Sarasota Coalition on Substance Abuse to honor Citizen of the Year at 'Shining Stars' luncheon

Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·5 min read
BATTIE AWARDS: Three aspiring high school students were awarded scholarships during the 10th annual A. Jean Battie Scholarship Fund Banquet presented recently by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and Light of the World International Church. Nora Ngo Mitchell earned a $3,500 scholarship for winning the Black history essay contest. Craivontae Koonce ($2,500) and Yaradji Nazarie ($1,500) were runners-up. This year’s prizes awards were boosted by $2,000 thanks to Lynn and Sheryl Williams of the Oyamacor corporation. From left, Sarasota Mayor Kyle Scott Battie, Pastor Kelvin L. Lumpkin, Nazarie, Mitchell, Koonce, Dalila Lumpkin, Executive Pastor Peter Greenidge, and scholarship chair Henry “Hank” Battie. Visit ajeanbattiescholarship.org.

Coalition on Substance Abuse celebrates community heroes

The Sarasota Coalition on Substance Abuse will honor its Citizen of the Year and community leaders at the 17th annual Sarasota Shining Stars Recognition and Awards Luncheon on March 22 at Michael’s On East with former Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight as emcee.

Mark Pritchett of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation will be honored by the Sarasota Coalition on Substance Abuse as Citizen of the Year.
Mark Pritchett of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation will be honored by the Sarasota Coalition on Substance Abuse as Citizen of the Year.

Mark Pritchett will be honored as Citizen of the Year for his longtime community service as president and CEO of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation. Under Pritchett’s leadership since 2015, the foundation has tackled many of the community's toughest issues, including homelessness, affordable housing and mental health services.

Lt. Col. Michele Matthews of The Salvation Army will be honored by the Sarasota Coalition on Substance Abuse with its Community Leadership Award.
Lt. Col. Michele Matthews of The Salvation Army will be honored by the Sarasota Coalition on Substance Abuse with its Community Leadership Award.

Lt. Col. Michele Matthews, Sarasota Area Commander for The Salvation Army, will be honored with the Community Leadership Award for her efforts to help people suffering from loss, homelessness and other issues during recent emergencies, including Hurricane Ian. Previously, Matthews was The Salvation Army’s national secretary for Social Services and Public Policy.

Santino Keelen of Booker High School and Zane Van Blarcum of the Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences will be honored with Student Shining Stars awards. For information and tickets, visit scosa.org or call 941-928-4435.

Manatee Memorial celebrates newemergency room facility on US 41

Manatee Memorial Hospital and the Manatee County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday to celebrate the opening of an emergency room facility on U.S. 41 in Bradenton.

Manatee ER at Bayshore Gardens, an extension of Manatee Memorial Hospital, is located at 5506 14th St. W. and will be open 24 hours a day. The 10,884-square-foot facility, which will begin operations on March 27, includes six exam rooms, a full-service laboratory, X-ray, and ultrasound areas.

"The new Manatee ER at Bayshore Gardens is equipped to handle everything from minor conditions to stabilizing treatment for major conditions such as heart attack and stroke,” hospital CEO Tom McDougal said.

Mayors Feed the Hungry Programcoordinating island food drive

The Mayors Feed the Hungry Program is holding a food drive in the barrier islands now through March 31 at city halls and fire stations in Longboat Key, Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach, and Anna Maria.

The food drive culminates on April 1 at the Roser Church Food Pantry at 512 Pine Ave. in Anna Maria, where donations can also be dropped off between 9 a.m. and noon. Nonperishable food and cash donations will be accepted. Donations of nonrefrigerated dog and cat food are also welcome.

The Mayors’ Feed the Hungry Program works with 34 nonprofit agencies and has been feeding families throughout Manatee and Sarasota counties since 1987. Visit MayorsFeedTheHungry.org.

Senior Friendship Centers receives $11,050 grant for nutrition program

The Senior Friendship Centers recently received an $11,050 grant from United Way of Charlotte County to support the organization’s nutrition program for adults 60 and over. The year-round program at Senior Friendship Centers includes home-delivered meals and social dining centers.

“For so many older adults food insecurity is caused by poor health, transportation challenges, the spouse that cooked is no longer around, or maybe even depression,” said Erin McLeod, president and CEO. “This is about more than food for the body – it’s food for the soul as they are nourished by friendship.”

The Senior Friendship Centers is celebrating 50 years of services that allow older adults to maintain their independence. For information, call 941-955-2122 or visit friendshipcenters.org.

Around and about ...

The AMVETS Post 312 in North Port (7050 Chancellor Blvd.) in conjunction with the North Port Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Grand Reopening on March 21 at 11 a.m. to celebrate repairs and remodeling after damage from Hurricane Ian. The event will feature a color guard, raffles, prizes and hot dogs and hamburgers. The post features daily lunch and dinner specials and hosts special events and organized activities, including bingo, golf, and bowling. Info: facebook.com/AMVETSPost312NorthPort.

· The Epiphany Cathedral/Our Lady of Lourdes Conference of the Society of St. Vincent DePaul is sponsoring a Walk for the Poor on March 25 to raise money to support community members in need. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at Magi Hall, 350 Tampa Bay W., Venice, with the 2.5-mile walk starting at 9:15. Donations can be made at svdpvenicefl.org.

· The Venice Writers Festival & Book Fair is March 24-25. The Writers Fair featuring writing and publishing workshops and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Lane DeGregory as keynote speaker is March 24 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Community Room at Venice Public Library, 300 Nokomis Ave. S. The Book Fair on March 25 is 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Blalock Park in the 300 block of Nassau Street South. Info: venicebookfair.com.

· Gulf Cove United Methodist Church, 1100 S. McCall Road, Port Charlotte, is hosting an Easter Egg hunt on April 1 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for children up to age 12. There also will be family games, a bounce house, free food and crafts. Info: 941-697-1747, GulfCoveUMC@gmail.com.

· Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota will present three programs in April: Cheryl Losey Feder, harp, and Abraham Feder, cello, perform on April 9 at Temple Sinai; guitarist JIJI performs on April 20 to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens; and Cameron Crozman, cello, and Meagan Milatz, piano, present a Lunch and Listen concert on April 27 at the Sarasota Yacht Club. Info/tickets: ArtistSeriesConcerts.org, 941-306-1202.

Submissions by Phyllis Clay, Sherri Reynolds, Rob Coseo, Scott Biehler, Jodel Velarde, Donna Wilkinson, Pat Shehorn, Patricia Gleichauf, Dana Hanson, Kelly Fores.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Gulf Coast Community Foundation president receives citizen of year award