As the final week of the legislative session winds down, lawmakers in Sarasota are navigating careful waters on issues like social media use, mental health and development rights.

State Sen. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, will handle key negotiations with the House on a “Live Healthy” package that’s been a priority of Senate leadership. He’s trying to secure funding for important local projects, including pursing money for Mote Marina Laboratory for aquaculture and education needs. But in addition, he is talking to the House about the “Live Healthy” initiative, a public health effort championed by Senate President Kathleen Passidomo.

A top demand in final days, he said, is to “finalize Behavioral Health component of ‘Live Healthy’ with the House.”

State Rep. Fiona McFarland, R-Sarasota, has carried a top House priority with a social media ban restricting online access for children. Having carried a digital privacy law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis last year, McFarland handled personal data elements this year of a social media bill that had been priority of Speaker Paul Renner. The bill originally prohibited anyone under age 16 from opening or maintaining a social media account, but DeSantis vetoed the bill this week.

But immediately, lawmakers set about preparing a replacement bill that addressed the governor’s concerns on parental consent. The new language would allow a legal guardian to grant permission to 14- and 15-year-olds to have accounts — federal law already prohibits anyone 13 and younger from having internet accounts — while preserving McFarland’s prohibitions on tech companies keeping data and digital profiles on children.

Meanwhile, state Rep. Will Robinson is carefully trying to usher an easement bill that have a rider on real estate sales in China that DeSantis has criticized. Robinson has worked with concerned parties about creating an ability to give property owners to create certain easements on their land. But a Senate version also would roll back parts of a law signed by DeSantis last year prohibiting Chinese nationals from buying certain land in Florida. Robinson’s bill, which will be voted on by the House, has none of that language.

“Assuming that passes we will ship it to the Senate,” Robinson said. “Conversations may accelerate from there, and if they do I want to be looped in.” His big concern, though, is making sure whatever version of the bill passes meets muster with DeSantis. 

Photo courtesy Florida House: State Rep. Will Robinson, R-Bradenton

Hundreds of visitors experienced Wellen Park’s welcoming vibe, explored professionally decorated model homes and enjoyed the hospitality of the community’s builders, plus activities and live music in Downtown Wellen during the second annual Model Home Showcase. The Feb. 10 event featured self-guided tours of 34 fully furnished model homes in 11 neighborhoods, where homebuilders treated guests to light bites and beverages, entertainment, caricatures, demonstrations, photo booths, games and giveaways. The model home extravaganza illustrated the array of new homebuying opportunities, floor plans and pricing available in Wellen Park, ranked among the U.S.’s top 10 selling master-planned communities in 2023 by prominent real estate consulting firms RCLCO and John Burns. Featuring the latest in architecture and interior design, the models included paired villas, single-family homes and estates, semi-custom and custom homes, with open-concept floor plan offer two to four bedroom and 1,400 to 3,700 square feet of living space. Model home base prices range from $430,000s to over $1.5 million. Showcase guests were introduced to Wellen Park’s newest neighborhoods and their signature amenities, including Brightmore, the first community for active adults 55+ offering a fun-filled lifestyle. They also previewed the expansive luxury custom model homes in EVERLY, Wellen Park’s premiere multi-builder enclave nestled along a scenic 50-acre lake, and explored Lakespur, a multigenerational neighborhood with amenities designed for families of all ages. Homebuilders offered a taste of the robust and dynamic social lifestyles of their neighborhoods with amenity tours, live music alongside resort-inspired pools, light refreshments, food and ice cream trucks, and yoga, pickleball and Thai chi demonstrations. Guests received gifts, branded merchandise and swag bags and participated in competitive cornhole games and raffles for gift cards, prizes and a 65-inch TV. Builders also previewed plans for private next-level neighborhood amenities, which include luxurious clubhouses, state-of-the-art fitness centers, cafes and social halls enhancing community connections, and expansive amenity campuses with resort-inspired pools and cabana buildings, heated spas, firepit lounges, pickleball courts, event and game lawns, and even a putting green, beach area and food truck park. Model Home Showcase visitors enjoyed the full complement of Downtown Wellen’s outdoor recreation opportunities, restaurants and shopping, plus games, activities, face painting and live music by Doug Deming & The Jewel Tones on the Solis Hall stage. For those who were unable to join the event, a digital version of the Model Home Showcase tour book is available for viewing online.

Pictured: The Feb. 10 event featured self-guided tours of 34 fully furnished model homes in 11 neighborhoods.

Rodrigo Trepp, President of Trepp Developments, announced the addition of a unique concierge for SOTA Residents & Hotel. LIVunLtd, a global luxury brand specializing in all facets of service, has been contracted as the residential virtual concierge. With a focus on service for the 35 residents living above the boutique HOTEL SOTA, Trepp feels the partnership is a perfect fit. “LIVunLtd has delivered five-star service around the globe for over twenty years, and we are pleased to bring that level of sophistication to Sarasota. We call it the evolution of service.” SOTA residents will have a private staffed lobby, 24-7 valet, towel service poolside, access to in-residence dining, and a house account for all food and beverage outlets at HOTEL SOTA. “With LIVunLtd, our residents will also have a concierge in their pocket,” commented Trepp. The dedicated lifestyle curator assigned to SOTA will assist residents with everything from automobile shipping, hanging their art collection, and scheduling a personal trainer to travel planning and acquiring sporting event tickets. “What’s truly exciting for our buyers is that they will have immediate access to their lifestyle curator,” noted Simon Bacon, Executive Director of the Developer Services Division at Michael Saunders & Company. “The LIVunLtd concierge service has already been considered in the HOA fees for SOTA Residences and Trepp Developments is extending the worldwide service to buyers upon contract to showcase the serviced lifestyle of their future home.” SOTA will be the first project in the Sarasota region to offer this service. New York City based, LIVunLtd President Abbie Newman said she is looking forward to expanding her company to Sarasota on Florida’s West Coast. “We have hundreds of employees worldwide and a track record of providing outstanding service to 134 luxury properties across the county,” Newman explained noting that her team will provide SOTA residents the convenience of a concierge at their fingertips to assist with everything from event planning to fitness options to dinner reservations. 

 Grapevine Communications took home 11 ADDY Awards from the Suncoast Chapter of the American Advertising Federation (AAF), recognizing the creative spirit and excellence in advertising. The ceremony was held at the Ringling Sound Stages in Sarasota on February 24. The advertising, marketing and public relations agency won awards for print collateral, video, website design and development, ad design, events, and digital marketing. Grapevine also earned an AMY Award, given to the highest scoring entry in each category. "All of us at Grapevine are immensely proud to be recognized for our creative work," said Allison Imre, Owner and President of Grapevine Communications. "Earning these honors from the AAF showcases the success of our collaborative partnerships with clients who trust us to deliver award-winning results and inspire us to do just that." Conducted annually by the AAF, the local awards event is the first phase of a three-tier, national competition. Across the country, local entrants vie to win recognition as the very best in their markets. At the second tier, local winners compete against winners from other local clubs in district competitions. Grapevine's gold entry will automatically advance to the District Awards and the winners are then forwarded to the third tier, the national stage of the American Advertising Awards.    

Pictured: Grapevine Communications' Cara Misiewicz, Lisa Grasso and Erin Sharp celebrate Grapevine wins at AAF Suncoast's 2024 ADDY Awards.

Clive Daniel Home is pleased to announce the recipients of the prestigious Circle of Distinction Award for 2023. This esteemed award acknowledges the exceptional performance and dedication of top-performing interior designers across the company's Sarasota, Boca, and Naples locations, as well as in the hospitality division. At Clive Daniel Home, it is believed that scale matters when selecting a designer. Their team of designers focuses on clients' needs and visions, ensuring that every project receives the full attention and expertise of the award-winning team from inspiration to installation. This year, heartfelt congratulations are extended to the following exceptional interior designers who have earned a well-deserved place in the Circle of Distinction Award: Naples - Na-Ann Williams, Rebekah Errett-Pikosky, Charlie Hansen, Jessica Lozano, Michael Scott, Christine Loughery, Robin Garceau, Sherree Woods, Ron Nowfel, Faith Ashley, Leslie Murphy, Kialee Lykins, Sherie Weidner, Gina Kadah, Jean Losier, Catherine Baker, Susan Melo, Kathleen Monahan, Nicole Anastasi, Frank Randazzo, Molly Nilan, Joanie Anderson, Lisa Mettetal, Ann Marinelli; Boca Raton - Fran Brady, Ilana Aronowitz, Beverly Perlin, Wendy Fielding, Bobby Murr, Jodi Lurcott, Bradford Paige, Nubia Rosa, Lisa Nieves, Ada Ustjanauskas, Craig Rubright, Marcos Dos-Santos, Lori Gilman, Michael Blum, Inaam Johnson, Paul Giannella; Sarasota - Linda Hyman, Kelli Smith, Jennifer Wright, Jeanine Zapatka, Keely Hill, Kristin Goff, Quentin MacDonald, Patrick Porter; Hospitality Division - Kyle-Lynn Blaise, Adnilem Barrera, Patricia Huamanchumo, Maryanne Hubbell. Each of these talented designers has demonstrated exceptional performance and dedication to their craft, consistently exceeding expectations and delivering unparalleled design solutions to Clive Daniel Home's valued clients. Clive Daniel Home congratulates all the winners of the Circle of Distinction Award for 2023 and looks forward to another year of unparalleled design excellence. 

Sarasota Memorial was recognized among the world’s best hospitals today in Newsweek’s sixth annual global ranking of hospitals. It is the only hospital in southwest Florida ever to make the list. To determine the rankings, Newsweek and global data firm Statista ranked more than 2,400 hospitals across 30 countries in 2024. SMH-Sarasota was one of 412 hospitals in the United States and 18 in Florida to make the prestigious list, based on patient care quality metrics and surveys of patients, physicians and hospital staff. SMH-Sarasota has earned a spot on the “World’s Best Hospitals” list every year since the global rankings began in 2019. Sarasota Memorial Health Care System CEO David Verinder recognized the entire healthcare team and their deep commitment to the community for the repeated recognition. “The people who work here are what sets Sarasota Memorial apart,” he said. “There is a sense of pride and community ownership that has been passed down through the decades and continues to inspire us today.” Nancy Cooper, Global Editor-in-Chief for Newsweek, noted the goal of the study is to provide a data-based comparison of hospital reputation and performance across countries. Hallmarks of great hospitals are not just first-class care, first-class research and first-class innovation; the very best institutions also share another quality – consistency. The list, she said, recognizes hospitals that consistently attract the best people and provide the best outcomes for patients as well as the most important new therapies and research. The World’s Best Hospitals 2024 ranking lists the best hospitals in 30 countries: USA, Germany, Japan, France, Italy, United Kingdom, South Korea, Brazil, India, Spain, Canada, Australia, Mexico, Colombia, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Malaysia, Thailand, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Israel, and Singapore. The countries were selected based on multiple comparability factors, such as standard of living/life expectancy, population size, number of hospitals, and data availability. The full list is published online at: https://www.newsweek.com/rankings/worlds-best-hospitals-2024 

Amid the hectic waters of Florida’s real estate market, what’s hard to come by are calm shores – a brokerage with an acute understanding of breathtaking properties along the Gulf Coast and the expertise to seamlessly navigate transactions. It’s a feeling of confidence that washes over agents, buyers and sellers when they naturally drift into a partnership with Preferred SHORE Real Estate, the premier independent luxury brokerage which creates a relaxed yet elevated experience, echoing Florida’s unique lifestyle. For Robert Milligan, founder and president, that was by design for Preferred SHORE, now with a network of over 300 REALTORS, blending a “Tommy Bahama” approach with the model of a “medium-sized boutique.” Since its start in 2014, Preferred SHORE has kept the characteristics of a small, privately owned company mixed with the world-class marketing resources of a major real estate conglomerate. For Robert, it’s not only about knowing each agent by name but providing mentorship, personal development and the tools to smoothly sail through transactions – and reap the rewards of a commission 100% their own. On the SHORE, success is measured in the changed lives of their agents, partners, venders and clients, despite recording nearly $1 billion in sales volume in 2023. Starting at age 19 in real estate, knowledge has been central to Robert’s career, inspired by figures like Warren Buffett and Sam Zell to reading Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad Poor Dad. And, like a breath of waterfront fresh air, the team mirrors his value in training, turning dreams into addresses.  

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A MESMERIZING JOURNEY | Composer and pianist Murray Hidary brings MindTravel to Siesta Beach, March 2024. 

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