Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Building a new home is exciting — from selecting a lot, to choosing a floor plan, and waiting expectantly as your builder constructs your house, where you will create many years of memories.

Bexley by Newland, the top-selling master-planned community in Tampa Bay according to the RCLCO mid-year 2019 report, is adding more home options. It is introducing two new builders, Pulte Homes and Arthur Rutenberg/Custom Craft Homes, which will offer new homebuyers ample ways to turn their house into a dream home.

Homebuilder Arthur Rutenberg recently opened its Avalon model home at Bexley. Prospective homebuyers can choose from 19 different floor plans that were created just for the community. All feature expansive kitchens with a walk-in pantry and large, open first-floor great rooms that flow easily into an outdoor lanai, for the very best in indoor/outdoor living.

“Being in Bexley was just the natural thing to do,” said Ernie Lashlee, building company president for Arthur Rutenberg Homes/Custom Craft Homes. “We started building custom homes in Newland’s FishHawk Ranch community more than a decade ago. Bexley has superior amenities for its residents. But, what has impressed us are the residents themselves. They love this community. Neighbors know their neighbors and there’s a real sense of connection. We’re pleased to be a part of that.”

As one of the nation’s largest homebuilders, Pulte Homes builds consumer-inspired homes that provide homebuyers the best quality of life. At Bexley, Pulte will offer three flexible home designs that allow for personalization with upgraded designer options and superior construction quality. Pulte’s homes also feature an industry-leading, 10-year protection plan warranty.

Conveniently located close to Bexley Elementary School, prospective Pulte homebuyers can select from three- to five-bedroom homes with up to three bathrooms, and two-car garages.

Pulte is no stranger to Bexley. The company opened its Del Webb at Bexley 55+ active adult neighborhood last year.

“We have been so excited with the success of Del Webb Bexley, and are thrilled to expand our presence in the community and introduce our Life Tested Pulte designs,” said Sean Strickler, Pulte’s division president for West Florida. “We’ve had several of our active adult homeowners already inquire about their family members building with Pulte in Bexley, and look forward to introducing that opportunity later this year.”

“Bexley is truly a unique community,” added Pam Parisi, vice president, marketing for Newland. “That’s one of the reasons we’re able to attract such outstanding homebuilder partners. Arthur Rutenberg and Pulte Homes will be great additions to our Bexley family.”

Arthur Rutenberg and Pulte Homes join an established lineup of builders, including Cardel Homes, David Weekley Homes, Homes by WestBay, and Lennar. Home designs include single-family and luxury homes priced from the mid-$200s to over $800,000. Bexley’s 1,825-acre community offers a wide range of activities and amenities just minutes from your doorstep, including resort-style pools, a state-of-the-art fitness center, miles of dual-surface trails and a BMX pump track, plus the Twisted Sprocket Café and Suncoast Trailside Bicycles, which are both open to the public.

Models are open daily. For more information, visit BexleyFlorida.com, or call (813) 425-7555.

Published 9/25/19

Asturia, a master-planned community in Odessa along the State Road 54 corridor, is celebrating its third Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

New residents, future residents and families from neighboring communities are all invited to this free event. Fun activities for children and adults include corn hole, bounce houses, face painting, carnival games and a balloon artist. Live music will be performed by Ace Wynn and Dustin Bradley, and food trucks will be serving meals, snacks and sweets.

This year’s Fall Festival supports Elizabeth’s Animal Rescue & Sanctuary, an Odessa nonprofit that prides itself on providing foster care for animals that are happy and well taken care of until they find their forever home. A donation box will be on site for guests to support E.A.R.S. — the group especially needs building materials, canned dog food and cleaning supplies. For a more complete donation wish list, go to earsrescue.org/donate.

To exhibit at the Fall Festival, or donate something for a silent auction, contact Carla Luigs at (904) 599-9015 or .

When Fall Festival guests are done playing and eating, they are invited to tour Asturia’s decorated model homes.

Beautiful Models

David Weekley Homes, ICI Homes and Park Square Homes are Asturia’s exclusive builders. Model homes are open daily, with on-site agents to assist homebuyers.

The community’s newest model is the Mendocino by David Weekley Homes. The beautifully furnished Mendocino is 2,845 square feet, and features four bedrooms, an open study, three full baths, one half-bath and a two-car garage. Designer touches include an extended lanai, oversized kitchen island, an owner’s retreat with tray ceiling and wood beam accents, a spa-like bath and oversized walk-in closet.

Priced from the $340s, the Mendocino is included in David Weekley Homes’ Asturia’s Lake Series, with homes that range in size from 2,200 to 3,200 square feet that are built on 55-foot homesites.

Other single-family home models are available for tour by ICI Homes, and Ryan Homes has models of its townhome community.

In late June, ICI Homes opened its new Costa Mesa model, with its huge kitchen and extra-large island, and closet-size, walk-in pantry that is cleverly hidden behind cabinetry. This one-story home showcases 2,565 square feet of living area, with four bedrooms, three baths and a three-car garage.

ICI Homes also has a second model, the Serena, which is now for sale, and can include the model’s professionally decorated, high-end furnishings for families wanting a turn-key home ready now.

Ryan Homes offers two floor plans in Asturia’s only townhome community. These three-bedroom townhomes range from 1,580 to 1,770 square feet, all with two-car, rear-entry, detached garages. The homes feature private outdoor courtyards with paver patios and privacy fencing.

Park Square Homes is Asturia’s newest builder, and will soon be building models for its affordable floor plans. Park Square Homes brings over 35 years of experience building quality homes in Central Florida, and expanded into the Tampa Bay market in 2007. Asturia is the builder’s first entry into Pasco County.

About Asturia

Asturia offers residents a kid-friendly, family oriented lifestyle surrounded by miles of multi-use trails, interspersed with dog parks and pocket parks. The community’s distinctive, 5,800-square-foot Amenity Center and Clubhouse includes a fully equipped fitness center, covered outdoor living rooms, a luxurious resort-style swimming pool and expansive lawn areas for recreation.

Currently in its third phase, when Asturia’s development is complete, it will likely have less than 550 single-family homes.

“What makes Asturia stand out from other new home developments is our smaller size,” said Lane Gardner, senior managing director for Hines, the developer behind Asturia. “Other communities in the area are looking at 3,000 to over 5,000 homes, and many years of construction. Our families prefer the intimate neighborhood experience that comes with Asturia’s modest community size.”

Asturia’s central location is just five minutes from the Suncoast Parkway, and also provides close proximity to U.S. 41, U.S. 19 and I-75.  Its master plan incorporates retail, office, multifamily and a variety of single-family residential offerings.

More information can be obtained by visiting Asturia’s model homes, registering at the community’s website, AsturiaFlorida.com, or by calling (813) 227-4148.

Published 9/25/19

Most people don’t give much thought to how their carpet will be cleaned when they hire a carpet cleaning company to come into their home. And, while most companies utilize some version of hot water extraction, few follow the detailed, step-by-step process used by every Stanley Steemer location.

“Whether we service you from our Lutz location, or you have used Stanley Steemer in another part of the country, your carpets will be cleaned using the same proven process developed by Stanley Steemer over its 70-year history,” said CJ White, co-owner of the Stanley Steemer Carpet franchise on State Road 54 in Lutz.

“It’s a bit like McDonald’s — where you expect a Big Mac to taste the same no matter where you buy it. With Steemer, we provide the same consistent, professional services that you can trust your carpets to.”

White and his father, Chet, have owned the Stanley Steemer franchise in Pasco County for five years. Last year, they opened their new Lutz headquarters, which employs 13 technicians and three customer service reps.

Stanley Steemer is the only carpet cleaning company that manufactures its own equipment, which uses hot water and steam to extract dirt and grime from flooring.

“We do a very thorough job when it comes to carpet cleaning,” said White. “We always pre-treat carpets with a spray that loosens and suspends soil in the carpet, and then pre-scrub the carpet with a mechanical, circular machine to further loosen the dirt and debris. Both are done before using our proprietary hot water extractor to suck grime out of the carpet.”

Most carpet today is synthetic, which means you don’t want the water to be too hot, because it can melt the fiber, White explains.

“Our water is maintained at a steady 185 degrees — hot enough to be effective, but not too hot to damage the individual carpet strands, or loosen the latex glue that holds the carpet strands together,” said White.

White goes on to explain that a carpet’s worst enemy is sand, because sand scratches the synthetic fiber, which over time creates wear patterns.

“We can clean the dirt and grime out of your carpet, but we cannot repair the damage to the fibers that result from sand scratching your carpet fiber,” said White. “The best advice I can give is to vacuum your carpet often. It doesn’t matter what brand you use — a $40 vacuum used a few times a week is always better than a $400 vacuum used once a month.”

Stanley Steemer never uses subcontractors. All of its technicians are employees who meet the company’s high standards – including background checks, drug tests and extensive training before going out in the field. Employees wear professional uniforms and take great pride in their appearance.

“We are very cognizant that we are welcomed into someone’s home, and we make sure our employees meet the high standards we set for them,” said White.

Stanley Steemer technicians always work in teams of two.

“Most homeowners feel safer with two techs in their home, plus two techs move furniture better and get the job done twice as fast,” said White. “We also stand behind our work with a 10-Day Redo Policy, which fortunately we are seldom asked about, because we strive to get the job done right the first time.”

Stanley also prices its job differently than other carpet cleaning companies, many which have hidden fees.

“We consider a room as up to 300 square feet, while most competitors define a room as 200 square feet,” said White. “So even if their advertised price is less than ours, they usually end up costing more because a lot of rooms are more than 200 square feet.”

In addition, White explains that Stanley Steemer never charges to move furniture, and pre-treatments for heavily soiled carpets are included in price — items that are often an additional cost at other companies.

Stanley Steemer’s carpet cleaning is certified asthma and allergy-friendly, because it removes an average of 94 percent of common household allergens.

“This means it is safe for you, your pets and the environment. In other words, a carpet cleaning from Stanley Steemer will leave your home cleaner and healthier,” said White.

October and November are the busiest time of the year for carpet cleaning, because families are getting their homes ready for the holidays. To make sure you get the day and time that’s best for you, call now to schedule ahead, or request a same-day service. Call the Lutz Stanley Steemer at (813) 996-2436, or schedule online at StanleySteemer.com.

Published 9/25/19

When families are looking for a new place to call home, they want a community where there is plenty to do. And, that’s why Avalon Park West in Wesley Chapel is one of Pasco’s most in-demand places to live.

Already 1,500 people call Avalon Park Home. Residents of all ages have embraced the community’s lifestyle of live, learn, work and play. And, when it comes to play, the Avalon Park Group provides a variety of fun activities for its residents, and also welcomes neighbors in surrounding communities to join them.

“We are not just developers— we are building a brand new town,” said Stephanie Lerret, senior vice president of marketing and community relations for the Avalon Park Group. “We’re so much more than just another planned community – we’re bringing together everything a family needs to enjoy life today, and in the future.”

Here’s a list of upcoming events that are absolutely free, and are open to families everywhere.

Community Farmer’s Market

Every Other Saturday

Sept. 28, Oct. 12 and Oct. 26

Arts and crafts exhibitors, local business displays, food and drink

Avalon Park Amenity Center

5060 River Glen Blvd., Wesley Chapel

Movie Under The Stars

Friday, Oct. 11

Movie starts at dusk

Aladdin (2019)

Avalon Park Amenity Center

5060 River Glen Blvd., Wesley Chapel

Amenity Center Grand Opening

Saturday, Oct. 12, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Zero-entry pool, splash pad, workout area and spa, covered picnic area

Food and drink

Wear your bathing suits – everyone is invited to swim and play in the splash pad

RSVP to , or call (813) 783-1515, to be eligible for gifts and prizes

Avalon Park Amenity Center

5060 River Glen Blvd., Wesley Chapel

 Food Truck Event

Saturday, Oct. 17, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Meal and dessert trucks

Avalon Park Amenity Center

5060 River Glen Blvd., Wesley Chapel

Spooktacular

Saturday, Oct. 26, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Trick-or-Treating, costume parade, prizes and street vendors

Avalon Park West Amenity Center

5227 Autumn Ridge Drive, Wesley Chapel

Avalon Aglow

Saturday, Dec. 14, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Pictures with Santa, bounce park, food trucks, vendors, community performances

Fireworks at 8 p.m.

Avalon Park Amenity Center

5060 River Glen Blvd., Wesley Chapel

Avalon Park West families also enjoy a wide array of amenities, including a community garden, swimming pools, tot lots, basketball courts, pocket parks with mini-libraries, dog park, and trails and walkways that will interconnect with its downtown.

Avalon Park West will continue to be developed for the next several years. At build out, this 1,650-acre master-planned community will have about 4,400 single and multi-family homes, and be home to 10,000 residents. In addition to residential, the community’s downtown area will have over 500,000 square feet of commercial space.

Visit AvalonParkWest.com

Published 9/25/19

Protect Your Home, Budget and Family by Hiring Professionals

It may be tempting to hire a self-proclaimed, jack-of-all-trades handyman to fix your noisy air conditioner, leaky pipes or other home-repair problems.

But, here’s the truth — the few dollars you may save now will cost you money later if you need to call in a professional to fix the repairs your handyman did wrong.

“The best way to protect your budget and secure your family’s safety is by hiring a professional who is certified and trained to handle your home’s AC, plumbing or electrical problems,” says Dana Spears, president and owner of Cornerstone Pros in Land O’ Lakes.

How can you be certain you are hiring a certified and qualified person when someone recommends their handyman, or you come across a person or company on your neighborhood Facebook page, or see promoted on Nextdoor and other community groups?

“It begins with asking lots of questions,” said Spears. “If you’re hiring a company, ask how long they’ve been in business, because they may not still be around when your system needs warranty work, maintenance or repairs. And be sure to ask if their technicians are employees, or subcontractors, to be sure they will stand behind the work of their people.  If you do end up hiring an individual tradesperson, make sure to request proof that verifies his or her credentials.”

You can also take the hassle-free route, and hire an established and respected company like Cornerstone Pros.

“Our company does the screening and training for you, ensuring that every technician is a licensed and certified HVAC, plumbing or electrical pro before adding them to our team,” said Dana. “When you turn to us, you can take comfort in knowing you’ve hired only qualified people for the job.”

If you have had a bad experience with an unqualified contractor, Spears encourages you to protect other homeowners from suffering the same consequences by reporting unqualified contractors and unlicensed tradesmen to the Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation at myfloridalicense.com.

In the long run, the best way to prevent home emergencies is to plan ahead with regular maintenance on your home’s mechanical systems.

“Your A/C should receive regular maintenance every six to 12 months to prevent an emergency situation,” said Spears. “Folks don’t realize that their A/C is a home appliance, just like their refrigerator. All appliances have a life span, and don’t last forever.”

Maintaining your A/C is much like taking your vehicle in for regular oil changes and service updates, explains Spears.

“If you don’t service your vehicle, you are looking for trouble. And, if you are not doing regular maintenance on your A/C system, when you have problems, it will likely be during the hottest times of the year, or during the holidays when you have a houseful of people,” said Spears.

Cornerstone Pros offers several maintenance programs that are affordable and will make sure that recommended service is done on all of your home’s mechanical systems.

Cornerstone Pros was founded in 2006 as an air conditioning service company. It moved to its 4-acre site on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard in 2011, and the following year added plumbing services. In 2014, it expanded again with electrical services.

In 2018, Cornerstone Pros built a 6,000-square-foot warehouse next to its headquarters on U.S. 41, to store air conditioning units of all sizes and stock high-demand service items for its air conditioning, electrical and plumbing operations. It also stocks tankless hot water systems, and portable and permanent generators, including whole-house systems by Generac.

“Every morning our vans are fully stocked with everything our technicians need, which means on most calls, we are able to solve a customer’s problem on the first visit,” said Spears. “Our warehouse has allowed us to become a more efficient service operation and provide even better customer service.”

Spears credits her company’s growth to its commitment to outstanding customer service, and also because its employees exemplify her company’s values.

“We hire people who are genuine, honest, trustworthy, clean-cut, and live their life with good ethics and morals,” said Spears. “Most employees are local people who live in our service area, and are very committed to their work and community.”

The company has developed its own training program for employees to become certified in its trade areas. Over 20 employees have successfully completed these programs, receiving numerous industry certifications, and now work as highly skilled tradesmen.

“We’re always looking for eager, hardworking men and women with a good attitude and mechanical aptitude,” Spears says. “We’re successful because we’ve built our business on reputation and trust, which begins by hiring great people.”

Cornerstone phones are answered 24/7, and technicians are available around the clock, including weekends and holidays. Call (813) 990-0561 anytime, day or night. For more information, visit their website at CornerstonePros.com.

Published 9/25/19

21 paintings on display at Avalon Park West

This Friday’s artist reception at the East Pasco Gallery of the Pasco Fine Arts Council is an opportunity to meet Suzanne Natzke, an accomplished watercolor artist whose works have been recognized nationally.

The public is invited to this free community affair between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Avalon Park West Welcome Center in Wesley Chapel. Attendees will also enjoy live music by Jared Violin, and complimentary wine and refreshments.

Natzke is a Pasco artist known for her variety of subject matters, including animals, landscapes, florals, and even abstract.

“When deciding what to paint, I follow my nose and pursue things that interest me,” said Natzke.

The artist has 21 paintings on exhibit at the show — primarily work that has been completed in the past three to four years.

“My style is more impressionism than realism, but in recent years it has become more contemporary by using harder edges, which create movement and make my paintings more dramatic,” said Natzke.

By comparison, Natzke said traditional watercolor paintings use softer edges, colors that flow and bend, and lines that are lost in the painting.

“A painting is a very static, two dimensional thing. I try to bring life to my work by creating a sense of motion – like the wind blowing through a landscape, or a sense that something is about to happen in the scene,” said Natzke.

All but two of Natzke’s paintings at the show are watercolor. One is mixed media and the other uses an acrylic Gesso underneath the watercolor to give it texture.

Her favorite piece on exhibit is of a young girl with an owl resting on her leather glove, which she calls, “An Owl Named Winston Churchill.” This painting recently received a prestigious honorable mention at a national show hosted by the Georgia Watercolor Society.

Natzke regularly enters art competitions in Florida, California and Georgia. These are very competitive shows, with hundreds of entries and only 80 to 100 artists invited to exhibit, she explains. Natzke is proud to be a signature member of the Florida Watercolor Society, which means her work has been chosen at least three times to be exhibited at its annual show.

A Michigan native, Natzke moved to Florida in 1985. Then in 2001, her family moved to Trinity in West Pasco County, and she had more time to explore her interest in painting.

“I was a stay-at-home mom looking for something to do,” said Natzke. “I had been inspired by all the beautiful artwork at the Tarpon Spring Fine Arts Festival, and thought to myself — now here is something I could do from home.”

So, she set up a studio in her Trinity home with the help of her mother, who painted as a hobby.

“I quickly realized that I had no idea what I was doing, and really needed classes and direction,” said Natzke.

She began taking classes at the Pasco Fine Arts Council in New Port Richey, and kept taking classes for four years, until she developed the skills and techniques to be good enough to begin exhibiting her work. Over the years, she has studied under several local and nationally renowned artists, and today is an instructor herself.

Natzke’s very first teacher was Jo Baughman, who today is the director of the Pasco Fine Arts Council, the group partnering with Avalon Park West to bring the arts to the east side of Pasco County.

One of the main goals of this partnership is to introduce people to local artists with monthly exhibits and demonstrations, and also to offer art classes for youngsters and adults.

“People tell me all the time that they could never paint,” said Natzke. “But, that’s not true. Anyone can learn to paint with lessons, practice, desire and enthusiasm.”

And that is exactly the plan for the new East Pasco Gallery of the Pasco Fine Arts Center.

“We want to have art classes and workshops for our community, and a place to share artwork created by students and adults,” said Stephanie Lerret, senior vice president of marketing and community relations for the Avalon Park Group.

“As it turns out, the Pasco Fine Arts Council has been providing these types of programs for years, and all it needed was a place in East Pasco to bring their programs and exhibits to our residents in Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, San Antonio and Dade City.

“It is our vision to build Downtown Avalon Park West as the cultural and event center of East Pasco County.”

After Natzke’s “Moment in Time” show closes Oct. 22,  a new artist will be featured at the Avalon Park West Welcome Center. A total of six artist exhibits, one competition and two art demonstrations are scheduled for the East Pasco Gallery through next May.

Next spring, the Pasco Fine Arts Council is bringing its annual Middle School Photography competition to Avalon Park West. The exhibit, with hundreds of photos by participating Pasco County students, will be on display at a new charter school, Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel, that is being built at the entrance to Avalon Park West. Pinecrest will be open for the 2020-21 school year.

“This is a photography competition we hold in conjunction with Pasco County Schools, where students earn first, second and third place recognition in each grade level,” said Baughman. “It is very exciting to finally have a location to put on a show for these youngsters, and to share these outstanding photos with the public.”

For more information on the artist schedule and upcoming events, please visit AvalonParkWest.com.

Published 9/25/19