There’s no place like in PASCO & NORTH HILLSBOROUGH
Saying Goodbye To My Family Homestead After A Lifetime Of Looking For A Home That Feels Just Like It By Diane Kortus Publisher
W
e have been publishing a monthly Home Section in The Laker/Lutz News for several years, and each month I write the stories you read in this section. I’ve learned much about the developers and builders behind many of Pasco County’s masterplanned communities, and enjoy telling their stories and those of the people who live in these new neighborhoods. This month, I thought I would share with you my personal story about home ownership, and why a home means so much more to me than just its physical structure. My first home, of course, was my childhood home in St. Paul, Minnesota. I was the fourth child in my family, and was 9 months old when my parents bought a farmhouse built in 1885 on five acres just outside the city limits. Six more children were born in this house, and it became our family homestead for the next 65 years. I left Minnesota for Florida when I was 25, and when I went back home to visit once or twice a year, I always stayed at my childhood home. After my father retired, the house became his primary hobby, and Dad loved showing off his most recent home improvement projects to me, not long after I walked in the door. As we became adults, the house remained the gathering place for all family occasions, and the house, my Dad and
This farmhouse, built in 1885, was the childhood home for Publisher Diane Kortus and her nine siblings in St. Paul, Minnesota.
my siblings became forever intertwined. After my father died in 2016, our stepmother stayed in the house until she decided she didn’t want to go through another Minnesota winter in a 135-year-old farmhouse. So, this summer she moved to a senior community with lots of activities and no worries about the furnace going out or waiting for the driveway to be plowed. A few months later, our family home was sold to a young couple who “wanted to raise their children in an old home with character.” While we were happy a new generation would be making new memories in our family home, selling it was very emotional because it was the last physical connection with our Dad, and there would no longer be a
place for large family gatherings. For me, that old farmhouse symbolized the love and stability of my family. As a child, I always imagined that when I grew up, I would buy a house just like it to raise my children and live in forever. Well, things didn’t quite work out that way. Over the course of my life, I have owned six homes, never living in any one of them for more than seven years. But, I have never given up my fantasy of a forever home. When it was time to move and look for the next house, I always searched for what I believed would be the perfect home to live in for the rest of my life. And, when it was time to move again a few years later, I was always sad to say goodbye and begin the search for our next home.
As I got older, and my children went off to college and then their own lives, I began to spend more time gardening and taking care of my shrubs and plants. I have even added orchids to my landscape, and when they bloom, I send pictures of the flowers to my sisters, as I once sent photos of my kids. I would rather be home than anyplace else — it’s a retreat that protects me and envelops me in serenity. It’s a place to display and enjoy family photos, favorite books and artwork from my daughter and local artists. My current home in Land O’ Lakes is my all-time favorite — but then I’ve said that about every home I’ve owned. It’s the first brand new home I’ve bought, and I’ve lived here already for over three years. Right now, I see myself staying here forever, but I know from my personal history that I will likely be moving again. Perhaps that is why I enjoy writing stories for this Home Section, because it lets my mind drift to the newest master-planned community coming to Land O’ Lakes or Wesley Chapel. I get to learn firsthand the latest in home design with flowing floor plans, new trends in finishes and the adaption of digital technology for the home. I hope that you, too, can close your eyes and visualize living in one of the communities or homes I have written about in this Home Section. Even if you are not looking to buy a home today, I hope that reading about what’s new in housing locally will help you find your next home, which perhaps will become your forever home.
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Home is W Where The T Hea Heart art Is WHERE LAUGHTER IS SHARED, MEMORIES BEGIN AND HEARTSTRINGS ARE FOREVER JOINED TOGETHER. DISCO OV VER SMALL TOWN AMERICA AT AV AVALON PA PARK WESLEY CHAPEL,, WHERE YOUR FAMILLY Y WILL LIVE,, LEARN, WORK AND PLA AY Y.
… At Avaalon Park Wesley Chapel • Classic homes rich in design and skillfully crafted d parks, tree-lined streets and wide front porches • Neighborhood • Tr Traditional dow wntown with shops, restaurants and offfiices • Tr Trails connectiing neighborhoods to downtown • New homes frrom the low $200s to over $400s • Resort-style am menity centers with pools, wo workout areas, tot lots and splash pad • We Wesley Chapel schools, including on-site elementary school c school at community entrance • K-8 Pinecrest charter
LIVE THE LIF FE YOUR F FA AMILLY Y HAS ALLW WAYS IMAGINED IN OUR CHAR RMING COMMUNITY Y, AND ENJOY ALL THE CONVENIEN NCES OF MODERN LIVING.
MODELS OPEN - SUN-MON NOO ON TO 6 • TUES TO SA AT T 10 TO 6
5216 Autumn Ridge Drive Wesley Chaap pel, 33545
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5094 Little Stream Lane–1995 sq. ft.
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Avalon Park We Wesley Chapel is conveniently located 3.5 miles East of I-75 on SR 54. 33613 SR 54, Wesley Chapel, FL 33543
November 25, 2020
Fo or more information on this and other even nts,, visit AvalonParkWesleyChapel.com y p or call 813-783-1515
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Kia of Wesley Chapel Partners With Avalon Park
Sponsors Fireworks at Avalon Aglow!
K
ia of Wesley Chapel believes nothing is more important than supporting its community, and is thrilled to be the fireworks sponsor for Avalon Aglow on Dec. 12. When asked why giving back to the local community is so important to him and his staff, Shawn Visconte, who is general manager at the dealership, says it’s the right thing to do. “People like that we’re involved
with the community — for folks who haven’t done business with us in the past, they see us and understand who we are, what we do, and what we believe in,” says Visconte. Most of Visconte’s employees live close to the dealership, which is located on State Road 54, just east of I-75 and a few miles west of Avalon Park Wesley Chapel. “Our employees call the Wesley Chapel area their home, and proudly contribute to our local community
through their families’ involvement and support of area schools, community organizations and clubs, veterans groups and places of worship,” said Visconte. “We hope to sponsor many fun community events, such as Avalon Aglow, in 2021 and beyond.” Know an organization that is looking for extra volunteers? Let Kia of Wesley Chapel know and they may be able to help! Email Emily Brun at ebrun@kiaofwesleychapel.com.
Avalon Aglow Kicks Off A Magical Month of Holiday Joy Of the many things that sets Avalon Park Wesley Chapel apart from other planned developments is its long history of organizing special events for area residents to enjoy. This year, the Avalon Park Group is launching its first ever HOLIDAY WEEK, with safe, family friendly activities every day of the week from Saturday, Dec. 12 through Saturday, Dec. 18. All events are free, but do require registration to allow for social distancing planning. You must register to reserve your place at these events by going to the community’s website at AvalonParkWesleyChapel.com, or its Facebook page at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel. Call (813) 783-1515 with questions, or email info@ AvalonPark WesleyChapel.com.
Pictures With Santa
Saturday, Dec. 12 at 10 a.m. Inside Avex Model Home 5263 Little Stream Lane
Avalon Aglow
Saturday, Dec. 12, 5 to 8 p.m. Fireworks begin at 8 p.m., but be sure to come out sooner to check out exhibitors and enjoy fun activities. 5060 River Glen Blvd. Wesley Chapel
Cookie Decorating
Monday, Dec. 14, 6 to 8 p.m. Frost gingerbread cookies with sprinkles and candy Inside the Avex Model Home 5263 Little Stream Lane
Caroling Night
Shawn Visconte, general manager of Kia of Wesley Chapel, coordinated his dealership’s donation of 117 face shields to Advent Health Wesley Chapel.
Tuesday, Dec. 15, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Kia Gives Face Guards to Wesley Chapel Hospital
I
n August, Kia of Wesley Chapel received 117 face shields for staff to use while working and talking with customers. While thankful and appreciative of the corporate donation, employees at the local dealership preferred using traditional face masks, instead of the shields. Rather than letting the face shields sit unused, General Manager Shawn Visconte had an idea. “I thought to myself… our local hospitals could probably really use these face shields much more than us,” says Visconte. So, he called Advent Health Wesley Chapel and asked if they could use more face masks. “And they said, ‘Absolutely’,” says Visconte. Visconte arranged for a meet-up with workers from Advent Health Wesley Chapel, and gave them all 117 face shields. “They told me, ‘You should see some of the face shields we use.’ Basically, a lot of them were old and beat up, so this was perfect timing for them,” said Visconte.
Join neighbors and visit homes in Cypress Village and Hawthorne Meet at Avex Model Home 5263 Little Stream Lane
Ornament Night
Wednesday, Dec. 16, 6 to 8 p.m. Two ornaments to choose from Inside the Avex Model Home 5263 Little Stream Lane
Sleigh Ride Party
Thursday, Dec. 17, 6 to 9 p.m. Enjoy a lazy sleigh ride pulled by tractors (reindeers were too busy) Begins at Avex Model Home 5263 Little Stream Lane
Movie Night
Friday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m.
Kia of Wesley Chapel recently donated 117 face shields to Advent Health Wesley Chapel to be used as personal protection equipment for its staff.
Every month there is Movies Under The Stars, with hit movies perfect for families of all ages. In December, the movie is ELF, one of the most endearing Christmas movies ever made. The show begins at 7 p.m. and takes places outside the community center.
Downtown Avalon Park Is Also Downtown Wesley Chapel
A
valon Park Wesley Chapel soon will offer residents places to shop and work when its downtown center is completed. Infrastructure construction has begun on the first phase, which will include two office buildings, two mixed-use retail/residential buildings and a community park. “We will be 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 Stephanie Lerret, senior vice president of the Avalon Park Group. In addition to shops and markets, the community’s downtown area will have over 500,000 square feet of commercial space. “We are not just developers— we are building a brand new town with family events all year-long,” said Lerret. “We’re bringing together everything a family needs to enjoy
Rendering of office buildings planned for Downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel.
life today, and in the future.” Few communities offer the recreational activities found at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, thoughtfully created for residents of all ages. New in 2019 was an expansive second amenity center with a zero-entry pool, splash pad, spa and picnic
area. Avalon Park families also enjoy a wide array of other amenities, including another swimming pool, tot lot, basketball courts, pocket parks with mini-libraries, dog park, and trails and walkways that will interconnect with its planned downtown.
Already, 1,500 people call Avalon Park Wesley Chapel home, and over 750 homes have been sold since it opened in 2012. The community will continue to grow over the next several years and, at build out, will be home to 10,000 residents residing in 4,400 single and multifamily homes.
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November 25, 2020
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