New Port Richey - Maaco New Port Richey is located at 4401 U.S. Highway 19 in New Port Richey (just across the street from Sam's). They are a certified Collision Repair & Auto Painting Center *Hours: Monday - Friday 8am to 6pm & Saturday 8am to 1pm. Brian Hegwood is the owner of the shop and Andrew Kousaleos is the manager of the shop. This is a family-owned, operated business and if you're really lucky, Shanda Hegwood will make sandwiches for you! Their website is www.maaconpr.com or www.maaco.com/newportrichey Their phone number is  727-847-9986. This is their ribbon-cutting with the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce on June 15. 06/23/2010

The Volunteer Way Inc. (TVW) is a volunteer non-profit, 501c3, organization that has been serving people caught in poverty for more than fourteen years, we are committed to the less fortunate of our communities. TVW never charges a fee for the food or personal items we distribute to low-income people or the soup kitchens and food pantries we serve.HELPING PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE ALL ABOUT MAKING MONEY BUT ABOUT HELPING THEM TO GET BACK ON THEIR FEET AND BECOMING PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES.The Volunteer Way is made up of an average of 70 volunteers from all walks of life and two paid employees. They also participate in a training program that pays five developmentally disabled adult employees. These wonderful organization feeds 20,000 families a month in the West Pasco County ... 06/22/2010

Tampa, FL-Big Cat Rescue has a mosquito problem, yes it does. Being surrounded by swampy areas is why they have a mosquito problem. But, they have taken care of the problem and all the cats seem very happy that they have -- So do the volunteers. Big Cat Rescue is located across from Citrus Square Mall and is open for tours of the facilities. Check their website at www.bigcatrescue.org   06/21/2010

Port Richey, FL - please join the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services of Florida at their Annual fundraiser on June 24. Jeff Thomas, Executive Director and his staff do excellent work in the local community helping the hearing impaired and their families cope with the reality of hearing loss. They cannot continue to do this effectively without the community's support. Please keep your calendars open for this great event. There will  be celebrity pourers and great basket giveaways!  DHHSF is a not for profit organization that provides training to many local organizations to include law enforcement, EOC, and medical services  to help better serve the hearing impaired in our community. DHHSF also holds monthly workshops, sign language classes and seminars for the hearing impaired to help bet... 06/20/2010

Another Bank Owned Home SOLD!!! by Roy Barnhart & Gail McKay Florida Luxury Realty 2241 Moon Shadow Rd New Port Richey, FL. 34655 Another Bank Owned Home SOLD!!!! by Roy Barnhart & Gail McKay Subdivision: Natures Hideaway Phase III 2241 Moon Shadow Rd New Port Richey, FL. 34655 Sale Price: $90,000 Sale Date: 06/18/2010 3/2/2 Pool Home This Bank Owned Home was a fixer upper that just needed a little TLC. The home had huge potential with a dual fireplace cathedral ceilings, a split floor plan, an in-ground pool, and a privacy fenced yard. This Bank Owned home was located in the Natures Hideaway Phase III in New Port Richey / Trinity Florida, 34655. The home is in close proximity to schools, shopping, and county parks.   If you are looking for a deal give us a call!!! We direct selling age... 06/19/2010

This was sent to me by a friend, and is just for entertainment! You might even see yourself in the crowd but you have to watch more than once for that to happen! Love those Rube Goldberg type set ups :) Enjoy and share. Let me know if you see yourself :) 06/14/2010

The video below is 2.0 version released May 2010 with updated information on the growth of social media, and how you might be out of business if you do not embrace it EDIT 6/14: By the way, Stats in the widget are from the moment you loaded this blog post. at the top of the widget you can go broader (hour, day, week, etc...) FaceBook is making a Killing  this appears to be a new widget to follow the growth of SM       If the widget above does not sell you on Social Media than this video most certainly should, provided you want to be in business in 5 years       my advice 1 year into this?  Do not go all in at once. Find which medium appeals to your personality. Along they way you learn all kinds of information that makes it easier to move ankle deep, and than knee deep, until you finall... 06/10/2010

SPCA Suncoast in New Port Richey, FL has this wonderful dog named Bolt. Bolt loooooves Frisbees and loves to chase and catch them.Bolt the Frisbee Dog is about 2 years old and has been at the SPCA Suncoast since March. Bolt needs a home where he has a job: we are hoping that he can find a home with someone who wants a great Frisbee or other type of "working" dog. Bolt would do well in a home without cats or small children as he's really energetic and friendly, but doesn't like to share. An adults only home or one with older teenagers would be ideal. Bolt needs to release lots of energy so needs room to run or to be taken where he can run. So if you need a friend to love you forever and help you retrieve Frisbees, Bolt is your guy. Did I mention, Bolt looooves Frisbees. June is adopt-a-c... 06/10/2010

Yup it is that time of year again.  What time you ask?  After today most Schools out for the Summer in Pasco County.  This is the time when you have to be extra attentive when driving.  Slow down in subdivisions as you never know when a kid will put his life in danger because, well, (s)he is a kid.  One of my pet peeves.....just because the speed limit is 30mph does not mean you HAVE TO drive 30mph especially when you can see children.     Just yesterday as I was stopping by my mothers house to check in on her 3 middle school kids were walking in the northbound lane.  mind you this is one of the rare places in Pasco County where there actually are sidewalks.  We do not see to many of them down here.  But I digress.   As a result of the kids being in my lane I went into the southbound la... 06/09/2010

New Port Richey at Sims Park- RAP River Run 5K Run/Walk & 1 Mile will be held at Sims Park in downtown New Port Richey on June 12, 2010. The 1 Mile Race will start at 7:30 am and the 5K Run/Walk at 8 am. The course is USAT certified and will be chip timed. Walker-friendly race. All proceeds benefit YFA's RAP (Runaway Alternatives Project) House. 5K Run/Walk is only $15.00. Come on out and help or watch or run or walk. It will be lots of fun! You can still register on race day, but be there at 6:30am. For more info: 727-835-4166 x 305 or go to their Facebook page at RAP River Run. 06/09/2010

Published AGAIN However I must say I am disappointed I was not made aware of it until now.  Not only that but I was notified by GOOGLE Alerts, not NAR/Realtor.com  Sure it is just a blurb, but I think it is an important one about privacy in the internet age.  The quote can be found in this April 2010 article about Social Networking in the digital age. My first time being published was also a surprise in that I did not know how much better my online lead conversion was than the average agent.  You can read about that in the Florida Realtors magazine article Online Leads: Gold Mine or Waste of Time? notice the date of that article.  I am still happily working with the lady from Ireland, who consistently checks her MLS gateway page daily for listings to buy. I would have thought if I was ... 06/08/2010

These Sandhill Crane babies are growing rapidly; they try so hard to flap those little stubs of wings and fly but just hop and skip over the ground. This is a very good set of parents because we still have two babies! They were right next to our patio and when I stepped very gently and quietly out to take the pictures; Dad got very protective and waved his very large wings to herd the kids out of danger. I managed to get 2 shots before that happened. See previous blog about 3 weeks ago when they were almost brand new.  Dad & junior Mom & kids   06/06/2010

New Port Richey, FL -  The National Foundation of Business & Professional Women's Clubs was founded in 1919 to promote equality for women in the workplace. BPW/Calusa installed their new Board of Directors recently. BPW/Calusa offers luncheon meetings the third Friday of the month at Seven Springs Golf & Country Club located at 3535 Trophy Blvd. New Port Richey, FL 34652.  The meetings are from 11:30 AM - 1: 00 PM.  Our guest speakers present a variety of topics of today's time and interest. Yes, I am a member of BPW/Calusa and so is my husband. Men can join the Business & Professional Women's Club. The website is http://bpwcalusa.com                         Judge Debra Roberts performed the installation ceremony.     06/05/2010

Sasha spotted this big guy on our window. He was climbing up and stopped to a rest for a while. Sasha decided this called for closer inspection, I think in the end she looks disappointed in her new friend. He left right after the last picture; I think they need to work on their relationship.    It's just a toad, Mom  06/04/2010

New Port Richey-Progress Energy Art Gallery will start it's annual Members Show on June 4. The show which features over 20 artists will run through July 31. Director Nancy Ciesla says this is an exciting show for the artists because they get to display whatever they choose. There will be Mixed media; painting with oils, acrylic and watercolors; sculpting; photography; all these styles and more are planned to be on display. The opening will be Friday, June 4  6pm-9pm at the Progress Energy Art Gallery located at 6231 Grand Blvd; many of the artists will be on hand to answer your questions. The Gallery is open Wed-Saturday from noon-6pm and admission is free. Many of the local artists taking part in the members show include: Mimi Jozwiak, watercolors; Terry Kinderman-Preston, mixed media;... 05/29/2010

New Port Richey - Spherion of Brooksville, FL  a staff-leasing and job recruiting center that covers Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus counties held a ribbon cutting event at the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce in New Port Richey.  Spherion is committed to recruiting and staffing excellence, and  provides integrated staffing solutions to meet the evolving needs and priorities of companies and job candidates.Offering the flexibility of temporary, temp-to-hire and direct-hire positions, as either full or part time jobs, Spherion has placed millions of talented people in a multitude of jobs spanning every industry.Looking for a job you'll love? Spherion® of Brooksville can match your skills to a rewarding opportunity that promotes excellence in your career! You can visit their website here or cal... 05/29/2010

Did you know that the National Association of Realtors found that ~80% of home buyers begin their home search online.  Well as a result of that I have leveraged my online exposure alot.  Obviously I have a Blog, which you are currently reading.     And than there is this little known website callled Point2Agent or the consumer face of it Point2Homes.  Now it is not so much the site I like, but what it does.  It is called syndication & virtual tours.  For just $20/month  every listing I add to this site gets syndicated to many other sites.  How many other sites you may ask? on top of all that added exposure they automatically generate a virtual tour, both branded and unbranded that I can use here, on my websites, in the MLS..... Great little site for only $20/month.  Some agents are wast... 05/26/2010

New Port Richey-Come visit West Pasco's newest fitness center: COR Total Fitness Center is now open at 4900 U.S. Hwy 19 in New Port Richey. The West Pasco Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting event at the center last week. COR Total Fitness Center has group exercise which includes Zumba and Yoga, there are personal trainers to help you set your program, free wi-fi and coffee in the cafe, and a supervised kid zone. Splash in the pool or use the jacuzzi and sauna. COR also has a senior-friendly program. Visit their website at www.cortotalfitness.com or call them at 727-264-8998. The facility is huge and just beautiful. Lori Saylor-Hart is the owner and a fellow Trinity Rotarian. %%%%%%%%%%% Other posts by Toni Weidman Bonnie Howard is running for Hon. Governor - SPCA Suncoast will be... 05/26/2010

New Port Richey-  Progress Energy Art Gallery at 6231 Grand Blvd in downtown New Port Richey has a children's summer program planned. You can see what the gallery has to offer at www.nprgallery.com  or call 727-848-6500 for more information. Nancy Ciesla is the Director of the Progress Energy Art Gallery.     05/24/2010

New Port Richey-SPCA Suncoast. Bolt  the Wonder Dog is about 2 years old and has been at the SPCA Suncoast since March. Bolt needs a home where he has a job: he  really likes Frisbees even though he's had no training so we are hoping that he can find a home with someone who wants a great Frisbee or other type of "working" dog. Bolt would do well in a home without cats or small children as he's really energetic and friendly, but doesn't like to share his toys. An adults only home or one with older teenagers would be ideal. Bolt needs to release lots of energy and would make a super "working" dog. So if you need a friend to love you forever and help you retrieve Frisbees, Bolt is your guy. The SPCA Suncoast is open 12-6pm Wed-Sunday. You can go to their website at www.spcasuncoast.org or ... 05/22/2010