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Friday Facts for January 28, 2022

Dear Chamber Member and Chamber Friends,

Here are your Friday Facts.

For Our Community and All Our Members. From John Wright, President, Punta Gorda Chamber of Commerce. Here is a copy of John’s Column printed in the newspaper on January 25, 2022.

For Our Members Only

PG Chamber radio show: Exclusively for PG Chamber members: NOW BOOKING FOR FEBRUARY 2022. Our monthly radio show on Seaview 104.9FM during the Bob Alexander Radio Show is on the first Wednesday and Thursday of each month. The process is very simple – no need to visit the studio. Bob will call you, set up a recording time and it’ll be done over the phone and inserted directly into the programming of this very popular show. You get the option to record two x 2.5 minute slots or else simply record one and have it aired twice during the show. Bob will be able to let you know exactly during which hour it will air. The cost is an incredible $110 (payable to the PG Chamber, not iHeart). To register for the show, simply email John Wright. The rest we’ll take care of for you. Only ten businesses per month, so don’t delay. Offering you a great way to promote your business, advertise an event or simply to show your community support.

For Our Community and All Our Members

TSA PreCheck Mobile Enrollment Returns to PGD:

Make an appointment for Jan. 31 – Feb. 10 at www.identogo.com/precheck

The IdentoGo TSA PreCheck Mobile RV will be coming to Punta Gorda Airport from Monday, January 31 through Thursday, February 10, 2022. The Mobile Enrollment Center will be located in the in the short-term parking lot across from the Snack Shack.

Dates:

  • Monday, January 31 through Friday, February 4 from 9 a.m. – Noon and 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Monday, February 7 through Wednesday, February 9 from 9 a.m. – Noon and 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Thursday, February 10, from 9 a.m. – Noon.

Location: 28000 Airport Rd, Punta Gorda, FL 33982. Look for the IdentoGo TSA PreCheck Mobile RV in the short-term parking lot across from the Snack Shack. Click here for more information.

Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor & Convention Bureau – As we welcome this new year, we are pleased to present the newly redesigned PureFlorida.com website. After 5 years it was time for the site to evolve, just as travelers’ expectations have, and to include the newest technology. The redesign process included significant research, exploration of existing data and integration of industry best practices to deliver rich content in a seamlessly, intuitive way for visitors to find the information they seek, quickly and easily. We think you’ll like what you see.

Job Fair

Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022 3pm-5pm at Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center.


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Where’s John Now?

Take a Tour of a Local Business and Chamber Member with John. CLICK HERE to find out where he visited this week.

This video will be shared here in Friday Facts, on our Chamber website, and on our Chamber Social Media pages. If you would like to have a visit from John please contact Tara Zajas at tzajas@puntagorda-chamber.com or call the office (941) 639-3720 to schedule a date. [/box]


Chamber Calendar of Events Members ONLY

Networking Events – February 2022

**Please remember to RSVP directly to events by emailing reception@puntagorda-chamber.com, by calling us at 941-639-3720 or by paying for lunch online. We LOVE to see you but we appreciate knowing you’re coming to provide our host with an accurate count to better accommodate us. Thank you for your assistance!

February 9: Business Over Breakfast 7:15am- 8:30am. Wake up and smell the coffee with your Chamber at Tamiami Tavern located at 10361 Tamiami Trail, Punta Gorda and hosted by Connect Print & Promotions, LLC. Please be sure to RSVP to reception@puntagorda-chamber.com or call 941-639-3720.
February 15: Business After Hours 5:30pm Come and join your Chamber for our Business After Hours at The Visual Arts Center located at 210 Maud St. in Punta Gorda. Don’t forget to bring a gift to promote and showcase your business! Please be sure to RSVP to reception@puntagorda-chamber.com or call 941-639-3720.

February 23: Networking Luncheon 12 Noon-1:30pm. Come and join your Chamber for our Networking Lunch at The Grille at 1951 located at 1951 Tamiami Trail in Port Charlotte. Reservations Required. Please be sure to RSVP to reception@puntagorda-chamber.com or call 941-639-3720. NOTE: Cancellations not accepted after 3pm on Friday before event. Cost is $20.00 per person pre-paid. We take cash, check, Mastercard, Visa, Discover & Amex

ONLINE RESERVATIONS FOR CHAMBER LUNCHEONS ARE ONCE AGAIN AVAILABLE BY CLICKING HERE


All the Following Information is for Our Community.

Please Support Our Local Businesses!


Partners in Action News

Four Points by Sheraton (Platinum) – Please join us for another weekend of fun and live music at T.T.’s Tiki Bar! On Friday night, we have No Filter on the big stage at 7:00 pm. On Saturday, Mixed Signal will kick things off at 7:00 pm. Relax on Sunday listening to Jah Rockaz at 3:00 PM. Please click to see our February line up of bands, so you can save the date! The Tiki Bar….always sizzling.

TIME Realty Services, Inc (Gold) – The end-of-year numbers for 2021 are released. Charlotte County sold 7968 properties up 17% over 2020. 47% cash, 41% conventional, 57% went under contract in 1-10 days, 12% in11-20 days. Median sold price $289K up 22%. If you would like specific numbers for your zip code give me a call at 239-699-5593

Downtown Farmers Market (Gold) – The Saturday Punta Gorda Farmers Market is open every Saturday from 8am until 1pm. January Newsletter!

Creative Window Treatments (Silver) –  is your local Hunter Douglas Showcase Dealer. We offer all types of custom window treatments for any business or commercial setting with 2 locations to serve you. Call for your FREE In-Home consultation! 941-637-0015 / 941-828-0000

Isles Yacht Club (Silver) – IYC Charity Cup Series! The Isles Yacht Club Series is a multi-faceted fundraising competition for the benefit of Valerie’s House and Charlotte County Habitat for Humanity. For more information or to see sponsorship opportunities, click here.

Calenda Real Estate Group (Bronze) – Check out our January 2022 market update!

Charlotte Players (Bronze) – Charlotte Players- Join us for two Valentine events for February. Your Funny Valentine on February 14th with Comedians Harley Worthit and Tara Zimmerman. “Comedian Harley Worthit is really worth it…while most comedians tell jokes to make you laugh, Harley Worthit makes you laugh just by walking onto the stage!” Located at The Langdon Playhouse in Port Charlotte. Next up on February 16th join us for ‘Till Death Do Us Part- Late Nite Catechism 3. A solo comedy show about a fictional Catholic Nun in her class. Located at The Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center, 75 Taylor St, Punta Gorda. For more information go to www.charlotteplayers.org or call 941-255-1022.

Gulfshore Opera (Bronze) – Taste of the Opera at the Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club, February 5th. Start the evening off with a concert in the ballroom. A trio of rising professional artists will perform some of the greatest aris, duets, and scenes from opera and classic musical theater. Kyaunnee Richardson, soprano, Derrek Stark, tenor, and Madison McIntosh, mezzo-soprano with Maestro Geoffrey Loff at the piano. The concert is followed by an elegant dinner in the Harbor Room. The menu includes a refreshing Pear Arugula Salad with a choice of Trout Almondine or Filet Mignon paired with a glass of wine and a dessert of Wild Berry Trifle. Cash bar is available throughout the night.

C.A.R.E. (Support) – C.A.R.E. would like you to wear orange on Tuesday February 8th in support of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. 1 in 3 young people will be in an abusive or unhealthy relationship in their lifetime. At C.A.R.E. we provide prevention education to help change that statistic. Show your support for our youth and wear ORANGE on Tuesday February 8th and tag us at @carecharlottecounty.

Drug Free Punta Gorda (Support) – Tuesday, Feb 8th 11:30am – 1:00pm Bringing a Story of Hope! A presentation by Dan & Jan Stuckey of the Archway Institute.

Frank Desguin Family (Support) – Copy of Frank’s Column in the newspaper. Did you know William Goff, one of the first settlers of what became Englewood, has hundreds of descendants, many of whom reside in Charlotte County today?

Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens (Support) – ZimSculpt, running from February 4th- April 18th in which curators from Zimbabwe will bring in over 2,000 hand-carved stone sculptures. Only coming to North America once per year, we take great pride in the fact that our Garden is the smallest and youngest garden to receive this exhibit with such international distinction.

We have received an overwhelmingly positive response from Charlotte County Schools wanting to bring 1,400 students to attend this exhibit and experience live demonstrations. About 40% of these students are from low-income families and seldom have an opportunity to explore the arts and relate them to classroom learning. This exhibit gives our students a rare opportunity to observe the finest Zimbabwean sculptors demonstrating their artistry, while they observe and learn about this art and culture.

This event is a first for us, and for our community. We need your help to meet the requests from our schools. Please join us and other community organizations to help support these field trips. The cost per student is $7.00. Please click here for more information on how you can help!


Member Information

Valerie’s House – Valerie’s House is a nonprofit organization that helps grieving families who have lost a loved one in Charlotte, Sarasota, Lee, and Collier County. Contact Christine Carey to volunteer, mentor, refer families, fundraising opportunities, and/or donate (christine@valerieshouse.org or 239-841-0382). We can also schedule Valerie’s House Tours. Valerie’s House’s website: www.valerieshouse.org

Punta Gorda Short Film Festival – The 8th Annual Punta Short Film Festival will be March 2nd at the Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center (Doors open at 6pm). Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Online tickets can be purchased at 8pgsff.bpt.me or you can purchase tickets at the Punta Gorda Chamber during normal business hours (Cash or check please).

Charlotte County Habitat For Humanity – The next $10,000 that is donated to Charlotte County Habitat for Humanity through April 2nd Annual Home Build Campaign will be matched up to $10,000! Click here to find out more or to find out how your donation can be matched!

Punta Gorda Coffee and Tea – Have you had a chance to try our NEW Ginger Syrup, this is made from our HHC Chocolatiers who experimented with a Candied Ginger Bar and ended up making this amazing syrup? Perfect in Teas, Lattes, Cold Brew, and more! This is a limited syrup so come down before it’s all gone!

Punta Gorda Chocolate and Wine – Have you Pre-Ordered your fresh to order Chocolate Covered Strawberries for your Valentine yet? They are only available for pre-order until February 1st; so give us a call at (941) 505-0479 and reserve your Fresh Hand-Crafted Chocolate Covered Strawberries.

The Punta Gorda Women’s Club – The Punta Gorda Women’s Club is having a Bunco Game Day fundraiser on Friday, February 18th at 12:00 noon in our clubhouse at 118 Sullivan Street. Italian sub sandwiches, chips, cookies and beverages will be served. There will also be prizes for winners and losers! The cost is $20 per person. All funds raised will go toward our local charities. Call Ellen Say for tickets – 941-505-9605.

Unwined Wine and Beer Bar – Happy Hour! Tuesday – Saturday 3pm – 6pm House Wine $5 Craft Beer $3.50 525 E Olympia Ave. Suite 3 Punta Gorda.

Charlotte County Concert Band – The Charlotte County Concert Band, under the direction of Bob Miller, presents “Dance With Me” on Friday, February 11th in the Charlotte Performing Arts Center. Everyone’s feet will be tapping as the band presents a wide variety of dance music from the classics to some ever-popular dance forms. Soprano Doreen Curp will be the featured soloist.

We hope that you will join the Charlotte County Concert Band for their concert on Friday night, February 11th at 7:30 at the Charlotte Performing Arts Center at Charlotte High School, 701 Carmalita Street, Punta Gorda. Tickets are available online at www.charlottecountyconcertband.com or at the Charlotte Performing Arts Center the night of the concert.

Kona Ice – Have Kona Ice of North Cape Coral to your Event or Parking Lot in the month of January and we will Donate 20% of Proceeds to the Charity of YOUR choice!! Give us a call at 239-365-9591 or email us at csphillips@kona-ice.com

Punta Gorda Pub Crawl – The Punta Pub Crawl presents The Punta Gorda Food Drive February 26th! The Ice House Pub at 10:30am until 1:00pm. Anyone who brings a non-perishable can of food will receive one raffle ticket per can, up to 24 cans per person for a chance to win a grand prize!

Burnt Store Presbyterian Church – The Boys of D63, featuring the music that defined the generation of the 60s, will take center stage on Feb. 14. This phenomenal show features four powerful vocalists whose voices, moves and wit will capture the audience with everything from Billy Joel to Earth Wind and Fire and more, with just a little Frankie Valli thrown in for good measure. The series finale, on Mar. 14, will put the spotlight on the Everly Set. All performances will start at 7:15 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. There is no reserved seating. Click here for more details.

Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida – Charlotte County Small Business Class Starts February 28. Individuals who are thinking about starting their own business but need some mentoring are invited to apply to the Goodwill Southwest Florida MicroEnterprise Institute, scheduled for Feb. 28 – April 7, 2022.

The MicroEnterprise Institute – is a six-week training program to help emerging entrepreneurs start new ventures and grow small businesses. Graduates complete a comprehensive training course and prepare a solid plan to guide their start-up. They work with mentors who are successful businesspeople, and hear from subject matter experts in areas of accounting, legal, marketing, insurance and funding. Click here for more information.

Team Punta Gorda – 17th Annual Gold Scramble March 19th at St, Andrews South Golf Club. Click here for details.

Pedal and Play in Paradise – March 26th. Punta Gorda’s Premier Bicycle event is back! Pedal and Play in Paradise features 15, 30 & 60 mile rides and the ever popular “Mystery Ride!” Includes a light breakfast, tasty box lunch, live entertainment & t-shirts for first 400 riders. Registration $50 Proceeds benefit TEAM Punta Gorda’s Bicycle-Friendly and other initiatives. Click here for more information.

Punta Gorda Civic Association – Let’s Go Fishing!
An introductory course in Florida Fishing is being offered at the PGI Civic Association on Shreve Street in Punta Gorda. Topics to be covered include fishing techniques, tackle selection, rigging, knot tying, lures, baits, cast nets, fish identification, tides, and fishing regulations for fishing in fresh and salt waters of Southwest Florida. Rods, reels, lures, nets and other fishing equipment will be demonstrated during the class and there will be a number of useful handouts issued to students. The class is geared towards beginning anglers, but more experienced fishermen may pick up helpful tips as well. The instructor is long time local fishing guide Capt. Ralph Allen who might even reveal the locations of a few local hotspots! The course is open to all members of the public and is held on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. for six weeks beginning on Wednesday February 23, 2022. The cost for the class is $50 and advance registration is recommended by calling 941-637-1655.

Connect Print & Promotions, LLC. –  January, a month of resolutions & new beginnings — let Kim & Freddie chart the path for your marketing success throughout the year!

  • commercial printing
  • logo/graphic design
  • next-level promotional swag
  • branded apparel
  • signs & graphics

(888) 978-3437 | kim@connectpromo.net | www.connectpromo.net

Guardian Ad Litem Foundation – The Guardian ad Litem Foundation, 20th Judicial Circuit, will host its newest fundraising event, “What’s your Superpower 5K Walk/Run & Kids Fun Run,” on Feb. 19 in Fort Myers.

The event will be held on the campus of Florida SouthWestern State College and feature a traditional 5K race for runners of all ages, as well as a children’s run and a virtual run for those unable to join the race in person.

Punta Gorda Symphony – Punta Gorda Symphony proudly presents the music of the great ballets ‘Appalachian Spring & Scheherazade’ on Sunday, February 6 at 7:30PM, held at the Charlotte Performing Arts Center in Punta Gorda, 701 Carmalita Street, Punta Gorda, FL. The exciting array of pieces on the program will be conducted by Maestro Raffaele Livio Ponti, Music Director of Punta Gorda Symphony, and features an audience favorite, Concertmaster Ming Gao on violin, in the hauntingly beautiful violin melodies of Scheherazade.

Edison and Ford Winter Estates – On February 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Edison and Ford Winter Estates will host its annual Antique Ford Car Show. Each year, classic car owners exhibit their cars on the Ford estate lawn as a tribute to Henry Ford, the pioneer of the automobile industry. Model Ts, Mustangs, Thunderbirds and other models will be on display.

Along with the car show, there will be a DJ on site playing music, and refreshments available for purchase. Visitors can also tour the gardens, museum, laboratory and see the historic homes. The site includes more than 20 acres of botanical gardens along the Caloosahatchee River with plants and trees from all around the world.

This family event is free for Edison Ford members and $25 for non-members, which includes a self-guided tour of the entire site. General admission tickets may be purchased on the website or at the ticket counter. Antique car owners wanting to participate can register their car (any Ford model, 1980 or older) for display in the show at EdisonFord.org before January 28.

The Grille at 1951 – Savor this Valentine’s Day! We’re preparing a special menu just for you and that special someone. Come enjoy our sweetheart specials!

Kays-Ponger & Uselton Funeral Home and Cremation Services – March 2nd from 5:00pm – 7:00pm. Kays-Ponger & Uselton Funeral Home and Cremation Services invites you to a complimentary Wine & Cheese Reception. Stop by and support our local arts and humanities and meet our local artist of the month.

Sea Grape Gallery – From February 3 to March 3, 2022, Sea Grape Gallery will be featuring two of their artists, Kitt Moran, oil painter, and Nancy Giffin, Nantucket, and Shaker style basketry artist.

Fisherman’s Village – February calendar of events.

Peace River Shopper – Latest Edition.


In Loving Memory

We are very sorry to inform you of the passing of a wonderful person and Punta Gorda Chamber supporter and member- Jeff Frankhouser of Covenant Business Planning Solutions.

He will be greatly missed. Our condolences to his family and friends.


Newsletters

ARCHway Institute – Newsletter

Animal Welfare League –Pawsitive News

C.A.R.E. –Newsletter

Charlotte County Habitat for Humanity – Newsletter

Cooperfish Books – January Newsletter

Loveland Center – Exciting Updates

Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens – Gardens at a Glance News

Punta Gorda Mural Society – Newsletter

SandStar – Newsletter

The Yoga Sanctuary – January Newsletter


Sincerely,

John Wright, President
Punta Gorda Chamber of Commerce

Every effort has been made to accommodate guests of all abilities. The Punta Gorda Chamber of Commerce is not responsible for the presentation, format or accessibility of customer submitted documents, images and links. For assistance with this document, please email tzajas@puntagorda-chamber.com or call 941-639-3720.

Platinum Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

Animal Welfare League

Calenda Real Estate Group

Centennial Bank

Charlotte Community Foundation

Charlotte Players

Denise Henry –ReMax Anchor Realty

Farr, Farr, Emerich,Hackett, Carr, and Holmes Law Firm

HCA Florida Fawcett Hospital

Granny Nannies Home Care

Gulfshore Opera

Hoff’s Air Authority

Pickleplex of Punta Gorda

State Farm Agency -Mike Martin

Superior Carpet & Upholestry Cleaning

Wotitzky, Wotitzky, Ross, & Young, PA

Port Charlotte Florist (In Kind)

Support Partners