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The LAKER WESLEY CHAPEL/NEW TAMPA EDITION
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Javic Homes showcases Southern Living By Kathy Steele ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
The outside wrapping is pure traditional white. A pair of rocking chairs sits on the front porch.The metal roofing atop a bay window brings a touch of Craftsman bungalow. Inside, traditional gives way to modern. There’s an open floor plan, colors that pop in purple and copper next to grays and beiges on interior walls, and state-of-the art connectivity and technology. Out back, two covered patios, a fire pit, a waterfall and a flat-screen television add charm to a spacious, deep lawn. “We call it the ‘wow’ lawn,” said Jon Solomon, president of Javic Homes. The company built this luxury 2015 Southern Living Custom Builder Showcase Home in the Brookside subdivision in Wesley Chapel. The tree-lined streets and manicured landscape within this gated community evoke the homey feel of neighborhoods of the past. “I always think it’s a Norman Rockwell neighborhood,” said Solomon. “You just don’t see this anymore. It’s a really nice family neighborhood.” During March, the showcase home, at 29318 Chapel Park Drive, drew between 3,000 and 4,000 visitors. Proceeds from ticket sales benefited two local charities,
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY JAVIC HOMES
One of the features in the kitchen is an island with acid-treated granite, which creates a leathery finish. It also has maple cabinets, in white, and copper fixtures.
Shriners Hospitals for Children and Operation Finally Home. Visitors still have a chance to see the home during the 2015 Tampa Bay Parade of Homes, from April 11 through April 26.
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Nearly 150 model homes from 35 builders in 82 communities in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Hernando, Citrus and Marion counties are on this year’s tour.That makes it the largest new-home showcase in the Tampa Bay area, according to the sponsor, the Tampa Bay Builders Association. The association is based in Tampa and has more than 750 members including local builders, developers, suppliers and architectural firms. Homes will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 pm., Monday through Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m., on Sunday, during the parade. A panel of industry professionals will judge the homes based on site plan, curb appeal, design, materials, outdoor living spaces, architectural details and workmanship. The sales price for the four-bedroom, 4,100 square-foot home in Brookside is $895,000. Planning, design and construction took about a year. About a dozen open lots remain in the subdivision, which is adjacent to Saddlebrook Resort, off State Road 54.
A paved walkway leads to the front porch with a pair of rocking chairs. The scene evokes the traditions often featured in Southern Living magazine.
See JAVIC, page 9A
Citizens Academy connects the dots By Kathy Steele
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The class kicked off with a “show-andtell” display of Pasco County’s firefighting and rescue vehicles in the parking lot outside of the county’s Emergency Operations Center. It ended with an up-close look inside the command center of the county’s 911 operations. “It was fascinating,” said Nancy Menendez. The Land O’ Lakes resident expressed surprise that the 911 center wasn’t larger. Blinking red lights mounted at each cubicle signaled a call in progress. Menendez noticed the even-keeled, calm tones of call operators and dispatchers as they answered nearly nonstop calls in rapidfire succession. She is one of about 20 students chosen from about 50 applicants to attend the county’s third Citizens Academy. The first academy was in 2014. There are two semesters a year, in spring and fall.Anyone who lives or works in Pasco, and is 18 years of age or older, can qualify. Students in each semester come from all five of the county’s election districts.
The goal is to inform residents about local government as well as their roles as participants.The hope also is that students who come to the academy will want to be ambassadors, sign up for advisory boards or find other ways to volunteer. “Most of the folks learn something,” said Randy TeBeest, assistant county administrator for public safety.“I’m betting they learn a lot.This really gives them an idea of where tax dollars go to and why and how we decide to spend those precious dollars.” Menendez found herself in the academy after discovering the program on a random search through the government website. “It really sounded interesting,” said Menendez who at age 59 is beginning to think about retirement. “I’m not going to sit home and watch TV,” she said. “I’m going to get involved. I want to see what I want to do in my future life. I’ve been enjoying this. It’s an experience I’ve not expected.” Each class focuses on a specific area of government such as constitutional officers or planning and development. Last week’s See ACADEMY, page 9A
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New Port Richey resident Marilyn Shaw gets an inside look at a fire rescue vehicle with help from Keith Hoffman, emergency medical technician with Pasco County Fire Rescue Station 14.
COURTESY OF JACKSON & MOSER PHOTOGRAPHY
Erynn Marshall and Carl Jones will perform at the Florida Old Time Music Championship on April 10 and April 11.
Musicians, fans celebrate old time music By Michael Murillo mmurillo@lakerlutznews.com
When people listen to songs from the 1960s, they might consider it “old” music. The upcoming Florida Old Time Music Championship also features music from the ’60s. The 1860s, that is. “It’s the kind of music that people who lived during pioneer times in early Florida would have actually played,” said Jessica Budin, office manager for the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, where the event will be on April 10 and April 11. Old time music is a genre of North American folk music that contains elements from the European countries from where the settlers came. It is characterized by acoustic string instruments such as the fiddle, guitar or banjo and can be instrumental or include vocals. Listeners might hear some similarities with bluegrass music, but old time music actually pre-dates that genre. The Florida Old Time Music championship is an opportunity to bring performers together and celebrate historic music, and the event itself is getting up there in years. Now in its 33rd year, it continues to bring musicians and fans of this style of music from across Florida, and even some from out of state as well. The event began at the museum, but relocated after about a decade. A few years ago it moved back, and the creators of the competition are happy to see it return to See MUSIC, page 9A