The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

UPDATE: Southbound I-75 to westbound SR 56 reopened

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The southbound Interstate 75 ramp to westbound State Road 56 has been reopened.
Work on the Diverging Diamond had closed the right lane of the ramp heading west, but kept open the left lane on the ramp.
Now, motorists exiting at the ramp can head either direction on State Road 56.
The ramp was reopened because too much congestion was building up at the ramp, according to John McShaffrey, a community outreach manager for the Florida Department of Transportation.
Revised June 03, 2020

Hitting the gyms…

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As Florida reopens for business, lots of people have begun hitting the gyms and fitness facilities again. Whether it’s to take a dip, walk a treadmill, lift weights or work with ropes, gyms are beginning to see activity again. Unlike some businesses, they had been totally shut down in recent weeks, due to concerns about the potential spread of COVID-19.

Nancie Howley, 62, of Lutz, is working on her steps on the stairstep machine during a recent workout at Anytime Fitness, 1408 N. Dale Mabry in Lutz. She steps for about an hour, three times a week. (Randy Underhill)
Ron Emery, 55, of Wesley Chapel, is on the ropes — working on strength, endurance, and fat burning at Strive Athletic Club 2626 Cypress Ridge Blvd., Wesley Chapel. He’s been a member for 11 years and is there Monday through Saturday, as a personal trainer.

 

Mandy Johnson, 43, of Land O’ Lakes, burns calories during her 30-minute to 45-minute workout on a recent Saturday afternoon at Anytime Fitness, at 1408 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Lutz.
Twenty-three-old Gillian Sanfilippo uses the cable pulls to strengthen the abdominal area, chest and back, as she works out at Strive Athletic Club, 2626 Cypress Ridge Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

…to make up for lost time

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Seventy-year-old Carlos Sanchez takes laps at the Zephyrhills YMCA, at 37301 Chapel Hills Loop. He swims a mile daily. (Randy Underhill)
Gabe Marrero, 36, of Wesley Chapel, uses dumbbell curls to enhance the size of his biceps during a Saturday afternoon workout at Strive Athletic Club, 2626 Cypress Ridge Blvd., in Wesley Chapel. He typically works out five days a week, doing cardio and strength-training exercises.
Sixty-eight-year-old Gary DeLong, of Dade City works out at the Dade City YMCA, at 3803 Meridian Ave., on a recent Friday afternoon. He works out five days a week, doing cardio and strength training.

Announcing our Father’s Day Contest!

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Laker/Lutz News staff member Mary Eberhard dances with her father, Bob Hathaway, at her wedding in 1985. (Courtesy of Mary Eberhard)

“Any man can be a father. It takes someone special to be a dad.” – Proverb

With Father’s Day just around the corner, The Laker/Lutz News wants to celebrate all the amazing dads out there by giving THREE dads the ultimate Father’s Day gift! Here’s how to enter:

The winners will receive gift certificates to local businesses in the area — the perfect gift to give your dad. Good luck!

New Daikin Fit HVAC System Offers Maximum Comfort

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With the beginning of Florida’s hot summer months, and so many people working from home these days, there has never been more of a need for a dependable and efficient air conditioning system.

The condenser on a Daikin Fit A/C system is half the size of a traditional condenser, which makes it perfect for patio areas.

“Many families are upgrading their A/C system, either because their existing unit is unreliable and costing too much to maintain, or their unit is so inefficient that it uses an increasing amount of energy that results in hundreds of dollars in utility bills,” said Dana Spears, president of Cornerstone Pros in Land O’ Lakes.

Cornerstone Pros is proud to offer homeowners the Daikin Fit series — one of the most innovative, versatile air conditioning systems ever built for consumers. Available only since February, the Daikin Fit features exceptionally cool comfort, a small footprint and high energy efficiency ratings.

Cornerstone Service Manager Gary Beurmann explains the many advantages of a Daikin Fit system.

  1. Home Feels Cooler

Your home feels cooler and more comfortable, because Daikin’s inverter/smart system technology is highly effective at maintaining desired humidity levels.

  1. Half The Size

The outdoor unit is half the size of a traditional condenser, which makes it perfect for pool and patios areas, allowing more space for outdoor living. It also is great for homes with narrow lot lines.

  1. Exceptionally Quiet

It is so quiet that it can be installed outside a bedroom window and not be heard inside. This makes it great for sleeping, for both kids and adults, because you don’t hear a compressor kicking on and off during the night. It is so quiet, you can be standing right next to it and wonder if the unit is even running.

  1. Energy Efficient

The Daikin Fit has an energy efficiency rating of 16 SEER and above, which means it consumes less energy to cool your home. SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio — the higher the SEER rating, the more efficient the cooling equipment is.

  1. Affordability

Until now, A/C systems with inverter technology were very costly. Pricing on the Daikin Fit allows homeowners to get the best inverter technology available at a price comparable to lower competitor two-stage systems.

  1. Tech Conveniences

The Daikin Fit has all the bells and whistles – including Wi-Fi connectivity and thermostat controls that are accessible from your phone, pad and laptop. Its super-intelligent, user-friendly system controllers allow you to orchestrate and monitor mode, temperature, time, airflow volume and more across your entire system, at the touch of button. Daikin’s smart system provides so much more technology than other products offer at this price point.

  1. 12-Year Factory Warranty

The Daikin Fit is covered by one of the best warranties in the industry, with a 12-year parts and labor warranty included in the price of the unit.

  1. Great Financing

Daikin has some of the best financing terms and rebates available in the industry, plus Cornerstone Pros works with local utility companies to qualify customers for additional rebates for installing energy efficient A/C systems.

“The new Daikin Fit system has so many more benefits than other systems —  there is nothing out there that compares,” said Beurmann. “Cornerstone has never worked with a system that has so much to offer, and at a price point most people can afford.”

Most air conditioning systems need to be replaced at 10 to 12 years, while builder grade systems often need replacement after five years, when their warranty expires.

“Your air conditioning system is an appliance, just like your refrigerator, and does not last forever,” said Beurmann. “But, before we recommend that an A/C system be replaced, we give customers several options to consider, with realistic costs and expectations.”

Beurmann adds that Cornerstone technicians are paid hourly, so customers never have to worry about being pressured to buy a new or upgraded A/C system. “Our only motive is to do what is best for our customers,” he says.

Cornerstone Pros offers 24-hour heating and cooling assistance to residents of Land O’ Lakes, Lutz, Trinity, Odessa, Wesley Chapel, New Port Richey and other communities in Pasco, Hernando and Hillsborough counties. Its phones are answered 24/7, and technicians are available weekends and holidays. Call (813) 990-0561 anytime, day or night.  For more information, visit the website at CornerstonePros.com.

Published May 27, 2020

New Manufactured Homes At Shadow Wood Village

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It’s not too late to discover the fabulous new homes at Shadow Wood Village in Hudson, located just 30 minutes from Land O’ Lakes, and less than two miles from the Gulf of Mexico.

In the three months since this manufactured home community began selling new homes priced in the low $90s, 14 out of 20 inventory homes have sold. There are just six homes left, and these are expected to sell quickly to those age 55 years and older.

The community’s new homes are spacious — up to 1,456 square feet — and boast front porches, great rooms for living and dining, two or three bedrooms, den, and two full baths. Floor plans are open and contemporary with the latest in home design trends. Kitchens feature lots of cabinets and a large island for bar stools and conversation, and in some models, with the kitchen sink inset in the island. Quality blinds and appliances are provided, including a refrigerator and a washer/dryer.

Every home has an inviting front porch (some as large as 10 X 12), a covered carport with a large, secure storage area, and steps leading from the driveway to the back of the home for convenient unloading of groceries and easy access to the laundry area.

Currently, two-bedroom and three-bedroom floor plans are ready now.

Shadow Wood Village offers residents an array of amenities, including a heated pool. Call Community Manager Pennye Roses for more information at (877) 360-1124, or email .

Published May 27, 2020

Why Live at Club Wildwood?

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Adults age 55-plus are discovering Club Wildwood in Hudson as a perfect community to live because of  its beautiful manufactured homes, first-class amenities (including an 85,000-gallon pool), and fabulous location just 30 minutes from Land O’ Lakes and 5 minutes from the beach.

At 478 homes, Club Wildwood is the largest retirement community in north Pasco County.  With so many residents, there is always something going on for folks to enjoy, from water aerobics in its Olympic-size swimming pool, to twice-a-week bingo and weekly happy hours. Residents are friendly and welcome newcomers to activities and clubs.

This exceptionally maintained park has re-sale homes priced from $20,000 to $85,000. New homes also are available for sale or lease, and begin in the low $90s. All homes are double-wide, and offer two or three bedrooms, two baths and an attached carport and storage area. Most existing homes have been updated with the latest design styles, and are a tremendous value for a single-family home in terms of cost, amenities and location.

Many of the community’s newest residents are moving from Land O’ Lakes and Lutz, which are just 30 minutes away, because living at Club Wildwood with all its fabulous lifestyle costs less than renting an apartment, and its location on U.S. 19 makes it easy to get to work and close to so many things to do.

Call Community Manager Sean Terris for more information at (866) 799-6707, or email .

Published May 27, 2020

New Charter School Ready For Students at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel

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Pasco County’s newest charter school, Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel, is on track to open later this summer with 652 students in kindergarten through sixth grades.

Principal Aimee Mielke reports there are still openings for students in all grades, and encourages interested families to explore the school’s website and complete its application as soon as possible. Information and the application form are at PinecrestWesleyChapel.com.

The school, which is located on State Road 54 about three miles east of I-75, will have several sections at every grade level, with kindergarten having the most.

“We’re looking at opening with between six and eight kindergarten classes, and four classrooms each for first and second grades,” said Mielke. “It is very rewarding to be a new school that is flexible and able to offer the number of classrooms per grade that our community needs.” Grades three through six will have two and three sections.

Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel is a tuition-free public charter school situated at the community entrance of Avalon Park Wesley Chapel. It is the first Pinecrest Academy in Tampa Bay, and will be expanding to add seventh and eighth grades in subsequent years.

With 16 schools nationwide, Pinecrest Academy Inc. has made a name for itself in the education community. It offers advanced programs, including a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) curriculum, and a dual English/Spanish language program. With the STEM program, Pinecrest students will learn about new technologies, such as robotics, and will have fully functioning STEM labs in all grades — something most schools do not offer.

Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel also will have self-contained classrooms for gifted students, where pacing will be faster and performance tests much more in-depth, to allow gifted students to flourish in their education.

“All Pinecrest schools have an emphasis on high-quality instruction. We’ll continuously be monitoring the data so we know what each student needs, and have many different programs available to focus on the needs of the individual student,” says Mielke.

Everything designed and purchased for the classroom was chosen for student engagement, Mielke explains, and technology is an essential component of the new school. Laptops are being provided for every student in grades two through six, as are iPads for first-graders and kindergartners.

Each classroom will have a 70-inch Clear Touch Interactive Board mounted on the wall that will be used to pull up textbooks and other teaching aids. Teachers and students will be able to work on the screen, much like a giant, touch-screen white board.

The inviting furniture Meikle’s team selected for their classrooms was chosen to give students a feeling like they are walking into their living room, not a traditional school classroom.

The modern architecture of Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel gives students and faculty stunning lake and conservation views.

“There is a lot of research that proves that children have different learning styles, and we want our classrooms to be flexible and versatile so kids can break up into small groups to work together most effectively,” said Mielke.

The Principal is especially excited about a large whiteboard table in every classroom that children can work directly on, and which the teach can then elevate and flip up to create a large white board for the entire classroom to see. Plus, every chair and table is on wheels, so they can be easily moved around the classroom for small group learning.

The furniture and technology will begin to arrive at the school in mid-June, and Mielke hopes to open the school’s doors for tour to families and teachers in July. The school schedule is tied to that of the Pasco County Public School system, which is expecting schools to open August 10.

Mielke has hired most of the school’s 27 teachers, including classroom, art, music, Spanish and physical education, as well as an instructional coach and office staff.

“We have a nice combination of experienced teachers from both public and charter schools, with seven teachers at more than 20 years of experience. Plus, we have two brand-new teachers who I am very excited about,” said Mielke, who adds that over half of her teaching staff have master’s degrees.

Blue and green colors brilliantly burst along the hallways of the modern building that has 49 large classrooms, oversized art and music rooms, and high-tech science labs. The school is visually notable with unusual windows in the shape of half-moons, circles and squares that give students and faculty stunning lake and conservation views.

“There’s no question that Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel is a visually stunning architectural masterpiece,” said Miekle.

Pinecrest is offering before and after care for their students, which will start at 6 a.m., and end at 6 p.m. It will be fee-based, but Mielke ensures it will be affordable. Pinecrest also will be providing a fee-based private Pre-K program for siblings of Pinecrest students; to be considered for the Pre-K program, a child must be 4 years old by Sept. 1.

Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel is one of the most important elements of the goal to build a brand-new town in Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, says Stephanie Lerret, senior vice president of marketing and community relations for the Avalon Park Group. Lerret noted that the developer’s goal is to have the very best school in the entire state.

“Our residents are ecstatic to now have the option to send their children to one of the top charter school operators in Florida,” said Lerret.

Published May 27, 2020

Affordable Homes That Inspire Community Connections

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With tree-lined streets winding around sparkling lakes and flower-filled parks, Avalon Park Wesley Chapel exemplifies small-town America. Avex Homes, a premier builder in this award-winning community, combines this small town charm with innovative floor plans to bring affordable single-family homes and townhomes to area homebuyers.

Avex homes are solidly built in a variety of classic designs, each rich with architectural detail and a traditional focus on the front porch. Its single-family homes start in the mid-$200s, and are available on a variety of lots, including conservation and water views.

The builder offers buyers eight floor plans to choose from, ranging in size from 1,585 square feet to 2,856 square feet in one- and two-story plans. Four inventory homes are available for families looking to move this summer. All are one-story homes, with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and a 2-car garage. Prices range from $259,000 to $296,092.

Avex also offers maintenance-free townhomes with two-car garages in the rear. Three floor plans are available, ranging from 1,608 square feet to 1,834 square feet, each with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths.

Homes are built with distinctive exteriors and open floor plans. Each home has a front porch, covered lanai or private breezeway that connects to the garage.

“Our townhomes are beautifully designed with upscale custom finishes, and offer buyers a tremendous value for the Wesley Chapel area,” said Cheryl Gonzalez, sales representative for Avex Homes. “Plus, every home comes with a 2-car garage — something you rarely find in townhomes that begin in the low $200,000s.”

Three inventory townhomes are available now, all affordably priced between $232,761 to $247,688.

“Buyers love our townhomes’ cozy feel and old-fashioned, traditional look,” said Gonzalez. “People always comment on how spacious they feel because of our open floor plans and standard 9-foot ceilings on both the first and second floors.”

If building from scratch, homebuyers can upgrade their townhome’s finishes to their individual lifestyle and design preferences — from moving electrical outlets, to upgrading cabinets and flooring, to choosing colors that best show off their individual taste. The most popular upgrades are quartz countertops and luxury vinyl flooring.

Beazer Homes is closing out its sales in Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, and is selling its model home. The Cypress Pointe is a two-story home at 2,254 square feet with 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and a 2-car garage. This home is loaded with designer upgrades, including a spacious master suite, covered lanai and luxurious pool. The home is available now, and the price is $389,000.

Amenities
Few communities offer the recreational activities found at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, thoughtfully created for residents of all ages. New in 2019 was an expansive second amenity center with a zero-entry pool, splash pad, spa and picnic area. Avalon Park families also enjoy a wide array of other amenities, including another swimming pool, tot lot, basketball courts, pocket parks with mini-libraries, dog park, and trails and walkways that will interconnect with its planned downtown.

Published May 27, 2020

Use tax holiday to stock up on emergency items

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The 2020 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday was passed by the Florida Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis, according to the Florida Department of Revenue’s website.

This sales tax holiday begins May 29 and extends through June 4.

During this sales tax holiday period, qualifying items related to disaster preparedness are exempt from sales tax. However, the sales tax holiday does not apply to the rental or repair of any of the qualifying items. Additionally, the sales tax holiday does not apply to sales in a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging establishment or airport.

Items exempt from the sales tax include:

  • Flashlights, lanterns, self-powered portable light sources costing $20 or less
  • Batteries, including AAA, C-cell, 6-volt, AA, D-cell and 9-volt; coolers and ice chests (food storage, nonelectrical), costing $30 or less
  • Portable radios, two-way radios, or weather-band radios, bungee cords, tarps, tie-down kits, costing $50 or less
  • Gas or diesel fuel tanks costing $25 or less
  • Batteries costing $30 or less
  • Power generators costing $750 or less

Hurricane Season officially begins on June 1 and ends on Nov. 30.

For more information, visit FloridaRevenue.com.

Published May 27, 2020