EMERALD LEVEL: Centennial Bank; Elite Inspections & Pest Solutions, LLC; Friendly Floors; Nolan Family Insurance; Port Charlotte Florist; Sandhill Healing Center; South Port Square; St. Andrews South Golf Club; State Farm Insurance-Mike Martin; and Wotitzky, Wotitzky, Ross and Young, PA.

Members, our monthly Networking at Noon is at Hurricane Charley's on Wednesday, October 12. Cost is $15pp.  Also please limit your attendance to only 1 or 2 per member as seating is limited. They will offer a buffet lunch.  RSVP in the member portal.

Join us on Wednesday, October 19 at 8:00 a.m. for our Third Wednesday Coffee from 8"00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. followed by our New Member Orientation. This will take place at the Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center, 75 Taylor Street, Punta Gorda. Come for coffee and a breakfast goodie and do a little networking before the program. Please RSVP in the member portal.

Members, join us for our Business Card Exchange on Thursday, October 27 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at The Farr Law Firm, 99 Nesbit Street, Punta Gorda. Remember to bring your business cards and if you like a small gift to promote your business.  Please RSVP in the member portal.

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!

Print Sponsor: Buffalo Graffix

Newspaper Sponsor: The Daily Sun

Radio Sponsor:  iHeart Media, Inc.

Bag Sponsor: WhitCo Insurance-Alexia Martin Agency

Refreshment Station Sponsor: The Purple House Salon

BCK Construction Company Inc.

4270 James St., Unit 1

Port Charlotte, FL 33980

Kaitlyn Helms

(941) 661-3581

bckconstruction@hotmail.com

https://www.bckconstruction.co/

Boxdrop Mattress Port Charlotte, LLC - Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening

     Tuesday, September 27, 2022 @ 5:30 p.m. Event is from 5:30-6:30pm 

 4265 Tamiami Trail Unit N Port Charlotte (Same shopping center as Rita’s Italian ice).

They will be offering snacks, sodas, wine, and do mattress specials and giveaways.

Please register for this event in the member portal.

Horsepower for Healing - Ribbon Cutting

Tuesday, October 4, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. (Event is from 5-7p.m.)

6210 George Road, Punta Gorda.

Refreshments, snacks, tours with participation

in ground base work (obstacle course) with the horses.

Please RSVP for this event in the member portal.

Restoration Bar Open House & Ribbon Cutting

Thursday, October 6th at 5:30 p.m. (Event is from 5-7p.m.)

112 Nesbit Street #112, Punta Gorda.

Light Food & Refreshments, sample some products, chance to win Botox, Filler, IPL photofacial, Vitamin Shots & Diamond Glow Facial. Please RSVP to info@restorationbar.com or through the member portal.

Mathnasium Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting

Tuesday, October 11th at 5:30 p.m. (Event is from 5-7p.m.)

1808 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte (Same mall as Panera)

Will have Food Trucks (Tacos & Drinks and Ice Cream)

Face Painting for the kids.

Please RSVP to portcharlotte@mathnasium.com by Oct. 5th.

or in the member portall.

The UPS Store 7614 Grand Opening/Ribbon Cutting

·       Thursday, October 13^th Event 5-6p.m., Ribbon Cutting 5:30pm

·       19400 Cochran Blvd. Suite 150 Port Charlotte

Music, Food & Drinks

Kindly register in the member portal.

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

Punta Gorda Marina 40^th Anniversary

Thursday, November 10th at 5:30 p.m.

26096 Marion Ave., Punta Gorda

Food Trucks, Drinks, Desserts & Giveaways

(Dual Ribbon Cutting with PG Chamber)

Please RSVP for this event in the member Portal.

·

Succentrix Business Advisors Grand Opening / Ribbon Cutting

 Tuesday December 6^th event 5-6pm Ribbon Cutting 5:30pm

  25080 Olympia Ave Suite 200 Punta Gorda

  Wine, beer, soft drinks, light appetizers and branded cookies

Please RSVP for this event in the member Portal.

20% off on all artworks from our artists. Art makes the World Go Around and our artists have Art for everyone. Sale starts September 23rd and ends on the 30th.  Come and visit Vernon and Rebecca at Two Angels Soaps, Gallery and Gifts 2686 Tamiami Trail #5A, Port Charlotte, FL 33952

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!

Come to Home Instead of SWFL’s Open House October 15, 2022 from 10 am – 1 pm. A free “Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care” Class will be held. Many are dealing with this disease and need help! Class from 11 am to 12 noon and taught by Sue Townsend, RN, Home Instead of SWFL. Come at 11 am for the class or preregister by calling 941-505-0452. By the way, free ice cream from the ice cream truck onsite! See the big old house at 520 Olympia Avenue in Punta Gorda.

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. 

Save the date for the United Way of Charlotte County H.O.P.E. Block Party on Thursday October 20, 20022 from 3-6PM. Join our celebration to support local non-profit agencies at the Port Charlotte Town Center, parking lot.  Admission to the BBQ and networking event is a gift to support local social service work. Needed items include: Target or Walmart gift cards, gas cards, blankets for seniors, diapers - any sizes or cash donations. RSVP: 941.627.3539 or click here. 

Haunting on the Harbor is October 21-31, 2022 open 6:00pm-11:00pm each night at our new larger location, 3811 Tamiami Trail, Punta Gorda, FL 33950 just south of Walgreens on US41 south-between Smart Stop storage and Bank OZK. Visit www.PuntaGordaHaunting.com to see all the details. Vendor forms here. Free gate admission, entertainment, costume contests, kid's fun zone, food trucks, vendors, full bar and cold beer. Contact jerry@smugglers.com at Laishley Crag House/Smugglers Event Management or call 941-637-5953 for more information.

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

“On Saturday, November 5^th, the Tidewell Foundation is holding the 2022 Tidewell Trot 5K & 1-Mile Run/Walk at the Nathan Benderson Park. All proceeds benefit Tidewell Foundation in its grants to Tidewell Hospice for charity care, grief support services, specialized veterans care, music therapy, telehealth and more. The 5k run will begin at 8:00am, the 1-mile run/walk at 8:15am, and the brunch and vendor fair will begin at 9:00am. For more information, contact us at (941) 552-7651 or via email at rsvp@tidewellfoundation.org”

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!

Pink Pantha LLC is a new clothing store that opened in March 2022. We sell women's clothing specializing in Juniors, Misses and Plus Sizes. We offer personal customer service. Our staff will help you find the right outfit for you! We are located in the Port Charlotte Town Center. Open mall hours, 7 days a week. No time to go to the mall? No problem! We just went online! Visit our new website at http://www.pinkpanthaclothingstore.myshopify.com 941-764-6465

First Impressions Foundation has moved to 318 Tamiami Trail, Unit 228, Punta Gorda. Our goal is to put the "fun" in functional fashion. We know that looking stylish can make your whole day better; that's why we're committed to being your source for the newest trends. We provide the clothing you love so you can focus on looking great! Stop in, or visit our website http://firstimpressionsfoundationinc.com for our online boutique.

This week's pets of the week are 2 wonderful foster furbabies! Astrid & Cassanova are both as lovable as they get, but they come with a few special needs. Astrid is missing teeth and needs to be on special food, but she is the sweetest cat & she loves kids. Cassanova, while he is a love muffin, he would have to be your only one. If you can't adopt please consider becoming a foster. All food and medical care are provided, the only thing you need to supply is a warm loving home! Applications for adoption and fostering can be found on our website at AWLshelter.org 

Building a healthier workplace one employee at a time! 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.

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. We are offering a $20 discount to all military and first responders. Email us for a quote at office@keltinginspections.com. 

Were you aware that 1 in 3 women and nearly 1 in 4 men experienced sexual violence involving physical contact during their lifetime? These statistics are overwhelming, but there is hope. The Center for Abuse and Rape Emergencies in Charlotte County (C.A.R.E.) is here to help. Our helpline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. If you are in an abusive relationship or are a survivor of sexual assault, it is NEVER your fault. Text or call our completely free helpline, 941-499-8534.

Do you double-check identity before hiring? Try this records-based method: On your job application, require applicants to list all prior addresses over the last ten-plus years. Then, order an SSN/Prior Address Verification for that applicant. Compare the applicant-provided addresses with the address report. Applicants using falsified identities rarely know the prior addresses of the person whose identity they've stolen. And, after verifying identity, the SSN/PAV indicates the jurisdictions to check for criminal and other records.    For FCRA-compliant screening services ... contact Doris Hebert-Ferrigno at NRG Background Checks.  941-488-8500;  800-531-6522;   nrginfo@atlantic.net    

Give the Gift of Entertainment!  Memories that will last a lifetime for your friends and loved ones! A gift that lasts forever!  Military Hertiage Museum Gulf Theater Gift Cards are available now!  Click here for Gift Cards!

PGICA offers a variety of classes and programs from art classes, crafting, and exercise classes, including yoga and dance, to lectures on health topics, members’ world travels, financial seminars, and town hall meetings. All are open to the general public. PGICA programs begin on Sept. 2! Some of the programs are listed here. Visit their website to learn more. Registration is required at PGICA.org.

If you have family and friends who will be visiting during the holidays, and they need repairs to their travel vehicle, remember that at Complete Auto Repair, we offer a 24,000 mile, 2-year warranty that is valid nationwide.  That means our work will be warrantied at a shop near your families’ home.  If a visitor needs service so they can get back home, call Mary for an appointment, at 941-623-2926. 

If you will be moving during the last part of this year, remember to declutter and donate first.  There are many ways to sell or donate which can offset moving costs and help at tax time.  Gardiner & Sons Moving & Storage has done too many moves where things wouldn’t fit into the new home, yet were moved anyway.  The mass-donations that resulted left money on the table because those items could have been sold.  When Quality Counts, Call Gardiner & Sons, (941) 423-5311. 

Members may create Member-to-Member deals, Hot-Deals, post Jobs and News Releases using the MIC (Member Portal). There is no additional cost to do so!  We recommend that you check these links each week to see what members are offering.

“The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary” Vidal Sassoon

We encourage members to shop with other members to keep our community and local economy strong. If you do business with one or more of our renewing members please congratulate them for their Chamber Anniversary. These are members who renewed between August 16, 2022 and September 15, 2022... Take a look!

The judge warned the witness, “Do you understand that you have sworn to tell the truth?”

“I do.”

“Do you understand what will happen if you are not truthful?”



“Sure,” said the witness. “My side will win.”