Leadership Charlotte Hall of Fame Luncheon on Thursday, September 8th will be at the Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club. Please plan to arrive by 11:30, lunch will be served at noon and the event should conclude at 1:00 p.m. Kindly choose your meal when you register. Cost $35pp.​ Meal choices: *Grilled Chicken Waldorf Salad – mixed greens topped with celery, grapes apple & walnuts or *Beef Stroganoff – Beef medallions and gravy sauce tossed with egg noodles garnished with parsley & garlic bread. Kindly register in the Member Portal.

Members, Networking at Noon on September 14, 2022 will be at The Captain's Table, 1200 W. Retta Esplanade #A55 (Fishermen's Village), Punta Gorda. Cost $15.00pp. Please select your meal choice when registering.  Lunch is Pasta Buffet – choice of - chicken or meatballs, alfredo or red sauce, penne or cavatappi, bread sticks, side salad.

Or if you are a vegetarian there is a Larger Salad Option.  Please register in the member portal.

Members, join us for the September 21, 2022 Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce Third Wednesday Coffee at the 24Twenty One Event Center from 7:45 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. Enjoy a coffee/beverage and breakfast goodie. Our Sponsor: 24Twenty One Event Center and our Program: Marcia Cullinan will speak about Vote Yes! for Success! Kindly register your attendance with the link at right so that we can properly plan this event.



The 12th Annual Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce Business Expo date is February 2, 2023! Remember to save the date and set aside a little of your marketing budget ($395 for a booth space) for the Hottest Business Day in Paradise, Expo2023!

Crossroads Hope Academy Nix Campus Ribbon Cutting

Tuesday, August 30, 2022 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Cutting at 5:30)

2208 Castillo Avenue Punta Gorda

( Turn onto Bidwell from Taylor, please be mindful of speed as the road is narrow and runs alongside a private residence.)

There will be  food, beverages & self-guided tours

MaineLand Development Ground Breaking & Ribbon Cutting

Thursday, September 1 at 12:00 Noon, 21319 Quesada Ave, Port Charlotte, FL Attendees receive Chick Fil A boxed lunch & soft drink. (from US41, turn on Harbor Blvd. go past the Hosp. left on Quesada, lot is on left after Waterside before Winston) Please RSVP directly to Jermaine White 813-525-7695 or jwhite@mainecorp.us

Harpers 1980 LLC Ribbon Cutting

Tuesday, September 13 at 5:30 p.m.

1158 Market Circle, Unit 5, Port Charlotte

Please RSVP for this Event in the Member Portal.

Brookdale Port Charlotte - Ribbon Cutting

Tuesday, September 20 at 5:30 pm., 18440 Cochran Blvd., Port Charlotte

Open House from 5-7pm - appetizers, refreshments and tours of the property.

Please RSVP in the Member Portal.

 Phoenix on Site Repair - Ribbon Cutting

Wednesday, September 21 ( Immediately following our Third Wednesday Coffee)

about 9:00 a.m. at 24Twenty One Event Center )

24 Twenty One 10 Year Anniversary Celebration & Ribbon Cutting

Tuesday, October 25 from 5pm to 7pm Ribbon Cutting at 5:30 p.m.

2421 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte - Appetizers, Entertainment,

Adult Beverages, Door Prizes Please RSVP for this event directly to 24twentyone@gmail.com or by calling them at 941-249-4059

Seminar: D'oterra Essential Oils, Wednesday, August 31^st from 2 to 4 pm, Hosted by: Parkside Assisted Living & Memory Care at 2595 Harbor Blvd, Port Charlotte. Learn about: The Aroma Touch Hand Technique, Introduction to Essential Oils, the Aroma Touch Full Demo and Q&A - Light Refreshments. Contact: Laura Speer at 941-766-7444 to reserve your seat today!

Offered by 360 BUSINESS GROWTH & STRATEGIC GIFTING - Cutco Closing Gifts and more! Are you a realtor or in the real estate industry? Are you looking for more avenues to service your clients and do deals? Come learn about mobile homes and mobile home investing in SWFL at our Level Up Workshop hosted by Ray Gomes and Jose Garcia. Sept 9th from 11am-2pm at Hampton Inn North Port. RSVP at www.jgarciamhlive.com/northport

Punta Gorda Symphony Summer Chamber Music Series at Florida SouthWestern State College Charlotte Campus, Auditorium | 26300 Airport Road, Punta Gorda.  Flute Trio: Saturday, Sept. 10, 7 p.m. Discover the gentle and evocative artistry of the flute featuring Francesca Arnone, Bill Larsen, and Beth Larsen. Learn more or purchase tickets at  http://www.pgsymphony.org

The Grill at 1951, 1951 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte.  Enjoy music while eating in the restaurant. Reservations are required for some shows. Most shows are 6 to 9 p.m. Visit website for details. Bill Fredericks: most Fridays.  Mickey Basil Solo: most Saturdays.  

Tony Boffa Quartet: most Tuesdays. Tim Goodman's Jazz Jam Open Mic: most Wednesdays.  Musicians change every Thursday.  Michael White with Mickey Basil Band: Thursday, September 1.  Patricia Dean Trio: Thursday, September 8

Cool Vibes: Thursday, September 15.  http://www.thegrillat1951.com/

Coming soon September 15th our Autumn Scents on Soaps, Bath Bombs and Soy Candles.

Stop by the store to see our two latest artists, Art by DEDO Paper Pulp Sculptures and Creations From Paradise Handmade Artisan Jewelry.  Mention Chamber of Commerce for discount.  Two Angels Soaps, Gallery & Gifts LLC twoangelssgg@gmail.com

(941)883-2861. Located in Sanctuary Plaza, 2686 Tamiami Trail, Unit 5-A, Port Charlotte,.

Charlotte Players- The countdown has begun for the first two shows of our 62^nd season! Comedy for a Cause is September 9^th at the Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center in Punta Gorda. Join the cast as we celebrate the 10^th year of this fundraiser! Also on September 9^th and running thru September 18^th, The 39 Steps. Located at The Langdon Playhouse in Port Charlotte. For more information on either of these events go to www.charlotteplayers.org or call 941-255-1022.

CDBIA Next Gen to host Construction Cornhole: Presented by LTD Contracting

Who will be the champion? Join us September 18th. Registration begins at 12PM, play begins at 1PM. This will be a double elimination tournament. There will be a 50/50 drawing, tickets will be on sale: $5 for 6, $10 for 13, and $20 for A BUNCH. So, don't forget to bring cash. There will be prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. A portion of the proceeds from the tournament will be donated to the CDBIA Next Gen Council. To register, please click here:  https://charlottedesotobia.growthzoneapp.com/ap/Events/Register/qPY801Rp?mode=Attendee  

Open House~ "FALL in Love With Parkside!" on Thursday, September 22nd from 3 to 7 pm. Hosted by: Parkside Assisted Living & Memory Care, 2595 Harbor Blvd, Port Charlotte. Take a tour of our beautiful community, contact: Laura Speer at 941-766-7444 to RSVP!

It is getting close to tee time! Our annual Golfers Who C.A.R.E. Golf Scramble will be September 24th at Riverwood Golf Club in Port Charlotte. If you have not registered your team yet or if you’re interested in being a sponsor for the event, please go to the link below and sign up, OR if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us at 941-639-5499 or email us at golferswhocare@gmail.com.

As always, all proceeds raised go directly to helping survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. https://events.golfstatus.com/.../registration-details

Come join us for a fun night of Music Bingo, Dinner, & Chance Auction Baskets for a fundraising event to help our Valerie’s House-Charlotte County children & families. Our mission is to help children & families work through the loss of a loved one together & go on to live fulfilling lives. The fun event will be on Saturday, September 24^th @ 6pm. Tickets are $25. Purchase tickets @ Events — Valerie's House (valerieshouse.org)

Seminar: Florida Medicare Group, Wednesday, September 28th from 1 to 2 pm.

Hosted by: Parkside Assisted Living & Memory Care, 2595 Harbor Blvd, Port Charlotte. Learn about: Medicare 101 and Choosing the Best Plan for You. Light Refreshments. Contact: Laura Speer at 941-766-7444 to reserve your seat today!

Southwest Florida Honor Flight is hosting their Fall golf tournament on Saturday, Oct. 15th at Deep Creek Golf Club in Punta Gorda. Individual and team registration is open by emailing swflhonorflight@gmail.com. All proceeds will be used to transport our Veterans to Washington DC to be honored at their memorials on an upcoming Southwest Florida Honor Flight in 2023. Veteran and Guardian applications are always accepted and can be found at www.swflhonorflight.org.

The Center of Abuse & Rape Emergencies is co-hosting a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Training with the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence at ShorePoint Health Punta Gorda on October 17-21, 2002 from 8am-5pm. Training topics highlights include: Sexual Assault Response Team Roles, Medical & Forensic History, Head to Toe Assessment, Forensic Documentation, Trauma Identification and Evidence Collection. There is no cost to the participant. Please register at www.fcasv.org. Upon completion, the medical professional will have a clear understanding of the principles of care for those who experience sexual assault.  

Charlotte Players- Blithe Spirit Oct. 7-16. This play concerns the socialite and novelist Charles Condomine, who invites the eccentric medium and clairvoyant, Madame Arcati, to his house to conduct a séance, hoping to gather material for his next book. Get ready for Halloween with the second play of the season! For tickets go to www.charlotteplayers.org or call 941-255-1022.

Individuals interested in starting a business but need some mentoring are invited to apply to the Goodwill Southwest Florida MicroEnterprise Institute, scheduled for October 3 – November 10, 2022. The six-week comprehensive training course gives graduates a solid plan to guide their start-up. Classes are from 6p.m. to 9p.m. Monday and Thursday evenings at the Charlotte County Goodwill Community Resource Center, 24123 Peachland Blvd., Port Charlotte. To apply, visit www.goodwillswfl.org/microenterprise, or call (239) 995-2106 ext. 2215. The session is $80; Volunteer hours can be substituted for the fee if income requirements are met. Contact Annette Watkins at annettewatkins@goodwillswfl.org. 

Do you have a great idea for a service app or tech product but don’t know where to start to create, refine, find investors, and market it? If so, you are the perfect candidate for South West Florida's first tech startup weekend. This November 4-6th at Babcock Ranch, budding entrepreneurs will compete to see whose tech startup idea merits investment to get their product to the market. Babcock Ranch resident and entrepreneur/ business coach Priya Ahluwalia is organizing the event which has several goals, including solving local problems, creating new jobs and opportunities, and establishing Babcock Ranch as a destination for innovation. Of course, it also gives people an opportunity to present their ideas to mentors and potential investors and see their ideas spring to life. We are looking for potential sponsors for this event.https://babcockranchforbusiness.com/techxpedition

Join us at our new location at the Port Charlotte Town Center mall! Reserve your spot now for the Fall Suncoast Living Health & Wellness Expo at Port Charlotte town center on Saturday, November 12, 2022 from 10a - 4p. Get your business in front of many SW Florida full-time residents, visitors and returning snowbirds! We will have 2 different live radio broadcasts covering the event, as well as more traffic at the mall starting holiday shopping season! Different booth levels available. Call or email for more information and an application - 941.204.2222 or info@onholdprod.com Brought to you by Lincoln Marketing Group and Port Charlotte Town Center Mall!

Kelting Inspections is excited to announce that we are offering pressure washing services. We have professional equipment, a commitment to customer service, and fair prices. Our services include the options for a house wash, roof soft wash, and concrete or paver flat work. Email us for a quote at office@keltinginspections.com.

Consumer Alert:  Don’t use an online form to find a mover – It gets sent to brokers who don’t even own a truck. They will accept and quote your job, and later attempt to farm it out to actual movers at a profit.  These make up the majority of emergency calls that we receive, when the move date arrives but the moving van does not. At Gardiner & Sons Moving & Storage, we make our own schedule, so you can be assured that your move will happen as planned.  Call Kenny at (941) 423-5311. 

A rain surprise – rodents will seek shelter under your vehicle’s hood.  They eat the electrical wiring and shove nesting material where it can later catch on fire.  A car doesn’t have to sit for long periods to be a shelter for rats.  Repair costs can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars, but fortunately they may be covered by insurance.  At Complete Auto Repair, we will clear out nest debris and replace your car’s wiring that the rodents had for dinner.  Call Mary at 941-623-2926 for an ASAP repair appointment.  

Radiology Regional is happy to announce that we are opening a brand-new imaging center in September! Our Port Charlotte location has been serving Charlotte and surrounding counties for over 2 years, and we are expanding North! Our new location is located in Lakewood Ranch at 6600 University Pkwy, Suite 120, Sarasota Florida 34240 in the Center Point Medical Center.  Call 941-255-7945 to schedule at any of our 14 locations in the Southwest Florida Region. Breast Awareness month is fast approaching! www.radiologyregional.com

NRG Background Checks is a state-authorized provider of personal and business credit reports for all municipal, county, and state contractor licensing, as well as for all other Florida occupational and professional licensing which requires credit reports. Credit reports are also available to both public and private employers and to property owners and managers for employment and tenancy screening purposes.    For FCRA-compliant screening services ... contact Doris Hebert-Ferrigno at NRG Background Checks.  941-488-8500;  800-531-6522;   nrginfo@atlantic.net     Our 28th year serving Florida employers, landlords, and public entities.   

Did you know that Murdock Stones Etc. sell Railroad Ties? Check them out at 7621 Sawyer Circle (off Gasparilla Rd. …look for the World’s Largest Mailbox) or 590 Prineville St. in Port Charlotte (by the Sun Flea Market). . www.murdockstonesetc.com. 941-629-6651.

Looking for your employees to be more energized and motivated? Let us help! Gulfcoast South AHEC offers FREE tobacco cessation counseling and FREE Nicotine Replacement in the form of patches, gum and/or lozenges at no cost for qualifying participants. Let’s get back to happy and healthy together. As part of Tobacco Free Florida’s in-person/virtual Group Quit sessions, we are here to help. Call 866-534-7909 or visit gsahec.org to register today.

Florida Consumer Off Lease Auto Brokers has good news-Vehicle prices are finally coming down!! We have over 1,000 vehicles available for purchase weekly-all prices down 10%!! 2018-2022 with Factory Warranty, Clean Auto Check report and low mileage. Over 500 Trucks, Crew Cabs, and 4x4's also. Call for info; we are happy to email prices, specs and details; or make an appointment to visit us in the only indoor virtual showroom. NO DEALER FEES! give Justin a call at 941 350-7544 or Peggy 941 284-9617. 

www.shopofflease.com or email: shopofflease@gmail.com 

“Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion.” – Jack Welch

New exciting opportunity to work for the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce. We are looking for a seasoned Digital/Social Media Marketing Specialist. This is a full-time position. The right candidate will have successful sales experience, thorough understanding to navigate social media platforms, excellent organization skills and attention to detail, ability to prioritize tasks, and able to develop innovated and creative marketing strategies for all chamber initiatives. If this is the right opportunity for you, please email your cover letter and resume to Bob White at bwhite@charlottecountychamber.org

John F. Guarino MD PA immediate Job Opening. Busy General Surgery Practice has an opening for a full-time receptionist. We are seeking an outgoing, experienced, able to multitask, and be a team player. Responsibilities:  Insurance verification, collection of copay/deductible.  Check in / Check out.  Schedule appointments.  Answer phones.  Send, receive, request medical records.  Basic office tasks.  Medical receptionist: 1 year (Required).  Insurance verification: 1 year (Required).  Medical billing: 1 year (Required).  Contact: Brooke Bulifant, Administration. (941) 391-5102. office@guarinomd.com

VIRGINIA B. ANDES VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY CLINIC SEEKS: Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Job Classification: Full time, Limited Benefits, Clinical Services

Direct tasks of APRN’s include coordination of all aspects of patient care, including diagnosis, treatment, and consultation, and serving as leaders within the clinical setting. JOB QUALIFICATIONS: • Commitment to the Virginia B. Andes Volunteer Community Clinic, Inc. philosophy of care and understanding of the non-profit mission and experience. • Current State of Florida License as a Nurse Practitioner. • New APRN graduates are encouraged to apply. • 1-year experience in a clinical setting preferred. • Ability to practice independently while functioning as a leader within the healthcare team. • Excellent oral and written communication skills required. CONTACT BY EMAIL ONLY, ATTACH RESUME: Suzanne Roberts, M. ED Chief Executive Officer, sroberts@volunteercare.org

Punta Gorda Isles Civic Association Facility and Maintenance Coordinator – Full-Time Responsibilities include: cleanliness, repair and safety of facility, equipment and grounds; preparing auditorium and classrooms for daily activities; staffing special events. Requires extremely flexible scheduling, initiative, exceptional organization, good judgement, and outstanding customer service skills.   Representative physical demands: handling, grasping, lifting and moving objects, including moving objects of 50lbs or more; reaching; standing or walking for long periods of time; working in heat/cold, wet/humid conditions; communicating/receiving/exchanging information verbally.   Weekdays- $17 per hour; Weekends/Holidays- $19 per hour. Paid vacation.   Send inquiries and resumes- Teri Ashley at teriashley@pgica.org for review. 

Virginia B. Andes Volunteer Community Clinic seeks a Director of Donor Development & Fundraising. Under the direction of the CEO, the full-time Director will be a member of the VBA Leadership Team. Essential duties to include but not limited to: Execute the long-term vision and strategy of VBA’s development, fundraising, donor engagement initiatives. Creatively strategize campaigns, fundraising initiatives, marketing platforms to secure additional individual, corporate, faith-based and civic funding partners. Special Event Planning, Implementation. Data integrity and reporting for the VBA Donor Database Management System. For a full description of the qualifications for this position, please open this PDF: https://volunteercare.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/VBA-Clinic-Director-Donor-Development-Fundraising-2022.pdf

Charlotte Technical College announces their new JOB BOARD - College Central, the interactive tool that links employers with prospective job candidates through college-based Career Centers. A powerful tool for students and alumni to maintain a resume and find jobs. The lowest cost source for employers to post jobs and search resumes. The powerful resume management tool for career centers. You can use this link to the site !

https://www.collegecentral.com/ctech

One day during cooking class, the teacher, Mrs. Jones, was extolling her secrets for preparing perfect sauces. When she ordered us to the stoves to prepare our assignments, she said, "Don't forget to use wooden spoons."

As I stirred my sauce, I contemplated the physics behind the mystery of the wooden spoon, and decided it must have something to do with heat conduction. I approached Mrs. Jones to test my theory.

"Why wooden spoons?" I asked.



"Because," she replied, "if I have to sit here listening to twenty-three metal spoons banging against metal pots, I'll go nuts."