Pasco County business news

Briefly

Two local dealerships — David Council's Suncoast Ford of New Port Richey and Jarrett Ford of Dade City — will make a $100 donation to Standing Tall for Veterans for each new vehicle sold through Nov. 11.

The customer must mention Standing Tall for Veterans' fallen soldier scholarship fund or present a certificate at the time of purchase. To obtain a certificate, visit standingtallforveterans.org and download the form.

Customers who purchase a vehicle during this time will receive a pair of Tampa Bay Rays baseball tickets plus a Standing Tall for Veterans lapel pin and window static cling. Customers can also register to win a framed piece of military artwork.

Standing Tall for Veterans will award two $500 scholarships to Junior ROTC cadets in memory of soldiers from Pasco County fallen in Iraq and Afghanistan.

To apply for a scholarship, students must write a 300- to 500-word essay on the topic "Wearing the Uniform" and be enrolled to attend a four-year college, with the intention of serving in the military upon graduation.

Standing Tall for Veterans is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. For information, call Chuck Bennett at (352) 238-3148.

• • •

Pasco Aging Network, a social and health-related services nonprofit organization that addresses the issues of the elderly, recently presented recognition awards to various worthy businesses and groups, with funds from its grant program.

A special projects committee was formed and chaired by Sero Singh of Jennifer Gardens Assisted Living, to review member applications. Several businesses and organizations were chosen to receive between $250 to $1,000 for their particular event or program.

Winners included: Alzheimer's Family Organization for elderly dementia respite care; Ashbury United Methodist Church for faith works; the CARES travel program; Consulate Healthcare for its senior nutrition program; Home Instead Senior Care for its annual "Be a Santa to a Senior" program; Sunshine Christian Homes for its "Helping Hands" fund, and Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation for providing hearing aids, batteries and repairs for the elderly.

For information, contact Abby Hamilton at (813) 817-1905.

• • •

Coastal Cremations Inc. has opened at 6631 State Road 54, New Port Richey.

The new, independently owned and operated business specializes in simple affordable cremations. Cheryl Gooldin, funeral director, has been in the funeral business for more than 24 years.

Coastal Cremations, which is available 24 hours a day, serves Pasco, Pinellas and Hernando counties, and offers scattering in the Gulf of Mexico and/or delivery to local cemeteries.

For information, call (727) 645-6975.

Events

The West Pasco Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Luncheon will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at Longhorn Steakhouse, 9524 U.S. 19, Port Richey.

This month's event is sponsored by Advanced Restoration. The cost is $15 per person (includes beverage and gratuity). Menu selections include: grilled chicken strawberry salad, Parmesan crusted chicken sandwich or shaved prime rib sandwich.

RSVP to the chamber at (727) 842-7651.

• • •

The New Port Richey Professional Network group will have its weekly networking luncheon from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Monday at the Lobster Cove at the Ramada Inn Bayside, 5015 U.S. 19, New Port Richey. Members and guests can order from the menu.

This week's speaker is Marilynn deChant of deChant Public Relations, who will speak on time sculpting.

The network comprises a broad membership of businesses representing event planning, public relations, communications and merchandising, among others. Contact Rhonda Cantu at (727) 243-8765.

• • •

The West Pasco Chamber of Commerce will have the following ribbon-cuttings during the coming week:

• Spherion, at the chamber's office, 5443 Main St., New Port Richey, 11:30 a.m. Tuesday. For information, contact Teri Nichols at (352) 796-6000.

• COR Total Fitness, 4900 U.S. 19, New Port Richey, 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. For information, contact Lori Saylor-Hart at (727) 264-8998.

• Jackson Hewitt Tax Services, 6131 State Road 54, New Port Richey, 11:30 a.m. Thursday. For information, contact David Vano at (727) 845-1044.

• • •

Service Corps of Retired Executives Pasco-Hernando Chapter 439 will present a free small business workshop, "How to Market in this Economy," from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Centennial Park Branch Library, 5740 Moog Road, Holiday.

Bill Brydia, a SCORE counselor, will present an analysis of the factors affecting growth and expansion with emphasis on conducting a growth audit on planning, marketing and human resource availability.

Learn how and when to find some of the answers about what works and doesn't, how to target growth markets and develop sales and marketing plans.

For advance reservations or for information, call the library at (727) 861-3049 or the SCORE office at (727) 842-4638.

The Pasco Hernando NPI Networking Group will meet at 11:45 a.m. Tuesday at Boulevard Beef & Ale, 6236 Grand Blvd., New Port Richey. Call Rob Marlowe at (727) 847-2424.

• • •

The Trinity Business Association will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Fox Hollow Country Club, 10050 Robert Trent Jones Parkway, Trinity.

The association works to expand business opportunities and build community support for those living and having a place of business in the Trinity area through activities and leadership of its members.

Meetings are on the first and third Tuesday of each month. E-mail Info@TrinityBusiness Association.com to learn more.

• • •

The West Pasco Chamber of Commerce's Boulevard Beef & Ale Networking Group will have its business card and brochure exchange from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Boulevard Beef & Ale, 6236 Grand Blvd., New Port Richey.

The event is sponsored by Ameriprise Financial — Margie Pagano, senior financial adviser and Mark Lovelle, financial adviser. Cost is $10 per person. For information or to RSVP, call (727) 842-7651 by Tuesday.

• • •

The BNI Revenue Source, a referral-based networking group, will meet from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Wednesday at Heritage Springs Country Club, 11345 Robert Trent Jones Parkway, Trinity. Visitors welcome. The meeting cost, which includes breakfast, is $10. Call David Randall, president, at (727) 842-7744.

• • •

The Nature Coast Chapter of the Florida Society of Accountants will have its monthly meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the IHOP restaurant, 3660 Commercial Way, Spring Hill.

The speaker will be John Hagen, representing the Pasco Economic Development Council.

Reservations are required. Call Susan Taylor at (352) 796-8860 no later than Wednesday.

Chapter meetings are the third Thursday of each month and are open to any accountant or tax professional in Hernando, Pasco and Citrus counties.

For information, call Pat Cornett at (352) 597-3460.

BNI Eagles will hold a networking event at 7:30 a.m. Thursday in the Palm Room at Springs Golf and Country Club, 3535 Trophy Blvd. (off Little Road, north of State Road 54) in New Port Richey. RSVP at (727) 967-1418.

• • •

The West Pasco Chamber of Commerce will have its monthly breakfast from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Friday at Fox Hollow Golf & Country Club, 10050 Robert Trent Jones Parkway, Trinity.

The event is hosted by the chamber's Government Affairs Committee. Speakers include State Sen. Mike Fasano, and state representatives Rich Glorioso, John Legg, Peter Nehr and Will Weatherford.

The cost is $10 per person and includes a continental breakfast. RSVP to the chamber at (727) 842-7651 by Thursday.

• • •

The Association of Fundraising Professionals, Nature Coast Chapter will meet at 1 p.m. May 25 at Carrabba's Italian Grill, 16525 Point Village Drive, Lutz.

Special guest speaker will be E. Paul Dietrich, president of E. Paul Dietrich & Associates. Dietrich, a certified fundraising executive and gift planning consultant, will speak on setting up and maintaining a successful planned giving program at a small nonprofit.

AFP represents more than 30,000 members in 206 chapters around the world, working to advance philanthropy through advocacy, research, education and certification programs.

The Nature Coast Chapter was chartered in 2009 and includes members throughout Pasco and Hernando counties.

The meeting is open to AFP members and non-members. Cost is $25 and includes lunch. Advance registration and payment is required.

For information, visit afp-naturecoast.org, or call Craig McCart, chapter president, at (727) 834-5479.

If you have business announcements you would like to share with our readers, mail the details to Jean Hayes, Business Digest, Pasco Times, 11321 U.S. 19, Port Richey, FL 34668. You may also e-mail items to pasco@sptimes.com or fax them to (727) 869-6233. Items may be edited for length and clarity. Photos are published as space permits; they will not be returned.