March 30, 2018

Local Events

Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota 2018 National String Competition
Eight young string musicians from across the country will compete for $20,000 in prize money. The panel of judges features five of the nation’s foremost musicians and pedagogues.

April 7
Symphony Center at Holley Hall, 709 N. Tamiami Trail
7:30 p.m.
The event is free and open to the public but tickets are required. Tickets are available online at www.artistseriesconcerts.org.

Since its inception in 2007, the Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota’s scholarship program has become one of the most prestigious competitions in Florida, awarding over $300,000 to 80 talented, career-potential young musicians. Many past winners have gone on to further studies at leading music conservatories and to successful careers in music.
This year, eight string musicians, ages 18 to 25, will compete in the semi-final round. Of these, four will continue to the final round. These finalists are then presented in an evening public performance and judged by a panel of distinguished performers and educators. This year’s finalist judges include violinist Glenn Basham, concertmaster of the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra and artist faculty member of the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami; Linda Cerone, co-founder of the renowned Encore School for Strings and one of the country’s foremost pedagogues and adjudicators; internationally renowned bassist and educator Tom Knific; critically acclaimed composer Richard Sortomme, whose works have been commissioned and premiered by such major symphony orchestras as the New York Philharmonic and the Cleveland Orchestra; and Bruce Uchimura, a professor at Western Michigan University where he teaches cello, coaches chamber ensembles and conducts the critically acclaimed University Symphony Orchestra.
The prizewinners will be announced following the final performance. The first-place winner receives $8,000. Awards of $5,000, $4,000 and $3,000 will be given to the second-, third- and fourth-place winners.

April clinics at the Golf Academy at University Park Country Club help golfers play their best
Open to members and non-members, participants benefit from having head golf pro Ashley Hayden, former South African Open champion and assistant golf pro Clinton Whitelaw, and LPGA Legends Tour player and head teaching golf pro Sue Ertl share their skill, knowledge and acumen.
April School & Clinic Schedule can be found online at universitypark-fl.com/country-club/golf-academy
Advance registration required and space is limited. Register in person at the Pro Shop or call 941-359-9999.

Second Annual Lightning Watch Party at Lakewood Ranch
The Lightning will introduce the inaugural “Lakewood Ranch Ball Hockey Tournament,” comprised of teams already participating in area youth hockey leagues.
Saturday, April 7
5:00 p.m.
DJ, sports activities, and pre-game and intermission family entertainment. The event will also feature the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Rolling Thunder, Thunderbug and the Lightning Girls.
Admittance to the event is free. The Lakewood Ranch “Y” will have beer for sale and several vendors will be selling food during the event as well.
The puck drops at 7 p.m. Fans will be able to watch a live broadcast of the Tampa Bay Lightning vs. the Carolina Hurricanes on a huge screen on Main Street.
The Lightning will introduce the inaugural “Lakewood Ranch Ball Hockey Tournament,” comprised of teams already participating in area youth hockey leagues. There will be 2 – 3 rinks set up on Main Street. Play will start at 11 a.m., and run through approximately 5 p.m. An expected 10 – 15 teams are expected to participate.
A portion of Lakewood Ranch Main Street will be closed to traffic during the hours of 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. Feel free to bring chairs, but coolers are prohibited. Furry friends are welcome but must be on a leash.
For more information, visit www.lakewoodranch.com/event/tampa-bay-lightning-watch-party/, or call Rachel Gray at 941-757-1548.

The Tennis Ball, A Grand Slam Event, to benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County
Proceeds will help 7,000+ local youth to do well in school, live healthy lives and plan for a successful future
The inaugural Tennis Ball, A Grand Slam Event, will take place on Thursday, April 12, 2018, at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, located at 811 S. Palm Avenue in Sarasota. The Co-Chairs for the event are Barbara Lancer and Christina Bonilla. Proceeds from the event will support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County and help more than 7,000 local youth do well in school, become leaders, live healthy lifestyles and create a plan for success after high school graduation.

The evening will entertain 250 guests and feature food + drink, as well as live and silent auctions. The event, will kick off the Annual Joey Gratton Tennis Championship that will be held on September 28-30, 2018, at Longboat Key Club Tennis Garden.

Individual tickets for The Tennis Ball, A Grand Slam Event, are $250 per person and can be purchased online at bgcsarasota.com.

Sarasota Opera Announces Launch of New Concert Series
Concerts to include rock, jazz, bluegrass, country and more
Sarasota Opera is set to launch a new program this spring with a series of summer concerts titled Sarasota Opera House PRESENTS. This series will bring Sarasota audiences musical performances of American standards, jazz, rock, bluegrass, country, and more.
Sarasota Opera will debut this new series on Friday, May 4, at 7:30 p.m. with Tony Danza, who will offer an unforgettable evening with his cabaret show, Standards & Stories.
Tickets for Tony Danza: Standards & Stories range from $39 – $89
(941) 328-1300 or sarasotaopera.org

Authors Corner Authors Host Panel Discussion, Q&A and Book Signing Event
The authors will share tips, techniques and strategies for achieving your dreams
The Authors Corner, five authors representing diverse literary genres, will host a panel discussion — Begin! Believe! Be! — Saturday, April 28, from 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the North County Library.
The authors, all successful business owners and speakers in addition to being published authors, will share tips, techniques and strategies for achieving your dreams—whether your dream is to start a business, write a book, or climb a mountain—by taking positive, purposeful and decisive action.
Authors Corner authors are:
Marsha Haygood
Pat McKanic
Alahna Nicolas
Vickie Oldham
The event is free and open to the public. The authors’ books and other branded merchandise will be available for purchase. The North County Library is located at 2801 Newtown Blvd., Sarasota.

PGT Innovations Celebrates New Child Care Center
PGT Innovations is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of its new 7,500-square-foot child care center
The center offers affordable, convenient child care services to PGT Innovations’ families with young children as well as parents who work in the Triple Diamond Commerce Park and the surrounding area in North Venice.
Teachers with the Sunshine Education Academy will provide tours after the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The Sunshine Education Academy contains an administration office, a multi-purpose room, nine classrooms, which are equipped with child-sized lavatories and sinks and a safety system with access controls at the exterior doors. The licensed and accredited facility will offer curriculum-based programs, healthy meals and an outdoor playground to children aged six weeks to five years old.
Thursday, March 29 at 9 a.m.
Sunshine Education Academy
101 Triple Diamond Blvd. | North Venice | 34275

New American Theater Featured Throughout Greenfield Prize Weekend
The Hermitage Artist Retreat and its partner, the Greenfield Foundation, announce that this year’s Greenfield Prize Weekend will highlight new work in American theater.
April 7
3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Hermitage Palm House, 6630 Manasota Key Road, Englewood.
Due to limited space, reservations are required for these free programs and can be made online at GreenfieldPrize.org or by calling 941-475-2098, ext. 8.
April 8
Martyna Majok will be presented with her award at a dinner at Michael’s on East
6:30 p.m.
Tickets for the dinner start at $150 and can be reserved online at GreenfieldPrize.org or by calling Craig Badinger at 941-475-2098, ext. 2.

SCAD Research Holds SW Florida’s First 5K & Fun Walk
Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection Research, Inc. will hold its first SCADaddle 5K run & walk on Saturday, April 14 to raise awareness and money for education and research.
The event will begin at 8:00 a.m. at Payne Park in downtown Sarasota. A silent auction and refreshments will be available after the activities.
Register: firstgiving.com/event/scadresearch/2018-sw-fl-5k-scadaddle
Tickets: $30 (ages 12+) | $15 (ages 6 – 11)

Women’s Resource Center Seeks Nominees for Manatee County Wonder Women
The three winners will be announced at the Founders’ Legacy Luncheon
“Wonder Women” are “women leaders who have made outstanding contributions in volunteer and/or professional activities in the areas of business, community leadership, education, healthcare, entrepreneurship, or lifetime achievement,” according to Ashley Brown, President and CEO of WRC. Winners will be announced at the Founders’ Legacy Luncheon at IMG Academy Golf Club, April 26, 2018, 11:30 a.m., $40.
To nominate: mywrc.org/events/founders-luncheon
Tickets: mywrc.org/Founders