Member News
Warehouse Blowout Sale
Join Montgomery's CarpetsPlus at 825 E. Venice Ave. during regular business hours for our Warehouse Blowout on carpet, tile, LVP, area rugs. Customer appreciation cookout!
Bring Hope and Healing to the Fight Against Child Abuse with the Child Protection Center
In preparation for the 10th Anniversary Celebration of their upcoming annual Fall event, Night of Hope & Healing, the Child Protection Center (CPC) recently held a “kick-off event” Celebrity Bartender Challenge to raise further awareness and support. The Celebrity Bartender Challenge was a resounding success, raising over $9,850 for local programs and services in the prevention, intervention, and treatment of child abuse. This was the third CPC Celebrity Bartender Challenge, with each year featuring 8
Child Protection Center Honors Doug and Sherry Chapman as 2025 Child Advocates of the Year
The Child Protection Center (CPC) proudly presented its prestigious Child Advocate of the Year Award to the late Doug and Sherry Chapman. This heartfelt tribute recognized the Chapmans' unwavering commitment, visionary philanthropy, and profound impact on the lives of children affected by abuse. Introduced to CPC through a friend, the Chapmans quickly became passionate ambassadors for the organization's mission. Upon learning the staggering reality of child abuse in their community, Doug and Sherry
Stop by for a Pie: Fall Community Gathering
Join us for fun, food, and festivities! Dr. John Massey, Audiologist, will present on the connection between auditory function and cognitive decline. Learn how hearing health impacts memory, balance, and overall well-being. Event highlights to include: Sample a delightful variety of seasonal pies and light bites!Mingle with local community resource vendorsTake a tour and meet our ProvidersGuests can enter to win a 32" LED Smart TV!* Call/text (941) 800-7352 to RSVP.
The Small Business Survival Guide: Fix These Mistakes Before They Cost You
Launching a small business is exciting — but it’s also a minefield of hidden pitfalls that can silently erode success. Many first-time founders mistake enthusiasm for readiness, or activity for progress. The good news: nearly all of these missteps are avoidable with structure, clarity, and early system design. Below, we’ll map the most common mistakes, show you how to sidestep them, and share tools that help you operate like a pro from day one. 1. Mistake #1: Skipping Strategic Foundations The
DISCOVER SARASOTA TOURS ANNOUNCES Return of Venice Trolley Tours in 2026!
DISCOVER SARASOTA TOURS ANNOUNCESReturn of Venice Trolley Tours in 2026!Discover Sarasota Tours is pleased to announce the return of two beloved Venice Trolley Tour themes in 2026. The Venice City Tour led in partnership with Ronnie Fernandez of Venice Florida Tours, and the Circus Secrets of Venice tour led by Bob Collins will run January - April. These tours run on Tuesdays at 10AM (Venice City Tour) and 1PM (Circus Secrets of Venice). Both tours leave from the Venice Area Chamber of Commerce providing
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Pregnancy Solutions Gala (Punta Gorda & Venice)
Pregnancy Solutions equips and empowers new mothers with no cost pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, STI testing, education, and materials to help them through their pregnancy and up to 18 months after baby is born. We also have a Rookie Dad program to help new fathers through the pregnancy. Save the date for an unforgettable evening of impact and generosity at the Pregnancy Solutions Annual Fundraising Gala! Don't miss this opportunity to attend our Gala at the Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center in
Why Wait? UBER ISP Invites Businesses to Become the Next Success Story
UBER ISP, Southwest Florida’s premier business internet provider, is encouraging local businesses to stop waiting and start saving with its resilient, always-on internet platform. Built for the unique challenges of our region—including storms, outages, and costly downtime—UBER ISP unites multiple carriers into a single, seamless solution that keeps businesses connected no matter what. “Even Don Quixote knew that the right partner makes every quest a success,” said Sergey, Specialist at UBER ISP. “For
DISCOVER SARASOTA TOURS ANNOUNCES SING-ALONG TROLLEY TOUR
DISCOVER SARASOTA TOURS ANNOUNCESSING-ALONG TROLLEY TOURDiscover Sarasota Tours, the local award-winning trolley tour company announces their 18th tour theme called SING-ALONG TROLLEY! This entertaining and interactive tour will launch in mid-June and run on Friday nights at 7:30PM. The original rolling musical show features a cast of two: Michele Pruyn and Brandon Newman who perform for and with guests who sing along to everyone’s favorite 70’s and 80’s musical hits at stops all over downtown.
Fall Season Announcement for Discover Sarasota Tours!
DISCOVER SARASOTA TOURS ANNOUNCES2025 FALL TOUR SCHEDULE Discover Sarasota Tours, the local award-winning trolley tour company announces their 2025 FALL Tour Schedule. “This Fall promises to be a fun, interesting, and exciting time filled with popular daytime tours, returning holiday tour favorites and unique interactive POP Up Experiences,” said Founder & CEO Tammy Hauser. NIGHT-TIME SHOWS OctoberKaylene McCaw and Michele Pruyn play alternating roles as Lady Melody joined by OliviaTurpening, Sara
CPC Invites Design/Build Firms to Participate in RFP Process for New Campus of Healing Facility
The Child Protection Center, Inc. (CPC) is inviting qualified design/build firms to participate in the Request for Proposal (RFP) process for the construction of a new 6,000+ square foot facility at CPC’s Campus of Healing in North Port, Florida. This project represents a transformative step in expanding CPC’s ability to meet the growing needs of children and families impacted by abuse across Sarasota and DeSoto Counties. For over 45 years, CPC has been the only nonprofit in the region solely dedicated
UBER ISP Helps Businesses Cut Costs and Boost Efficiency
UBER ISP Helps Businesses Cut Costs and Boost Efficiency Most businesses switching to UBER ISP are saving money every month—and gaining reliability at the same time. By uniting multiple internet service providers into one seamless platform, UBER ISP delivers high-speed connections, built-in redundancy, and simplified management that helps small and mid-sized businesses keep costs low and productivity high. Traditional single-provider setups leave businesses vulnerable to outages, costly downtime, and
UBER ISP Helps Local Businesses Save Big with Always On, Always Connected Internet
UBER ISP Helps Local Businesses Save Big with Always On, Always Connected Internet Venice, FL – UBER ISP, Southwest Florida’s resilient business internet provider, is helping companies reduce costs while improving reliability with its “Always On, Always Connected” platform. By offering multi-path connectivity through cable, fiber, satellite, and 5G, UBER ISP ensures that businesses are never left offline—and never overpaying for services that fail them during outages. Companies across North Port,
Child Protection Center Celebrates Executive Director’s 30 Years of Service
The Child Protection Center, Inc. (CPC) proudly announces the 30th anniversary of Executive Director Doug Staley’s service to the agency, marking three decades of unwavering dedication to protecting children from abuse and strengthening families. Doug began his journey at CPC in January 1995 as an intern facilitating parenting classes, an opportunity guided by Dr. Kay Glasser. Just months later, he joined the staff as a part-time Case Coordinator, supporting both the Child Protection Team and Therapy
Essential Tips for Starting a Restaurant Without Overspending
Opening a restaurant is one of the most rewarding — and expensive — small business ventures. But you don’t have to break the bank to bring your culinary vision to life. Whether you're launching a food truck, bistro, or breakfast nook, understanding how to control startup costs can determine your runway and long-term success. In this guide, we’ll explore cost-saving tactics, essential decision moments, and low-capital alternatives to expensive traditional paths. 1. Start With a Scaled-Down
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UBER ISP Reminds You To Protect Your Business Now To Storm-Proof Your Internet
As the 2025 hurricane season pending, UBER ISP is urging Charlotte and Sarasota County businesses to complete their final internet readiness checklist before the next storm hits. “You don’t want to be scrambling once the forecast turns serious,” said Sergey Seleznev of UBER ISP. “The time to storm-proof your connectivity is before the winds pick up—not during the outage.” A single disruption can cost thousands in downtime, lost sales, and missed opportunities. UBER ISP offers a storm-ready checklist
From Sidewalk to Search Bar: The Urgent Case for Going Digital
The storefront is no longer the only window into your business. Whether you’re running a neighborhood bakery or an independent clothing boutique, your physical location is just one layer of how people find, judge, and decide to engage with you. In the past, visibility was about street corners and signage. Today, it’s about search bars, smartphones, and fast-scrolling thumbs. A digital presence doesn’t just complement your brick-and-mortar operation—it multiplies its power, acting as a signal, a filter,
CPC Presents 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. Walter Lambert
The Child Protection Center (CPC) proudly awarded its Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. Walter Lambert at the annual Blue Ties & Butterflies Gala. This award honors a career dedicated to protecting children, advancing medical knowledge, and leading transformational change within Florida’s child welfare system. Dr. Lambert has served tirelessly for the past 36 years as a beacon of expertise, compassion, and commitment. As a Child Protection Team (CPT) Medical Director and Associate Statewide Medical
Child Protection Center Honors Four Foundations With Sapphire Award
The Child Protection Center (CPC) proudly presented the Sapphire Award at its annual Blue Ties & Butterflies gala in April, Child Abuse Prevention Month, to four exceptional foundations. The foundations were honored for their enduring support and leadership, which have helped shape the agency's 45-year legacy in the fight against child abuse. In celebration of CPC’s 45th anniversary, the Sapphire Award—named after the traditional 45th anniversary gem—was created to recognize long-standing community
The CTA, BOI and FinCEN: What Does this Mean for Venice, FL Businesses?
The Corporate Transparency Act may require certain U.S. companies to disclose beneficial ownership information to FinCEN to combat financial crimes. While a Texas federal district court’s preliminary injunction puts this requirement on hold, many experts expect that to be overturned. In that event, failure to file could lead to fines of $500 per day, up to a maximum of $10,000, and possible criminal penalties. Read more for details on how this may impact your business in the future. 1. Determine if