The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Avalon Park Wesley Chapel

Avalon Applauds Healing Hearts Cafe

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Congratulations to Healing Hearts Cafe for being applauded by Avalon Park Wesley Chapel.

Healing Hearts Cafe’s mission is to provide the homeless with all the resources needed to become contributing members of the Zephyrhills community.

The nonprofit has evolved over the last 10 years, as its roots were originally with the Grace Cafe, founded by Donna Nelson. Grace Cafe served a free meal every Saturday, to anyone in need.

After Nelson moved from the area, director Kathy Pahl changed the name to Healing Hearts Cafe and began serving Saturday night meals, followed by a church service. She also began taking meals to the park two days a week.

Around this time, Joni Keane began helping her, along with Nelson who had just moved back to Zephyrhills.

The three of them felt a need to do more, as the home-insecure had multiple issues to address. They began to pray that God would provide a building where they could offer showers, laundry facilities, and a safe place out of the heat or severe weather. God answered their prayers and they’ve been in their current building for about 16 months.

At Healing Hearts Cafe, three free meals are provided each day. The dining room also serves as a “family room” where displaced persons can hang out, play board games, watch TV, and charge their phones. The building also has laundry facilities and a shower.

The nonprofit also provides rides to job interviews, doctor appointments, court appearances and numerous other places. All of its services are free of charge.

“If there is something we can’t provide, we find someone who does,” says Keane.

In its first year of operation, the nonprofit served 25,000 meals to an average of 50 or more people each day, as well as offered 2,400 showers and completed 700 loads of laundry.

Homelessness has always been an issue, but Keane says it’s been exacerbated lately due to the increased cost of rent, food and other essentials.

People from all walks of life have come to Healing Hearts Cafe for help. Keane says many circumstances can lead to homelessness, including addiction, mental illness, medical catastrophes, abuse, abandonment from loved ones, and poor decision-making.

There are a variety of ways the community can help support Healing Hearts Cafe, including serving food, stocking shelves, cleaning, and spending a few moments to provide encouragement to the clients.

“We are also looking for job coaches, financial advisors, and Bible study leaders. Our facility lso often needs repairs with plumbing and electrical issues, to keep it running smoothly,” says Keane.

The cafe accepts donations of food, paper products and cleaning supplies, at any time.

Monetary donations are greatly appreciated, too. “Due to the high volume of laundry and showers, our utility bill is quite high. We also have the usual expenses of rent, insurance, and cable/wifi,” says Keane.

And, at the end of the day, prayer is always welcomed and appreciated.

Healing Hearts Cafe is located at 6436 12th St., Zephyrhills, FL 33542 and is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information, go to  HealingHeartsCafe.com.

Avalon Park Wesley Chapel Breaks Ground on Downtown Area

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Do you dream of living where you work and working where you play? Look no further than Avalon Park Wesley Chapel!

Avalon Park Wesley Chapel hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on July 14, to celebrate the start of construction on the first phase of its highly anticipated downtown area.

This well-attended event comes from a June 2 press release where Avalon Park Group announced they entered into an agreement with Lema Construction. According to the agreement, the three-story, 73,067-square-foot mixed-use building plans to include 40 multi-family apartments and 23,720 square feet of commercial/retail space on the ground floor. Initial plans for the commercial/retail space include an approximately 12,000-square-foot food hall called The Marketplace at Avalon Park, as well as a co-working space, The 5th Floor.

(Courtesy of OurTownFla.com)

“This phase of construction really helps us move even closer to that vision of building a place where families can build memories and traditions together in a town they can call their own,” says Beat Kahli, president and CEO, Avalon Park Group.

“And while this may not be the most cost-effective time to begin construction, we feel like it is important to continue on to the next step in developing our vision for Avalon Park Wesley Chapel.”

Additionally, a 2-acre community park with an amphitheater is in permitting and will begin construction later this year. The park will host community events such as Avalon Aglow and Fourth of July celebrations, as well as community partners like Jazz Under the Starz and The Wesley Chapel Theater Group, who are already hosting events and activities in the community. Construction of both the park and mixed-use building are scheduled for completion in late 2023.

Upon completion, Avalon Park Wesley Chapel will encompass more than 1,800 acres and will host approximately 400,000 square feet of retail and 100,000 square feet of office space in its downtown. The initial construction in Downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel began in 2019 with the addition of the Pinecrest Academy K-7 Charter School. Pinecrest also is now under construction of its second phase, which includes the addition of approximately 600 sixth- to eighth-grade student stations.

The Vision of Downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel
“We are creating a town very much like the footprints of small towns found across America,” says Stephanie Lerret, senior vice president of marketing for Avalon Park Group.

“Downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel will bring conveniences like dining, shopping, schools, grocery stores, and your neighborhood doctor all within a short walk or bike ride from your home,” says Lerret.

At Downtown Avalon Park, there will be room for everyone — from entrepreneurs wanting to showcase their businesses in storefronts, local marketplaces where chefs can serve and musicians play, schools for children to learn, medical centers where neighbors can receive exceptional care, and even a general store where artisans can share their wares. All of it will lie along the sidewalks of Avalon Park Wesley Chapel’s picturesque town.

This way of living stems from Kahli’s upbringing in Switzerland.

“In my native hometown, Zurich, I could walk from my home to anything I need in my daily life… work, school, grocery stores, restaurants, etc.,” says Kahli.

Kahli’s hometown culture was the blueprint for Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, where his vision is to create a town where residents from all stages of life could live, learn, work and play.

For more information on Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, please visit AvalonParkWesleyChapel.com or email

Published July 27, 2022

Avalon Applauds Caterpillars to Butterflies

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Congratulations to Caterpillars to Butterflies, a local nonprofit dedicated to helping foster families in Pasco County, for being applauded by Avalon Park Wesley Chapel.

The nonprofit was founded by Tracy Hanson, who got her start with foster children advocacy when she began her journey as a Guardian Ad Litem four years ago.

Hanson and her team of volunteers believe every child should have the opportunity to flourish.

Caterpillars to Butterflies’ main mission is to help the foster parents with any needs that will help the child. The nonprofit assists with back-to-school supplies, provides birthday and Christmas gifts for the children, and even helps with the costs of activities/after-school programs/camps that will benefit these children in the pursuit of their dreams and passions.

Through the help of a local church, the nonprofit even offers Parent’s Night Out, where Hanson and her team of volunteers watch all the kids so that the caregivers can have a date night.

“That is something that the foster parents seldom get, so it’s very appreciated,” says Hanson.

The nonprofit also offers a Foster Closet, in Zephyrhills, where the foster parents can immediately go and pick up clothes, shoes and toiletries that the child needs, at no charge. The closet is open by appointment only, and is always accepting donations of gently used clothes; diapers; formula, and more.

When reflecting on Caterpillars to Butterflies, Hanson says the triumphs of each child makes the nonprofit a worthwhile cause.

“When you see a child accomplish something for the first time because somebody believed in them, that is success,” says Hanson.

She recounts success stories like sending kids to basketball and volleyball camps so that scouts would see them for college teams, kids that found their passion in the music/art industry, and even an autistic child that learned to swim on their own.

“I had a child tell me once that ‘You believe in me like no one ever has.’ That is why we do what we do at Caterpillars to Butterflies,” says Hanson.

For more information on Caterpillars to Butterflies and how to support this nonprofit through its various fundraisers throughout the year, go to https://caterflies.org

Spend Your July 4 with Avalon Park Wesley Chapel!

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July 4th is right around the corner, and Avalon Park Wesley Chapel – a premier master-planned community in Pasco County – is inviting the public to its annual 4th of July Celebration! The event kicks off at 5 p.m., and will end with an extraordinary fireworks display at 9 p.m.

This fun-for-all-ages event will include community performances, food trucks, a bike parade and patriotic bake-off, bounce houses, and numerous exhibitors and vendors.

“If you have not yet visited Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, our 4th of July celebration is a great way to experience the fun, family atmosphere we offer every day of the year,” says Stephanie Lerret, senior vice president of marketing for Avalon Park Group.

Avalon Park Wesley Chapel would like to thank its Title Sponsor, Chevrolet of Wesley Chapel. Stop by and see a sample of its showroom at the event!

In The Pocket

Groundbreaking Ceremony Around The Corner
The public is invited to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for Avalon Park Wesley Chapel’s first phase of its downtown area. The ceremony will be on July 14 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the construction site, 33613 State Road 54, Wesley Chapel, FL 33543. Refreshments will be provided, and guests can enjoy performances and entertainment by community partners, Jazz Under the Starz, The Wesley Chapel Theater Group and the Pasco County Fine Arts Council.

Featured musical performers for the groundbreaking ceremony will include In The Pocket –  a group of musicians, all are from the Tampa area, that plays an assortment of genres ranging from Jazz, Latin, Funk, and Hiphop/R&B – as well as Frankie Brown, a Tampa native who recently graduated from Miles College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music.

Shawn Rainey

Artist Shawn Rainey, known as Fabstraq, also will be at the event showcasing his one-of-a-kind abstract pieces known for their vibrant colors.

The downtown area’s three-story, 73,067-square-foot mixed-use building plans to include 40 multi-family apartments and 23,720 square feet of commercial/retail space on the ground floor. Initial plans for the commercial/retail space include an approximately 12,000-square-foot food hall called the Marketplace at Avalon Park and the fourth location of the globally connected co-working space, The 5th Floor.

“This phase of construction really helps us move even closer to that vision of building a place where families can build memories and traditions together in a town they can call their own,” says Beat Kahli, CEO of Avalon Park Group. “And while this may not be the most cost-effective time to begin construction, we feel like it is important to continue on to the next step in developing our vision for Avalon Park Wesley Chapel.”

Frankie Brown

Additionally, a 2-acre community park with an amphitheater is in permitting and will begin construction later this summer. The park will host community events such as Avalon Aglow and Fourth of July, as well as community partners like Jazz Under the Starz and The Wesley Chapel Theater Group, who already are hosting events and activities. Construction of both the park and mixed-use building is scheduled for completion in late 2023.

“We have been working with Pasco County over the past several years to develop a program that will be a win-win for the entire Wesley Chapel community,” Kahli says. “Community partnerships are vital to our mission to change the way the world lives, learns, works and plays, by creating a place where everyone can feel like they belong.”

Upon completion, Avalon Park Wesley Chapel will encompass more than 1,800 acres and will host approximately 400,000 square feet of retail and 100,000 square feet of office space in its downtown. The initial construction in Downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel began in 2018 with the addition of the Pinecrest Academy K-7 Charter School. Pinecrest also is now under construction of its second phase, which includes the addition of approximately 600 sixth-eighth grade student stations.

For more information on Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, please visit online at AvalonParkWesleyChapel.com, or email .

Published June 29, 2022

Spend your July with Avalon Park Wesley Chapel

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Families choose to live in Avalon Park Wesley Chapel because it’s much more than just another subdivision with homes and amenities.

One of the many things that sets the premier master-planned community in Pasco County apart from other planned developments is its long history of hosting special events.

Over the next few weeks, the public is invited to THREE highly anticipated events.

JULY 4 CELEBRATION
To kickstart the action-packed month, Avalon Park’s is hosting its annual 4th of July Celebration that begins at 5 p.m. and ends with a fabulous fireworks display at 9 p.m.

This fun-for-all-ages event will include community performances, food trucks, a bike parade and patriotic bake-off, bounce houses, and numerous exhibitors and vendors. Thank you to our Title Sponsor, Chevrolet of Wesley Chapel. Stop by and see a sample of their showroom at the event!

“If you have not yet visited Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, our 4th of July celebration is a great way to experience the fun, family atmosphere we offer every day of the year,” says Stephanie Lerret, senior vice president of marketing for Avalon Park Group.

Downtown Avalon Park Now Under Construction
The public is invited to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for Avalon Park Wesley Chapel’s first phase of its downtown area. The ceremony will be held on July 14 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the construction site, 33613 State Road 54, Wesley Chapel, FL 33543. Refreshments will be provided, and guests can enjoy performances and entertainment by community partners, Jazz Under the Starz, The Wesley Chapel Theater Group and the Pasco County Fine Arts Council.

The three-story, 73,067-square-foot mixed-use building plans to include 40 multi-family apartments and 23,720 square feet of commercial/retail space on the ground floor. Initial plans for the commercial/retail space include an approximately 12,000-square-foot food hall called the Marketplace at Avalon Park and the fourth location of the globally connected co-working space, The 5th Floor.

“This phase of construction really helps us move even closer to that vision of building a place where families can build memories and traditions together in a town they can call their own,” says Beat Kahli, CEO of Avalon Park Group.

Additionally, a 2-acre community park with an amphitheater is in permitting and will begin construction later this summer. The park will host community events such as Avalon Aglow and Fourth of July , as well as community partners like Jazz Under the Starz and The Wesley Chapel Theater Group, who are already hosting events and activities. Construction of both the park and mixed-use building are scheduled for completion in late 2023.

Jazz Under the Stars
Jazz Under the Starz was founded by Arlene Brooks, who owns and operates Coffee Speaks n Tea Talks in New Tampa.

Her business closed for a period of time during the pandemic, but eventually reopened. This was when Brooks realized that she needed to come up with a way to get people back into her parking lot.

“My goal with Jazz Under the Starz was to bring what was inside the coffee shop to the parking lot, and create a safe, soulful environment for people to enjoy music and feel like a community again,” said Brooks.

What no one ever could have predicted was the sheer popularity of the event.

With so much growth, Brooks yearned for a permanent home for Jazz Under the Starz. As it would turn out, Avalon Park Wesley Chapel was a perfect fit.

“It was an instantaneous connection and partnership,” said Brooks.

Jazz Under the Starz is held every third Saturday of the month, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., with a different band performing at each concert. The event features smooth jazz, including musicians on guitar, sax, clarinet, keyboard, violin and steel drum.

“These types of concerts and events really aren’t going on anywhere else in New Tampa/Wesley Chapel,” said Brooks. “My goal is to push the arts and celebrate all types of creativity as a community.”

The next Jazz Under the Starz concert will be on July 16, at 33501 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel, which is located behind Pinecrest Academy on Avalon Park property.

“You can purchase your tickets now on our website,” said Brooks. “Children under 12 are free, and pets are allowed as long as they aren’t aggressive and owners are cleaning up after their furry friends.”

Visitors also can bring their own lawn chairs and coolers to the concert.

For more information about the concert events, visit JazzUnderTheStarz.com.

Avalon Applauds Rescue Pets of Florida

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Congratulations to Rescue Pets of Florida for being applauded by Avalon Park Wesley Chapel.

Rescue Pets of Florida’s mission is to rescue, vaccinate, spay/neuter, and find loving adoptive homes for stray, abandoned and neglected cats and dogs. The nonprofit also wants to increase public awareness of the companion animal overpopulation issue, and provide solutions to end the killing of adoptable animals in the Tampa Bay area.

The nonprofit did an outstanding 3,500+ adoptions last year. It routinely works with local shelters and the Humane Society, who are usually always at capacity (or over).

“It’s the fulfillment one feels when doing it, that makes it all worthwhile,” says Jeanine Cohen, founder of Rescue Pets of Florida.

Adoption is so important to the nonprofit that last year they spent over $150,000 just on vet care, which ensures each furry friend is healthy and ready to be adopted.

“I am super proud of how this rescue is able to fundraise to pay for life-saving operations that most people wouldn’t be able to afford,” says Cohen.

One of the nonprofits’ cats, DoSiDo, is a perfect example of this. DoSiDo had to have a Pectus Excavatum, which ran close to $4,000. Another cat, Sidney, recently had to have a liver shunt repair that cost $3,750.

“When you donate to us, every penny counts. We are committed to saving animals that may have otherwise been euthanized due to their high cost of care,” says Cohen.

According to Cohen, the two main ways you can help support Rescue Pets of Florida is by becoming a volunteer, or fostering a pet in need.

Cohen and her team will make sure to provide a foster parent with all the support and materials they will need, which includes a supportive group chat that will answer any questions and provide emotional support to help with the process.

The community can also help support Rescue Pets of Florida by sending monetary donations through its Paypal, Venmo, Facebook Page or by purchasing items on its Amazon wishlist, which you can also drop off at any of the nonprofit’s adoption center locations. Some of the nonprofit’s most needed items are wet cat food and pee pads.

Rescue Pets of Florida’s adoption centers, which are open seven days a week, are located at five PetSmarts in the Tampa Bay area. One of them is right here at the PetSmart at The Grove in Wesley Chapel.

“We would not be successful with our adoptions without PetSmart Charities,” says Cohen, “We show cats and kittens seven days a week at each of our locations. PetSmart donates a free bag of food, and coupons galore to each adopter.”

For more information, go to www.rescuecatsofflorida.org. To check out the nonprofit’s Amazon Wishlist, go to tinyurl.com/2s3u2fcs.

Avalon Park Wesley Chapel Aims to Provide A Sense of Belonging

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For Mental Health Awareness Month, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is focusing on the message: “Together for Mental Health.”

Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, a premier master-planned community in Pasco County, supports this message everyday by providing a welcoming community for its residents that supports the creation of meaningful relationships with their neighbors.

“Feeling accepted and welcomed by being a part of a community is where a sense of belonging begins,” says Beat Kahli, president of Avalon Park Group.

Beat Kahli, president and CEO of Avalon Park Group

“A strong social network is one of those things that may not seem important but can make a big difference when life gets hectic. When you know your neighbors, they often become friends that you can relax with and check in on you, in good and challenging times,” Kahli said.

With Avalon Park Wesley Chapel hosting routine events such as its “Movie Under the Stars,” quarterly festivals for the family (the next one is its July 4th festival), and monthly live jazz events, there are so many ways to stay in touch, face-to-face, with your neighbors.

Physical exercise also is another way to maintain good mental health, as it can provide focus, improve self-esteem, and help reduce anxiety and depression.

From taking a swim at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel’s community swimming pool, shooting hoops at the basketball courts, riding a bike through the trails, or playing with your dog at the community dog park, Avalon Park offers a wide range of ways to stay physically active.

Kahli’s wife, Jill, holds a Ph.D. in Psychology, so Kahli definitely understands the importance of mental health.

Kahli says he and his team continue to look for ways to improve the mental health opportunities for their community by adding programming that will create positive outlets for all needs. He recognizes that not everyone shares/responds to the same type of outlet to help with their mental health.

“This is why we are building Avalon Park to be programmed to provide outlets for all,” says Kahli. “From yoga in the park, youth sports, music and dance performances, art classes, local ministries and more, there will be something for everyone.”

One outlet that the residential community supports is local theater, which is a great way to practice expressing yourself and your emotions.

The residential community has partnered with The Wesley Chapel Theater Group, a group that provides theater for adults. Avalon Park Wesley Chapel allows the theater group to use its welcome center as its temporary home for all of the group’s meetings and rehearsals. The group’s artist director, Rodney Bueno, also is a resident of Avalon Park Wesley Chapel for the past five years.

“It’s definitely nice to bring something that I love to the community I live in,” says Bueno.

Kahli also believes giving back through community services helps with positive mental health.

“There are countless opportunities to give back and help in the community,” says Kahli. “I encourage you to look around to the local schools, nonprofits and service organizations to see where you can help the most.”

Avalon Park Wesley Chapel helps support local nonprofit and service organizations by bringing awareness to them through its monthly advertorial, Avalon Applauds, with The Laker/Lutz News. Featured nonprofits from the past include the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel, The Stano Foundation (an organization dedicated to supporting troops of all branches, both active duty and veterans), and Hope Services (a service organization that seeks to find jobs for people living with disabilities).

(If you know a nonprofit that deserves to be in the spotlight, email your suggestion to ).

Another way Avalon Park supports the message of “Together for Mental Health” is through the community-based nonprofit, ProjecThinkForward. According to its website, ProjecThinkForward is committed to promoting optimal health and wellness by changing the stigma surrounding mental health and connecting those in need with the right resources.

The nonprofit also has a podcast on Spotify called ThinkForward Podcast, where its executive director sits down with therapists to discuss various mental health conditions.

By coming together, the Avalon Park Wesley Chapel community can help all of its members feel a sense of place and belonging, and support a culture of strong mental health through the multiple resources it provides.

Published May 25, 2022

Avalon Applauds Kids Helping Kids Pasco County 

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Congratulations to Kids Helping Kids Pasco County for being applauded by Avalon Park Wesley Chapel.

The nonprofit organization was founded in 2018 by president Michelle Patel, who was looking for ways for her family to serve the community together. Patel didn’t find many local opportunities for children to be involved, until a sandwich-making project in​​ the community became the ‘building blocks’ for Kids Helping Kids Pasco County.

The nonprofit strives to be a source of assistance to local, low-income families that are struggling financially but may be unable to receive assistance elsewhere.

“We have a ‘no questions asked’ policy when it comes to most of the support we provide. If a family reaches out in need of support, we will do everything in our power to help them,” says vice president Dara Dimeler.

Kids Helping Kids Pasco County has a few projects it does every year, such as its summer food drive and holiday toy drive.

“Our Teen Advisory Board helps to guide our projects every year – they provide valuable insight into the needs of their peers,” says Patel.

The organization also has started installing some Free Little Libraries around the area, and are doing more routine road cleanups.

The two Little Libraries are located at the RCMA Dade City Learning Center and the Pasco Woods Apartments in Wesley Chapel.

“We supply the books, and we have volunteers that routinely check on the libraries to make sure they are not damaged and are fully stocked,” says Dimeler.

Patel says the nonprofit’s greatest achievement to date has been its COVID-19 food project.

“When schools abruptly closed in March 2020, the access for food was initially very limited within our county. We saw a need and stepped in immediately to provide supplemental food to families that had suddenly lost the food support they would have otherwise been receiving through free/reduced school lunches,” says Patel.

Together with the help of more than 100 volunteers, community donations and business sponsors, Kids Helping Kids Pasco County provided more than 27,000 meals over a 21-week period.

“Watching the community come together in what was such a unique and confusing time was absolutely amazing to witness, and something I personally will never forget,” says Patel.

For Patel, the most rewarding part of founding Kids Helping Kids Pasco County is the impact the nonprofit has on these young children.

“Watching a child with a smile on their face genuinely wanting to help make a difference in their community is what keeps me going. We’ve had the opportunity to watch many of these young volunteers grow over the years, step up into their community and really make a difference,” says Patel.

Kids Helping Kids Pasco County is currently looking for a fundraising chair. The nonprofit also is looking to fill spots on its Back to School Planning Committee. Ideal volunteers for this role would be available to work through the summer to plan and execute its drive scheduled for July 30, 2022. Both of these roles would be adult-held positions.

For more information on how to support or volunteer for the nonprofit, call 813-957-5711.

Be sure to follow the nonprofit on Facebook (Facebook.com/KidsHelpingKidsPasco) and Instagram (@kidshelpingkidspasco).

Live Jazz is Back at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel

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Supporting the arts and providing a venue for local artists have always been core goals of Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, a master-planned community located east of Interstate 75 on State Road 54. The latest addition to this vision is Jazz Under the Starz, which has been hosting monthly concerts at Avalon Park’s downtown area.

“There is something about music that soothes the soul and brings people together,” says Arlene Brooks, organizer of Jazz Under the Starz and owner of Coffee Speaks N Tea Talks in New Tampa.

“Music doesn’t have a color to it — it brings people together and makes your soul feel good. Music is my inspiration, and there’s nothing I enjoy more than watching people come together to share in this joy.”

“We are so excited to bring Jazz Under the Starz to our community,” says Stephanie Lerret, senior vice president of marketing for the Avalon Park Group. “We love offering things to do for our families, and especially have a passion for sharing the arts. Jazz under the Starz is exactly the type of organization we want to support, and fits perfectly with our goal of enhancing and bringing more attention to arts and culture.”

Jazz Under the Starz is held every third Saturday of the month, with a different band performing at each concert.

“These types of concerts and events really aren’t going on anywhere else in New Tampa/Wesley Chapel,” says Brooks.

“I want it to be a place where people can come and join together to celebrate the music. Everybody loves music, and it helps you forget about the hardships of life.”

The next Jazz Under the Starz concert will be on May 21, at 33501 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel, located behind Pinecrest Academy, on Avalon Park property.

Project Necessary will be the headline act, and will bring a smooth mix of Jazz, Funk and R&B to Jazz Under the Starz.

For the past 20 years, Project Necessary has entertained audiences globally in places such as Hawaii, Japan, Singapore, Spain, Turkey and Egypt.

The group’s nucleus consists of Dave Chipman (drums), Sam Diego (keys), Al Chisim (Sax) and bassist Dale Horton.

General admission is $20, which can be purchased at JazzUnderTheStarz.com. Kids under 12 get in for free, and Brooks says pets are allowed as long as they aren’t aggressive and the owners are cleaning up after their furry friends.

Concert guests also can bring their own lawn chairs and coolers.

For more information about the musical events, visit JazzUnderTheStarz.com.

There’s No Planned Community Like Avalon Park Wesley Chapel
Avalon Park Wesley Chapel began building its first homes in 2012. Today, 1,000 homes have been completed or are underway, and residents enjoy unique amenities, neighborhood schools, and easy access to Tampa, Lakeland and Orlando.

“We are not just developers — we are building a brand new town,” said Lerret. “We’re so much more than just another planned community – we’re bringing together everything a family needs to enjoy life today and in the future.”

Homes in the residential community range in price from the mid $200s to over $400s.

“Our builders offer homes for everyone, from teachers to physicians to empty-nesters wanting the convenience of the no-fuss, townhome lifestyle,” said Lerret.

Downtown Avalon Park
Avalon Park Wesley Chapel will offer places to shop and work in its downtown hub that will be connected to its residential neighborhoods by tree-lined streets, walkways and bike paths.

“We are building a traditional downtown, with stores located inside of our community on the boulevard road leading to our residences, parks and schools,” said Lerret. “We are creating a town that spreads out from the town center connecting to individual neighborhoods — very much like the footprints of small towns found across America.”

The first phase of downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel will include 130,000 square feet of mixed-use commercial space and apartments built above the storefronts.

“We’re building beautiful, multi-story buildings with commercial space designed for businesses our residents want close to home — restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops, bars and entertainment, hair and nail salons, as well as activities like dance, gymnastic and karate studios,” said Lerret.

Eventually, Avalon Park’s downtown will have more than 560,000 square feet of retail, and 120,000 square feet of office space. At build out, this 1,650-acre master-planned community will have about 4,400 single and multi-family homes, and be home to 10,000 residents.

Published April 27, 2022

Avalon Applauds Sunrise of Pasco County

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Congratulations to Sunrise of Pasco County (Sunrise), a certified domestic and sexual violence program, for being applauded by Avalon Park Wesley Chapel.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Sunrise hopes to shed light on the fact that sexual violence does exist, and survivors are out there.

“It’s really easy for people to say ‘Oh, this doesn’t happen in my community,’ and we certainly understand that it does,” says Catt Raley, director of Sexual Assault Services.

“Domestic and sexual violence are issues that touch each and everyone’s life, whether it happens to us or someone we know.”

One way the nonprofit is bringing awareness is by raising funds for its month-long event, “Dollars for Denim.”

April 27 is “Denim Day,” an international event to combat victim blaming and educate others about sexual violence. Traditionally, participants donate $5 through their employers and wear denim at work. Sunrise will be raising funds virtually throughout the month via its website (SunrisePasco.org/donation).

“A lot of folks don’t know they experienced, or are experiencing, violence,” says Raley.

“It could be something that unfortunately happened to them across their lifespan, and to them, it’s normal, especially for folks who’ve experienced childhood sexual abuse.”

Raley says the goal of Sunrise is to show these people that these actions aren’t normal.

She suggests people reflect and ask themselves, “Have there been times in my past or current relationships where folks are making me do anything against my will?”

Sunrise stresses the importance of consent, which the nonprofit defines as “active, willing and consistent.” Raley says consent can be revoked at any time.

“If you are actively or being forced to use a substance, that does not equal consent. People who are incapacitated, or asleep, that’s not consent either,” says Raley.

Sunrise offers an emergency, confidential shelter for survivors of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and/or human trafficking. The shelter has a capacity for 40 women and children, but Sunrise of Pasco County also has services for male survivors.

Sunrise provides free counseling, advocacy, and support services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence, as well as family or friends that have been impacted by violence through its Outreach Program.

For more information on Sunrise of Pasco County, and how to offer support or to donate, go to SunrisePasco.org, or call 352-521-3358. To access its 24-hour confidential hotline, call 352-521-3120.