People & Business: Friday

THE SARASOTA SCENE
People & Business
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Stock Signature Home Sales Continue in Country Club East

Stock Signature Homes, the luxury homebuilding division of Stock Development, continues to sell homes in one of Lakewood Ranch’s premier villages, Country Club East. In 2018, Stock sold 32 single family homes with sales surpassing $31.5 million. Currently, Stock has less than 25 homesites remaining in this elite community.Listed at $834,320, the Largo features three beds, three baths, formal dining, great room, and a study within its 2,552 square-feet under air. Within 2,947 square-feet under air, the Madison is listed at $945,180 with four bedrooms, four full and one-half baths, great room, dining, and study. Two of the ultra-modern Chandler floor plans are available from $955,190 with three bedrooms, four and one-half baths plus bonus room within 3,136 square-feet under air. The Madison II, offered at $972,175, offers an open floor plan with a magnificent style within its 3,054 square-feet under air. The home includes three bedrooms with an optional fourth bedroom, four and one-half baths, a sizeable study, spacious master suite, and a three-car garage. The Muirfield V is spacious with 3,375 square-feet under air and features four bedrooms, four full and one-half baths, great room, dining and a study. This home is offered at $1,171,745. The open floor plan of the Margo offers 3,578 square feet under air, with four bedrooms, four and one-half baths, study, nook and great room. This move-in ready home is offered at $1,177,000. The Gardenia model, listed at $1,199,000, offers three bedrooms plus a bonus room and four and one-half baths within 3,717 square-feet of air-conditioned luxury living. This is complimented by an oversized dining area, eat-in kitchen, and expansive lanai. Stock Signature Homes is one of the premier builders in the Lakewood Ranch area, with stunningly-appointed models and numerous move-in ready homes available throughout. Visit StockDevelopment.com to explore available residences, view project photos, and learn more about Stock Signature Homes.

BETTER TOGETHER 2019: Reservations Now Open

Reservations are now available for a Gulf Coast Community Foundation lunch and lecture featuring nationally hailed university leader Dr. Freeman A. Hrabowski III on March 8, 2019, at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota.

Hrabowski is the keynote speaker for the foundation’s annual Better Together luncheon, a community-education event that brings thought leaders to the region to discuss emerging community issues and opportunities. The long-serving president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), and a leader in promoting diversity in science and math fields, Hrabowski will share his insights on providing more opportunity for all through academic innovation, high expectations, and supportive philanthropy.

Admission to the event is $75, which includes lunch and valet parking. Prepaid reservations are required and can be made online at GulfCoastCF.org/events.

Under Hrabowski’s dynamic leadership since 1992, UMBC has become a powerhouse in higher education with a national reputation for research and teaching. His own research and publications focus on science and math education, with special emphasis on minority participation and performance. Hrabowski has earned accolades for his successful commitment to helping students from all backgrounds advance and excel in the STEM fields.

Hrabowski was named one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World” and one of our country’s “10 Best College Presidents” by TIME, as well as one of “America’s Best Leaders” by U.S. News & World Report. He has earned numerous awards, including the Carnegie Corporation’s Academic Leadership Award, the Heinz Award for his contributions to improving the human condition, and the American Council on Education’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Hrabowski chaired the National Academies’ committee that produced the 2011 report Expanding Underrepresented Minority Participation: America’s Science and Technology Talent at the Crossroads. He was named by President Barack Obama to chair the President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for African Americans. With philanthropist Robert Meyerhoff, Hrabowski cofounded the Meyerhoff Scholars Program at UMBC, a national model that focuses on increasing diversity among future leaders in science and engineering.

A child leader himself in the Civil Rights Movement, Hrabowski spent five days in jail as a 12-year-old for participating in the Children’s Crusade of 1963 organized by Martin Luther King Jr. in Birmingham, Alabama. He was featured prominently in Spike Lee’s Oscar-nominated documentary 4 Little Girls, about the racially motivated 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. Hrabowski’s 2015 book, Holding Fast to Dreams: Empowering Youth from the Civil Rights Crusade to STEM Achievement, describes the events and experiences that shaped him as an educator and leader.

“Dr. Hrabowski’s life and work are all about hope and opportunity through inclusive excellence, hard work, and high standards,” said Gulf Coast Community Foundation President|CEO Mark Pritchett. “As Gulf Coast prepares to mark 25 years of bold and proactive philanthropy in our region, we think his messages of innovation, grit, and collaboration can help inspire our community to imagine new possibilities for the next 25 years.”

Since 2004, Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s Better Together series has welcomed nationally recognized speakers to the Gulf Coast region to discuss important civic issues and inspire collaborative community solutions. Last year’s luncheon featured Harvard Law professor Noah Feldman, who discussed civility and engaged citizenship in divisive times. The prior year, historian David McCullough participated in a conversation about leadership, innovation, and finding common ground for the common good.

Allure Medical Announces its Expansion into Florida 
Founder and medical pioneer Dr. Charles Mok established Allure Medical in 2004 with the commitment to reduce healthcare waste and a clear focus on delivering incomparable patient care. As a trauma surgeon, Dr. Mok routinely cared for patients with preventable diseases and has made it his life’s mission to prevent and cure disease, not just manage its symptoms.
With Allure Medical’s expansion across the country, Dr. Mok continues to offer cutting-edge treatments for a multitude of diseases while pledging to reduce healthcare waste by $10 billion by 2025. For years, Dr. Mok has focused on reducing risks, reducing costs, and reducing complications by creating a culture of eliminating waste. “Our purpose is to save healthcare,” says Dr. Mok.  “Healthcare costs are staggering and growing at a rate of five percent per year. That’s not sustainable.”
 “It takes time, but we can impact healthcare,” says Dr. Mok. “It comes down to challenging the status quo. I know how to eliminate steps that don’t create value which means my complication rate is lower, my success rate is higher, and I have happier patients.”  Dr. Mok is also the author of several books, including Testosterone: Strong Enough for a Man, Made for a Woman by ForbesBooks, 2017.  Allure Medical is one of the largest and most successful practices of its kind and helps its patients with disease prevention through treating varicose veins, hormone replacement and stem cell therapies among other services.
 Allure Medical is a privately held company headquartered in Shelby Township, Michigan.  Additional locations are located throughout Michigan, South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky, Wisconsin, and Florida. 

Neal Communities Presents New Poinciana Neighborhood

Neal Communities, southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, is introducing Poinciana, a new, gated community that offers vacation-style living in Manatee County.

Situated on 36 acres with a large natural wetland, Poinciana will consist of 84 paired villa homes upon completion. Residents can choose between two maintenance-assisted villa floor plans with British West Indies influences. Plans range in size from 1,434 to 1,524 square feet. The Crystal Sand plan features two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a two-car garage, and the Tidewater includes two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a den and two-car garage.

“This neighborhood is conveniently located, providing easy access to Bradenton and Sarasota so residents can take advantage of all the area’s amenities,” said Michael Storey, president of Neal Communities. “These floor plan designs are extremely popular due to their size, value and open spaces that highlight the best in Florida living. At Poinciana, residents will love the easy maintenance-assisted aspect of the relaxing villa lifestyle.”

A luxurious pool, spa and recreational building with restroom facilities are the centerpiece of the community’s vacation lifestyle. Poinciana will also boast lush landscaping and palm trees throughout the neighborhood.

Located on the corner of Lockwood Ridge Road and Honore Avenue, Poinciana is located close to Interstate 75 and world-class shopping, dining, arts and cultural options.

Asolo Rep Announces Panel for The Crucible IllumiNation Event 
Asolo Rep’s THE CRUCIBLE IllumiNation event will be held on Saturday, February 9. A stimulating series of theatre and conversation exploring the topical and social themes threaded throughout the season, IllumiNation events begin one hour prior to curtain with a ticketed reception on the mezzanine, continue with the performance, and conclude with a free, open-to-the-public conversation. For each IllumiNation performance, a block of seats will be held in the mezzanine and balcony for PAY WHAT YOU CAN (minimum of $5 per ticket). These tickets can only be reserved on the day of the show starting at 10am by phone or at the box office.
 The panel for THE CRUCIBLE IllumiNation event will feature Natalie Lampkin, founder and Executive Director of Creative Counseling Solutions of Sarasota, Dr. Brendan Goff, Assistant Professor of History at New College, and Judge Charles Williams, Chief Judge of the 12th Judicial Circuit.

Discover Sarasota Tours Launches Love Stories of Sarasota 

Looking for something new and special to do for Valentine’s Week? Celebrate with your sweetheart aboard our historic trolley on the LOVE STORIES OF SARASOTA trolley tour!

Guests will enjoy complimentary wine or beer at the trolley depot while browsing through our Vintage Sarasota Gift Shop full of fun old-time treasures. Then they will board the trolley to travel around Sarasota as tour guide Kathryn Chesley shares the legendary love stories of John and Mable Ringling, William and Marie Selby, the Unconditional Surrender statue icons, Owen Burns and his wife Vernona, and many more.

A stop at Peterbrook Chocolatier for chocolate, prosecco and love songs performed by Lilian Moore and her husband Richard Caldwell complete the night of love.

Love Stories of Sarasota Tours run from 7:30-9:00 PM on Tuesday, Feb 12, Wednesday Feb 13, Thursday Feb 14, and Friday Feb 15.

Cost: $35 per person, or 2 tickets for $60 with promo code LOVE. Ticket includes complimentary wine/beer. Ages 21+. Limited availability, so book now!

Manatee County Seeks Public Input on Land Development Code

Manatee County residents have a few more weeks to give input on a set of changes to the County’s land development code (LDC). 

In works and part of public discussions since December, 2016 the proposed updates to the LDC will bring significant changes to how the County reviews and processes future land development applications. Specifically, the suggested changes will bring more consistency to the regulations in the County’s major planning documents, according to Planning Manager Lisa Barrett. The proposed amendments are posted on the County’s website and click on Pending Land Use Regulation Amendments for public review.

“Our land development code and comprehensive plan are somewhat convoluted and difficult for the public — citizens and developers — to understand,” Barrett said. “With this scope of work we’re trying to make things more consistent, streamlined, more easily understood and more predictable. This is about trying to minimize duplication of review and streamlining the review of development proposals, while ensuring the protection of natural resources, adjacent land uses and public facilities.” 

The County will hold a public hearing to receive public comments and to consider the amendments to the land development code as described in LDCT-17-07/Ordinance 19-03 on Feb. 5 at 9 a.m. in the Patricia M. Glass Commission Chambers at 1112 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton. 

Other scheduled hearings are planned for Feb. 28 during a special Planning Commission hearing; a first public hearing before the County Commission on March 7 and a special meeting with the Commission on March 21. 

For more information on the changes, email landuse@mymanatee.org. For more information on Manatee County Government, visit online at www.mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. You can also follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/manatee.county.fl and on Twitter, @ManateeGov.