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Pinellas County Economic Development is hosting the fourth annual Small Business Lending Fair on Friday, Aug. 29, 2008 at the EpiCenter, 13805 58th Street N., Clearwater.

The event features exhibits by Pinellas County lenders including banks, community lenders and alternative lenders. The Lending Fair assists business owners in identifying capital for business growth and expansion, as well as new business ventures.

Finance counseling and assistance is available through the Pinellas County Business Development Center. Call 727-453-7200 or visit www.pced.org/lendingfair .

The Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art in September will co-sponsor a fundraiser with the Harbor Springs Woman’s Club of North Pinellas for the museum’s educational programs.

“Art of Fashion: Black & White & Red All Over?” will be held in the museum 6:30-10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008. The event will include a runway show featuring vintage couture and Kitsch fashions from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s; a silent auction and cigar rolling demonstrations.

The cost is $55 in advance and $75 the day of the event. To make reservations or inquire about sponsorship opportunities call 727-712-5222.

The Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art is located just west of U.S. Highway 19 at 600 Klosterman Road, on the Tarpon Springs Campus of St. Petersburg College.  Museum hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tues.-Sat., with extended hours until 9 p.m. on Thursday. Sunday hours are from 1-5 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and free to children and students with ID. Sunday, admission is free and docent tours are offered at 2 p.m.

For information or directions call 727-712-5762. Check out programs, events and exhibitions of the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art at: www.spcollege.edu/museum

Joan Temerson of Treasure Island thought she’d lost her deposit on hurricane shutters when Roll-A-Way went bankrupt. Her deposit and those of approximately 381 other customers were honored by QMI, the nation’s largest installer of hurricane shutters. photo for Tropical Breeze courtesy of QMI

“I thought my deposit of $4,101 was gone and that I would never get my hurricane shutters,” said Joan Temerson of Treasure Island, after she learned last fall that Roll-A-Way had declared bankruptcy.

“Then the new owner of Roll-A-Way’s name and facilities contacted us and agreed to install the shutters for only the balance due on the contract even though they received none of our deposit. Naturally, we were skeptical. Would the shutters be of the same quality as before and would they be properly installed?

“Since we didn’t have to make final payment until the job was done and we were satisfied, we decided to take a chance and go ahead. We made the right decision. The installers were very professional and really nice. We’re delighted with the results.”

Roll-A-Way, with headquarters in St. Petersburg, and offices in Ft. Myers and Oakland Park, filed for bankruptcy in October 2007 after failing to find a buyer for the entire business. In January 2008, a company headquartered in Illinois, Qualitas Manufacturing, Inc. (QMI), purchased substantially all of Roll-A-Way’s assets in a sale through the bankruptcy court, QMI is the largest manufacturer of rolling shutters in the U.S.

“We knew what we were getting into when we bought the Roll-A-Way name and facilities,” said Jim Miller, president of QMI. “We knew that Roll-A-Way had built an outstanding reputation over the years and we did not want to see it diminished because of their inability to meet their obligations to those customers who had given them deposits, which totaled over $3 million.

“We offered customers who had given Roll-A-Way an up-front deposit the opportunity to have their shutters installed at the price previously agreed upon — giving them full credit for their deposit, even though we did not receive the deposit and even though costs of material had risen substantially since the original contracts had been written. Approximately 381 Roll-A-Way customers had lost their deposits. For those customers who took us up on our offer, we are completing all installations in the St. Petersburg area and throughout Florida. This signals our intention to remain the number one supplier of hurricane shutters in the state.

“Moreover, in order to assure new customers that their deposits will not be lost as a result of bankruptcy or any other reason, we are offering new customers the option of putting their deposit in escrow until the work is actually completed,” said Miller.

QMI was established 22 years ago and is the largest manufacturer of rolling shutters in the U.S. QMI is the primary supplier of security shutters for major companies such as Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid and many others. QMI’s hurricane shutters have been installed throughout Florida, the East Coast and the Caribbean. QMI and Roll-A-Way products comply with the Florida Building Code, are approved for use in the Florida Building Code High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ), and are Miami-Dade County approved. Complete information about the company and its products is available at www.QMIUSA.com and www.Roll-A-Way.com

Byg Kat Entertainment and Panther Productions present “Charo Presents: Latin Explosion” at Progress Energy Center for the Arts — Mahaffey Theater, 400 1st St. S., St. Petersburg at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 27.

Latin Explosion is a cultural music production based on the roots, beauty and passion of Latin and Flamenco music. Latin Explosion features fabulous dancers in authentic costumes from all over the world and introduces the dance and history of the real Salsa, Tango, Samba and Flamenco.

Latin Explosion stars Charo, twice voted best classical Flamenco guitarist in the world by Guitar Player Magazine, performing the world’s most famous classical and flamenco masterpieces. María del Rosario Pilar Martínez Molina Baeza Rasten, better known as Charo, is a Spanish and American singer, dancer, comedian, actress and classical guitarist. She is known for her flamboyant stage presence, provocative outfits, and her trademark phrase (“cuchi-cuchi”), has been an integral proponent of contemporary Latin music.

An exclusive VIP pre-concert reception is available with premium tickets. Call 727-892-5798 for more information; 727-892-5767 for tickets.