The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

General Obligation Bond issues

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Pasco County is asking voters to approve four general obligation bond issues during the Nov. 6 general election.

The bonds would be repaid over a 30-year period through additional charges on tax bills. The charge will appear on the bills as “voter approved debt service.”

These are the four different bonds, and the estimated annual charge on a home assessed at $100,000.

Jail expansion
Bond: $132,150,000
Average annual impact on taxpayer: $16.75
Details: Currently, taxpayers pay $2 million to house inmates outside of Pasco County because the county’s jail has reached capacity. The bond issue would pay for a jail expansion.

Fire service
Bond: $70,200,000
Average annual impact on taxpayer: $8.89
Details: The county would build four new fire stations in areas that don’t have any fire stations and replace five outdated stations. It also would add 10 new emergency vehicles and would construct a new Fire Rescue Training Facility.

Parks
Bond: $20,200,000
Average annual impact on taxpayer: $2.55
Details: Projects would be done at all district, wilderness and neighborhood parks. Existing athletic facilities would be improved. Recreational complexes, community centers and aquatic centers would be renovated.

Libraries
Bond: $18,600,000
Average annual impact on taxpayer: $2.35
Details: The county’s libraries were built in or before the 1980s. The bond issue would be used to upgrade and remodel library branches.

If all four bond issues pass, the total average annual impact on taxpayers owning a home assessed at $100,000 would be $30.54.

Published October 31, 2018

Hillsborough to cast votes on road, school taxes

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Hillsborough County voters have the option of raising sales taxes to help pay for transportation, and for school air-conditioning and capital improvements.

The transportation improvements would be made by voting to amend the County Charter to enact a 1-cent sales surtax that would be levied for 30 years and deposited in an audited trust fund with an independent oversight.

That tax would be in addition to the current 7 percent sales tax and is estimated to raise $278 million annual, and $552 million in the first two revenue years. The revenues would be shared by the Hillsborough Regional Transit Authority, the Metropolitan Planning Organization, and using a population-based formula by the Hillsborough County Commission, the City of Tampa, and the City of Temple Terrace.

The money would be used for road and bridge improvements; expanded public transit options; to fix potholes; enhance bus services; relieve rush hour bottlenecks; improve intersections; and, make walking and biking safer.

Hillsborough voters also have the option of authorizing a ½-cent sales surtax for 10 years to fund air conditioning replacements and repairs, capital improvements and construction of other schools, building enhancements for school security and other maintenance needs.

The new ½-cent tax is in addition to the current 7 percent sales tax. It is estimated to raise $138 million annually. Expenditures will be governed by the Aug. 24, 2018 Hillsborough County School Board resolution.

Published October 31, 2018

Portion of Starkey Park Equestrian Trail temporarily closed

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A portion of the Starkey Park Equestrian Trail is closed, while a project is done by Tampa Bay Water to improve water levels and ecological function at Bonnet Lake.

Construction crews will install a 12-inch pipe to divert water from Grassy Prairie to Bonnet Lake. While that work is done, a portion of the trail will be closed to keep trail users safe.

The trail will remain open to the north and south of the construction area, and will be accessible to trail users. Signs will be placed at trail closure locations with a map to help trail users navigate the closure area.

The closed portion is expected to reopen in February 2019.

Residents can follow the project’s progress by monitoring Tampa Bay Water’s Twitter and Facebook feeds for updates. For specific concerns or questions, call the dedicated construction hotline at (866) 463-6426.

Published October 31, 2018

Things that go bump in the night, and other frightening stuff

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Things that go bump in the night, and other frightening stuffThe community center at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park was transformed into the “Haunted House on 41,” where visitors had a chance to take in frightening experiences and have some Halloween fun, on the evenings of Oct. 26 and Oct. 27. The event, at 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., was hosted by Land O’Lakes Heritage Park and Pasco County Park, Recreation and Natural Resources.

It takes about a month to gear up for the two-night event.

The volunteers, mostly Land O’ Lakes and Sunlake High School students, also help with tasks such as building the maze frames and painting the props, and in exchange can earn volunteer hours.

Many of the teen volunteers return year after year, not because of the volunteer hours, but because they enjoy being part of the event, said Mike Walcott, a supervisor with Pasco County Park, Recreation and Natural Resources which oversees the park.

Admission to the haunted house cost $1, which helps offset event costs. Those attending also get free popcorn and soft drinks.

Two Land O’Lakes High School juniors, 16-year-old Abbie Perez of Wesley Chapel, left, and 16-year-old Lauren Bates of Lutz, perform a terrifying scene at the ‘Haunted House on 41.’ (Christine Holtzman)
Seventeen-year-old haunted house volunteer Cesar Castillo of Land O’ Lakes, left, creeps up on 12-year-old Abigail Payton of Lutz, center, as her 9-year-old cousin Jasmine Randall, also of Lutz, looks on in delight. Mike Walcott, a supervisor with Pasco County Park, Recreation and Natural Resources who oversees Heritage Park says that the Haunted House has been a Land O’ Lakes tradition for longer than the 16 years that he’s supervised the park.
Hovering in a strobe light lit hallway midway through the haunted house, 16-year-old Sunlake High School sophomore Chloey Reynolds, of Land O’ Lakes, ghoulishly greets those that dare to continue through the hair-raising maze. Hundreds of people braved the 10-minute unnerving walk-through, which depicted heart-stopping and scary scenes, along with performers lurking in the dark ready to frighten anyone brave enough to enter. This was an experience that was not recommended for small children.

 

Fall is in the air, at Wesley Chapel festival

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Whether they were collecting goodies through Trunk-or-Treating, enjoying carnival rides, picking out the perfect pumpkin or competing in a costume contest, there were plenty of chances for fun at the 14th annual Wesley Chapel Fall Festival, on Oct. 27 and Oct. 28 at The Grove at Wesley Chapel, 6105 Wesley Grove Blvd. The event also featured local vendors, food trucks, a pet parade and a petting zoo. And, the weather cooperated, too.

Dressed as a little monkey for Halloween, two-year-old Logan Allgood, of Dade City, excitedly looks at his mother as he picks out his perfect pumpkin at the Scrub-A-Dub Bin Cleaning pumpkin patch. A portion of the pumpkin patch proceeds will benefit the Stano Foundation, a nonprofit that provides support and personalized care packages for members of the military services. (Christine Holtzman)
With the aid of her father Rich, 1-year-old Madigan Munkwitz, of Wesley Chapel, pets a gray donkey named ‘Minnie Mouse’ at the A. Thomas Pony Rides and Petting Zoo tent. Madigan’s mother, Rachael, says the family loves fall festivals and supporting kid-friendly events, especially when they’re within the local community.
Described as having ‘no fear’ by her parents, 12-year-old Alyssa Fagan, of Wesley Chapel, ‘free falls’ from the 20-foot platform of the ‘Stunt Jump’ attraction to the giant air cushion below. Eleven-year-olds Mariela Lastres, of Dade City, on platform left, and her friend, Jayleigh Hutchins, of Dade City, center, watch as they work up the courage to take the next jump. The worker for Frank’s Jump-N-Fun, Doug Berdan, is on right.

 

Quality Foods Gourmet Market

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Quality Foods Gourmet Market in Lutz is a deli, pizzeria, bakery and specialty foods grocer that also offers an extensive vegan and gluten-free menu.

Owner Christopher Houp takes great pride on the number of foods made in-house, such as his mojo-shredded pork for his Cuban sandwich, which he serves with house-made potato chips and his own signature pickles.

But, his showstopper is his NYC sandwich.

“Our NYC is three-quarters of a pound of meat piled high, half pastrami and half corned beef, both house-made,” said Houp. “It’s steamed just like it is in New York City, so it’s hot, on two slices of rye bread with a grain mustard, and that’s it.  You can add cheese if you want, but the bread soaks in the juices from the steamed meat, and the mustard gives it a little spice, and you get this nice big juicy sandwich.”

For most house-made items, you can ask for a sample and try it before you buy it. Quality Foods makes its own pesto, sauerkraut, beer cheese, chimichurri, fresh-baked pretzels, breads, desserts and cookies, as well as many different kinds of condiments and dressings.

Its vegan deli and pizza menu runs two full pages long and accommodates families with many different diets, from lactose-intolerant and gluten-free carnivores, to strict vegans.

“The vegan community is an underserved market,” Houp said, whose wife is vegan.  “People are very appreciative that they can have a vegan meal here.  Our vegan Cuban is all over social media, and we have regular customers from Orlando and Sarasota who drive here to load up on vegan groceries that they can’t get anywhere else.”

As a grocer, Quality Foods stocks items from other local businesses, especially farmer’s market vendors, including Mammoth Foods Hummus, Peach Pit Farms, Sassy Girls Salsa, Gulf Coast Sourdough Bread and Faedo Family Bakery Cuban bread.

It also stocks nearly 90 local craft beers from more than 20 local breweries, many which are available in mix-and-match six packs.  It carries a large collection of hand-selected wines, including fresh Italian wines on tap and bottled by request, just as you would see in Italy.

To hear Houp talk about good food is like listening to a poet praise the merits of Epicureanism.

“Food is a lot of things.  It is fun, it is familial.  All of life’s activities revolve around food.  You have a party.  There’s food.  You have a baby shower.  There’s food.  When there’s a funeral.  Food.  You have food when you’re born.  You have food when you die.  What do we build the holidays around?  Food.  There’s always food, because it’s comforting, so if food is central to life, then we may as well eat quality food, and that’s what you’ll get here,” Houp said.

Life is too short not to indulge your appetite today at Quality Foods on U.S. 41, just south of where it meets Nebraska Avenue. Besides running Quality Foods, the Houps also operate their own farmer’s market, Lake Chapman Market.

The market can be reached by calling (813) 373-5466.

By William Jacko

Published October 17, 2018

 

 

Buying or Selling A Home?

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Call Advantage Real Estate Services for over 36 years of local expertise.

Advantage Real Estate Services is a full-service real estate company representing both buyers and sellers of residential and commercial property, primarily in Pasco, Hillsborough and Hernando Counties.

Headed up by Broker Holly Ruhlig, whose family has been involved in the local real estate market since 1981, agents at Advantage Real Estate Services understand local trends, area home values, and are knowledgeable about area schools, roads and growth that impact buying or selling a home.

“We have a diversified team of agents who live in our market, many having over 20 years of local real estate experience,” said Holly. “Our agents are experienced professionals who pride themselves on the highest level of customer service.

The Advantage team shares these reasons to use a licensed Realtor for buying or selling your home.

  1. Expert Guides: Whether you are buying or selling a home, it requires dozens of forms, reports, disclosures and other technical documents. A Realtor is a knowledgeable expert who helps you prepare the best deal, and avoid delays or costly mistakes.
  2. Objective Information and Opinions: Realtor can provide local information on utilities, zoning and schools, and have objective information about each property. By understanding both your needs and search area, your Realtor can also point out neighborhoods you don’t know much about, but which might suit your needs better than you had thought.
  3. Marketing and Expanded Search Powers: When selling your home, in addition to advertising your home, many prospects for a home sale come from a Realtor’s contacts with previous clients, friends and family. Your Realtor will prescreen and accompany qualified prospects through your property — you never have to worry about allowing strangers into your home. A Realtor can help you find opportunities not listed on home search sites, and also help you avoid out-of-date listings that might be showing up as available online, but are no longer on the market.
  4. Negotiation Knowledge: A Realtor will look at every angle from your perspective, including crafting a purchase agreement that allows enough time for you to complete inspections and investigations of the property, before you are bound to finalize the purchase.
  5. Up-To-Date Experience: Most people sell only a few homes in a lifetime, and those sales typically have many years in-between. Even if you’ve done it before, laws and regulations change. Realtors handle hundreds of transactions over the course of their career and are experts at what they do.
  6. Your Rock During Emotional Moments: A home is so much more than four walls and a roof. And, for most people, buying a home is the biggest purchase they’ll ever make. Having a concerned, but objective, third party helps you stay focused on the issues most important to you.
  7. Ethical Treatment. Every Realtor must adhere to a strict code of ethics, which is based on professionalism and protection of the public. As a Realtor’s client, you will receive honest and ethical treatment in all transaction-related matters. The first obligation is to you, the client.

Published October 24, 2018

Count on Cornerstone Pros For All Home Maintenance Needs

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Local residents have counted on Cornerstone Pros for their air conditioning service since 2006, and many of these customers now turn to the Land O’ Lakes company for their electrical and plumbing needs.

“We expanded into electrical and plumbing several years ago because our customers kept asking if we could help them with other home services,” said Dana Spears, founder and president of the company. “They trusted us and were comfortable having us in their homes, and we wanted to accommodate them.”

Today Cornerstone Pros is the only residential HVAC company in central Pasco to offer homeowners one-stop shopping and service for air conditioning, heating, plumbing and electrical services.

There are many advantages to using Cornerstone for ongoing maintenance of your home’s primary mechanical systems.

Every employee passes a stringent background check and drug tests before they are allowed to enter your home.
“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 they are very committed to their work and community.”

All technicians have the appropriate certifications and licenses.
“All of our technicians are specialists who have specific, ongoing training in their fields,” said Dana. “This means our A/C guys are experts at air conditioning, and they only go out on HVAC calls. Our licensed electricians and plumbers are assigned specifically for electrical and plumbing work. There is no cross over between the trades — your technician is always qualified to diagnosis your problem, recommend a solution and qualified to do the work to meet the industry’s highest standards.”

Cornerstone warrantees all of its work, and the company’s satisfaction guaranteed policy applies to every job.
“We have a dedicated team of experienced technicians who follow up on any warranty problem. There is no charge for this service, and the tech keep coming back until the problem is 100 percent resolved,” explains Spears.

Cornerstone maintains a customer database of all work completed on your home, similar to the historical data your automotive dealership maintains on your vehicle.
“Our database is continually updated, so we always know what and when a service was completed, and what parts were ordered,” said Spears. “Having the history of your home’s maintenance for A/C, electrical and plumbing all at one place is a tremendous convenience for homeowners, especially for those who do not keep detailed records and files.”

Preventative maintenance is essential to keep your home’s systems in proper working order so they don’t stop working when you need them most — such as the hottest day of the year, or when you have visitors staying with you.
“We have very affordable residential maintenance packages, which range from $15/month for one service area, to just $24/month for all three — HVAC, electrical and plumbing,” said Spears.

Customers with maintenance agreements are preferred customers, which means they get service first at a discounted price.
“When you have an emergency at your home, you are a priority client and we send a technician to your home first,” said Spears.

Cornerstone recently opened a 6,000 square-foot warehouse so that techs have everything they need when they go on a service call.
“Every morning our vans are fully stocked with everything our technicians need, which means on most calls, we will be able to solve a customer’s problem on the first visit,” said Spears.

In addition to air conditioning, electrical and plumbing services, Cornerstone also provides customers with portable and whole-house generators, and is one of largest Generac distributors in the region.

It is also the exclusive distributor for Westinghouse Progressive Series of water treatment equipment, which works around the clock to provide your home with refined, clean soft water. Clothes and linens will be softer, brighter and last longer, and your plumbing fixtures, dishwasher and refrigerator will be free of water spots, scaling and soap scum.

Cornerstone, which has 65 employees and a fleet of 35 trucks, always strives to go above and beyond customer expectations. Phones are answered 24/7, and technicians are available around the clock, including weekends and holidays

“We are successful because we’ve built our business on reputation and trust,” said Dana. “We always stand behind the work of our employees, and everyone of our employees strive to make customers happy every day.”

Published October 24, 2018

Brightman Family Loves Asturia and Their Ashton Woods Home

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Alex and Jessica Brightman were one of the first Ashton Woods homeowners in Asturia, a master-planned community in Odessa, along the State Road 54 corridor.

Two years later, the young couple will be bringing home their second child to their Ashton Woods home, when their son is born in January.

“We just love our Ashton Woods home and living in Asturia,” said Alex, who works in the IT field. “We have a huge corner lot and enjoy the open floor plan of our Milan model.”

Jessica and Alex Brightman and their daughter, Kensely, have lived in Asturia for two years and love the open floor plan of their Ashton Woods home.

His wife, Jessica, adds, “We’ve met so many people and have made so many friends. It’s been perfect for us and our daughter, Kensley.”

The Brightmans also credit their Ashton Woods salesperson, Kathy Midkiff, for making their homebuying experience so successful. “Kathy was absolutely wonderful and helped us every step of the way.”

“Asturia is the perfect location for us. We moved here from Dade City, so we especially appreciate the convenience of being close to the Suncoast Parkway. It’s so easy to get to downtown Tampa,” Jessica added.

The Brightmans are typical of many Ashton Woods families. The builder’s spacious floor plans are the most affordable homes in Asturia, with prices beginning under $300,000.

“We found there is a lot of value in our home —we have beautiful finishes and lots of space for our investment,” said Alex.

Ashton Woods is in its final sales phase at Asturia, with 80 percent of home sites sold since the community opened two years ago.

“We’ve had tremendous success in Asturia, and have sold over 100 families their new home in this much-desired community,” said Marketing Manager Kristin Wilson. “We have less than 30 move-in ready homes that remain, and expect all to be sold very soon.”

To encourage families to buy before the end of the year, all Ashton Woods homebuyers in Asturia that purchase in the Grove Series will receive a free stainless-steel refrigerator and washer/ dryer, a value of over $3,500. Plus, Ashton Woods is contributing $9,000 towards closing costs with its preferred lender*.

“There has never been a better time to buy an Ashton Woods home in Asturia,” said Wilson. “And, some of our best home values can be found in our Grove series, which feature two-car garages at the rear of the home.”

There are seven of these unique homes ready now as inventory homes, with the popular Arlington model beginning at just $276,999.

This 2,003-square-foot home features open-concept family and dining rooms that open to the kitchen, complete with 42-inch designer cabinets, granite or quartz countertops, an oversized island and walk-in pantry. Also, downstairs is a powder bathroom, valet area off the garage entry and ceramic tile floors throughout the entire first floor.

Upstairs, the Arlington’s master suite has a spacious bathroom with double vanities, walk-in shower and large walk-in closet. Two additional bedrooms share a bath, and a laundry room is conveniently located upstairs.

“We have three Arlington homes ready for quick move-in, all under $280,000. It is a perfect first home and has many upgrades not usually found at this price point,” said Marketing Manager Wilson.

Ashton Woods also offers a slightly larger home in this series, the Ortega, at 2,193 square feet.

The Ortega has a soaring 20-foot volume ceiling foyer, a large open-concept kitchen, family room and breakfast nook. A formal dining room and butler’s pantry lead to the kitchen, which has 42-inch designer cabinets, granite or quartz countertops, an oversized island, and walk-in pantry. Downstairs also features a powder bathroom and plenty of storage closets.

Upstairs is a large master suite and bathroom with double vanities, walk-in shower and large walk-in closet. And, like the Arlington, there are two additional bedrooms that share a bath, and a convenient laundry room located upstairs.

“Our Ortega models begin at $296,990, which is a tremendous value for close to 2,200 square feet and Ashton Woods’ premium finishes,” said Wilson.

More Homes and Great Schools
Ashton Woods also offers classic one- and two-story homes in its traditional home series with the garage in the front.  All offer open floor plans, large living areas, beautiful master suites, high-end finish and lots of storage. Homes have two- or three-car garages, and many back up to private conservation lots.

“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 Wilson.

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 October 24, 2018

Bexley Offers Homebuyers Luxury Custom Options

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Building a home is part of the American dream. It’s exciting to select a lot and choose a floor plan that fits your needs. You watch expectantly as builders construct your home. And since you’re the very first person to live in a newly constructed home, many builders allow you to put your very own stamp on it by selecting the finishes, cabinets and flooring that you want.

Bexley by Newland Communities, one of Pasco County’s newest and most popular master-planned communities, is adding more luxury options with new floor plans from Cardel Homes and the introduction of Arthur Rutenberg to the community.  Both offer new homebuyers ample ways to turn their house into a dream home.

Bexley Cardel Homes, Savannah Living Room

Cardel Homes
With two new floor plans featuring four bedrooms and three baths to choose from, Cardel Homes places a premium on design. Homebuyers have access to the Cardel Design Center where they can build their home according to their lifestyle, as well as select upgrades such as a Whirlpool appliance package, more than 20 different styles and colors of tile, travertine windowsills and much more.

“As a family-owned builder, we pride ourselves in offering quality workmanship and outstanding customer service,” said Brian Phillips, Cardel Homes’ vice president of sales and marketing. “Our design team works with homebuyers so that we can customize floor plans and offer a variety of structural options with those floor plans. This way, families are able to build their home according to their lifestyle.”

Cardel Homes’ two new model homes at Bexley – The Henley and The Savannah – are now open for prospective homebuyers to explore the 3,308 – 3,939-square-foot floor plans. Cardel Homes has a variety of floorplans within the community which range from approximately $400,000 – $600,000.

Arthur Rutenberg Homes/Custom Craft Homes
It’s one thing to select the finishes and colors that you want in your home. It’s another to create the exact floor plan you want with an architect. That’s what custom builder Arthur Rutenberg Homes offers its customers.

“Being in Bexley was just the natural thing to do,” said Ernie Lashlee, building company president for Arthur Rutenberg Homes/Custom Craft Homes. “We have been building custom homes in Newland’s FishHawk Ranch community for more than a decade. Being in Bexley gives us the presence we wanted in the northern part of Pasco County.”

Arthur Rutenberg/Custom Craft Homes, Avalon Model

Arthur Rutenberg has just 14 custom home sites on their exclusive cul de sac.

Lashlee, a certified architect, notes that he can assist homebuyers by making changes to existing floor plans. That may mean increasing the size of a master bedroom, or changing the elevation of a home so that it stands out from others in the neighborhood.

“Most of our buyers are looking for something different from the person next door,” Lashlee added. “They want something unique and we’re able to offer them the expertise and flexibility to bring their vision to life.”

A model home for Arthur Rutenberg Homes/Custom Craft Homes is expected to open in Spring of 2019 and pre-sales will begin soon. Homes will start in the high $500,000 – $800,000.

Whatever your home style or budget, Bexley has something for you including single family and luxury homes and townhomes priced from the low $200s to over $600,000.   Located north of State Road 54, 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.

For more information, visit www.bexleyflorida.com or call (813) 425-7555.