News Briefs 03.03.11

+ County completes playground at Jiggs
Manatee County last week completed the installation of playground equipment at Jiggs Landing park.

The new feature at the East County park includes swings, a spider web and a series of logs on which children can climb.

+ LECOM accepts county incentives
The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine took another step toward the construction of its dental school in Lakewood Ranch last week with an official contract signing of incentives totaling $203,300 from Manatee County.

A signing event was held in the main lobby of LECOM’s existing facility on March 2.

LECOM on Jan. 21 announced plans for its School of Dental Medicine, which is slated to open in 2012 adjacent to its existing medical and pharmacy school in Lakewood Ranch. The Manatee County Board of County Commissioners approved an incentive grant for LECOM of up to $174,000 over four years and transportation impact fee refunds of up to $29,300 based on the school’s commitment to hire at least 58 employees over that time with an annual wage that is 15% higher than the county average.

+ Renovation begins at Stoneybrook club
The restaurant portion of Stoneybrook Golf Club will close March 14-25 for renovations.

The club’s new patio area will remain open for concession food and beverage services.

+ Buchanan announces new pill mill legislation
U.S. Vern Buchanan last week announced new legislation meant to stop the prescription drug pipeline.

The bill would toughen penalties for pill mill operators by doubling the prison sentence from 10 to 20 years and tripling the fine from $1 million to $3 million. It also would reclassify hydrocodone combination drugs to make them more difficult to prescribe and obtain.

Additionally, proceeds from the sale of violators’ seized assets would be used to fund state drug monitoring databases, treatment programs and more.

DEA enforcement actions against pill mills.

Just in the last month, the DEA has seized an estimated $2.5 million in illicit assets owned by pill mill owners in south Florida.

+ Kiwanians pledge $120,000 for art studio
The Kiwanis clubs of Sarasota have made a five-year, $120,000 commitment to build the children’s art interactive studio at the Cancer Support Community Florida Suncoast in Lakewood Ranch.

The new 11,142-square-foot studio will help children face their cancer issues and will be designed to be an optimal healing environment through the combination of art, design and nature.

“We are thrilled and honored by the generosity of the Kiwanis clubs of Sarasota, particularly the team of former Lt. Governors of Division 18N, who believed the programs we offer in therapy and support are a vital component in the healing process for those dealing with cancer,” Cancer Support Community CEO Carl Ritter said.

For more information on the Cancer Support Community, visit www.cancersupportsuncoast.org.

+ Children’s fund honors volunteers
The Children’s Guardian Fund will honor more than 450 local Guardian ad Litem volunteers at its annual Appreciation Luncheon at the Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club March 11.

“These wonderful and dedicated volunteers are the eyes and ears of the judge,” Fund President Alan Quinby said. “They work to protect the interests of more than 1,000 local children who have been removed from their homes because they were abused, abandoned or neglected.”

Circuit Director of the Guradian ad Litem Program it he 12th Judicial Circuit, which includes DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota counties, oversees volunteers and will present various volunteer awards at the ceremony.

Last year’s luncheon drew more than 200 people.