Sarasota Memorial Hospital expands its presence in Lakewood Ranch with the official opening of new offices and medical facilities at Lorraine Corners. The SMH Health Care Center will include First Physicians Group Pediatrics and Internal Medicine practices, along with additional office space for subspecialties.

“This new health care center will help ensure that people of all ages in this community have convenient access to primary care,” said David Verinder, CEO of Sarasota Memorial.

Hospital officials on Friday held a grand opening and ribbon-cutting event, including tours of new facilities and a chance for community members to meet doctors there. There, Verinder said the growing Lakewood Ranch community represented a perfect market in which to open new facilities.

The expansion comes amid growing demand, SMH officials said, for the hospital’s services in all corners of Sarasota County.

“There’s been a growing demand throughout the community for Sarasota Memorial’s high level of care,” Verinder said. “In 2018, the hospital and First Physicians Group had more than 82,000 visits from patients from the Lakewood Ranch area—an increase of over 50 percent from the prior year. That’s no surprise, as this is one of the fastest growing master planned communities in the nation.”

The hospital provided the first 100 children in attendance with free teddy bears, and offered the chance to bring those plush toys and others to a teddy bear clinic. The center also offered free balance screenings and chair massages among other festivities.

“To help serve the area’s growing population, we also have outpatient and urgent care centers and physician offices on University Parkway and in Heritage Harbour,” Verinder said. 

Photo courtesy SMH: Sarasota Memorial First Physicians Group officials cut ribbon on Lakewood Ranch center.

The School District of Manatee County has reported a stellar year academically, according to School and District Grades released by the Florida Department of Education. Of the 59 Manatee District schools that received School Grades from the state (including Charter Schools), 57 received an A, B or C grade this year. Only two district schools received a D grade, down from six D schools the previous school year. And, for the third consecutive year, not one Manatee District school received an F grade from the state. The District itself received a B grade for the third consecutive year, and for the fourth time in the last five years. Prior to 2015, the Manatee District had received three C grades in a row.

Sixteen Manatee District schools improved their grades this school year over the previous year, including Palm View Elementary, which vaulted from a D grade in 2018 to an A grade this year. In addition, Samoset Elementary and Blackburn Elementary both jumped from a D to a B, and Rowlett Academy for Arts and Communication improved from a C to an A.

In total, the District had 20 A schools, 19 B schools, 18 C schools and two D schools. The only Manatee District schools to receive a D this year are Oneco Elementary and Lincoln Memorial Academy. According to Superintendent Saunders, the Manatee District is only six points away from becoming an A school district. 

School District of Manatee County

Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) passenger traffic set an all-time record for the month of June with 147,615 passengers traveling through the airport. Traffic for June 2019 was up 48.7% over June of 2018. Year-to-date passenger numbers are up 39.6%. Passenger traffic for the first 6 months of 2019 totaled 988,105 passengers. SRQ has seen 16 straight months of passenger growth and has expanded service to eight airlines serving 29 destinations. The rapid growth at SRQ has made it the second-fastest-growing airport in the US. 

Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport

Brad Jeffers has been named the general manager for The Lake Club, admired as the most exclusive village in Lakewood Ranch. In his position, Jeffers will oversee various aspects of Lake Club living and work closely with other members of the team to ensure resident and builder satisfaction and goal success. Jeffers comes to The Lake Club with a years of experience in hospitality, club management, and community governance, including years spent managing clubs, such as The Ritz-Carlton Club, and implementing hospitality programming throughout Colorado. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality, Restaurant and Travel Administration from Southern Illinois University and is a designated Florida Community Association Manager. 

The Lake Club

Three attorneys with the Sarasota law firm of Syprett Meshad have been selected by Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, to its 2019 Florida "Super Lawyers" list. Syprett Meshad president and founding partner Michael Resnick was recognized in the category of Family Law; partner and board-certified civil trial attorney Teresa Jones was selected in the Personal Injury/General Defense category; and managing partner Nancy Cason was selected in the Real Estate category. Lawyers selected to the "Super Lawyers" list have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only 5 percent of lawyers in the state are selected for this annual honor. Super Lawyers rates attorneys nationwide through independent research, as well as peer nominations and a statewide survey of lawyers and peer reviews by practice area. 

Syprett Meshad