The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Festival raises money for animal care

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Land O’ Lakes residents Devin Reyes, 10, left, and Nick Mascola, 15, pampered Bagel, a 1-year-old male Pit Bull. Bagel was up for adoption at the ‘Woofstock’ festival. (Randy Underhill)

Dogs and their human friends celebrated the fourth annual “Woofstock” festival at the Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park on May 19.

It was the first time for the park to host the event, which raises funds to aid sick dogs and cats at Pasco County Animal Services.

Animal services brought dogs that were available for adoption.

Baily plants a kiss on one of his owners, Nancy Berry, left, as he snuggles in the arms of his other owner, Don Riges, under a tent for the English Springer Rescue group.

Vendors set up displays of doggy wares, including designer collars, boarding services, toys, pet food, health care, and offers to microchip Fido or Spot.

Three local bands entertained, including Crossing the Tangent and Chaotic. There were also performers from the Milano Twirling Academy and belly dancers from Troup Sahirnee.

Brody, a 10-year-old border collie, dunked a basketball with an assist from canine trainer Lisa Morrissey. It was part of a demonstration of dog tricks. Brody has about 260 tricks in his repertoire.

One unexpected pet at the festival was a skunk brought by Florida Skunk Rescue. Florida is one of 17 states that allows skunks to be bred domestically. Typically, the animals are “de-fumed” at age one month.

By Randy Underhill

Published May 30, 2018

Canine trainer Lisa Morrisey assisted Brody, a 10-year-old Border Collie, in dunking a basketball at the fourth annual ‘Woofstock’ festival.

 

Sylar, a 7-year-old Cockapoo, posed with Tampa resident Derriann Hope, an employee of All Creatures Hospital. Sylar suffers from a disk disease that affects the dog’s hind legs.

 

New Port Richey resident Linda Reardon picked out a pink cup holder to buy at the Wet ‘N Firehose tent at the ‘Woofstock’ festival at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park.
Emma, an 8-year-old mixed breed, learns how to sit on command, and in return gets rewarded with a treat from Erica Manack, a volunteer with Pasco County Animal Services.

Bearss Landing Townhomes Opening This Summer

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One of north Tampa’s most desirable locations on Bearss Avenue, located just west of North Boulevard, is the site of a new townhome community being built by Meritage Homes.

Opening this summer, Bearss Landing will be a community of 115 townhomes on the north side of Bearss Avenue, positioned in-between Buchanan Middle School and Carrollwood Day School.

“There is a huge demand for affordable new construction in north Tampa, and Bearss Landing will be perfect for families looking for a spacious home with quick access to USF, downtown Tampa, and all the shopping and dining in Carrollwood,” said Chris Ryan, division president of Meritage Homes for Tampa.

In addition to being just five minutes from Interstate 275, floor plans developed for Bearss Landing are uniquely designed for families and young adults buying their first home.

Six floor plans will be available, ranging from 1,756 to 2,378 square feet. Every plan has a covered patio, two-car garage, three bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths. The first floor has a half bath, and two full baths are upstairs along with the master bedroom and two additional bedrooms. Some floor plans have a downstairs flex room that can be used as an office, dining room, playroom or library.

“It is very unusual for a townhome community to provide two-car garages for every home,” said Ryan. “But, our research shows that just about everyone buying a home wants a two-car garage, so we made sure that was a standard feature.”

Bearss Landing is planning to open two models homes, the Fremont and Burbank, in August. Prices are expected to begin in the high $200s.

“Energy efficiency is another feature that new homebuyers identify as important,” said Ryan. “Meritage seamlessly builds energy efficiency into every home, which means homeowner will save up to 50 percent on their utility bills.”

Meritage Homes, which has designed and built over 100,000 homes in its 32-year history, is the industry leader in energy-efficient homebuilding and has received the ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year for Sustained-Excellence Award for the sixth consecutive year.

Bearss Landings also offers upscale amenities, including a gated, landscaped entrance, and community pool and cabanas. Amenities are under construction and will be ready for the community’s first homeowners.

The schools zoned for the community are Maniscalco Elementary, Buchanan Middle and Gaither High. For families looking for private schools, Carrollwood Day School is next door, and offers classes for children from preschool through high school.

About Bearss Landing
New construction
115 Townhomes
1,756 to 2,378 square feet
6 unique floor plans
Attached 2-car garages
3 bedrooms, 2 ½ baths
5 minutes to I-275
10 minutes to Carrollwood
Gated, landscaped entrance
Community pool and cabanas
Models opening summer 2018

Energy Efficient Features
Weather-sensing Irrigation
Dual-Actuated Toilets
Water-Efficient Faucets
ENERGY STAR® Certified Appliances
Spray Foam Insulation
Advanced Thermostat
Conditioned Attics
Low-E Windows
Sealed Insulated Ducts
Minimum MERV 8 HVAC Filtration
PEX Plumbing
Insulated Garage Doors
Minimum SEER 15 HVAC
LED Lighting

Sales Center: (855) 679-9942

Published May 23, 2018

Birchwood Preserve in Lutz Opens Phase II

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It has only been a year since Pulte Homes opened Birchwood Preserve in Lutz, and there has been so much demand that the community’s second phase is opening ahead of schedule this summer.

“Since we opened our sales center last May, we’ve sold close to 80 homes out of 120 available in our first phase,” said Vince Kuntz, Pulte’s sales consultant in the community. “The demand has been so good, that we’ve sold most of our 60-foot home sites in our Elite home series, and have a waiting list of buyers wanting larger lots in our second phase.”

Birchwood Preserve’s second phase offers another 76 home sites, many with conservation and water views. Like the first phase, 60-foot lots are reserved for homes with three-car garages, and 50-foot lots for homes with two-car garages.

The community’s second phase is also introducing Pulte’s Classic series of homes, which are designed to be more affordable, with prices beginning at $310,000 for 1,851 square feet.

“Homes in our Classic series meet Pulte’s high quality standards, but offer finishes that are less expensive to make homes more affordable, especially for first-time homebuyers,” said Kuntz. “By comparison, homes in our Signature series on 50-foot lots begin at $333,990 for 1,904 square feet.”

Birchwood Preserve’s new Classic series has eight floor plans, ranging from 1,851 to 4,274 square feet. Pulte is building a new model home for its Classic series, the 2,855 square-foot Citrus Grove. This two-story home offers 4 to 5 bedrooms, 2.5 to 3 baths, an owner’s suite on the first floor and a large game room upstairs.

“This is very much a family community, and our large, two-story homes are most in demand,” said Kuntz. “Our most popular floor plans are those with four and five bedrooms with over 3,000 square feet of living area.”

Birchwood Preserve’s biggest draw is its outstanding A-rated schools. It is the only new, single-family home community in Lutz that is zoned to all three schools at the highly desirable public school complex on Lutz Lake Fern Road — Steinbrenner High, Martinez Middle and McKitrick Elementary.

“When people walk in the door at our sales center, the first question they ask is about our schools, and 95-percent of the time, when they learn all grades are assigned to these A-rated schools, they are sold,” said Kuntz. “Nothing is more important to our buyers than being zoned to some of the best schools in Hillsborough County.”

Kuntz adds that while other new, single-family home communities in the area may be zoned to Steinbrenner High, none are also zoned to top-rated Martinez Middle and McKitrick Elementary.

“We even have families with babies moving here, because in a few years they want their child to go to McKitrick,” said Kuntz.

After schools, the second top reason families are choosing Birchwood Preserve is because of the community’s convenient location, a half mile west of Dale Mabry Highway and just south of Sunlake Boulevard where Geraci Road dead-ends.

“We’re less than two miles from the Veterans Expressway, and just as close to St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, and all the grocery, dining and retail on Van Dyke Road,” said Kuntz. “With our quick access to the Veterans, it’s easy to get to Tampa International Airport, the Westshore Business District, International Plaza and the Gulf Coast beaches.”

Homeowners in Birchwood Preserve share a fabulous amenity center in the heart of the community. This facility is already built and includes a resort-style swimming pool with cabanas and hammocks, a multipurpose clubhouse with kitchen, and a children’s exploration climbing dome playground with swing set and other discovery play equipment.

“Birchwood Preserve already has an active family lifestyle with many things to do for families with children of all ages,” said Kuntz. “Our residents quickly connect with one another, and have organized playgroups and their own online community network.”

When built out, Birchwood Preserve will have just 196 homes. Because of its small size, there is no CDD. Owners help support a beautifully landscaped gated entrance and the amenity center with an affordable HOA.

Most buyers are coming from surrounding neighborhoods in Lutz and Carrollwood, as well as Westchase and Citrus Park.

With its new second phase, Birchwood Preserve will offer a total of 18 unique single-family models, which range from 1,851 to 4,600 square feet, and offer three to six bedrooms, two to six bathrooms and two- or three-car garages.

Pulte’s Sales Center at Birchwood Preserve is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Please stop by to visit Kuntz and his associate, Amanda Barningham, at 18709 Birchwood Groves Drive, Lutz, Florida 33558

They can be reached at (813) 804-5705. You can also visit the website at
Pulte.com/birchwoodpreserve.

Published May 23, 2018

First Year Successes at Bexley Elementary

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This Friday, 104 fifth-graders will graduate from Bexley Elementary in Land O’ Lakes, capping off an outstanding first year for the new school.

“I’m amazed at how fast this school year has gone by,” said Principal Vicki Wolin. “We’re so proud of our first graduating class, and excited about the many accomplishments achieved this year by our students, staff and parents.”

Wolin identified four successes she is particularly proud of.

  1. Established a chapter of the National Elementary Honor Society for fourth- and fifth-graders. Students were invited to apply, and 40 were selected based on their application, grades and citizenship efforts.

Along with the support of their teams, two teachers co-chaired this initiative; fifth-grade teacher Cynthia Zimmerman and fourth-grade teacher Katlyn Gamble.

“Not all elementary schools have National Honor Society, and our co-chairs did a great job making this happen,” said Wolin. “Establishing a chapter in our first year was important because we wanted to emphasize that the academic achievement of our students is a primary focus.”

  1. Organized a Safety Patrol Program for fifth-graders, with 25 youngsters selected, based on teacher recommendations, academics and good citizenship.

“Our safety patrol students monitor school activities, help out in the car loop and assist other students throughout the campus,” said Wolin. “They are our goodwill ambassadors who exemplify our school rules— Be Respectful, Be Responsible and Be Safe.”

  1. Recognized by the Florida Department of Education with a Golden School Award for promoting parent and community involvement. The award requires that the total number of volunteer hours equals twice the number of students enrolled at a school.

Bexley volunteers far surpassed this number, logging over 3,000 volunteer hours, or twice the number of hours required, based on its student population of 715.

  1. Established a Parent Teacher Organization to plan and support the school’s Booster-thon and Spring Carnival fundraisers.

“Our PTO was very involved, especially for a new school,” Wolin said. “Its fund-raising activities contributed to our outdoor beautification program with benches and umbrellas, and also supported our technology fund that we use to purchase iPads and laptops.”

Bexley Elementary Principal Vicki Wolin talks with first-grader Andrew Fowler and his brother, kindergartner Robert Fowler.

Wolin, who previously was principal for 14 years at Seven Springs Elementary in New Port Richey, was appointed Bexley’s principal in January 2017, eight months before the school opened.

“It was an incredible learning experience to be part of the school from the ground up,” said Wolin. “It allowed me to be proactive, and plan ahead to put in place the processes and procedures needed for the school.”

Designed for 900 students, Bexley is the largest elementary school in physical size in Pasco County. It ends the school year with 715 students, and is expecting an enrollment of 800 for the 2018-19 school year.

Much of this student growth is coming from children in primary grades, especially kindergartners.

“We had 120 children at our spring kindergarten roundup, and are growing from four kindergarten classes at the beginning of this year to eight classes next year,” Wolin said.

The doubling of its kindergarten class is reflective of the many families moving into Bexley, the master-planned community where the school is located.

Newland Communities, the developer of Bexley, anticipates selling 150 new homes a year in its community —many to families with young children. Newland will be building for several years, with an anticipated build out of 3,500 homes.

In addition, two large apartment communities are opening close to Bexley Elementary that will have many families with school-aged children — Lakeside Walk at Bexley with 300 apartments, and Mystic Pointe with 262.

“With so much growth at Bexley and the surrounding area, we expect to be at our 900-student capacity within two years,” said Wolin. “We also are seeing lots of local children transferring from charter schools to Bexley, and many families relocating from outside the state to Pasco County.”

Bexley Elementary is built on 18 acres donated by Newland Communities.  And, because of the generosity of this developer, there is room to construct an additional building on the school site in the future.

John Petrashek, director of construction services for Pasco schools, has praised Newland Communities for being “tremendous partners.” He explains that Newland ensured that the site was large enough to meet the district’s needs, and also made sure that needed infrastructure was available.

“We know that access to good schools is so important for families with kids, particularly when shopping for a new home,” said Pam Parisi, vice president of marketing for Newland Communities.

“That’s why we’re thrilled to have Bexley Elementary School located right within the community. Parents and kids love the convenience of being able to walk or ride their bikes to school.”

About Bexley Elementary

  • 726 students; projected 800 next August
  • Principal Vicki Wolin — 30-year Pasco educator
  • 84 employees, including 39 teachers
  • First graduating class – 104 fifth-graders
  • Golden School Award for over 3,000 volunteer hours
  • School Mission: Believe. Engage. Succeed. Every Bulldog! Every Day!
  • Located on 18 acres donated by Newland Communities

Published May 23, 2018

Living The Dream In Connerton

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Homebuyer preferences are constantly evolving, no matter the age of buyers. The days of formal living and dining rooms have changed into great rooms and family living centers. Luckily, most buyers – regardless of age – are looking for the same features in a community.

A recent study by the National Association of Home Builders revealed that although priority rankings vary slightly between generations, different age groups actually have very similar tastes in what they want in a new home community.

Among the top four most-desired amenities, three were the same for every age group — the desire to live in a suburban community, close proximity to parks and access to walking/jogging trails. The fourth most popular desire is an outdoor, resort-style pool.

The community of Connerton provides all of these amenities for its residents, plus a host of activities that allows them to meet neighbors and enjoy a healthy lifestyle. At Connerton, you will find carefully planned parks and green spaces, a paved trail system within the community and a natural, unpaved trail system in the 3,000-acre Conner Preserve.

Adding to its suburban appeal, many home sites are located on conservation, ponds and lakes. Club Connerton features a resort-style pool, special activities and vacation camps for kids, and an award-winning staff that was recently recognized by the NAHB as its Gold Award Winner for Best Lifestyle Program in the Nation.

Connerton’s suburban setting includes convenient shopping at the community’s entrance at The Arbors Village Center. This busy shopping center is anchored by Publix Super Market, and also offers banking, restaurants, hair and nail salons, a pool store, a liquor store, insurance agencies, a UPS store, pet grooming and a veterinarian clinic. Across the street is a Walgreens drugstore.

Connerton Residents Tell Their Stories
Today’s homebuyers have many choices when looking for a new home community, so we asked some of our residents why they chose Connerton.

Katie and Andrew Ebendick moved to Connerton because they found it to be a family oriented community with lots of activities for adults, as well as children.

When Stephanie and Stephen Adcock began looking for a place to raise their children, they drove from the Citrus Park area and let their children play at the Connerton Cove playground. There they met a neighbor who was out playing with his own children, and he told them how much he loved the neighborhood.

Stephanie Adcock, who is also a Realtor, had this comment. “It has been nine years since we made the decision to join the peaceful Connerton community, and we have never regretted our choice. The friends that we have made are priceless and have made raising a family of four children a beautiful experience. I am never without a helping hand, and my children and I have made many friendships that will last a lifetime.”

Danielle Ludwig and her family moved to Connerton in 2016. “The reason we chose Connerton over anything else was the pool, the events that are hosted and the amenities. We looked at other communities, and at the time, there were no other communities around like Connerton.”

The Allenbaughs fell in love with the fact Connerton had the Norman Rockwell look about it, and just the whole feel of the community. And, the Becwar family agrees, saying they felt that Connerton had that hometown, American feel that they really liked. They also thought the Clubhouse was great, and the people just absolutely fabulous!

See For Yourself
Connerton is not just another community — it’s a New Town, a lifestyle and place where hundreds of families have made their new home. With 77 percent of residents moving from within the Tampa Bay area, and another 6 percent relocating from other parts of Florida, Connerton has truly become the premiere community of central Pasco County.

So please stop by, take a tour of the Clubhouse and visit the model homes offered by M/I Homes, Lennar, Inland and Homes by WestBay. You may just decide to stay for a lifetime.

Connerton is located approximately six miles north of the intersection of State Road 54 and U.S. 41 in Land O’ Lakes. For more information, visit Connerton.com.

According to the NAHB study, top amenities buyers want are:

  1. Suburban setting
  2. Parks and green spaces
  3. Paved trail systems for walking, jogging and biking
  4. Outdoor, resort-style pools
  5. Exercise rooms and equipment
  6. Village centers with retail services and restaurants
  7. Lakes and ponds
  8. Natural, unpaved trail systems for walking and hiking

Cornerstone’s New Warehouse Is All About Customer Service

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Like many service businesses, Cornerstone Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical had a plan in place in case of a hurricane. So when Irma struck Tampa Bay last September, owner Dana Spears believed her company was ready.

Her fleet of 35 trucks and 65 employees were prepared to help customers get back up and running after power outages and flooding. But, a shortage of air conditioning units, generators and service parts hindered Cornerstone’s goal of 100 percent customer satisfaction, because they could not get some of the equipment and parts they needed.

“We had to rely on our distributors, and when they couldn’t get product from the manufacturers, we were stuck, too.” said Spears. “Getting generators was the worst — the manufacturers were backlogged for two and three months, and we had to wait like everyone else.”

That situation was unacceptable to Spears, who takes prides in her company’s commitment to fast, expert service and outstanding customer care.

“I realized after Irma that we needed a larger warehouse so we could stock more of our own supplies and equipment,” said Spears. “I didn’t want to go through another storm season depending on our suppliers, worrying if they would be able to fill our orders.”

So began Spears’ plan to build a 6,000-square-foot warehouse next to her existing building on U.S. 41 in Land O’ Lakes. And, just eight months after Irma left its mark, Cornerstone will soon be opening its new warehouse.

“We will be fully ready for hurricane season this year,” said Spears. “We are investing over $100,000 in generators, water tanks and air conditioning units, plus thousands more in an expanded parts inventory, all to be stocked in our new warehouse. This is a huge commitment for our company, and we’re doing it to make sure we have all the supplies needed to take care of our customers.”

Cornerstone’s new warehouse will store air conditioning units of all sizes and seer levels, and stock more high-demand service items for its air conditioning, electrical and plumbing operations. It will also stock portable and permanent generators of all sizes, including whole-house systems by Generac.

The new warehouse will also allow Cornerstone to field more service and maintenance calls, because technicians will no longer need to drive to supplier warehouses and wait for parts to be loaded on their trucks.

“Every morning our vans will be 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. “And, because our trucks will be more fully stocked, we will become a more efficient service operation that will result in even better customer service.”

The warehouse will also allow Cornerstone to buy some items in bulk, often at reduced prices, and expand the number of inventory items it carries.

“The savings we see from bulk purchasing will be passed along to customers after we are fully stocked,” said Spears.

Cornerstone 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.

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 they 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. Fifteen employees have successfully completed these training programs, receiving numerous industry certifications, and now work as highly skilled tradesmen. Currently, three employees are enrolled in the Cornerstone training program.

“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 June 27, 2018

Minaca Family Loves Its Ashton Woods Home in Asturia

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Many factors led the Minaca family to buy an Ashton Woods home in Asturia.

“We wanted a home where I could picture my family cooking together in the kitchen, and one that would be perfect for holiday celebrations,” said Nicole Minaca.

When Nicole and her 16-year-old son, Jordan, walked through Ashton Woods’ Elm model, they knew they had found just the place.

“We both loved it the minute we walked in the door,” said Nicole.

The Minaca family in front of their new Ashton Woods home in Asturia: 16-year-old Jordan, Nicole, Chris and 15-year-old Brooke.

In addition to a floor plan that worked well for the family of four, the home was also located in Asturia, the family’s first choice among the many master-planned communities along the State Road 54 corridor.

“Asturia’s developer did a very nice job laying out the streets so it doesn’t look like a cookie-cutter community,” said Chris Minaca. “We liked how different builders are intermingled – Ashton Woods homes placed next to homes built by David Weekley Homes and ICI Homes. That’s something you don’t typically find.”

Chris and Nicole were looking for a larger home for their family, which includes two teenagers. The two-story Elm model gave the family lots of space, plus it was located on a corner lot with a spacious side yard they could fence for their two large dogs.

“We just loved the openness of the floor plan, and how nicely the rooms flowed for our family,” adds Nicole. “Plus, there is so much storage!”

In addition, the Minacas appreciated the Elm’s floor plan that puts the garage at the rear of the home.

“It was actually our 16-year-old son, Jordan, who pointed out that our family would soon have four drivers,” said Chris. “This house gives us plenty of parking in the back, as well as parking in front of the house.”

Jordan and his 15-year-old sister, Brooke, are students at J.W. Mitchell High School in New Port Richey, and the kids wanted to stay at Mitchell if they moved.

“It was very important that the community we moved to was zoned for Mitchell,” said Chris. “That was one of the most important reasons why Asturia was such a desirable community for us.”

The family also liked the community because their new home was located across from Asturia’s Amenity Center.

“We couldn’t be any closer to the gym and pool,” said Chris. “Plus, we like the unique, modern look of the Amenity Center and the open park area that surrounds it.”

Before moving to their new Ashton Woods home in March, the family lived in Trinity’s Longleaf community. They decided to list their Longleaf house in February, and it sold within a few weeks.

“Our house sold much faster than we thought it would, which meant we did not have time to go through the building process,” said Nicole. “We had already met Allen Johnson at Ashton Woods in Asturia, and he was very kind and informative. So when our home sold so quickly, Allen showed us several inventory homes, and we fell in love with the Elm model.”

Allen Johnson, Ashton Woods’ community sales manager, has worked in Asturia since the community opened two-and-a-half years ago.

“People like how our homes are not on top of each other, with a minimum of 15 feet between homes,” said Johnson. “Buyers also like that Asturia is a smaller community of just 550 homes, and that construction will not be going on for years.”

Johnson adds that Asturia’s lower CDD and HOA fees, especially when compared to other planned communities, is attractive to many families. The CDD is between $1,600 and $2,100 a year, and its HOA is just $76 a year.

Ashton Woods offers affordable, beautifully finished, inventory homes beginning at $279,990 in its charming Grove and Evergreen series of alley-load homes. These spacious, one and two-story homes have over 2,000-square feet of living area and feature three to four bedrooms, two to three baths and two-car garages. Three quick-sale homes are available in three floor plans.

“To get into Asturia for under $300,000 in a 2,000 plus-square-foot home is an excellent opportunity for someone wanting a new home with top-quality construction and premier home finishes,” said John Reny, Florida president for Ashton Woods, the nation’s largest privately held homebuilder.

In addition to its alley-load homes, Ashton Woods also has six inventory homes available in traditional floor plans with the garage in front of the house, on 55- and 65-foot home sites.

“Our goal is to always have a good supply of quick move-in homes in every price range, because so many families need to move fast,” said Reny. “Many buyers have sold their existing home sooner than expected, or they are renting and do not want to renew their lease while a new home is being built.”

Ashton Woods is known for its commitment to personalized design, and every home comes with the same standards of top-quality construction and finishes. It was named the 2017 Builder of the Year by Builder and Developer Magazine, and for the fourth consecutive year, was been ranked among the top three for Most Trusted Builders in America.

Published May 23, 2018

Families and Pets Enjoy Dog Day Afternoon At Asturia

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Ziggy, an Italian greyhound, and Bella, a Chihuahua, stopped by at the David Weekley Homes booth looking for treats and water.

In between rays of sun and on-and-off misting of rain, Dog Day Afternoon was a “barkful” of fun last Saturday in Asturia, a master-planned community in Odessa on State Road 54.

It was an afternoon of curious dogs, creative activities for youngsters, and treats of all kinds for canines and their human friends. About a dozen pet-friendly companies exhibited and helped raise money for Vets4Pets, an organization that provides high-quality, low-cost veterinary care to low-income households.

Butterball with owner Brian, who works at David Weekley Homes.

Dozens of dog owners sat, stayed and played with their pets as they chatted with exhibitors. Children enjoyed a massive bounce house and slide, squealed as they had their faces painted and patiently waited as a balloon artist constructed their favorite shape.

“There’s always something fun to do in Asturia, and Dog Day Afternoon was especially fun,” said Carla Luigs, marketing coordinator for Hines, the developer of Asturia. “Events like this bring our residents together to have fun and get to know each other, and also invites new people to Asturia so they can experience all that Asturia has to offer.”

Braxton is a beautiful black lab owned by Lacy Quick of Lace Ventura Pet Sitting Service.

Most events are held inside or on the lawn of Asturia’s award-winning Amenity Center, which is located at the community’s entrance. In addition to a magnificent resort-style pool and impressive fitness center, Asturia also has pocket parks and playgrounds, and miles of paved trails that meander through wetlands as they connect individual neighborhoods.

Asturia’s builders — Ashton Woods, David Weekley Homes and ICI Homes — offer a variety of home sizes and prices, designed for families looking to buy their first home, homes for growing families with school-age children, and seasonal residents and empty-nesters looking for the latest in technological upgrades.

Learn more about Asturia by visiting its models, registering at the community’s website, AsturiaFlorida.com, or by calling (813) 227-4148.

Published May 23, 2018

Princess and her people, Bill and Emily.
Cory and her beagle, Maddie.
A marmoset monkey added to the fun at Dog Day Afternoon

ICI Homes Specializes in Affordable Customization

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Many people would love to build a custom home for their family, but do not have the time or knowledge to properly oversee its construction, or arrange for construction loans needed in advance of closing.

Instead, they compromise what they really want, and end up going with a traditional production builder that allows minimal customization of their floor plans, which often is expensive, and the builder does reluctantly.

But now, Tampa Bay homebuyers have a third option — ICI Homes, which brings together a buyer’s specific custom requests with the resources of an established and reputable production builder.

“ICI Homes is truly unique among all production builders. We fill a custom niche that buyers won’t find anywhere else,” said Ron Ferguson, division manager of the company’s West Florida Division.

Ferguson explains that ICI Homes even goes as far as moving walls with plumbing, stretching exterior room dimensions, adding bonus rooms and expanding outdoor living areas.

“We routinely do structural changes that other builders will not do,” said Ferguson. “Because we have been customizing homes for over 40 years, we have the processes in place that encourage customization. In fact, that’s what our entire production philosophy is based on.”

And, because ICI builds hundreds of homes a year, the efficiencies of being a production builder brings the cost of customization to a very affordable level.

“We save buyers thousands of dollars for a home that’s uniquely theirs, compared to hiring a private contractor to build a similar home,” said Ferguson.

In addition, since the builder is ICI Homes, the buyer does not need to secure a construction loan, which is always required with a private builder.

“The financial risk is on us, the builder — not the homeowner,” said Ferguson.

As an established homebuilder, ICI Homes pulls building permits faster and completes construction on most homes in just six to eight months. That compares to a year or longer for an individual custom home to be built.

ICI Homes got its start 40 years ago in Daytona Beach. The original founder still owns the company, and over the years expanded into Jacksonville, Orlando and Gainesville. It entered the Tampa Bay market in 2015 in Fishhawk Ranch in south Hillsborough County

The company moved into Pasco County two years later as one of the original builders in Bexley in Land O’ Lakes. Then, in late 2017, it added Asturia in Odessa to its growing list of communities. It also sells homes to buyers wanting to build on their own lot.

The process to customize an ICI home begins with a meeting between the buyers and the company’s architectural designer, who is based at the division’s Wesley Chapel office.

“One of the first things our buyers do is meet with our architectural staff to discuss the custom features they want added to their plans,” said Sales Manager Leah Turner.

ICI’s staff then helps buyers select design features, finishes and colors to personalize their home.

“Our architectural design team works closely with our buyers so they can focus on what they want in their dream home, without worrying about the thousands of details that go into planning their home’s layout and construction,” Turner ads.

ICI Homes has hundreds of floor plans that have been customized over the past 40 years. It’s this experience that enables the company to affordably replicate the most popular custom elements.

“We call these bubble options, because they can be easily added to a plan without causing delays to the construction process,” said Ferguson, “And, because they have already been engineered, the cost for bubble options is reasonable.”

Because everybody wants their home to be unique, ICI Homes has over a dozen floor plans for buyers to choose from. It also has model homes in Asturia and Bexley that are open daily for tour. The Serena model recently opened in Asturia, and more models are planned for later this year in both Asturia and Bexley.

Prices begin at $290,900 for a 1,789-square-foot home in Asturia, and $419,900 for a 2,565-square-foot home in Bexley. Many home sites back up to conservation and water, and all offer privacy. Home sites are 55- and 65-foot lots in Asturia, and 70-foot lots in Bexley.

Open concept floor plans are very popular with families building ICI Homes, as are outdoor living areas with kitchens, grill pads and pavers, according to Sales Manager Turner.

“Our buyers are building their private outdoor oasis,” said Turner. “Our home sites in Asturia and Bexley are some of the most pristine along the State Road 54 corridor, and outdoor living and recreation is a huge attraction for our families.”

ICI Homes is one of Florida’s most premier builders, and for many years has been ranked in the Top 100 Builders in the nation by Builder Magazine. Established in 1980, the company has built over 4,000 single-family homes in Florida, and is the recipient of several prestigious awards for design and innovation.

The Asturia sales center for ICI Homes is at 15134 Aviles Parkway in Odessa, (813) 359-0264. At Bexley, the sales center is at 16754 Courtyard Loop in Land O’ Lakes, (813) 530-9069.

Published May 23, 2018

Explore underwater delights at Mote Marine

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Of all the wonders at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, kids seem to love watching sharks the most.

River otters, baby gators, tubby manatees, sea turtles and scary stingrays draw crowds, too.

But, the sharks – bonnetheads, hammerheads, nurse, blacknose and more, in the Shark Zone – are the superstars here.

A little girl snaps a picture of a curious manatee at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium just before feeding time.
(Karen Haymon Long)

No wonder the aquarium features a pretty vicious-looking shark on the cover of its brochures and on its logo.

That explains the 135,000-gallon shark habitat in the main aquarium, too.

At 11 a.m., every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, follow the crowds to the Shark Zone in the main aquarium to see the shark-training sessions and watch the creatures swim to specific places for food.

Who knew sharks could be trained?

Friendly, knowledgeable trainers answer questions and tell a bit about sharks in the wild. Hammerheads, they say, can live 25 to 35 years and pick up electrical pulses from all living things through electro receptors.

“Hammerheads’ heads are like metal detectors,” one trainer explains to a group of shark gawkers.

Behind the scenes, Mote scientists are researching why sharks and their cousins, stingrays, rarely get cancer. They’re hoping what they discover may lead them to human cancer treatments.

That’s one of the beauties of Mote – it’s both a marine laboratory and an aquarium, open daily to the public.

A shark swims in Mote Aquarium’s Shark Zone, the most popular place in Mote’s complex in Sarasota.

It’s a big place, divided into two areas across the street from each other, so plan plenty of time, and go on a weekday if you can. It can get very busy on weekends.

Depending on what you like to see, ask when feedings are scheduled, so you can see more action.

We started at the Marine Mammal Center across the street from the main aquarium because we wanted to see the manatee feedings at 1 p.m.

We often see manatees in the wild off the city pier in Safety Harbor. But, here you can see them so much better through the glass tanks, floating along and even swimming up to the glass, to stare at us staring at them.

Who wouldn’t be excited to see how adorable they are, with their huge eyes and round bodies that earned them the nickname sea cows?

When trainers throw them big heads of iceberg lettuce the giant creatures float around munching it while we humans take photos of them.

A few steps away, three sea turtles paddle around inside stone habitats. They were all injured in the wild and brought to Mote for rehabilitation.

Volunteers answer questions about them, and tell you their names and how they were injured. A young volunteer, wearing a blue Mote T-shirt, introduced us to Squirt 2, a Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle who was hit by a boat propeller in the Peace River.

An Australian Spotted Jelly glows cobalt blue and looks almost like something from outer space.

He said Squirt 2 has a broken jaw, so he can’t eat shellfish, his natural diet. The sea turtle will stay in the marine center where he’s fed and cared for by Mote workers.

The volunteer talked softly to Squirt 2, who looked up at him from his stone tank as if he was listening.

“You’re so lucky to work here,” I told him.

He smiled and admitted, “It’s a nice way to spend the day.”

Around the corner, three river otters – Huck, Jane and Pippi – frolic around a glass-enclosed habitat, swimming underwater for a while, then slithering out of the water onto rocks. At 1:30 p.m., trainers come out to feed the three, that, like the sharks, go to specific places to get food on command.

Like the manatees, they’re adorable and many kids were taking pictures of them with cellphones, as were the adults.

In other glass-enclosed habitats sat caimans, which are kin to alligators, and turtles.  Sometimes, they’re replaced by gators or crocodiles.

We see gators all the time, too – they actually sit on our lawn by the pond behind our house. But, it’s still interesting to see caimans, which have stubbier snouts than gators and narrower bodies than crocs.

Upstairs, tanks hold other marvels, such as cobalt-blue Australian spotted jellyfish, snook, and displays on what Mote is doing to restore and conserve coral reefs.

On the way out, a sea turtle skeleton keeps guard from a circular display, looking like a giant, prehistoric alien.

A display at Mote’s aquarium gives an underwater view of what coral reefs look like in the wild. An orange and white clownfish swims amidst the colorful coral.

Behind the scenes, and not accessible to the public, are sea turtle, dolphin and whale hospitals.

Back at the main aquarium, visitors learn about Florida’s coastal and freshwater habitats by looking at all sorts of displays of everything from living coral to a diamondback terrapin, clownfish, lobsters, a yellow moray eel, red grouper and blue moon jellyfish.

We especially liked the seahorse display, where we saw babies that were born on Jan. 30, then slightly larger babies born last November. A volunteer told us Mote sells seahorses to other labs to help reduce the wild seahorse market.

A temporary exhibit through June 15 features marine-inspired sculptures made from debris found along Oregon’s coast. Called “Washed Ashore,” it is an awareness-through-art initiative.

Mote has big plans for a new $130 million aquarium to be built starting next year on 5 acres, south of University Parkway off Interstate 75 in Sarasota. A fundraising effort is going on now for the 110,000-square-foot Mote Science Education Aquarium, which Mote officials say could be the “Silicon Valley of marine science and technology in Southwest Florida.”

They say the new aquarium, within sight of the interstate, will attract more Floridians and visitors to learn about marine life, while current facilities will give Mote more space for research labs.

Until then, visitors can enjoy the otters, manatees, turtles, and the ever-prowling, popular sharks at Mote’s longtime aquarium.

Mote Marine Laboratories & Aquarium
Where: 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, just north of St. Armands Circle
When: Open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily
Cost: Adults, $22; ages 3-12, $16; under age 3, free. Parking free
Details: Check out the Shark Zone, watch Manatees being fed, get a look at all kinds of sea creatures and find out about current research involving marine life.
Info: Call (941) 388-4441, ext. 416, or visit Mote.org.

Additional Mote Adventures:

  • Sea Life Encounter Cruises, an hour-and-45-minute cruise in Sarasota and Roberts bays on pontoon boats; combo cost for the cruise and admission to aquarium: adults, $44; ages 3-12, $37. Cruise price alone: adults, $29; ages 3-16, $25. For details, call (904) 388-4200; visit SarasotaBayExplorers.com.
  • Full Moon Paddles, the next one on May 29, are led by Mote educators. For reservations, call (941) 388-4441, ext. 348, or email .
  • Other guided kayak trips, nature safari eco-tours, private charters are more options. See SarasotaBayExplorers.com.

 

Where to eat

  • The aquarium’s 1950s-style Deep Sea Diner offers everything from burgers and hotdogs, to salads, wraps and fruit smoothies.
  • Columbia Restaurant, 411 St. Armands Circle
  • The Old Salty Dog, 1601 B Ken Thompson Parkway
  • New Pass Grill & Bait Shop, 1505 Ken Thompson Parkway

 

Nearby Attraction
Just off St. Armands Circle, at 55 S. Boulevard of the Presidents, visit the newest Clyde Butcher Gallery, where you’ll find limited edition, and signed black and white photographs of mostly Florida scenes by the widely known photographer.

By Karen Haymon Long

Published May 2, 2018