Michael A. Gilkey Featured in Herald-Tribune

The cover story in the Home and Garden section of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune Saturday, August 30th, was called 'Making an Entrance.' Several design experts were asked to share 'simple and affordable ways to create inspired, artful and inviting entranceways.' Michael A. Gilkey, Jr., landscape architect at Michael A. Gilkey, Inc., was featured. An exerpt:

"Michael Gilkey compares a home’s first impression to an inspired piece of music. A great entrance is like a well-crafted overture; it unfolds over time.

'Think about not just actual front-door area, but the arrival sequence,' he says. Begin with what leads up to the entrance. 'Entry walkways should lead the eye to the front door. If you have a brick or paver walkway, the pattern can reinforce the entry sequence. A tight pattern, such as herringbone, can add a moment of pause; a linear pattern, such as running bond, can move the eye quickly.'

To draw the eye, he says, there’s nothing like color: 'A splash of color near the front door will immediately attract direct attention to the destination.'

Plants are a vital part of the visual music. 'Use plants that are in scale, arranged with strong, clean organization to move the eye toward the home’s entrance,' he says.

Gilkey also advises enticing the sense of smell: 'Use ginger, jasmine and rosemary to add a touch of enticing fragrance near the front door.'

The finishing touch? 'A small architectural element in scale with the front entry, such as a cleanly planted vessel or a recirculating fountain, can create a sense of welcome.'

Sarasota Community Acupuncture Celebrates 1st Anniversary with Open House August 29th

Sarasota Community Acupuncture is celebrating its first anniversary this Saturday (August 29) with an open house at their Towles Court practice, located at 200 South Washington Boulevard, Suite 1. The celebration is scheduled for 9:00am – 6:00pm, and features entertainment from local artists, food and refreshments, teas from Deja Brew, and acupuncture treatments. In gratitude for the support of their community, practitioners Gene Burgess, Melonie Burgess and Nate Mohler will donate all proceeds from the day’s treatments to WSLR 96.5, Sarasota’s community-supported local radio station.

While most American acupuncturists treat patients on tables in individual cubicles, Sarasota Community Acupuncture offers treatments in a community setting. The clinic features several recliners clustered in small groups, in a quiet, soothing space. “Treating patients in a community setting has many benefits,” says co-owner Gene Burgess, A.P. “It’s easy for friends and family members to come in for treatment together. Many patients find it comforting, and a collective energetic field becomes established which actually makes individual treatments more powerful.”

The clinic’s unique sliding scale is also reflective of the Asian method of practice. Most American acupuncturists see only one patient per hour, and charge $65 to $125 per treatment. The Sarasota Community Acupuncture philosophy is that acupuncture needs to be consistent, not expensive, to be effective. “The only way we can make acupuncture affordable and still make a living ourselves is to streamline our treatments and see multiple patients in an hour,” says co-owner Melonie Burgess, A.P. “So we have returned to the traditional approach: we rely on a shorter, concise consultation, along with pulse and tongue diagnosis to determine treatment. This is the way acupuncture is practiced traditionally in Asia -- many patients per hour and very little talking.”

Saturday’s anniversary celebration at Sarasota Community Acupuncture will embody the spirit of community that makes this clinic unique, with local music, food, and support of WSLR 96.5. “We believe acupuncture can really make a difference in people's lives-it is really an untapped resource for many,” says Burgess. “It just needs to be more available and affordable and that is why we are here.”

About Sarasota Community Acupuncture: Sarasota Community Acupuncture (SCA) is a famly practice committed to cultivating healthwith the practitioner and the patient in partnership. The mission of SCA is to provide the community with high quality and affordable acupuncture, and to create a treatment space that connects people and builds community. For more information, please visit www.sarasotacommunityacupuncture.com.

Golf Tournament for Parkinson Disease

The first annual Neuro Challenge Foundation Charity Golf Tournament will be held at Sarasota’s Heritage Oaks Golf and Country Club on October 24, 2009. All proceeds from the golf scramble will benefit the Neuro Challenge Foundation, a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of people struggling with Parkinson Disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. The Foundation's Parkinson Care Center is a unique and nationally recognized program and is located in the Institute for Advanced Medicine, just off Clark Road in Sarasota.

Check-in for the tournament is at 11:00 am, followed by a putting contest and driving practice. The tournament begins at 1:00 pm and will end with a cocktail hour, dinner, raffle and the announcement of prizes. Registration for the tournament is $120 per player , and may be reserved by calling Mark Besgeier at (941) 400-7867 or emailing golf@neurochallenge.org. Registration forms are also available at several private golf clubs, as well as at local golf stores and fitness clubs including Edwin Watts, Pro Golf Discount, Golf USA and the Sarasota Memorial HealthPlex Fitness Center, or by calling Neuro Challenge at 888-623-4463.

“Sarasota is a golfer’s paradise, and this tournament will bring awareness to our community, and to the need for funding and research to improve the lives of Parkinson’s patients,” says Doreen Sutherland, Neuro Challenge Foundation Chairman. "All of the proceeds from this event will benefit the 15,000 Parkinson patients and caregivers living in the Sarasota area by helping to keep the doors of our Neuro Challenge Parkinson Care Center open during challenging economic times."

The golf course at Heritage Oaks is a private 18-hole championship course. Originally built in 1997, the course was redesigned in the summer of 2006 by internationally known architect Ron Garl. The signature hole is number 18, a 385-yard par 4 nestled between the clubhouse and aquatic driving range. For dress code and more information about the golf course, please visit www.heritageoaksgolfcc.com.

Tax-deductible sponsorship opportunities are still available. “Bring your friends and enjoy an excellent day of play,” says Besgeier. “And create some hope along the way.”

About The Neuro Challenge Foundation: The Neuro Challenge Foundation is advised by Sarasota physicians Dean P. Sutherland, M.D., Ph.D., Bernard Feinberg, M..D. and Donald Negroski, M.D., and is dedicated to the fight against Parkinson Disease, MS and related neurodegenerative diseases. The Foundation, operated entirely through volunteer time and charitable donations, maintains a full-service, state-of-the-art Parkinson Disease Center in Sarasota, Florida. At the Center, patients and families receive advice on surgical and non-surgical treatments, counseling, health and fitness, home services and more. The Center offers a level of care that rivals major university medical centers. Patients seen at the Parkinson Disease Center have access to the latest information, medications, surgeries, diagnostic tests, rehabilitation services and alternative therapies. As a result, the reputation of the Center has grown by leaps and bounds, extending to the entire state of Florida and beyond.

The Healthy Start Coaltion of Sarasota County Celebrates World Breastfeeding Week 2009

BREASTFEEDING IS A LIFELINE IN AN EMERGENCY

Emergencies can happen anywhere. In Southwest Florida, we know all about hurricanes, tornadoes, and fires. Whatever the emergency, breastfeeding is a lifeline and a shield that protects infants.

During emergencies and catastrophes, infants and young children are especially vulnerable to malnutrition, illness, and death. The American Academy of Pediatrics’ breastfeeding recommendation—early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding until six months of age and continued breastfeeding for at least one year—is even more critical in emergencies.

Breastfeeding is the one safe and secure source of food and fluid for infants: it is instantly available, clean and ready, and it protects infants against illness, particularly by eliminating the need to mix formula with water that may be contaminated with fecal bacteria or other hazardous substances. For mothers who deliver their baby during an emergency, immediate breastfeeding can reduce the risk of post-partum hemorrhage after the birth.

As part of this year’s World Breastfeeding Week activities in August, the Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County, Inc., conducted its Annual Door Decorating Contest for local health care providers and others to promote and support breastfeeding in a public display. This year’s theme was “Breastfeeding: A Vital Emergency Response.”

The 2009 winners were:

• Sarasota County Health Department, Children’s Health Center – Best Pediatric Display
• Comprehensive Childcare Associates – Most Creative
• First Step of Sarasota, Mothers and Infants Program – Most Beautiful
• Sarasota County Health Department, Women’s Health Services – Best Obstetric Display
• Sarasota Memorial Healthcare System, Lactation Services – Best Educational Display
• Sarasota County Health Department, Women, Infant and Children Nutrition Program (WIC) – Best Use of Theme

If you need more information about breastfeeding, please call the Healthy Start Coalition office at 941-373-7070 to request a list of Breastfeeding Resources in Sarasota County.

About the Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County, Inc.: The Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to improve the health and well-being of pregnant women, infants and young children. For more information, contact Jennifer Highland, Executive Director of the Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County, at 941-373-7070.

Ashley's Back-to-School Special: Free Delivery

Get in the back-to-school spirit with free delivery on school nights (Sunday – Thursday) from Ashley’s Food Delivery, the area’s only multi-restaurant delivery service.

“It’s a busy time of year for families and a great time to take advantage of the convenience of our food delivery service,” says co-owner Liz Sniegocki. “We can deliver a delicious, wholesome dinner for the whole family right to you door – what could be simpler?”

Ashley’s Food Delivery offers a wide variety of restaurants to choose from to please everyone in the family. The restaurant delivery service recently added Chili’s and a local favorite, Word of Mouth, to their delivery menu. Both restaurants offer kids’ menus and full dinner menus.

“There are also options for family-style dinners from several of our restaurant partners,” says Sniegocki. “Basil’s Flame Broiled Chicken & Ribs, Roadside Rib Shack and Troyer’s Dutch Heritage all offer easy-to-order meals for a bunch.”

To redeem free delivery on school nights, place your order online at www.AshleysFood.com and use the coupon code “school” at checkout. Or mention the Back to School Special when you call 953-FOOD. (Promotion is valid Sunday through Thursday, on dinner orders only, through 9/3/09. A minimum $25 food order is required. Free delivery value is $3.75.)

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About Ashley’s Food Delivery: The area’s only multi-restaurant delivery service, Ashley’s Food Delivery partners with over 35 restaurants in Sarasota and Bradenton to deliver everything from home-cooked, comfort food to elegant, gourmet dining. Ashley’s Food offers residential & corporate meal delivery, drop-off catering services and gift basket delivery. The service is open for lunch delivery Monday through Friday (Sarasota only) and dinner delivery every day. For more information, call 953-FOOD or visit www.AshleysFood.com.

Ashley's Food Delivery in August Style Magazine

Congratulations to Ashley's Food Delivery for their feature in the August 2009 issue of Style Magazine, a publication of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune Media Group! Ashley's was selected because of their innovative new partnership with Cafe Italia, designed to bring their clients a romantic, affordable meal this summer.

An excerpt from the article: "Ashley's offers dinner delivery seven days a week from 29 different restaurants, with cuisine ranging from home-cooked comfort food to gourmet dining. Buon appetito! 953-3663."

Ashley's also offers customized catering services and delivers to all sectors of the hospitality and business industries. For more information, please visit www.ashleysfood.com.