People & Business: Wednesday 2/13/19

Friday, March 29th
THE SARASOTA SCENE
People & Business
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The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee Celebrates 60 Years of Community Action

The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee will celebrate 60 years of its service to the community on February 24. The public is invited to join the anniversary festivities, which includes a musical performance by The Booker Dimension, a group of talented students from Booker High School’s Visual & Performing Arts program. The event will also offer a look back at the 60 years—and unveil plans for an exciting new campus designed to meet the needs of the growing Jewish community into the next 60 years. The event takes place at 4 p.m. at the Beatrice Friedman Theater on the Larry Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish Life, 582 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. This event is free, but seating is limited so register early. Register online at www.jfedsrq.org/events. For more information, contact Lisa Feinman at lfeinman@jfedsrq.org or call 941-706-0034.

The Federation started life in 1959 as the Sarasota Jewish Community Council when the 2,100 Jews in the area became concerned with the needs of their brothers and sisters around the world, particularly in Israel, and decided it was time to have a central organization to coordinate the activities of the community. By 1980, the Jewish population had grown to 6,000. There are now approximately 25,000 Jews in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Under its current name, adopted in 2009, The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee provides support to local synagogues and social service organizations, provides immersive Israel experiences for youth and adults, awards scholarships, hosts educational and community building programming for individuals, families, and the community, and grants funding to overseas organizations serving Jews in need.

“As we begin our seventh decade of service to the Sarasota-Manatee community, we are humbled knowing that our Federation has helped hundreds of thousands of people, developed meaningful partnerships with other organizations and institutions throughout the community, and fostered an understanding of Jewish history, religion, and culture for so many within our region,” says Howard Tevlowitz, executive director. “What began as an initiative to serve our Jewish community when there were only 2,100 Jews living here has blossomed into a $7 million organization today, helping not only the roughly 25,000 Jews living in Sarasota and Manatee counties, but also supporting the regional non-profit community, and thousands more people and organizations around the world, including in Israel. Here’s to many more decades of community to come!”

18 Models in the  Lake Club to be Displayed During the Manatee-Sarasota Building Industry Association Parade of Homes

The Lake Club, an exclusive village of estates within the acclaimed Lakewood Ranch, invites prospective homeowners to experience the resort-style amenities and masterfully designed residences of its luxury enclaves during the Manatee-Sarasota Building Industry Association Parade of Homes. The month-long home showcase features exquisite residences within four of The Lake Club’s enclaves from February 16 through March 10. Homes are available for viewing daily, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

Several exquisitely designed and fully furnished models will be available for viewing during the Parade of Homes including:

·       Anchor Builders’ Abaco, which incorporates island colonial influences in more than 4,000 square feet under air

·       The Andulucía by Arthur Rutenberg Homes, featuring an impressive outdoor living area with lanai, cabana pool and spa, and fireplace

·       The expansive Akarra IV and Korina models designed by John Cannon Homes, which respectively pay homage to Spanish-Colonial architecture and a transitional West Indies style

·       Lee Wetherington Homes’ San Mateo model, featuring unique architecture to expose remarkable lake views

·       The waterfront Adalia model by London Bay Homes, with elegantly spacious outdoor living and an impressive kitchen

·       Twelve exquisite models by Stock Signature Homes, including eight in the brand-new Genoa enclave – the Sterling, Livia, Madison, Covington, Birchwood, Cambria, Easton and Mayfield models. The Montclair model in the Vineyards enclave and the Clairborne II, Margo II and Glenmore models in Lake View Estates will also available to explore.

To learn more about Lake Club living, visit the Model Preview Center located at 8307 Lake Club Boulevard in Lakewood Ranch, call (855) 201-8065 or preview models, floor plans and amenities at TheLakeClubLWR.com. For more information about the Manatee-Sarasota Building Industry Association’s Parade of Homes, visit ParadeOfHomesInfo.com.

Hermitage Artist Retreat Awards 2019 Greenfield Prize in Music to Helga Davis

The Hermitage Artist Retreat and the Philadelphia-based Greenfield Foundation have awarded the New York-based composer and performer, Helga Davis, with the 2019 Greenfield Prize, given this year in music. Davis receives a residency at the Hermitage and a $30,000 commission for a new work, which will premiere in Sarasota in 2021 with the presenting partner, ensembleNEWSRQ.

          Davis is a composer, vocalist and performance artist with feet planted on the most prestigious international stages and with firm roots in the realities and concerns of her local community. She was principal actor in the 25th-anniversary international revival of Robert Wilson and Philip Glass’s seminal opera Einstein on the Beach. Among the collaborative and works written for her are Oceanic Verses by Paola Prestini, You Us We All by Shara Nova and Andrew Ondrejcak, and Faust’s Box by Italian contemporary music composer Andrea Liberovici. The renowned theater director and visual artist Robert Wilson describes her as “a united whole, with spellbinding inner power and strength.” Davis also starred in Wilson’s The Temptation of St. Anthony, with libretto and score by Bernice Johnson Reagon; and The Blue Planet, by Peter Greenaway. She is the recipient of the 2014 BRIC Media Arts Fireworks Grant and completed her first evening-length piece, Cassandra. Current projects include Silent Voices with the Brooklyn Youth Chorus with text by Hilton Als; Requiem for a Tuesday with bass-baritone Davóne Tines and dancer/choreographer Reggie Gray; and Yet Unheard, a tribute to Sandra Bland by Courtney Bryan, based on the poem by Sharan Strange. Davis conceived and performed First Responder and Wanna as responses to Until and The Let Go by multidisciplinary artist Nick Cave. She is artist in residence at National Sawdust, host of the eponymous podcast HELGA on WQXR/New Sounds and is the 2018-19 visiting curator for the performing arts at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.

Davis was selected by a jury that included Limor Tomer, general manager for concerts and lectures at the Metropolitan Museum of Art; Terrance McKnight, a WQXR host and accomplished pianist and educator; and Karen Sander, director of public programs for The Graduate Center, City University of New York.

Tomer stated Davis was chosen, in part, because “of her collaborative practice, creativity, where she is in her career, and the strength of the vision in the proposal.”

Davis is thrilled with the opportunities and the affirmation the prize offers her, saying that the award gives her “time and space to engage the imagination. To have been chosen gives me the opportunity to continue to make vibrant, authentic places of change and community—and to study and perhaps travel. It’s the biggest ‘YES’ an artist can receive.”

Bruce Rodgers, the executive director of the Hermitage, says that he and the board are “honored to give this award to Helga. She is an intrepid creator, most comfortable in uncomfortable territory, pushing boundaries, and redefining ‘full commitment.’ As an artist, Helga embodies the very heart and soul of this prize and we are grateful for the vision of this distinguished jury in selecting her.”

Davis will receive her award at the Greenfield Prize award dinner on Sunday, April 14, 6 p.m., at Michael’s On East, 1212 East Avenue South, in Sarasota. Tickets begin at $150; reservations can be made online at www.HermitageArtistRetreat.org.

New Director of Development Joins Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation

Barbara E. Evans, CFRE has been named Director of Development for Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation. In her new position, Barbara will be responsible for cultivating relationships within the Sarasota community on behalf of the Healthcare Foundation in support of its philanthropic mission. 

“We are very fortunate to have someone with Barbara’s breadth of development experience joining our team,” said Healthcare Foundation President Mason Ayres. “She has an impressive track record in philanthropy and strategic leadership, and has helped grow multiple non-profit organizations in Florida, the Midwest and the West Coast. Her passion for our mission will undoubtedly help extend the momentum that the Healthcare Foundation has gained in the last couple of years.”

Barbara brings nearly 20 years of fundraising experience to the Healthcare Foundation. Prior to joining Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation, Barbara served as Chief Development Officer for Grace Place for Children and Families in Naples, Fla. spearheading fundraising efforts since 2012. She also served as a major gift officer for Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, Mi. and as Director of Development for Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco.

Barbara graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science degree and has already relocated to Sarasota with her husband and two young children.

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Ringling College Presents “Inner Voices: Sex, Intimacy, and Aging”

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Ringling College (OLLI at Ringling College) presents “Inner Voices: Sex, Intimacy, and Aging” with Hedda Matza-Haughton, LCSW, Thursday, March 7, 2:30-4 p.m., at Temple Beth Sholom. The performance explores the unspoken truths about sex, intimacy, and aging through the eyes and souls of four different characters all performed by Matza-Haughton, who is an actor, drama director, teaching artist, social worker, consultant, and health educator. There will be a Q&A with the audience following the performance. Tickets are $15. To register, call 941-309-5111, or visit www.olliatringlingcollege.org.

“Audience members have shared with me how believable the characters are to what is happening in our aging community and that the topic of sex, intimacy, and aging is just not talked about,” says Matza-Haughton. “My goal in writing and performing the play, and having a talk-back after the show, is to open up communication since solutions to some of the challenges we may face start with speaking the truth.”

Matza-Haughton has been integrating drama into her work in schools and other community settings locally and nationally for more than 25 years. She is the president and founder of For the Health of It Consultation Services, co-chair of Arts for Health Sarasota-Manatee, Inc., and creator of the nationally-acclaimed “Laugh for the Health of It” and improvisational drama program “Words Not Spoken.” For more information, www.laughforthehealthofit.net. To interview Matza-Haughton, call 941-923-7477.

Dick Vitale to Present $200,000 Pediatric Cancer Research Grant in Honor of Tyler Trent at the 2019 Gala

Dick Vitale will present a pediatric cancer research grant in the amount of $200,000 in honor of Tyler Trent at the 14th Annual Dick Vitale Gala to be held on Friday, May 10, 2019 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Sarasota, FL. Funds raised through Vitale’s Gala benefit pediatric research funded by the V Foundation for Cancer Research. Tyler Trent succumbed to a rare form of bone cancer after a five-year battle on January 1. 

 “Tyler Trent captivated the nation with his courageous battle against osteosarcoma”, says Vitale.  “He inspired so many with the manner in which he fought this dreaded disease becoming a national hero, especially on the Purdue campus, where he was a student and loved by the Boilermakers family.  Trent’s goal was to help those in a similar situation and the V Foundation established the Trent Tyler Fund to raise dollars. Many with the football team including the head coach, Jeff Brohm, credited Tyler with motivating and inspiring them in their biggest victory of the year against the highly rated Ohio State Buckeyes. Tyler lost his battle but he will never ever be forgotten and his legacy of courage, his love for others and his willingness to help others will go on forever.”

“Tyler was a remarkable young man,” said Susan Braun, CEO of the V Foundation for Cancer Research. “He faced his cancer diagnosis and treatments with such strength. We are so pleased to honor his spirit through a grant in his name.”

Williams Parker Adds Labor and  Employment Associate John C. Getty 

Williams Parker is pleased to announce John C. Getty has joined the firm as an associate. He focuses his practice on labor and employment.

Mr. Getty represents employers regarding discrimination claims, wage and hour litigation, and investigations by regulatory agencies such as the Department of Labor and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. He has an extensive background in civil litigation, representing clients before state, federal, and administrative courts. His experience includes litigating matters related to Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). He also counsels employers on avoiding employment litigation through effective internal practices and policies, including helping with training on such policies, utilizing specifically tailored employee handbooks, thorough record-keeping, and reviewing and implementing appropriate pay practices. Prior to joining Williams Parker, Mr. Getty practiced in Louisiana for nine years. He obtained his J.D. from Emory University and earned his B.A. from The College of William and Mary.

Williams Parker’s labor and employment attorneys advise employers in both the public and private sectors across a wide range of industries. Representation includes defense litigation, risk management, workplace policies, and traditional labor law issues, and the group regularly practices before federal, state, and local administrative agencies and in federal and state courts. As the complexity of labor and employment law has increased, the knowledge, diverse backgrounds, and deep experience of the firm’s attorneys allows it to remain ahead of emerging and changing laws.

Harry Shapiro Charitable Foundation Donates $10,000 for Practice Studio

The Harry Shapiro Charitable Foundation has donated $10,000 to the State College of Florida Foundation to build an acoustically correct music practice studio in the new Studio for the Performing Arts at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. The $10,000 donation will receive an equal match, making the donation a $20,000 gift.

The practice studios, which allow for one-on-one tutoring as well as individual practice time, are essential for students to meet their coursework requirements. The building where music students currently practice is more than 50 years old, was originally designed for classrooms only, offers minimal functionality and has poor acoustics.

The Harry Shapiro Charitable Foundation was founded in 2015 to honor Harry Shapiro, a Punta Gorda resident and Navy veteran. His memory is honored through donations to causes that he cared about during his lifetime.

The $3.75 million Studio for the Performing Arts is designed to be an educationally sound and inviting space for both students and the community. SCF offers the only open-door access higher education music program in the region. The program serves approximately 500 general education students annually taking music classes, including 80 music majors.

To donate to the Studio for the Performing Arts or other programs, or for more information, contact Barbara Bourgoin, development director, at BourgoB@SCF.edu or (941) 752-5398.

Stock Signature Homes Debuting New Model in Genoa

Along with the newest luxury enclave, Genoa, The Lake Club in Lakewood Ranch will be home to eight new Stock Signature Homes’ models later this month. Each of Stock’s eight models will feature three distinct design styles for buyers to choose from and will offer the finest in luxury appointments available.

Among the new models is the Easton. Carefully crafted by designers at Robb & Stucky Furniture and Interiors, the interior design combines classic and modern styles with transitional accents and a color palette including beautiful shades of white, grey and teal. The model will offer four bedrooms, three full and one-half bath, great room, study, and three-car garage within its 2,864 square feet of air-conditioned living space.

To learn more about Lake Club living, visit the Model Preview Center located at 8307 Lake Club Boulevard in Lakewood Ranch, call (855) 201-8065 or preview models, floor plans and amenities at TheLakeClubLWR.com.

The Ringling Announces A Journey Through India Festival

The Ringling is delighted to present A Journey Through India, a three-day festival exploring the many cultures of India. Created in collaboration with local community partners, the festival will celebrate the performing and visual arts, literature, flavors and thought of historical and contemporary India.

          Friday, April 26, the festival will kick off with a Bollywood dance party in the Museum of Art Courtyard. DJ Pram brings his signature high-energy style to teach dance moves while scenes from classic Bollywood films are projected around the courtyard. Enjoy local Indian fare and beverages available for purchase and a special dance performance by Bollywood choreographer Rajat “Rocky” Batta.

          Saturday, April 27, look forward to a day-long program of cultural exploration, including a series of lectures from scholars speaking on various aspects of Indian culture; music and dance performances by community groups; art-making and other activities for families; and a market featuring local food and artisan vendors.

          Saturday evening Vishwa Mohan Bhatt performs in the Historic Asolo Theater. The Hindustani classical music instrumentalist is a GRAMMY® winning artist and the creator of the Mohan Veena. He has mesmerized the world with his pristine, pure and delicate yet fiery music. A formal reception will be held preceding this world-class performance.

          Sunday, the Festival culminates with a free, celebratory morning Hatha yoga event on Ca’ d’Zan terrace taught by an Isha Foundation yogi.

          “Sarasota is a hub of the arts and culture and as locals, we are invested and interested in bringing life rejuvenating elements of the Indian diaspora, including its performing arts, colorful festivals and a chance to meet with its Maestros,” said festival committee member Ritu Anand. “As excitedly as Bollywood has influenced Hollywood, we are driven to partner with The Ringling to showcase the sights, sounds and unforgettable tastes of India on the beautiful Ringling grounds.”

          “We look forward to the opportunity that hosting A Journey Through India presents to us to deepen our connection to our local community through art and learning,” said Steven High, executive director of The Ringling. “This festival is exactly the kind of celebration and exploration of art and culture that was envisioned in the creation of the Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Center for Asian Art at The Ringling.”

          Building on the excitement of the festival, The Ringling will present The Fabric of India. This exhibition of Indian textiles from the Victoria & Albert Museum, on view July 7-Oct. 13, 2019, showcases over 200 superb examples of historical dress, carefully preserved fabrics and cutting-edge fashion. Fabric of India illustrates the variety, technical sophistication and adaptability of Indian textiles from the third to the 21st century, revealing how textiles have been interwoven with religion, politics and global trade for centuries in India.

SunCoast Blood Bank Celebrates 70 Years

For the Cowles Family, Valentine’s Day means much more than the traditional time to exchange flowers and candy with loved ones.  Eleven years ago, on Valentine’s Day Bob suffered a ruptured thoracic aneurysm, a health crisis that had him fighting for his life in minutes. Within the hour, Bob was admitted to Sarasota Memorial Hospital undergoing 12 hours of emergency surgery, requiring 69 units of blood and platelets.  Bob credits his survival to the first responders on the scene within minutes, the emergency department at Doctors Hospital, the gifted surgeons at Sarasota Memorial Hospital (SMH), nurses, technicians and, the local donors who provided him with the gift of blood and platelets. 

Every year Bob and his wife Jackie commemorate this very special day by delivering cakes to the surgeons, first responders and SunCoast Blood Bank.  SunCoast provides 100% of the blood products used at Doctors Hospital and SMH as well as 8 other hospitals in four counties. 

February 14, 2019 also marks the 70th anniversary of SunCoast Blood Bank, one of the oldest existing nonprofits in the community. O.K. Fike and Dr. Millard White founded the Lower West Coast Blood Bank, now known as SunCoast Blood Bank, in 1949. They planted the seeds of a humanitarian idea that would blossom over seven decades. Although the name has changed, the guiding principles of remaining an independent, local, healthcare provider, governed by a local board and local management has remained intact. For 70 years, tens of thousands of dedicated volunteers have provided the critical, lifesaving gift of blood to local hospitals and patients. In 1949 the Blood Bank collected 551 pints of blood, now called “units.” Today, SCBB operates four donor centers, and more than 1,300 blood drives are held annually. The success of the organization rests completely on the generosity of volunteer donors.

The official recognition of the blood bank’s anniversary will take place at a breakfast on February 21 where high-gallon donors, volunteers and other community supporters will be recognized.  SunCoast will also be honored with proclamations from the Sarasota City Council and County Commission at the event.

Discover Sarasota Tours Launches New Amish Experience Tours

Sarasota is home to a unique 90-year-old Amish and Mennonite community—people who come from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere to winter on Florida’s beautiful sunny beaches.

Guests on the new Discover Sarasota Tours Amish Experience Tour will multi-layered history of the Amish community in Sarasota from tour guide Kendra Cross. The tour visits the Pinecraft neighborhood at Bahia Vista Avenue and Beneva Road in Sarasota, where residents travel on three-wheeled bikes instead of the horse and buggy they might drive at home.

Visitors will also stop at the authentic Der Dutchman Amish Kitchen Restaurant to do some shopping, and of course sample Der Dutchman’s delicious homemade pies