The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Cardel Homes Introduces The Enclave At Lake Padgett

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There are more lakes in Land O’ Lakes than anywhere else in Pasco County. And, of its dozens of lakes, none is more desirable than Lake Padgett, a spring-fed, 200-acre lake that is the largest in central Pasco.

Lake Padgett has been home to beautiful waterfront homes for over 50 years, where residents enjoy boating, water skiing and long views of cypress-lined shores, and stunning sunrises and sunsets.

There are only a handful of homesites remaining on Lake Padgett, which is why Cardel Homes is so excited to be introducing the Enclave At Lake Padgett.

“It’s almost unheard of to find new home construction on Lake Padgett,” said Brian Phillips, vice president of sales and marketing at Cardel Homes. “We’re thrilled to be offering eight beautiful lots directly on the Lagoon, all that are large in size.”

The Enclave At Lake Padgett is a secluded, gated community of just 18 homesites, with easy access off Land O’ Lakes Boulevard (U.S. 41). All of Cardel’s homes will back up to a natural lagoon that flows into Lake Padgett.

“All of our homesites can be permitted for docks that are large enough for fishing, waterski and pontoon boats,” said Phillips. “Plus, none of our docks are shared between homeowners.”

Homes in the Enclave At Lake Padgett must be a minimum 3,000 square feet, and Cardel’s floor plans are as large as 4,260 square feet.

For families looking for a new home, Cardel has an inventory home that is available now — the elegant one-story St. Lucia, which has 3,336 square feet and offers four bedrooms, three baths and a three-car garage.

“Our St. Lucia model has an open floor plan that is very attractive to families of all sizes,” said Phillips.

This one-story beauty features 12-foot ceilings, a den off the entry, formal dining room with coffered ceiling, expansive great room, huge bonus room, and a master suite with a sitting area and private lanai at the back of the house. Interior features are fabulous, and include white cabinetry, quartz countertops, wood-plank tile throughout, and tray ceilings in the foyer, bonus room and master bedroom.

The home is on a wooded lot and has a large front porch, and covered lanai in the back. An oversized dock is just steps away from the backyard, and is perfect to dock a boat and enjoy the natural backyard setting.

“This home is ideal for the family wanting to move up to an exclusive, private community with no CDD,” said Phillips.

“It’s the best of both worlds — enjoying all the recreation that Lake Padgett offers, without the boat noise and traffic directly in your backyard. If you want to start the new year in a beautiful new home, this is one of the best waterfront values in all of Tampa Bay,” he adds.

The St. Lucia inventory home, including its waterfront dock, is listed at just $650,000.

If you prefer to choose your homesite and select a floor plan, colors and finishes, currently, Cardel is offering buyers up to $50,000 off in its design center, for homes contracted before the end of the year. A Cardel home in the Enclave begins at $494,900.

Many families want to live in Land O’ Lakes because of its excellent schools. The Enclave is assigned to top-rated Sunlake High, Charles Rushe Middle and Lake Myrtle Elementary.

For families wanting to build in Hillsborough County, Cardel is introducing a new community in Lutz, located close to USF and I-275.

Oakwood Reserve offers 1-acre homesites on Clement Road – a quiet, rural street tucked between Hannah Road and Livingston Avenue. Like the Enclave at Lake Padgett, only eight homesites are available.

Cardel also builds homes in Bexley, a master-planned community in Land O’ Lakes, along the State Road 54 corridor, next to the Suncoast Parkway.

“Cardel Homes is one of the few national builders to offers buyers communities of all sizes and price points — from move-up developments like Bexley that offer many desirable family amenities, to those like the Enclave At Lake Padgett and Oakwood Reserve, which offer larger lots, more privacy and high-end custom features,” said Phillips.

Visit Cardel Homes at the Enclave At Lake Padgett, or at Bexley, Mondays through Saturday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m.

Published November 28, 2018

ICI Model Home Now For Sale in Asturia

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One of Tampa’s most preeminent builders, ICI Homes, is selling its model home in Asturia in central Pasco County.

“Our Serena model has top-of-the-line upgrades and is a tremendous value for families looking to move this year,” said Sales Manager Leah Turner.

The one-story Serena is built on a beautiful conservation lot and is loaded with elegant upgrades. At 2,217 square feet, it has four bedrooms, three baths and a two-car garage.

The Costa Mesa by ICI Homes exemplifies outdoor living with its stunning rear lanai. The company builds this open floor plan in Asturia in Odessa, and Bexley in Land O’ Lakes.

Its unique grand foyer pulls you through the house with 12-foot ceilings, and its large kitchen and great room gracefully flow onto a covered lanai that stretches along the back of the home. This exclusive model home is currently priced at $515,775.

“This home never feels crowded, whether you’re relaxing with family, playing with the kids or entertaining friends,” said Turner.

ICI Homes will soon have two, one-story inventory homes in Asturia. The Arden and Oakland plans range from 2,115 to 2,402 square feet, and have four bedrooms, three baths and two-car garages. Inventory homes, including the lot, currently begin at $392,376.

“We are ready to move quickly on all of our inventory homes, and will do everything we can to get a family settled as soon as possible,” said Ron Ferguson, division manager of the company’s West Florida Division.

Asturia Phase III
As Asturia enters its third phase, ICI Homes is excited to be introducing a new model in early 2019. The one-story Costa Mesa is under construction now.

“We’ve had tremendous success since we began building in Asturia in late 2017, and many families are looking forward to this next phase, and our pristine conservation and water lots,” said Ferguson.

ICI Homes has available 22 homesites on 55-foot lots, and another 16 sites on 65-foot lots. Homes in the third phase will begin in the low $300,000s.

“We’re very pleased to be offering families new homes in this mid-point range, which come with all the quality features, designs and construction methods that ICI Homes is known for,” said Ferguson. “Buyers are excited to get into a prestigious ICI Home at this attractive price point.”

Bexley Close-Out
This is the last chance to buy an ICI Home in Bexley, a master-planned community in Land O’ Lakes along the State Road 54 corridor, being developed by Newland Communities.

“We have three remaining homesites in Bexley, and all have been permitted and will be ready for sale in the second quarter of 2019,” said Turner.

ICI is building its most popular family homes for its Bexley inventory — the one-story Costa Mesa and Egret VII.

The Costa Mesa is 2,565 square feet, and features four bedrooms, three baths and a three-car garage. The slightly smaller Egret VII is 2,512 square feet, and features four bedrooms, three baths and a two-car garage. Both are very open plans with lots of windows and natural lighting.

Build On Your Own Lot
With so much land available in Pasco, many families want to build a new home on land they already own. ICI Homes is one of the few semi-custom builders to offer a “Build On Your Lot” program.

“Many buyers with their own lot enjoy working with ICI Homes because they can easily customize our floor plans, and walk through our models to get a real feel for what their new home will be like,” said Sales Manager Turner.

“Plus, we’re more affordable than other custom builders, who may only build four or five houses a year. There is tremendous savings working with a builder like ICI Homes, because the discounts we receive for our quantity is passed along to our ‘on your lot’ buyers,” Turner continues.

ICI Homes has built hundreds of custom “on your lot” homes, ranging from palatial estates on the St John’s River, to one-of-a-kind homes in private communities and rural areas. Since it was established in 1980, the company has built over 4,000 single-family homes in Florida and the Tampa area, and has earned several prestigious awards for design and innovation.

The ICI Homes sales center for Asturia and Bexley is at 15134 Aviles Parkway in Odessa, (813) 359-0264.

Published November 28, 2018

Active Adults Love Del Webb at Bexley

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There’s a lot of excitement about Del Webb at Bexley. The active adult community is still under construction, but it’s already been named one of the top five coming soon communities by the website 55Plus.com.

The new, gated 55-plus community in Pasco County is being built on Sunlake Boulevard and Tower Road in Land O’ Lakes within Bexley, a national award-winning master-planned community.

Del Webb at Bexley was designed with today’s 55-and-over homebuyer in mind.

“We feel the Tampa area is underserved for baby boomers looking to live in a place that is designed specifically for them,” said Sean Strickler, PulteGroup division president for the west Florida region. “At Del Webb at Bexley, they can live near their children and grandchildren, but in a low maintenance, gated community that caters to their lifestyle.”

“Del Webb is the leading builder of active adult communities and we’re excited to partner with them in Bexley,” added Pam Parisi, vice president of marketing for Newland Communities, the developer of Bexley.  “We know Del Webb at Bexley is going to be a neighborhood where residents feel like family and make lifelong friendships. It’s an excellent complement to the existing Bexley community.”

Del Webb at Bexley will offer 850 single-family homes priced starting in the low $200,000s. Floor plans will range from the efficiency of the one-story, two-bedroom Steel Creek to the spaciousness of the two-story, four-bedroom, four-bath Pinnacle Grand.

The heart of the community will be a 17,000-square-foot, multimillion-dollar clubhouse. It features a large social room; café offering snacks, beer, coffee and wine; fitness area; and resort-style community pool. Other amenities include a dog park, community garden, pickle ball and tennis courts, and recreational activities planned by a full-time lifestyle director. Prospective buyers can view a virtual tour of the clubhouse online at BexleyFlorida.com/homes/del-webb.

Residents will also be able to enjoy a lakefront club and café and purchase additional access to Bexley’s many all-ages amenities including 10 miles of multi-use Avid Trails™, parks and play areas, soccer field, dog park, two resort-style pools, bike park and a robust schedule of social events.

Del Webb is one of the largest builders within Bexley, a 1,825-acre master-planned community developed by Newland Communities approximately 20 miles northwest of downtown Tampa.

The community is the first by Del Webb to be built from the ground up in the Tampa Bay area since 1960.

Pre-sales of homes at Del Webb at Bexley have already begun and six furnished model homes are expected to open in early 2019. To learn more and sign up for the Del Webb at Bexley VIP Interest List visit BexleyFlorida.com/homes/del-webb, or call (866) 230-6089.

Published November 28, 2018

Santa and his Elves Invite You To Asturia

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The third annual Holiday Festival is being hosted at Asturia — a master-planned community in Odessa — on Saturday, Dec. 8 from 10 a.m. to noon. The event is free and open to the public.

Youngsters will enjoy a candy cane express train, face-painting elf, balloon-artist elf, holiday carnival games, meet-and-greet surprise holiday characters, holiday treats and, of course, sitting on Santa’s lap and telling him what they want for Christmas.

And, when Holiday Festival guests are done playing, kids and their parents can tour Asturia’s beautifully decorated model homes.

Ashton Woods Homes, David Weekley Homes, ICI Homes and Ryan Homes are Asturia’s exclusive builders. Model homes are open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m.

Asturia builders provide a wide range of home sizes and architectural styles. Pricing begins in the mid $200,000s, and goes to over $600,000. A variety of product types and home configurations attract empty-nesters, first-time homebuyers, singles, young families, families with school-aged children and even multi-generational families.

Third Phase Opens
It’s been only three years since Asturia began selling homes, and already the award-winning development has moved into its third phase. More than 250 homes have been sold out of 550 planned for the community.

“Our builders have been very successful, and the demand for more homesites has driven the opening of our Phase III,” said Creighton Call, projector director for Hines, the community’s developer.

With Phase III comes the addition of Asturia’s fourth builder, Ryan Homes, which is building 108 townhomes close to the community’s Amenity Center and entrance. These affordable homes have two-car garages located in the rear and are accessed by private alleys, which leaves the front of the home open for welcoming porches, sidewalks and landscaping.

Upscale semi-custom builders, David Weekley Homes and ICI Homes, are building new single-family models on 55-foot and 65-foot homesites in Phase III. ICI has two new models planned, which will open in the second quarter of 2019.

“After Phase III is completed, there will be just 40 home sites remaining,” said Call. “People are moving to Asturia ahead of plan because of our attention to detail, the quality of life we’ve created, the excellent schools that our children attend and our convenient location to all of Tampa Bay.”

Asturia is designed as a walkable community with winding streets that connect to neighborhood parks, trails and recreational areas. Most homes are easy walking or biking distance to the Amenity Center, which includes a resort-style pool, a fully equipped state-of-the-art fitness center, and a contemporary clubhouse for community and family celebrations.

Every street has a mixture of homes by different builders with varying elevations that give neighborhoods a unique feel. “There are no cookie-cutter streets in Asturia. Our premier builders offer an assortment of architectural styles and customizations. We take great care in beautifully landscaping the curvilinear streets and common walkable areas,” said Call.

Asturia is a kid-friendly, family oriented lifestyle surrounded by miles of multi-use trails, interspersed with playgrounds, dog parks and pocket parks. The community has wide, meadow-like spaces, lovely ponds, thick stands of cypress and hardwood trees, and large tracts of scenic wetlands.

About Asturia
What makes Asturia stand out from other new home developments in the area is its smaller size. Other nearby planned communities are planning for between 3,000 to over 5,000 homes and are looking at several years of construction.

Asturia is located in the high-demand State Road 54 corridor in Pasco County. The community’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 mixture 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 November 28, 2018

16 Beautiful Ashton Woods Homes Ready For Your Family

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Ashton Woods is in its final sales phase at Asturia, with 85 percent of homesites sold since the community opened two years ago.

“We’ve had tremendous success in Asturia, selling over 100 single-family homes in this much-desired community,” said Marketing Manager Kristin Wilson. “We have under 30 homes available for sale, and expect all to be completed by the end of the year.”

Because most families want to move into their new home as soon as possible, Ashton Woods received permits from Pasco County for all of its remaining Asturia homesites.

“This saves our buyers up to three months in the building process,” said Kathy Midkiff, Ashton Woods’ community sales manager in Asturia.

“Our designers have put together beautiful combinations of flooring, countertops, design features and colors that will excite the vast majority of buyers,” she said. “Plus, we have a great combination of homes that convert flex space to extra bedrooms, add bonus rooms and extra baths, and have great outdoor living areas with front porches and extended lanais.”

Inventory Homes
Ashton Woods offers traditional one- and two-story homes in its Traditional home series.  All feature open floor plans, large living areas, beautiful master suites, high-end finishes and lots of storage. Homes have two-car garages, and many back up to private conservation homesites.

Spacious Classic Series
Five traditional, inventory homes are ready in the Classic series, including two, one-story homes. The versatile Odessa plan has three bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths in 2,243 square feet. The larger Naples plan offers four bedrooms, three baths in 2,321 square feet.

Also ready now are three, two-story homes with two-car garages, including the Ferrara model home at 2,890 square feet with its four bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths. The Milan is 2,722 square feet with four bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths. The largest home Ashton Woods builds in Asturia is the 3,365-square-foot Athens, which boasts four bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths.

Affordable Heritage Series
Many first-time homebuyers and downsizing families choose the Heritage Series. Ashton Woods has two move-in ready, one-story homes available in these well-designed floor plans — the Truman at 1,961 square feet with four bedrooms and two baths; and the slightly smaller Adams plan at 1,829 square feet with three bedrooms and two baths.

Evergreen and Grove Series
Ashton Woods is the only builder in Asturia offering single-family homes with garages at the rear of the house.  There are five, quick move-in homes available in these series, all conveniently located close to Asturia’s Amenity Center.

There are three Arlington plans at 2,003 square feet, and also four Ortega plans at 2,189 square feet. These homes begin at $269,000.

Great Schools
“For families with children, Asturia is a very popular community because it is zoned for some of the best schools in Pasco County — J.W. Mitchell High, Seven Springs Middle and Odessa Elementary,” said Midkiff.

Asturia buyers prefer the community’s smaller size of just 550 homes, compared to thousands of homes being built in neighboring developments. Plus, they appreciate that construction will not be ongoing for several years.

Ashton Woods was named the 2017 Builder of the Year by Builder and Developer Magazine and, for the fourth consecutive year, has been ranked among the top three for Most Trusted Builders in America.

For more information, go to AshtonWoods.com/tampa/Asturia. You can also call the sales center at (813) 446-8362.

Published November 28, 2018

Spend a little time ‘off the grid’ — and have some fun

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Going off the grid can be therapeutic.

So can browsing through antique and home decor stores, boutiques, and wine and cheese shops.

Petal & Vine in Antique Alley, in Belleair Bluffs, is a combination florist and gift shop, with an array of home decor, baby items and more. (Karen Haymon Long)

Or so I tell myself when I decide to head to stretches of two roads with shops I like that are close to each other in Largo, Clearwater and Belleair Bluffs, in an area north of West Bay Drive in Pinellas County.

I turn off my cellphone, so I can shop totally uninterrupted, something I rarely do on an ordinary day.

Sometimes, I take along my lunch and eat in the car between stops.

Other times, I treat myself at Wildflower Cafe, a pretty “ladies who lunch” spot, or a diner called Greek Islands, both close to the Largo shops.

My favorite shop along Clearwater-Largo Road is The French Nest Marketplace. It’s owned by Julianne Marie Bourdreaux, a friendly woman who offers classes on milk paint furniture painting. She greets customers with a lilting “bonne journee” and an offer of hot tea in a flowered china cup.

Coastal Living, a shop in Largo, specializes in coastal repurposed furniture, seashells, lamps and more.

She sells antiques and new home decor, holiday gifts, charming greeting cards, lamps and an array of French linens, tableware, soaps and signs. Outside, in what she calls her rustic garden, you can find a revolving selection of recycled garden statuary and planters.

I can’t go there without buying something: an antique whiskey decanter or a first-edition “Treasure Island,” with illustrations by N.C. Wyeth. And, always, I pick up some greeting cards by artist Vicki Sawyer, whose whimsical birds, sheep and rabbits never fail to make me smile.

On the same street, but with very different inventory, Oddities and Antiques sells everything from concrete moon faces to an assortment of old dolls hanging from the ceiling – some with fish hooks dangling from their foreheads and stomachs. It has crucifixes, old dental equipment, vintage postcards, driftwood, a boy mannequin, bones, books and old bottles.

Outside, hanging from a chain, a human skeleton, adorned with metal butterfly wings, twirls in the wind.

It’s like an old museum of grab bag items thrown together. It’s fascinating and a little creepy. A sign over one door even says 666 – the devil’s sign –  and its motto, “a unique blend of unusuals.” A stuffed wolf – or is it a dog? – wears a stethoscope and sits on a table behind pink and blue eyeballs and a ceramic hand. Beware: It’s only open Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

I also like Marcotte’s Design Salvage, where I recently bought a linen tea towel with a map of Florida on it. It’s too pretty to use as a towel, so I will use it as a tablecloth instead. This shop sells furniture, chalk paint, vintage lighting, architectural salvage, pillows, cabinet knobs, green glassware, barn doors, baskets, napkins, lamps, signs – many with coastal colors and themes.

The French Nest Marketplace feels like an inviting shop in France, where the owner offers cups of hot tea while you shop and greets you with a friendly ‘bonne journee’ when you arrive.

Next door, Marcotte’s Coastal Market is also worth a spin around. There just aren’t many stores like these in our area, so it’s a treat to see what they have.

Coastal Living, on the other side of Clearwater-Largo Road, sells seashells, nautical lamps and tableware, clothes, repurposed furniture and an assortment of antiques, and new gift and decor items. A few years ago, I bought a beautiful antique lamp there that has palm trees on a reverse painted shade.

Recently, I saw a lamp made from a ship’s porthole there, another lamp with a crab base and a wreath of oyster shells.

For a more whimsical, eclectic experience, make your way to Pirates of Largo, which is jam- packed — inside and out — with yard art, signs, glassware, framed posters, knickknacks, jewelry and a wild array of other things. A framed photo of Marilyn Monroe gazes out at an Elvis head. Across the room, sits a blue dog and, on one wall, there’s a vintage Miami poster.

You never know what you will find, which is part of the fun.

Other treasures await over in Belleair Bluffs, along Indian Rocks Road, where I like to check out Antique Alley, with its cluster of shops. Down the road there are a few nice women’s clothing boutiques, and a wine and cheese market called Bella Vino.

My favorite spot in Antique Alley is a combination florist and gift shop called Petal & Vine. It sells holiday and garden items, sail bags, baby gifts, jewelry, clothes, greeting cards, some food items and unusual cut flowers.

I saw some tempting Halloween decorations – a concrete pumpkin with a gold stem, a lime green pumpkin, a black cat ornament, a skeleton tea towel – on my last visit.

Oddities and Antiques sells everything from this wolf wearing a stethoscope to crosses and old dental equipment and spooky dolls.

Down the alley, a shop called Nostalgia sells framed black-and-white old photos of Havana and the Florida Keys for $40 each, dishes and other home goods with Cuban themes, as well as coastal items.

Mango Etc. art gallery sells artist Frida Kahlo-inspired pillow cases, artwork and dolls that are sure to please her fans, me included.

Next door, at Chloe’s Home Decor, I bought a glass jar with a bird on its lid that I filled with limes. For Thanksgiving, I subbed them out for baby pumpkins.

Collum Antiques, next door to Antique Alley’s much-heralded Astoria Pastry Shop, specializes in Civil War guns, swords, bowie knives, decoys and American Indian turquoise jewelry. Its owner Charles Edward Collum says he’s been there 30 years and knows where everything is in his chock-a-block shop.

South from Antique Alley, on Indian Rocks Road, I enjoyed browsing through For the Love of Boutique and two other shops called Suzette’s On the Rocks Boutique and Suzette’s Too, owned by sisters. All three sell clothing, shoes and jewelry in tranquil settings.

Tranquility, I found, is possible if you click off your phone, take your time, and explore a part of Florida you’ve never been to before. For good measure, take home a Florida tea towel souvenir to remind you of your travels.

Tips for the Trip: Where to Shop

In Largo and Clearwater:
The French Nest Marketplace, 556 Clearwater-Largo Road, N., Largo; open daily

Marcotte’s Coastal Market, 607 Clearwater-Largo Road N., Largo; open daily

Marcotte’s Design Salvage, 617 Clearwater-Largo Road, N., Largo; open daily

Coastal Living, 904 Clearwater-Largo Road, Largo; open Wednesday-Sunday

Oddities and Antiques, 1764 Clearwater-Largo Road, N., Clearwater; open Thursday-Saturday

Pirates of Largo, 1780 Clearwater-Largo Road, Clearwater; open Wednesday-Sunday

In Belleair Bluffs:
Antique Alley, 596 Indian Rocks Road, N.; some shops closed Sunday and Monday

For the Love of Boutique, 428 Indian Rocks Road, N.; closed Sunday and Monday

Suzette’s on the Rocks Boutique and Suzette’s Too, 400 Indian Rocks Road, N.; closed Sunday

Bella Vino Wine & Cheese Market/Espresso & Wine Bar, 100 Indian Rocks Road, N.; closed Sunday

Where to eat:
Wildflower Cafe, 1465 S. Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater; open for breakfast and lunch daily

Greek Islands, 1501 Clearwater-Largo Road, N., Largo; open for lunch and dinner daily

By Karen Haymon Long

Published November 28, 2018

The ‘Otter Olympics’ are a fun way to raise funds

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The PTA at Oakstead Elementary School, at 19925 Lake Patience Road in Land O’ Lakes, has an unusual way to raise money for the school. It hosts the Otter Olympics. The fundraiser obstacle course took place on Nov. 9.

The PTA organized the Olympics-themed fundraiser, which was made possible through the donations of more than 30 local businesses from Lutz and Land O’ Lakes. Jana Cash, PTA sponsorship chair, said she’s grateful for the generosity of the local business community. “We couldn’t have done this without them,” she said.

She also praised Oakstead’s students whose fundraising efforts brought in $20,000 in the first week of the drive.

PTA president Andrea Holley said nearly every dollar raised by students will go back to the school. The goal is to purchase iPads and other technology for classroom use. All of the school’s kindergarten through fifth grade students took part in the day’s events, whether they were able to collect pledges or not. The sponsors also provided a free T-shirt and bottle of water for each student. Oakstead Principal Tamera Kimpland called the event a great partnership between parents, and she said it’s great to see the school and the community come together.

With obvious pride, first-grade students Ezekiel Altamirano, left, and Layla Lowenberg, right, hold a banner representing Maria Mantzaris’s class. The students were asked to raise their hands if they were part of the first Otter Olympics, held in January. (Christine Holtzman)
As World Champion Center tae kwon do course volunteer Sean Morris, of Spring Hill, holds a board at his Gyeok-pa station, third-grader Valentina Tabora confidently kicks the board in half. Top sponsor World Champion Center organized and ran the obstacle course for the Oakstead Elementary School Otter Olympics.
As PTA member and event volunteer, Crystal Groger, of Land O’Lakes, right, watches as Jace Gould, a third-grader at Oakstead Elementary School, jumps over the brightly colored hurdles of the ‘Over Under’ station during the Oakstead Elementary School’s Otter Olympics.

A symphony in lights, and color

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Hundreds gathered to enjoy opening night of the 10th annual Symphony in Lights at The Shops at Wiregrass, at 28211 Paseo Drive in Wesley Chapel.

The free family celebration, presented by Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, featured falling snow, performers, costumed characters, live holiday music, and the arrival of Santa Claus on the brand-new Wiregrass Express train.

Radio personality Mason Dixon was the master of ceremonies for the official tree lighting ceremony, which delighted the audience with a light show synchronized to the music of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

The night ended with a special opening night fireworks display, which was an obvious crowd-pleaser.

The Symphony in Lights continues nightly at 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., through Dec. 31, with the choreographed light and music show, as well as guest appearances.

The spirit of the holidays was in the air at opening night of the 10th annual Symphony in Lights at The Shops at Wiregrass on the evening of Nov. 10. (Christine Holtzman)
As the sun sets on Paseo Drive, Liz Carroll, a stilt walker with Strictly Entertainment, doles out stickers to the crowd. The Zephyrhills woman has been a stilt walker for seven years, and she’s more than 7 feet tall when she’s on the stilts.
Four-year-old Brielle Kirkman, of Land O’ Lakes, sits on her father’s (Nathan) shoulders, to get a better view of the stage. She wanted to see ‘Late Night Brass,’ a band performing holiday music. The little girl’s mother, Kellie, said the family loves attending the event each year.

Fire rescue cadets scale new heights

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Towering 75 feet above the ground, 16-year-old Mason Hawthorne, of Lakeland, places his arms out to the side while performing a ‘lock in’ exercise atop the aerial ladder. The ‘lock in’ or ‘trust’ exercise is conducted so that the cadet can be certain that the locking mechanism that is attached from the ladder rope to the harness he is wearing will hold. Hawthorne has been in the program for two years and plans to pursue a career in firefighting. (Christine Holtzman)

Members of Zephyrhills Fire Rescue Cadet Post 650 have a chance to find out what’s involved in the life of a firefighter and emergency responder through a program operated out of Fire Rescue Station 1, at 6907 Dairy Road in Zephyrhills.

Billy Jeffries, the lead cadet advisor of Post 650, puts the youth through their paces. The Wesley Chapel resident also serves as the Florida Fire Chief Association section vice chair and has been a cadet advisor for 13 years. He knows how the cadets feel, as they’re learning about what’s necessary to become a firefighter, because he was one himself, 18 years ago.

To be eligible for the program, hopefuls must be ages 14 through 20, must be enrolled in school and must maintain a 2.5 grade point average, must be free of a criminal record and must desire to help the community.

The year-round program can accommodate 16 members; it has 13 presently.

As 16-year-old cadet Novalee Dries, of Wesley Chapel, observes, 17-year-old Cadet Lt. Makala Hall, a Zephyrhills High School senior, left, gets help fastening her harness from Zephyrhills firefighter paramedic Ryan Thun, right. Hall has been a participant of the cadet program for four years.

The purpose of the program is to give local youths a chance to get an early start at learning what it takes to be a first responder. There are weekly classes that include classroom instruction, and there is hands-on training and exercises.

Cadets can earn certificates they can use in the future for their careers as first responders. Certifications that are typically earning include Emergency Medical Responder and CPR.

Besides practicing, the cadets can test their skills in competitions statewide, including the Florida Winter Fire Games, scheduled to take place in Kissimmee, in February 2019.

There is a one-time enrollment fee of $40, which covers insurance and membership fees for the Florida Fire Chiefs Association.

For more information about the cadet program, email Lead Cadet Advisor Billy Jeffries at , or call (813) 780-0035.

By Christine Holtzman

Published November 21, 2018

From left: 18-year-old Kayli Coleman, 17-year-old Kelsey Narhi, 17-year-old Cadet Lt. Makala Hall, 17-year-old Bree Hampton, all of Zephyrhills; and 16-year-old Novalee Dries, of Wesley Chapel, cheer on one of their comrades, as the cadet reaches the top of the 75-foot ladder.
The cadets train all year long and compete in many competitions statewide, including the Florida Winter Fire Games in Kissimmee, in February 2019.
Eighteen-year-old cadet Kayli Coleman descends the 75-foot aerial ladder during a recent training exercise. The Zephyrhills High School senior has been part of the cadet program for four years. The program is geared toward young people who are interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement or firefighting. Coleman said it’s scary being at the top of the 75-foot ladder, which is pitched at 60-degree angle. ‘You can feel the ladder move and shake.’ But, she also noted: ‘The view is amazing up there.’
With his turn on deck, 15-year-old Orin Vaughn, of Zephyrhills, receives words of encouragement while getting geared up by Ryan Thun, a Zephyrhills firefighter/paramedic, left, and Darron Branscum, an assistant advisor Lt. Paramedic. Vaughn said he’s interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement and wanted to join the cadet program because it teaches responsibility.

 

 

Excellence in Business Awards announced

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The North Tampa Bay Chamber has announced the winners of its 2018 Excellence in Business Awards, which are bestowed during an annual celebration to acknowledge extraordinary contributions by local community members, businesses and organizations in the Wesley Chapel, New Tampa, Trinity and Odessa regions.

This year’s winners are:

New Business of the Year: Holiday Inn Express – Trinity

Small Business of the Year: Buttermilk Provisions

Large Business of the Year: Shriners Hospital for Children – Tampa

Business Leader of the Year: Dr. Kevin O’Farrell

Volunteer of the Year: Damaris Rios

Dorothy Mitchell Legacy Award: John Gallagher, retired Pasco County administrator

Also, The Board Member of the Year award went to David DeWeerd, CPA, and Dr. Kevin O’ Farrell received the Chairman’s Award. Both of those awards were given by Jennifer Cofini, chair of the North Tampa Bay Chamber’s board.

The event was presented by Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel and was held in the Sierra Center at Hyatt Place Wesley Chapel.

Event sponsors were Design & Construction Innovations, Wiregrass Ranch, Avalon Park West, and the Tampa Bay Times.

Published November 21, 2018