Several Pasco builders earn recognition during Parade of Homes

Winners of the Tampa Bay Builders Association's 2008 Parade of Homes — the area's largest with 132 model homes in 105 communities — were announced last month during an awards ceremony at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. The Pasco County winners include:

• Single-family homes priced $140,000-$199,000: Grand Award — Lexington Homes, Acacia at Cross Creek at Summertree.

• Single-family homes priced $250,000-$299,000: Merit Award — McCar Homes, the Windermere at Brookfield.

• Single-family homes priced $600,000-$649,000: Merit Award — Avalon Building Corp. of Tampa Bay, Bella Vista at Lakes of Outlaw Ridge.

• Single-family homes priced $650,000-$699,000: Grand Award — Arthur Rutenberg Homes/Lyons Heritage Tampa, Tradewinds VI at Connerton.

• Single-family homes priced $900,000-$999,000: Grand Award — Arthur Rutenberg Homes/Lyons Heritage Pasco, Camelia at Southern Hills Plantation in Hernando County. Merit Award — Costanza Homes, Bellemead 39 at Connerton.

• Single-family homes priced $1-million-$1.49-million: Grand Award — Costanza Homes, Summerfield Grand at Mirasol in the Champions' Club.

• Single-family homes priced $1.5-million-$1.59-million: Grand Award — Campagna Homes, Villa Sorrento at Florencia in the Champions' Club.

• Multifamily homes priced $120,000-$139,000: Grand Award — Lexington Homes, the Lenox Collection-Sunset at Lexington Commons.

• Multifamily homes priced $140,000-$199,000: Grand Award — Mercedes Homes, Abby at Silverleaf at Seven Oaks.

• Multifamily homes priced $250,000-$299,000: Grand Award — Southern Crafted Homes, Brighton I at Devonwood.

• Multifamily homes priced $400,000-$450,000: Grand Award — Onixc LLC, the Cayman at the Reserve at Sea Forest.

For information on the 2008 Parade of Homes or Tampa Bay Builders Association, call (813) 873-1000, or visit tampabayparadeofhomes.com.

Public relations firm does national program

John Heagney Public Relations, based in Holiday, recently created and implemented a nationwide public relations campaign for international eye-care giant Bausch & Lomb. Called Changing 100 Lives in 100 Minutes, the program marks the implantation of the 100,000th crystalens intraocular lens for the treatment of cataracts.

Bausch & Lomb Surgical donated 100 pairs of crystalens lenses — the only FDA-approved lens designed to allow clear vision at near, far and intermediate distances — to low-income people across the nation. In turn, 100 ophthalmologists donated their surgical skills to implant the lenses, all within 100 minutes on the same day, and at no cost to the patients.

Changing 100 Lives in 100 Minutes resulted in nearly $1-million in lenses and surgical services being donated to people who otherwise wouldn't have been able to afford it.

Founded more than a quarter-century ago, John Heagney Public Relations boasts an international client list and is one of the Tampa Bay area's largest public relations agencies, according to the Tampa Bay Business Journal.

E-mail business news items to lazich@sptimes.com or mail to Lucille Lazich, Business Digest, 11321 U.S. 19, Port Richey, FL 34668.