Best (detached) Single Family Home; Best Kitchen; Best Interior Detailing (including ceilings and trim work); Interior Merchandising; and, Landscape & Pool design. The Gulfview 2 was created by the architectural firm of Bassenian/Lagani.  Creative Design Consultants designed the interior merchandising with the landscaping and pool design handled by Dunlap and Associates.  This is the second award recognition in as many weeks for Sabal Homes’ Gulfview 2.  In early July, it won the Grand Home award during the 2007 Parade of Homes.  “We could not be more proud of and happy for our team at Sabal Homes,” commented Dawn Turner, marketing manager for FishHawk Ranch.  FishHawk Ranch is located at FishHawk Boulevard off Lithia-Pinecrest Road, seven miles east of exit 250 (Gibsonton-Riverview) on Interstate 75. The information center and 18 model homes are open Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday noon-6 p.m.  For more information, please call (813) 685-7500. In Tampa Bay, Newland Communities created and built the award-winning communities of FishHawk Ranch, MiraBay and Covington Park.  Two new communities are currently in the planning stages-Waterset in the Southshore area of Hillsborough County and Bexley Ranch in central Pasco County.  Approximately 2500 new residents move to Newland Communities each year within the Tampa metro area.  Newland Communities has been creating desirable, livable communities across the nation for nearly four decades.  With expertise in creating a special sense of community, Newland Communities brings to life the unique history, culture and traditions of the land it develops.  Newland Communities’ active and long-term approach to community creation and development delivers on its vision while responsibly managing its partners’ investment.

The living is just better at FishHawk Ranch.  A recent article by the well-respected Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine proves what Southern Hillsborough County's known for years - that this Newland Community's rich array of family activities creates the ideal place to raise children.

In September, the local magazine designated FishHawk Ranch as the "Best Community to Raise a Family."  In its 10 year-history, FishHawk Ranch has "grown to be a true hometown with an exciting year round calendar," the magazine states.

At FishHawk Ranch - where there is a long tradition of welcoming families - no one stays a stranger.  Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine observes that new families slip right into the FishHawk Ranch rhythm through their robust, mature neighborhoods and carefully planned town center.  Park Square, which is an enclave of cafes and everyday services, creates a truly pedestrian-friendly community, the publisher says.

 Throughout the year, FishHawk Ranch offers stimulating activities that draw families from throughout Hillsborough County.  Just recently on September 15th, the "Art in the Park" festival featuring the area's best artisans attracted more than 800 children and adults.

During fall's festive time - October - FishHawk Ranch celebrated its second Life is good® Pumpkin Festival.  The all-day event offered entertainment, games, and more than 2,400 pumpkins ready for carving, but most importantly, gives back to those in need.  All proceeds from this free event went to support HomeAid and the Pediatric Cancer Foundation.

In all, FishHawk Ranch hosts an array of entertainment and community affairs each year, giving kids and parents a safe, fun place to be everyday.  Mixing the spirit of well-lived life with the ideals of creating a better world for all is one of the goals of FishHawk Ranch and why it is considered the best place to raise a family in Tampa Bay.

FishHawk Ranch is located at FishHawk Boulevard off Lithia-Pinecrest Road, seven miles east of exit 250 (Gibsonton-Riverview) on Interstate 75.  The information center and 18 model homes are open Monday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sunday noon - 6 p.m.  For more information, please call (813) 685-7500 or visit www.fishhawkranch.com.

“There is a lot of pride and community spirit behind the race,” says Steve Dunn, race director and founder of the FishHawk Road Runners Club  (a running club based in FishHawk Ranch). “The race is our community’s event. It starts and finishes right here in the heart of our community,  Park Square.  Many of the runners who participate call FishHawk Ranch home.” 

Now a signature event for FishHawk Ranch,  the race started off with humble beginnings.   In 1997, the goal behind the race was to bring people out to the see the growing residential community and at the same time to raise funds for local charities. Dawn Turner, event organizer recalls, "Back then, FishHawk Ranch was a quarter of the size that it is today, but runners still enjoyed the natural environment that FishHawk Ranch had to offer.  Also, the number of runners in the first few races totaled about 200 - 300.  However, we knew that the event would gather momentum and it is amazing to see what it has become today." 

 Preparation for the Road Race starts months in advance; finding sponsors, determining the course and planning the breakfast and after party. Three different races happen during the day; a Fun Run for kids, a 5K race and a 10K race. 

The event is a true community event organized in partnership between the community developer Newland Communities who take the lead on sponsorship and logistics, and the FishHawk Ranch Road Runners Club who manage the race portion. The Road Runners Club oversees such things as course mapping, water stops, and overseeing chip timing (a small lightweight chip that uniquely identifies each racer as they cross strategically placed electronic mats). Road Runner Club members also run in the race, sprinting on roads, paved paths and mulched trails around the community. In 2008, of the Club’s 165 members, 49 ran in the race and received many top awards. 

Steve Dunn started the FishHawk Road Runners Club not long after he moved to the community from Virginia in 2003. A life-long runner, Steve remembers, “I first tried to start up a running club at FishHawk in 2004. Unfortunately, we had four hurricanes that year, which put a damper on club attendance, so I gave up for awhile. Then in 2005, I tried again and the Club really took off.” Club members now meet three times a week to run on the communities’ 25-miles of trails, train on hills and even practice on the track at the local high school.  

FishHawk Ranch resident resident LeeAnn Koontz trains regularly and in 2008 participated in the race for the third year in a row. She said, “The Road Race is a great event to get the family together. This year my 8-year-old son Zachary was the youngest participant in the 10K race finishing with a time of 58:31 minutes beating me and many other adults!” LeeAnn added, “Zachary says he likes to run because it helps him keep in good physical shape for all the other sports he participates in. Our family motto is: a family that runs together stays together, and so we really look forward to the Road Race every year.” 

And LeeAnn isn’t alone in her family’s fondness for the Road Race. “People"

In 2005, the Kesler family's world turned upside down.  Their daughter, Sierra, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.  Sierra is a beautiful eight-year-old girl with Down Syndrome.  Sierra has had numerous medical problems due to having Down Syndrome and faced each situation with her smile and courage.  Sierra loves the TV show The Comfy Couch and plays with her dolls and sleeps with them everyday and night.  She has two older siblings Arielle and Dano.  The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is very proud to name Sierra as the Walk's Hero of Hope.

Light the Night is the Society's annual walk held in communities throughout the country to raise money for blood cancer research and patient services.  Teams of co-workers, families and friends walk together in twilight holding illuminated balloons - white for survivors, red for supporters, and this year introducing gold balloons in memory of those who have succumbed to this deadly disease.  The Walk, which commemorates lives touched by blood cancers, is a community celebration, with music, refreshments and family activities.

"Every five minutes someone in the United States is newly diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma, and every 10 minutes, someone loses the fight, "  said Jessica Vasquez, Suncoast Chapter Light The Night Manager.  "We are looking forward to another successful walk this year and are grateful to the companies and employees who are lending their support.  Their participation will help the Society advance it's mission to find cures and improve the quality of life for patients."

This year, more than $37.635 million was raised through Light The Night Walks in more than 250 communities nationwide.  For more information, please call the Society's Suncoast Chapter at (813) 963-6461 or visit www.lightthenight.org/sun

Abouth the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, headquartered in White Plains, NY, with 66 chapters in the United States and Canada, is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services.  The Society's mission:  Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.  Since its founding in 1949, the Society has invested more than $424 million in research specifically targeting leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.  Last year alone, the Society made 2.5 million contacts with patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals.

These vendors and resident participants came together to make Eco-Fest an environmental success. Thank you to all who supported the event and we hope to see you next year. If you have any questions regarding any of the vendors or presenters at this event, please contact Erin Olson at 685-7880. For more information about CrocEncounters, visit the website at www.crocencounters.org.

Local Kids and Families in Need Benefit From Pumpkin Festival  

TAMPA, Fla. — In today’s economy, there are many children and families who are finding themselves temporarily homeless and in need of help to get back on their feet.  This weekend, nearly 15,000 people from FishHawk Ranch and surrounding communities stepped in to help by contributing nearly $50,000 to help those less fortunate.  All funds were raised during the third annual Life is good®  Pumpkin Festival, a fun-filled day of good, old-fashioned entertainment with all event proceeds benefiting kids and families in need.  “It is the hope of Newland Communities that through the Life is good festivals we not only can bring communities together for a special day of fun, but at the same time we can also raise funds to help those less fortunate,” said Rick Harcrow, Senior Vice-President of Operations for  Newland’s Tampa Division. All of the proceeds raised through public and corporate contributions benefit the Life is good Kids Foundation.  This year, the Foundation will split the funds raised from the 2008 Newland Communities festivals equally between HomeAid (www.homeaid.org), a national, nonprofit provider of housing for today's temporarily homeless, and Project Joy (www.projectjoy.com), a nonprofit organization whose mission is to use the healing power of play to transform kids sidelined by violence, loss and poverty into healthy and joyful players in the game of life. “There are few things more important than spending a fun, meaningful day with family and friends in the name of charity,” said Bert Jacobs, Chief Executive Optimist for Life is good.  “The festivals rally good people and generous communities around a great cause—supporting others in need.”  This is the third consecutive year that Newland Communities and Life is good have joined forces to raise funds for children in need by holding Life is good Pumpkin Festivals.  Eight Newland communities will host festivals this October.  Since 2006, Life is good Festivals held in Newland communities have raised nearly $1 million for nonprofit organizations. As part of this year’s Pumpkin Festival, FishHawk Ranch hosted the Life is good “World’s Greatest Backyard Athlete” competition.  Competitors raised money in advance for the Life is good Kids Foundation and then competed against each other in classic backyard games that included disk toss, seed spitting and an obstacle course.  

About Newland Communities

Newland Communities is the nation’s largest privately owned developer of planned communities.  With expertise in creating a special sense of community, Newland brings to life the unique history, culture and traditions of the land it develops.  Newland believes it has a responsibility to create enduring, healthier communities so people may live life in ways that matter most to them.  Headquartered in San Diego, California, Newland currently has offices in 18 U.S. cities, and is developing or managing more than 40 projects located in 14 states, worth more than $2 billion. www.newlandcommunities.com. 

About Life is good, Inc.®
Life is good®, based in Boston, Mass., spreads good vibes through its colorful collection of apparel and accessories as well as through the contagious smile of Jake, its optimistic cultural hero.  Through its community festivals held nationwide, the company has raised more than $3 million since 2004 for the Life is good Kids Foundation, which in turn has distributed 100 percent of funds raised to children facing unfair challenges.  For more information, visit www.lifeisgood.com.  About Life is good Kids FoundationThe Life is good Kids Foundation supports extraordinary charities that create a lasting, positive impact on children facing unfair challenges, including the trauma of violence and poverty.  The Life is good Kids Foundation receives its principal financial support from the public via the charitable community fundraising festivals conducted by Life is good, Inc.  This year, 18 festivals will be held in 13 different states nationwide.  One hundred percent of the monies received from these festivals is distributed to 501 (C) (3) nonprofit organizations supporting children in need.

        The 2008 Parade of Homes featured 132 homes from more than 100 communities in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando counties. Home builders were judged on price, architectural detail, floor plan, workmanship, outdoor living space, landscaping and curb appeal. Recognized FishHawk Ranch home builders included Hannah Bartoletta Homes, Sabal Homes of Florida, Arthur Rutenberg Homes and Taylor Morrison.

       In the price category $1 million to $1.49 million, Hannah Bartoletta Homes’ four bedroom (plus a den and gameroom,) four bath 4,671 square-foot Sinclair received a Merit award.  

        In the price category $700,000 - $799,000, Sabal Homes of Florida’s four bedroom, four bath 3,800 square-foot Tuscan style Gulfview 2 received a Merit award.  

        In the price category $650,000 - $699,000, Arthur Rutenberg Homes’ four bedroom, three and a half bathroom 3,689 square-foot Mediterranean style St. Augustine IV received a Merit award. 

        In the price category $400,000 - $449,000, Taylor Morrison’s three bedroom, three bathroom 2,994 square-foot neo-traditional Ashton received a Merit award.  Additional information on the winning homes and the Tampa Bay Builders Associa