Ierna’s turns 20
Ierna’s Heating, Cooling & Plumbing held a celebration on June 21 to celebrate its 20th anniversary. The company also held a ribbon cutting to celebrate its new location at 16011 N. Nebraska Ave., in Lutz.
Breeze Airways adds Tampa service to Raleigh-Durham
Breeze Airways has announced a new service to Raleigh-Durham from Tampa, making it the airline’s 14th destination from Tampa International Airport.
The new route is scheduled to start on Sept. 7.
For more information, visit www.flybreeze.com.
State insurance regulation office appoints two new officials
Florida Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky has appointed Sheryl Parker as the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation’s (OIR) first deputy commissioner of market regulation and Virginia Christy as OIR’s deputy commissioner of property and casualty, according to a news release.
In making the appointments, Yaworksy said: “They both are bringing extensive knowledge and experience to their respective positions and I am proud to announce their appointments as deputy commissioners. I’m confident they will continue to serve and protect policyholders to the fullest extent.”
The deputy commissioner of market regulation position was established to oversee OIR’s market regulation efforts to further protect insurance consumers from unlawful or harmful business practices.
The deputy commissioner of property and casualty oversees the property and casualty financial oversight and product review units.
Land O’ Lakes Brochure Exchange
The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce has its Land O’ Lakes Brochure Exchange on the second Thursday of each month from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m., at New Beginnings, 18935 Michigan Lane in Land O’ Lakes.
The event gives people a chance to mingle and learn about each other’s businesses.
Those attending pay the cost of the meal, plus $10 for non-chamber members.
If you are not a member but would like to give the event a try, call the chamber office for a one-time free entry. To find out more, call 727-842-7651 or 813-909-2722.
East Pasco Networking Group
The East Pasco Networking Group (EPNG) meets on the second Tuesday of the month (except for December), at 7:30 a.m., at IHOP, at 13100 U.S. 301, in Dade City.
The group’s meetings feature speakers from a wide array of backgrounds. Here is its upcoming slate of speakers:
- July 11: Billy Poe, city manager for the City of Zephyrhills
- Aug. 8: Peter Castellani, founder of Oasis Pregnancy Care Center and Amy Yarborough director of Pregnancy City Center
- Sept. 12: Todd Vande Berg, director of planning, City of Zephyrhills
- Oct. 10: Nikki Alvarez-Sowles, Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller
For more information about EPNG, contact Nils R. Lenz at 813-782-9491 or .
Tax office under renovation
The Pasco Tax Collector’s Office at the West Pasco Government Center, is in the midst of renovations that began on June 1.
The office, at 8731 Citizens Drive, in New Port Richey, is expected to return to full service on Oct. 16, according to a news release.
Throughout the remodel, all services, except driver license services, will be available during normal business hours.
Customers who may need driver license assistance are encouraged to visit the Gulf Harbors office, at 4720 U.S. 19, in New Port Richey.
For more information about services and locations, visit PascoTaxes.com, or call the Centralized Call Center at 727-847-8032, 813-235-6076 or 352-521-4338.
This advice is worth repeating
Businesses need to have a plan to protect their property, their data and their employees during Hurricane Season, which began June 1 and runs through Nov. 30.
The Pasco Economic Development Council Inc. (PEDC) has put together a list of reminders to help businesses prepare for severe weather, to operate in the aftermath and to recover from any damages.
Here’s a synopsis of the PEDC’s advice:
Before a storm hits:
- Know the best way to contact your employees.
- Establish a mass notification system so you can notify and get in touch with employees quickly and easily.
- Protect your business assets. (Take steps to protect your equipment, supplies, products, networks, data and so on. Cover your property and raise it above floor level, when possible.)
- Identify how you will protect important business documents and inventory that is vulnerable to water damage.
- Have an emergency business plan that enables operations with various employees at different locations.
- Backup your data offsite and consider using Cloud based systems. This should include payroll and other systems.
- Keep employees and customers aware of your plan.
- Identify a list of available post-disaster resources that you may need to call upon if you need help in reopening your business or obtaining emergency funding to repair damaged property.
- Be sure you know the address of all of your buildings, including storage facilities.
- Be sure you have an evacuation plan for each facility.
- Use sandbags to prevent flooding at all entrances.
Know the potential for damage at each facility and which ones are at higher risk for damage.
For more information, visit Pasco County’s website to download a copy of the county’s disaster guide, which contains a substantial amount of useful information.
