The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Celebrating the value of good deeds

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The threat of rain and severe weather cut short the festivities for the first annual Appreciate Pasco Festival at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, but that didn’t detract from the purpose of the event — which was to call attention to the good people do.

Jim Mason, a singer and songwriter from Spring Hill, performs on the Heritage Park stage. He’s been a musician for more than 40 years. (Randy Underhill)

The event was organized as a way to celebrate local Pasco County volunteers, as well as recognize International Good Deeds Day.

Good Deeds Day was established in 2007, and during the past decade it has swept across the globe, including people of all cultures and backgrounds. Last year, the international day was celebrated in 100 countries, making it the largest and most far-reaching global day of good.

The Pasco County event, held April 15, was the first of its kind in Tampa Bay and was planned by a group of Pasco County volunteer activists.

Despite the uncooperative weather, those attending were enthusiastic, and in a generally good mood.

There was plenty of music, provided by Florida Folk Show, WMNF radio station, food by Whaley’s BBQ and Sno Shack, and local volunteer venders.

Next year, Good Deeds Day will be held around the world on April 9, and that will also mark Pasco County’s second annual Appreciate Pasco.

By Randy Underhill

Published April 18, 2018

Lis Saltigerald, left, and Denise Johnson with Pasco Pride, represented one of several organizations at the festival.
Jason Bean and his dog, Busterbrown, relax and enjoy music performed by Florida Folk Show singers and songwriters at the first Appreciate Pasco: A Community Volunteer Appreciation Festival.
Isabella Churilla, seated, of New Tampa, applies paint to her rock at the CPRock tent, as Tracy Teza-Kersey, middle, and owner Alison Foster observe at a festival aimed to express appreciation on April 15 at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park.
Big Jim Allen, a singer and songwriter from the Florida Folk Show, entertains the crowd during the Appreciate Pasco: A Community Volunteer Appreciation Festival.
Phlebotomist Dolly Torris, of Tampa, takes blood from donor Zakir Shareef, 25, from New Port Richey, in the Big Red Bus parked in the field of Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park during the festival.
Tom Soudiero, a singer and songwriter from Dade City, was the first performer of the day. Here, he’s singing one of his original songs.

Charlie the Dog helps children read at local library

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While many dogs know how to fetch and roll, Charlie has an unusual talent: He can encourage children to read.

Using the illustrations, 22-month-old Harper Ruff, of New Tampa, interprets the Louise Yates book ‘Dog Loves Drawing’ to Victoria Hanley, left, Charlie, the toddler’s mother Peiying Ruff, center, and her father Michael Ruff during her reading session at the Land O’ Lakes library. (Christine Holtzman)

Charlie is a therapy dog and is part of the R.E.A.D. team, along with library assistant Victoria Hanley, of Lutz.

The pair are involved in a new program at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, called “Read with Charlie the Dog.”

R.E.A.D. is an international program that seeks to improve the literacy skills of children through the assistance of registered therapy teams as literacy mentors.

Dogs like Charlie must complete a rigorous training period followed by passing a series of tests to qualify as a “Reading Education Assistance Dog.”

Hanley and Charlie each completed their training with Courteous Canine Inc., in Lutz, in December of 2017, to become an official R.E.A.D. team.

Victoria Hanley lets Charlie help pick out a book to add to his personal collection affectionately called ‘Charlie’s Favorites.’

Hanley said she was inspired to become a R.E.A.D. volunteer many years ago when she first encountered the program in Lee County.

At the time, both her young daughters were diagnosed with dyslexia, and she found that just being in the presence of a therapy dog had strong physiological effects, a calming influence that helped her children gain the confidence to read aloud.

Hanley also noted that reading to a dog helps on all fronts because a dog is nonjudgmental and helps children relax. The experience often helps to increase a child’s desire to develop his or her own reading skills.

The program is being offered for children at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library on Tuesdays, with four sessions available per afternoon.

Children taking part get 15 minutes of one-on-one time with Charlie and can bring their own book or choose one from Charlie’s personal collection affectionately known as “Charlie’s Favorites.”

A signed waiver is required.

To schedule an appointment with the R.E.A.D. team, call the library at (813) 929-1214.

By Christine Holtzman

Published April 11, 2018

Six-year-old Emma Jane DeKort, left, reads the Dr. Seuss book ‘King Looie Katz’ from her iPad to Charlie and his handler Victoria Hanley. Emma Jane chose this book because she thought Charlie would enjoy hearing about the King’s tail, since Charlie has a tail, too.
Three-year-old Travis West, left, pets Charlie, while his 5-year-old brother, Jordan, reads with Charlie’s handler Victoria Hanley.

A potluck and ice cream social

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Jerry Raffa and Germaine Marion (Courtesy of Marty Rubenstein)

On March 25, we had a potluck in the community center. Nancy Huey arranged for this to occur and did a marvelous job of getting everyone together. Unfortunately, she was unable to attend that day, so Ron and Rachel Gamache were kind enough to fill her shoes and get it started.

Each table had a number and, before tables were called, Jim Leitzke said grace, while the rest of the people bowed their heads in silence.

Eighty-five to 90 people filled their plates with the different foods that were offered. The social club provided the ham, and it was simply delicious. This, along with the many side dishes provided for a nice meal. There were many desserts to choose from, including cherry cake, apple squares, chocolate chip cookies and more.

Just a few of the tables at the potluck.

There were several helpers, and they each knew exactly what to do, so things went very efficiently.

On March 28, we had an ice cream social, and we celebrated Al Lindke’s birthday with a delicious cake. Well over 100 residents joined in for the birthday celebration, plus the ice cream social that consisted of many toppings and two delicious flavors of ice cream.  There was so much that we were able to go back for more.

The social was hosted by Joyce and Ron Bell, Chuck and Shirley Carlson, Ron and Rachel Gamache, Robbie Lockard, Sandy and Al Lindke, Rosie Semian, Greg Thomas and Barbara Williams. Donna Scott cut the cake.

Brownies with jelly beans.

They had every topping imaginable, including strawberries, bananas, pineapple chunks, chocolate and rainbow sprinkles, tiny M & Ms, tiny peanut butter M & Ms, Butterfingers crunch, peanuts, cherries and whipped cream, plus hot chocolate syrup, coffee and tea.

It was a lovely afternoon and, between the ice cream and cake, we walked away filled to capacity.

We would all like to thank the people who worked to make this function as memorable as it was. 

By Helene Rubenstein, Grand Horizons

Baseball and magic

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Twenty residents from Grand Horizons went to a Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees game in Tampa at Steinbrenner field on March 23. The stadium was really nice, and the game was exciting.

Elliott Smith prepares for the show. (Courtesy of Marty Rubenstein)

There is something special in seeing a live game. It started out as a pitching duel, as there were no hits or runs the first several innings but, eventually, Boston broke loose and scored a few runs. It was still a close game, but Boston won.

Our thanks go out to Tom Carter who arranged the game outing and the transportation that picked us up at the community center. He did a fine job, and we thank him for it.

The following night, on March 24, 92 Grand Horizon residents and visitors enjoyed a comedy- magic show. Terry Gardner was the host and arranged for the show. A few minutes before the show started, Terry Gardner told us several cute jokes to prepare us for the show.

Ron Gamache then introduced Elliott Smith with a few words about where he has performed.  Smith came on stage to a loud applause.

Tim Holt with a full cup of water on his head alongside Elliott Smith.

He asked if anyone in the audience could spare $50. After several moments had expired, Joan Lawrence produced the $50. When she loaned it to him, Elliott started to fold it in half to double her money. At one point in the performance, he actually did double it to $100 and was going to hand it to Joan, (but she wasn’t fast enough to accept) so he withdrew it, and it eventually turned back to the original amount. He had Joan read the serial number on the bill, while he wrote it down on a blackboard. Elliott then performed some type of skit with the money, and eventually it disappeared into thin air. 

That was the end of the skit until sometime later in the show, he had Joan retrieve a box that was sealed. She brought the box up to him, and inside was a smaller box that he gave to her.  She opened the box and found her bill with the same serial number that he had written on the board. How it was done was beyond me!

Joyce Bell doing a hankie trick with Elliott Smith.

Next, he brought Joyce Bell up to the stage. With her, he did some type of magic skit that involved red and green handkerchiefs. It was interesting and had everyone in the audience wondering how it was done.

He also called up Eugene Martin to do a rope trick. It involved three pieces of rope, and one was longer than the other. It left people scratching their heads in wonderment.

Several more people were called up to the stage, but there was one real cute performance that involved Rachel Gamache. It was a mind-reading game or body language demonstration and was hilarious.

Rachel pulled a card with the word ‘eat’ written on it. Elliott then asked if the letter “e” was in the word. Of course Rachel said “yes,” and now the fun starts.

Bill Donlon doing a paper trick with Elliott Smith.

Elliott  wrote down “sex” for the audience to see. At this time, the audience was thinking that the word was “sex.” Elliott proceed to ask Rachel leading questions, and she responded with the truth as she really had the word “eat,” but the audience thought it was “sex” and laughed a lot. Questions like, ”Do you do it several times a day?”

At the end of the game, Elliott asked Rachel what the word was and when she responded with “eat,” we all laughed.

Bill Donlon  also went on the stage to help Elliott with a cut-and-restore tissue paper trick.  This had us all in stitches with the antics that Bill performed with Elliott. After several movements and dance steps, Elliott pulled the paper from his throat. Everyone was laughing, including Bill. 

Eugene Martin wearing special glasses on stage.

There were several more magic tricks, but the last one was very cute. It involved having Tim Holton helping Elliott with the “how to vanish water” trick.

Elliott and Tim went through the entire segment and had everyone laughing. How the trick ended was, when each cup was filled with water and placed on top of the head, now the cup is turned over and with “trust and belief” it should be empty and, you know what? It was empty!

We all left the community center full of laughter and questions on how each trick was performed.

We thank Terry for the entertainment and look forward to December, when more shows will be announced.

By Helene Rubenstein, Grand Horizons

Everything Is Alive and Blooming In Connerton

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Spring brings new life, and everything is coming alive in the beautiful, award-winning community of Connerton in Land O’ Lakes.

Flowers are blooming, trees are budding and wildlife is nesting. New families are also nesting, with 60 new buyers choosing Connerton as their home since the beginning of the year.

Connerton was honored to be one of the 2018 Showcase Communities for the annual Parade of Homes sponsored by the Tampa Bay Builders Association, held March 3 to March 11. More than 200 visitors came to Connerton during the Parade, with many looking to find their dream home in this premiere Central Pasco community.

Love of Nature
With the advent of spring, Connerton comes alive not only with new homes, but also with Florida wildlife that is abundant in its conservation areas, wetlands and ponds that make up this eco-friendly community.

New homebuyers choose Connerton because they want to enjoy nature at their backdoor and get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Drive through Connerton and you may encounter a gopher tortoise crossing the road, sandhill cranes teaching their chicks the ways of the world, or perhaps a new fawn prancing through the woods with its mother. So be sure to be careful on Connerton’s roads, especially this time of the year.

Connerton residents are very protective of their wildlife. It is not uncommon to see cars stop to pick up a turtle and move it to a safe place, or become crossing guards for families of sandhill cranes and deer that want to cross the road.

New this year at Connerton is a Butterfly Garden Club organized by residents. The butterfly gardens, located at Rose Cottage, are being designed to help sustain the declining honeybee population, and provide a rest area for migrating monarch butterflies.

Monarchs are the only two-way migrating butterflies in North America, and Connerton is in a prime location to help the monarchs in their 3,000-mile journey from Mexico to as far north as Canada. Connerton plans to allow local schools to use its garden to study the monarchs and for other educational purposes.

Commitment to Preservation
When Connerton was developed almost 20 years ago, 3,000 acres were donated to the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD). The Conner Preserve, as it is known today, is located on the north end of Connerton, but is open to the public with access from State Road 52.

This area offers a stunning landscape of steep sand-hill ridges, expansive marshes, dense cypress sloughs and lush pine flatwoods. The preserve is a vital part of a wildlife habitat corridor envisioned by Pasco County, and is a living laboratory of natural Florida.

With approximately 15 miles of multi-use trails and 17 miles of hiking-only trails, nature lovers enjoy Connerton’s recreational and educational activities where possum, armadillo, raccoons, rabbits, squirrels, gopher tortoises, white-tailed deer and many other species make their home. The SWFWMD offers downloadable field guides on its website that identify the animals, birds, butterflies, trees and wildflowers located on the premises. Visit: swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/species/.

Fresh Ideas
Spring also brings thoughts of spring-cleaning, and that often leads to thoughts of moving to a new home. Connerton offers a variety of new homes by five of the area’s quality builders — Homes by WestBay, M/I Homes, Inland Homes, Arthur Rutenberg Homes and Lennar.

Floor plans ranging from 1,500 to over 4,000 square feet, and priced from the low $200s to over $700,000. Homes are available with 3-6 bedrooms, 2-4 car garages, and many exciting new design and energy-saving features.

Stop and visit Club Connerton, and take a tour of this beautiful community that was awarded the Gold Award for Best Lifestyle Program in the Nation by the National Association of Home Builders. Visit the model homes, take a walk or bike ride on the trails, or fly a kite and enjoy one of the beautiful parks. You will be happy that you did, and you may even decide to live here!

For more information, visit Connerton.com.

Published March 28, 2018

Pulte Homes Opens New Models in Starkey Ranch

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If you’ve been looking to buy a new home in Starkey Ranch, April is the month you’ve been waiting for.

To celebrate its May 5 grand opening of Monroe Commons — Pulte’s newest community in Starkey Ranch — buyers will receive $4,000 in free quality appliances from Whirlpool for a refrigerator, washer and dryer.

Monroe Commons families will also qualify for $8,000 in Pulte Flex Cash, which can be used at the design center on home upgrades, or applied toward closing cost.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for families looking for the best value in Starkey Ranch,” said Kristen Woske, Pulte Homes’ sales consultant in Starkey. “Our models in Monroe Common are very affordable, beginning in the upper $200,000s for a 2,000-square-foot home. In fact, we offer some of the best home values in all of Starkey Ranch.”

Woske has been selling homes in Starkey Ranch since Pulte first moved into the community last May. In less than a year, she and her sales colleague, Angela Hobbs, have sold 96 homes in the Homestead Park area of Starkey, with only 14 home sites remaining. This success has lead Pulte to recently launch its second phase of 65 homes in Homestead Park.

“While, of course, people love Pulte’s family inspired floor plans and quality construction and finishes, we’ve been so successful in Homestead Park because our buyers fall in love with Starkey Ranch and all that it has to offer,” said Woske.

Starkey Ranch is a master-planned community of more than 2,400 acres located north of State Road 54 in Odessa. The community began its development three years ago, and currently has 450 homes and will eventually be a community of 3,000 homes. The community is known for the extensive preservation of wetlands, woods and wild prairie, and boasts a paved 15-mile trail system that will extend to 20 miles when it connects to the many nature trails in the adjacent Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Preserve.

“When someone first comes to our sales center, one of the first questions they ask is whether all the natural wetlands and green space they just drove through will stay green,” said Woske. “And, when I tell them yes, plus show them on the map how much land will remain in its wild state, they are amazed and excited,” said Woske.

Pulte’s new Monroe Commons area is deep into Starkey Ranch and far from State Road 54. Homesites are either lakefront, face parkland or back onto conservation.

Saturday, April 21 is the grand opening of Pulte’s two furnished models in Monroe Commons — the 2,098-square-foot Clearview with its garage at the back of the home, and the 2,188 square-foot Sienna with the garage in the front. Both homes are beautifully decorated and open daily from 10 to 6 p.m., and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

Pulte Homes is offering six floor plans in Monroe Commons. Four have traditional, open floor plans like the Sienna, and two are designed with alley- load garages. All are two stories, and offer two to five bedrooms and two to three-and-a-half baths. The Harrison plan has the master bedroom on the first floor. Air-conditioned living areas are from 1,950 to 2,470 square feet, and base prices range from $269,990 to $304,990.

All Pulte homes in Monroe Commons include granite countertops, 42-inch cabinets, 8-foot interior doors, 17-inch ceramic tile floors, covered lanais, two-car garages and paver driveways. Many custom options are available, including quartz countertops, hardwood floors and upgraded porcelain tile.

Every Pulte home comes with ultra-fast fiber-to-the-home connectivity, the diamond-rated Environments for Living energy efficiency package and a 10-year transferrable limited structural warranty.

Only Pulte Homes is building in Monroe Commons. Its 95 homesites are close to the Starkey Ranch District Park, with its abundance of recreation facilities, as well as Starkey’s unique Cunningham Park designed for small gatherings and community gardening, and the recently opened Beckett Pond for launching canoes and kayaks.

The Starkey Ranch District Park is Pasco County’s newest recreational complex and includes a lighted Little League baseball/softball field; three lighted multipurpose fields for soccer, lacrosse and football, six multipurpose practice fields, playground and picnic pavilions.

“Pulte has many communities in the Tampa region, but Starkey is the one getting the most attention because of our success at Homestead Park and the new floor plans we are introducing at Monroe Commons,” said Woske. “There is so much excitement at Starkey Ranch; it’s just contagious.”

Woske said over half of Pulte’s buyers in Starkey Ranch are moving up from other Pasco communities. “We have a lot of families from Land O’ Lakes, Lutz and Wesley Chapel coming here to see why Starkey Ranch is exploding,” she said.

Most of Pulte’s homebuyers are families with school-age children, although there are also many young, first-time buyers and retirees looking to down size.

For more information about Pulte Home’s communities in Starkey Ranch, please call (877) 752-0173, or stop by its sales office at 13047 Payton St. You can also visit Pulte.com/Starkey Ranch.

 

Monroe Commons Models

Clearview
Open gathering and dining spaces
Extended covered lanai
Alley-load – covered walkway
3-5 bedrooms
2-3 baths
2-car garage
2,098 A/C square feet
$278,990

Sienna
Open-concept living
First floor flex room
3 bedrooms
2.5 bathrooms
2,188 A/C square feet
$294,990 

Published March 28, 2018

Five Models at Starkey Ranch Receive Top Parade of Homes Awards

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Starkey Ranch, a 2,400-acre master-planned community in Odessa, received more recognition at the 2018 Parade of Homes in March than any other community in Tampa Bay.

Five model homes at Starkey Ranch took either a grand or silver award for their floor plans, interior design and outdoor areas, winning in categories with homes priced from $350,000 to $1.2 million.

“We are very proud of the recognition our homebuilders received in this year’s Parade of Homes,” said Matt Call, who leads the development team at Starkey Ranch. “We have five of the most successful builders in the Tampa Bay area, based on sales volume, customer satisfaction and awards. In fact, three of our builders—Pulte Homes, CalAtlantic Homes and Taylor Morrison—are in the top 10 of the national 2017 Builder 100 rankings.”

Buyers like what they see at Starkey Ranch, as evidenced by the volume of new home sales in the community.  In just the first 11 weeks of 2018, Starkey Ranch builders have written 94 sales contracts, a 42% increase over the same period last year. Since sales began in May of 2015, 660 homes have been sold.

Starkey Ranch was initially approved for over 5,000 homes, but Call projects the actual number will be closer to 3,000, due to the high demand for single-family homes on larger homesites. Home prices currently range from the upper $200,000s to over $800,000 on lots that back onto Starkey Preserve.

In 2018, Starkey Ranch is introducing several new neighborhoods: Monroe Commons featuring Pulte Homes; Anclote Reserve featuring Homes by WestBay; Albritton Park featuring M/I Homes; and Whitfield Preserve featuring Taylor Morrison.

Starkey Ranch lives up to its motto, ‘Alive and Thriving,’ says Call. “In less than three years, we’ve gone from no residents to 435 families living in beautiful new homes, and enjoying all the community amenities and programs. More families are moving in each week as their homes are completed.”

Call credits the success of Starkey Ranch to three factors – the place, the product, and the people.

“The place itself is incomparable,” he says. “This is legacy Starkey family land, the last segment of what was once a 20,000-acre working ranch. Most of the ranch became the Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Preserve, and we enjoy this forever-wild neighbor along the community’s northeastern boundary. On the other hand, we have three miles of frontage on State Road 54, making access easy for our residents.”

As evidenced by the Parade of Homes awards, the home products are something special, too. Starkey Ranch has rigorous design guidelines that require builders to enhance the exteriors of each home with elements like stone, siding, shingles, porches, decorative trim and upgraded roofing materials.

They also must vary the home plans and color palettes on each block, creating a more interesting streetscape. “You won’t find any cookie-cutter stucco boxes here,” says Call. “It may cost a bit more to build in Starkey Ranch, but the community is looking great and we think it will stand the test of time.”

The last key to success is people. The builder sales counselors, the Welcome Center ambassadors and the community’s Lifestyle team members all recognize that a sense of community is more important than a floor plan to most people.

“Our primary goal is to help new neighbors become friends, and we do that through amenities and community activities that bring people together—with a big focus on nature and outdoor recreation,” said Call.

Of Starkey Ranch’s 2,400 acres, 800 will forever remain as open spaces, parks, lakes and preserved wetlands. More than 15 miles of the planned 20-mile paved trail system within the community is complete, and it will connect with trails in the Starkey Wilderness Preserve and the regional Suncoast Trail.

The newest amenity, Cunningham Park, includes a lake with canoes and kayaks for resident use, a community hall for classes and social events, and a community garden. Neighborhood pools, pavilions and parks are disbursed throughout the community.

The 80-acre Starkey Ranch District Park, Pasco County’s newest recreational complex, opened late last year in the community. Its first phase includes a lighted Little League baseball/softball field, three lighted multipurpose fields for soccer, lacrosse and football, six multipurpose practice fields, a playground and picnic pavilions.

Pasco County has announced plans for the 2021 completion of a K-8 school co-located with the District Park. A public library, community cultural center, and additional recreational facilities will be built with the school.

Coming soon to the intersection of State Road 54 and Gunn Highway is the Publix-anchored Starkey Ranch Town Square, which will also include shops, restaurants and apartments. A small business park is planned for the intersection of Heart Pine Avenue and State Road 54.

For more information, visit the Starkey Ranch Welcome Center at 2500 Heart Pine Ave, Odessa, FL 33556. You can also call (813) 925-9777, email or visit StarkeyRanch.com. Welcome Center hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday noon to 6 p.m.

Recognized builders and their models are:

$350,000 to $399,000
M/I Homes – Grand Prize
Chatham Model

$400,000 to $449,000
M/I Homes – Silver Prize
Sheridan Model

$500,000 to $549,000
Homes by Westbay – Grand Prize
Ballast Point Model

$600,000 to $649,000
Taylor Morrison – Silver Prize
Farnese Model

$700,000 to $799,000
Pulte Homes – Grand Prize
Heatherton Model

Published March 28, 2018

Cornerstone brings you safe, crystal clear water for your family

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Plus, refined water that prevents scaling and doubles the life of appliances

Many people take for granted the water in their home — both working water used for taking showers and washing clothes, and drinking water for making coffee and ice cubes.

It’s not until their showerheads become corroded with mineral build up, or their ice cubes look cloudy, do many families consider a water treatment and purification system for their home.

Unfortunately, by the time they do, the damage often has already been done to home appliances, faucets and grout which have become pitted, scratched, stained and may even require replacement.

The good news is that all of these symptoms of poor water quality can be resolved with a quality home water system that pays for itself in just a few years. Refined water also extends the life of a hot water heater because less sediment is deposited in the tank.

Like many of her customers, Dana Spears, owner of Cornerstone Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical in Land O’ Lakes, also waited too long before installing a water treatment and purification system in her home.

A wife and mother of five children, Dana and her husband, James, built a new home four years ago.

“We didn’t think to put in a water system them, and that was a huge mistake because today my beautiful, expensive kitchen and bathroom faucets are pitted and scratched, my grout is cracking and there is so much corrosion in my dishwasher that we need to replace it,” said Dana.

Cornerstone’s Plumbing Department has always offered water treatment, but Dana found a real need to expand this area for her customers.

“Not only did my family home need a water system, but many of our customers were also inquiring about what system was best for their home,” said Dana.

Dana and her team researched dozens of manufacturers and systems, and selected Westinghouse because of its effectiveness, efficiency and 10-year guarantee.

“Westinghouse also offered Cornerstone exclusivity, which means we are the only plumbing company in the area that can sell their exceptional water systems,” said Dana.

The Westinghouse Progressive Revolution Series works 24 hours a day delivering clean, soft working water to the entire house. Its refined water makes clothes and linens softer and brighter, and kitchen and bathroom faucets and showerheads become free of water spots, soap scum and scaling that restricts water flow.

For drinking water, the Westinghouse system delivers fresh, purified water on demand from a special faucet installed at the kitchen sink. Its technology removes nearly all of the contaminants in city water, and leaves nothing but pure, clean, fresh tasting water.

“If you’re buying bottled water, you can stop. And if you’re relying on faucet or refrigerator filters, this gives your family a much higher level of purity,” said Dana.  “Essentially, you get unlimited bottled water — just think how much money you will save because you will no longer need to buy bottled water!”

As sediment builds up, it doesn’t take long for water coming from a faucet that is not treated first by a purification system to taste like minerals and even look a bit cloudy. Many families spend $20 or more on bottled water for their family a week, Dana explains.

Cornerstone also installs water treatment and purification systems for homes on well water. Well water is tested for iron, bacteria and other elements, and the system custom designed to meets the specific needs of a family’s well.

The Westinghouse system can be installed same day or next in most homes with city water, especially in newer homes that are pre-plumbed for a water treatment system. Homes on a well may take up to two weeks for the testing and installation to be completed

Cornerstone’s licensed plumbers are trained by Westinghouse and are certified to install its systems. Every installation is different, and all are integrated with the home’s water system. All work is guaranteed and under warranty for a full year.

Cornerstone was founded in 2006 as an air conditioning service company. In 2012, it expanded into plumbing services, and two years later added electrical services. Its phones are answered 24/7, and technicians are available around the clock, including weekends and holidays.

Call (813) 949-4445 anytime, day or night. For more information, visit their website at CornerstonePros.com.

Why Refined Water? 

Pure, clean, fresh tasting water. The purification process removes nearly all of the contaminants in your city or well water and gives you a limitless supply of higher quality drinking water.

Save money: Pure, crystal clear water from your faucet means you can stop buying bottled water for your home.

No hard water spots and soap residue: Glassware comes straight from the dishwasher, crystal clear. The same goes for stemware and flatware.

Soft skin after shaving and bathing: Rinses away all soap and cleaning products completely, leaving you with soft manageable skin and hair. Razorblades last longer and you can shave closer.

Water becomes a powerful solvent – all by itself:  Refined water will lift stains and clean surfaces, plus eliminate tough stains brought on by your old harsh water. Refined water also reduces the time it takes to clean your home, and also the need for harsh and sometimes toxic cleaners.

About Westinghouse
The Westinghouse Progressive Revolution Series uses a revolutionary chambered tank with a lift-and-spin water distribution system, that combines treated water brining, demand metering and counter-current regeneration.

Its EcoFlow Regeneration refers to the self-cleaning process of the Progressive Series Westinghouse refiner. The regeneration is computer controlled to maximize the efficiency of the cleaning process.

The system’s settings are stored in a memory similar to that of a home computer. If the system loses power, even for days or weeks, no service call is needed to reprogram the system once power is restored. In addition, all Westinghouse refiners provide their own backup power with 12 hours of carry-over power.

Westinghouse water refiners are now certified by IAPMO Research and Testing and are in compliance with the International Plumbing Code.

Published March 28, 2018

Bayfair Homes Introduces Exclusive Custom Homes in Carencia

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The most personal expression of one’s success is the home you build for yourself and your family. And, when it’s time to move up to the home of your dreams, Carencia is a community you will want to visit and consider living in.

Located in Odessa between Lake Pretty and Lake Politz, Carencia is a 58-acre gated enclave of 18 homes being developed by Bayfair Homes, one of Tampa Bay’s most highly regarded custom homebuilders.

Carencia offers almost impossible-to-find waterfront lots with private docks on 84-acre Lake Pretty — a private ski lake that has no public access. For those wanting a more tranquil waterfront setting, Carencia also has lots with stunning views of lovely Lake Politz, an 12-acre spring-fed lake perfect for fishing, canoeing and kayaking.

The community also has wooded lots with water views — most with stands of mature hardwoods, including laurel oaks and even a massive live oak that is over 100 years old. All Carencia building sites are an acre or larger, and all provide exceptional privacy.

“This land is unbelievably beautiful, tucked away in rural Odessa, just minutes from excellent schools, entertainment and shopping, including Westfield Citrus Park Mall,” said Ryan Dougherty, Bayfair’s vice president of sales and marketing. “This combination of rural serenity and easy access to neighborhood conveniences is almost unheard of.”

“Carencia is exciting to bring to market because it’s a hidden gem that few people know about, and one that many families don’t believe exists in the northwest Hillsborough area,” said Dougherty.

Carencia is unique for a luxury home community because its developer is also the builder of its homes.

“This is 100 percent a Bayfair community, which means we are overseeing that the vision of Carencia is fulfilled, by ensuring that every custom home contributes to a luxurious streetscape as you drive through the community.  In addition, each home will have the fine details and high-end finishes that Bayfair is well-known for. The combination of these elements sets a prestigious tone for the entire community,” said Dougherty.

Bayfair Homes has a long history of building luxury homes in Odessa and Lutz. It built many estate homes in Keystone Shores and Stillwater between 1998 and 2005, and also developed New Floresta and Haven Bend in Tampa’s Lake Magdalene area, along with several on-your-lot locations.

In addition to Carencia, Bayfair Homes is also building lakefront homes in Oak Reserve, a 10-home Lutz community located close to Avila, as well as water and non-waterfront custom homes in South Tampa.

Because of its custom quality construction and premier finishes, Bayfair Homes builds just 12 to 15 homes a year — or about 450 custom homes total since the company was founded 30 years ago.  It has been locally owned and operated since it was established, and is one of few custom builders to provide an experienced architecture and design team, as well as providing in-house warranty experts.

Homes in Carencia, including the lot, begin at $1 million and start at 3,500 square feet. Sales began last fall, and already six homes are under construction or in the design process to start.  The first families to build in the community will move in this year.

“We’re very pleased with the amount of activity we’ve seen in Carencia, especially considering we’ve done minimal advertising,” said Dougherty.

Dougherty said many Pasco residents are interested in Carencia because its location is 30 minutes closer to downtown Tampa and Westshore than where they live now in Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel.

Families looking to build in Carencia are attracted by its private waterfront and wooded lots, the flexibility to design their home the way they want it, the quiet and peacefulness of a rural community and the peace of mind of a gated entrance. They also like Carencia’s close proximity to the 16.5-mile Upper Tampa Bay Trail, which is just a five-minute bike ride from the community.

“Carencia is about the closest you can get to the hot spots of Tampa and still have the charm of living in a rural community,” Dougherty adds. “It is just 10 minutes to Veterans Expressway and the Gunn Highway entrance, which is where the new express lanes on the Veterans begin and end.”

For more information about Carencia and Bayfair Homes, call (813) 906-1000 or go to Bayfair.com. Carencia’s is located off Gunn Highway in Odessa, about a mile south of North Mobley Road, and then east on Copeland Road another half mile.

 

Carencia Inventory Homes

Lake Politz Home  – Under Construction
This transitional-style home offers the best of lakefront living with an open plan design and an incredible outdoor living space.  The rear of the home is filled with windows, maximizing lake views and providing exceptional natural light throughout the home. Completion January 2019.

5,065 square feet.  Call for pricing.
5 bedrooms / 5.5 baths / study / bonus room
Master suite downstairs with spa-like bath
Outdoor living with pool, grill area and more
Luxurious finishes, including hardwood flooring, Granite counters, enhanced interior trim details, and gourmet kitchen

Wooded Home Site
Designed to complement the charming equestrian and farmhouse setting of Odessa, this traditional home offers an open plan on one level, with the flexibility of building out a second-floor bonus room.

3,582 square feet. Call for pricing.
4 bedrooms / 3.5 baths / study
One-story plan, with available second-floor bonus room
Oversized rear outdoor living covered porch
1-acre wooded homes site
3-car garage
Luxurious finishes, including hardwood flooring
Granite counters, enhanced interior trim details, and gourmet kitchen

Published March 28, 2018

Live in Asturia For Under $300,000 in a New Ashton Woods Home

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Here’s a great opportunity if you’re looking to move up to a new home in one of the master-planned communities along the State Road 54 corridor in central Pasco.

Ashton Woods is selling beautifully finished, inventory homes beginning at $257,990 in Asturia — the prestigious Odessa community that’s known for its award-winning amenity center and miles of nature trails.

The Blackwater

While the average home price in Asturia is close to $400,000, Ashton Woods has several quick move-in homes ready for under $300,000 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. Seven quick-sale homes are available in five floor plans.

“To get into Asturia for under $300,000 in a 2,000-square-foot home is a fabulous 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.

For many first-time homebuyers and empty nesters, the Grove and Evergreen series offer an ideal home solution with their unique alley-load garages that open up the front of the house to large living areas and covered porches. Ashton Woods is the only builder in Asturia to offer alley-load homes.

“We call this front-porch living, because it takes advantage of Florida’s wonderful year-around weather and makes it easy to get to know your neighbors,” said Reny.

Heritage and Classic Series
In addition to its quick move-in homes in its alley-load homes, Ashton Woods also has several homes available in quick inventory in traditional floor plans with the garage in front of the house, which are either ready now, or will be by June.

“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.”

The Suwanne

This includes the Ferrara model home in the Classic Series, which was featured in the recent Parade of Homes sponsored by the Tampa Bay Builders Association. At 2,890 square feet, the two-story Ferrara is a perfect home for a growing family, offering four to six bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and a two-car garage.

In addition to the Ferrara model, families looking for inventory homes in the Classic Series can choose from two Milan floor plans, at 2,722 square feet, which be ready in May.

Families wanting traditional homes, but with less square footage, can choose from several one- and two-story options in Ashton Woods’ Heritage Series, including three quick move-in homes, including two — The Monroe and Lincoln — which are ready now.

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

“With Ashton Woods, you’re partnering with more than just a homebuilder. You’re partnering with a team of expert designers and builders whose main goal is to help you create your perfect home,” said Reny. “Not only do we blaze new trails in design, we offer buyers highly personalized service every step of the way.”

Alley Load Quick Move-Ins 

The Arlington – Ready in April
2,003 square feet
3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths
2465 Claymore: $279,990

The Arlington – Ready in April
2,003 square feet
3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths
14810 Caravan Avenue: $280,490

The Ortega – Ready in April
2,193 square feet
3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths
14818 Caravan avenue: $294,490

Halifax – Ready in May
1,964 square feet
3 bedrooms, 2 baths
14902 Caravan Avenue: $283,490

Halifax – Ready in May
1,964 square feet
3 bedrooms, 2 baths
2463 Delancey St.: $281,702

Suwanne – Ready in May
2,204 square feet
4 bedrooms, 3 baths
14795 Promenade Parkway: $304,031

The Blackwater – Ready in April
2,309 square feet
4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths
2514 Portico St.: $349,990

Published March 28, 2018