Ashton Woods Homes has new model home at Independence in Winter Garden

WINTER GARDEN, Fla. --- Ashton Woods Homes has a new model home at its community of Independence off New Independence Parkway and Tiny Road in Winter Garden. Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing for Ashton Woods Homes in the Orlando region, said the Michigan model offers four bedrooms, a game room, three-and-a-half baths with a three-car garage and a boat dock right on Lake Speer. Independence has 26 home sites available with homes priced from the high $400s and ranging from 2,544 square feet of living area to over 4,000 square feet. The community features resort style amenities along with lakes, acres of parks, recreation and conservation areas.

Four ready-to-move-in homes available by Ashton Woods Homes at Rosedale in Bradenton

BRADENTON, Fla. --- Ashton Woods Homes has four ready-to-move-in homes in its first phase at Rosedale County Club located off Lakewood Ranch Blvd. and 44th Ave. West in Bradenton. Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing for Ashton Woods Homes said the ready-to-move-in homes are priced from the high $300s and range in size from 2,107 square feet of living area to 2,414 square feet. Forty-three home sites are available in the first phase at Rosedale Country Club, Roche said. Ashton Woods Homes has three furnished models open for viewing at Rosedale.

Ashton Woods Homes opens new phase at the Preserve at FishHawk Ranch in Tampa

TAMPA, Fla. --- Ashton Woods Homes started sales in a new phase of homesites at the Preserve at FishHawk Ranch its new neighborhood within the master-planned community located in Lithia in the Tampa Bay area. Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing at Ashton Woods Homes in the Tampa Bay region, said the three, four and five bedroom homes in the new phase are priced from the high $400s. Ashton Woods Homes has 12 home sites available in the new phase at the Preserve at FishHawk Ranch for new homes ranging from 2,833 square feet of living area to over 4,000 square feet. Visit http://www.ashtonwoods.com.

Meritage Homes Has 66 Move-In-Ready Homes in 16 Communities in Orlando Area

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Meritage Homes now has 66 ready-to-move-in homes available in 16 communities across the Orlando region in Orange, Osceola, Lake and Seminole counties. Brian Kittle, division vice president for Meritage Homes in the Orlando region, said the homes, with from four to seven bedrooms, range from 1,900 square feet of living area to 5,200 square feet. Prices of the homes range from the low $200s to the mid $600s. For more information, visit www.meritagehomes.com

Five of 2013’s Florida Companies to Watch got their start at the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program

ORLANDO, Fla. --- The University of Central Florida’s Business Incubation Program, which ranks as one of the best in the nation according to Entrepreneur Magazine, will earn yet another accolade at the third annual “Florida Companies to Watch” awards on Oct. 24 at Hard Rock Live in Orlando. Five of the 50 winners of the 2013 Florida Companies to Watch awards got their start in the UCF Business Incubation Program. The UCF Incubator graduate companies named “Florida Companies to Watch” this year are 21st Century Learning Solutions Inc.; AVT Simulation; Snapt Inc.; Solodev; and Therigy LLC. Dr. Tom O’Neal, executive director of the UCF Business Incubator Program, said the university-based effort to support and encourage startup businesses is paying off in Central Florida. “UCF Business Incubation Program graduate companies have claimed five awards in the first two years of the Florida Companies to Watch program and this year we have five more,” O’Neal said. “Our graduate companies are making a big mark on the Central Florida economic growth and employment picture,” he said. Entrepreneur Magazine called the 11-year old UCF Business Incubation Program one of “America’s Best Under the Radar Business Incubators” for helping to create 1,500 new jobs and generate revenues in excess of $60 million. And that was for just over a two-year period. The Florida Companies to Watch Awards gala---individual tickets are priced at $150---will fete “second stage” companies that show the strongest potential to break out as major employers in the region. Sponsored by GrowFL, the Florida Economic Gardening Institute at the University of Central Florida and the Edward Lowe Foundation, the gala awards event will showcase companies that range from First Green Bank, the Lake County-based bank that opened its first Orlando location earlier this year, to Snapt Inc., which sells software that helps companies track their online advertising efforts.

Lennar to Host Community Preview at Gran Paradiso Oct. 26 with Live DJ, plenty of Free Food and Drinks

VENICE, Fla. --- Lennar plans to pull out all the stops to host a grand Community Preview event on Saturday, Oct. 26 at Gran Paradiso, the master-planned community Lennar is opening at 20061 Galleria Blvd. in Venice off S.R. 41 (Tamiami Trail) five miles east of North River Road. Matt Devereaux, director of sales for Lennar, said the event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the public is invited. Admission is free. Devereaux said food and drinks will be available and a live DJ with music from 1 to 3 p.m. Lennar plans to build over 1,800 homes at Gran Paradiso priced from the high $100s to over $500,000. Devereaux said three, four and five bedroom single-family homes at Gran Paradiso will range in size from 1,340 square feet of living space to over 3,800 square feet of living area. Lennar will be offering its NextGen, Executive Homes, Manor Homes, Twin Villas and Estate Homes at Gran Paradiso. Among the amenities planned for the community are an extensive clubhouse with resort-style pool and spa, playground, lighted tennis courts and several private cabanas. For further information telephone 877-45-LENNAR (877-455-3667) or visit www.Lennar.com

Lennar to Open Four New Professionally Decorated Model Homes in November at Bridgewater at Lakewood Ranch in Bradenton

Bradenton, Fla. --- Lennar started construction of four new model homes at Bridgewater at Lakewood Ranch located off Lakewood Ranch Blvd. in Bradenton. Matt Devereaux, director of sales and marketing for Lennar’s Southwest Florida Division, said all four new model homes will open by mid-November. The two-story Chapel Hill model home features five bedrooms, four full baths and a half-bath, bonus room and loft in 3,800 square feet of living area. The Chapel Hill is one of Lennar’s most spacious new model homes at Bridgewater at Lakewood Ranch, priced from $493,990. The two-story Cambridge Grande model, priced from $433,990, boasts three bedrooms, three full baths and a half-bath with a bonus room in 3,025 square feet of living area plus a three-car garage. The two-story, six-bedroom Oxford model home is even more spectacular. Priced from $403,990, the 3,929 square foot Oxford is one of Lennar’s NextGen floor plans with five bedrooms, three full baths and a half bath in the main family living area with a two-car garage. The one-bedroom, one-bath NextGen living area features its own kitchen and dining facilities, a private living room and a private one-car garage. The single-story Stanford model features four bedrooms and three baths in 2,268 square feet of living space with a three-car garage, priced starting from $308,990. Devereaux said Lennar will host a grand opening event to showcase all four new model homes once completed, furnished and professionally decorated. Visit www.lennar.com.

STONEGATE GOLF CLUB DEMO DAYS SET

Kissimmee, Fla. --- StoneGate Golf Club at Solivita in Kissimmee has announced its Winter 2013-2014 Golf Demo Days schedule. Christopher Russell, PGA, TPI, director of golf at Stonegate Golf Club at Solivita, said Demo Days is a chance for golfers to learn everything they want to know about the most popular clubs, balls, teaching aids and accessories in the $76 billion golf industry. Russell said StoneGate invited the most prominent manufacturers to make Golf Demo Day presentations, including Ping, Cleveland, Adams, Bridgestone and Callaway. Admission to Golf Demo Days at StoneGate Golf Club is free. “Demo Days are a great opportunity for golfers to try out all the latest and great equipment,” Russell explained. Russell said StoneGate plans to give golfers the full treatment. “The opportunity to hit balls and see the full flight of each shot is far more beneficial than hitting balls into a net,” Russell explained. “The combination of feel and flight can help us fit clubs to each golfer,” he added. The StoneGate Golf Demo Days Schedule: October 29, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Ping and the Ping Fitting Van; November 11, noon to 5 p.m., Cleveland November 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Adams January 10, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Bridgestone Ball Fitting January 31, 2014, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Callaway February 10, 2014, noon to 4 p.m., Cleveland

Celebration Golf sets special “Demo Day” at Celebration Golf Club Nov. 9

CELEBRATION, Fla. --- The Golf Academy at Celebration Golf Club, which consists of one of only three Ping nFlight studios in the country, will be hosting a Ping Demo Day on Nov. 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This event will be open to the public and free to attend. Nick Lawson, director of instruction for the Golf Academy at Celebration Golf Club, said the tour fitting van will be on site to give the public a first hand look at Ping’s elite products and equipment offered to enhance the game of every level of golfer.

Women Playing for T.I.M.E. Golf Tournament at Golden Bear Club Raises Record $41,000 for MD Anderson

WINDERMERE, Fla. --- The Women Playing for T.I.M.E. Golf Tournament held recently at the Golden Bear Golf Club at Keene’s Pointe in Windermere raised a record $41,000 to support MD Anderson Cancer Research. Matthew Allen, Director of Golf at The Golden Bear Club at Keene's Pointe, said 112 golfers participated in the 4th annual tournament which was hosted by the golden Bear Club and the Keene’s Pointe Ladies Golf Assn. (KPLGA). “This event could not have been such a success without the dedication and hard work of Tournament Director Debi Raper and her Keene’s Pointe Ladies Golf Assn. steering committee,” said Allen.