KEEPING THE NEWS LOCAL & THE COMMUNITY CONNECTED.
OCTOBER 2021
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Celebrate Spooktacular and More at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel Avalon Park Wesley Chapel is happy to bring to the community a variety of fun and family-friendly events this fall! From delicious food truck nights to cozy Movies Under the Stars and exciting community festivals, this fall is jam packed with activities for everyone to enjoy! Food Truck Nights
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COMMUNITY UPDATES
VOLUME 2 EDITION 10
Featuring local food trucks with a wide range of delicious foods and sweets. You can check out the full schedule and pre-order from the next food trucks coming to the community at bestfoodtrucks.com/avalonpark.
Visit jazzunderthestarz. com to learn more. Movie Under the Stars Enjoy a free outdoor movie with friends and family during our monthly Movie Under the Stars event! Bring your blankets and lawn chairs and enjoy some free popcorn as well. Fall Movie Schedule: October 8th – The Addams Family November 12th – Tom and Jerry December 10th – The Polar Express Artist Reception – October 15th, 6pm – 8pm
Enjoy a lovely reception featuring artist Peter Colangelo and his gallery of Jazz Under the Starz Pen and Ink works with Feel the fall breeze at Jazz live music, wine, and deUnder the Starz. A sweet licious appetizers. Peter’s night of smooth jazz tak- galley is open to the pubing place every 3rd Satur- lic every weekday until day of the month. Bring Friday, October 29th. out your lawn chairs, sit back, relax, and enjoy the Community Fall Yard sounds of wonderful mu- Sale – October 23rd, 8am sic. –12pm Entry: $10 per person 12 & under free $75 for VIP Experience
Spooktacular – October 23rd, 5pm – 8pm
A spooky night of costume parades, bounce houses, vendors, music, food and more! Avalon Park residents are encouraged to showcase their Spooky side all month long by participating in the Porch Decorating Contest. Avalon Aglow – December 11th Avalon Aglow is our annual holiday celebration. A magical night of fireworks, balloon twisters, pictures with Santa, real snow, music, dancing, food and much more! Would you like to participate? You are invited to participate with a community performance by filling out the performance request, set up a vendors booth or even showcase your business with a sponsorship. For more information on our upcoming community events, visit us at www.avalonparkwesleychapel.com or give us a call at 813-783-1515.
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Coffee Hour with BEAT
For more than two decades Avalon Park Group has been committed to changing the way the world lives, learns, works, and plays. When looking at our Avalon Park Wesley Chapel scorecard, below is a snapshot of where we stack up in each of these areas and what is left to come: Live: With housing options varying in sizes and prices, including townhomes and single-family homes, the score is at about 75% complete. With the groundbreaking of Downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel this winter, we will add housing options from apartments to more options for seniors and single-family homes. Learn:
ing concept that has comes to Play: attracted over 200 I would score us at about 75% complete global start-up com- We have the best community events in in this category. The panies in sister locentral Florida, for Avalon Park area has cations. In today’s more than 10 years, outstanding schools, day and age, this makes it possible for with world-class from the nationalfireworks and activAvalon residents to ly recognized New work from home and ities for families and River Elementary neighbors to interact. appreciate having School to Thomall their daily needs as E. Weightman Our social multi-culwithin the commuMiddle School and tural groups like the Wesley Chapel High nity. Work/Jobs is Jazz Under the Stars, just getting started School. AdditionWesley Chapel Theand will always be ally, Pinecrest Wesater, the Pasco Fine a work in progress, ley Chapel charter Arts Council, and I give it a 25% comschool has added more have created an additional school plete on the scorea great sense of becard. choice option for longing. our residents and will begin construc- Play: The Avalon Park tion on their second The glass is half full, Family has proven phase this year. to not only be resilI give it a 50% comient in the ups and plete on the scoreWork: card. We are missing downs of the econoa park and a YMCA my, but to also never With the groundgive up on creating or gym! We are breaking of Downthe best community missing more foottown Avalon Park where people can ball, baseball, and Wesley Chapel, we live, learn, work, and soccer fields! are excited to get play. started on bringing But again, the glass commerce and jobs is half full when it to our live, learn, WORK, and play community. You GET IN TOUCH will be able to find a job starting at a - Have an inclusion for the Avalon Park Sun? young age in one Email: info@AvalonParkSun.com of the many restaurants and shops and - Editorial Staff: all the way up to a Publisher: Beat Kahli highly paid manag Content Editor: Marielle Fernandez and er at some compa Stephanie Lerret Graphic & Layout Editor: Kenzie Farrish nies with worldwide reach. We will also 407.658.6565 be expanding The 3801 Avalon Park East Blvd. #400 Orlando, FL 32828 5th Floor co-work-
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October Update from Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore
As always, I want to thank the Avalon Park Sun for publishing this column every month. I hope you feel more connected to what is happening throughout Pasco County!
Pasco County. Governor DeSantis visited in August to announce the new state-run treatment site at Fasano Shelter in Hudson. This COVID-19 treatment site is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can learn more at floridahealthcovid19.gov.
On September 28th, the Pasco County Commission extended the multifamily rezoning moratorium for an additional six months to continue researchVaccine rollout is ing the oversaturation continuing with all Floridians of age now in certain areas of my district. I am glad the eligible to receive a County is taking the COVID-19 vaccine. time to make sure Please check out the Florida Department of the information that Health in Pasco Coun- comes back to us is ty’s website at pasco. accurate and complete. We cannot lose floridahealth.gov for all the latest informa- valuable job creating sites on our major cortion. ridors to projects that There is also a mono- have little to no positive economic impact clonal antibody therfor our citizens. This apy treatment site in
moratorium is only in certain portions of District 2 in the Wesley Chapel and Land O’ Lakes areas and does not affect properties that already have the proper zoning. I am proud to chair the Pasco Tourist Development Council and we continue to have a successful year. In the first half of 2021, Pasco County’s hotel occupancy rate was higher than Hillsborough, Pinellas, and the entire state of Florida’s rate. This is great and speaks to the hard work and strategy behind Florida’s Sports Coast! Florida’s Sports Coast won their first Henry Flagler Award from Visit Florida in September! Hollywood has the Oscars, tourism industry in Florida has The Henrys! The team was recog-
nized for development and marketing of Sports Coast pilsner with Escape Brewing of Trinity. Florida’s Sports Coast Director Adam Thomas stopped by the September 15th County Commission meeting with The Henry for a photo. Please check out Pasco County’s website at MyPasco.net for all the latest information. About: Commissioner Mike Moore represents District 2 on the Pasco County Commission. He lives in Wesley Chapel with his wife and three children.
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Pinecrest Academy Update
In Mrs. Kooyman’s History Class her 6th graders participated in the Boston Tea Party STEM Challenge. Their goal was to design and create a crate that will keep a tea bag dry for the longest period of time in a tub of ice water.
New River Elementary Update The New River Elementary staff have been hard at work to build relationships and learning in the first quarter. On September 22nd we held a virtual open house via Zoom. Recordings of the school-wide Title 1 parent meeting and each individual grade level meeting will be available on the school website. Teachers are also working to schedule conferences with parents to discuss student progress. Rememberfirst quarter report cards will be available on the Parent Portal only on October 26th. We look forward to seeing families at Trunk or Treat on October 29th. As always- thank you for your continued support. Together our students are limitless!
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NEW RIVER LIBRARY
OCTOBER EVENTS Friday, Oct 1
Tuesday, Oct 12
10:15 AM • Toddler Storytime: In-Person - What’s New? 11:00 AM • Preschool Storytime: In-Person - What’s New?
2:00 PM • Mystery Book Club, in-person, at Dade City Senior Center* 5:00 PM • Virtual Mystery Book Club- Long Bright River*
Saturday, Oct 2
Wednesday, Oct 13
10:30 AM • 1st Saturday Book Club: The Day the World Came to Town*
10:15 AM • Toddler Storytime: In-Person, Pumpkins!* 10:30 AM • Rock Painting/Coloring with Hugh Embry at the Dade City Senior Center* 11:00 AM • Preschool Storytime: In-Person, Pumpkins!*
Monday, Oct 4 – Saturday Oct 30 All day • Adult Take and Make: Pumpkin Pillows
Monday, Oct 4 – Saturday Oct 9 All day • We-Make Kit: 3-D Apple Art
Wednesday, Oct 6 10:15 AM • Toddler Storytime- in-person, Apples and Corn!* 10:30 AM • Rock Painting/Coloring with New River at the Zephyrhills Senior Center* 11:00 AM • Preschool Storytime: In-Person, Apples and Corn!*
Thursday, Oct 7 11:00 AM • Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas- Vaccine Information Session*
Friday, Oct 8 10:15 AM • Toddler Storytime Encore: In-Person, Apples and Corn!* 11:00 AM • Preschool Storytime Encore: In-Person, Apples and Corn!*
Tuesday, Oct 12 – Friday, Oct 16 All day • We-Make Kit: Yarn Pumpkin
*Registration required. All events subject to cancellation or change.
Friday, Oct 15 10:15 AM • Toddler Storytime Encore: In-Person, Pumpkins!* 11:00 AM • Preschool Storytime Encore: In-Person, Pumpkins!*
Monday, Oct 18 – Saturday, Oct 23 All day • We-Make Kit: Bats and Butterflies
Wednesday, Oct 20 10:15 AM • Toddler Storytime: In-Person, Owls and Bats* 10:30 AM • Book Bingo with New River at the Zephyrhills Senior Center* 11:00 AM • Preschool Storytime: In-Person, Owls and Bats* 1:30 AM • Guardian Ad Litem Volunteer Orientation
Friday, Oct 22 10:15 AM • Preschool Storytime Encore: In-Person, Owls and Bats* 11:00 AM • Preschool Storytime Encore: In-Person, Bats and Owls!*
Monday, Oct 25 – Saturday, Oct 30 All day • We-Make Kits: Soap Monsters
Tuesday, Oct 26 Virtual 4th Tuesday Book Club: What Unites Us*
Wednesday, Oct 27 10:15 AM • Toddler Storytime: In-Person- Barely Spooky Stories* 10:30 AM • Book Bingo with Hugh Embry at the Dade City Senior Center* 11:00 AM • Preschool Storytime: In-Person, Barely Spooky Stories
Thursday, Oct 28 6:00 PM • Monthly Teen/Preteen Event: Perler Bead Party
Friday, Oct 29 10:15 AM • Toddler Storytime Encore: In-Person, Barely Spooky Stories!* 11:00 AM • Preschool Storytime Encore: In-Person, Barely Spooky Stories!
Scan to register & find more events! New River Library 813-788-6375
Check out our spooky october events. there is something for everyone, and We can’t wait to see you soon!
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Coming together to create a healthy community
An East Orlando Health Alliance
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Nationally recognized expertise dedicated to the whole you 5-Star Rating in Overall Hospital Quality
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
At AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, we’re unwavering in our commitment to provide you with the safe, quality care you deserve. And that dedication has earned us a 5-star rating – the highest score possible – from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings. From safety of care to outcomes, you can feel confident we always put you, and your safety, first.
Learn more at AdventHealthWesleyChapel.com
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COMMUNITY CORNER ORLANDO
valon pplauds
Celebrate Birthdays If you know a student or nonprofit deserving of recognition, please email your nominee suggestion to kcarmack@lakerlutznews.com.
Celebrate Birthdays' Co-founders Celina Saunders and Belinda Leto
PROFILED NOMINEES RECEIVE A $50 GIFT CARD FROM A LOCAL BUSINESS.
CONGRATULATIONS to Celebrate Birthdays, a nonprofit based in Wesley Chapel, for being applauded by Avalon Park Wesley Chapel. Celebrate Birthdays’ mission is to ensure that every foster child and all children, ages 1 through 18, regardless of personal or financial circumstances, has the opportunity to celebrate their birthday. The nonprofit services Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. Co-founders Belinda Leto and Celina Saunders are full-time nurses by trade who met 18 years ago. They discovered in 2017 a need to help children celebrate their birthdays when they delivered Christmas presents to children of incarcerated individuals. A recipient’s grandmother asked Leto and Saunders if they knew anyone who could help her celebrate her grandson’s birthday, as she did not even have the means for a cake. Heartbroken and eager to help, Leto and Saunders immediately started calling local places and couldn’t find any reliable resources. “In our area there’s over 6,000 children in foster care and over half of them have never celebrated a birthday,” says Leto. “We realized we had plenty of room right here in our own backyard to make an impact.” Leto and Saunders officially founded Celebrate Birthdays in 2019. “We didn’t go into this intending that it was going to be a nonprofit, but we just realized a need that was out there in our community and we wanted to make sure that we could help fill that void,” says Leto. Due to the COVID pandemic, Celebrate Birthdays now hosts a limited number of in-person parties a month,
as well as offers a ‘Birthday in a Box,’ which it created out of necessity. “It’s a 10x10 box filled with 16 different items that includes everything a child would need to celebrate their birthday, wherever they’re at,” says Leto. Leto and her team try to cater the boxes to what that particular child likes, and has about 19 different themes to choose from such as sports, movies, etc. Items include streamers, candles, cake mix, etc. The nonprofit also sends a gift valued at $25 and a free book to help promote literacy. Celebrate Birthdays delivers up to 100 boxes a month, and each box costs about $50. “When you see the joy on a child’s face when somebody remembers them on their special day, I almost feel like this should be a basic necessity,” says Leto. She hopes these small moments will give them long-lasting memories. Celebrate Birthdays also launched a program in August called Classroom Birthday Bins, for title one and low income schools, that include items like stickers, a birthday crown, notebooks, pencil, wristband, and more. “We want to make sure that the child is celebrated…and it helps the teachers who don’t have a lot of resources,” says Leto. Leto says there are numerous ways to volunteer, whether it’s packing birthday boxes, hosting a gift drive, or donating monetarily. Stay up to date with Celebrate Birthdays at CelebrateBirthdays.org or follow them on Facebook (@celebrateBirthdays19) or Instagram (@celebratebirthdays). Donations can be dropped off at 611 N. New Jersey Ave., Tampa, FL 33609.
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