Joy Bar celebrates Christmas in July
TAMPA – Joy Bar, a year-round holiday-themed bar, is celebrating Christmas in July.
Put on your holiday sweater and indulge your holiday spirit with free samplings and swag throughout the month. The naughty elf will pour shots and spread Christmas cheer every weekend.
It’s happy hour all the time at Joy Bar with $6 signature shots and cocktails, all day, every day. Everyone who wears a Christmas sweater in July will receive a free Fireball shot.
Christmas in July activities include:
• July 17 and 18: Tito’s Handmade Vodka, free samplings, swag and a DJ
• July 25: Christmas in July Official Party from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Joy Bar, located at 6905 N Armenia Ave., also features festive holiday lights, rare whiskey bottles and a selection of spirits.
On the web: LiquorDepotTampa.com.
Pasco makes land purchase
PASCO COUNTY – Pasco County announced last month the acquisition of 4G Ranch, a 1,893-acre property north of Land O’ Lakes.
It includes the entire Conner Preserve to Crossbar Ecological Corridor, connecting to Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Conner Preserve to the south and Pinellas County’s Crossbar/Al Bar Ranch to the north.
“Acquisitions mean we can slow down a lot of growth and development,” Board Chair Jack Mariano said. “1,900 acres of preserved land, which slows down traffic and protects wildlife.”
The purchase was part of a 50/50 partnership with Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
“By preserving 4G Ranch, we are safeguarding productive agricultural land, protecting our natural resources and ensuring that future generations can enjoy the rural way of life that makes Pasco County and Florida so special,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson.
Cooperative Extension offers ServSafe class
DADE CITY – The UF/IFAS Pasco County Cooperative Extension Service is offering a ServSafe Manager Certification Class and Exam session Aug. 5.
ServSafe is the national food safety certification for those working or planning to work in the food industry.
The class takes place at the UF/IFAS Pasco County Extension Office, 36702 County Road 52, Dade City.
Class begins at 8:30 a.m. by reviewing material from the textbook, so participants should study in advance. The exam will follow lunch (lunch is not provided), and participants will have two hours to complete it.
Register at mypas.co/ServSafeAug2026. You must be comfortable with the material prior to the class, so buy your textbook early to allow study time.
On the web: mypas.co/UFIFASPascoExt
$40M to expand registered apprenticeships
TALLAHASSEE – Florida has been awarded $40 million by the U.S. Department of Labor to support nationwide efforts to expand apprenticeships in the defense industrial base, shipbuilding and maritime manufacturing sectors, according to FloridaCommerce
Nearly 80 partners across the state are offering Letters of Support for this new program.
Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly said Florida is uniquely positioned to support efforts to develop talent across these industries, considering it’s home to 16 deepwater seaports and 21 major military installations, and ranked No. 1 in the nation for workforce development, maritime industrial base jobs and ship- and boat-building establishments.
Florida’s $40 million award is part of a larger effort through the U.S. Department of Labor to align workforce and talent development with the Trump administration’s America’s Talent Strategy and its goal of reaching and surpassing 1 million new active apprentices nationwide.
Greater Pasco events
NEW PORT RICHEY – The Greater Pasco Chamber will host a Nonprofit Roundtable, a grand opening, business exchanges and women’s programming.
• Gretchen Bauer, founder and creative director of BSWANKY, speaks at the Professional Women in Business Networking Lunch from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 15 at HCA Florida Trinity Hospital, 9330 SR 54, Trinity. Members pay $12. Others pay $15. Register in advance.
• Members trade business materials during the Trinity Business Exchange from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 16 at Seven Springs Golf and Country Club, 3535 Trophy Blvd., Trinity. Members get in free. Others pay $10. Lunch costs $13. Register in advance.
• The chamber holds its awards and installation banquet July 16. The event is sold out.
• Members trade business materials during the New Port Richey Business Exchange from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 23 at Seafire Grill, 4927 U.S. 19, New Port Richey. Members get in free. Others pay $10. Lunch costs $18. Register in advance.
• Members celebrate the grand opening of Grove & Sage Eco Market from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 24 at 5831 Main St., New Port Richey. A ribbon cutting starts at noon.
• Nonprofits connect and discuss ideas during the Nonprofit Roundtable from 9 to 10 a.m. July 28 at 4 & Co. Coworking Spaces, 16703 Early Riser Ave., Land O’ Lakes. Members get in free. Others pay $10. Register in advance.
East Pasco events
DADE CITY – The East Pasco Chamber will host Coffee & Networking, Core Connections and After Hours Networking.
• Members network and learn about chamber perks during Core Connections from 8 to 9 a.m. July 16 at the Dade City office, 14112 8th St., Dade City. Register in advance.
• Members mingle during After Hours Networking from 4 to 5 p.m. July 16 at Dade City Tap House & Spirits, 37916 Pasco Ave., Dade City.
• Members network during Coffee & Networking from 8 to 9 a.m. July 17 at the Zephyrhills office (38550 5th Ave.) and 8 to 9 a.m. July 21 at the Dade City office (14112 8th St.). Register in advance.
• Members mingle during After Hours Networking from 4 to 5 p.m. July 23 at Dade City Tap House & Spirits, 37916 Pasco Ave., Dade City.
• Members network during Coffee & Networking from 8 to 9 a.m. July 24 at the Zephyrhills office (38550 5th Ave.) and from 8 to 9 a.m. July 28 at the Dade City office (14112 8th St.). Register in advance.
Quick Hits
• Suncoast Credit Union recognized Janell Rio of Dade City as one of three winners of a sweepstakes that came with two tickets to FIFA World Cup matches in Miami. Suncoast members were entered in the sweepstakes when they used a Suncoast Visa debit or credit card during a promotional period.
