Avalon Park Sun Wesley Chapel April 2024

KEEPING THE NEWS LOCAL & THE COMMUNITY CONNECTED.

Absolutely Avalon at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel

Get ready for a day of fun and community spirit on April 20th, 2024, as Avalon Park hosts its annual Absolutely Avalon event from 5 to 9 pm!

Join us for a family-friendly event featuring delicious international food, live music, and local vendors showcasing their goods. From activities for the little ones to captivating performances, there’s plenty to enjoy at Absolutely Avalon. And don’t forget to stick around for a mesmerizing laser light show after sunset.

This event embodies our community’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity and is open to everyone, free of charge.

Come and try your hand at climbing a rock wall or tackling a playful obstacle course. Let your creativity flow with face painting and caricature artists, catch up with old pals, and maybe even

make some new ones as you groove to the beats of Avalon Park.

We’ll be gathering at Downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, located at 33613 State Road 54, Wesley Chapel, FL 33543, next to Pinecrest Academy and Trinity Church. We hope you visit us at Avalon Park’s multicultural festival and have a great time!

Are you a local vendor eager to join the fun?

Don’t miss your chance to showcase your wares to our friendly community. Vendor spots are available for all upcoming events—check out our website for details on how to get involved.

For the latest updates and a rundown of family-friendly events, swing by AvalonParkWesleyChapel.com and give us a follow on social media @ AvalonParkWesleyChapel.

What Are You Doing to Stay Active and Excited About Life?

Well, this is my first quarter being 60 years old! WOW, 30 years ago, I thought 60 years meant that you were “old.”

As far back as I can remember, I was “always” considered one of the youngest in business. And I also remember a time, which does not seem that long ago, back in Switzerland, that I needed my dad’s signature to acknowledge that I was doing business when I was too young to do so. For example, back in 1983 at the age of 19, I felt Chrysler did not have a future and went short on the stock. Well, come to find out a gentleman by the name of Lee Iacocca was able to turn Chrysler around and which caused me a huge loss, but that is a story for another Coffee Hour with Beat.

After a career of more than 40 years, people sometimes ask me: “When will you retire?” The answer is: Retirement is not in the Bible! And as a matter of fact, I am actually in much better shape than I was 20 years ago! For quite a while I thought the 60’s are the new 40’s or the 70’s are the new 50’s, but this is just a slogan. Today I believe age is just a number.

Over the past year my team and colleagues would hear me say, “Let’s figure out how we can land the plane.” I said this until my office partner in Zurich, Switzerland told me, “Don’t say that. It makes people nervous; they think you want to retire and stop doing business.” Since then, I do not use that phrase anymore. And as a matter of fact, it is not what APG, or I am, is doing at all. When a former Planning Director of Orange County visited Avalon Park a few weeks ago, he was surprised to see APG so busy. People often think Avalon Park Group is just the developer of Avalon Park Orlando and Avalon Park is 99% built. However most know that APG is so much more and is doing business around the globe. In addition to finishing out that 1% in Avalon Park Orlando, we are working on 3 more Avalon Park’s across the State of Florida, and we continue to expand into new companies and technologies.

So, when many are thinking about retirement, APG and I do the opposite, we get involved in projects which will take decades to build. Many of my close business partners are well into their 70’s, and I truly believe staying active keeps them young and excited in life.

What are you doing to stay active and excited about life? I want to hear from you! Email me at Info@AvalonParkSun.com and tell me your story. Let’s inspire each other to embrace every moment and keep thriving at any age!

Avalon Park Wesley Chapel Progress

LEARN

Academy at the Farm in Dade City’s New Farmer’s Market

Academy at the Farm in Dade City has recently opened a Farmer’s Market on their school campus. The market is open to the public and carries fresh produce and eggs, local honey, sourdough bread that is made and delivered daily, plants, and other snacks and drinks. They are located right off of Handcart Road near the Pasco County Transfer Station - look for the large Farmer’s Market sign or the sign for the school. The hours of operation are: Mondays12:00 - 4:30; Tuesdays and Fridays - 8:30 - 4:30; Wednesdays and Thursdays - 12:00 - 6:00. You can like and follow their Facebook page, AATF Farmers Market, for daily updates and specials.

Visit the market and you may be greeted and waited on by a middle school student who is learning valuable customer service and business skills. Twenty-six grade 6-8 students applied, interviewed, and were selected to “work” at the market where they are counting, stocking and tracking inventory, providing service to customers, and learning about many aspects of running a business. They spend one of their elective class periods at the market each week and some of the students volunteer after school as well.

Academy at the Farm is an A-rated, high-performing charter school. In its 21st year, the Academy currently has 727 K-8 students, as well as 90 preschoolers and over 140 livestock animals on campus. While agriculture is certainly a main focus of the school, building character in their students by teaching and reinforcing the six core values of Respect, Responsibility, Citizenship, Fairness, Caring, and Honesty is a key part of the daily curriculum at the school. For more information about the school, you can visit their website at academyatthefarm.com

CHECK OUT OUR april EVENTS! THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE, AND WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU SOON. VIRTUAL OPTIONS AVAILABLE AS WELL.

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Tax Collector Mike Fasano’s Charitable Giving Arm “Pasco TC Gives” Donates $2,500 to Suncoast of the YMCA

Pasco TC Gives, the non-profit charitable giving arm of the Pasco Tax Collector’s Office donated $2,500 to the Suncoast of the YMCA. The purpose of the donation is to help provide swimming lessons and water safety training to young people who otherwise would not have the financial resources to pay for these classes.

“The YMCA of the Suncoast will be able to provide Safety Around Watertraining to 50 children who lack the means to pay for these lessons on their own,” comments Tax Collector Mike Fasano. “In a state that is abundant with water, whether the Gulf of Mexico, rivers or backyard swimming pools, the importance of water safety cannot be overstated. It is vital that our children be taught how to swim and otherwise keep themselves free from water-related danger.”

The check represents an ongoing commitment by Tax Collector Mike Fasanoand Pasco TC Gives to supporting access to water safety training for our community’s most financially challenged families. The presentation was made on March 22, 2024, at the YMCA’s Trinity Branch to Michael Whitten, Branch Director.

For more details regarding charitable promotions or general services provided by the Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office please contact Greg Giordano, Assistant Tax Collector at 727-847-8179 or

visit https://www.pascotaxes.com/

For more information about the YMCA of the Suncoast and how you can support its efforts to promote water safety and health and wellness programs in general please visit https://www. ymcasuncoast.org/

Pasco Tax Collector’s Five Offices Will Feature Big Brothers Big Sisters as April’s Charitable Organization

The five Pasco County Tax Collector’s Offices will be featuring Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) as its April Charity-of-the-Month.

Beginning April 1 and running throughout the entire month, Big Brothers Big Sisters will be the recipient of donations made at our offices, through the mail and online.

“Children without a strong adult presence in their life, kids in jeopardy of not completing school or who may come from a broken home and who need a mature adult to provide practical life lessons, are served by this fantastic program,” remarks Tax Collector Mike Fasano. “Your donation in any amount will help advance the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters. You may also support the life-changing services provided by this agency by trading in your regular car tag for a Big Brothers Big Sisters tag.”

For more information you may speak to your customer service representative in any of our five offices. For those who would like to give online, the tax collector’s office’s charitable giving arm Pasco TC Gives has a webpage through which donations for BBBS (Charity of the Month) can be made: https://www.govhub.com/ fl-pasco/tc-gives/donate Donations may also be mailed to: Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office, P.O. Box 276, Dade City FL 335260276.

For more information about the charitable giving programs at the Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office please contact Assistant Tax Collector Greg Giordano at (727) 847-8179. For more details about the Big Brothers Big Sisters program please contact Program Director Alyssa Reas at (813) 310-9184.

Global ETS is Rapidly Expanding in Pasco County, FL

Pasco Economic Development Council (Pasco EDC) is thrilled to share Global ETS (GETS) has been experiencing rapid growth over the last couple years. The company has expanded into three new buildings (one lease, two purchases) in the West Pasco Industrial Park over the past 18 months to support the growth of their global microchip testing operation. GETS has invested over $5 million dollars in new facilities, including new automation equipment, and hired over 100 new employees. GETS is headquartered in Odessa, Florida with five additional locations around the world.

“GETS CEO Dan Tang has always had an eye for when to scale and what approaches to take as it relates to building his business,” said Bill Cronin, President/CEO, Pasco EDC. “In addition to the rapid growth the company is experiencing in Pasco County, GETS has opened locations in Ontario, California, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, and Taiwan since 2022. This is a company that isn’t going to slow down any time soon, and we’re excited to show our support any way we can.”

Founded in 2012, GETS is a provider of the most comprehensive, next generation of independent electrical component authentication and testing services available in the industry today. Since 2020 GETS has added over 450 new customers globally, nine new services bringing the total to 27, and they have increased their Aerospace and Defense market from 10 to 60 percent. In addition to their testing services, GETS has developed an AI Counterfeit Vision System (patent pending) to continue to improve their efficiency and serve more customers at a faster pace.

“Pasco EDC has been instrumental to the success of Global ETS, offering invaluable guidance and customized incentives that have reinforced our decision to establish our headquarters in Pasco County,” said Dan Tang, CEO, Global ETS. “As a business owner, feeling supported by the community is crucial, and thanks to Pasco EDC, we’re not just a business here; we’re part of a thriving community committed to mutual growth.”

Today, the Pasco Board of County Commissioners approved a Job Creation Incentive Agreement for 32 new, full-time jobs with an average annual salary of over $95,000.

“We’re elated to see the rapid success of Global ETS in Pasco County and couldn’t be happier the company is growing so fast,” said Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey. “The expansion is a major win for Pasco, bringing high paying jobs and additional capital investment to our community.”

[Photo – from left to right - Tax Collector Mike Fasano, Michel Whitten, Director of the YMCA’s Trinity Branch and Deputy Chief Tax Collector Tim Couet with the donation from Pasco TC Gives]

Pasco EDC Business Award Nominations Now Open

Nominations are now open for the 2024 Pasco Economic Development Council (Pasco EDC) Annual Awards until close of business on Friday, April 26, 2024. This year, Pasco EDC will recognize the achievements of top companies in Pasco County for their economic excellence in company growth, workforce improvement, and community involvement. All finalists are interviewed by a committee of volunteers and the winners will be announced at Pasco EDC’s 36th Annual Awards event on Thursday, September 5, 2024, from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m at the Pasco Hernando State College Instructional Performing Arts Center.

Nominees should be a “for profit” business to business company operating in Pasco County (municipalities or affiliates are excluded). Companies will be evaluated based on the timeframe of January 2023 to December 2023. Nominations can be submitted online, here.

The 2024 Award categories open for nominations are as follows:

1. Pasco Establishment Award - Company must have established its Pasco County operations between January 2023 and December 2023. This award will recognize a business that has recently been established in Pasco County and is demonstrating substantial progress and/or the potential for a significant community impact.

2. Economic Excellence Award - This award will recognize a Pasco County business that has made a commitment to improving the overall economic health and quality of life in Pasco County, creating a diverse workforce, and providing exceptional value to customers, all while demonstrating ingenuity, integrity, and leadership between January 2023 and December 2023.

3. International Achievement Award - This award will recognize a Pasco County business that has demonstrated outstanding

achievements in international relations, global leadership, or export growth. Nominees will be scored based on company growth, international business accomplishments, workforce improvement, and community involvement between January 2023 and December 2023.

Additional Award categories:

4. SMARTstart Entrepreneur of the Year - This award will recognize an entrepreneur who has engaged in numerous SMARTstart programs. Through their experiences and education, they have turned their passion into a thriving business. Nominees will be scored based on company growth, SMARTstart involvement, and community impact as a leading start-up.

The Pasco EDC Annual Awards is regarded as the premier business event in Pasco County; attended by hundreds of business and community leaders throughout the Tampa Bay area.

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