The Department of Landscape Architecture is celebrating more than 75 years of landscape architecture education at the University of Florida (UF). Their accredited graduate and undergraduate programs are home to more than 100 students. Ten faculty members enrich the teaching, service and research mission of the department through their diverse planning and design expertise. The Department offers a Bachelor’s degree, First Professional and Post Professional Master’s degrees and a Ph.D. degree from the College of Design, Construction and Planning (DCP) with a concentration in Landscape Architecture.
To ensure that the Department’s programs continue to meet the needs of the profession, an Advisory Council consisting of industry leaders from several related design disciplines has been assembled from across the country. The Council will work with faculty to improve current programs, and to help guide future educational and research program offerings from the department.
"Michael is a graduate who has made a name for himself and his firm for quality work,” says Kay Williams, FASLA, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture at UF. “His active participation in the social and academic life of the department as a student has translated into a mentoring role that ranges from funded awards that speak directly to the student's experiences here to professional involvement in studio projects."
For more information about the University of Florida Department of Landscape Architecture, please visit www.dcp.ufl.edu/landscape, or call (352) 392-6098. A partial portfolio of Michael A. Gilkey, Inc.’s work to date may be found at www.magilkey.com. Please call (941) 924-0132 for more information.
ABOUT MICHAEL A. GILKEY, INC.: Michael A. Gilkey, Inc. is a landscape architecture studio in Sarasota, Florida, established in 1981. Through a passion for pure design and personal relationships with architects, contractors and homeowners, Gilkey creates expressions of outdoor space that are direct translations of their clients’ visions. For more information, please visit www.magilkey.com or call (941) 924-0132.
12th & East Home at the Beach will continue its seasonal series of artist showcases on Thursday, October 20th, from 5pm to 8pm. The event, known locally as the “Party in the Plaza,” will take place at this beachside boutique every third Thursday of the month through May.
This month’s event will feature local artists Judy Titsworth, Kim Darnell, Donna Sutton, Dana Rudolph, Dottie Baker and Ellen Soloman. Catering will be provided by Fusion Café, and will include an enticing selection of their signature appetizers and sweet treats. Local honey and chutney will also be available, and the boutique’s winter line of candles will be introduced.
“We had a blast at the first Party in the Plaza,” says owner and designer Jessica Holmes. “Now I find myself looking forward to this event all month. It is a great showcase for the creativity of the community in which we live and love.”
Now located at 5416 Marina Drive, 12th & East Home at the Beach brings their unique vintage modern aesthetic seaside, while continuing to hand-select and update 17th and 18th century antique treasures. To learn more about 12th & East Home at the Beach or any of these fine artists, please call (941) 778-7440 or visit www.12thandEastHome.com.
About 12th & East Home: 12th & East Home at the Beach is a sophisticated home accessories showroom in Holmes Beach, Florida. Designer Jessica Holmes presents an ever-changing collection of vintage-inspired modern accents and expertly selected consigned antiques, establishing a unique and relevant aesthetic for today’s discerning home decorator. The Sarasota collection has expanded to include a more casual, seaside lifestyle. Please call (941) 778-7440 to learn more, or visit us on the web at www.12thandEastHome.com.
INTERVIEWS, MEDIA TOURS, AND PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY ARE AVAILABLE FOR NEWS STORIES AT THE CONVENIENCE OF THE PRESS. PLEASE CALL LAURA GILKEY AT 941.915.8115.
For many culinary entrepreneurs, the initial investment of launching a food business is enough to squash their dreams. Sarasota baker and local food enthusiast Christine Nordstrom knows these challenges first hand, and has seen them stand in the way of success for many talented chefs in her own community. This summer, she decided to do something about it. Introducing RISE, Sarasota’s first licensed commercial kitchen share.
RISE makes it possible to start a food based business for a fraction of the cost by providing all inclusive hourly or monthly rent to clients that fits their individual needs. Each client is required to obtain their own licensing, permits and liability insurance to operate a business in the state of Florida. However, RISE offers much more than refrigeration and oven space; experts are available for consultation, guidance though the food business licensing process, culinary education, and referrals every step along the way. RISE allows an idea to become a viable product.
“Every Saturday, it seemed I would meet another person with a dream,” says Nordstrom, whose bakery SIFT is a cornerstone of the Downtown Sarasota Farmer’s Market. “Each conversation would end in the same way—I’d learn they didn’t have the financial investment or space needed to execute their ideas.”
Nordstrom did some market research and learned that commercial shared kitchens are thriving in larger markets throughout the country. “It’s a win-win situation. Local food, local business, and local dreams are all being supported here.”
For more information about RISE or to schedule an initial consultation with owner Christine Nordstrom, please call (941)306-6072 or email christine@watchmerise.com.
ABOUT RISE: RISE is a licensed commercial kitchen share where you can dream, create, produce and RISE. We will help your food based business grow in any way we can, from consultation to facility rental. Please call Christine Nordstrom at (941) 306-6072 or visit www.watchmerise.com for more information.
12th & East Home at the Beach will begin a seasonal series of artist showcases this Thursday, September 15th, from 5pm to 8pm. The event, being dubbed “Party in the Plaza,” will take place at this beachside boutique every third Thursday of the month through May.
This month’s inaugural event will feature local artists Greg Lowman, Dustin Cole, Jessica DellaTorre, Breslyn Reiber, Dani O’Neil with Lola Love, and Heather Howard with Nautical Nonsense. Live art will be performed by Cheeta and live music by Trevor Bystrom. Light fare and wine will be served.
“I have been waiting all summer for this,” says owner and designer Jessica Holmes. “This community is my home. It is an honor to be able to celebrate the artistic talent that abounds here.”
Now located at 5416 Marina Drive, 12th & East Home at the Beach brings their unique vintage modern aesthetic seaside, while continuing to hand-select and update 17th and 18th century antique treasures. This summer the boutique has introduced new lines of women’s clothing, shoes, bags, table linens, serving wares, dish soaps and more to the Anna Maria Island community. To learn more about 12th & East Home at the Beach or any of these fine artists, please call (941) 778-7440 or visit www.12thandEastHome.com.
About 12th & East Home: 12th & East Home at the Beach is a sophisticated home accessories showroom in Holmes Beach, Florida. Designer Jessica Holmes presents an ever-changing collection of vintage-inspired modern accents and expertly selected consigned antiques, establishing a unique and relevant aesthetic for today’s discerning home decorator. The Sarasota collection has expanded to include a more casual, seaside lifestyle. Please call (941) 778-7440 to learn more, or visit us on the web at www.12thandEastHome.com.
Rosemary Birthing Home, one of two freestanding birth centers in Sarasota, has launched a comprehensive new website (www.rosemarybirthinghome.com). The website was designed to inform families that are pregnant or considering pregnancy about the Midwives Model of Care, and to illustrate the strong community that midwifery creates.
Rosemary Birthing Home’s new website was designed and developed locally by Max Kelly Design and Seven Thirty Three, and coordinated by Kangaroo Promotions, Inc. All of the photographs on the site, with the exception of the client photo gallery, were taken of Rosemary families by Valerie Joy Photography. The site includes information for fathers and big siblings, waterbirth videos, birth announcements, meetings and events held at the birthing home, and an extensive resource guide. “Anyone considering pregnancy or looking to choose a maternity care provider should visit this website,” says project manager Laura Gilkey. “It really illustrates the kind of expert, gentle care that midwives provide. The faces in their clients’ photos say it all.”
Rosemary Birthing Home was established in 2003 and is owned and operated by Licensed Midwives. A free-standing birth center in Sarasota’s historic Rosemary District, Rosemary Birthing Home offers personalized midwifery care embedded with the philosophy that birth is a normal, healthy process that most often requires no medical intervention.
About Rosemary Birthing Home: Established in 2003, Rosemary Birthing Home is a free-standing birth center in Sarasota’s historic Rosemary District. Owned and operated by Florida licensed midwives, Rosemary Birthing Home offers personalized midwifery care, birth center births, home births, water births, pre-pregnancy nutrition counseling, postpartum care, support groups, lactation counseling, complete childbirth education, a lending library and more. A free orientation to Rosemary Birthing Home is offered by appointment at (941) 228-7303. For more information, please call 941.330.9966 or visit www.rosemarybirthinghome.com.
Sarasota Community Acupuncture, along with community acupuncture clinics nationwide, is celebrating International Worker’s Day or ‘May Day’ by offering free acupuncture to all patients on May 1st. Sarasota Community Acupuncture belongs to the Community Acupuncture Network, now in its ninth year of celebrating May Day through offering free treatments.
May Day is a celebration of the international labor movement. It is typically celebrated through street demonstrations and marches by working people and their labor unions throughout most of the world. “The philosophy and mission of Sarasota Community Acupuncture is to make acupuncture affordable for everyone, regardless of economic status,” says Gene Burgess, AP, co-owner of Sarasota Community Acupuncture. “Celebrating the working class is a fitting way to express that to our community.”
Sarasota Community Acupuncture will offer free treatments to all patients on Sunday, May 1st from 3 to 6pm. Recliner space is limited, so please call for an appointment at (941) 922-4611. Sarasota Community Acupuncture is located at 3615 Webber Street. For current clinic hours or to learn more about Community Acupuncture, please call (941) 922-4611 or visit www.sarasotacommunityacupuncture.com.
What is Community Acupuncture?
Community Acupuncture is based on the philosophy that acupuncture therapy needs to be consistent, not expensive, to be effective. Most American acupuncturists see one patient per hour and charge anywhere from $60 to $125 per treatment. Sarasota Community Acupuncture sets itself apart with a unique sliding scale ranging from $15 to $45 per treatment. Acupuncture can be made affordable by treating in a small group setting, using several recliners clustered together in a quiet soothing space.
Sarasota Community Acupuncture is a famly practice committed to cultivating health with 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, or call (941) 922-4611 for an appointment at our clinic, located at 3615 Webber Street in Sarasota, Florida.
Just in time for summer, 12th and East Home, Sarasota’s hottest new home accessories boutique, is opening their sister store in Holmes Beach. Located at 5416 Marina Drive, 12th and East at the Beach brings their unique vintage modern aesthetic seaside, while continuing to hand-select and update 17th and 18th century antique treasures.
12th and East at the Beach will introduce an exciting new line of women’s clothing, shoes, bags and kitchen items such as table linens, serving wares, dish soaps and more. To appeal to the Holmes Beach and Anna Maria Island family vacationers, the new shop will also carry select children’s items, such as clothes, beach sandals and handcrafted toys.
12th and East’s flagship store in Sarasota has become well-known for its support of local artists. That passion will be brought to the beach location with local island artist showcases and locally made jewelry. Upcoming events at 12th and East at the Beach include craft classes and cocktail nights featuring local artists and handcrafted product lines. Freshly cut local flowers will be available by the free bunch or stem.
“Holmes Beach and Anna Maria Island are my home. The places and people I love most in the world are here,” says owner and designer Jessica Holmes. “It has been a dream to bring this store to life on these shores.”
Within the year, Holmes envisions the rear of the store as a vintage candy shop with soft serve ice cream and treats to cool down beachgoers. 12th and East at the Beach is scheduled to open in early May. To learn more, please call (941) 447-7373 or visit www.12thandEastHome.com.
About 12th and East Home: 12th and East Home is a sophisticated home accessories showroom anchored in Sarasota, Florida. Designer Jessica Holmes presents an ever-changing collection of vintage-inspired modern accents and expertly selected consigned antiques, establishing a unique and relevant aesthetic for today’s discerning home decorator. Now opening 12th and East at the Beach in Holmes Beach, the collection expands to include a more casual, seaside lifestyle. Please call (941) 447-7373 to learn more, or visit us on the web at www.12thandEastHome.com.
Sarasota interior design studio Cameron Cox Interiors has launched a new website, www.cameroncoxinteriors.com, showcasing an illustrious Gulf Coast career that spans four decades. The site, designed by Denise Lange of Pleasant Street Creative, highlights the inspiration, execution, and recognition for some of her most signature spaces and favorite pieces.
“After 30 years in the Interior Design business, I felt I had to move into the 21st century,” said Cameron Cox, ASID Allied Member, whose images for the site range from current professional digital photography to yellowing polaroids and old magazine clippings. “It has been bittersweet going down memory lane, having to choose which projects to include or omit from this site; they were all significant and memorable in my overall design portfolio, and in the people I worked with.”
Cameron Cox Interiors oversees interior design projects from Sarasota, Siesta Key and Bradenton, to Boston, Ohio, Connecticut and Tennessee. Though Cameron is open to a full range of design aesthetics, she considers her signature a blend between traditional, eclectic and nautical. “I handpick everything for my clients like I would for myself. I like to shop locally, especially since we have a lot of great consignment shops and an architectural salvage shop.” She gleans inspiration from her clients’ favorite possessions, and from happy, uplifting color combinations.
It is my pleasure to introduce the branding package for The Magic Cocoon, an new spin on nesting, new motherhood, and creating intentional space for mothers and babies. The brand evolved from the client's desire to evoke a feeling of being enveloped, and was inspired by the interior of a silkworm cocoon.
It has been a pleasure to coordinate the design and execution of this brand, created by the talented graphic team at Biscuit Studios, LLC.
A new line of backpacks and messenger bags is making waves from the Cayman Islands to the Bahamas and across the eastern seaboard, and they’re being handmade right here on the Suncoast. On February 25th, Sarasota will take its first look at the inaugural line of LYF Bags and Accessories at their Launch Party and Trunk Show, being held at Marmalade Salon and Boutique from 7:00-9:00pm.
LYF founders Jenna DiLorenzo and Nicky Mayforth introduced their military-inspired beach bags at the 2011 Surf Expo in Orlando in January, and the response was overwhelming. “We were optimistic, but we had no idea that so many amazing stores would jump at the chance to carry our line,” says Nicky. “It’s been humbling and terribly exciting at the same time.” LYF Bags and Accessories can be seen this spring in boutiques and surf shops in Grand Cayman, Nassau, Hilton Head, Asbury Park, Montauk and many points in between. The hot backpacks and messenger bags will also be right at home in Sarasota at L. Boutique on Pineapple Avenue.
Each LYF backpack and messenger bag features one-of-a-kind fabric placement, handcrafted embellishment, and unique personality. Currently available in six styles, LYF Bags can be used for everything from a beach day to an overnight trip, from a picnic to a working lunch, from a diaper bag to a college backpack.
The launch party and trunk show will be held at Marmalade, where Jenna and Nicky began their business partnership almost a decade ago as co-owners of the successful hair salon. Nicky received the first handmade LYF Bag from Jenna DiLorenzo five years ago when her first daughter was born, and the two have been dreaming of launching the line ever since. LYF will also be introducing their line of custom-made lightweight beach throws, designed to be used as beach blankets, scarves or sarongs.
For more information: The LYF Bags and Accessories Launch Party and Trunk Show is being held at Marmalade Salon & Boutique, 1927 Osprey Avenue, Sarasota, on Friday, February 25 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Please call (941) 914-2306, or visit www.loveyourLYF.com for details.
About LYF Bags and Accessories: Each LYF is military tough, beach chic, completely versatile and completely you. LYF Bags provide the right mix of rugged sophistication to accompany the discerning urban fashionista, the mom on the go, and the surfer girl with that bohemian vibe and gypsy soul. Your life is uniquely you. Your LYF is simply an extension of who you are.For more information, please call (941) 914-2306, or visit www.loveyourLYF.com.
In addition to showcasing amazing antiques and fresh, modern home accessories, 12th and East Home is introducing a collection of hand-selected custom art pieces from four local artists. On Thursday, February 17th, these artists will unveil their spring lines at a reception hosted by Sarasota’s newest home accessories boutique, located at the intersection of 12th Street and East Avenue.
The artists include Sarasota residents Dottie Baker, Marcy Chapman, Brigitta Sultana, and Anna Maria’s Robert Reiber. “Each of these artists brings such a different aesthetic to the shop; yet they each seem to fit perfectly,” says 12th and East Home owner and designer Jessica Holmes. “Together, their work makes quite a stunning collection.”
ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
Dottie Baker has been a bead artist and teacher for the past 15 years. Her passion is bead weaving and her work frequently reflects the Victorian era. “I love the intricacy, attention to detail and the femininity of that period,” says Baker. “I find it truly a gift to earn a living doing what I love!”
Marcy Chapman has been a professional artist for over 30 years. Her work has been internationally published and sold in venues as diverse as street fairs, a New York Art Gallery, Bed Bath and Beyond stores and art auctions held on luxury cruise liners. An expert in watercolor, mixed media and collage, Chapman treats her subject matter in a modern yet realistic style. Series include flowers, landscapes and architecture to more contemporary collections of vintage hardware and industrial influences. “What can be done with the color wheel always amazes me,” says Chapman. “I enjoy following design trends and capturing those that pique my interest in some artistic form.”
Brigitta Sultana worked in New York as a graphic designer for companies such as ABC INC. Televesion, Victoria's Secret Catalogue and Elizabeth Arden. After moving to Sarasota in 2002 and ultimately becoming a freelance designer, Sultana considers her art and her daughter her top priorities. Her work consists of acrylic, collage and encaustic pieces inspired by nature, pattern, color, texture, light, and space.. “I love the feeling of the brush in my hand,” says Sultana. “It drives me to make a mark - MY mark.”
Robert Reiber is a professional artist, art teacher and renowned watercolorist known for his colorful paintings of Florida’s natural landscapes. Commercially, Robert has worked as a product designer and vendor for Beall’s Department Store and is in the collection of other major corporations. In addition to being a professional artist, Robert has dedicated nearly thirty years to the talents of young people, promoting their creativity and abilities as a high school art teacher. “I find abstract art fascinating,” says Reiber. “Until now I have worked primarily with conventional subject matter and traditional medium. But currently I have been exploring electronic technology.”
ABOUT THE RECEPTION:
A reception to introduce four local artists will be held at 12th and East Home, where their work is being displayed and sold. The artists will introduce their spring lines on Thursday, February 17 at 5:30pm. Light refreshments will be served at the home accessories boutique and antiques warehouse, located at 1220 East Avenue North, Sarasota, Florida. For more information about 12th and East Home, please visit their website at www.12thandeasthome.com or call (941) 365-8205.
About 12th and East Home: 12th and East Home is a sophisticated home accessories showroom anchored in Sarasota, Florida. Designers Jessica Holmes and Melissa DeMore present an ever-changing collection of vintage-inspired modern accents and expertly selected consigned antiques, establishing a unique and relevant aesthetic for today’s discerning home decorator. Our showroom opened in November 2010 and is located at 1220 East Avenue North in Sarasota, Florida, or on the web at www.12thandEastHome.com.
Cameron Cox of Cameron Cox Interiors was featured in today's Sarasota Herald-Tribune for her work in the 2011 Designer Showhouse. Kangaroo is thrilled to coordinate graphic and web design for Cameron, who specializes in residential, nautical, and commercial interior design. The following is an excerpt from the article, found in entirety here:
(photo by Thomas Bender, Sarasota Herald-Tribune)
Cameron Cox dressed her fisherman's bedroom with a narrow Murphy bed and draped windows in fishnet. The hanging light fixture is a repurposed handblown clear glass jug. "I had the best time with this space," said Cox, "scouring antique shops for just the touches that would reference the period. The room is masculine with early 1900s furniture, but I think it's charming and it looks like a boat captain or fisherman would be right at home here."
One of Kangaroo's newest (and most fun!) clients is Sarasota's Cameron Cox, an interior designer in our community for almost thirty years. We are so pleased to share with you yesterday's Style Magazine feature on this north Sarasota Bay home, with spaces and views scripted by Cox throughout. She is truly a Sarasota icon and we are proud to share her work with you! Much more to come!
They are diverse groups that garner national attention for their high caliber talent and cutting-edge work. Now, Sarasota's arts and medical communities will join forces to bring attention to a devastating disease on the Suncoast.
Sarasota artists and the nationally acclaimed Neuro Challenge Foundation will provide an unprecedented, artistic view of Parkinson patients and their families in all stages of life at “Facing Parkinson Disease,” a one-week exhibit at The Art Center of Sarasota, November 1-5.
Intimate photo essays by notable local photographers will showcase area families living with Parkinson Disease, while guests view an extraordinary mixed media presentation featuring works from Parkinson inspired artists.
"It makes so much sense for us to work together," says photographer and Suncoast celebrity Cliff Roles. "Who better to show this community a disease affecting thousands in our own backyard?"
You can see the work of Roles and other artists, patients and doctors, and meet them as well, at the opening reception. It happens at The Art Center of Sarasota on Monday, November 1 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. Hundreds are expected to attend the opening ceremony to show their support.
"You'll be surprised at the way the disease affects people, and I think you'll be surprised at the people you'll recognize at the exhibit. They are your neighbors and friends, and you may not even know they are struggling with this frustrating condition," says Neuro Challenge Foundation President and CEO Doreen Sutherland.
Selected art from Parkinson patients and caregivers will be auctioned at the reception. Suggested donation is $15 at the door and includes wine, light fare, and inspiring music. All proceeds benefit Neuro Challenge Foundation, an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of Parkinson Disease patients and their caregivers.
About Neuro Challenge Foundation: Neuro Challenge Foundation (NCF) is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of people with Parkinson Disease and their caregivers through service, education and research. NCF funds programs and activities that promise to ease the burden of Parkinson Disease through patient-centered professional education, community forums and scientific and clinical research. Patients, caregivers and nationally recognized scientific experts advise us and lead the way as we invest in the science and services that will lead to a cure. For more information, please call (888) 623-4483 or visit www.neurochallenge.org.
On Sunday, March 21, hundreds will gather from noon until dark at a Sarasota Florida cracker-style ranch in honor of a local family in need. The event, titled "A Village for A Family," is being sponsored by WSLR 96.5 and Sarasota’sMidwives, and will feature six local bands, refreshments, fun for children and a spirit of community. Proceeds will benefit the Augsburger family.
Colleen and Brad Augsburger welcomed their third baby, Kaya Soul, into the world on February 16th. Kaya was welcomed by big sister Ivy Magnolia and big brother Rylan Sky to create a new family of five. After Kaya's birth, Colleen was admitted to the ICU at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. A rare but dangerous bacterial infection, unrelated to but exacerbated by the event of birth, began causing organ damage and severe dehydration. Colleen had three surgical procedures at once on February 20th. She remained on a ventilator, on heavy blood antibiotics, and in critical condition for the following week. Due to the thorough postpartum care of her midwives, the quick and expert work of her team of doctors, and the round-the-clock spiritual vigil of her community, Colleen is home now, and beginning her long recovery process. Her family is strong and supported, but Brad will be unable to work as a painter while he cares for them and for his recovering wife.
A Village for A Family will raise proceeds for the Augsburger family while celebrating the amazing community that has rallied behind them. The Augsburgers have been fed by a different family each night since Colleen’s admission to the hospital. Baby Kaya was sustained for the beginning of his life by the generosity and nurturing of the mothers of his community. And through a PayPal account widely generated by social networking media, Brad has been able to pay bills and focus on his recovering family. They have also received donations from several local businesses, including hot restaurant meals from Ashley’s Food Delivery, organic vegetables from Jessica’s Stand, and donations of baby clothes from Mothers Helping Mothers. "Always a contributor to Mothers Helping Mothers, Colleen Augsburger is a model mother and a friend," says Terry Stottlemyer, director. I am confident Sarasota community members will join me in supporting Colleen, Brad, and their three beautiful children in this, their most devastating time of need."
The Stottlemyers’ will host the benefit A Village for A Family on March 21, and it won’t be the first time they’ve honored the Augsburger family. Their gorgeous homestead is where Brad and Colleen were married almost eight years ago. WSLR 96.5 will bring attendees an afternoon of top-notch local music beginning at noon, from artists such as Tanya Radtke, The Recycled Citizen, My Friend Scott, Cope, Stone Fish, and Radio-Free Carmela and the Transmitters. Guests will enjoy a fabulous raffle from local businesses, southern BBQ from Roadside Rib Shack, Budweiser from Gold Coast Eagle, and shaved ice from The Hukilau Hut. Children are most welcome for face painting from Upscale Artisans, a bounce house and more. The suggested donation is $10 for adults and free for children. The Stottlemyers’ ranch is located at 65 East Road, behind the Texaco station 1 mile east of I-75 off of Fruitville Road.
Last weekend, Sarasota was host to several events aimed at improving maternal health care here at home and throughout the country. Headlining the weekend was Sunday afternoon's panel discussion Maternal Health Care in the 21st Century: Sarasota and Beyond. Present for this and all other events was the world's leading midwife, Ina May Gaskin.
Ms. Gaskin began her visit to Sarasota with a Clinical Conference for the medical staff of Sarasota Memorial Hospital (SMH) on Friday, October 30. Her presentation was entitled "Combining the Best of Modern Obstetrics with Respect for Nature and Traditional Midwifery Approaches." Her objectives were threefold: to explore the knowledge base and skills common to traditional midwifery; to understand the need for both modern obstetrics and (authentic) midwifery; and to build positive relationships between the two professions (especially with regard to home birth midwives). Present at the conference were SMH Director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine Dr. Washington Hill; Sarasota County Health Department OB/GYN Dr. John Abu; Licensed Midwives Christina Holmes and Alina Vogelhut; and several members of the hospital staff and the community, including childbirth educators, nurses and retired physicians. The presentation will be available via podcast on the SMH Continuing Education website.
Friday afternoon found Ina May Gaskin touring both of Sarasota's freestanding birth centers (Birthways Family Birth Center and Rosemary Birthing Home), and having lunch with Sonia Pressman Fuentes, the co-founder of the National Organization for Women (NOW). Two of the most influential women in recent American history, the pair discussed the shift in birth culture in the last half century, the difference between American governmental structure and that of most European countries with better maternal outcomes, and the role of the feminist movement in changing the American perception of birth.
Saturday morning, October 31, Ina May Gaskin presented the Safe Motherhood Quilt Project at the Selby Public Library. Ms. Gaskin spoke to Sarasota's SNN News Channel 6 before the presentation, saying "In 2007, the World Health Organization reported that there are forty other countries that do better at preventing maternal death than the United States." Three panels of the quilt were shown in the library's Geldbart Auditorium, after having been hung from the atrium balcony during the week prior. These three panels contained 58 squares, each representing a woman who has died of pregnancy or childbirth related causes in America since 1982. Ms. Gaskin argues that simple measures such as a unified federal death certificate and an increase in percentage of hospital autopsies would dramatically improve U.S. maternal outcomes. The presentation was followed by a booksigning benefiting the project, as well as Florida Friends of Midwives (FFOM), a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to promoting and preserving access to midwifery care in Florida. Ms. Gaskin signed copies of her classic Spiritual Midwifery, the gold standard prenatal education book Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, and her newest release, Ina May's Guide to Breastfeeding, said by Dr. Christiane Northrup to be "the best thing ever written on the subject."
Sunday afternoon at 3:00 pm, Ina May Gaskin met in the Hyatt Regency Sarasota Ballroom with Dr. Washington Hill once more, as well as Sarasota Healthy Start Coalition executive director Jennifer Highland and Representative Keith Fitzgerald, for a panel discussion called Maternal Health Care in the 21st Century: Sarasota and Beyond. The discussion was moderated by Sarasota Vice Mayor Kelly Kirschner, who shared his perspective as a City Commissioner that improved maternal health is a formula of community growth.The panel was a free program which included refreshments and a 28 page Maternal Health Resource Guide, all made possible by the hard work of the sponsoring organizations and the generosity of several business partners. Approximately 250-275 people attended the discussion, including several guests of expertise in the field of maternal health and associated disciplines. Dr. Washington Hill was the first to speak, pointing to a collaborative model of care as the standard for positive outcomes, and encouraging open communication between the many components of maternal health care and its providers.Ina May Gaskin followed, discussing maternal death, its possible prevention and ways to move toward accurate recordkeeping, and the importance of prenatal health. She illustrated strategies in other countries with much better outcomes than ours, such as the Netherlands, which provides its new pregnant women with paid postpartum care. Jennifer Highland then presented a staggering display of statistics illustrating Sarasota's place in Florida and the rest of the country in categories such as infant death, fetal death, smoking during pregnancy, breastfeeding rates and more. Jennifer suggested that Sarasota County's high cesarean section percentage be closely examined and reversed to improve preterm birth rates and NICU admissions, and that prenatal health be a priority of all parties involved. Finally, Florida House of Representatives Health and Family Services Policy Council member Rep. Keith Fitzgerald gave the audience a history of health insurance, an overview of health care reform issues, and a call to action. When talking about the frequency of special interest groups' appointments with him and his colleagues, Fitzgerald asked: "Where are you?"
Questions were then taken from audience members, who asked about tort reform, individual OB/GYN's c-section rates, and women's intuition--among many other things.
After the panel discsussion, Florida Friends of Midwives (FFOM) hosted the tribute An Evening with Ina May Gaskin in the Boathouse of the Hyatt Regency Sarasota. Guests received keepsake tickets, signed a book of gratitude for Ms. Gaskin, and viewed a tribute DVD of her work and its manifestation through the midwives and midwife-assisted births here in Sarasota. Net proceeds of approximately $2500 will help FFOM in their strategy to protect Florida's midwives and their laws, and to improve public awareness of the Midwives Model of Care.It was the honor of a lifetime for Kangaroo Promotions to provide event planning services, graphic design coordination, media and community relations and all marketing services for The Safe Motherhood Quilt Project Presentation, Maternal Health Care in the 21st Century: Sarasota and Beyond, and An Evening with Ina May Gaskin.
URBAN REEF is proud to announce its grand opening, infusing a fresh vacation atmosphere into the heart of downtown Sarasota. The Reef is cooking up fresh tropical cuisine with an edgy twist, nightly live entertainment and a wide range of special events. URBAN REEF is owned and operated by the two-generation Sarasota family of Larry and Kathy Heinzerling and Eric and Andrea Zito. The grand opening is set for Thursday, November 12th, with a soft opening on Monday, November 2nd.
With inspiration from traditional Floribbean cuisine, Urban Reef has developed a menu with that is unique to Sarasota, bringing the beach into the city with fresh, local seafood. Common ingredients in the URBAN REEF kitchen are bold and modern, featuring stars such as curry, coconut, coffee, pumpkin, cilantro, and ginger. For starters, URBAN REEF offers Caribbean inspired appetizers, featuring:
--Deep Fried Barbados Style Fish Fritters with House Tarter--Massa Corn Slow Braised Pork Tamale Cakes, Chipotle Chocolate Sauce, Sour Cream & Pineapple Pickled Ginger
Featured dishes from the URBAN REEF dinner menu include:
--Crispy Skin-on Snapper, Pineapple Slaw, Coconut Red Curry and Mango Salsa--Pan Seared Grouper, Spinach Lump Crab Stir Fry, Coo Coo Cake and Peppercorn Beurre Blanc--Coffee Rubbed Pork Tenderloin with Goombay Smash Yucca Sweet Potatoes and Apple Jus
URBAN REEF offers live entertainment both upstairs and downstairs, including a vast array of talent from local DJ's, singers, bands, and karaoke performers. There are several events planned to round out the holiday season, including special industry nights, block parties and charity functions, including a benefit in early December for Daxton Cole Blanford, a nine month old baby with stomach cancer. All cover charges from the benefit will go directly to the Blanford family. “We love our community,” said co-owner Eric Zito. “We want nothing more than to add to our growing town and for our town to love us right back.”
Join the URBAN REEF family on Thursday, November 12th, for a fabulous grand opening weekend with great entertainment, food and drink specials, and prize giveaways. For more information, please call (941) 365-5181.
ABOUT URBAN REEF: Urban Reef is located at 1888 Main Street, on the corner of Links and Main in the heart of downtown Sarasota. The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday for lunch from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, and again for dinner from 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM. The bar is open until 2:00 am Monday through Saturday. Dinner prices range from $15-$24 a dish. For more information, please call (941) 365.5181.
Ina May Gaskin, the world’s leading midwife, is coming to Sarasota to participate in a panel discussion entitled Maternal Health Care in the 21st Century: Sarasota and Beyond, taking place at 3:00 pm on November 1st in the Sarasota Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Immediately following the program, Florida Friends of Midwives will host An Evening with Ina May Gaskin at the Hyatt Regency’s waterfront Boathouse, to begin at about 5:30 pm. Tickets for this event, going on sale in September, will cost $35 and will include dinner and live music from Radio-Free Carmela and the Transmitters. Guests will view a tribute to Ms. Gaskin’s work, enjoy a cash bar, and participate in a silent auction and raffle. All proceeds will benefit Florida Friends of Midwives, a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to promoting and preserving midwifery access in Florida.
Ina May Gaskin is internationally recognized as the mother of modern midwifery, and has been credited with the re-emergence of direct-entry midwifery in the United States since the early 1970's. Ms. Gaskin is founder and director of the Farm Midwifery Center, founded in 1971 and located near Summertown, Tennessee. By 1996, the Farm Midwifery Center had handled more than 2200 births, with remarkably good outcomes, noted for low rates of intervention, morbidity and mortality. Ms. Gaskin herself has attended more than 1200 births. She is author of Spiritual Midwifery, Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, and Ina May's Guide to Breastfeeding, to be released October 1st. She was President of Midwives' Alliance of North America from 1996 to 2002. The Gaskin maneuver, a low-interventive effective method for dealing with shoulder dystocia, is the first obstetrical procedure to be named for a midwife. Ms. Gaskin is also the originator and coordinator of The Safe Motherhood Quilt Project, a national effort developed to draw public attention to the current U.S. maternal death rates. Three panels of The Safe Motherhood Quilt will be on display at the Selby Public Library from October 26 – October 31. For more information about the Quilt Project, please visit www.rememberthemothers.org.
In addition to participating on the panel and being honored at the tribute dinner, during her stay in Sarasota, Ms. Gaskin will be presenting a Clinical Conference to the medical staff at Sarasota Memorial Hospital on Friday, October 30th, and presenting the Safe Motherhood Quilt Project at the Selby Public Library on Saturday, October 31st at 11 am. For more information about any of these events, please contact Laura Gilkey at laura@kangaroopromotions.net.
ABOUT FLORIDA FRIENDS OF MIDWIVES: Florida Friends of Midwives (FFOM) is a nonprofit grassroots organization dedicated to promoting the Midwives Model of Care and supporting the practice of midwifery in Florida. Florida Friends of Midwives was formed to support midwives who offer safe, cost-effective, evidence based care to Florida's Families. FFOM members are consumers and birth advocates with a common goal: to preserve the legal protection afforded to Florida's midwives and birth centers. They are committed to organizing the community to support midwives and to assure the continued availability of midwifery care in the State of Florida. For more information, please visit www.flmidwifery.org.
The discussion will be moderated by Kelly Kirschner, Sarasota City Commissioner and Vice Mayor, and will last approximately an hour and a half. Time will be allotted for audience questions and answers as well as refreshments following the program.
This panel will review current trends in maternity care in Sarasota within the context of the U.S. and the world and target paths to improving maternity care locally and nationwide. Topics for discussion include:
maternal mortality,
obstetric intervention rates and risks,
legislation,
legal reform and malpractice concerns,
community education and awareness,
the midwifery model of care,
informed consent and refusal,
the availability of prenatal and postpartum care (including education, counseling, and doulas), and
the upcoming expansion of Sarasota Memorial Hospital to include new labor and delivery rooms.
Hosting a panel discussion about maternal health care issues was the brainchild of Sonia Pressman Fuentes, co-founder of the National Organization for Women (NOW). “After spending a lifetime improving the legal status of women and fighting gender discrimination in the US and the world, it is exciting for me to be involved in a field new to me, that of improving maternal health care options for women in Sarasota, the US, and the world,” says Fuentes. Joining her in planning the event is Laura Gilkey, local childbirth advocate and board member of Florida Friends of Midwives. "With a panel representative of obstetrics, midwifery, legislature, and public health, perhaps Sarasota can begin a conversation that will pave the way toward becoming a national model of community healthcare reform through improved maternity care," says Gilkey.
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For more information, please contact Laura Gilkey at laura@kangaroopromotions.net / (941) 915-8115. Interviews are available at the request of the press. Planning and agenda updates for the panel will be posted on the website www.borninsarasota.blogspot.com.
About the National Organization for Women (NOW): The National Organization for Women (NOW) is the largest organization of feminist activists in the United States. NOW has 500,000 contributing members and 550 chapters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Since its founding in 1966, NOW's goal has been to take action to bring about equality for all women. NOW works to eliminate discrimination and harassment in the workplace, schools, the justice system, and all other sectors of society; secure reproductive rights for all women; end all forms of violence against women; eradicate racism, sexism and homophobia; and promote equality and justice in our society.
About Florida Friends of Midwives (FFOM): Florida Friends of Midwives (FFOM) is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to promoting the Midwives Model of Care and supporting the practice of midwifery in Florida. Florida Friends of Midwives was formed to support midwives who offer safe, cost-effective, evidence based care to Florida's Families. FFOM members are consumers and birth advocates with a common goal: to preserve the legal protection afforded to Florida's midwives and birth centers. They are committed to organizing the community to support midwives and to assure the continued availability of midwifery care in the State of Florida.
About the Sarasota Commission on the Status of Women (SCSW): The Sarasota Commission on the Status of Women (SCSW) was established in 1987 and became an independent nonprofit organization in 2007 to empower Sarasota County's women through education, research and advocacy. Their overview is Women and Violence and they work through committees on Domestic Violence, Women and Housing, Women and Homelessness, Sexual Content in the Media, Human Trafficking, Women and Politics. Their focus is local and they encourage the enhancement of the status of Sarasota's women through public policy changes by local, state, and national governmental entities by partnering with other organizations with similar goals. For more information, please visit http://cswsarasota.googlepages.com.
ABOUT THE PANELISTS:
Dr. Washington Hill, M.D., FACOG Labor and Delivery Medical Director / Maternal-Fetal Medicine Director, Sarasota Memorial Hospital B.A., Rutgers University, College of South Jersey, Camden, New Jersey, 1961 M.D., Temple University School of Medicine, 1965 Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency, William Beaumont General Hospital, 1970 Post Graduate, Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship, University of California, San Francisco, 1984 Board Certification, American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology with Special Competence in Maternal-Fetal Medicine, 1989 with Recertification 1978, 1993 and 1998
Dr. Hill is the Past President of the Medical Staff and Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Sarasota, Florida. He is currently Director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine. He is also Clinical Professor Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at University South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida and Clinical Professor Department of Clinical Sciences OB/GYN Clerkship Director-Sarasota Campus Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, Florida. Following completion of his fellowship in Maternal-Fetal Medicine, he has practiced this subspecialty for over 20 years first at the Sutter Perinatal Center and the University of California-Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California; and then at Creighton University, School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska; Meharry Medical College; and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee. He served as Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Meharry Medical College, School of Medicine, until 1992, when he took his current position as Director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and the Perinatal Center of Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Sarasota, Florida. Dr. Hill is the author of at least 60 articles in refereed journals and the book Ambulatory Obstetrics. Ina May Gaskin, M.A., C.P.M. Founder / Director, The Farm Midwifery Center State University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, B.A., English, Summa cum laude, Highest honors Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, M.A., English North American Registry of Midwives Certified Professional Midwife Tennessee Licensed Certified Professional Midwife
Ina May Gaskin, MA, CPM, is founder and director of the Farm Midwifery Center, located near Summertown, Tennessee. Founded in 1971, by 1996, the Farm Midwifery Center had handled more than 2200 births, with remarkably good outcomes. Ms. Gaskin herself has attended more than 1200 births. She is author of Spiritual Midwifery, now in its fourth edition. For twenty-two years she published Birth Gazette, a quarterly covering health care, childbirth and midwifery issues. Her most recent book, Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth was released in 2003. She was President of Midwives' Alliance of North America from 1996 to 2002. The Gaskin maneuver, a low-interventive effective method for dealing with shoulder dystocia, is the first obstetrical procedure to be named for a midwife. Ms. Gaskin’s center is noted for its low rates of intervention, morbidity and mortality. Ms. Gaskin is the originator and coordinator of The Safe Motherhood Quilt Project, a national effort developed to draw public attention to the current U.S. maternal death rates. Her newest book, Ina May's Guide to Breastfeeding, will be released October 1st, 2009.
Rep. Keith Fitzgerald, Ph.D. Florida House of Representatives, District 69 University of Louisville, B.A., 1979 Indiana University, Ph.D., 1987
Representative Keith Fitzgerald was elected to represent State House District 69 in 2006, and re-elected in 2008. His district includes the northern part of Sarasota County and a small portion of Manatee County. Representative Fitzgerald has lived in Sarasota and taught political science at New College of Florida since 1994. He and his wife, Angela Baker, have nine-year-old twins. Representative Fitzgerald serves as the Democratic Ranking Member on the Policy Council and as a member of the Finance and Tax Council, Health and Family Services Policy Council, Select Policy Council on Strategic & Economic Planning and the Military and Local Affairs Policy Committee. Representative Fitzgerald also serves as Policy Chair for the House Democratic Caucus. His prior leadership positions include service on the Advisory Council of Faculty Senates, the Board of Trustees at New College of Florida and the Sarasota City Charter Review Board.
Jennifer Highland, M.P.H. Executive Director, Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County University of South Florida, M.P.H. Public Health, 1995 Jennifer’s passion for helping mothers and infants began with the birth of her children. Jennifer's early career was in Louisiana, Georgia and Texas, where she served as a registered nurse. After she moved to Florida and became a mother, Jennifer volunteered for the Breastfeeding Advocates of Sarasota County and completed her Master of Public Health Degree from USF, graduating in 1995. Jennifer was the Project Coordinator for the first and on-going national breastfeeding promotion campaign, “Loving Support Makes Breastfeeding Work,” through her employment with Best Start, Inc., in Tampa. She then became trained as a Childbirth Educator and taught at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. Her work at The Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County began in 2001 as the Contract/Quality Manager. Her role expanded to include professional education. In 2006 she became the Executive Director.
MODERATOR: Kelly Kirschner Sarasota City Commission (District 3 Commissioner / Vice Mayor) B.S. Foreign Service, Georgetown University M.A. Latin American Studies, Georgetown University
Kelly is a lifelong Sarasotan. He has served the Sarasota community as President of the Alta Vista Neighborhood Association as well as having been an active member of the Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations. Believing strongly in public service, Kelly has worked for the White House Office of Public Liaison; served as a Peace Corps Volunteer; and led a USAID community conservation project in rural Guatemala. Kelly lives with his wife, Tracy, son, Bodhi, and daughter, Selby, in District 3.
EVENT SPONSOR: Sonia Pressman Fuentes The Sarasota-Manatee Chapter, National Organization for Women (NOW) B.A. Cornell University 1950 J.D. University of Miami School of Law 1957
Sonia Pressman Fuentes, who was born in Berlin, Germany, came to the U.S. with her immediate family in 1934 to escape the Holocaust. She was an attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, the National Labor Relations Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) (where she was the first woman attorney in its Office of the General Counsel), and the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development in Washington, D.C. and elsewhere. She was a co-founder of NOW, WEAL (the Women’s Equity Action League), and FEW (Federally Employed Women) and a charter member of VFA (Veteran Feminists of America). She was the longest-serving board member in the history of NWP (National Woman’s Party). In 1993, she retired from the federal government, thereafter wrote her memoir, Eat First—You Don’t Know What They’ll Give You, The Adventures of an Immigrant Family and Their Feminist Daughter, and embarked on new careers as a writer and public speaker. For further information, please visit her website at http://www.erraticimpact.com/fuentes.
EVENT COORDINATOR: Laura H. Gilkey Florida Friends of Midwives (FFOM) B.L.A. Landscape Architecture, University of Florida, 2000
Kangaroo is beyond honored to donate all media relations, press releases, marketing, event planning and graphic and web design coordination for this groundbreaking program.
May 5th is the International Day of the Midwife, a day set aside in 1991 by the International Confederation of Midwives and observed in over 50 nations worldwide. In 1992, Florida Governor Lawton Chiles joined in this celebration by adding Florida to the growing list of states and countries that observe this day.
In honor of this day, the Sarasota chapter of Florida Friends of Midwives, a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to promoting and supporting the practice of midwifery in Florida, is hosting a celebration at Sarasota’s Rosemary Court. The event will feature a documentary from student midwife Kati Triese, chronicling the history of western midwifery, as well as a special Cinco de Mayo tribute to the Mexican midwives who recently visited our community. Local restaurants Two Senoritas and Sangria Tapas Bar are generously donating Mexican fare. Admission is free to the public and local media is welcome and invited to attend.
Midwives have a long and valued history in Florida. The state first passed legislation to license direct-entry midwives in 1931, and the first Certified Nurse Midwife was licensed in Florida in 1970. Florida’s midwives have continued to tirelessly serve the families of Florida and to ensure the continued availability of safe, evidence-based birthing options for Florida’s families.
Harmony Miller is Licensed Midwife in Sarasota. For Miller, International Day of the Midwife is a special observance. “Every year, International Day of the Midwife reminds me to look beyond my community, my state, and even my country,” says Miller. Midwives provide care to the majority of the worlds’ families. To remember this broadens my world view. So much history, tradition, and care ties us all together. International Day of the Midwife reminds me to be grateful for the midwives of the past; their work made mine possible. On International Day of the Midwife, I am also reminded to be grateful to all the families that continue the tradition, one pregnancy at a time.”
About Florida Friends of Midwives: Florida Friends of Midwives is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to promoting the Midwives Model of Care and supporting the practice of midwifery in Florida. Florida Friends of Midwives was formed to support midwives who offer safe, cost-effective, evidence based care to Florida's families. For more information, please visit www.flmidwifery.org.
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