Tarpley Eager To Help With Real Estate Needs

FishHawk resident Kim Tarpley has joined the Riverview office of CENTURY 21 Shaw Realty Group as a sales consultant. Tarpley has more than 10 years experience in the real estate industry. A native of Oklahoma, she has been a long-term resident of the Tampa Bay area.

Tarpley's hobbies include golfing, biking, rollerblading, beach-going and traveling. She also enjoys playing tennis, she is a member of USTA and is currently playing on a Brandon League.

"I am eager to assist those with real estate needs," states Tarplay.  

"Tarpley will be a great addition to our team, which already ranks us as one of the top offices in Hillsborough County," says Jeff Shaw, broker.

To reach Tarpley, call Century 21 Shaw Realty Group at 671-5555.

Florida Executive Realty Welcomes Shirley

Florida Executive Realty Michael Davis Group is pleased to welcome Glenn Shirley as the newest addition to its team.

Shirley, a Florida native, who was born and raised in Tampa, truly knows the area. He has more than 23 years of experience, unique knowledge of the area and commitment to integrity and service, making him a Realtor of choice.

Contact Shirley at 382-5537. Florida Executive Realty is located at 130 E. Bloomingdale Ave.

Jamason Joins Coldwell Banker Dolphin Realty

Liane Jamason, a licensed real estate agent, is the newest addition to the team at Coldwell Banker Dolphin Realty in Apollo Beach.

Jamason specializes in residential real estate and works with buyers and sellers in Riverview, Apollo Beach, Brandon and Lithia. 

To reach Jameson, visit her Website or call 486-4997. The Website also features valuable buyer and seller tips, mortgage calculators, a current inventory of homes available and more!

David Weekley Homes Opens Model in MiraBay

David Weekley Homes has unveiled its Old Coastal Florida-style Futura model in the waterfront village of Lagoon Cove at MiraBay®.

The Futura is a 3,236 sq. ft., two-story design with four bedrooms, 3.5 baths and a two-car garage, says Diana Hilton, MiraBay's marketing manager. The home's standard floor plan is priced from $539,900 including homesite.

The Futura features a study with wood flooring, formal dining room a 16-by-18-ft. family room with three sets of French doors opening to the covered lanai. In addition to its beautiful kitchen with stainless steel appliances and a 16 -by-19 ft. master bedroom with many amenities, the home also includes a "children's retreat" consisting of three bedrooms, two baths and a loft.

Developed by Newland Communities, new-home pricing in MiraBay ranges from the low-$300s to more than $5 million including homesite.

More information can be found at www.newlandcommunities.com.

MiraBay is located on U.S. 41, 3.7 miles south of Big Bend Rd. The welcome center is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 12 Noon-6 p.m. Sunday.  For more information about MiraBay, call 645-1000 or visit www.mirabay.com.

Centex Homes Plans 1,100-Home Hawks Point

Hawks Point, an 1,100-home, master-planned community with a coastal theme in southern Hillsborough County, has been announced by the West Florida Division of Centex Homes, the community's developer and exclusive builder.

This gated, 275-acre neighborhood will feature single-family homes - including "Cottage Homes" on 40-ft.-wide homesites, and "Signature Home"s on 50-ft.-wide homesites, available in various architectural styles, says David Ivin, West Florida Division president. Sales are expected to begin in mid-June

Hawks Point also will include traditional townhomes, ranging from 1,451 to 2,053 sq. ft. of living space, priced from the $100s including homesite. 

Hawks Point, bordered on one side by the Wolf Branch Creek conservation area, is located in SouthShore on 19th Avenue between 24th and 30th streets. It adjoins the newly opened Lennard High School and the site for a planned community college. 

In addition to Hawks Point, Centex Homes' West Florida division also builds locally in communities Southshore Falls in Apollo Beach and Magnolia Park in west Brandon. The community of Triple Creek in Riverview is opening soon. For more details on Hawks Point, visit centexhomes.com.

Lennar Model Open At River Bend

 Lennar has opened a Williamsburg model home and is beginning sales in the second phase of River Bend, a master-planned community on the Little Manatee River at 21st Av. SW, off exit 240 of Interstate 75 .

This is one of three designs offered in the second phase, where Lennar has 57 homesites - some bordering ponds -  all about 50-by-110-ft. Planned amenities in River Bend include a pool and cabana, community fishing pier, parks, picnic areas, a tot lot and sports court.

Other available floor plans include the Geneva and Savoy.

River Bend is located off of I-75's exit 240B (State Road 674) which becomes College Avenue. Turn left on 15th Street NE until it ends and turn right on 21st St. The community is one mile ahead on the left

The Lennar Welcome Home Center at River Bend is open 1-6 p.m. Monday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. 

For more information on Lennar Homes at River Bend, call 641-0933. Additional details about Lennar may be obtained by visiting lennar.com.

Build Your Dream Home With UBuildIt

By Kathy Dotson

Dan Wigh wants to help you build the home of your dreams.  

Wigh, along with his father, Richard Wigh, recently opened UBuildIt, a construction consulting company that assists clients who are building a home or renovating an existing one.

"We assist in all areas including land acquisition, plans, costs, to recommending reliable sub-contractors as well as budgeting and financing," says Dan. "Our only fee is based on a flat fee per square foot of a project. Our goal is for our clients to get more home for their money."

The Wighs, along with construction consultant Mark Corso, boast more than 75 years experience in the building industry. The company advises clients through the entire building process and guides them through the decision-making so that mistakes are avoided. 

"We want to give our clients complete control from start to finish," adds Dan. "Some of our clients come in with a piece of graph paper and an idea. We help them build their custom home by making it easier." 

UBuildIt strives to provide a worry free experience when building a home. By letting the clients be the on-site property manager,  the dollars saved from buying materials and supplies at builder costs add up to a considerable savings.

"The money saved on materials and supplies get put back into building a better home at an affordable price," says Dan. 

If you're not sure if building your own home is for you, Dan invites you to schedule a no-obligation consultation to discuss your project or dream home. "Basically, you don't need any construction experience, the only tools you need is your cell phone, computer and a calendar," he says.

And put aside any fears of subcontractors letting you down. The UBuildIt team has comprised a list of subcontractors that have been hand-picked and approved. 

"The subcontractors we use are the sons of contractors we used more than twenty years ago," says Richard. "If we recommend anyone to do work for us, he's going to have to be very good." 

UBuildIt offers free monthly seminars on Homebuilding and Remodeling. The next seminar is on Thursday, June 7 at 7 p.m. in the UBuildIt offices at 1066 Bloomingdale Ave. in Plaza Bella. For more information, please call 655-3555 or visit www.ubuildit.com.  

Chamber Honors Apollo Beach Stars

By Sharon Still

"It's a wonderful day, a special day for the Apollo Beach Chamber," announced chamber executive director Joanne Gadek at the recent Business Person/Volunteer of the Year Awards Luncheon at Circle's.

In order to be considered for the Apollo Beach Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year, nominees must meet certain criteria. Nominees Bonnie Denny of Colonial Bank, Lynda Messman of Borman Construction and Merle Schrader of Apollo Beach's Westshore Pizza all fit the bill as owners or employees of a local business, community activists practicing ethical business procedures and chamber supporters and participants. That's what makes choosing a winner so difficult because in the eyes of the people of Apollo Beach, all of the candidates are winners in the community.

"It's a tough job narrowing the candidates down to just three in both of these categories," stated chamber president Don Pearson before announcing that Colonial Bank's Bonnie Denney would be taking home the 2007 Apollo Beach Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year Award.

Denney, assistant vice president and branch manager of Apollo Beach's Colonial Bank, is a familiar face in the community. "Local management allows us to operate effectively in our markets and I take great pride in being part of a company that has great products and cares about our customer."

An active part of the chamber and its activities, Denney and her team at the bank have been involved with the manatee Arts Festival, silent auction, Relay for Life and other fundraisers.

Following, Denney's acceptance of the award, Pearson described the candidates for the Volunteer of the Year Award with admiration. "All of these people are really, really something," he said. "They are the first people to get there and the last people to leave. They are dedicated to donating their time, efforts and energy."

Candidates up for the award included Stacy Hirns of Avenya Mortgage, AON, Inc. owner Terry Faulds and Isabel Darcy who owns Apollo Beach Physical Therapy Clinic with her husband Stephen.

This year, two of the candidates received the same amount of votes and both Darcy and Hirns both accepted awards for the 2007 Volunteer of the year.

Darcy has been an active member of the Apollo Beach Chamber since 2004 and seems to always find time to lend a hand while juggling her busy schedule. She has served on the Ambassador Committee and relocation committee and has helped She also is involved with numerous events including the chamber grand opening, Support our Heroes, Manatee Arts Festival reception and many more.

Hirn, director of marketing and public relations for Avenya Mortgage in Apollo Beach, accepted her award and told the crowd, "We also need to give a big hand to Terry who it seems has served on every single committee.

An ambassador for the chamber, Hirns also is an active networker and recruiter of new businesses to the chamber. "We are fortunate to have a chamber that willingly provides many opportunities to network and build relationships.

For more details about the Apollo Beach Chamber and its events, visit www.apollobeachchamber.com or call 645-1366.

Mojitos Offers South Tampa Style

By Kate Quesada

"Our biggest challenge has been getting people in the door," says Dallas Owens, proprietor of Mojitos Grill in the Winthrop Town Center. "But once they come in once, we are pretty sure they'll come back."

And judging from the crowd in the restaurant and bar on a recent Wednesday evening, he's right.

Mojitos, which celebrated its one year anniversary last month, stands out in the Brandon area. From the spacious, luxurious interior and imported décor to the fashionable tapas-sized portions and nightly live entertainment, it is a breath of South Tampa in the land of Brandon chain restaurants.

"Our focus is on style and quality," says Owens. "We deliver a good product and the message is starting to get out."

Owens, who lived in the Brandon area for four years and co-founded the La Cubanita restaurants, has always owned his own businesses, but says that restaurants are his passion.

"This is a real family place. If you come in here when we're busy, you'll see me helping out behind the bar, my mom running the waffle machine during brunch and my dad helping with the food. We all thrive on it," he explains.

The menu features a variety of tapas, both hot and cold, from a platter of selected Spanish cheeses and olives to hot phyllo shrimp with a spicy coconut rum sauce and yucca fries with a spicy aioli perfect for splitting for big groups. If you are not in the mood to share, Mojitos also features a large number of signature dishes and entrees including a variety of steaks, chicken and seafood dishes and Spanish specialties such as creamy risotto and Churrasco steak.

"There is something on the menu for every one and every appetite," says River Hills residents and owner of Bloomingdale Chiropractic Clinic, Dr. Richard Robinson. "On top of that, the food is consistently good and the atmosphere is great."

Mojitos is located at 6108 Winthrop Town Center Ave. and is open Tuesday-Saturday for dinner and Sunday for brunch. For more information or to make a reservation, call 654-8800 or visit www.mojitosgrill.com.