Connerton wins gold
Connerton, Pasco County’s largest master-planned, mixed-use community, won the 2018 Gold Award for Best Lifestyle Program for a Community at the National Association of Home Builders’ National Sales and Marketing awards gala, according to a news release from Connerton.
The gala was held at the Hyatt Regency in Orlando on Jan. 10. More than 1,000 real estate professionals from the International Builders’ Show attended the event.
The awards honor the best in the building industry for determination, integrity, creativity and endurance.
Over three days, a panel of seven industry professionals from across the country picked winners from more than 1,300 entries.
“Our Connerton staff works hard to provide our resident adults and their children with the exciting and rewarding activities that set us apart from the rest and make our community such a special place to live,” Stew Gibbons, Connerton’s general manager, said in a written statement.
Community events held annually at Connerton include Eggstravaganza, Nation Celebration, Hometown Harvest, and Winter Wonderland. Weekly and monthly events for adults include Parents Night Out, Pops on the Patio, and Doggie Dress Up Pawty. Connerton has a resort-style water park and splash pool where children can enjoy Wiggles and Giggles fitness classes, and poolside snow cones and cotton candy.
In 2017, Connerton and Lennar Homes awarded a veteran and his family a mortgage-free home.
Connerton is a 4,800-acre community, located off U.S. 41 in Land O’ Lakes, about 30 miles north of Tampa.
For information, visit Connerton.com or Facebook.com/connertonfl.
Bexley best in living
Bexley by Newland Communities received a Best in American Living Award from the National Association of Home Builders, according to a news release from The Leytham Group.
Bexley won the highest honor of a Platinum Award in the category for Best Single-Family Community having more than 100 homes.
The Best in American Living Awards recognizes outstanding achievement by builders and designers in the housing industry, including single-family production, custom-built, apartments, affordable, remodeling and interiors.
Bexley opened in November 2016 off State Road 54, east of the Suncoast Parkway. It offers a variety of home designs, including single-family, town homes and villas, as well as luxury homes by six builders. The community’s amenities include Avid multi-modal trails, outdoor fitness stations, pools, a BMX bicycle pump track and dog parks.
The Twisted Sprocket Café is a restaurant open to residents and the public.
Bexley also received two Grand Aurora Awards from the Southeast Building Conference for Best Master-Planned Community and Best Recreational Facility in the Southeast.
Metro Study ranks Bexley as one of the Top 10 communities for New Home Starts in the Tampa Metropolitan Service Area.
For information, call (813) 425-7555, or visit BexleyFlorida.com.
North Tampa luncheon
The North Tampa Chamber of Commerce will have its February 2018 Momentum Thursday on Feb. 8 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at St. Joseph’s John Knox Village, at 4100 E. Fletcher Ave., in Tampa.
Guest speaker will be Clinton W. Babcock of Sandler Training.
For early bird registration, RSVP online with credit card or to the chamber office at by 5 p.m., Feb. 7, at the discounted rate of $15 (whether you eat or not).
After that date, the cost is $20 (whether you eat or not), payable at the door by cash, check or credit card.
For information, call the chamber at (813) 563-0180, or visit NorthTampaChamber.com.
Metro Places job fair
Metro Places, which is developing master-planned communities of Epperson and Mirada, will have its second annual job fair Feb. 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Pasco-Hernando State College Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, 2727 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.
Epperson and Mirada are part of a special development district for the Connected City corridor, located in northeast Pasco County.
More than 30 employers, involved in developing these communities, will be at the job fair looking for applicants who want to be part of the Connected City development.
For information, visit JobFair.MetroPlaces.com.
East Pasco Networking Group
The East Pasco Networking Group will meet Feb. 13 at 7:30 a.m., at the IHOP, 13100 U.S. 301 in Dade City.
Guest speaker will be Paula O’Neil, Pasco County Clerk and Comptroller of the Circuit Court.
For information, contact Chairman Nils Lenz at or (813) 782-9491; or Vice Chairwoman Vicky Jones at or (813) 431-1149.
Membership lunch
The North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce will have its monthly membership lunch Feb. 14 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Fox Hollow Golf Club, 10050 Robert Trent Jones Parkway in Trinity.
Guest speakers will be from the Pasco Economic Development Council. They will discuss the council’s SMARTstart Microloan Fund.
The cost is $20 in advance for members who register online by 3 p.m., Feb. 9. Thereafter, the cost is $25 at the door for members and non-members.
For information, call the chamber at (813) 994-8534, email , or visit WesleyChapelChamber.com.
Uncle Maddio’s happy hour
The North Tampa Chamber of Commerce will host Uncle Maddio’s February 2018 Happy Hour on Feb. 21 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Uncle Maddio’s, at 3949 Van Dyke Road in Lutz.
The restaurant will offer $1 off any pizza, and buy-one, get-one free deal for house wine and draft beers.
The event is free, but RSVP for a headcount by Feb. 20.
For information, call the chamber at (813) 563-0180, or email .
