Christian Business Connections makes donation
Christian Business Connections, a group that meets on Thursdays from 7:30 to 9 a.m., donated $250 to Campus Crusade For Christ. The money was generated from member dues. To find out more about Christian Business Connections go to www.cbccentralpasco.com or contact Rene Van Hout at (813) 300-7511.
Habitat for Humanity ReStore
The Zephyrhills ReStore shop needs extra volunteers to sort and clean donations as the store gets a reset during the week of Aug. 6 through Aug. 11.
Volunteers also are needed to paint, install new lighting and build store fixtures.
Helpers are invited to come to the store from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Those wishing to sign up ahead of time can reserve a spot by visiting www.habitatpasco.org and clicking on the “take action” tab.
Hillsborough Commissioner Beckner honored
The Florida Insurance Fraud Education Committee honored Hillsborough Commissioner Kevin Beckner for his efforts to fight against auto insurance fraud in the county.
In a news release, Beckner said, “I am honored to receive this special award from the Florida Insurance Fraud Education Committee on behalf of the collaborative efforts of the insurance industry of Florida, medical professionals and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.”
Beckner recognized that law enforcement organizations were hampered in their ability to combat this fraud due to lax regulations. He worked for more than a year with the Hillsborough Sheriff’s Office and other stakeholders to get a county ordinance passed requiring the licensing of any medical clinic that provides treatment or therapy to patients claiming injury due to an auto accident.
The Hillsborough Commission unanimously adopted the ordinance on Sept. 21, 2011. The Florida Legislature used the law as a model to shape a bill signed in May.
Local Hampton Inn & Suites hotels honored
Two area Hampton Hotels received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence award.
The accolade, which honors hospitality excellence, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor, and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide.
Approximately 10 percent of accommodations listed on TripAdvisor receive this prestigious award.
The local hotels that received the award are:
—Hampton Inn & Suites Tampa/Wesley Chapel at 2740 Cypress Ridge Blvd.
—Hampton Inn Dade City/Zephyrhills at 13215 US 301
MOSI voted ‘Favorite Place to Take the Kids’
The results are in for the inaugural iHeart Tampa Bay awards and the Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) was voted the “Favorite Place to Take the Kids” by a sizable margin. The iHeart Tampa Bay awards began in April with listener nominations for many different categories, including Best Tampa Bay Sports Team, Best Amusement Park, Best College/University and many more. Beginning on May 15, for one month, Tampa Bay residents cast their online ballots for all their local favorites.
For more information on MOSI, visit MOSI.org or call (813) 987-6000.
Florida Hospital Zephyrhills workers help food banks
Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, in cooperation with The Samaritan Project and the Zephyrhills Woman’s Club, had a drive to gather donations for food and toiletries to
support the WWJD Food Bank at Chancey Road Christian Church in Zephyrhills and the Helping Hands Food Pantry at Atonement Lutheran Church in Wesley Chapel.
The drive rallied hospital employees to donate food items and basic toiletries, including shampoo, toothpaste and soap. Overall, 17 large boxes of items were collected from 18 different hospital departments to benefit both organizations. The drive was from May 21 through June 5 at the hospital.
Those interested in donating or volunteering should contact either the Chancey Road Christian Church at (813) 788-4881 or the Atonement Lutheran Church at (813) 973-2211.
Military discount offered by William Ryan Homes
As part of its 20th anniversary celebration, William Ryan Homes is offering all active-duty military men and women a 50 percent discount on structural options, up to $15,000, with the purchase of a new home.
Eligible military personnel can select from options including room expansions, a gourmet kitchen or a bonus room, to name a few.
The program is part of William Ryan Homes’ ongoing efforts on behalf of the military men and women who serve our country here and abroad, said regional president Jeffrey Thorson. This is the second major military-related program shepherded in the Tampa Bay area by this national builder in recent months.
Late last year, Thorson started the construction and donation of a mortgage-free home to Army Sgt. Joe Tavera, a Tampa resident who was wounded in the Iraq. The donation was made through the Building Homes for Heroes program.
William Ryan Homes builds in communities throughout the Tampa Bay area. Some of its residences can be found at Grand Hampton in Tampa and Ashton Oaks in Wesley Chapel. A model center also opened recently at Deerfield Lakes, off SR 52 in north Pasco County. For more information, visit www.WilliamRyanHomes.com.
Rotary Club of New Tampa helps local groups
The Rotary Club of New Tampa provided help for 19 charities and organizations at its June 13 meeting. That’s on top of the 17 projects or organizations it supported during the previous 12 months.
Overall, the group raised more than $44,000 to support school projects, food pantries, the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, disaster aid and various projects supported by Rotary groups.
