Do You Know the #1 Retirement Mistake?
We’ve talked to a number of couples recently who are considering re-retiring back North and closer to their grandkids and old friends. They originally retired to the Southeast to get a warmer climate but they came to realize that they were too far away for the kids to visit. Further,the 1-2 day trips back North were too much time spent on I-95!
If you’re thinking about retiring and moving to an active adult community, children, grandchildren, and your old buddies are a powerful tug–so before you move too far away, consider how you will deal with that. After that, the question is how close do you want to be? That can be a ‘Goldilocks” question–too close and you may feel like a proxy daycare center–many people tell us an hour or two is ‘just right”.
What do you think?
Join our Community Healthy Eating Adventure
In keeping with our Community’s commitment to health and wellness, we are hosting a 28-day program that teaches participants how to choose and prepare healthy foods for a lifetime of wellness. In the previous year, Penn National has held a Farmer’s Market offering locally grown, fresh foods and hosted a highly successful satellite walk for the Mason Dixon Heart Walk.
Patti Nitterhouse, vice-president of White Rock Inc, and developer of Penn National Golf Course Community says, “The Healthy Eating Adventure is another opportunity for residents and the surrounding community to educate themselves and empower people to have the healthiest 2012 possible.”
The adventure kicks off January 25 at the Penn National Clubhouse, with an informative program led by Dr. Liz George, and sponsored in conjunction by Summit Health, Mont Alto Fire & Rescue, and Fayetteville Fire & Rescue. A family physician in Mercersburg, Dr. George became involved in the Community Healthy Eating Adventure after reading an article by the concept’s founder, Rip Esselstyn. After corresponding about the perceived lack of resources in small towns, Rip and Dr. George met with a group of 10 community members and created this project, aimed at helping local people learn to cook and eat a heart healthy plant-based diet.
The January 25 event, which includes a sampling of healthy foods, is free and open to the public. If you’re interested in reversing illness and heart disease, lowering your blood pressure, lowering glucose, losing body fat, or simply reawakening your taste buds from their sugar, salt and fat comas, join us! RSVP to iwood@pennhomes.com.
Newest Penn National Project uses Solar to Heat Water at the Inn
Working with EarthNet Energy, a local alternative energy company, Penn National has installed an array of solar thermal tube collectors to provide hot water for part of the Penn National Inn, lowering its energy costs and use of natural resources. The new system provides hot water for the inn’s laundry facilities, as well as for showers and other hot water needs in two of the inn’s six lodge buildings.
The project employs cutting-edge technology using evacuated tubes, which are far more efficient than flat-plate solar thermal collectors. The project was an opportunity for Penn National to partner with an area company using American technology, while advancing its desire to become more environmentally sustainable, according to Patrice Nitterhouse, vice president of Penn National & owner of White Rock Inc.
Iron Forge 5th hole Named one of 2011 GolfCourseHome Dream 18: Great Residential Golf Holes
The fifth annual edition of the GolfCourseHome Network Dream 18—great residential golf holes representing the best in golf course design is out and Penn National’s Iron Forge #4 has been selected.
The 18 Dream holes were selected from the more than 4,500 golf holes, 250-plus courses created by more than 50 different golf course architects featured on GolfCourseHome.
The GolfCourseHome gallery of Dream 18 holes for 2011 was assembled not just as an all-star list of standout selections, but also with the fun factor more in focus.
Here is the listing for Penn National.
Hole No. 4, Penn National (5th Iron Forge) Fayetteville, PA
Par 4 384 / 362 / 318 / 301
Founded in 1968 and developed with care ever since by the same stable ownership, this 36-hole redoubt in national-park-style terrain is now home to more than 1,000 families.
All amenities are in place and available, including the two courses, a fine clubhouse, swimming and tennis clubs, the Penn National Inn and a seasonal farmers market. The Gettysburg battlefield and other historic sites are nearby, along with antiquing, outlet shopping, fly fishing and kayaking.
Designed by Bill Love and opened in 1997, the Iron Forge course at Penn National has a rabid following, both for its views of the Michaux State Forest and the great variety of shotmaking challenges.
Hole No. 5 is a par-4 that gets lots of psychological mileage out of its moderate length of 384 yards from the back tee markers. What you may not recognize from the tee, with many a bunker flashing into view, is the fairly safe area for landing your drive down the left side. The fairway makes a graceful “S” curve, from the tee up to the greensite, where there’s an interesting symmetry of pot bunkering left and an elongated bunker right.
Send me more information about Penn National!
To see the article, click http://bit.ly/tnuZHo
Wall Street Journal Article suggests that ‘Its Time to Buy that House’
An October 15, 2011 article in the WSJ suggests that we may be at that point where it makes sense to buy real estate again. The article is written by Jack Hough of Smart Money Magazine. Here are some of the highlights:
- U.S. house prices have plunged by nearly a third since 2006, and home ownership rates are falling at the fastest pace since the Great Depression.
- Two key measures now suggest it’s an excellent time to buy a house, either to live in for the long term or for investment income (but not for a quick flip).
- First, the nation’s ratio of house prices to yearly rents is nearly restored to its pre-bubble average.
- Second, when mortgage rates are taken into consideration, houses are the most affordable they have been in decades.
- To read the entire article, click here http://on.wsj.com/pNozMz
Here at Penn National, a Where to Retire ‘Top 50 Best Master-Planned Community’, values have never been more compelling. To see for yourself, call or email Diane Boock to arrange a visit–call 800-338, 7523, or email dianeb@pennhomes.com
Root Farms is here for a few days on their Annual Trip across America!
The Root Family Fruit & Nut Sale comes to this area every November about this time. This year its November 7 & 8th. They set up at the Garber Farm located at 678 Mont Alto Rd. (the lane is next to B&B Roofing).
It’s an interesting story and odyssey. The family owns a farm in the San Joaquim Valley of California specializing in growing almonds and olives. Over the years they have also become distributors for a number of other producers in the Valley. Each year, they make a 6-week, 16-stop tour that begins in California and goes to Idaho making 1-2 day stops along the way as they make their way east to Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia before heading back home. Some of the stops began as visits to their relatives and, over the years, other stops were added.
The Fayetteville stop is one of their biggest–but they aren’t sure why. It may be the great support they get from the Penn National Community!
To learn more about their farm, their schedule and online products, check out their website at http://rootfamilyfarms.com/index.html
From the Website: We are located in the San Joaquin Valley of California and have been growing fine products for over 40 years. We have been supplying our customers with the freshest and most flavorful nuts, dried fruit and candies here in California, throughout the United States and Canada. Most of our products are grown right here on some of the most fertile and productive farmland in the world! We use relationships we have developed with local farmers and processors from America and around the world to bring you the best products. You and your loved ones are sure to be pleased with the fine selection and superior quality we offer here at Root Family Farms. 
John Miner, Employee #1 and Friend
For Penn National, he was employee #1—he was here from the beginning till early in the morning on Sunday, Oct. 30. Today, we mourn the loss of John Miner who died at home peacefully at the age of 83 with his loving wife Kate at his side.
I knew and worked with John since the early 80’s when Mr. Nitterhouse told me—“get to know John–when you give him something to do, he gets it done. He remembers everything and he can find any piece of paper you’re looking for!” And, as I was to find out over the years, he was amazingly correct.
John was a man in a hurry to get things done and over the years we all marveled at his energy and passion for life. John was the classic “right-hand man”—the guy who didn’t need or want the spotlight but who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make things happen.
John was part of an important generation of local businesspeople from the late 1950’s and 60’s who planted the seeds that became modern-day Franklin County. They saw what the area needed and through their own businesses and, in many cases, their cooperation with other business leaders were able to bring their ideas to fruition. They prospered from their business activities but all found ways to give back to the Community through their generosity and volunteering spirit.
John was a member of many local fraternal organizations and gave of his time generously. John was a driving force in starting the new Lions Club at Penn National. John was also a man of many interests and passions including golf, Penn State football, and collecting.
John will be missed for his friendship, good spirit, and passion for the two big Penn’s in his life-Penn State and Penn National. We pray for Kate in the difficult weeks and months that follow such a loss. For the rest of us who knew him well and got to see him daily, we will draw on fond memories and the knowledge that John has left his mark on everything we see and touch at Penn National.
The Penn National Community, one of the Nation’s Best Places to Retire, has been designated a Certified Wildlife Habitat
Red-tailed Hawk
The Founders and Iron Forge golf courses have been designated Certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF).
To achieve the certification, areas must provide at least three sources of food, water, cover and places for wildlife to raise young. At Penn National, mature trees provide nuts, berries, fruits and nesting habitat for birds and small mammals. In addition, several large ponds provide water for wildlife, as well as habitat for turtles, frogs and fish. Tall grasses, dense shrubs and perennial flowers provide seeds and cover for a variety of wildlife, including ground-nesting birds. Penn National also maintains bluebird houses, which are monitored by a community resident.
Patrice Nitterhouse, vice president of White Rock Inc., developer of the Penn National Community, says providing habitat for wildlife on the golf courses makes sense for the Penn National community and dovetails with White Rock’s philosophy. “Having living things here contributes to the beauty and enhances the experience with nature that people have when they visit Penn National and play our golf courses”.
Penn National is home to a variety of wildlife including red-tailed hawks, great-horned owls, deer, foxes, black snakes, frogs, turtles, squirrels, rabbits, fish and a wide variety of birds. Even bald eagles have been spotted.
Penn National and its golf courses are adjacent to 85,000-acres Michaux State Forest, which provides additional habitat for wildlife close-by.
Penn National is a thriving community of more than 1,000 families, with two nationally-recognized, 18-hole championship golf courses. In addition, the Community is not only one of the best places to retire in PA but also one of the best places to retire in the United States as evidenced by its inclusion in Where to Retire Magazine’s “50 Best Master-Planned Communities” in the United States.
Why do we Carve those Scary Pumpkins?
Image via Wikipedia
Halloween History
Why do we carve scary faces into pumpkins at Halloween and call them Jack-O-Lanterns anyway? The reason stretches back into the mists of time to the ancient Celtic religion.
Before it was Halloween, October 31st was the Pagan holiday of Samhain(pronounced sow-in), the official end of summer and the harvest season. When Christianity came to Ireland and Scotland, it simply co-opted the three day festival of Samhain and folded it into All Hallow’s Eve, (October 31st), All Saints Day ( November 1st) and All Souls day. ( November 2nd)
In Ireland children carved out potatoes or turnips as “Jack-O-Lanterns” and lighted them from the inside with candles. The practice originated from an Irish myth about a man nicknamed “Stingy Jack.” who invited the Devil to have a drink with him and then didn’t want to pay for his drink. It’s a long story, but the bottom line is that Jack tricked the Devil into climbing up a tree to pick a piece of fruit. While the devil was up in the tree, Jack carved a sign of the cross into the tree’s bark so that the he could not come down until he promised not to bother Jack for ten more years. Soon thereafter, Jack died and God would not allow such an unsavory figure into heaven. The Devil, upset by the trick Jack had played on him and keeping his word not to claim his soul, would not allow Jack into hell. So Jack was condemned to wander the earth between heaven and hell with only a burning piece of coal in a carved out turnip to light his way.
It’s a story that came to America with hundreds of thousands of Irish immigrants in the mid nineteenth century. In America, pumpkins were cheaper and more readily available than turnips, but carving them and making them in to Jack-O-Lanterns lit by a candle inside became an American tradition as Halloween was enthusiastically adopted in the New World by people from every possible ethnic background.
Enjoy Halloween and be glad your not carving potatoes or turnips! Send us your best pictures of pumpkins and other decorations this Halloween.
