Breath of Fresh Air
I hope you are doing well. Can you believe that it’s already Spring? This year is flying by and it’s the perfect season to disconnect and enjoy the outdoors.
One of my favorite pastimes, that I think is underrated, is bird watching. What fascinating creatures… It all began when I was in 4th grade and, yes, this is going way back. I entered a contest at The Churchville Nature Center and took home the trophy, correctly identifying over 80 species of birds. My family likes to tease me about this, but we set up a feeder at home and it quickly became a talking point at the breakfast table. Donnie, the red bellied woodpecker drops by every day and has a special way of hanging from the feeder that cracks us up. We have even chased away a flock of grackles after they were caught bullying the smaller birds and monopolizing the food!
Do you think the current real estate market is for the birds? Actually, it is still going strong in our area. The lack of inventory has buyers flocking to houses at certain price points. This can make it challenging for buyers, but just know that Jay and I can help with any of your real estate goals whether buying, selling or both. We know this market inside and out and we are only one ‘bird’ call away.
Hope you enjoy!
Gina Spaziano Gina & Jay SpazianoJay Spaziano Real Estate
1113 General Washington Memorial Blvd.
Washington Crossing, PA 18977
(215) 860-2800
gina@jayspaziano.com
jayspaziano.com
DDID YOU EVER NOTICE how everyone lingers in the kitchen during parties? The rest of the house looks perfect, yet the kitchen is where the real action is. Kitchen islands provide space for entertaining, storage, work and everything in between!
Considered the heart of the home, the kitchen is where you prepare and enjoy most of your meals with family or friends. Traditional kitchens are evolving and expanding. Many homeowners are opting for larger kitchen islands to accommodate dining and entertaining directly in the kitchen rather than a formal dining room. Here are a few kitchen island trends to check out:
Larger kitchen islands accommodate for larger entertaining and gathering space in the kitchen. Three is the magic number for straight line seating, any more than that, look to wrap seating around the ends of the island so it’s easier to talk.
Adding a detailed edge to the kitchen island countertop softens the design and adds an extra layer of style in the kitchen. There is no rule that all edges need to match. Usually, budget dictates the need for all edges matching but it’s a great compromise to add that special finished edge to the island.
Probably the newest trend so far is the pill-shaped island. It’s modern in nature but can easily work in a more traditional kitchen with the right materials. The rounded ends of this island help provide great flow when entertaining. A curved island can also include a more expansive seating area, allowing guests to comfortably eat and socialize around the island. If you are looking to mix things up and break up the angle shapes in your kitchen, this is a great selection.
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Classic and timeless, a butcher-block island is not only stylish, but incredibly functional and durable. Dark walnut or a mix of maple and cherry adds warmth and charm to the space.
Adding on a bar height counter to an existing island’s outer edge creates seating space without disturbing workspace. This helpful design is useful when you want to break up a large open space.
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If you didn’t plan your kitchen with a contrasting color island, painting your island is perfect if you want to update your current space without construction. A great way to add a pop of color into the kitchen is to paint the island base and it instantly converts a sterile-looking space.
Since we are spending more time in the kitchen, two islands create more workspace, which can be the answer for busy kitchens. If the islands are side by side, a middle walkway enhances kitchen flow. Multiple islands can
fill the space in an oddly-shaped kitchen and create different work areas in the space.
Unlike a traditional slab top, a waterfall edge is where the kitchen countertop flows over the sides creating a seamless appearance. While most types are made of luxurious materials like marble or quartz, especially with deep veined lines, this concept can be used with butcher block or stainless steel as well. Contrasting floor colors will add to the statement.
Time to break free of the rectangle and really think outside of the box! Creating a unique shape for your kitchen island really makes a dramatic impact. Custom shapes can create a more functional workspace all while keeping the angles right for seating and socializing. “L” or “T” shaped islands are some popular designs.
Any way or any shape, the island will be the focal point of your kitchen, so it's the best place to use countertop material with high impact. Detailed legs add character to a transitional-style kitchen, while also offering additional support. ●
A great way to add a pop of color into the kitchen is to paint the island base.
CHEFS AND OWNERS SALLY AND JEMIL GADEA opened Panna Gelateria & Bakery in Yardley Borough in July 2022. With little marketing beyond word of mouth, the business has taken off as locals enjoy gelati and sorbetti presented in seasonal and creative flavors such as Strawberry Rhubarb, Smoked Almond, and Cookie Dough. The flavors continuously rotate every few days, keeping customers curious and excited to see what’s next. Pastries served at Panna are baked fresh daily and while some items have remained standby favorites such as their Almond Pound Cake, Torta Caprese and Chocolate Chip Cookies, like the gelato, there are always new and exciting treats to stop by for. Their Palmiers have something like a cult following – Sally uses her own technique of making the dough and uses goat cheese and cream cheese to create a sweet and savory combination that keeps anyone who tries it coming back for more – if they’re lucky enough to get them while they last. There are savory pastries as well and espresso beverages using locally roasted beans from One Up One Down in Trenton to pair with their treats.
PAN-NA:
While their success has been the result of years of experience, hard work and a little luck, the couple credits the local community with the support and enthusiasm that Panna has received since opening. Sally is a native Bucks County resident, raised in Washington Crossing. She and Jemil met in Washington D.C. as pastry chefs for the same restaurant group. After their daughter’s first birthday they knew they wanted to return to Bucks County to be closer to Sally’s parents and open Panna Gelateria & Bakery. It was a long road to find a location, put together a business plan and get construction under way but their patience paid off and they have been enjoying living in Yardley and life as young parents and business owners.
The latest addition to the business is their gelato cart- custom made and imported from Italy- which allows them to take their treats mobile, out of the shop and into special events. Sally and Jemil can be found at Panna daily, making their gelato entirely from scratch or chatting with the local regulars that have come to make Panna their weekly, sometimes daily break from busy life. As Sally says, “There’s always time for an espresso.” ●
FOR SALE (215) 860-2800 / gina@jayspaziano.com
Stunning End Unit Carriage Home with Over $175,000 in Upgrades 7 Hillyer Lane, Newtown / $998,500 www.7HillyerLane.com
Private Hideaway in Jericho Mountain on 7+ Acres 1240 Eagle Road, Upper Makefield Twp / $1,495,000 www.1240EagleRoad.com
Eye-Catching with Stately Flair, Walking Distance to Downtown 2300 Yardley Road, Yardley / $1,375,000 www.2300YardleyRoad.com
Warm and Inviting Estate Home, Fantastic Outdoor Amenities 1637 Thistlewood Drive, Washington Crossing / $1,395,000 www.1637ThistlewoodDrive.com
Set amongst a backdrop of woodlands in an upscale community hidden from view is this completely updated retreat on 10 acres. Winding down the drive on a nature trail and nestled in a clearing, this contemporary home makes its debut.
Thoughtfully expanded to include a new, beautifully crafted main floor primary suite and spa-like bath that look like they belong in Architectural Digest. A secret garden, open concept shower with Japanese treated marble, floating vanities, quartz floor and huge walk-in closet are just a few of the eye-catching details of the space. Designed to bring the exterior in, the home offers so many windows, doors and vantage points of the professionally landscaped gardens that allow for seasonal interest all year round. Offering clean lines, a neutral aesthetic, secondary main suite on the upper level with full bath and 2 additional bedrooms and full bath allows for great versatility and space for everyone. Additional amenities include a finished lower level, heated inground pool, new roof, new heat pump, new wide-plank floors, newer appliances, new split rail fence, whole house generator, security cameras, stereo system and so much more. A property that needs to be experienced to appreciate all of the thoughtful elements. ●
SSERIOUSLY, IT WAS THAT EASY. I changed the color of my kitchen floor in less than a minute. Well, a website on my phone did it for me and let me tell you, the picture looked real. In the back of my mind, I had been thinking about having a new floor installed just to refresh and update the kitchen. I hadn’t visited any décor or design stores and the thought of lugging samples home wasn’t that enticing. While waiting for dinner to cook one night, an ad appeared on my Instagram feed for a national flooring store and their Room Designer. So, I clicked on the ad – obviously, their marketing worked – followed the prompts and viola, I was scrolling through various floors that were right up against my kitchen cabinets. I snapped a screenshot of my favorites and saved them to my Photos. So simple!
A few years ago, I had tried using similar visualizers when painting. I found that they were either awkward to use or
the colors that appeared in the picture were too “cartoonish”. Having found some new inspiration with the floor visualizer, I decided to try again. Many of the visualizers were easy to use and had fantastic, realistic results. Armed with my phone, I was redecorating everything.
So, here’s a few tips from what I’ve learned when using these tools: just like everything else, starting with a good canvas – in this case, a clear picture, is best. Make sure the lighting is nice and bright and your picture is straight. For the floor visualizer, make sure the floor is clear of toys, shoes, etc. and the space you want to visualize is clearly seen. Pretty much the same applies for the wall color visualizers. Most did a really nice job recognizing trim, wainscoting and pictures on the wall and applying the visualized paint just to the wall.
After using these nifty tools, I thought about how useful they can be. For me, it narrowed down my selections and saved me time. I wasn’t as overwhelmed looking at paint chips and I knew where to start in the paint department. If you are looking for a new house and just can’t get past the flooring, wall paper, wall colors, kitchen cabinets, or even the exterior, using these tools can really help you visualize beyond what is there. We decided to give it a try on a few of our listings for inspiration. ●
II RECENTLY VISITED SEASONS GARDEN CENTER looking for more than run of the mill Easter flowers. After all, I was going to be a dinner guest and wanted to show my appreciation for not having to cook. Anyway, I couldn’t believe all the unique, seasonally appropriate planters and arrangements. I opted for a white, porcelain rabbit planter that the super friendly staff was more than eager to fill with the most colorful petunias. Needless to say, it was a big hit and definitely helped me not feel guilty for a drying a few dishes. Seasons Garden Center was founded in 1996 by Daniel Piestor. The family-owned and operated garden center started with the purchase of the property on River Road and has since expanded to meet the growing needs of their customers. Nestled on 30 acres in the heart of Washington Crossing on scenic River Road, Seasons Garden Center offers a variety of products to appeal to all customers. From annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs to candles and artificial botanicals, Seasons strives to have something for everyone. Their shop carries beautiful boutique items while the garden center has everything customers need to complete their garden from organic soil to native plants to deer solutions.
Unique to the team at Seasons is their diverse accredited background in horticulture, floral design, master gardeners and master nursery professionals. The team works hard to provide sustainability in the shop and gardens. Their grounds are certified as a monarch way station and national wildlife habitat.
The landscape division offers design installation and maintenance. They handle residential and commercial properties throughout Bucks County. The floral division at Seasons creates breathtaking botanical designs for weddings, birthdays, and events throughout the Delaware Valley area. The Studio at Seasons Garden Center was established in 2020 and provides a fun space for education! Classes range from floral design to container gardening to various levels of artistry and healthy living lectures. The Studio is also available for rent for parties and events.
The staff at Seasons strives to go above and beyond for their customers, no matter what the challenges may be. They take enormous pride in remaining true to nature by choosing, using and promoting environmentally friendly and sustainable products and practices.
Staying true to their mission statement, they provide the finest personal service and care for their clients so they can be inspired to relax and enjoy their homes and gardens. The Seasons experience should revive the senses and provide a source of personal well-being through the beautiful sights, scents and sounds of nature. ●
WHEN OUR VOLUNTEERS TELL FOLKS how many children Roxy™ Therapy Dogs comforts and supports, they think they didn’t hear us correctly.
During the school year, Roxy visits 3,000+ children per week in the Central Bucks School District. We visit all 23 schools in the district and are the only therapy dog organization allowed to do so. At the elementary schools, students become stronger readers with our foundation program by having them read aloud to the dogs. At all schools, students in specialized classes feel calm and relaxed during therapy dog visits. In the high schools, students manage stress and anxiety more effectively in the company of a Roxy dog.
In addition to school settings, children receive comfort from certified Roxy therapy dogs at the Bucks County Justice Center when they are about to testify in Dependency Court. Some Roxy teams receive specialized training provided by the Network of Victim Assistance, so that they can provide comfort and support, in a program through the DA’s office, to children who are victims of violent crime. Children in healthcare settings, such as Doylestown Health and Pedia Manor, feel joy and a respite from their day-to-day routine. Our newest program, Roxy™ Responders, sends our specially trained trauma response teams to bring solace to children in a time of sadness or distress after a catastrophic event in the community.
Roxy is an all-volunteer, 501 c3 nonprofit organization that was founded in 2005 by Diane Smith with her Boykin Spaniel named… you guessed it…Roxy. “Roxy’s extreme love of children prompted me to offer therapy dog visits at my son’s elementary school in the Central Bucks School District in 2005,” says Diane. “We encouraged children with reading challenges to read aloud to Roxy. Then mira-
cles started to happen.”
“Research shows that magical things happen when a child interacts with a certified therapy dog,” says Sharon Fleck, president of Roxy Therapy Dogs. “Anxiety level decreases, heartbeat slows, breathing becomes deeper and more relaxed, and fears are forgotten. When a child feels calm and secure, not only is learning possible but physical and emotional healing are achieved.”
From the teacher’s point of view, Roxy provides a service that isn’t available in the school curriculum. “Partnering with Roxy has brought so much joy to my classroom,” says Amy Bullard, a 4th-grade teacher at Gayman Elementary. “Not only do the kids’ faces light up when our Roxy dog arrives, but the atmosphere settles into a calm, safe space as the kids read their writing to our Roxy team. I cannot thank Roxy Therapy Dogs enough for their dedication and commitment to my students!”
Once called “Roxy Reading,” the organization changed its name in 2016 to reflect the expanded variety of programs it provides. There is never a cost for anyone who benefits from Roxy Therapy Dog visits — not the child, not their family, not the venue. Our 80+ volunteers donate their time to help children either as part of a certified therapy dog team or as an individual who shares their expertise with the organization, without a dog. ●
If you would like to volunteer (with or without a dog), donate, or simply learn more, please visit www.roxytherapydogs.org
DRIVING DOWN one of Buck’s County’s prettiest roads, Buckmanville, you can’t help but wonder what it was it like before the edge of suburban sprawl set in. This beautiful area, or village as it was known at the time, gets its name from George Buckman.
George Buckman was described as clever, and he built a blacksmith shop in the area in 1843. Shortly thereafter, he began working with Benjamin Wiggins who designed a new plow. They entered into an agreement to produce the equipment in Buckman’s blacksmith shop. It is unknown if some or all his buildings were used for the manufacturing process. Buckman named his business “Buckmanville Plough Manufactory”. It turned into a booming facility, and is one of the earliest documented manufacturing facilities in Upper Makefield. After a few years, in 1854, Buckman decided to relocate his plant to Durham Road in Wrightstown near the intersection of what is now Routes 413 and 232. Buckman thought this would be a better location for his factory due to high visibility from the amount of traffic at the intersection. At this time, according to an advertisement, farmers could buy a plow at George Buckman's property in Buckmanville or his new facility at the Wrightstown location, but by 1862, Buckman moved the entire facility to the Wrightstown location,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckmanville_Historic_District
causing the overall business activity in the village to slow down.
The Village of Buckmanville continued to serve the population of the immediate farming community as a post office and store through the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The post office was established July 14, 1862. Due to booming growth of the neighboring larger towns of New Hope and Newtown, further growth and development of the village decreased. Both New Hope and Newtown had train stops which sparked growth in those towns. Also, contributing to the village’s demise was its poor location to a nearby crossroad for automobile traffic. The last blow occurred when the general store and post office caught fire somewhere between 1924-1931.
In 2002, the Buckmanville Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The district includes 12 contributing buildings and 1 contributing structure. The buildings are in the Greek Revival or Federal styles, and were built between 1820 and 1875. Notable buildings are the William Atkinson / William Ellis House, Samuel Atkinson Farm, George Buckman House and Property, Silas L. Atkinson House, William Worthington / Lewis Worstall House, Barclay J. Smith / Alice Leedom House, and Barclay J. Smith Double House. ●
https://www.livingplaces.com/PA/Bucks_County/Upper_Makefield_Township/Buckmanville_Historic_District.html
https://pennsylvaniagenealogy.org/bucks/buckmanville-pennsylvania.htm
In 2002, the Buckmanville Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
I’m not a person who usually sums things up in one word. After all, it's really hard to whittle things down to a such a singular assessment. But if you really pushed me for a simple descriptive of our experience in listing and selling our home with Jay Spaziano Real Estate, I would say SMOOTH! One word, though, is truly not enough; and it certainly doesn’t do justice to Jay, Gina, and their staff.
In our world today, where personal exchanges, and a feeling of being well cared for in business are increasingly rare, we found these qualities to be the touchstone of the Jay Spaziano team. Jay and Gina, while operating at the highest degree of professionalism, worked collaboratively with us and were extremely down to earth. They understand the fundamental idea that, while they do this real-estate thing every day, it is a less-common occurrence for their clients —An ever-changing landscape of processes and procedures. With that in mind, they were strong communicators, offered valuable professional guidance and perspective, and kept our best interest at the forefront.
From our first “get-acquainted” meeting, where Jay and Gina presented facts, figures, their backgrounds, and their marketing approach; to the day of the photo shoot, when Gina staged each room as though it was her own, working with the photographer to get the best lighting and most complimentary angles; to the day of settlement when Jay and Gina presented copies of the final paperwork and a USB thumbnail drive with a recording of the house tour to remember it by; there was no detail overlooked in presenting our home at its best, and no effort too large to accommodate our needs. For anyone looking to list or buy a home, we highly recommend Jay and Gina for their quality of service, excellence in presentation and generosity of spirit.
Heartfelt thanks!
Dottie and John G.
