Oasis client services director
April Beck is the new client services director at Oasis Pregnancy Care Centers, with two locations in Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel.
In Land O’ Lakes, the office is at Copperstone Suites, at 3632 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.; and in Wesley Chapel, the office is at 5854 Argerian Drive.
Beck will be responsible for supervision and quality assurance of the pregnancy care ministry. She will implement and support programming for Oasis’ clients, and oversee training for staff members and volunteers. She also will be community liaison for area agencies and providers in an effort to expand outreach to expectant families in Pasco County.
Beck previously worked more than eight years at Champions for Children Inc., as the lead child development specialist to the Baby Bungalow program. In this position, she oversaw more than 300 developmental playgroups annually, and served more than 1,000 families countywide.
Beck has more than 20 years of experience in her field. She also has been a volunteer at pregnancy centers in two other states.
Beck has a degree in Christian counseling and numerous certifications, including ones from American Association of Christian Counselors and Happiest Baby on the Block.
She is a peer-nominated Touchpoints trainer, and gives training and reflective practice guidance to family service providers in the Tampa Bay area.
For more information, visit OasisPregnancyCenter.org.
New builder at Asturia
ICI Homes is the newest home builder to begin building houses at Asturia, the master-planned community, off State Road 54, in Odessa.
ICI Homes will offer 12 design plans ranging from 1,700 square feet to 3,300 square feet, with sales prices that start in the low $300,000. The company joins David Weekley Homes and Ashton Woods Homes at Asturia.
Asturia is being developed by Hines, a privately owned global real estate investment, development and management firm. It will have a mix of retail, office, apartments and single-family homes.
ICI Homes is headquartered in Daytona Beach and is ranked in the nation’s Top 100 Builders by Builder Magazine. The Northeast Florida Builders Association named ICI Homes the 2015 Builder of the Year.
Mexican restaurant opens
TacoSon Mexican Grill is a family owned restaurant with a new location, at 30056 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel. Locations also are in the Temple Terrace neighborhood of Tampa, and St. Petersburg.
Family members are from Sonora, Mexico, which explains the name of TacoSon.
Operating hours in Wesley Chapel are from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Hours vary at other locations.
The menu includes tacos, ceviche, burritos, quesadillas and Sonora-style hot dogs with Mexican fries. Drinks include Mexican sodas and horchata, or “rice water.” Desserts include flan and rice pudding.
For information, visit TacoSonMexicanGrill.com, or call (813) 528-8892.
Franky D’s opens in Lutz
Franky D’s Family Restaurant is a new, 175-seat restaurant/bar at 18450 U.S. 41 in Lutz.
The menu includes soups and salads, sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, steak and prime rib. A full bar with craft beers, wines, cocktails and specialty drinks also is available.
The restaurant is in the storefront formerly occupied by Elsa’s Mexican Restaurant, in a shopping plaza behind McDonald’s restaurant.
Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday; 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday; and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday.
For information, call (813) 591-6139, or visit Toasttab.com/franky-d-s-lutz.
Community Thrift Store opening
The Community Thrift Store has opened at 35229 State Road 54, west of Zephyrhills and next to Sergio’s.
Operating hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday; and, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., on Saturday.
The store will sell clean, recycled clothing for adults and children. Most clothing will be $1, but boutique items will be slightly higher. Other items for sale include toys, books, CDs, DVDs, and household goods, such as towels, blankets and sheets.
Some furniture also will be available.
Proceeds will benefit Christian ministries in Pasco County.
For information, call Rev. Jerry Jones at (217) 260-6337.
Cricket Wireless ribbon cutting
Cricket Wireless will have a ribbon cutting on July 12 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at 2436 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. The wireless shop is in the Big Lots Plaza behind McDonald’s restaurant.
The event is free.
For information, call the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce at (813) 909-2722, or email .
Hispanic leaders lunch
The Hispanic Business Leaders of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce will host a Hispanic Business Leaders Luncheon, open to all chamber members and guests, July 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.
Guest speaker will be Carolina Howard of Innova4change. Her topic will be “The Missing Link: Frontline Managers Training.”
The cost is $20 for chamber members at the door, or $15 if preregistered by July 13. For non-members, the cost is $20, and they can preregister or pay at the door.
For information, email Ignacio Ruiz at .
Microloan program
The Pasco Economic Development Council can help small business owners through its SMARTstart Microloan Fund.
These loans are targeted at small business owners who may not qualify for traditional financing, but who have a sound plan to grow their business. Microloans can be used for working capital, inventory, supplies, furniture, fixtures, machinery and other equipment.
Funds can’t be used to buy real estate or to refinance an existing debt.
The microloan fund seeks to increase job opportunities and build the economy. In particular, it can aid business owners who have difficulty accessing credit, such as women, minorities, veterans and disabled individuals.
For information, call the Pasco EDC at (813) 926-0827, or visit SmartstartPasco.com.
