of Bucks County, two sibling entrepreneurs are helping to redefine their hometown, each in their own unique way. Dan Burt, the visionary behind Roots Landscape Inc., and Lauren Ziel, the dynamic force driving Barre3 Newtown, both built successful businesses. Then their paths intersected when they joined forces to breathe new life into a historic home on E. Washington Ave., creating a stunning testament to their shared roots and individual passions.

Dan Burt, a Bucks County native and 1991 Council Rock graduate, founded Roots Landscape Inc. seven years ago to create beautiful, timeless outdoor spaces.

A 1995 graduate of Penn State’s Landscape Contracting program, Dan began his career with Realty Landscaping in Wrightstown, then with the Brickman Group, designing landscapes for large corporate sites throughout the Delaware Valley. He later became a partner in a Philadelphia design-build firm, overseeing projects like the Urban Outfitters corporate headquarters.

In 2011, Dan became the director of landscape services for Terrain/Urban Outfitters, growing the division into a leading design-build firm. By 2016, he acquired and rebranded it as Roots Landscape Inc., building on his reputation for quality and innovative design.

Roots Landscape Inc. is known for effortless luxury, where landscapes blend seamlessly into their surroundings. The company has won multiple accolades. "We want our clients to feel completely at ease, treated fairly, and excited about their unique outdoor spaces," Dan emphasizes.

Just last year, Dan expanded Roots Landscape Inc. by opening a second office in Newtown.

"It’s all about roots, literally and figuratively. As Roots grew, I wanted a second home office closer to my actual home. Bucks County's convenient location and growing population make it the perfect place for us to thrive," Dan explains.

The expansion also allows Dan to focus on expanding his design and build work but also growing the fine gardening department, offering services

from maintenance to custom installations, like the acclaimed seasonal planter boxes at barre3 Newtown.

Dan's sister, Lauren Ziel, brought barre3 to Newtown in 2013, inspired by her passion for the workout's blend of strength, cardio and mindfulness. "barre3 empowers me as a woman to be a mom, wife and entrepreneur. Sharing it with the Newtown community is the ultimate reward," Lauren says.

In 2020, Lauren purchased the historic home on E. Washington Ave., a property with great bones but in need of extensive renovation. Dan eagerly took on the challenge of redesigning the exterior. "The main goals were to redesign the landscape, install off-street parking, add a pool, and create a large outdoor patio with a fire pit and seating area," Dan recalls.

Dan preserved and repurposed original elements, such as cast-away stones for stepping stones and two beautiful trees. The result is a transformation that maintains the home's historic charm while adding modern amenities.

"It looks as if it has stood that way since its installation in 1888," Dan proudly notes.

Working together on this project strengthened the sibling bond between Dan and Lauren. "This isn't the first property Dan has designed for me, but it's the one we were most excited about," Lauren shares.

The project presented challenges, including working within a small footprint and navigating local code enforcement. "But we're always laughing and having a good time. It was a work of art from the heart," Lauren adds.

The Newtown community has embraced the renovated historic home, appreciating its restored glory.

As Roots Landscape Inc. and barre3 Newtown grow, the siblings remain committed to their Bucks County anchor. Lauren's studio offers a unique workout experience that empowers clients, while Dan's landscape designs enhance the beauty of Bucks County. Together, they enjoy helping to enhance Newtown, one day of hard work at a time.

Coaching

conceived to help individuals like yourself to discover (or rediscover) the things that make you truly feel happy and fulfilled in life... the things you’re passionate about... and the things that, well... make you uniquely YOU. In addition, LifeSight Coaching can help you uncover any negative thought patterns, such as self-limiting beliefs, lack of focus, fears or procrastination that may subconsciously be holding you back from achieving the things you really want. Through a combination of expansive exercises, empathetic listening, engaging

The Smile Is The Style

Newtown Dentistry Prioritizes Unique Smiles

One can change several elements regarding personal style: clothes, hairstyle, even a makeup routine. However, one permanent component is always front and center: individual smiles. After all, smiles are always in fashion.

Christine Landes, D.M.D., a board-certified pediatric dentist at Newtown Dentistry, offers her advice for embracing what makes a smile special during this back-to-school season.

“Just like fashion styles can vary greatly from person-to-person, so can smiles,” Dr. Chris says. “Big or small, toothy or toothless, each smile brings individuality.”

Tip: To appear more genuine and joyful when smiling, think of someone or something that makes you happy.

Dr. Chris and her team know that trusting someone with a personal smile is a big decision. "We want patients and their families to feel comfortable and at home at Newtown Dentistry, so much so, the practice is set up like a house. The walls are lined with photos of the team

members and their families, and each room is decorated like the ones in a family home," she says.

Newtown Dentistry is known as a onestop facility for a family’s oral care needs from childhood to adulthood and even orthodontics. It's a full-service practice at 46 Blacksmith Road for all ages, offering a spectrum of services from routine cleanings and dental procedures to periodontics and cosmetic dentistry. For all patients, Dr. Chris says they specialize in taking care of others' dental hygiene while keeping the traits that make them "who you are."

“We’re highlighting the idea that smiles aren't only facial expressions, but an intrinsic part of someone’s personality,” Dr. Chris says. “We’re experts at minimally invasive dentistry. Our focus is teaching and preventing, fostering a lifetime of oral health.”

Indeed, psychological studies show that straighter, whiter teeth are more attractive, possibly due to the evolutionary advantages associated with healthier mouths.

ARTICLE

MADELINE

MARRIOTT

PHOTOGRAPHY

“

"Smiles aren't only facial expressions, but an intrinsic part of someone’s personality."

—Chris Landes, D.M.D.

Christine Landes, D.M.D., with patient.

The best ability, is availability. Mish Realty is always ready when opportunity knocks Our boutique, family-owned office is designed to cater to your schedule and needs

Looks Hey Newtown, Does a parttime agent really have your full attention?

ARTICLE BY JOHN FIDUCCIA

Individuality Bespoke Furniture Expressed

PARAMOUNT WOOD CO. IS A BUSINESS DREAM COME TRUE

Colin Thompson founded Paramount Wood Co. in New Hope.

Woodworking was always a creative outlet for Bucks County native Colin Thompson, a trait that runs in the family as his father, John, and grandfather, Jack, operated amateur woodshops on their farms where Colin was introduced to the industry.

Colin, who just turned 30 years old, now owns and operates Paramount Wood Co., a specialized wood furniture business based in New Hope. He founded the company in 2020 alongside his fiancé, Alexandra Andresen, who is a co-owner and lead designer. "However, I was a hobbyist in woodworking while building a successful career as a race car driver," he shares.

Like wood, cars came early into Colin’s life. He started racing cars at the tender age of 5, and at 15, was ranked No. 1 nationally in the QMA racing league. This also was a family affair, as both his grandfather and father raced professionally at some points in their careers.

At 17, Colin was racing professionally and living his first dream. He would continue for the next 10 years for a living while weaving in woodworking personal projects in his spare time in what he called “practice." During his career, he won four national championships in four pro series. He was at the top of his game and achieved these wins in the final four years of racing as a “job."

“When I retired from Motorsports in 2018, I was still tinkering with woodworking and figured out what my next career path would be, moving from my first childhood dream to the next,” he recalls.

The start of the Paramount company came the way many morph into a business. “I was making furniture for myself and some locals had taken interest. I decided to start on a small scale out of my garage and see if it had legs. Quickly, I realized there was a gap in the market for well-made, truly custom and artistic furniture.”

CONTINUED >

From a style perspective, Colin stays focused on creativity, with all pieces being unique and a combination of customers' desires and a designer’s eye. “Making artistic furniture shouldn’t be stressful or difficult,” says Colin.

The 2020 garage turned into a 2021 2,000-square-foot shop, into a 2023 7,800-square-foot facility. Colin believes the success and growth of the woodworking business is driven by the fact that the company does what he calls “ultra custom” work, unique to the industry, and only uses exotic and the highest-grade materials on the planet.

“To make a positive environmental impact through our woodworking, we pledge to plant trees for every piece made. On the inaugural tree planting day, we planted 83 trees. This fall, we hope to do much more,” Colin states.

In addition to taking on new and larger projects in the luxury commercial space, the Paramount team is expanding into the yachting furniture business.

Most youths don’t have the opportunity or ability to live out one of their childhood dreams, let alone more than one. Kudos to Colin for pursuing two of his!

412.587.4166

ParamountWoodCo.com

Colin Thompson hosts Boy Scouts for badge-related activities.

Dr. Joseph Brogan Orthodontist

Dr. Matthew Heine General and Cosmetic Dentist

Dr. Roshni Dhruva Pediatric Dentist

Interior design by Donna Hoffman/ Impeccably Designed Homes.

HOME DESIGN REFRESH

Advice Editorial: Revitalize Interiors, Décor For Fall And Beyond

With fall in the air, thoughts predictably turn toward home updates. Perhaps it’s the call of the holidays or the thought of more time indoors. No pumpkins or warm throws on this topic table; that article's been written and previously read.

Instead, what follows is judicious and high-impact design thinking, no matter the season.

TWO HIGH-IMPACT STARTING POINTS

Whether designing a room from scratch, or doing a refresh only, results can be sped along by embracing either bottom-up thinking, or top-down thinking.

Bottom-up is literal: start with the floor. It’s the floor covering or area rug, more than any other single element, that drives the most immediate and significant impact.

This large gesture surface is the fifth wall. Wise designers make it count. Whether large scale pattern, bold color, or a calming sleek textural story, rugs speak. Consider and control their message, early.

The other route is top-down thinking. Here, a specific and well-calculated smaller item can meaningfully drive velocity: the artwork.

Artwork can spill into a space quietly like a back-up singer, or it can burst onto the scene as the main act.

ARTICLE BY DONNA HOFFMAN, FOUNDER, IMPECCABLY DESIGNED HOMES PHOTOGRAPHY BY TOM GRIMES PHOTOGRAPHY

Interior design by Donna Hoffman/ Impeccably Designed Homes.

A room’s color palette, or accent colors only, can seamlessly tumble out of artwork. Shape can do the same, as illustrated in this vibrant Audrey Pop Art painting –her polka dots spill forward onto the console below by way of ball sculptures, and yet again in the round poofs nearby.

The surest way to invigorate any room is to embrace bottom-up or top-down thinking.

LIGHTING IS LIKE TAKING CANDY FROM A BABY

Clients are surprised after investing heavily in kitchen cabinetry that it’s often the light fixtures that get the first compliment. Lighting is eye candy; both punctuation mark and mood-maker.

So significant is decorative lighting’s impact on any space that making a “wow moment show" of it is almost as easy as “taking candy from a baby."

Take the candy. Refresh lighting in dated interiors; consider lighting early in new ones.

GO UNPREDICTABLY GREEN –IN ANY SEASON

Greenery provides an instant lift to every space. Every time.

Reams have been written about womanand-man’s connection to nature, plus its effect on the human brain and soul.

As designer lovers, ours is not to question why, but to do, IF adding quick, savvy style to a home is on the brain and soul.

It need not be seasonal, it need not be potted, though it can be either.

It can be a live stem or branch cutting in a water-filled container, thanks to a free trip to the backyard with clippers.

It can be a sculptural non-seasonal look, such as a monstera leaf perched in a vase. Monsteras come in a variety of shapes and sizes, can last weeks to months in water, and are supplied easily by a florist.

For faux lovers, pay the price for higher quality and reap the rewards. In the end, it’s the calculated design move that always yields greatest results, for fall and for always.

ImpeccablyDesignedHomes.com

As a multi-award-winning interior designer and Bucks County-based designer, Donna's company, Impeccably Designed Homes by Donna Hoffman, 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.

Impeccably Designed Homes

Donna Hoffman 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.

• Rugs drive mood.

• Neutral colors have longest staying power.

• Choose ‘Star of the Room.’

• Think artwork for impact.

• Light fixtures are eye candy.

• Greenery always elevates.

• Reframe art or relocate it for fresh punch.

• Layer at least five textures for captivating spaces.

SEPTEMBER 1ST - 8TH

Grease

Bucks County Playhouse | 7:30 PM

Join audiences in New Hope to go back to Rydell High in 1959 and the duck-tailed, hot-rodding “Burger Palace Boys” and the gum-snapping “Pink Ladies” rule the roost. After a summer romance, Danny and Sandy are unexpectedly reunited for their senior year, but can they survive the good and bad times? Admission: pricing ranges from $39 to $76 (including fees).

SEPTEMBER 20TH

Rougarou

Sycamore Grill | 8:30 PM

The band members indicate they're happy to be back at this great venue in Newtown. They promise to perform Classic Rock faves, ranging from ZZ Top and Doobie Brothers to Foo Fighters and Cheap Trick. Members are Joyce Berner Keys/Vox; Kurt Berner Bass/Vox; Cary Hall Gtr/Vox; and Scott Kohlmorgen Drums. This performance concludes at 11:30 p.m.

SEPTEMBER 28TH

8th Annual Car Show Event For Autism

Bucks County Community College | 1:00 PM

Proceeds from this event will support Potential's efforts to end the wait list for quality autism services locally. It will feature music, live entertainment, food trucks, door prizes, auction/raffles, vendors/exhibitors, touch-a-truck and other kid-friendly activities; trophies for Top 25 cars, Best of Show, President's and People's Choice. Suggested $10 parking donation. For more details, call 215.579.0670 or head to PotentialInc.org/Car-Show