The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

D.R. Horton New Homes Coming Soon in Avalon Park Wesley Chapel

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D.R. Horton is now selling homes in Avalon Park Wesley Chapel in its all-new community ‑ Westgate at Avalon Park.

“We are kicking off sales in mid-June, but you can join our interest list to be the first to know,” said Courtney Creighton, the builder’s West Florida marketing manager.

The great room of the Camden model opens to the kitchen and formal dining room.

“We are not limiting the number of homesites we are releasing or can sell, and are not asking our buyers to engage in bidding wars for our homes. We are moving forward to best serve the needs of our buyers by making as many homes available as we can.”

D.R. Horton is planning to build 30 new homes a month in Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, with some homes expected to be ready for move-in later this year and early 2022. Home prices will begin in the low $300s for single-family homes, and the mid $200s for townhomes.

Initial sales will be conducted through D.R. Horton’s online sales team, and then move to the company’s sales staff working inside its model homes. Their model home will be open and staffed 7 days a week. Their townhome models will open at the end of this summer, and a single-family model, the popular multi-generational 4-bedroom, 3.5-bath Camden, will be ready early this summer. A grand opening celebration for Realtors will take place toward the end of the summer.

D.R. Horton, the country’s largest homebuilder since 2002, is building a total of 994 homes in Westgate, consisting of 768 single-family homes and 226 townhomes. Homesites are a combination of 40-foot, 50-foot and 60-foot lots, with many backing up to conservation and water. Construction is beginning with homes on 40-foot and 50-foot lots; larger homes on 60-foot lots will be released later.

In Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, D.R. Horton is offering homebuyers two series to choose from— Express Series and D.R. Horton Preferred Series.

Homes in the Express Series are being built on 40-foot to 50-foot homesites, and range in size from 1,408 square feet to 2,601 square feet. Floor plans will offer three to five bedrooms, two to three baths and one- or two-car garages, depending on a family’s needs.

The Preferred Series will include higher-end features and finishes. Homes will be built on 50-foot and 60-foot homesites and will be available for sale in the future.

Townhomes will include three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, and a two-car-wide driveway. Two floor plans will be available at 1,673 square feet and 1,758 square feet.

All D.R. Horton homes will come equipped with a smart home automation system called Home is Connected, America’s Smart Home®. Both townhomes and single-family homes will be built with concrete block on the first and second floors — a superior construction process. D.R. Horton is the only production builder that utilizes concrete block on two floors in its homes.

Westgate Village encompasses 285 acres in the back of Avalon, about a mile from its entrance on State Road 54, which offers residents a quiet, suburban setting. It will embrace its own set of amenities, including a resort-style pool, open-air clubhouse with an outdoor kitchen, playground, open sports field, and picnic area with pavilions.

D.R. Horton proudly operates in 43 of homebuilding’s top 50 markets in the U.S., in which it ranks among the top five in 31 of these markets. For more information, visit DrHorton.com, or call 866-475-3347.

Avalon Park Wesley Chapel is a 1,650-acre master-planned community designed to live, learn, work and play. At build out, it will have about 4,400 single and multi-family residences and be home to 10,000 residents. It’s downtown will have more than 560,000 square feet of retail and 130,000 square feet of mixed-use commercial space and apartments built above the storefronts. For more information, visit AvalonParkWesleyChapel.com, or call 813-783-1515.

Published May 26, 2021

Cornerstone’s Savings Club Will Keep Your Home Mechanical Systems In Top Condition

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It costs much less to maintain your home’s mechanical equipment than it costs to repair it. Yet, 90% of breakdowns are caused because many homeowners seldom (or never) have their equipment serviced by a licensed service technician.

People incorrectly assume that their heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical systems can fend for themselves. But that’s not the case. Without proper service, these systems will break down, and often do so during the hottest day of the summer, or when you have guests in town.

For problem-free operation, your equipment requires regular service and seasonal inspections. Properly maintained equipment cools, heats and dehumidifies better, and increases your comfort by:

– Extending your equipment’s lifespan

– Reducing your carbon footprint

– Improving your indoor air quality

– Minimizing the need for repairs

Without regular maintenance, your air conditioner and heating system lose about 5% of its original efficiency per year of operation. In fact, studies show that regular maintenance not only protects the lifespan of your system, but also helps you recover lost efficiency.

This means when you invest in an annual maintenance plan, your HVAC unit will retain up to 95% of its efficiency for years to come.  And, to make it easy to plan ahead, Cornerstone Pros has a new Savings Club that at just $9.95 a month easily fits into most family budgets.

Benefits of Membership
When you subscribe to the Savings Club, you receive the benefit of priority customer status. Other benefits include:

– Reliable home comfort

– Improved indoor air quality

– Reduced risk of costly breakdowns

– Increased efficiency and reduced energy costs

– Ensured safe operation of equipment

Cornerstone Pros Savings Club
– 77-point precision air conditioning tune-up and professional cleaning semi-annually

– AC system drain line flush performed at each visit; clear line guarantee for 30 days

– 43-point whole-home plumbing inspection and water heater flush annually

– Electrical safety inspection annually or 1 free service call per year (normal business hours)

– Discounted service fees—normal and after hours

– Discounted holiday service fee rates

– Priority installation of HVAC systems, water heaters, electrical panels, re-pipes—home comfort necessities products

– Priority online scheduling for emergency services

– 10% service repair discounts

– 2-year HVAC extended parts and labor warranty for parts installed by Cornerstone
(excludes coil, compressors, TXV, reversing valves and drain lines)

Excludes tankless water heaters and mini split systems

Joining our Savings Club is easy! Start protecting your equipment, your comfort and your budget by calling us at 813-990-0561.

Savings Club
2 semi-annual AC inspections
1annual plumbing inspection
1 annual electrical safety inspection
$ 9.95/month – up to 2 AC systems
$14.95/month – 3 or more AC systems

Published May 26, 2021

Memorial remembers Fallen Law Enforcement Officers

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The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, along with several other area law enforcement agencies, on May 14 honored the life and sacrifice of law enforcement officers lost in the line of duty, as well as those who died of natural causes on the way to or from their jobs, during National Police Week.

A riderless horse, with boots facing backward in the stirrups, is a traditional part of a ceremony held each year to remember law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty. PSO volunteer Mary Findlay, the horse’s owner, walks on the horse’s left. In the forefront is Hernando County Deputy Tony Musto. (Courtesy of Pasco County Sheriff’s Office)

The event was held on the grounds of the Historic Pasco County Courthouse, according to the sheriff’s office’s Facebook page. Fallen officers were honored throughout the day on the agency’s social media sites.

The sheriff’s office was joined at the memorial event by Dade City Police, Zephyrhills Police, New Port Richey Police, the Florida Highway Patrol and Tarpon Springs Police.

A number of community leaders and elected leaders were in attendance, including Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez, State Sen. Danny Burgess and Pasco County NAACP President Clyde Carter, who offered the invocation for the event, according to the Facebook post.

Patriotism was on full display at the annual Fallen Law Enforcement Officers Memorial ceremony on the grounds of the Historic Pasco County Courthouse in Dade City.

The event also featured significant traditions, including the appearance of a riderless horse and a gun salute.

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis also recognized the sacrifices made by law enforcement officers by sharing information about those contributions in a news release.

“According to Officer Down Memorial, there have been 124 police officers killed in the line of duty since January of this year,” Bilirakis said, in the release.

“Tragically, two of them have been my constituents: Deputy Michael Magli of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and Master Patrol Officer Jesse Madsen of the Tampa Police Department. I went to the funeral services of these two heroes, and shared the anguish of their grieving families and colleagues. These fallen heroes leave behind a distinguished legacy of service and sacrifice that deserves to be honored,” Bilirakis added.

The congressman also said that while some are calling to “defund the police,” he advocates increasing support for them.

Published May 26, 2021

A gun salute typically occurs during the solemn event.

What’s for dinner? How about some fruit?

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Most of us think of dinner as a hot meal.

It’s a meal that typically includes a meat or a plant-based protein; some kind of grain protein, such as spaghetti, rice or quinoa; a vegetable, and perhaps a dairy — if you add cheese or drink a glass of milk.

When it comes to fruit, on the other hand, that is more easily pictured as morning food, or snack.

Mango salsa is an easy way to add fruit to your day. (Courtesy of Pixabay.com)

Fruit is an easy go-to snack. It requires little or no prep work, aside from peeling it, or rinsing it and perhaps slicing it, if desired.

You have probably taken advantage of this convenience — by grabbing an apple, peach, banana, or pear, while dashing out the door.

But if you are familiar with the MyPlate image, you’ll know that about a quarter of your plate should consist of fruit.

While MyPlate provides a visual guide to help you remember food groups and visualize the portions, some of us don’t get an adequate amount of fruit throughout the day.

If you go to the MyPlate meal planner (MyPlate.gov/myplate-plan), it will give you an estimated amount of how many calories you should consume per day, based on your age, gender, and physical activity levels.

It will then give you a breakdown of how many servings of the five food groups you should get to attain this calorie level.

For most adults, both men and women, the fruit group ranges from 1.5-2 cups per day, depending on age and physical activity level.

If you eat three meals and one snack per day, for example, you’ll want to incorporate fruit as much as you can to reach the recommended cups.

And remember, fresh, frozen, canned, preserved and dried all count toward consumption. (The same goes with vegetables).

So, what counts as a cup?

One medium grapefruit (about 4-inch diameter), one small apple (about 2 ¼-inch diameter), about 8 large strawberries, or 2 halves of canned peaches.

You may be reaching the recommended amount and not even realize it.

Others, however, struggle on most days to get enough fruit in their diet.

Most of us find ourselves eating fruit during breakfast, as a snack, or for dessert — but you can also incorporate fruit in various dishes at dinnertime, too.

Some ideas — that don’t include pineapple pizza — are presented here:

  • Throw in chopped apples, sliced strawberries, tangerine segments or sliced kiwi into your salad.
  • Pair seafood — such as fish tacos, shrimp or grilled white fish — with mango salsa.
  • Slice avocado, which counts as a fruit, to top a burger, fajitas, salads, or even thinly sliced on sushi rolls.
  • Use citrus in chilled soups, such as lime soup or lemon-parsley soup (These are especially refreshing on a hot summer day).
  • Make meat and fruit kabobs by alternating chunks of meat, as well as sliced peaches, and chunks of mango and pineapple on a skewer to grill. Another variation is pink grapefruit and pork kabobs. (Note: If using wooden skewers be sure to soak them in water for 30 minutes before using, to prevent them from burning.)
  • Create a grilled cheese sandwich using cheese, shredded chicken breast and pieces of pineapple between two buttered slices of bread.
  • Grill watermelon wedges (triangles) and then flavor them with sweet and salty seasoning, such as sugar, salt, lime zest and red pepper flakes. Grill marks should appear after 2 minutes to 3 minutes on each side.
  • Sweeten a traditional tuna salad by adding apple pieces.

By Shari Bresin

Shari Bresin is the Family & Consumer Science agent for the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension Pasco County.

Recipe
This mango salsa recipe is from Colorado State University Extension’s Eating Smart • Being Active curriculum.

Enjoy it on top of seafood, or as a side dish.

Mango salsa:
Makes: 8 servings (2 tablespoons per serving)

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients
1 mango, diced (or 1 cup thawed frozen chunks)
1 Tablespoon minced onion (or red onion)
1 Tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
¼ teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons lime juice

Directions

  • Wash fresh mango and cilantro.
  • Collect, prepare and measure all ingredients before starting to prepare the recipe.
  • Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl.

Enjoy!

  • Be sure to refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours. Also, this should be consumed within three days to five days after preparation.
  • Peach, papaya or avocado may be substituted for mango.

Published May 26, 2021

Dade City put its heart, in art

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If you enjoy outdoor public art displays, then you may find a new one in Dade City quite appealing.

Ryah Taggerty, of Valrico, came up with a stunning collage of 20 symbols representing what Dade City is all about. Her heart is located on the Hardy Trail at Florida Avenue. (Fred Bellet)

The display, unveiled during a “Take Heart” free event held May 15, features large 3D metal hearts — built by welding students at Pasco-Hernando State College and  painted by local artists.

Although the event took place at Agnes Lamb Park, in downtown Dade City, the hearts, with their varying themes — are posted in downtown Dade City parks and along the Hardy Trail.

The public art exhibition was coordinated by the Dade City Center for the Arts (DCCA), a nonprofit organization that’s working to increase public art and art events in the city.

The group provides opportunities for artists to showcase their talents in Dade City through community outreach and collaboration with Pasco-Hernando State College, Saint Leo University and area businesses.

Local businesses and donors help to support the efforts.

Three-year-old Briella Navarro, of Dade City, works on an artistic beaded bracelet at the booth set up in Agnes Lamb Park by the Boys & Girls Club of Lacoochee. The little girl was there with her mom, Patricia Navarro, and her 4-year-old sister, Galilea Navarro. Charlotte Lewis, representing the Boys & Girls Club provided information about the Prodigy Cultural Arts Program.

During the event, people could compete for prizes by visiting each of the hearts and taking selfies with it, could enjoy music provided by a DJ, could grab a bite to eat and could chat with the artists.

The painted hearts measure approximately 36 inches by 36 inches by 4 inches, attached to steel posts secured to the ground, to withstand inclement weather conditions.

The heart signs also feature QR codes, directing people to DCCA’s website, to learn more about the artist who painted the particular piece, and where to find more of their work.

Aside from heart-shaped sculptures, the DCCA has other ideas for other community art initiatives, too.

For information, visit DadeCityArts.com, call (352) 437-3204, or email .

Published May 26, 2021

Along the 301 Bypass at Meridian Ave., Sandy Mann’s ‘heart-work’ sits high above the railings in front of the Heritage Museum. Dan Mitchell, lower right, of San Antonio, leads the way to the heart, where he and some family members took a selfie.
Sixteen-year-old Jessenia Mahamud and her mom, Linda Mahamud, were the first to see all of the hearts in Dade City — winning the heart-seekers challenge. The Dade City residents received a certificate and gift cards from local businesses.
On the Hardy Trail at Howard Avenue, artist Raeyn Smith’s heart — featuring kumquats — draws a crowd to take selfies with it. This new piece of public art is quite a contrast from the nearby signs.
Artist Russ Taylor, of Dade City, was standing near his work on the north end of Agnes Lamb Park. The iconic Edwinola served as a backdrop, as Taylor fielded questions about his work, which he titled ‘When Nobody’s Watching.’
Four-year-old King Michael Wells, of Brooksville, compares his newly made bracelet with one his 7-year-old cousin, A.J. Isaza-Cruz, was making under the Boys & Girls Club tent at Agnes Lamb Park. They were there with their grandfather, Nelson Cruz, of Dade City.
Artist Mark Hannah’s heart, at its Church Street location, is a patriotic salute for all those who have served, or are serving.
On the Hardy Trail at Howard Avenue, artist Raeyn Smith’s heart — featuring kumquats — draws a crowd to take selfies with it. This new piece of public art is quite a contrast from the nearby signs.

Pasco government’s Memorial Day closings

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The Pasco County government offices will be closed on May 31 in observance of Memorial Day and will reopen on June 1.

The county’s Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources’ offices, recreation complexes and community centers will be closed May 31, but parks and beaches will stay open to the public from dawn to dusk, according to a county news release.

Pasco County Public Transportation (PCPT) will be closed, and bus and paratransit services will not run on May 31.

Pasco County Libraries will be closed May 31.

The Pasco County Animal Services Administration Office, Adoption Center, Intake/Reclaim Shelter and Field Services will be closed May 31, and an animal control officer only will be available for emergencies.

The Pasco County Resource Recovery Facility, West Pasco Class III, and the East Pasco Transfer Station will be closed to the public on May 31, but will be open to Pasco County licensed commercial haulers.

Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano’s five offices also will be closed, May 29 through May 31. The offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m. on June 1, for normal business, according to a news release from Fasano’s office.

Published May 26, 2021

Infinite HD — Experienced Home Remodeling

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Experienced partners at Infinite HD, Jarred Howard (left), Rob Howard and David Rodriguez.

By Kelli Carmack

Rob Howard got his start in the flooring business 35 years ago as a teenager, when he was working at a grocery store and his manager asked if he could finish the store’s floors when a contractor failed to show.

Rob agreed to help, discovered that he enjoyed the work, and has been in the flooring business ever since.

Over the years, Rob has expanded his skills to include painting, tile work and other skills needed for home improvements, and today works in both remodeling/restorations and new construction.

In 2014, Rob added new partners — his son, Jarred Howard, and longtime colleague, David Rodriguez. The men named their new business Infinite Home Designs, which they abbreviated to Infinite HD.

Infinite HD has grown into a full-service home repair and installation company, with a focus on bathroom and kitchen remodeling, as well as flooring.

A recent trend that Rob has observed is that many people are calling about back porch installations.

“It makes sense. People who are off for the summer, or working from home, want a relaxing spot to unwind. Plus, with it being summertime with mosquitoes and gnats running around crazy, having a back porch makes your summer experience much more enjoyable,” said Rob.

Home repair shows, such as “Fixer Upper,” often inspire people to do their own home repairs, but David Rodriguez stresses the importance of hiring a licensed professional for most home repair needs.

“We have a saying in the business — ‘Cheap labor isn’t skilled, and skilled labor isn’t cheap,’” said David. “It truly matters who you hire.”

Infinite HD has seen its share of cases where people try to do their own home repairs, or hire unqualified people, and end up having Infinite HD finish the job.

“Those clients end up spending more money, time and stress by trying to do it on their own,” said David.

Infinite HD recently moved its office to Odessa to keep up with the company’s growth. The location is convenient to its customer base in Hillsborough and Pasco counties. Rob is excited to watch his company continue to grow and expand.

Infinite HD continues to operate as a family business, which Rob is reminded of every time he steps into the office, because his grandchildren helped install its floor. Having both his son, Jarred, and daughter, Janann, work for him is something Rob deeply treasures – a sentiment his son, Jarred, shares.

“It’s always nice to make those memories with my dad,” said Jarred.

For more information, or to book a free estimate with Infinite HD, call (813) 309-5211.

Published 6/24/20

Want to show off your favorite grad?

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We want to show off your favorite graduate, too.

Whether it’s a kindergarten graduation or if your loved one is celebrating a medical degree. We celebrate all graduates.

Please send us a photo, along with your graduate’s name, school, date of graduation and where it occurred. Also, please include your contact information, so we can reach out to you if we have questions (Don’t worry, your contact info won’t be published).

Please send your submissions by June 9 to .

We are planning a June 16 publication date.

Those fully vaccinated rarely need masks, CDC says

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President Joe Biden announced last week that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had issued new guidance on the wearing of masks, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Biden said those who have been fully vaccinated, in most cases won’t need to wear masks — whether indoors or out, in large crowds or small.

Specifically, the CDC’s updated guidance says:

  • Fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance in any setting, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.
  • Fully vaccinated people can refrain from testing following a known exposure unless they are residents or employees of a correctional or detention facility or a homeless shelter.

CDC prevention measures continue to apply to all travelers, including those who are vaccinated. All travelers are required to wear a mask on all planes, buses, trains and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States, and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations, the CDC’s website says.

Those who are not fully vaccinated are encouraged to continue wearing masks, to avoid becoming infected by COVID-19, or spreading it to others, CDC officials add.

While there has been a downturn in the daily number of people getting vaccinated, use of the Pfizer vaccine has been granted emergency authorization for those ages 12 to 15.

The CDC’s latest guidance comes after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order lifting restrictions imposed by local governments, with the exception of school districts.

The public schools districts in Pasco and Hillsborough counties both announced they would keep the mask mandate until the end of the school year.

Private businesses can decide whether to retain or drop their mask requirements, and so far, the response has been varied.

Also, while the pace of vaccinations for adults has declined, efforts continue to reach out to those who are hesitant about being vaccinated to answer their questions and address their concerns.

While fewer children have been infected by COVID-19, the CDC does recommend vaccination for everyone age 12 and older to help protect against COVID-19.

Published May 19, 2021