Quail Forever chapter opens locally
West Central Florida Quail Forever, a new Hillsborough County chapter of the quail conservation group that caters to hunters, recently elected Josh Kuder as president, Brent Bassler treasurer and Randy Byrd as banquet chair.
That’s after the National Quail Forever organization named Talbott Parten of Atlanta as the new regional representative for Georgia and Florida. Parten will work raising funds on wildlife habitat and conservation education, and also with local, state and federal natural resources agencies on behalf of the group.
Parten says he looks to grow Quail Forever’s presence in Georgia and Florida, two states which represent critical habitat restoration opportunities for bobwhite quail.
Quail Forever empowers local chapters with the responsibility to determine how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds will be spent. This allows members to see the fruits of their chapter efforts in their own communities while belonging to a national organization with a voice on federal conservation policy in Washington, D.C.
WestBay opens Estate series
Tampa builder Homes by Westbay has unveiled a new selection of single-family house floor plans in its Estate series at Rose Pointe in The Arbors, a gated community located inside Connerton.
The seven plans currently offer ranges from 3,300 to 6,000 square feet, and are priced at more than $400,000.
The houses are 90 feet wide, many of which are situated on waterfront or conservation areas.
Plans include gourmet kitchens with islands, workspaces and walk-in pantries. The houses highlight an open concept design with the living, dining and grand rooms providing extensive gathering spaces while incorporating the views and light of the natural surroundings.
For more information on Homes by Westbay, residential designs and the communities where the builder is located, call (813) 285-1444, or visit HomesByWestBay.com.
GTAR elects new officers
The Greater Tampa Association of Realtors had its 102nd annual installation and awards banquet Dec. 6, which included the installation of its 2014 leadership team.
Tina Harris of Future Home Realty becomes the group’s new president, joining Barbara Jordan of Coldwell Banker Residential as president-elect, Susanna Madden of Re/Max ACR Elite Group as vice president, Michele Herndon of Keller Williams Realty South Shore as secretary, and Andy Joe Scaglione of Empire Commercial Realty as treasurer.
Jack Rodriguez of Minaret Realty won 2013 Realtor of the year, while Anand Patel of Pangea Realty Group won the Edward T Starr Award, given to the GTAR committee chair who exhibits outstanding leadership and service.
Lennar ready to build 170 houses
Construction company Lennar says it’s ready to start building 170 new houses in 20 communities around the region within the next 60 days.
The construction plans include townhomes, single-family homes, and houses under its NextGen brand that is designed for families with multiple generations living under the same roof. They range in size from 1,353 square feet to just under 4,400 square feet, with prices starting at around $140,000.
The houses are being built on spec, but Lennar says it could have many of the homes sold by the time construction is finished in March.
SmartStart looking for businesses to help
The SmartStart business incubator from the Pasco Economic Development Council is putting a call out to companies from a variety of industries that might be looking for startup assistance in the Tampa Bay area.
SmartStart works with new entrepreneurs and scalable startup companies in the incubator to help them build their businesses from the ground up. SmartStart is located in the Dade City Business Center, and has professional office, light manufacturing, and warehouse space available, in addition to mentoring, consulting and educational opportunities.
For more information, contact Krista Covey at (352) 437-4861, or by email at .
SmartStart is located at 15000 Citrus Country Drive, Suite 103, in Dade City. Details on the incubator can be found at www.SmartStartPasco.com.
Women-n-Charge to meet in January
Women-n-Charge will meet Jan. 3 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Pebble Creek Country Club, 10550 Regents Park Drive in Tampa.
The meeting includes lunch and networking.
Cost is $15 for members by the Tuesday before the meeting, and $18 for all guests and members paying after the early deadline.
For more information, call (813) 600-9848, or email .
Ker’s donates to children in need
Ker’s WingHouse Bar & Grill, which operates a location in Wesley Chapel, has been purchasing toys for underprivileged children and families in need throughout the year, thanks to owner Crawford Ker, funding it out of his own pocket.
Ker has done this since 1998 through his Ker’s Christmas program, which includes a Christmas meal for children and families of BabyCycle, Homeless Emergency Project, City of Praise Church of Clearwater and the Florida Sheriff Youth Ranch.
“Christmas should be cherished by all children, and it is our mission to reach as many children as possible by exceeding the number of children and families we touch each year,” Ker said in a release. “This year is our largest yet, and we are extremely grateful for the community’s support of this endeavor. We are excited to spread some holiday cheer.”
Ker’s operates a location at 5510 Post Oak Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.
Sponsors sought for chamber business breakfasts
The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce is looking for sponsors for upcoming business breakfasts, which provide news regarding member businesses and happenings in the area.
Sponsorships allow the business to “have the floor” in front of 70 to 90 business and community leaders.
Upcoming breakfasts still looking for sponsors include Jan. 21 and May 20.
For more information, email Jo Uber at .
