Author: ipdesign

Earlier this month homeowners at our Saucon Valley community celebrated the first annual Friendsgiving in their new Clubhouse!

Friendsgiving Celebration
Our homeowners put the new Clubhouse to great use to hold their first “Friendsgiving” celebration with the help of the Friendsgiving Committee and Lifestyle Director, Barbara Hansel. 60 homeowners gathered to enjoy the company of neighbors, new friends, and great food! Homeowners also banded together in the giving spirit of the holiday to help out their local elementary school!

“Kirk and I are very excited to be sharing our first Friendsgiving event in our new community at our beautiful clubhouse. We are truly thankful to be living here and celebrating with all our wonderful new friends. It is especially rewarding to know that our neighborhood was able to donate food baskets to ten needy families at our local elementary school.” -Marilyn & Kirk Timmins

Paying it Forward
What began as a Thanksgiving food drive for Hopewell Elementary School quickly evolved into so much more! In addition to the ten baskets the homeowners provided for families in need, over $600 was raised allowing for the purchase of $200 in Giant gift cards! The remaining funds will help the homeowners get a head start on fundraising for Christmas gifts for children in need. Other non-perishable food items have also been donated for Hopewell’s shared food pantry in addition to clothing, and school supplies. Many homeowners have begun donating their time to the school, signing up to be volunteer classroom assistants, helping children with reading, and one-on-one tutoring.

Learn more about Locust Valley and how you can be part of this thriving community!

By Powell Davis, Marketing Coordinator

This month, after great anticipation, Traditions of America unveiled its latest and most unique active adult community, Pinnacle at Adams, located in Butler County PA

Grand Opening Event

After two information sessions with a great turnout, the Grand Opening event kicked off at 1pm on Sunday, November 13th at the Treesdale Golf & Country Club with over 50 potential homebuyers in attendance. The guest enjoyed hors d’oeurvres and refreshments and a welcome speech by Director of Sales, Jeff Chandler. During the event guests had the opportunity to speak one-on-one with Traditions of America representatives and choose a lot for their DreamHome.

Pinnacle at Adams

Pinnacle at Adams is unique to the Traditions of America brand. Access to the great outdoors is at your fingertips like never before. This 77 acre setting offers 55 estate lots surrounded by natural amenities including walking trails, ponds, gardens, and more. Homeowners can enjoy hiking, kayaking, and mountain biking with a front-row seat to the changing seasons! As with all of our communities, Pinnacle at Adams, is maintenance-free making raking, and shoveling snow a thing of the past.

Building Your Dream Home

The possibilities are limitless for the estate homes at Pinnacle at Adams. Choose from one of our 5 award winning home designs and create your DreamHome! Our designers work with you to select from a plethora of custom interior options allowing you to create the perfect master bath or plan a chef’s kitchen. Structural customization options include sunrooms, fireplaces, or even a second floor with a loft, a great addition when entertaining out of town guests. Larger lots open up the possibilities for your yard as well! Amenities like a pool or expanded patio are wonderful upgrade options for your home!

Don’t miss out, there are still beautiful lots available, but they will not last long.  Click here to learn more about this active adult community Pinnacle at Adams and schedule a private site tour.

By Powell Davis, Marketing Coordinator

Traditions of America at Saucon Valley was proud to unveil its brand new Clubhouse to current homeowners, guests, and perspective homeowners. Turnout was great for the event with over 400 attendees learning what “Live Better” is all about!

Grand Opening Event

The red carpet event kicked off with the playing of our National Anthem by the live entertainment for the evening, Beg, Borrow and Steel, and the raising of the flags by Saucon Valley Resident Gino DeSantis and representatives from the Upper Saucon Valley Police Department.

Patrons of the event enjoyed overviews and demonstrations of Yoga, Zumba, and Personal Fitness instructors who provided insight to what homeowners can expect in a typical class session.

On the patio guests enjoyed food, refreshments, and conversation with current homeowners. In the Club Room guests were able to indulge their sweet tooth with bite sized pastries, and homemade ice cream by Inside Scoop!

Active Living at Saucon Valley

With a new homesites just released, Traditions of America at Saucon Valley is where you can build your DreamHome! During the grand opening event, guests took guided SUV tours of the homesites.  Guests also toured the decorated models and Design Studio where you can select and customize everything from the perfect master suite to the kitchen sink!

The 7,500 square foot Clubhouse offers the latest in resort-style living. With 5-star resort-style amenities such as a heated outdoor pool, exercise room, aerobics room, tennis courts and more, the Clubhouse is at the heart of this community.

By Powell Davis, Marketing Coordinator

Established as a national holiday June 28th 1894, Labor Day, for many, is marked as the last holiday of the summer and the last chance to take a beach vacation. And who can forget the cookouts? Labor Day Weekend is stock full of cookouts, but don’t we all get tired of the same hotdogs and hamburgers that seem to be at every cookout all summer long? We’ve got you covered!

Read on for a few creative recipes to liven up your Labor Day celebrations.

Honeydew and Arugula Salad 

Everyone loves a good salad at a cookout, but what’s exciting about it? Let’s spice it up! This recipe is the perfect blend of sweet and spicy. Plus…it screams summer! Did you know that honeydew melon has great health benefits? Honeydew melon is low in calories and a great source of potassium. Being high in calcium, honeydew melon helps keep bones and teeth strong. Not only is this fruit rich in vitamins, but it’s a great source of water! Piqued your interest? Click Here!

Blackberry Mojito

What’s a cookout without a signature drink? This Blackberry Mojito recipe is a perfect farewell to summer, combining all the fresh flavors of summer. Mint leaves, blackberries, rum, sugar and lime are a sure-fire way to impress your guests and make for a memorable Labor Day celebration, especially with the almost red, white, and blue hue! Ready to thrill your guests? Click Here!

Mexican Corn on the Cob

Sure you could just have the classic butter, salt and pepper on your corn on the cob, but hey why not shake things up a little? This quick and easy recipe only takes 10 minutes to prep and 10 minutes to cook on the grill. Cotija cheese is salty cheese that is very similar to parmesan and often sold grated making this recipe even simpler. Ready to throw these on the grill? Click Here!

Chicken, Bacon, Ranch Skewers

I think this title speaks for itself! Not only does this recipe look delicious, but it’s also super easy to make. With ingredients like a pinch of cayenne pepper, chives, ranch dressing, and cherry tomatoes the bright, colorful dish is a great way to spice up your Labor Day cookout! This one will get your friends, family and neighbors talking. What a great way to wake up the taste buds! Want to give it a shot? Click Here!

Caprese Burger

Still want that hot off the grill burger? Here’s a creative spin on your average burger! Reawaken those taste buds with the fresh mozzarella, basil and balsamic glaze featured on this tasty burger. Did you know that basil is a great source of vitamins and minerals including: iron, calcium, magnesium, and vitamin C? So not only is this burger delectable, but it’s also healthy! You’ve got to try this one Click Here!

Grilled Pineapple Sundaes

Of course we can’t forget about dessert for the perfect cookout menu! What says summer better than pineapple? This Grilled Pineapple Sundae will have your neighbors, friends and family saying “aloha.” Everyone knows pineapples are good for you, but wow! Pineapples are an extremely high source of vitamin C. Even higher than drinking orange juice! Get your daily dose of calcium with the ice cream too. Enjoy this sweet treat! Click here!

Banana Split Kebabs

If you’re looking for a more healthy option why not a Banana Split Kebab? This is a great spin on the timeless dessert! Pair your favorite fruits together on a skewer and drizzle chocolate over top. Don’t forget your toppings! This is an easy and foolproof recipe that you can absolutely make all your own. It’s bound to be a hit for anyone to enjoy! Click here for the recipe.

Labor Day Weekend is a great opportunity to have a get together in the community Clubhouse with neighbors, friends, and family! Enjoy the heated pool, patio, fire pit, and grill to kick off a successful Labor Day celebration. Visit a Traditions of America active adult community this weekend and see what is happening at the Clubhouse.  You may even see some of the recipes above being tested out by our homeowners!

By Powell Davis, Marketing Coordinator

Traditions of America has a long history of success in the Pittsburgh area. But this is not just your average success story. Yes, Traditions is the third largest builder in Pittsburgh, but it goes even deeper than statistics. Traditions of America was the builder who first introduced resort-style active adult neighborhoods to Pittsburgh. What before was a market comprised solely of cookie-cutter patio homes expanded as Traditions introduced luxury to affordable living.

In 2006 resort-style living was first introduced for those 55 and over at Liberty Hills in the North Hills area. This hilltop community featuring 280 homes flourished, and not too long after the 241 home Sewickley Ridge development followed. Just last year, Sewickley Ridge was the fastest-selling new home community in the entire Pittsburgh region. With such continuous and overwhelming success, Traditions is thrilled to announce a third community to the area – Summer Seat!

Living Better at Summer Seat

Traditions of America at Summer Seat, a new 55 and over community coming soon to Ohio Township, will provide the perfect Live Better combination of resort-style living and nationally award-winning homes. Set amongst rolling hills and occupying 77 acres of the former Reilly’s Summer Seat Farm, in a picturesque settings. This upscale community will feature 133 homes, including a mix of Single Family and Garden Homes along with a Clubhouse and outdoor pool. The luxurious and expansive 4,500 sq. ft. Clubhouse will boast a Fitness Center, Sports Bar & Lounge, and many more resort-style amenities. 

Nearly 100 people came out this past weekend to learn more about Summer Seat and to register for the community preview tour and VIP Grand Opening event. This affords customers the opportunity to be among the very first to purchase a home in this brand-new community. It is not too late to RSVP for sessions #2 and #3 and get the first pick on floor plans and locations for your future home. You will not want to miss out!

By Molly McCarthy, Traditions of America Marketing

Dink, kitchen, poach, flabjack, falafel- a random jumbling of words or an athlete’s terminology? If you play, you know that these are some of the terms associated with Pickleball- or the fastest growing sport in America! Pickleball is taking the nation, and Traditions of America, by storm. Karen Karkuff, the lifestyle director at Silver Spring, describes the pickleball craze, raving:

“The residents are crazy about it.  Every single morning the court is full. We even have teams playing out in the community; at local parks in the summer and inside recreation centers in the winter. They are addicted!”

One of the reasons the sport’s popularity has soared is because anyone can play it. It is also the perfect way to combine exercise with socializing. Jenny Taylor from Silver Spring concurs that this is a pastime promising fun with friends, stating:

“We have well over 30 people who regularly play this very social game. We have gotten to know people we may not have met through other community activities and have become more than just partners or opponents; we have become friends.”

With all this buzz around the trending sport, it’s time to uncover some of its history:

• Did you know pickleball has been around for 40 years? That’s right, the first court was built in 1967!
• It was invented by Joel Pritchard, a congressman, and Bill Bell, a successful businessman, on Bainbridge Island, Washington
• The property had an old badminton court, but no equipment, so they improvised and used Ping-Pong paddles and a plastic ball
• In 1972 an official corporation was formed to protect the new sport
• By 1990, the sport was being played in all 50 states!
• Since 2010, the number of places to play has more than doubled, with over 4,000 locations in the nation!

And now for some fun facts:

• Pickleball combines three sports: tennis, table tennis, and badminton
• According to Joan Pritchard, Joel Pritchard’s wife, the name came “after I said it reminded me of the Pickle Boat in crew where oarsmen were chosen from the leftovers of other boats”
• The family named their dog, Pickle, after the new sport
• Pickleball is not limited to the United States! It can be found internationally as well, from New Zealand to Nicaragua to Crete to name a few foreign locations
• There are over 40 tournaments each year!

Still not convinced by all the recent commotion surrounding this sport? Get out next weekend and give it a try for yourself. Who knows, you may be the next “king” or “queen” of the Traditions of America pickleball court!

By Molly McCarthy, Traditions of America Marketing

When planning retirement, you may immediately think of Florida or Texas as havens for retirees. After all, these sunny Southern states are income-tax free, which may sound appealing at first glance. However, upon closer inspection, it can often be most cost-effective to choose a state with an income tax, but one that offers retirees many exemptions. Cue the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania!

Did you know that Pennsylvania is one of only two states in the nation that exempts all retirement income from state tax? That’s one of the reasons Kiplinger ranked Pennsylvania #4 as a place to retire. Embracing its Quaker roots, Pennsylvania is one of the most generous states when it comes to offering income tax exclusions on a wide variety of retirement income. Pennsylvania does not tax Social Security benefits or any eligible public or private pension plan. Additionally, 401(k)s, IRAs, deferred-compensation plans or other retirement accounts are not taxed. While the state sales tax is 6%, food, clothing, textbooks, heating fuels, and prescription and nonprescription drugs are excluded. Another thing to keep in mind is property taxes. Texas, for example, was ranked 6th highest in the nation for property taxes, compared to Pennsylvania at 25th. These results may seem surprising if you’ve been thinking about leaving the Northeast, but states have to pay for their costs somehow. Often, it’s through higher sales or property taxes and few exemptions. For all these reasons, Pennsylvania is an extremely tax-friendly state and a prime location to consider for retirement.

In addition to heightened protection from taxation, Kiplinger points out that the Keystone State has reasonably priced housing for seniors. Also noteworthy is Kiplinger’s selection of Pittsburgh and State College as two of the most desirable locations for 55+ living in Pennsylvania– both locations offer Traditions of America communities.

For all those looking to the Northeast for retirement, Pennsylvania far surpasses any of its neighbors, including Maryland, New Jersey, Connecticut, and New York. Kiplinger ranked New York as fourth worst in the nation for retirement, and categorized New Jersey as “Least Friendly” for retirees. Good thing Pennsylvania is right around the corner! While flocking to year-round sun down South may be initially appealing, if you’re looking to stretch those retirement dollars Pennsylvania may be the winning bet.

By Molly McCarthy, Traditions of America Marketing