Friday, May 30, 2008

YMCA

Did you know that Pasco County is served by two YMCAs? They sure are. There is the New Port Richey YMCA which is part of the YMCA of the Suncoast group. They have locations from Citrus to Pinellas. The New Port Richey Y's contact info is:

NPR SunTrust Branch (YMCA)
6130 US Hwy 19
New Port Richey, FL 34652
(727) 844-0332

You can go to the the Suncoast YMCA website by clicking on the link under Community/Social Organizations.

There is also the East Pasco Family YMCA in Zephyrhills. They can be contacted at:

37301 Chapel Hill Loop
Zephyrhills, FL 33541
813-780-9622

YMCAs are great facilities for exercise and activities for all ages.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Consumer Credit Counseling of Florida

The Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Central Florida and the Florida Gulf Coast Inc. is a non-profit agency serving those who are struggling with their finances. Are you in mortgage trouble, swimming in credit card debt, pondering bankruptcy, or just looking to get on a better financial track, the CCCS may be able to help you. They offer counseling and debt management to help people get out of trouble. They also offer numerous workshops on subjects such as affordable home ownership. budgeting for teens, car buying, understanding credit, credit repair, reverse mortgages and a whole lot more. For information, call their headquarters at 1.800.984.0977 or visit their website. Just click on the link under Consumer Information/Protection. There are two service centers in Pasco County.

Dade City
37837 Meridian Ave.
Suite 200
Dade City, FL 33525

New Port Richey
5945 Florida Ave.
New Port Richey, FL 34652

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

EARTH911.org

Earth911 is a wonderful website that, according to its mission state, "delivers actionable local information on recycling and product stewardship that empowers consumers to act locally, live responsibly and contribute to sustainability." This website not only provides lots of information on what can be recycled and how, but it also provides information on how we can all be better consumers in ways that benefit the planet. There's even information for students, articles on how to compost and other information on various environmental topics covering air and water quality, climate change and energy conservation. The best tool of the website is the search bar at the top of the page that can help you locate local places that will take unwanted chemicals, electronics, metals, plastics and more. Earth911 "centralizes information and resources into a single user-friendly, neutral and non-governmental network." It's definitely worth a look. Click on the link under "Environmental."

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Career Central and Connections

This week's posting is about area career centers, places that help individuals looking for jobs and employers looking for qualified employees. In these uncertain times, these resources can prove very helpful.
Career Central "is an enterprise sponsored by the Pasco Hernando Jobs and Education Partnership Regional Board. Career Central serves as the area's One-Stop venue for meeting both employer and employee needs." With offices in Port Richey, Zephyrhills, and Spring Hill, Career Central is ready to provide job search help, training, career planning and targeted services such as help for seniors and veterans. Career fairs and resume help are other activities of this organization.
Connections, located on Main Street in New Port Richey, "is funded by the United Way of Pasco County, Pasco County Commissioners, and donations from area churches, individuals, and businesses." Connections serves individuals who are unemployed or underemployed, need computer skills training, or are seeking a career change. Connections also helps employers find qualified employees. Some specific services Connections offers job seekers include career counseling, and help with job skills, interview skills, and networking skills as well as resume writing advice.
Check out these two organizations. You never know when you might need them. You can find links to their websites to the right under Business/Legal/Career.