Business Briefcase 081209

July 2009 sales

decline by 5 percent

NEW YORK U.S. chain store sales for July 2009 were off 5.0 percent on a year-over-year same-store basis according to the International Council of Shopping Centers, Inc. (ICSC). Analysts said July sales were hampered by leaner inventories as retailers looked to clear out merchandise. For August 2009, ICSC Research expects comparable store sales will be off 4.0 percent year-over-year, with the later back-to-school shopping season and an improving underlying economy giving a small boost.

Realtor Silvia Dukes earns specialist designation

SPRING HILL Silvia Dukes of Tropic Shores Realty has been awarded the Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) designation joining a worldwide referral network of elite global real estate practitioners with expertise in working with international clients and immigrants. The CIPS Designation is awarded by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), which represents more than 1,200,000 Realtors in the United States. Dukes will be formally recognized Nov. 14 at NAR's 2009 Realtors Conference and Trade Expo in San Diego. She joins a society of over 1,600 real estate professionals throughout the world who have earned the CIPS designation.

HBA and CEA seminars

have been canceled

BROOKSVILLE The Hernando Builders Association and the Continuing Education Academy two-day continuing education seminars scheduled for Aug. 25-26 have been canceled. The seminars, which cover all the required courses for registered builders, will not be offered at the HBA this year. The CEA is having the same seminars at its Tampa location Thursday, Aug. 13,and Tuesday, Aug. 18, and Thursday, Aug. 20. For more information on attending these seminars in Tampa, call Ron Likar at Omni Resource Group at 813-384-3888, Ext. 202 or e-mail him at ronald.likar@omnifinserv.com. HBA members will still pay the reduced tuition rates but there will be no discounts offered at the Tampa seminars.

Chamber Ribbon Cuttings are scheduled for this month

The Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce will have the following ribbon-cutting ceremonies:

Accell Insurance - noon Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 12466 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. For more information, call Jenifer Fitzpatrick at 352-684-4669.

The Lit Law Group - noon Thursday, Aug. 13, at 7601 Horse Lake Road, Brooksville. For more information, call Annette Tenaglia at 727-686-3656.

Harley-Davidson of Crystal River - noon Wednesday, Aug. 19, at 1785 S. Suncoast Blvd., Homosassa. For more information, call Warren Hill at 352-563-9900.

Having a Virtual Advantage LLC - noon Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 7601 Horse Lake Road, Brooksville. For more information, call Susan Myers at 352-397-2706.

Benedict Builder's Inc. - noon Thursday, Aug. 27, at 229 Della Court, Spring Hill. For more information, call Rick and Jennifer Benedict at 352-556-5271.

Networking at Noon is Friday, RSVP deadline is today

SPRING HILL The Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce will hold its monthly luncheon, Networking at Noon, from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14. The lunch will be held at Boston Cooker, 5375 Spring Hill Drive. The cost is $10 with a reservation, $15 without a reservation and $20 for nonmembers. To prevent being invoiced, cancellations are required 24 hours prior to the event. The deadline to RSVP is Wednesday, Aug. 12. For more information or to RSVP, call Carla Hayes at 352-796-0697, Ext. 15.

Mirage Hair Studio to

host wine tasting today

SPRING HILL Mirage Hair Studio is hosting a Showcase of Hair and Wine Tasting beginning at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12. The studio is located at 2264 Commercial Way. The Paul Mitchell-focused salon also is offering haircut and color specials Tuesday and Wednesday. For more information, call 352-684-4775.

Jazzercise to host

Monday open house

SPRING HILL Becky Mooneyham and Tracie Morse, Hernando County Jazzercise instructors, will offer a free Jazzercise Open House at 1287 Kass Circle in Spring Hill and 422 S. Broad St. in Brooksville. Open house festivities will include information on the Jazzercise program and one free workout. Admission is free to everyone, and participants should dress to exercise. Fabulous registration discounts will be offered to new students who register that day. The open houses will take place at 5:20 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17, at the Spring Hill location, and 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. the same day at the Brooksville location. Both businesses are now offering expanded schedules for more convenience. The 60-minute Jazzercise class offers a fusion of jazz dance, resistance training, Pilates, yoga and kickboxing. Benefits include increased cardiovascular endurance, strength and flexibility.

For more information on Jazzercise, call Mooneyham at 352-442-8595 or Morse at 352-796-4796. Days and times vary per location, with morning, evening and weekend classes offered. For worldwide class information, visit www.jazzercise.com or call 1-800-FIT-IS-IT.

Edward Jones in Spring Hill is collecting school supplies

SPRING HILL Local residents may help those less fortunate in the community by bringing in items to the Edward Jones branch office during regular business hours throughout the month of August. The branch is located at 7028 Mariner Blvd.

Teen Life Rally will

take place Aug. 22

SPRING HILL The Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce, Hernando Youth Initiative, is hosting a Teen Life Rally through its Teen Pregnancy Prevention Committee. The chamber is seeking sponsors, participants and exhibitors for the event which take place Aug. 22, at Stage West Community Playhouse, 8390 Forest Oaks Blvd.

The goal of the event is to provide local teens with healthy activities and promote healthy alternatives. For more information, call Dawn Easter at 239-494-7553 or e-mail her at dawn@dishmail.net. The Hernando Youth Initiative, launched in 2008, is a program of the Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce and its Education Committee.

Rogers' Christmas House to host troop appreciation

BROOKSVILLE Rogers' Christmas House and Village, in conjunction with the Committee Against Assaults on Law Enforcement Officers, is hosting an appreciate-your-troops-campaign. The kick-off week is Sunday, Aug. 16 through Saturday, Aug. 22. Customers who bringin a letter and/or gift for the troops and will receive a 10-percent-off coupon good on all merchandise throughout the Village (excluding Fontanini).

The letters and gifts will be forwarded to the troops as soon as possible. They will be accepted through Oct. 26. Due to climate restrictions, customers are asked not to bring any perishable items or chocolate. A list of items needed by the troops is available adjacent to the patriotic tree at Rogers' Christmas House, located in the Main House. Rogers' Christmas House and Village is located at 103 South Saxon Ave. The store is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. For more information, call 352-796-2415 or visit www.rogerschristmashouse.com.

Chamber's Breakfast

Meeting is Aug. 26

BROOKSVILLE The Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce's August Membership Breakfast Meeting will begin at 7:15 a.m. Wednesday, August 26. The breakfast will again be held at Silverthorn Country Club, 4550 Golf Club Lane.

The cost is $12 for members and $20 for nonmembers. Adams Homes is the sponsor and the speaker will be a representative from the Florida Department of Transportation. For more information, call 352-796-0697, Ext. 15.

AT&T technology makeover contest deadline is Aug. 31

ORLANDO AT&T recently announced the Small Biz Tech Makeover contest for businesses nationwide. To thank entrepreneurs and small business owners for their continued support of and interaction with AT&T's online resource center, AT&T is sponsoring an online contest for small businesses to win a technology overhaul for their business. Contest prizes include Web hosting services, AT&T Secure Mail, AT&T Tech Support 360, a pair of 3G mobile smartphones and a variety of other advanced solutions that can be used to improve collaboration or drive small business productivity.

Video submission by small businesses on why they think they need a technology makeover can be submitted to www.att.com/smallbizmakeover through Aug. 31. Video guidelines and contest details can be found by visiting the "Contest" tab on the AT&T Small Business Facebook page (http://bit.ly/ContestRules).

Business Briefcase, compiled by Tony Holt, is published each Wednesday. News releases must be received by the Friday before the desired publication date. Items of interest include employee promotions, company openings, closings, expansions and relocations, business celebrations, classes, lectures and special events. Send news to Hernando Today, 15299 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville, Fla. 34613, or e-mail them to wholt@hernandotoday.com.

Accell Insurance - noon Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 12466 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. For more information, call Jenifer Fitzpatrick at 352-684-4669.

The Lit Law Group - noon Thursday, Aug. 13, at 7601 Horse Lake Road, Brooksville. For more information, call Annette Tenaglia at 727-686-3656.

Harley-Davidson of Crystal River - noon Wednesday, Aug. 19, at 1785 S. Suncoast Blvd., Homosassa. For more information, call Warren Hill at 352-563-9900.

Having a Virtual Advantage LLC - noon Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 7601 Horse Lake Road, Brooksville. For more information, call Susan Myers at 352-397-2706.

Benedict Builder's Inc. - noon Thursday, Aug. 27, at 229 Della Court, Spring Hill. For more information, call Rick and Jennifer Benedict at 352-556-5271.