Bank offers student sweepstakes
Fifth Third Bank has launched its annual Student Banking Sweepstakes.
Through Sept. 30, students who open a checking account will be automatically entered into a sweepstakes offering $10,000 toward college tuition.
Last year’s winner was Tre’ Watson, a rising football star at Tampa Catholic High School.
For more information, visit 53.com/students.
‘Dancing With Our Stars’ returns
The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce will once again host “Dancing With Our Stars,” with a performance scheduled for Oct. 18.
The chamber still has a few dance slots to fill, as well as a need for volunteers to help behind the scenes for the “stars” who will be trained by dance professionals to perform a short routine.
The overall winner will be based on monetary votes, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting arts programs in the community.
To participate, volunteer or even sponsor, visit CentralPascoChamber.com, or call (813) 909-2722.
Kumquat Festival selling sponsorship packages
The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce is now accepting reservation packages for the 2015 Kumquat Festival, set to take place Jan. 31.
Packages start at $500, and include logos and links on the KumquatFestival.org website, as well as booth space at the festival. Premier packages, which run from $1,000 to $5,000, include additional features.
The event is expected to draw 45,000 people from Florida, who live here seasonally, and who are visiting.
For information, call John Moors at (352) 567-3769, or email .
Wendy’s coming to Sunlake
Homes are popping up throughout the area surrounding the intersection of Sunlake Boulevard and State Road 54, and the businesses are coming with it.
The latest one planned is a new 3,500-square-foot Wendy’s fast food restaurant, complete with drive-thru service. It will be constructed on less than an acre of land currently owned by Sunlake Equity One LLC out of Miami, which has nearly 28 acres on the site.
Wendy’s International Inc., is in charge of the construction project, which will be considered by Pasco County’s Development Review Committee on Sept. 25. Wendy’s initially submitted plans to the county for the project last April, with final revisions received at the end of August, according to county records.
It would become the seventh Wendy’s location east of the Suncoast Parkway, the closest at 2328 Raden Drive in Land O’ Lakes. Other locations are in Wesley Chapel, New Tampa, Zephyrhills and Dade City.
The meeting is set for Sept. 25 at 1:30 p.m., at the West Pasco Government Center, 8731 Citizens Drive in New Port Richey.
A chance to RACE to work
CareerSource Pasco Hernando is hosting three RACE to Work events throughout the region, helping those who are receiving unemployment benefits find work.
RACE, or Reemployment Assistance-claimant Community Event, will have its first job event Oct. 1 from 9 a.m. to noon at Pasco-Hernando State College, 450 Beverly Court, in Spring Hill. A second event will follow Oct. 15 from 9 a.m. to noon at Rasmussen College, 8661 Citizens Drive, Suite 300, in New Port Richey.
A third and final event will move to the eastern side of Pasco County, Oct. 22 from 9 a.m. to noon at the American Legion Post, 37745 Church Ave., in Dade City.
The event is free for both companies and those seeking work.
Businesses interested in registering a book can call Joyce Headrick at (352) 200-3050.
Lowe’s wants a bigger sign
When Lowe’s opens its doors later this year, it wants to make sure drivers on State Road 54 just east of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard realize it’s there.
The hardware store, now under construction in 152,000 square feet of space across from Village Lakes Shopping Center, is asking Pasco County’s Development Review Committee to allow its wall sign on the building to be more than double the size the county currently allows.
Current code limits a wall sign — that is, one that is hung on the front or side of a business — to 150 square feet. However, Lowe’s wants to build a sign on the front of its store at a little more than 375 square feet.
That would make the sign nearly 19 feet tall and 20 feet long, instead of the 15 feet long and 10 feet tall usually allowed under county ordinance.
In return, Lowe’s says it’s willing to build just one sign at the road, instead of the three the county allows. Overall, that would reduce the amount of signage Lowe’s has to 37 percent smaller than what the county allows, according to records submitted to the Development Review Committee.
A decision is expected Sept. 25 at 1:30 p.m., at the West Pasco Government Center, 8731 Citizens Drive in New Port Richey.
Bank stands up to cancer
Fifth Third Bank has returned its “Pay to the Order Of” campaign that earlier this year raised more than $2.3 million for Stand Up to Cancer.
The campaign was first launched in January and leverages new checking accounts to help drive donations that support collaborative cancer research programs, the company said in a release. For each new customer who opens a checking account with direct deposit, and makes three online bill payments, Fifth Third will give $150 to the customer and donate $150 to the cancer organization, more commonly known as SU2C.
The campaign runs through Oct. 17.
Prudential Commercial now Berkshire Hathaway
Prudential Commercial Real Estate FL is officially changing its brand, now becoming the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Properties Group Commercial Division.
The brokerage, which has served the Tampa Bay commercial and residential real estate markets since 1959, joins the HSF Affiliates company that now accounts for more than 31,000 agents and 907 offices in 46 states, according to a release.
The new Florida Properties Group Commercial Division is affiliated with popular businessman Warren Buffet and his holding company, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. It has 18 offices located throughout Pasco, Hillsborough, Pinellas and Hernando counties.
Prudential Tropical Realty, which is based in Trinity, made the name switch to Berkshire Hathaway last January. Despite the new moniker, the company is still owned by Dewey Mitchell and Allen Crumbley.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices is based in Irvine, California, and works in both residential and commercial real estate.
Upcoming SCORE seminars
The Pasco-Hernando Chapter of SCORE, which historically stands for Service Corps of Retired Executives, will host the following upcoming free seminars. For information, visit SCORE439.org.
- How to Apply for Non-Profit Grants — Oct. 1 at 3 p.m., at Spring Hill Branch Library, 9220 Spring Hill Drive, in Spring Hill. This seminar explores the truths, the hows, and the whys of grant writing. Participants can gain information on the key steps in the process of grant writing, matching their needs invariably as not-for-profits with the goals of grantors.
- Presentation Skills — Oct. 3 at 10 a.m., at SmartStart New Port Richey, 6345 Grand Blvd., in New Port Richey. Presentation and public speaking skills are useful in many aspects of work and life. Developing the confidence and capability to give good presentations, and to stand up in front of an audience and speak well, also are extremely helpful competencies for self-development.
