The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Business Digest

Bowling tournament

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The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce will have its young professionals group bowling tournament on Oct. 26, at Lane Glo Bowl South, 8631 Old County Road 54, in New Port Richey. Registration is at 5:30 p.m. and bowling begins at 6:30 p.m. There will be raffles, a spirit table, pumpkin-carving, a team costume contest and more. The cost is $160 per bowling team; $40 for individual bowlers. Spectators are welcome. For more information, call the chamber at 727-842-7651.

Credit Union celebration

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Suncoast Credit Union is celebrating the opening of its 75th branch by donating $75,000 in 75 days to local nonprofits across its service area. The giving began on Oct. 1 and will conclude at the end of the year. Each of the credit union’s 75 branches is selecting a local charity within its community to receive a $1,000 donation.

Hotel revenues down

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The hotel industry in Florida is projected to end 2021 down nearly 61% or $5.3 billion in business travel revenue compared to 2019, according to a report released recently by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and Kalibri Labs. Business travel is the hotel industry’s largest source of revenue and has been slow to return since the onset of the pandemic. Business travel includes corporate, group, government, and other commercial categories. While Florida has seen some return of business travel this year, full comparative revenue is not expected to reach pre-pandemic levels until 2024, according to a news release from the AHLA.

Local food banks supported

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Darden Restaurants is helping 10 Feeding America food banks that serve communities of color, by providing refrigerated trucks. The food bank receiving the donation in the Tampa Bay region is Feeding Tampa Bay, according to the news release. The refrigerated trucks are 26 feet long and are capable of transporting 12,000 pounds of food on each trip, the release says. Each food bank also is receiving $26,000 to use for food and other needs. The only other food bank in Florida receiving a refrigerated truck is Feeding Northeast Florida, which is in Jacksonville.

Feeding first responders

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(Courtesy of Misemer Marketing)

A business called Platters for First Responders delivered platters of food to Pasco County first responders in recognition of the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001. Thirty local sponsors ordered several platters, which were delivered to all 33 Pasco County fire stations. Deliveries also were made to Pasco’s dispatch center, the Pasco County Sheriff’s district offices. Volunteers helping included West Wind Provisions Boar’s Head along with the local Krewe of Chasco and Krewe de Forti, as well as other community volunteers.

Grand openings/ribbon-cuttings

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Premier Martial Arts, 1934 Collier Parkway, in Lutz, recently had a grand opening. To find out more about this business, visit PremierMartialArts.com/LandOLakes, or call 813-693-5606.

Lufka Wesley Chapel, at 27221 State Road 56, had a ribbon-cutting on Sept. 23. This is Wesley Chapel’s first Zero Waste store. For more information, visit Lufka.com.

YogaSix Trinity, 12271 State Road 54, Unit 3, had a ribbon-cutting on Sept. 24.

Travel insurance purchases up

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New data shows that a growing number of travelers are turning to travel insurance to protect their vacation investments and health while traveling, according to a AAA Travel survey. That survey showed that 31% of U.S. travelers are more likely to purchase travel insurance for their trips planned between now and the end of 2022, specifically due to the pandemic. AAA’s travel insurance sales have increased more than double digits year-over-year, as members return to travel and see the value of protecting that investment, according to a AAA news release. Choosing the right policy is important, and increasingly travelers want policies that protect against commonly covered reasons for trip cancellations and interruptions, as well as other travel-related incidents including change fees, delays or lost/damaged luggage, to name a few.

Florida’s job growth

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The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity recently announced that Florida has experienced 16 consecutive months of job growth. In total, Florida has gained 990,400 jobs since April 2020. Florida’s unemployment rate of 5% for August 2021 dropped one-tenth of a percentage point from July 2021. For 13 consecutive months, the state of Florida’s unemployment rate has remained below the national rate, currently at 5.2%. Florida’s labor force also continues to grow substantially, increasing by 65,000 over the month. Over the last five months, Florida’s labor force has grown by 373,000. Florida’s unemployment rate also has lowered over the year, decreasing by 2.9%, according to the department of economic opportunity.

New dental office

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BayBreeze Dental, operated by Dr. Ronak Parikh, opened on Sept. 13 at 28868 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel. Services offered include restoration, cosmetic, dental implants, Invisalign, extractions, emergencies, sedation and pediatric. For more information, call 813-694-8242.

Outlets welcomes new stores

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Tampa Premium Outlets has announced the opening of four retailers at the center and will be welcoming two more soon. The new retailers that are now open are: Aeropostale, BOSS Huge Boss, Marc Jacobs and Perry Ellis. The two retailers coming soon are Nautica Factory Store and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. Tampa Premium Outlets is located off Interstate 75 and the State Road 54/State Road 56 corridor, in an area where Lutz, Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel come together.