WINTER AT THE WILDFLOWER PRESERVE INVENTING THE FUTURE
ARTIST NOAH NORMAN
We all do it – we judge a book by its cover and your car is your cover. Luckily, we’re here to help you tailor your ride.
Protection Film, which shields your car from scratches, chips, and environmental damage, preserving its appearance and resale value.
Seven Wraps o ers a variety of services, including Ceramic Coating, an exterior and interior product that acts like a supercharged wax to repel water, dirt, salt and stains, so that your car always looks brand new; Window Tinting, which blocks UV rays, enhances skin health, all while keeping you cool while looking cool; and Paint 10am - 2pm
us for cars,
Additionally, our Color Change Car Wraps let you completely transform your vehicle’s look with a removable, damage-free solution, allowing you to refresh your ride whenever you like.
Give us a shout when you’re ready to change up your cover.
Seven Wraps is Bucks County’s premier automotive restyling shop, specializing in protecting and turning luxury cars into unique, stunning rides. 267- 777 - 9177
Sparking Delight
Happy New Year and welcome to the first issue of 2025!
I want to extend a heartfelt thanks to the community for the overwhelming response to the December debut of Upper Makefield magazine. Many of you have sent notes of appreciation, and we have also received many ideas for future stories. We set out to create a magazine for and about the community, and your engagement tells us that we are achieving our vision. In this issue, we are sharing stories that we hope will spark delight as you ease into the New Year. Whether learning about our community members’ passions and pursuits, discovering a new path (literally!) or finding a book that encourages a fresh perspective, we hope you are inspired by everything you encounter on these pages.
Al Hernandez and Maria Kane, owners
of Bucks County Racquet Club, clearly have a passion for tennis, but also an incredible passion for the club members and community they serve. You can see this in the warmth of their smiles, and you’ll feel it in their story.
As you enter the world of Noah Norman’s art, you can’t help but be inspired by his curiosity and creativity. From his AI-powered digital mural showing the possibilities of sustainability to his quest to invent the future of gaming, Noah’s work reminds us of the importance of keeping humanity at the heart of technological advances.
A winter walk through Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve—and our story about it, with the preserve’s Maggie Strucker as our guide—is sure to inspire peaceful thoughts as we enter 2025. We can find so much beauty and tranquility when we adjust our expectations—and learn to look closer.
And with the start of the year, we’ve provided insights, trends and suggestions from local experts in the important areas of real estate and financial planning. It’s a great time to get your house in order—pun intended!
Above all, I want to wish each of you a very happy and healthy New Year. May it be a year that brings you joy, success and the fulfillment of your hopes and dreams.
Warmly,
Laura Lazar Publisher
Upper Makefield MAGAZINE
Publisher
Laura Lazar
Local Editor
Nick Norlen
Writers
Nick Norlen
Jennifer Pellegrino
Matt Truesdale
Liz Young
Photographers
Jennifer Janikic Photography, LLC
Expert Contributors
Greg Dwornikowski
Anthony Petsis
WAINSCOT MEDIA
Chairman
Carroll V. Dowden
President and CEO
Mark Dowden
VP, Group Publisher, Regional
Thomas Flannery
VP, Content Strategy
Maria Regan
Creative Director
Kijoo Kim
Art Director
Rosemary O’Connell
Executive Editor
Richard Laliberte
Associate Editor
Sophia Carlisle
Advertising Services Director
Jacquelynn Fischer
Operations Director
Catherine Rosario
Production Designer
Chris Ferrante
Print Production Manager
Fern Meshulam
Advertising Production Associate
Griff Dowden
Upper Makefield magazine is published by Wainscot Media. Serving residents of Upper Makefield Township, the magazine is distributed monthly via U.S. mail. Articles and advertisements contained herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publishers. Copyright 2025 by Wainscot Media LLC. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent.
THE PREMIER DESTINATION
For over 18 years, La Chelé Medical Aesthetics has been the trusted leader in non-surgical cosmetic treatments and state-of-the-art laser technology in Bucks County and we are proud to be ranked among the top 20 medical aesthetics centers in the country.
Injectable Center: Expertly administered treatments including Botox, fillers, and other injectables.
Laser Center: Advanced laser treatments for skin rejuvenation, hair removal, and more.
Body Contouring Center: Non-invasive body sculpting and contouring solutions.
Medical Facials Center: Customized luxury facials to meet your skin’s unique needs.
Hormone & Medically Assisted Weight Loss: Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy and our Physician-assisted Medical Weight Loss Program, IV hydration, vitamin shots, and holistic wellness.
LOCAL PULSE
HONORING VETERANS
On Veterans Day, Washington Crossing National Cemetery held a ceremony hosted by the Guardians of the National Cemetery, a local volunteer organization.
Cemetery Assistant Director Jason Guenther (pictured) welcomed guests with a reminder about the importance of continuing to support veterans: “This day is about honoring their service, remembering their sacrifices and ensuring that the needs of our veterans continue to be supported long after they have hung up their uniforms.”
FIRED UP ABOUT PREVENTION
During Fire Prevention Week in October, Upper Makefield Fire Company Chief Tim Brewer (far left) and firefighter Paul McDaniel (far right) visited Crossing Academy to give students a lesson on smoke alarms—and a close-up look at a fire truck.
SHOP IN THE NAME OF THE LAW!
For the seventh annual Shop with a Cop event in December, local police officers, including Upper Makefield’s Sergeant Daniel Jones and Middletown’s Officer Melissa Robison (pictured), were paired with local elementary and middle school students for an afternoon of shopping and holiday festivities.
Donations from community sponsors and local businesses helped to fund gift cards for the children, allowing them to purchase gifts for themselves and their families.
A LIBERTY TREE IS PLANTED
In celebration of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the founding of the country, a tulip poplar was planted on the grounds of Washington Crossing Historic Park in October as part of the Liberty Tree Project, a partnership between the Pennsylvania Commission for the U.S. Semiquincentennial and the Pennsylvania Masons.
The historical roots of the project trace back to the years leading up to the American Revolution, when “Liberty Trees” were used as symbolic meeting places for colonists known as the Sons of Liberty.
For the Liberty Tree Project, sapling descendants produced from the seedlings of the last original Liberty Tree will be planted in each of the state’s 67 counties.
Hall of Frame
A custom framer and gallery owner talks about a life surrounded by art.
Debbie Crow is the owner of Canal Frame-Crafts and Gallery in Washington Crossing. Established in 1990, the custom frame shop and gallery is known for having one of the finest collections of work by local artists in Bucks County.
You’ve been in business for 34 years. What has been the key to your success?
I believe the keys to my longevity and success are quality, attention to detail, integrity and perseverance. I’ve always strived to provide the best possible product for a reasonable price as
well as high-quality art by local artists. I have a good eye for frame design and color, and knowledge of preservation. I run my business with honesty, reliability and integrity. Over the years, I have persevered through health challenges, economic fluctuations and the pandemic, but I continue to work hard and stay positive to provide for my community.
INTERVIEW WITH DEBBIE CROW
What makes framing an art form in and of itself?
I have always believed that framing can make—or break— artwork. My goal is for framing to pull the viewer’s eye into the image, not overpower or call attention to itself. The framing is part of the total package, so it becomes a part of the art. I wouldn’t attempt to create a painting myself, but I feel that my framing is my art form.
Throughout your career, you’ve also been an instrumental music teacher. How does music continue to inspire you?
I continue to play the French horn both professionally and for fun. I’m a member of the Trenton Local Music Union, which covers both sides of the river. I enjoy music and find it a good outlet and way to express myself, as well as a way to give back to my church and community.
What makes Bucks County, and Washington Crossing in particular, such a destination for artists?
Bucks County has a long tradition of art, and I believe it stems from the variety of landscapes, the open and rural feel, the diversity of color with four distinct seasons, and many historic structures. Washington Crossing in particular has important history and many old stone buildings and interesting structures to paint, including canal bridges, Bowman’s Tower and the old park buildings.
What’s your favorite thing to do in and around Upper Makefield?
My favorite thing to do in the area is hike and spend time outdoors. Between the canal, the parks, the Wildflower Preserve and Baldpate across the river, I can get outside and enjoy a good workout even in the winter with snowshoes. I find that enjoying the outdoors clears my head and reduces stress. We are blessed to live and work in such a beautiful area!
Lovestruck: Maria Cane and Al Hernandez, owners of Bucks County Racquet Club
Courting Life Lessons
For Al Hernandez and Maria Cane, owning Bucks County Racquet Club is about love, service and strong returns.
BY NICK NORLEN
When writing about tennis, there’s always the temptation to make a play on the most famous of its scoring quirks— the word “love.” When writing about Bucks County Racquet Club, it’s entirely unavoidable.
The club in Washington Crossing has it all. Love of the game. Love among family, friends, neighbors. Between coach and player. This love story even has a tennis wedding.
At the heart of it all are Al Hernandez and Maria Cane, who became owners of the club in 2021. The married couple has been together for 27 years, but Hernandez was
introduced to his first love at just 9 years old, when his mom gave him a tennis racquet for Christmas.
“I loved it. I was at the courts every day, hitting against the wall. For hours,” he says. “I haven’t put down the racquet since then.”
Hernandez has had a successful playing career that has extended into the senior division. He won the Yale Senior Slam Nationals in 2014 and 2017, and he’s still one of the top players in his age division. But it’s clear that what he loves most is coaching.
“My best time of day is when I’m on the tennis court teaching people,” he says.
Club regulars gather for their drill session.
Volleys of Wisdom
Hernandez, who still teaches up to 40 hours a week, has coached some of the top junior talent in the county, including players who went on to become No. 1 singles and doubles players at the collegiate level.
Among his star students is Mike Stanley, who’s been playing since he was about 8 years old. Hernandez started coaching him soon after.
“He just made it fun,” Stanley says. “He’s been my coach ever since. I’ve never, ever considered going anywhere else or working with anyone else.”
Stanley played four years of varsity tennis at Council Rock North and was recruited by The College of New Jersey, where he went on to be a four-year
varsity starter, even competing in the U.S. Open qualifier.
Stanley recalls a specific instance, early in his playing career, in which some blazing instruction from Hernandez “lit a fire under me,” he says. “Honestly, without that sort of mentorship, I doubt I could have continued to go at the level I was going at.”
Now 30, Stanley still practices with Hernandez. “One of my favorite parts of the week is Saturday morning at Bucks County Racquet Club,” Stanley says. “It’s a really nice time to just focus on this little ball flying across a 78-foot court for an hour and a half.”
Hernandez says that maintaining that kind of place for the community—and for his longtime colleagues—is what made
him want to purchase the club after having worked there for so many years. Closing the deal came with a volley of setbacks, but he persevered because of the lessons he’s learned on the court, he said.
“It’s not all about tennis,” Hernandez says. “It’s about what tennis does for life.” He says he tries to apply the work ethic and problem-solving that he has learned from the game to the challenges that are inevitable with running a business.
Learning how to process a loss in a match—when there’s no one else to blame it on—has taught Hernandez how to avoid fixating on the negatives in life, he says.
“I just have to step back and say, ‘Wait, look at the whole picture,’” Hernandez says. “What else would I rather be doing?”
Above: Hernandez (right) has been coaching Mike Stanley (left) since Stanley was about 9 years old.
More than a Business
Cane has had a distinctly different career path. She’s a registered nurse who got into tennis as a social outlet. She says she never saw herself in the ownership role at a tennis club, but it’s one she’s making her own.
“It’s given me the opportunity to give back,” she says. “I’m getting more involved with the community and what we can do for it.”
Along with contributing to a holiday giving drive centered in Bristol Borough, the club donates its facility for fundraisers. Recent events have benefitted organizations focused on causes such as breast cancer, mental health and hospice care.
“People are very generous, and they’re
looking to help,” Cane says. “I just think the more you give, the more you’re going to get back.”
Driving it all is the sense of community that’s fostered on and off the club’s courts. “It just brings everyone together,” Cane says. “It’s so much more than just business. These relationships are with people you want in your life and want to surround yourself with because they’re good, caring people. It’s not like you just come play tennis and leave.”
Indeed, Hernandez lists multiple families whose involvement in the club spans three generations. He now teaches the grandchildren of some players he coached 30 years ago. “It’s a good feeling that they’re coming back,” he says. “I guess we’re doing something right.”
Other families have been forged on the courts. One member started bringing her boyfriend to weekly sessions, and eventually they got married—and held their wedding at the club.
But perhaps the story that best illustrates the club’s family dynamic is one that Stanley singles out. In 2017, his mother passed away the week after he graduated from college. At the time, Hernandez was competing in a tennis tournament hundreds of miles away in New England. Hernandez and Cane immediately drove back home to be there for Stanley.
“The tennis didn’t matter at that point; it was more about being there for us in that moment,” Stanley says. “He’s got one of the best hearts of anyone I know.”
The owners strive to make the club as much a community as a place to learn and compete. Many members have become like extended family.
Winter at the Wildflower Preserve
Exploring the 90-year-old Bowman’s Hill sanctuary for native plants yields surprises beyond treasured blossoms.
BY NICK NORLEN
Ask Maggie Strucker what her favorite time of year is at Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, and she’ll tell you: when there are no wildflowers.
Strucker, an interpretive specialist at the preserve, doesn’t actually phrase it that way. But when I propose that we walk its grounds together to explore the facets of its least-appreciated season, her enthusiasm gives her away—before she admits it outright: “I’m a winter person anyway.”
Part of Strucker’s job is managing
expectations. The preserve is not a botanical garden with “flowers all the time,” she says. You will not find manicured rows of blooms.
What you will find are more than 700 of Pennsylvania’s 2,000 native plant species, all growing wild—including 60 classified as rare, threatened or endangered. This concentration would be impossible without careful stewardship, dogged eradication of invasives and a deer fence that encloses 100 of the preserve’s 134 acres.
“We’re not here just to be pretty; we have a mission,” Strucker says. “We want to enhance the public’s understanding of the beauty when it’s not flowers all the time.”
We begin our flowerless hike on a trail just south of the visitor center, near one of the interpretive signs that help guide visitors—85 percent of whom are firsttimers, according to data collected by the preserve. This particular sign is titled “Every tree has a story”—and Strucker often stops to tell them.
PHOTOGRAPHS
BY
Native wildflowers aren’t just for show, says interpretive specialist Maggie Strucker, who points out ways that entire ecosystems thrive in the presence of indigenous plants.
Natural Histories
She takes hold of the branch of a beech tree, identifiable by its smooth, grayish bark, its spiky buds and the crispy, coppertoned leaves it holds long after most other deciduous trees have shed theirs. This leaf retention, known as marcescence, may provide multiple benefits to the tree, including possibly shielding buds from deer.
The benefits to us are sensory. The pointed oval leaves give gentle texture to the winter quiet as they rattle with every breeze.
As the beeches hold tight, other trees let go. Look down and you’ll see what’s collectively known as mast: pinecones, nuts and berries that accumulate on the forest floor and serve as winter sustenance for so many animals.
“People think that trees are kind of dead in the winter, but they’re not,”
Strucker says. We pause to appreciate what’s happening inside: unseen changes in metabolism that reduce water content to avoid freezing, producing a viscous liquid that gets expelled in the spring: sap.
We pass by an eastern hemlock, the state tree of a state named for trees. Fittingly, the central portion of the preserve is named Penn’s Woods, populated with specimens as part of a reforestation project established in 1944 to celebrate William Penn’s 300th birthday.
The preserve itself is a decade older than that, founded in 1934 through efforts led by Mary K. Parry, the chair of the Bucks County Federation of Women’s Clubs, and W. Wilson Heinitsh, who worked for the Pennsylvania Department of Forest and Waters and as a consultant for Washington Crossing Historic Park.
The two met at the site, which had been planned as a picnic grove. They saw that it could be so much more.
At the center of Penn’s Woods is an unusual landscape: a clearing covered in a pea-green blanket of moss. It’s just one of the shades of green that overwinter at the preserve amid seasonal browns and tans.
Nearby, there’s a bright green Christmas fern—“easy to identify because its leaflets look like little Christmas stockings,” Strucker explains—growing right next to the dark green semi-gloss of a holly plant.
Further along, we stop to admire the sprawling green lobes of an eastern prickly pear cactus, which is actually a plant native to Pennsylvania. “Survives the snow—it’s amazing,” Strucker says. “You should see it when it blooms. They sell it in our nursery now, too, and it sells like hotcakes.”
A Living Landscape
The nursery exclusively sells native plants, with the goal of populating local yards with species fine-tuned to the Pennsylvania ecosystem, just like at the preserve.
“Once you start to bring in more and more natives, then the wildlife comes,” Strucker says. “So there’s more squirrels and chipmunks, for example, for the fox to eat, and owls and hawks.”
Our walk is soundtracked with the chicka-dee-dee-dee call that gives the chickadees their name. More than 170 species of birds have been observed at the preserve over the years, and wintertime birding is especially fruitful without leaves blocking the view.
“That’s why I think I love winter here so much, because you can see through,” Strucker says. “You can see the nests in the trees. You can see the creatures that hang around. It’s quite a neighborhood.”
Sure enough, we spot a bird’s nest at eye level that in summertime would be completely hidden in greenery. Strucker scans the canopy and finds a drey—a squirrel nest. When there’s snow, the white cover reveals other activity.
“The stories that tracks tell are amazing,” Strucker says. “You can figure out who’s chasing whom.”
If there had been snow this day, it would have recorded our steps around glacial boulders covered in lichen. Our stop to inhale the sweet, lemony scent of Spicebush. Our pass by Founders’ Pond, where toads and turtles spend the winter hunkered down in the muck. Our crossing of Pidcock Creek over the stone bridge, built during the Great Depression by workers from the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Works Progress Administration. There’s history in every step, dating back to the land’s original inhabitants, the Lenape tribe.
Eventually, we arrive back where we began. Which fits with how Strucker sees it—as a starting point.
“If we could get people to appreciate what’s around them, they’d be more apt to protect it, I think,” Strucker says. “Otherwise, it’s just a walk in the woods. We want it to be more than a walk in the woods.”
In His Own Worlds
Upper Makefield digital artist Noah Norman expounds on the hard work of inventing the future.
Noah Norman is, in a word, hyperdimensional. In two words, he’s a digital artist, but that doesn’t begin to capture all the dimensions.
BY NICK NORLEN
Most of the Upper Makefield native’s projects involve inventing an entirely new medium. Under the name Hard Work Party, he “creates experiences, artworks and digital objects with complex inner lives.”
His commissions are wildly diverse. For Amazon Web Services, he created a generative AI-powered digital mural to render constantly changing scenes of sustainably built environments. For IndyCar, he developed a novel approach to real-time race data visualization. For Rosetta Hall restaurant and nightclub in Boulder, Colorado, he invented a custom lighting installation that changes throughout the day based on light and sound conditions.
With his latest personal venture, Third Wave Arcade, he and his business partner have set out to invent the future of gaming. They’re currently seeking to bring the concept to a local pop-up location where people can experience what Norman describes as “VR without goggles,” in which players are immersed in a shared physical space, controlling gameplay with body movements, gestures and even facial expressions. The long-term vision, Norman said, is for it to become a “third place” where gameplay serves as the central draw for social gathering.
Upper Makefield magazine sat down with the artist for a multidimensional conversation about gaming, curiosity, creativity and mortality. Here is Noah Norman in his own words (edited for length and clarity).
A rendering of the Third Wave Arcade concept.
On Digital Art
A very specific thing about digital art is that it can have a durational component to it. And for me, the thing that I really love about certain pieces—and the thing that I try to evoke in especially permanent pieces—is a feeling of a hidden interiority that rewards closer inspection. I want the people that are sharing space with these things to have private moments with it, where they’ve seen it do or behave or be in a state that no one has ever seen and that no one will ever see again. It might show a side of itself only to a certain person, and only occasionally, and only under certain conditions. And that type of thing comes with risk because, as the artist, you can’t possibly know everything it’s going to do.
On Curiosity
I believe that if I have a superpower, it is that research is my default state. I have a limitless interest and patience for rabbit hole-level research that takes place over decades, for something for which I have no direct connection.
Not just curiosity, but an inclination towards inexhaustible desire to understand lots of different things at a really deep level gives you the breadth to approach every project with a foundation of appreciation for what it is—or what it might be when you get to know it.
And then the ability to really try to get your arms around it and really understand it on its own terms—before deciding what is the best thing to do in the context of the project. The folks that don’t have that are more likely to try to turn everything into a nail because they have a hammer.
Above: Noah Norman operates a lift at Rosetta Hall in Boulder, Colorado, while installing his custom lighting project. Left: Lighting elements after installation and (bottom) before.
On Innovation in Gaming
In this digital medium, we can create these really impactful, cinematic, beautiful, sensitive, dynamic, hilarious expressions of game structures that have never existed, but also ones that have existed in tabletop gaming, in party games, in game shows, and even things that are gamelike that exist in cinema and in art. All those things are on the table. They’re all this low-hanging fruit to be harvested for an entirely new medium of gaming that is untouched.
On Creating His Destiny
[Third Wave Arcade] is my attempt to manifest the ability to build my ideas with some regularity in a context in which I have not necessarily full creative control but the ability to have my real belief—the core thing that I think is most important about each project— survive all the way to the end.
With larger teams and in the built environment and in the real world— sometimes through the boiling frog, through godsmacks or just human intervention—the very heart and soul of a project can be swapped out and transplanted with something that doesn’t
belong there, even if the expression, the physical thing, the medium or whatever does not change.
Sometimes the thing that animates the thing—or the thing that makes it rhyme or real or right—can get removed or replaced before the thing is finished. In the end, the thing that is built might, for some people, be a success. But for you as the originator, the creator or the artist … it can feel almost worse than the thing being canceled.
It’s a smart thing ... to do the same thing over and over and become known for it, or get better at it or just make money off of something ... without having to redo it every time or start from scratch. But I don’t. I don’t do that. And so for me, it can be really heartbreaking to finish a project that has been nudged far enough from the mark that … it isn’t right any longer.
I’m trying to escape that. It’s not that I don’t want to compromise, or that I don’t want to work with others. It’s not that at all. It’s just that I want to control my own destiny. And I have so many ideas that I can see death coming, and I’m like, “How am I going to get these ideas down with the hit rate that I’ve got right now?”
Blazing a New Trail
Scout Shaun Blaney partnered with Washington Crossing Historic Park to develop a new footpath on Bowman’s Hill.
Washington Crossing Historic Park is excited to announce the addition of Pidcock Trail, a brand-new path that is now open for hiking in the Bowman’s Hill Tower tract in New Hope.
The addition of the Pidcock Trail was made possible through the hard work of Troop 46 Scout Shaun Blaney. A 17-year-old student at Pennsbury High School, Blaney worked to design the trail and lead a crew of workers in completing it as part of his Eagle Scout project.
The Pidcock Trail is a 1.17-mile loop trail that shares a name with nearby Pidcock Creek— both named for early settler John Pidcock.
BY MATT TRUESDALE
Be Prepared
The trail’s difficulty level is rated medium-to-hard; this is not a hike for beginners. Expect to encounter uneven and slippery surfaces, large rocks, roots and steep slopes throughout the trail, making it a challenging new destination for avid hikers.
As always, we at Washington Crossing Historic Park recommend wearing sturdy boots and bringing hiking poles if you have them. And remember to pack a full water bottle and a couple of small snacks!
While hiking, keep an eye out for the many species of wildlife that can be observed in this area, including white-tailed deer, fox and different varieties of songbirds and raptors that vary from season to season. Along with the rest of the park staff and on behalf of park visitors and members of this community, I’d like to personally thank Blaney for all his hard work. This trail is something special that will live on for years to come, providing nature lovers the opportunity to experience a part of Washington Crossing that they may never have walked through before.
A Scout’s View
We asked Blaney about the trail that he helped establish.
How did you choose the trail site?
In planning the project, I worked closely with Ranger Truesdale to understand safety requirements and where he wanted the trail to lead. We walked the area several times over a few different seasons to choose the best path. The trail connects the Bowman’s Tower picnic area to the Pidcock Memorial and then winds through the park and follows the fence line of the Wildflower Preserve before circling back to its beginning.
What’s your favorite section?
The start is my favorite because it really came together nicely. This section didn’t have any natural pathways, so we had to move a lot of stone to line the trail and clearly show the path. It was a lot of hard work but I loved the result.
What was most challenging?
All the planning and organization that went into preparing to start. I had to get all approvals, research native plants for blocking off certain areas, recruit volunteers and set up marking flags so my crew knew where to build. Actually creating the trail with members of my troop was a lot of fun. We had a few beautiful early fall days for our major work sessions, and seeing the progress we made each day was very rewarding.
What was it like seeing your vision come to life?
It turned out so much better than I imagined when we first started discussing
the project. Now I cannot even picture how nothing was there before. It was an awesome feeling to get compliments from the first few hikers who walked the trail while we were working. It made me feel like the trail added a missing piece to the park.
What do you hope people will experience?
I’ve been up to the tower a few times since the trail was finished, and I am so happy to see that people are using the trail and really seem to enjoy it! I hope people enjoy a moderately challenging hike and enjoy being out in nature. The park is full of beautiful trees and foliage, and is home to deer and other wildlife, which I think people will love.
Matt Truesdale is an environmental education specialist for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources based at Washington Crossing Historic Park.
Opposite page: Shaun Blaney at the start of the new trail he helped create. This page: Volunteers clear a portion of the Pidcock Trail.
Powder to the People!
The region offers a wealth of ski slopes for beginners and veterans alike.
BY CLARA SEIGLER
I’m not exactly a world-class skier. I grew up in Austin, Texas, which gets, on average, about a quarter of an inch of snowfall a year.
But once I moved to the Northeast, I discovered the beauty and excitement of a good winter snowstorm. Plus, I suddenly found myself within driving distance of multiple ski resorts. That’s how, as of last year, I found myself on a secondhand pair of skis, barreling down beautiful snowy mountain trails, feeling
an indescribable adrenaline rush—at least when it was going well.
This year, I’m stoked to hit the slopes again and have thoroughly researched local resorts and mountains. Here’s a rundown of bountiful local options for newbies and experienced skiers or snowboarders alike.
Skiing the Keystone State Close to home, Shawnee Mountain in East Stroudsburg is one of the more
family-friendly resorts in the Poconos, with plenty of kid- and beginner-friendly trails, tubing and family activities. Prices vary, but as of this writing, single-day lift tickets start at $52 and season passes start at $549.
Camelback Mountain Resort in Tannersville is generally the most popular destination in the Poconos, with skiing, snowboarding, tubing and even an indoor waterpark, offering 39 trails across 166 acres of skiable terrain. Fifteen of those trails are beginner-friendly. This season, Camelback season passes (with blackout dates) start at $519, with twilight lift tickets priced at $55 and all-day lift tickets priced at $69.
Blue Mountain Resort in Palmerville features over 40 trails, including the highest vertical drop in Pennsylvania, at 1,082 feet. Blue Mountain’s five terrain parks are a favorite for freestyle skiers and snowboarders. Prices vary based on demand, but as of this writing, four-hour lift tickets start at $48, eight-hour tickets start at $55 and season passes start at $549 for ages 22 and over.
Jack Frost Big Boulder in White Haven is a single resort complex that encompasses two very distinct mountains. Jack Frost offers a more traditional skiing
experience, with 20 trails and plenty of beginner-friendly runs, while Big Boulder is better known for freestyle skiing and snowboarding. Daily lift tickets start at $48. Season passes vary in price, with discounts for seniors and college students; a weekdayonly season pass starts at $490.
Options in New Jersey
Mahwah’s Campgaw Mountain is known for its beginner-friendly environment, which is ideal for younger skiers and snowboarders and for anybody new to winter sports.
Campgaw is also known for its popular tubing runs, which are 800 feet long and accessible by lift. Plus, it’s one of the more affordable options on this list. A four-hour lift ticket from Monday through Thursday starts at just $36 this season, and that’s about as low as you’ll find. Season passes start at $379.
If you’ve already mastered Campgaw, Vernon’s Mountain Creek Resort is a great place to explore some more advanced trails. Mountain Creek is the largest ski resort in New Jersey, with 167 acres of skiable terrain, including 46 trails and eight lifts. About one quarter of those trails are
beginner-friendly.
Mountain Creek’s Appalachian Hotel offers ski-in/ski-out accommodations with luxury suites and a heated pool, which makes this resort an ultimate weekend getaway if you want to spend a few bucks. Weekday lift tickets start at $59, weekends start at $68 and season passes start at $319.
The Snow Must Go On
If you’ve mastered local options and are still feeling ambitious, consider Hunter Mountain Resort or Windham Mountain Club, both located in the Catskills of New York state. I haven’t attempted Hunter or Windham yet, but now that I’ve got the skiing bug, I’ve been scoping them out, and it’s only a matter of time.
If you’re an otherwise outdoorsy person who has never been on a pair of skis or a snowboard, you owe it to yourself to take the plunge. There’s something magical about the fresh air of a snowy mountain. Mix in some good friends and a little adrenaline, and the whole experience can be instantly exhilarating.
Clara Seigler is a design and glassware specialist who recently moved to New Jersey from New York City.
Numerous skiing and snowboarding areas in Pennsylvania and neighboring states, including Camelback Mountain Resort (opposite page), are within easy driving distance.
5 Fitness Tips for 2025
How to break away from the traditional exercise mindset with positivity and small successes
BY JENNIFER PELLEGRINO
Everyone has their their own path to fitness.
For my husband, Brian, and me, our paths led to the same destination: becoming co-owners of a fitness studio. But like everyone else, we each had our own very different starting point.
Brian is a fitness enthusiast who thrives on data and results. He was captivated by the potential to optimize workouts in just 20 minutes.
For me, the pursuit was deeply personal. Having undergone 13 surgeries since 2006, including an artificial disk replacement in my lower back, three cervical fusions and rods in my neck, I live with chronic pain, limited mobility and recurring spasms.
The possibility that I could find a fitness routine that provides relief and improves my quality of life gave me hope.
I’ve benefited greatly from finding the right workout to improve my physical and mental well-being. But I know that the hardest part can be getting started.
It can be so difficult to find the time to fit fitness into busy days. Life moves fast! And as fast as it moves, there is no shortage of responsibilities that need to be managed.
Here are five simple tips to help you get started and maintain motivation
1 BUILD ROUTINES
Routines help to timebox responsibilities. For example, get up at the same time every day or make sure the kitchen sink is clean. This will allow you to start every day feeling good about a small win.
2 START WITH ONE STEP
Starting is the hardest part. If you’re having trouble getting out of bed in the morning, start by putting your feet on the floor. Sometimes that one step is all
that’s needed for you to build up some momentum.
3 SET SMALL GOALS
If you want to lose 10 pounds, start by trying to lose two. If you want to run a 5K, start by running a mile. This will allow you to recognize the successes you have along the way.
4 FUEL YOUR BODY
Maintaining a healthy and balanced diet helps with energy and clarity. There is often too much focus on calories instead of eating the right combination of foods. Food is fuel.
5 FORGIVE YOURSELF
Things come up! And that’s OK. Each day, we can try to do better than the day before. If we do it, that’s a win! If we don’t, tomorrow is a new day to try again.
Using these strategies will help you build good fitness habits. And when fitness is a part of your life, you’ll start to notice that other improvements—such as in sleep quality and stress levels—will follow. Here’s to a new year of possibilities!
Jennifer Pellegrino (above left) is co-owner, with her husband Brian, of BODY20 Newtown, a fitness studio that uses electro-muscular stimulation to augment weekly, 20-minute, low-impact workout sessions.
Head to Toe Menswear
Treat yourself to a unique shopping experience at Head to Toe Menswear, the go-to store for men seeking the latest trends or investing in long time classics. We cater to men who appreciate quality and attention to detail, ensuring that every piece is perfectly tailored to both your taste and physique. From trendy casuals to sophisticated formal wear, we have something for every occasion.
Celebrate Our First Anniversary! Huge savings storewide, January 15th–31st. Don’t miss out on discounts as we kick off another year.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you and welcoming Head to Toe Menswear to the community!
Real Estate Strategies for 2025
Navigate the Upper Makefield market with tips from an expert who knows the community.
BY GREG DWORNIKOWSKI
Happy New Year! I am excited to kick off 2025 with Upper Makefield magazine’s inaugural Local Expert column! In my contributions to this forum, I’ll discuss real estate as it pertains to our local Upper Makefield market and will look to provide helpful information to you, whether you’re a homeowner or an aspiring homeowner, or are contemplating making a move in the future.
The runup in real estate values in recent years has been a source of exuberance to existing homeowners—and one of lament and despair to first-time homebuyers aspiring to purchase their own abode.
With the increase in property values, homeowners have seen their household balance sheets bolstered by significant home equity growth. Aspiring homeowners have experienced the prospect of purchasing their own home dashed as property values
have outpaced their ability to jump into the market.
Underpinning this explosion in home values has been the short supply of homes for sale matched with strong buyer demand.
The short supply of inventory has largely been driven by the fact that many homeowners put financing on their homes during the pandemic period, when mortgage interest rates were in the range of 2 to 3 percent. With interest rates now in the range of 6 to 7 percent, the idea of moving to a new home and having to finance at a higher rate seems unappetizing, and most discretionary sellers are choosing to stay put.
At the same time, buyer demand has been robust, with strong employment levels and rising wages fueling demand for real estate. This mismatch of supply and demand has resulted in quick sales at strong pricing, generally with multiple offers. A wonderful dynamic for sellers!
Below is a chart that shows the number of home sales in Upper Makefield by month, along with the average sale price.
So what does this mean for you? If you are thinking of selling, now is a fantastic time. To maximize your sale proceeds, it’s critical to have your home properly prepared for marketing.
RECENT UPPER MAKEFIELD HOME SALES
In this market, buyers are paying a premium for “completeness.” An updated home with current kitchen, baths, flooring, paint, lighting, etc., will always command a premium price. The more you can do to your home to convey a current, updated look, the better you will fare in the marketing process. Certainly, selling a home in a completely renovated state is the ideal scenario.
However, if your goal is to sell your property without doing a big renovation, smaller, simpler cosmetic improvements that are easy to do can help convey a fresh, updated look during the marketing process. That is where having the guidance of an experienced realtor really becomes key.
Careful planning is an important part of the home-selling process. Call upon an experienced, local realtor early in your thought process to help map out an effective strategy for optimizing your home for sale. Considerations that they can help you sort through include deferred maintenance items that are important to address, potential payback on update projects and simple cosmetic improvements that can really pay big dividends for you in the sale process.
Wishing you a happy and prosperous 2025!
The Pink Daisy is a fantastic boutique with a diverse range of gifts, clothing, and baby items. Come & explore all those new arrivals and sales!
If you’re looking to refresh your wardrobe, it’s a wonderful time to find cozy fall and winter deals while also getting a sneak peek at stylish spring collections. With brands like Joseph Ribkoff, Damee, Planet, and Karen Kane, you’re sure to find some amazing pieces to add to your closet.
Yardleyville Square, 90 West Afton Ave, Yardley, PA 215-321-2248
Tues-Fri 10 – 4:30 Saturday 10 – 4:00 Hours
Family, Maternity & Newborn Photography in the Bucks County Area
Welcome friends! So glad you’re here!
I’m Jenny, your local Bucks County, Philadelphia and New Jersey Photographer. Some things about me… I married the love of my life, I’m a mama to two rambunctious boys, I drink more coffee than I should, I love to travel and immerse myself in new cultures and I’m a true hippy at heart! I’m obsessed with sunsets and capturing motherhood, families and couples during the beautiful golden hour. I am captivated by raw, authentic emotion and moments between couples and families.
My work is what I would call emotive storytelling. I look forward to capturing your family’s story.
www.thepinkdaisy.com thepinkdaisy@gmail.com
Take Control of Your Finances
Key insights from the advisory team at Anthony Petsis & Associates
BY ANTHONY PETSIS
In my 44 years in financial services, I’ve observed that many of my most successful clients share a simple yet powerful habit: They assign specific labels to their money.
Clearly categorizing their funds—such as “emergency savings,” “daughter’s wedding” or “retirement investments”—creates a disciplined financial structure that preserves money for intended purposes and helps people achieve their goals.
By assigning a clear purpose to every dollar, successful individuals maintain discipline, focus and ultimately greater financial stability.
Here are more financial tips from our team members to help you achieve your financial goals in 2025.
Manage Concentrated Positions
Modern portfolio theory recommends spreading investments across 40-plus stocks, ideally keeping each below 2.5 percent
of your total portfolio. Diversification is crucial, but tax implications often make it challenging when selling from taxable accounts.
Here are three strategies for managing this risk while preserving growth potential:
• Net unrealized appreciation (NUA): If you hold company stock in a qualified plan, NUA allows you to withdraw it, pay taxes on the original cost and defer capital gains until the stock is sold.
• Hedging: Hedging strategies such as buying puts, selling covered calls or using collars can help mitigate risk without the need to sell your shares.
• Exchange funds: This option allows you to exchange your concentrated stock for shares in a diversified fund while retaining the original cost basis.
- Alex Petsis
Maximize a 401(k) or 403(b)
Here are five benefits of maximizing 401(k) or 403(b) accounts—cornerstones of retirement savings—to enhance your financial future:
• Tax advantages: Contributions to a traditional 401(k) are pretax, reducing your taxable income, while Roth 401(k) contributions are made after tax, allowing tax-free withdrawals in retirement.
• Employer match: Many employers match a portion of your contributions—free money you shouldn’t pass up. Contributing enough to receive the full match is like getting a 100 percent return.
• Automated savings: Since contributions come directly from your paycheck, saving can become an “out of sight, out of mind” way to consistently grow your retirement nest egg.
• Higher contribution limits: 401(k)s allow higher contributions than IRAs,
meaning you can save more for retirement each year. You can also contribute to a Roth 401(k) regardless of your income level, something not possible with a Roth IRA.
• Compounding growth: Investment growth within your 401(k) is tax-deferred. This means gains aren’t taxed annually, allowing compounding to amplify your savings over time.
- Heidi Hirsh
Consult Professionals
With a new year comes an opportunity to get your financial house in order. Working with an advisory team can make this process more effective—and less stressful.
By reviewing your current situation, an advisory team can create a tailored plan that maximizes your savings, minimizes taxes and ensures your approach aligns with your future needs. Instead of tackling finances alone, consider partnering with a professional who can offer the expertise and strategies to make 2025 a year of financial growth and stability.
- Marc Butler
To learn more about our team approach to helping our clients, reach out to us at 215-968-6638 or visit www.apetsis.com.
Anthony Petsis is the founder of Anthony Petsis & Associates, the top-rated financial advisory firm in Bucks County.
BOOK NOOK
Your Reading Year Begins Here
Start 2025 on a path toward rediscovery with these thought-provoking selections.
Could 2025 be a year of rediscovery, individually and collectively? To find out, here are some questions to begin your reading year. What do we want to receive from our reading? What insights about our thinking, neighbors and family members do we need in order to appreciate our situation? How do we organize our view of the world so that we can make sense of it for ourselves?
Here are some robust fiction and thought-provoking nonfiction selections to aid us in rediscovering the core tenets of our lives.
“PARABLE OF THE SOWER”
By Octavia Butler
Any one of Butler’s works would be an important addition to your library. Her latest, a book-length essay, is fittingly titled “A Few Rules for Predicting the Future.” But perhaps the best way to start the year is with “Parable of the Sower,” a classic novel that has the timely arc of class, racial and environmental pressures. Its broad scope digs deep into one’s worldview and choices—and their consequences. As with every classic rereading, you will learn and question more than you thought possible.
“THE
COVENANT OF WATER”
By Abraham Verghese
A multigenerational family saga is always a good bedside table staple to start the
BY LIZ YOUNG
year. Verghese’s novel may take a while to read, but that is the best part. As its threads are satisfyingly tied together, you’ll appreciate the pieces and the whole of the rich, intertwined tapestry.
“SHADY
HOLLOW”
By Juneau Black
A book list without a cozy mystery is missing an important feature of reading: rediscovering the world right under our noses. “Shady Hollow” is the first in a mystery series that explores life in a little village through an observant and resourceful mind. You’ll get a welcome chuckle from the cast of characters who are busy minding their busyness.
“THE
HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA”
By TJ Klune
A favorite of both teens and adults, this novel covers timely topics with an outlook toward change and the potential for a new future. The story centers on an island-based orphanage that allows its visitors to rediscover their lives and prepare for an awakening. A read to share with a friend once you have come to love it!
“AN IMMENSE WORLD”
By Ed Yong
A well-documented and organized refresher on how the world is perceived
by species with very different abilities than humans. Detailed, robustly researched and extremely informative, this is nonfiction writing suitable for scientists but accessible to us all.
“DEMOCRACY
AWAKENING”
By Heather Cox Richardson
Rediscover our roots and history with this book club favorite that’s been resonant with each reader in a unique and informative way. Read, reflect on and share it with a friend or family member for further discussion.
“THE
BLUE ZONES”
By Dan Buettner
Buettner’s series of books uses “Blue Zones” to refer to regions of the world where people are believed to live longer, richer and healthier lives due to certain aspects of their nutrition and lifestyle. In 2024, “Blue Zones Ignite Bucks” was launched to introduce the concept to Bucks County through programs “exploring common goals for improving health, mobility, community engagement and sense of purpose amongst residents.”
Here’s to living well in 2025!
Liz Young is the owner of Commonplace Reader (commonplace-reader.com), which just celebrated its five-year anniversary and hosts several adult book clubs each month along with kids’ activities on Saturdays in the shop on Main Street in Yardley.
In Good Hands
This handsome fella is an eastern screech owl that was found injured with mild concussion symptoms on Brownsburg Road West back in October. After a call from a resident, Upper Makefield police transported the bird to Aark Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, where it spent the next month recovering on a steady diet of hand-fed mice and fluid therapy. Upper Makefield magazine editor Nick Norlen captured this photo in November immediately before Aark Clinic director Amanda Leyden let go and released the owl back into the wild near where it was found. Welcome back, Mr. Owl!
Have a fabulous Upper Makefield photo? Email it to editor@uppermakefieldmag.com and it could be featured in an upcoming issue!
