KEEPING THE NEWS LOCAL.... AND THE COMMUNITY CONNECTED.
VOLUME 2 EDITION 2
FEBRUARY 2021
LIVE
5 Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day: Socially Distanced Style
1. Virtual Movie Watch Party
A classic way to spend Valentine’s Day is cudPAGE 2 dling up and watching a movie with your loved ones. Lucky for us, that is still possible! Popular streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime have a built-in feature that allows you T ACADEMY & AVALON PARK ARE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE to watch movies or series with others—all virtually. Simply pick your favorite PAGE 3 romantic movie and send the watch-party link to a FEATURING loved one, and you will be The Catable into watch and chat at the same time. There are the Hat also third-party apps, such Kast, that F R I D A Y , M A R C H 5 , 2 0 2 1 | M O Vas I E SDiscord T A R T S A T 7 and PM I N T H E C A R L I N E L O O P F I E L D | allow F R E E A Dyou MISSIO toN stream and 2550 HUFFSTETLER DR, TAVARES, FL 32778 watch with others.
LEARN
WORK
e activities from 5-7pm. There will be a DJ, Pizza/Soda, Snack Shack & Pinecrest merchandise available for purchase!
2. Snail-Mail Gift Exchange
PAGE 4 the movie, while practicing social distancing. nket or a lawn chair & enjoy
PLAY
Exchanging gifts is a Valentine’s Day tradition and can continue to be one despite the pandemic. Take the time to pick or make SEE WHAT IS NEXT! Saturday, April 10th : Dumbo
PAGE 7
Friday, May 21st: High School Musical
COMMUNITY UPDATES
KTAVARES.COM | 352-204-1020
something special, wrap it up, and send it to your loved ones via the mail. There are few things more delightful than the anticipation and unwrapping of a gift from a loved one, and the excitement will only build when you are waiting for something in the mail! 3. Organize a FaceTime Dinner Date
ally sync their devices to listen to the same music at the same time. Make a playlist of your favorite love songs, join a group session with a loved one, and dance the night away alone, but still together!
5. Virtual Museum Tours, Escape Rooms, and Board games
Again, so many new types of technologies have emerged during the panWhether you order takeout or cook a meal, plan a demic, and like Netflix time with your significant and Spotify, there are other ways to connect withother to have dinner together over FaceTime. To out physically connecting. Google Arts and Culture amp this up even more, there are free virtual cook- has a plethora of virtual museum tours, and two ing classes that can be player escape rooms and found on Google! board games can be found with a simple search. 4. Virtual Spotify Date Whether through a phone Similarly to the watch-par- call, FaceTime, or other video chat service, these ty features on popular streaming services, Spoti- romantic things can be enjoyed together—even fy has a new feature that when apart. allows you to create a group session in which 2 or more people can virtu- By Raven Halle
LIVE ORLANDO
Coffee Hour with BEAT Spring and owned by an Arab “Sheik.” The Altman Ranch was at the end of civilization, and my first thought was, not in 100 years will there be anything built out there. Knowing that Florida had the reputation of selling land to someone abroad when they could not find a local buyer, I thought we were swindled into buying some land with no value.
I LOVE AVALON PARK! When our Publisher Stephanie Lerret told me to write a column about why “I Love Avalon Park,” I was excited, no more Corona, economic crises, and more, a subject for a column which I am truly passionate about. Well, it was not love at first sight...it was a long journey, an incredible journey, and it continues, and will today, tomorrow, and for generations to come. The journey of AVALON PARK. And while this story starts with our Avalon Park Orlando project, we are excited that we have now added 3 additional Avalon Park communities that are part of the Avalon Park family. In 1988, the Altman Family based in Orlando and New York was looking for a buyer for its 9,200-acre ranch in east Orlando. A third of a century ago very few people were interested in buying a huge tract of land in the middle of nowhere in east Orlando, except an obscure Swiss-American group who bought the land after more than 1 year of negotiations. I was designated by this group to go and check out this land that we purchased. When I arrived to what is now the town Avalon Park, I was shocked. I first came to see the land, which over the last couple of decades became the town of Avalon Park, I was shocked. At that time Waterford Lakes, then called Huckleberry was failing for a second time and what is today Stoneybrook was about 1,100 acres of land called Les
Well of course I could now write an entire book, and at some point, I will do that. That book will outline how a 9,200-acre tract of land became the town of Avalon Park and the Hal Scott Preserve. It will also tell the story of how Avalon Park derived its name literally meaning “the isle of fruit” from the Arthurian legend and how it is described as the place where King Arthur’s sword Excalibur was forged and later where the King was taken from being gravely wounded in battle. This book could easily be well over 1,000 pages, so we will
and play. A town where people of various racial, economic and cultural backgrounds could live together. In my native hometown Zurich, I can walk from my home to anything I need in my daily life, to work, to school, grocery stores, restaurants, etc. That home-town culture was the “blueprint” for Avalon Park, only my vision was to make it better.
It is not uncommon for me to be away on business for several days a month abroad, in Europe, Australia or Asia. When I come back and arrive in Avalon Park, seeing the “Welcome Home” sign brings a sense of relief, pride, and love. In 1999, Avalon Park Group moved to Founder’s Hall, the first building completed in Avalon Park, and if you would have told me that more than 20 years after, I would still spend most of my daily life in Avalon Park, I
I LOVE THAT YOU CAN HAVE PEACE OF MIND BY KNOWING YOU CAN LIVE YOUR WHOLE LIFE, SHOULD YOU WISH, IN ONE COMMUNITY. save that for another day. While the full story would be a long adventure, it can be summed up like this: For about 20 years, a passionate team and I have had the honor to build a town from scratch. We all live, learn, work, and play here, and we all love to continue to shape our dream every day. When I first moved full-time to Florida, a quarter-century ago, my wife Jill and I lived in a townhome in the suburbs of Fort Lauderdale. I got homesick, not because there were not any mountains like in Switzerland or because it was hot and humid. These are things you prepare yourself before moving to Florida. I missed being in a town, where I was able to live, learn, work
would be skeptical. But you see, I love Avalon Park, and do not want to ever leave. I love that I can Zoom the world right from my office in the heart of Avalon Park, then step out and go for a workout, have a bite to eat, see children biking or walking home from school, all within a square mile.
growing a family and moving up to buy a larger home. Then after the kids have gone maybe a move back down into a townhome or apartment. And all these options are within walking distance from the grocery store, restaurants, YMCA, parks, and events, including world-class fireworks. I love the peace of mind knowing that you can live your whole life, should you wish, in one place. With an assisted living and memory care community and soon an independent living and 55+ option, you can literally move into your senior years in the very community you are familiar with, surrounded by family and supportive caregivers. I love the schools, the teachers (most are also residents of Avalon Park), made them the best in Central Florida, because they, like me, love Avalon Park. While Avalon Park Orlando is 99% complete, we are just starting our journey in Wesley Chapel, Daytona Beach and Tavares. I love that every single day we all can build on the Avalon Park we call home. Together we can make it better, reinvent the town of Avalon Park, reinvent us with the opportunities in OUR town. I am excited about these next chapters in the Avalon Park journey. I love Avalon Park. I would love to hear why you love Avalon Park! Send me your favorite Avalon stories to Info@ AvalonParkSun.com.
I love to be able to talk to somebody about the weather, sport, and life, in general, anytime in Avalon Park. I love the events, like past Saturday where the community came out to support the local businesses and enjoy the beautiful Florida weather. I love that you can live in Avalon Park at all stages of life, from a college student in an apartment to finding a job and purchasing your first home. Then
Community Picture from Avalon Park Orlando’s 20th Anniversary Celebration
LIVE (Cont.)
Avex Homes Partners with SitEX Properties to Build New Homes in Avalon Park Orlando and Avalon Park Tavares Unique, new construction townhomes and single-family models launched.
Avex Homes, one of the top home builders and real estate developers in the Orlando region, has recently partnered with SitEX Properties Holding AG to build new single-family homes and townhomes in Avalon Park Tavares and Avalon Park Orlando. Avex Homes is a dedicated builder that builds special homes in great communities at exceptional prices. SitEX Properties Holding, based in Lachen, Switzerland, is an owner-managed real estate company with a special focus on sustainable and innovative project developments in Switzerland and Central Florida.
and Tavares High School.
The company also plans to construct three-story townhomes in West Village at Avalon Park Orlando. The homes will feature a series of Avalon Park Tavares modern and unique will feature 113 homes floor plans at an affordin phase one of develable price. Amenities opment. Single-family within Avalon Park homes in Avalon Park Orlando include parks, Tavares will be built bike trails, pools, and on 40-foot and 50-foot community centers. The wide homesites. Avalon Avalon Park Orlando Park Tavares’ residencommunity is in the tial villages will be sur- Orange County School rounded by open green District and is served space, interconnected by Stone Lakes Elemenroadways, and pedestary School, Timber trian Springs Middle School, walks. Trails provide and Timber Creek High easy access to the Town School. Center, parks, and schools. Avalon Park Residents of both AvaTavares is in the Lake lon Park Orlando and County School District Avalon Park Tavaand is served by Tava- res will enjoy a masres Elementary School, ter-planned community Tavares Middle School, with a downtown cen-
ter that includes shops, dining, and entertainment. Jim Reinert, Vice President of Land Development at Avex Homes, said, “Every family is different and requires a home that is special to them. With 11 distinct and detailed floor plan options, Avex Homes will help match you to the perfect option.” Avex Homes believes in strong construction, fine finishes, and open floor plans which offer the perfect setting for a family lifestyle. The distinctive exteriors reflect the beauty and neatness of the communities. All Avex Homes are built with a variety of environmentally friendly materials, mechanical systems, appliances, and insulation systems. The goal is to create
high quality, energy-efficient homes. Avex Homes builds value-driven personalized living experiences for a lifetime of memories. For more information about Avalon Park Orlando, Avalon Park Tavares, or to find out more about the official opening of Avex Homes’ new model homes, please visit: https://www.avexhomes.com.
LIVE (Cont.)
How to Spread Love to Seniors for Valentine’s Day Share a Sweet Moment If you are fortunate enough to spend some time with your senior loved one in person this Valentine’s Day, try celebrating with one of these activities: • Swap stories of your most cherished or funny memories. • Re-watch some of your favorite movies. • Go for a stroll and get some fresh air. • Get a sweet treat from a local bakery. • Plan a picnic with their favorite meal.
your loved one’s day. Often, a heartfelt sentiment is much more meaningful. Say “I love you” with a handmade card or handwritten letter. A framed photo of a special moment together—or a scrapbook of many milestone moments—is a thoughtful gift that shows you care all year long.
Support Their Wellness Keeping in touch with While love can be celthe senior in your life is ebrated any day of the not only good for your year, Valentine’s Day is relationship but may be set aside as the one day good for their health too. a year when you can let Studies show that having those closest to you know strong social ties reduchow much they are cheres risks of cardiovascuSchedule Some Screen ished and loved. While lar problems, osteoporoTime the holiday is traditional- Nothing compares to sis, rheumatoid arthritis, ly reserved as a romantic and Alzheimer’s disease. spending time with a occasion, all love can be Spending quality time loved one face-to-face. celebrated on this special However, even if you can’t with your loved one on a day—including your love be together in person this regular basis can also help for elderly friends and prevent feelings of loneliyear, you can schedule family who may need it some virtual face time. Try ness and depression. most. utilizing video messaging Surround Your Senior apps and platforms like A thoughtful gesture may Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime With Love reach further than you Seniors have strong and to share a smile, sing a think, so as you make loving support systems song, and chat with the plans for Valentine’s Day, senior in your life. An im- year-round, but make be sure to give some atten- promptu video call makes them feel extra special this tion to the special senior in for a lovely surprise and Valentine’s Day. Bring your life with these simple lets them know you care. them flowers or their faand easy ways to show vorite candy and watch your love. Send a Special Message their face light up with You don’t have to give an love! extravagant gift to make
LIVE (Cont.)
Avalon Park New Homes Coming Soon!
40’ Homesites
50’ Homesites
5 Plans to choose from
6 Plans to choose from
3 - 5 Bedrooms
3 - 5 Bedrooms
2 - 3 Bathrooms
2 - 3.5 Bathrooms
2-Car Garage
2 -Car Garages
1,504 - 2,164 Sq. Ft.^
1,672 - 2,807 Sq. Ft.^
AMENITIES • Pool • Cabana AREA HIGHLIGHTS
• Pedestrian Friendly Streets • Nearby Marina, Sea Plane Base, & Water Splash Park • Proximity to Lake Dora, Eustis & Harris • Short Commute to Bustling Downtown Mount Dora • Easy Access to 441
FEATURES
• Granite Countertops • Home Is Connected®* Smart Home Technology • Ceramic Tile Flooring • All Concrete Block Construction • Stainless Steel Appliances • Ceramic Tile Flooring
Avalon Park • Mt. Homer Road, Tavares FL 32778 D.R. Horton is equal housing opportunity builder. Home and community information, including pricing, included features, terms, availability and amenities, are subject to change and prior sale at any time without notice or obligation. Pictures, photographs, features, colors and sizes are approximate for illustration purposes only and will vary from the homes as built. ^Square footage dimensions are approximate. *Home Is Connected, A smart home is a convenient home setup where appliances and devices can be automatically controlled remotely from any internet-connected place in the world using a mobile or other networked device. Florida Registered Building Contractor License #CBC1252212
877.415.0030 | DRHORTON.COM
LEARN ORLANDO
Pinecrest Tavares Update Pinecrest Academy Tavares Green Club adopted an African Elephant from the World Wildlife Fund with the money raised from Penny Wars! Mrs. Clarks 5th grade class won the Wars so they received the honor of naming the elephant.
Meet: Bubbles Now accepting registration for the 2021/2022 School Year! Pre-K through 7th Grade. Apply Now using our website: WWW.PINECRESTTAVARES.COM
LEARN (Cont.)
Stay Up-to-Date: Feb. 15th - Presidents’ Day - No School March 15-19th - Spring Break - No School
WORK ORLANDO
Tavares Chamber Update Hello and Happy February from the Tavares Chamber! We hope 2021 is treating you well; we are so excited to share some big things on the horizon for the Chamber, and we hope that you’ll join us! Stop by www.tavareschamber. com/events to see where we’ll be and to register. You can also visit our website (www.tavareschamber.com) to join the Chamber, and visit our Facebook page (@TavaresChamberOfCommerce) for the latest news!
Coming Events:
• February 16th – Networking Lunch – 12:00pm, Pisces Rising • February 24th – Monthly Chamber Business Luncheon – 11:30am-1:00pm, Sponsored by the Tavares Chamber of Commerce, catered by Gourmet Today • Every Thursday – Take the Lead: An Industry Exclusive Weekly Leads Group – 7:30am-9:00am, at the Tavares Chamber of Commerce
WORK (Cont.)
INTERNATIONAL UPDATE Meet the Member Interview with Perseo Pharma tions.
1. How did Perseo Pharma come about? Perseo pharma is a spinoff of INOFEA AG, another company also located on The 5th Floor. Both companies share the same technology, derived from FHNW in Muttenz, which consists in making enzymes more powerful for all sorts of biotechnology applications. Back in 2017, INOFEA decided to explore the possibility of using its proprietary technology specifically for medical applications. Funds were raised and two years later, an initial proof of feasibility was reached, enabling the foundation of the spinoff. Perseo pharma is now a fully independent privately funded pharma start-up and is using the shared technology exclusively for the development of therapeutic applications. 2. Could you give us a short overview of Perseo Pharma? Perseo pharma is a very early-stage start-up, we are turning 2 years old in March! We work in close partnership with the University of Applied Sciences Northwest Switzerland (FHNW) and more
4. Perseo Pharma is a company founded and based in Basel. What do you particularly appreciate about this region?
specifically with Prof. Dr. Patrick Shahgaldian, the main inventor of our core technology and Prof. Dr. Laura Suter-Dick. Our objective is to develop new best- and first-inclass enzyme therapeutics all the way to the clinics. Enzymes can be used as drugs for oncology, gastrointestinal diseases, and rare diseases called Lysosomal Storage Diseases. We are currently at the preclinical stage, where we work mostly at assessing the safety and efficacy of our compounds on human cells. We are a growing and enthusiastic team of currently three employees: Dr. med. Werner Enz, executive chairman, Dr. Emilie LaprĂŠvotte, Chief Development Officer, and Dr. Yves Dudal, Chief Technology Officer.
3. What makes Perseo Pharma future-oriented? Being a drug development company makes Perseo pharma 100% future-oriented. Developing drugs takes time, easily up to 10 years, and therefore we know that our product will come to the market only in the future. We constantly have to think about what the market will be like at this time and what partner could help us get there successfully. Also, innovation is in our genes, we work on intellectual property and generate new patents, which will protect us for the next 20 years. Therefore, we anticipate the future to make sure we make the most out of these innova-
Basel is one of the very few pharma hubs in the world and one of the top ones in Europe. It is also a great place for start-ups with all proper infrastructures available: incubators, accelerators, lab and office space, business angels, venture capitals, expertise, etc. It is also a highly international place, at the heart of Europe and at the border of two other European countries. All this makes Basel a perfect location for a pharma start-up like Perseo pharma. It enables us to find the required funds for our development, to find the adequate premises for our activities at different stages of development, and to attract the proper talents needed for our development.
The 5th Floor is an international collaborative pro-work space where members are able to enjoy international collaboration benefits in our 5th Floor locations and connections throughout the world. We would like to introduce you to Switzerland member, Perseo Pharma.
PLAY ORLANDO
PINECREST ACADEMY & AVALON PARK ARE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE
FEATURING
The Cat in the Hat FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 2021 | MOVIE STARTS AT 7PM IN THE CARLINE LOOP FIELD | FREE ADMISSION 2550 HUFFSTETLER DR, TAVARES, FL 32778 Pre-movie activities from 5-7pm. There will be a DJ, Pizza/Soda, Snack Shack & Pinecrest merchandise available for purchase! Bring a blanket or a lawn chair & enjoy the movie, while practicing social distancing.
SEE WHAT IS NEXT! Saturday, April 10th : Dumbo
Friday, May 21st: High School Musical
AVALONPARKTAVARES.COM | 352-204-1020
Coming together to create a healthy community
An East Orlando Health Alliance
ORLANDO
Four Numbers to Know for Your Heart Health
Your heart: It’s the engine that helps your body function and allows you to enjoy all life has to offer — from favorite activities to relationships with friends and family members. This February, celebrate this amazing organ during National Heart Month. Heart disease affects approximately 84 million Americans and is the number one cause of death for men and women every year. Take control of your heart health by learning about four key numbers — and what you can do to keep them where they need to be.
life-threatening diseases, including diabetes, cancer, high cholesterol, metabolic syndrome and heart disease. Your BMI is a calculation based on your height and weight and can indicate whether you are overweight or obese. People are considered overweight starting at a BMI of 25 and obese at 30 or higher.
tension: Higher than 140/90
than 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). An annual blood test can monitor your levels and help your doctor make recommendations tailored to your health.
15 Minutes Fifteen minutes is all it takes to save a life. Your doctor will help That’s how long it you understand what takes to get a simple these new targets mean health screening that for you and if any gives you the informatreatment is necessary. tion you need to live a Treatment may include 3. Blood Sugar heart healthy life. Talk a heart-healthy diet, High blood sugar levels to your primary care 1. Blood Pressure may indicate that you High blood pressure is more physical activity provider about what have diabetes or pre-di- preventive measures or a leading cause of heart or medication to help abetes, two conditions failure and stroke. Also control your blood screenings are right for pressure. that can greatly increase you. called hypertension, the risk of heart disease high blood pressure and stroke. The Amer- Your doctor can also can cause blockages in 2. Cholesterol Cholesterol is a natural- ican Heart Association assess your heart health the arteries, reducing ly occurring substance considers diabetes to be at your annual physical, the flow of oxygen to one of the major conthe heart and making it that is found in the an important part of body and produced in trollable risk factors for managing your whole work harder. the liver and other cells. heart disease. The American Heart health. It’s just one It can also come from Association released of many reasons you eating foods that are A normal blood sugar new guidelines for should see a doctor in high in fat. High levels level after fasting is 100 times of both health blood pressure and of cholesterol can cause mg/dL. treatment. and wellness. blockages of the arter• Normal: Under ies, potentially leading 4.Body Mass Index 120/80 (BMI) • Elevated: 120-129/80 to a heart attack. Being overweight • Stage 1 Hyperten A desirable total choor obese is a major sion: 130-139/80-89 lesterol level is less risk factor in many • Stage 2 Hyper-
COMMUNITY CORNER ORLANDO
Ad Discounts for Chamber Members! NEW Chamber Members enjoy a FREE advertisement in one edition of your choice + 15% off each ad in the remaining months of 2020! EXISITING Chamber Members enjoy 50% off your first advertisement + 15% off each ad in the remaining months of 2020! The Publication date is the 1st of the month or the 1st Monday of the month.
Need an Ad Designed? We Can Help! Please Submit a 1/4 Page Ad: 4.9w x 7.2h inches 354w x 518h pixels Accepted formats: .PDF, .JPG, .PNG. 300DPI Deadline: Last Wednesday of each month
Our Mission The Avalon Park Sun seeks to effectively reflect upon the vitality of our community through the distribution of purposeful community news. Working to clarify and bring acknowledgement to the individuals and events that embody Avalon Park and surrounding communities, the ongoing goal is to improve upon the quality, content, and reach that is presented throughout each issue.
Reach Your Audience
The Avalon Park Sun uses a multi-platform approach to reach your target audience by distributing our issues via print, online and social media. Our newspaper is updated dynamically and electronically mailed monthly, with weekly features also sent. The Avalon Park Sun reaches over 50,000 readers monthly.
Please fill out the form on our website below with all of the details for your advertisement! https://avalonparksun.com/advertising Use codes: “NEWCHAMBERDISCOUNT” for new members and “CHAMBERDISCOUNT” for existing members.
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t
COMMUNITY (Cont.)
LIVE WELL & 2021 STAY HEALTHY
02
FEBRUARY
SUN
MON
1
Tricep Dips
TUE
2
Mindfulness Activities
15 dips
FRI
4
5
Rest
20 dips
SAT
6
25 dips
30 DiPs
Take a Little Time Each Day to Complete an Exercise! By the End of the Month You Will be Feeling Great! 7
8
9
35 dips and M1
10
40 Dips
14
15
45 DIps
16
65 dips and M2
22
95 dips and M3
12
Rest
75 dips
23
100 dips
11
50 DIPS
17
70 dips
21
M1-Give a compliment! M2-Print a positive quote! M3-Do something for YOU! M4-Drink more water today!
THU
3
10 Dips
Sitting on a secured desk or chair, position your hands shoulder-width apart behind you. Slide your body off of your desk or chair with your legs extended to a 90-degree angle. Keeping a slight bend in your elbow, lower your body down and then back up repeatedly for the desired number of repetitions.
WED
19
80 dips
24
105 dips
55 DIPS
18
Rest
60 DIps
20
85 dips
25
rest
13
26
110 dips
90 dips
27
115 dips
28
125 dips and M4
AMERICAN HEART MONTH
2021 SUN
MON 1
TUE 2
10 Dips 7
8
35 dips and M1 14
21
100 dips
Rest 24
105 dips
55 DIPS
80 dips
60 DIps 20
85 dips 26
110 dips
30 DiPs 13
19
25
rest
25 dips
50 DIPS 18
SAT 6
12
Rest
75 dips 23
20 dips 11
17
FRI 5
Rest
45 DIps
70 dips
THU 4
10
16
22
95 dips and M3
15 dips
40 Dips
65 dips and M2
3
9
15
WED
90 dips 27
115 dips
28
125 dips and M4
AMERICAN HEART MONTH
To SUBMIT your local LIVE news.... to ADVERTISE, to REGISTER or to RECEIVE the Avalon Park Sun email: Info@AvalonParkSun.com
120 dips
120 dips
