People & Business: Wednesday

Wednesday, January 16th, 2019
THE SARASOTA SCENE
People & Business
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Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation’s 2nd Annual Hospital Gala Raises Over $1.2 million for SMH Cardiac Services

The 2nd Annual Hospital Gala hosted by Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation (SMHF) was held at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota on January 12th. The sold out event of 700 guests raised more than $1.2 million in support of Sarasota Memorial Hospital Cardiac Services.

“For the second year in a row, the Sarasota Community came together to support SMH in such a magnificent way,” said SMHF President Mason Ayres. “This year, proceeds will go directly to cardiac services ensuring that SMH will continue to offer the most comprehensive and advanced cardiovascular services in the region.”

In 2018, the hospital’s heart team performed 1,015 surgeries and more than 6,000 catheter-based procedures. As the local population grows, the demand for the hospital’s high-quality cardiac care, advanced equipment and innovative technology is increasing as well.  

“We are grateful to the Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation for hosting this wonderful event to benefit Sarasota Memorial and the patients we serve,” said Sarasota Memorial President and CEO David Verinder. “Thanks to the community’s ongoing support, Sarasota Memorial has long been a pioneer and leader in providing the most effective cardiac treatments and technology, and will continue delivering the highest level of care for years to come.”

Northern Trust was the event’s Premier Sponsor. Ambulance Sponsors were Ambitrans Medical Services, Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, Ariane Dart, FLAD Architects, Louis & Gloria M. Flanzer Philanthropic Foundation Trust, Joel and Gail Morganroth, Sunset Automotive Group, Eric and Doreen Spiegel, Thomas and Ann Wierdsma.

The Lake Club Reaches $55M in 2018 Sales

Preferred builders within The Lake Club, admired as the most exclusive village in Lakewood Ranch, successfully completed 62 end user home and lot sales in 2018, exceeding approximately $55 million.

Multiple luxurious enhancements were completed in The Lake Club in 2018, and there’s more to come this year. Lake View Estates made its debut with residences starting at $1 million, each with scenic views of the surrounding lakes and more than 3,000 square feet under air.

Four highly acclaimed builders are presenting homes in Lake View Estates: Anchor Builders, Arthur Rutenberg Homes, John Cannon Homes and Stock Signature Homes. With coastal designs, expansive square footage, and spacious outdoor living areas, the Abaco, Andalucía, Korina, Margo II, Glenmore and Clairborne II models are not ones to miss.

Stock will also have eight new models debuting in The Lake Club’s newest enclave, Genoa, this February. Homeowners will have the unique opportunity to select from Mediterranean, British West Indies or Coastal Florida styles, each featuring its own distinctive architectural inspiration, details and finishes. The newly designed residences feature three- and four-bedroom layouts, great rooms, optional bonus rooms, extended lanais, and three-car garages.

Residents in The Lake Club also enjoy the regal 20,000-square-foot Grande Clubhouse, an exclusive gathering place to host events and indulge in entertainment, dining, and sporting activities, among the many other enrichment activities signature to The Lake Club lifestyle. Enhancements to the park, such as a yoga lawn, children’s playground, fitness trail, dog park and sports courts, are expected to be complete soon.

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 Hermitage North @ New College: International Contemporary Ensemble: “Words and Music”

The Hermitage North @ New College series continues with the founder of the celebrated International Contemporary Ensemble, Claire Chase, in a performance collaboration with composer and instrumentalist, Suzanne Farrin, and poet Laura Mullen, in “Words and Music,” Friday, February 1, 2 p.m., at Mildred Sainer Pavilion at New College of Florida, 5313 Bayshore Road, Sarasota. Reservations for this free series are required and can be requested at www.HermitageArtistRetreat.org. For more information about the Hermitage, visit www.HermitageArtistRetreat.org.

Claire Chase is a flutist, collaborative artist, curator and advocate for new and experimental music. A MacArthur Fellow and recipient of the 2017 Avery Fisher Prize, she is also the founder of the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), an artist collective that is transforming the way music is created and experienced. As performers, curators, and educators, ICE explores how new music intersects with communities across the world. The ensemble’s 35 members are featured as soloists, chamber musicians, commissioners, and collaborators with the foremost musical artists of our time. Four ICE members and two collaborators will be in residence at the Hermitage in February.

In “Words and Music,” Chase and Farrin will perform a work based on a poem by Emily Dickinson using flute and an early electronic musical instrument called an “ondes martenot.” Chase will also perform a piece for bass flute and electronics based on the poetry of Rumi. Poet Laura Mullen will read new poems written during her residency at the Hermitage. All three will also perform a work by Pauline Oliveros based on Oliveros’s poetry. They will be joined by ICE director, Rebecca Sigel, for a Q & A about contemporary music following the performance.

“In addition to the planned program, we might be the first people in the world to hear some of the music they write at the Hermitage,” says Patricia Caswell, the Hermitage’s co-founder and program director. “It’s as thrilling as seeing a beautiful newborn baby for the first time!”

FST Announces its Annual Fundraising Event and Spelman award Recipients

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) presents its annual fundraiser, the Denim & Diamonds Shindig, on Monday, February 25 in FST’s Hegner Theatre Wing. Celebrating FST’s 45th season, attendees are invited to break out their finest western garb, boots, bling, or their favorite cocktail attire for an evening of sparkle and cheer. The evening kicks off with a cocktail reception featuring live music, dancers, performances by FST’s resident improv troupe, raffles and more. Guests will then assemble in FST’s Gompertz Theatre to watch exclusive live performances by some of FST’s beloved artists. Tickets are $250 per person. To reserve a seat, please call Samus Haddad, Development Associate at (941) 366-9017 ext. 316.

Proceeds from the shindig will support FST’s Playwrights Collective and will cover the expenses of artist travel, commissions, and new play development workshops. The Collective includes budding and veteran playwrights, such as Sarah Bierstock (Honor Killing), Mark St. Germain (Dancing Lessons, The Best of Enemies), Jacqueline Goldfinger (Bottle Fly, The Arsonists), Richie McCall (Me & Stepin), and Jason Odell Williams (Church and State, Handle with Care). This program allows playwrights to workshop new plays at FST, gaining important feedback from FST’s artistic team and live audiences. By giving playwrights the support they need during the creative process, the Collective aims to deepen the playwrights’ relationships with the theatre, FST’s audience, and fellow playwrights.

During the Shindig, FST will present the esteemed Spelman Award. Named in honor of Florida Studio Theatre’s founding Artistic Director, Jon Spelman, the Spelman Award is presented to an individual or a corporate sponsor who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership by providing FST with spiritual, financial, and/or in-kind support. This year’s recipients of the Spelman Award are Bob and Wendy Grady, who are avid supporters of FST’s education program and Winter Season programming

Mote recruits Chief Innovation Officer to translate science for economic impact

Mote Marine Laboratory is excited to announce that Dr. Alex Beavers has accepted the position of Chief Innovation Officer, a new role dedicated to transitioning Mote research into commercial applications that are ocean-friendly and produce economic benefits both locally and globally.

Dr. Beavers, who officially joined Mote’s staff on Jan. 1, will apply his 40 years’ experience as a high-technology executive and entrepreneur — most recently at SRI (Stanford Research Institute) in Menlo Park, California — to help create new ventures, license agreements, products and services that are based on the inventions, discoveries, and intellectual property created at Mote. Scientists at Mote, an independent nonprofit institution founded 64 years ago, have produced many intellectual property products including patents ranging from sustainable fish-farming technologies to potential new sources of medicines to red tide monitoring and mitigation tools.

Reporting directly to Dr. Crosby, Dr. Beavers aims to grow Mote’s economic impact — currently estimated to be $90 million in its region — as part of a Lab-wide expansion. Mote leaders are currently working for the rebirth of the public Mote Aquarium at a mainland nexus site for Sarasota and Manatee counties. This will clear space for Mote’s primary research campus on City Island, Sarasota, to evolve into an International Marine Science, Technology, & Innovation Park, where an expansion of intellectual property created by Mote scientists and colleagues from around the world will serve as the “blue economy” foundation for a Silicon Valley of marine science and technology in the region.

Dr. Beavers previously led the commercialization of advanced electronics, automation systems, advanced materials, medical devices and clean technologies for SRI (Stanford Research Institute). He was also CEO and Chairman of the Board of Averatek Corporation, an SRI spin-out venture that serves the printed circuit industry with fine-line, three-dimensional metallization products and services. Prior to SRI, Dr. Beavers was founding CEO of Artificial Muscle, Inc., which licensed SRI electro-active polymer technology and was acquired by Bayer AG. Before that, he was CEO of Thomson Industries, a global linear motion systems company based in New York that was eventually acquired by Danaher Corporation. His prior positions included CEO of ITP Systems, a factory floor systems integration company, CEO of Applicon, Inc., one of the original computer aided design systems companies, CEO of Schlumberger Automation Systems Asia, and General Manager of General Electric Vision Systems Business, and Managing Partner of Supply Chain Management Consulting at PwC. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University and master’s degree and doctorate from the University of Houston, all in Electrical Engineering, and earned his Master of Business Administration from Boston University.
 
 

La Musica International Chamber Music Festival Announces 33rd Season“Truthful & Timeless” concerts April 8-17 at Sarasota Opera House

The critically-acclaimed La Musica International Chamber Music Festival celebrates 33 seasons this year, with events from February 12 to April 17, 2019.

Four concerts will be held at the Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota. Subscriptions to all four concerts are $160; single tickets are $45.

Major Season Sponsors

Funding for the season provided in part by Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax Revenues (TDT); the Anonymous Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County; and SunTrust Private Wealth Management.

Visit www.lamusicafestival.org for performance and special event tickets and rehearsal schedule. For more information or to order tickets by phone, please call the box office at 941-366-8450, option 7.

Dial HOPE Annual Luncheon LANDS Astronaut–Artist as Keynote Speaker

 Dial Hope Foundation welcomes NASA Astronaut and Artist, Nicole Stott, as keynote speaker to their Annual Luncheon at Bird Key Yacht Club. 
 
Nicole Stott is an Artist and Astronaut who creatively combines the awe and wonder of her spaceflight experience with her artwork to inspire everyone’s appreciation of our role as crewmates here on Spaceship Earth. She is the first person to paint a watercolor in space. 
Nicole spent over 3 months in space on the International Space Station and the Space Shuttle; she is also an Aquanaut, having lived underwater for a 3-week mission on the Aquarius undersea habitat. She believes that the international model of peaceful and successful cooperation we have experienced in these extreme environments of space and sea hold the key to the same kind of peaceful and successful cooperation for all of humanity here on Earth. 
“Nicole’s inspirational message about humanity is a perfect fit for Dial Hope,” explains Dial Hope board member Ann Babcock. Dial Hope is a 24-hour global telephone and Internet ministry providing daily faith-based, non-denominational messages of encouragement, inspiration and care. Dial Hope continues to spread “Ripples of Hope” across the country, in all 50 states, over 40 countries and to deployed military around the world. 
Dial Hope, was launched in September 2000 by Rev. Dr. Roger Kunkel. In the early days, Roger woke up at 5 am and he would record an inspirational telephone message. The messages were uplifting and encouraging. People began to call 24 hours a day – 7 days a week. In the mid-2000’s Dial Hope really began to take off. Roger drew on some of the brightest minds in Sarasota to help him run this growing ministry. They formed a Board of Directors and transitioned a church based ministry to today a growing non-profit foundation. 
Early on, Roger would periodically ask his friends to stand in as Guest Pastors. One of the first was Rev. Joe Albright, then the Associate Pastor at First Presbyterian Church, Sarasota.
When Roger passed away in the summer of 2011, the board of directors asked Joe to consider taking over this ministry. Joe responded enthusiastically. “I was deeply honored. I love this ministry and I am passionate about continuing it because I know that it touches lives.” To become a Sponsor or reserve tickets call Candy Swick at 941-954-9000 or get ticket online at www.Dialhope.org. For interviews with Nicole Stott or Dial Hope please call Lisabeth Begin at (727-243-6965) or Lis@BeginProductions.com.

USF Sarasota-Manatee to host climate-change summit 

Learn how climate change impacts hurricanes, red tide and sea-level rise, and what it all means for Sarasota and Manatee counties during a daylong conference Friday, Jan. 25 at USF Sarasota-Manatee.

The conference, “Adapting to a Changing Climate: Challenges & Opportunities,” is open to the public with advance registration and will feature panels of scientists, engineers, government officials and CEOs engaging in a series of discussions about climate change.

Welcoming remarks begin at 8:30 a.m. The conference will run until 3 p.m. and include lunch with paid admission. The event will be held at USFSM’s Selby Auditorium, 8350 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Tickets are $50 and available at usfsm.edu/climate. The event is free to USFSM students and faculty.

The panelists will focus on climate change’s unique effects on Florida and how cities and counties are adapting. In addition to exploring the impacts on weather, sea-level rise and red tide, the experts will discuss how climate change will affect infrastructure along coastal areas, and what challenges might confront the local economy as governments and businesses adapt to the changing environment.

Event speaker Bob Bunting, an atmospheric scientist and former meteorologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, says climate change is real and already taking place, so the focus should be on adaptive strategies.

“Florida has a 1,450-mile-long coastline that is the second longest coastline in the United States, and there is more than $7 trillion worth of real estate on the Florida shoreline, so we have high risk, but we also have high motivation to adapt to climate change and prevent the worst impacts from it,” Bunting said. “I think it’s very important that we bring this down to the local level and that we stop arguing about who’s responsible for climate change because, in fact, we’re having it.”

The day-long conference will explore adaptive approaches to climate change, including potential economic opportunities.

“We’ll talk first about what the big problems of climate change are, and what’s likely to happen, but then we’re going to bring it down to the Florida level and then down to the regional level, and how governments are doing,” Bunting said. “Then we’ll bring it down even further with how companies are dealing with climate change, what the opportunities are to meet the threat, because climate change, in my view, will be one of the biggest economic opportunities that the state of Florida will have in the next 50 years.”

The conference will include a Q&A with conference speakers. It’s being organized by USF Sarasota-Manatee in partnership with Cumberland Advisors and the Global Interdependence Center.

The ELC  Awarded $2000 Grant From the Community Foundation of Sarasota County

 Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County, Inc. (ELC) has been selected as a recipient of a $2,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. The grant was awarded as part of the Community Foundation’s Capacity Building Grant Program, in the Organizational Culture category, to fund a “Team Building” retreat for ELC staff. 

Paul Sharff, ELC Chief Executive Officer, said: “We thank the Community Foundation of Sarasota County for their generous support of the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County.” He added: “This investment will allow the ELC to continue to build a strong and successful team to ensure our ability to provide early learning opportunities in every community of Manatee County.”

Orioles Spring Training Tickets on Sale Saturday, January 26 at 10:00 a.m.

Individual tickets for all 17 of the Orioles’ 2019 Spring Training games at Ed Smith Stadium will go on sale Saturday, January 26 at 10:00 a.m. ET. It is recommended that fans purchase tickets online. The Orioles will offer a special online 36-hour presale from Wednesday, January 23 at 10:00 a.m. to Thursday, January 24 at 10:00 p.m. to fans subscribing to the free digital Sarasota 365 Newsletter or Warehouse Wire.

The Orioles will play their first of 17 home spring training games in 2019 at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota on Saturday, February 23, at 1:05 p.m. against the Minnesota Twins. This season, the Orioles will honor the “ONE MILLIONTH FAN” to attend Orioles Spring Training games since the team moved Major League operations to Sarasota in 2010.

“The Orioles have welcomed more than 985,000 fans over our first nine Major League Spring Training seasons in Sarasota,” said GREG BADER, Orioles Vice President, Communications & Marketing. “This figure has far surpassed original projections and is a testament to the tremendous support we receive both locally and among our fans who make the trip to Sarasota each spring, as well as the outstanding fan experience we offer at Ed Smith Stadium. We will reach the ‘One Millionth Fan’ milestone faster than any franchise in Sarasota’s near century-long Spring Training history.”

The ballclub will select one fan at random on the day the milestone is reached, most likely on opening weekend, to represent the one million fans, Bader said. The Orioles “ONE MILLIONTH FAN” will receive a $5,000 shopping experience at Diamond Vault in Sarasota, two Spring Training season tickets for five years, and more.

Fans interested in season tickets, five-game flex-plans, or group tickets, or those wishing to receive additional Spring Training ticket information, may call the Orioles Spring Training office at 941-893-6312.

To receive an invitation to buy individual game tickets before they go on sale to the general public, fans can sign up for the Sarasota 365 Newsletter and Warehouse Wire at Orioles.com/newsletter.

Individual game tickets for Orioles Spring Training home games at Ed Smith Stadium may be purchased in the following ways:

ONLINE: Tickets can be purchased at the Orioles’ official website, Orioles.com/spring.

PHONE: Individual game tickets can be purchased by phone by calling 800-745-3000. Season, five-game flex-plans, group tickets, suites, and other specialty areas are available by calling 941-893-6312.

AT THE BALLPARK: Individual game tickets can be purchased in person at Ed Smith Stadium in the Left Field Ticket Office, located at 12th Street and Tuttle Avenue. The box office will be open on January 26 from 10:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m. and will then be open Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., from January 28 until February 8. From February 11 to March 24, the box office will be open seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Parking is available in the East Lot, located on 12th Street and Tuttle Avenue.

TRAVEL PACKAGE: The Orioles are offering the official Spring Training Travel Package that includes hotel accommodations, rental car, game tickets, an exclusive pregame picnic with select Orioles team personnel, and a custom Orioles Spring Training merchandise package. For more information or to order travel packages, fans should visit Orioles.com/Spring or call 1-800-892-7687.

Media planning to cover the ticket on-sale on Saturday, January 26 at Ed Smith Stadium should contact Kailey Adams (kadams@orioles.com) to RSVP and are encouraged to arrive between the times of 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Forty Carrots Family Center Celebrates 25th Anniversary and over 40,000 Families Served!

Forty Carrots Family Center celebrates its 25th anniversary this year and recognizes local supporters and community partners who have helped the agency serve more than 40,000 families in Sarasota and Manatee Counties.

Founded in 1993 by longtime residents Betsy Kane-Hartnett and Diane Weiss, Forty Carrots Family Center blended their respective skills of early childhood and parenting education and vision to create a place where families – regardless of economic status, educational background, age, or other factors – would find the resources, tools and support they needed to help nurture their families, educate their children and overcome the challenges inherent in those early years.

Over the past two and half decades, the organization has worked to meet the needs of families, collaborating with community partners to expand their outreach services, which include mental health and programs, into dozens of area libraries and community organizations that serve families with young children, pregnant teens, parents, grandparents and at-risk families. Today Forty Carrots provides services to 17 nonprofit partners at 30 partner locations, including all Sarasota and Manatee Libraries with 93% of services provided at no cost.

“Our unwavering mission remains to empower families with the skills and support they need to provide their children with experiences and environments that are emotionally and physically safe so that they can grow into capable and caring young people,” said Michelle Kapreilian, Chief Executive Officer of Forty Carrots Family Center. “The early years of life are crucially important to the overall development of our children, which is why our focus is on children’s first five years.”

There are more than 35,000 children under the age of 5 in Sarasota-Manatee counties, according to the latest census reports, and more than half of all babies in Sarasota are being born into poverty (First 1,000 Days initiative). Many families bring their babies home from the hospital without any formal guidance on child rearing and little information on where to turn if they need help. Regardless of ability to pay, Forty Carrots’ Parenting Education, Mental Health Services, and Early Childhood Education are accessible for all families and ensure parents and children are provided all they need for healthy development in those first crucial years.

Learn more: Visit fortycarrots.org and watch our 25-year anniversary video.

SCF to Offer Tips on Making Creative Pitches

State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) is partnering with the Film and Entertainment office of the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County to offer a two-day seminar on pitching creative projects to film industry representatives. “Pitch Strong” will be offered Jan. 20 and 21 at SCF Lakewood Ranch, 7131 Professional Parkway E. The cost of the program is $199.

The event will include five workshops focusing on creative project pitching led by television and movie producers, as well as casting directors and script writers, including Brendan Walsh, Bradley Ross and Meghan Rafferty. Also included is a networking reception on Sunday and a pitch judging competition with prizes on Monday. A discount is available to members of a creative industry professional association or students of digital cinema programs in the region.

Online registration must be completed by Jan. 18. Register for class #12253 at SCF.edu/CCDEnroll. For more information, contact Kristey Richardson at RicharK@SCF.edu or 941-752-5290.