Weaver Going Places With Exit Realty

"Oh The Places You Will Go", this Dr. Seuss classic could easily be the title of a book about Brian Weaver, Exit Realty Apollo Beach's newest sales associate.

Weaver grew up in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, working on the family farm along with his five sisters. After graduating from high school, Weaver joined the Marine Corps. Following an Honorable Discharge from the military, he soon entered the construction trade, working in exotic locales throughout the world including a year at McMurdo Station in Antarctica. Seeking a permanent home in a warmer climate, Weaver moved to Florida, started a transportation business, met his wife Karen and was married on New Year's Eve 2005.

A Riverview resident, Weaver also is a licensed pilot, mortgage broker and financial consultant. "Brian is looking forward to putting his considerable skills to work for our clients, I am thrilled to have such a high caliber professional join our sales team," says Henry Brosnaham, broker, Exit Realty Apollo Beach.

Exit Realty Apollo Beach is an independent franchise member of Exit Realty Corp. International, headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Established in 1996, Exit Realty is the fastest growing real estate franchise in North America with more than 37,000 agents and over 1,000 franchise offices. For more information, please call 676-9010 or visit the website www.exitrealtyapollobeach.com.

Centex Plans 1,400 Homes In Area

Centex Homes recently announced plans for Magnolia Park, a 1,400-home community located at Falkenburg Rd. and U.S. Hwy. 301.

Magnolia Park residences represent a wide range of styles including multifamily designs from Centex's Village Homes collection, as well as townhomes and single-family designs from its Signature Homes, Park Homes and City Homes collections, according to David Ivin, Centex's West Florida Division president. Townhome pricing is expected to start in the mid-$100s, while single-family homes will be priced from the mid-$200s including homesite.

The community design will incorporate historic Ybor accents such as black-metal fencing and lighting. Homes in some villages and will provide rear-entry garages and traditional elevations with front porches.

Three main amenity centers - featuring pools, playgrounds and sports courts - will be accessible to all Magnolia Park residents. In addition, about five miles of trails for biking, walking and running will meander throughout the community.

Also inside the community, plans are underway by a developer for a 30,000-sq.-ft. office complex and a 125,000-sq.-ft. retail center that will be anchored by a major grocery store. A second developer plans to build a 600,000-sq.-ft. mixed-use employment center in the southwest corner of the community.     

In addition to Magnolia Park, Centex Homes' West Florida Division builds in the Hillsborough County communities of Stonebrier in Lutz and Southshore Falls in Apollo Beach. The communities of Triple Creek in Riverview and Hawks Point in Southshore are opening soon.

For more details on Magnolia Park, call (888) 269-6217 or visit www.centexhomes.com.

Triple Creek's First Phase Underway

 Phase one land development is underway at Triple Creek, a 1,000-acre, master-planned community being developed by Triple Creek LLC - a joint venture of Centex Homes and M/I Homes - in southern Hillsborough County. 

Triple Creek's 2,045 single-family residences and townhomes will provide 1,494-4,029 sq. ft. of living space, as well as water and preserve views, says David Ivin, president of Centex Homes' West Florida division. Pricing at this community off Balm Riverview Rd. will start from the low-$300s including homesite.

With Triple Creek's initial land development slated to be complete in January 2008 and its first home buyers are expected to move in the following month - Centex plans to launch new-home sales here this fall.

Planned amenities at this gated community include a town centre and a clubhouse with roughly 6,000 sq. ft. of space.  It will feature a fitness center and kitchen, as well as aerobics, locker, multi-purpose and child-care rooms. Outside will be a six-lane competition pool with water slide, a snack bar, tot lot, playgrounds and sports fields. Here also will be basketball, volleyball and tennis courts.

Triple Creek is being built around a 50-acre community lake and borders the 5,000-acre Balm-Boyette Scrub Nature Preserve, which features 21.5 miles of hiking and biking trails.

Dallas-based Centex (NYSE: CTX), founded in 1950, is one of the nation's leading home building companies. Centex operates in major U.S. markets in 25 states and delivered more than 35,000 homes in the United States in its most recent fiscal year, which ended March 31. Its leading brands include Centex Homes, Fox & Jacobs Homes, City Homes and Centex Destination Properties.

For more details on Triple Creek, visit www.centexhomes.com.

Resident Makes Delightfully Sinful Cakes

By Carisa Biesecker

Are you looking for that perfect cake that tastes as delicious as it appears? Then you may want to check out Sinful Delight Cakes, a business started by Riverview residents, Michelle and Doug Fields.

The couple moved from Denver, Colorado in 2000, to the Riverview area near U.S. Hwy. 301 and Big Bend Rd. due to a job opportunity on Doug's side. In late 2006, the business took off after the pair changed all their recipes from high altitude to that of sea level.

When asked what types of cakes are produced, Michelle replies, "You name it. White, yellow, chocolate, marble, lemon, cherry, really any flavor that our clients ask for. Our cakes are topped with French butter cream, ganache or fondant flavored to the client's taste. Our motto is 'You dream it, we bake it.'"

A family-operated business, Michelle designs, bakes and decorates the cakes while Doug, the "head pot washer," takes care of the rest. Working at upscale restaurants in Denver, Michelle was chosen to attend Walt Disney World's hotel and restaurant administration program and culinary program, hence receiving her certification from the Disney and the American Culinary Federation.

Later, she returned to work at Strings and Choa Baby restaurants and had the chance to work with such well-known chefs as Wolfgang Puck and Steve Pyles. While working at Blue Point Bakeries, she met Doug, who currently works for Verizon, had their baby girl Grace and the rest was history. The couple later had their son, Marlon.

"We provide cakes for all occasions from the simple to the elaborate, the small events to the large," adds Michelle, who explains that the couple has made cakes for weddings, birthdays, graduations and company parties.

Sinful Delight Cakes are made the day before or day of the event and prices start at $35, but Michelle says to be sure to give three to four weeks notice for wedding cakes and one to two weeks notice for smaller cakes.

Residents will be pleased to know that the business is now offering a baker's dozen, 13, cookies, for $14 in varieties such as white chocolate chunk, chocolate chip chunk and almond butter.

"They just melt in your mouth," says Doug.

Although the business is by appointment only, orders can be placed Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and e-mails can be received 24/7.

Sugar sculptures and cake toppers are also Michelle's specialty.

"We are here to provide a quality unique product that is made on an individual basis to the clients' specifications," says Michelle.

For more information, call 234-0992, e-mail sinfuldelightcakes@verizon.net, or go to www.sinfuldelightcakes.com.

Strawberry Short Cake Opens in Winthrop

By Carisa Biesecker

No, it's not Strawberry Shortcake herself but a better version of which we can all partake that has made its arrival to the Winthrop Town Centre by the name of The Strawberry Shortcake Co. Bistro Gourmet.

The 800-sq.-ft. bistro, which opened its doors last month, has a light, airy feeling much like the cake in its signature dish. Green and white stripes cascade down the walls as carts adorned with flowers and signage carry condiments for guests.

A glass display case holds a selection of gelato, taking up almost the entire counter, and many delicious desserts such as chocolate fondant, lime extreme pie, southern pecan pie and of course, strawberry shortcake.

In addition to items for a sweet tooth, the business offers breakfast with choices like the "Mouse," a creation of cheddar, provolone, swiss and ciabatta bread and the "Tradition," a bagel with salmon, cream cheese, red onions and capers. For those who would like something a little later in the day, a multitude of salads, flatbreads, paninis, wraps, sandwiches and soups fill the menu.

The two owners, Emilio Alvarado and Marcelo Palacios, who have spent their lives in the restaurant business, both answer that their favorite menu items are the strawberry shortcake and the flatbreads which are to double in selection within the next few months. The strawberry shortcake can be prepared a variety of ways with waffle, biscuit, cookie or pound cake. The same concept applies to the flatbread which can be made with vegetables, meat or pineapple among many other choices.

"Basically, to whatever taste your palate desires," states Palacios.

The chicken used by the restaurant is all organic and the produce used is grown by local farmers.

"We are trying to offer a healthy alternative. It helps us sleep at night a little bit better knowing we are giving people better products," says Alvarado.

The two owners worked together at neighboring restaurant Mojitos; Alvarado as an executive chef and Palacios as general manager.

The Strawberry Shortcake Co. Bistro Gourmet is open Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday, 12 p.m.-8 p.m. Prices range from $2.20-$6.25. The restaurant, located at 6260 Winthrop Town Centre Ave. in Riverview, has more than 50 seats, inside and outside on the patio.

For more information, call 571-5500 or go to www.strawberryshortcakeco.com.

Riverview Breaks Records for Cancer

By Leda Eaton

We have all heard of the five stages of grief, denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Cory Davis, fourth grade teacher at Riverview Elementary, whose father died of cancer 11 years ago, has added a new category - action.   

Along with the students and administrative staff of Riverview Elementary School, Davis raised more than $23,000 for the American Cancer Society's major fundraising event, Relay for Life, earning the group the title of top fundraiser for Hillsborough County's South Shore East event.

Davis, who coordinated the fundraising efforts for the school, is quick to acknowledge the team work needed to raise this amount.

"It speaks volumes about the parents, teachers, administrators and community. It demonstrates how much people who work together can accomplish together," he says.

Davis began the school-wide event by sending letters home with students asking for voluntary donations of $10. Some students far exceeded the guideline.

Third grade student, Chyianne Smith, whose grandmother recently lost her battle with cancer raised more than $400. "I thought it would be cool to raise money for the American Cancer Society," says Smith.

It's a sentiment echoed by Sara Smith, fourth grade student, whose friend Briaunna lost her mother to cancer last year.

"My friend was really sad. I hope more people don't die from cancer and they find a cure," says Sara.

Davis uses the relay to provide students with an education on community service.

"As a teacher, it's important to get students this young to want to do things to help other people," he says.

After the letters were sent home, a team of parents and administrators held a school carnival that included basket auctions, food sales, and carnival activities. Davis who was a popular target in the dunk tank is pleased with the response. 

"The parents and students got a lot of enjoyment out of the carnival," says Davis. "That's definitely why we do it. We have fun and help others."

To contact Riverview Elementary, call 671-5105.