M/I Homes bringing townhomes to Palmera at Wellen ParkSarasota Herald-TribuneBuilding on its existing presence in Palmera at Wellen Park M/I Homes has introduced a new collection of rear-loaded townhomes expanding its residential offerings in one of the nation’s top master-planned communities This new release of two-story townhomes in Venice brings five fresh floor plans to the market open-concept living with energy-efficient construction from growing families to retirees seeking low-maintenance coastal living The new Smart Series townhomes range from 1,702 to 2,813 square feet and include thoughtful features such as: Palmera at Wellen Park gives residents convenient access to top-rated Sarasota County schools dining and the beautiful Gulf Coast beaches of Venice Scenario A shows proposed boundaries for Wellen Park High School that extend from the Charlotte County line in Englewood north to Center Road and East Venice Avenue in Venice. Scenario B shows proposed boundaries for Wellen Park High School that extend from the Charlotte County line in Englewood north to Jacaranda Boulevard and East Venice Avenue, along with a portion the Warm Mineral Springs area. Scenario C shows proposed boundaries for Wellen Park High School that extend from the Charlotte County line in Englewood north to Jacaranda Boulevard and Center Road, and east to Warm Mineral Springs. WELLEN PARK — Sarasota County Schools is building a new state-of-the-art high school in Wellen Park that’s set to open next year — but where will the students come from? According to the three tentative zone maps released this week by the school district, many will come from zones that currently feed into Venice High, which is currently overcrowded. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. 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Below you find a roundup of news from Germany on Friday, May 2. 05/02/2025May 2, 2025AfD 'works openly against democratic institutions,' constitutional law professor tells DWAntje von Ungern-Sternberg, a professor of constitutional law at Trier University, spoke to DW about the renewed discussions about banning the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party She said she supportsbanning the party and explained that Germany has a concept of "militant democracy." we want to defend our democracy against its opponents and enemies and we have the instrument of a party ban," von Ungern-Sternberg said As for how the AfD can be considered in violation of the German constitution, the professor said most arguments focus on the party's approach to human dignity for all people. She said denying equality to people with a migratory background or who have a different religion "amounts to denying them human dignity."  The professor also said that "the party and many of its adherents openly work against democratic institutions and delegitimizes them by saying they don't work properly." She acknowledged that considerable support for the AfD comes from people feeling left behind. "Of course, all the political parties have to work together to try to help solve problems so that this feeling of being left behind and other serious issues are also solved politically," von Ungern-Sternberg told DW. 05/02/2025May 2, 2025Germany to US: Extremist label for AfD 'is democracy'Germany's Foreign Ministry defended the decision to label the far-right AfD party as a right-wing extremist group after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the move "tyranny in disguise." "This is democracy. This decision is the result of a thorough & independent investigation to protect our Constitution & the rule of law," the ministry wrote in a reply to Rubio on X. "It is independent courts that will have the final say. We have learnt from our history that rightwing extremism needs to be stopped." 2025WATCH: AfD's Von Storch condemns 'dangerous precedent'Germany's spy agency has designated the Alternative for Germany party (AfD) "extremist." The party has slammed the label as "nonsense" and has vowed to mount a legal challenge AfD lawmaker Beatrix von Storch vowed to escalate the move "into an international issue." Von Storch: 'This sets a very dangerous precedent'To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 2025Stuttgart: 3 injured after car drives into crowdPolice and firefighters were working at the scene of the incident in the center of StuttgartImage: Marco Krefting/dpa/picture allianceAt least three people have been injured after a car drove into a crowd of people in the southern German city of Stuttgart Police said they had deployed a large number of officers to the scene and the driver had already been arrested It was not immediately clear if the incident was intentional or how it had happened. Germany has experienced a number of car ramming incidents in the past couple of years You can read the full story here. 2025US Secretary of State Rubio says 'Germany should reverse course'US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has criticized the branding of the far-right AfD party as right-wing extremist by Germany's intelligence agency "Germany just gave its spy agency new powers to surveil the opposition," Rubio said on X "That's not democracy — it's tyranny in disguise." The Trump administration has appeared favorable to the far-right party, with Trump ally Elon Musk hosting AfD co-leader Alice Weidel for an online talk just before Germany's February election "What is truly extremist is not the popular AfD — which took second in the recent election — but rather the establishment’s deadly open border immigration policies that the AfD opposes," the US top diplomat added While high-level diplomats have often refrained from commenting on the internal politics of other countries this has not been the case under the Trump administration Rubio went on to suggest that "Germany should reverse course." Analyst: US technocrats' liking for AfD is driven by profitTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 05/02/2025May 2, 2025Journalists' union says media should adjust reporting on AfDResponding to the AfD being confirmed as an extremist entity by the county's domestic intelligence agency a major union of journalists urged media outlets to tweak their coverage of Germany's top opposition party The AfD "is not a normal party in a democratic spectrum," according to the head of the German Journalists' Association (DJV) Mika Beuster "We journalists have to underline the party's nationalist racists and far-right aspirations more clearly," Beuster said adding that journalists need to report on the AfD "objectively and critically." "The AfD provides simple answers to complex problems the side effect is a slow poisoning of the democratic discourse This should be highlighted in all reporting on the AfD," he added The AfD has often complained ofbeing treated unfairly compared to other, more established German parties. 2025Head of Scholz's SPD wants new ruling coalition to decide on AfDWith Germany's new government due to take office in days the leader of Olaf Scholz's center-left SPD party called for a joint decision on dealing with the AfD "The AfD is an attack on Germany," Lars Klingbeil, a co-chief of the SPD and incoming finance minister He also said elected politicians have a responsibility to decide how to protect democracy from its enemies "And we have to very quickly make decisions in the new government While banning AfD could be seen as an option Klingbeil also said that thorough consideration was needed before taking any dramatic steps Earlier today, outgoing Chancellor Scholz also warned any ban on the AfD "must not be rushed." 05/02/2025May 2, 2025Former Russian President Medvedev mocks AfD 'extremist' labelDmitry Medvedev, who served as Russia's president between 2008 and 2012 and then prime minister under Vladimir Putin until 2020, dismissed the move to label Germany's AfD as an extremist entity. "Strong words to use against a parliamentary party," he wrote on X. "Apparently, the CDU/CSU, SPD and other German party trivia consider those with higher ratings to be extremists." 2025Will Germany's far-right AfD party be banned?What happens now That's the question many are asking following the move to designate the AfD as a "right-wing extremist" organization Several lawmakers from across the political spectrum have been working to get enough support for a ban of the AfD party The domestic intelligence agency's decision to classify the AfD as extremist may give that effort new momentum DW's politics desk takes a deeper dive into what it takes for a party to be banned in accordance with the constitution and also looks at some of the positives and negatives of such a move. Read more here. 05/02/2025May 2, 2025Left party lawmaker calls for banning AfDHeidi Reichinnek, the Left Party's top ranking lawmaker in Germany's parliament pledged to do "everything" to bring about the ban on the AfD "It must be clear to everyone: A democracy does not survive power sharing with right-wing extremists like the AfD," said the 36-year-old head of the Left party faction in the Bundestag "Everyone who has campaigned for the normalization of the AfD and continues to do so are reinforcing right-wing extremists and endangering democracy," she said 05/02/2025May 2, 2025What has led to this point? DW's chief political correspondent takes a lookNina Haase BerlinThe Alternative for Germany (AfD), previously labeled a "suspected" extremist group by Germany’s intelligence agency, challenged the designation in court but lost. After a three-year investigation, the agency in its 1,100-page report now says it has concrete evidence that the AfD’s actions threaten Germany’s democratic order. The report highlights the party’s use of hateful rhetoric and incitement to undermine democratic institutions. The agency concludes that the AfD’s ethnocentric ideology is incompatible with Germany’s constitution, violating the principle of human dignity. An example includes AfD MP Stephan Brandner, who, in an interview with the extremist blog PI-NEWS, discussed the alleged threat posed by Muslim population growth, describing it as a "problem" for Germany despite distancing himself from the term "birth jihad." The report also cites the party’s authoritarian rhetoric, which casts doubt on democratic structures and the rule of law. The AfD is now Germany’s largest opposition party, especially in the east, but remains excluded from government due to the other parties' refusal to collaborate with a party with extremist tendencies, a situation known as the "firewall." Friedrich Merz, the incoming chancellor, faced criticism — also from within his own party — for passing a non-binding motion in the Bundestag with AfD support during the election campaign. Two issues now need to be considered as the latest developments begin to sink in: Firstly, the AfD has called the move "politically motivated" and announced it will challenge its extremist classification in court. Secondly, legal hurdles to ban a party are very high in Germany because of the country’s history, but the agency’s move has intensified calls for an AfD ban. 05/02/2025May 2, 2025How the far-right AfD creates divisions in German society Hans PfeiferAs the world appears to have become increasingly polarized the gaps between different social groups and entire countries are deepening social issues and problems surrounding technological progress which affect the entire world and pay no heed to divisions and gaps DW's Hans Pfeifer writes about how the far-right have used issues like migration as a vehicle to sow division. You can read more about that here. 05/02/2025May 2, 2025AfD says extremist label a 'heavy blow' against German democracyChrupalla (l) and Weidel (r) are chairpeople of AfDImage: Liesa Johannssen/REUTERSFollowing the official decision to label the entirety of Germany's AfD as "extremist," the far-right party decried the "targeted interference" in the democratic process. "Today's decision by [the domestic intelligence agency] is a serious blow against German democracy,"  party leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla said in a statement. They pointed out that the current government is due to leave office in four days and pledged to fight "defamation" in court. "And yet, the AfD is being discredited and criminalized as an opposition party shortly before the change of government," Weidel and Chrupalla said, adding that attacks on the "democratic process of opinion building is therefore clearly politically motivated." 05/02/2025May 2, 2025Who is Alice Weidel, co-leader of Germany's far-right AfD party?The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party achieved its best results ever in the 2025 election giving a more prominent role to its co-leader Alice Weidel DW takes a closer look at the woman who's become the public face of Germany's far right.  Who is Alice Weidel, co-leader of Germany's far-right AfD?To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 2025Jewish representative Schuster wants AfD kept out of governmentJosef Schuster the head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany said AfD officials should not be trusted with state power reacting to the party's labeling as extremist "AfD representatives should never reach governmental positions not even via important positions in parliamentary committees or similar and they should also never get access to information related to security," Schuster said Following the parliamentary election in February, the AfD has officially become Germany's strongest opposition party second only to Friedrich Merz's conservative bloc "Who could have imagined that in the year 2025 a confirmed right-wing extremist party will be holding almost a quarter of lawmakers in Germany's parliament?" Schuster added on Friday Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInBy Derek Gilliam Streets lined with lush landscaping wind through what was once open ranchland flanking an ornate Spanish Mediterranean guard house Manicured lawns stretch across acres of greenery where hundreds of trees cast shade over quiet sidewalks and upscale homes a neighborhood within the master-planned community of south Sarasota County’s Wellen Park — formerly known as West Villages — that models a postcard version of Florida a bitter legal battle is unfolding — one that has divided neighbors threatened property values and exposed the extent of control wielded by developer-run governments At the center of it now is the fight over a 100-year water deal residents say they never agreed to and fear could cost the entire district billions of dollars over its lifetime The West Villages Improvement District is a special-purpose government controlled by Toronto-based developer Mattamy Homes that oversees the community’s future construction phases and maintenance of its existing neighborhoods Last month, the governing board cut off irrigation to Gran Paradiso isolating the neighborhood’s pipes from the development’s broader system and threatening more than an estimated $1 million worth of tropical landscaping What’s happening in Gran Paradiso isn’t just a neighborhood dispute over water; it’s a window into who holds the power in Florida’s fastest-growing communities and what happens when the homeowners organize to push back more and more neighborhoods like Gran Paradiso are governed not only by city and county officials but by community development districts and other government bodies created by the real estate developers profiting from these projects Florida law requires sellers to disclose when buying into these privately-run governments with upfront information about the costs and financial obligations Legislation regulating these entities have been on the books since at least the 1980s with more than 2,000 special-purpose districts throughout the state — up from about 600 in 2010 They have the power to take out massive municipal bonds assess residents for repayment and then control the public infrastructure they build with the money drainage and sewage systems in their respective communities without burdening city or county budgets they also raise questions about transparency and accountability “This is a classic David and Goliath case,” Joseph Herbert an attorney representing Gran Paradiso residents “There’s nothing they can do at the local level to stop West Villages.” The conflict began when Gran Paradiso residents questioned a steep hike in irrigation fees tied to a water agreement approved by the Mattamy-run district in 2018 that doubled what homeowners were paying When the West Villages Improvement District refused to renegotiate residents took them to court — setting off a series of actions by the developer and its proxies that residents say were aimed at maintaining control the district threatened to cut off irrigation water to Gran Paradiso after the judge in the case called the water agreement “obscene” — comparing it to a nearly $3 billion annuity for the developer — Mattamy attempted the improvement district turned to Tallahassee spending more than $100,000 on a lobbyist to push new legislation on how and when residents can take control of the district’s governing board Under the Florida law that established the district Mattamy must turn over control of its governing board to the residents once 51% of its development is considered “urbanized” — meaning a certain population is living in areas with completed infrastructure like roads and utilities The district is now pushing to simplify the law to a basic count of voters living within its boundaries a move that critics argue could result in longer developer control Gran Paradiso homeowners are paying both sides’ legal fees in the irrigation fight and the lobbyist through assessments levied by their own property owners association and the broader district and now we’re paying to hire a lobbyist so we can’t get these additional seats on the board,” said Pam Kantola the treasurer for the Gran Paradiso Property Owners Association The district’s board defended the decision to turn off Gran Paradiso’s irrigation water supply saying it was necessary to avoid violating a permit with the state while blaming residents for overuse and underpayment “For over four years, the residents of one neighborhood, Gran Paradiso, have dramatically and consistently violated the permit by exceeding their allocated irrigation water quantities, which is unfair to other residents,” a spokesperson for Mattamy said in a written statement to Suncoast Searchlight Suncoast Searchlight asked the state agency with oversight — Southwest Florida Water Management District— to confirm the allegation that Gran Paradiso had overused irrigation water and that this jeopardized the improvement district’s permit the West Villages Improvement District said that its established rates were “publicly vetted” and that community members were given ample opportunity for input the district has been operating irrigation services at a net loss The district also argues the legislation aimed at changing board turnover requirements will provide more opportunities to residents to participate in community decisions “Being an improvement district allows the WVID to take a long-term, measured approach to developing key public infrastructure,” according to the statement which was emailed by District Manager William Crosley “This system also reduces the burden on taxpayers by encouraging developers to fund the development of critical infrastructure and ensuring that growth pays for growth.” But many living in Gran Paradiso fear the situation will only stifle buyer demand in the community leading to a double-digit drop in property values should the water saga continue “One of the biggest things that is hurting us is word is getting out that Gran Paradiso is a troublemaker,” Bill Kelly a board member of the Gran Paradiso Property Owners Association said in an interview before the water was turned off this was ranch country: Cattle grazed beneath sprawling oak hammocks and sandy trails cut through palmetto scrub and sawgrass birds and the occasional lowing of livestock several different real estate developers and help from a Florida law establishing the improvement district’s authority over its residents developers pitched lofty subdivisions then backed away over the economics It wasn’t until 2002 that developer Stanley Thomas purchased a majority of what was then known as Taylor Ranch for $78 million More than half of Taylor Ranch had been annexed by the city of North Port with plans in motion for large-scale development by pursuing the creation of a special-purpose government Rather than rely on North Port to fund roads this special district would borrow millions of dollars through tax-exempt bonds Homeowners — not the developers — would then pay off the majority of that debt through long-term assessments on their property tax bills lawmakers passed a bill in 2004 that was signed by then-Gov Jeb Bush to establish the West Villages Improvement District Each district of its kind must be formed through either a local ordinance or new state law designating its powers the board of supervisors governing the district is appointed by the largest landowner — not elected by residents That meant Thomas controlled not only the development Construction in the West Villages stalled during the Great Recession after which the land changed hands through a string of new developers National homebuilder Lennar bought the unfinished Gran Paradiso community in 2013 Mattamy and a local development and investment company bought most of the remaining land the following year for $86.3 million they inherited full control over the district’s governing board including authority over those living in the Gran Paradiso subdivision Mattamy bought out the other company in 2019 It has continued to push forward with sprawling new developments like a downtown hub and the spring training facility for the Atlanta Braves the improvement district has been authorized to tap at least 10 bonds totaling $805.8 million It carries about $200 million in debt as of the most recent audit in 2023 The developer also put its own money into the project citing $170 million in unreimbursed contributions Despite Wellen Park’s explosive growth over the years its five-person board still consists of four representatives who are affiliated with Mattamy and just one homeowner “In how many decades are we going to get this done?” said Victor Dobrin a homeowner who represented residents on the district’s board from 2018 until 2022 referring to the timeline for residents to take control of the board While these special governments are often framed as efficient tools for building infrastructure experts say they come with serious accountability concerns “They make these decisions and this minutia that seems insignificant at the time,” said Jon Thaxton a former Sarasota County commissioner who serves as director of policy and advocacy for the Gulf Coast Community Foundation speaking about special-purpose governments in general and it damn sure is something to worry about.” Because major decisions are made before residents get a say on the management board that masks the accountability baked into more traditional governments researchers Gina Scutelnicu Todoran and Sukumar Ganapati concluded in a 2014 study published in Economic Development Quarterly Their research cited multiple cases where developer-run governments made questionable financial decisions — including one in which a developer sold land valued at $1.1 million to its own Florida district for $31 million “They pose accountability issues to the residents they serve because of their financial and managerial powers,” Scutelnicu Todoran said in an email to Suncoast Searchlight there appears to be more transparency than when she conducted her research during the Great Recession “Most of them have websites where they are required to report on their finances and budgets meeting minutes among other things,” she wrote the water deal is a case study in what happens when big decisions are made without anyone at the table to represent the homeowners footing the bill when Gran Paradiso’s property owners association was still under the control of its previous developer — Sam Rodgers — it entered into an agreement to pay 37 cents per thousand gallons of reclaimed irrigation water prohibited fees for improvements that didn’t benefit them and ensured they would pay only for the water that they used when the property owners association — this time overseen by Lennar Homes — signed Gran Paradiso onto a 100-year irrigation agreement the West Villages Improvement District had approved the previous year The deal raised the rate to 66 cents per thousand gallons and added new charges including a capital recovery fee and a “well availability” fee The two parties signed an updated agreement in December 2020 — less than three months before Lennar ceded control of the property owners association to residents When Gran Paradiso homeowners later found out Not only had they been left out of the process but the new terms nearly doubled their irrigation bills and added extra charges to cover the cost of irrigating land outside the Gran Paradiso community Residents said they sought a meeting with the West Villages board to discuss the irrigation issue in 2022 but were turned away So Gran Paradiso residents instead began paying the old rates and set aside the additional disputed charges in a separate bank account to be given to the district should their efforts to negotiate a new deal fall flat This led to threats from Mattamy — through the arm of its government — to shut off the water a Gran Paradiso homeowner and the only elected member on the district board of supervisors “We had hoped it would force them to come to the table and come to some amicable resolution or solution,” Meisel said Seeing no other option, the property owners association sued West Villages Improvement District Lennar Homes and two entities controlled by Mattamy — The Ranch Land Operations and Thomas Ranch Intangibles — in 2022 residents argued the 100-year contract violated state law which bars developer-run associations from locking in long-term service agreements unless the terms are “fair and reasonable.” They claimed the new deal was anything but describing it as a backdoor payout to the master developer which stood to collect millions in fees over the agreement’s lifetime Circuit Judge Hunter Carroll called the agreement “obscene,” blasting the district for including terms that weren’t in the public interest and ruling that Gran Paradiso would likely prevail at trial on a potential violation of Florida’s open government laws He issued an injunction that prevented the district from applying any of the agreements that stemmed from the apparent violation with Gran Paradiso placing into escrow the disputed fees plus 20% to cover potential attorney’s fees continued collecting some fees and put them into escrow as well Carroll’s injunction also forced the district to hold a new public meeting and reconsider the rates But the redo didn’t go the way Gran Paradiso residents hoped The district approved yet another rate study and ratified a new pricing structure that included a similar well availability fee the updated terms still locked them into inflated fees — and failed to address the concerns the judge had raised Arguments have spilled into Facebook groups and local board meetings where residents have been kicked out for speaking up Factions have formed within the neighborhood when the district cut off Gran Paradiso’s access to the irrigation system and attempted to render the entire legal case moot Attorneys for West Villages Improvement District noted that because Gran Paradiso’s lawsuit requested the irrigation agreement to be declared null and void the move to cut off water gives residents there exactly what they wanted “I’m not really sure why we’re here at this point other than Gran Paradiso is not happy not happy with the fact the agreement they were trying to terminate is terminated,” Joseph Brown The water fight is just a symptom of an even deeper problem residents told Suncoast Searchlight: They had no real voice when the century-long contract was signed — and still don’t the developer who controls the board is pushing to rewrite state law in ways critics say would make it even harder for homeowners to gain control developers must turn over control of a special-purpose government through additional seats on the board once development is well underway some residents argue the threshold has varied widely through the years the district’s engineer determined 20% of the master community was urbanized in 2021 But after more homeowners moved in a year later The district has argued that the higher urbanization figure from 2021 mistakenly included property that shouldn’t have been counted which explains the sharp drop the following year The developer hired a lobbyist to advance proposed legislation to alter the calculation from the current method to a straightforward count of qualified electors —  which are residents who live there and who can vote in local elections Meisel said he supports changing to a count of residents but takes issue with the thresholds and believes the current legislation sets the bar too high Wellen Park will have nearly 40,000 registered voters living in the community before all five board seats are filled by residents there are 9,972 registered voters there who would count toward the new baselines according to the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Meisel drove six hours to Tallahassee in March to oppose the bill “The numbers are artificially inflated to ensure we never get a seat on the board,” Meisel told the legislative subcommittee listening to some of the resident concerns has amended the original bill to reduce the thresholds by about 5,000 voters with residents gaining a majority of board seats occurring when 26,397 voters live there it still will be difficult for residents to ever achieve a majority on the board given the number of snowbirds and seasonal retirees who don’t live in the community year-round We must “get this done and stop the opportunities where they have to go through litigation,” Nix said We want them to have an opportunity to heal.” Angry Gran Paradiso homeowners sardined themselves into a small courtroom in downtown Sarasota on April 11 some sitting right on the ground once chairs were full — prompting the courthouse to open an overflow watch room Many in the crowd drove an hour to attend the hearing part of the ongoing litigation over irrigation water which they have been without since the district cut it off They wanted Carroll to hold the district in contempt of court over the move He argued the district broke the judge’s 2023 order when it disbursed the escrowed fees to Mattamy Homes in late 2024 The district argued Carroll’s order did not prevent it from disbursing those escrowed funds because it had fixed the potential sunshine violation; it has been operating under the new rates adopted at a public hearing in April 2023 and not under the 2018 agreement from which the order stemmed Both sides agreed on one thing: Carroll could not order the district to turn the water back on Carroll has yet to rule on the contempt motion Other legal issues will have to be resolved through mediation or a trial that’s scheduled for December “For these people,” Herbert told the judge “some amount of accountability for West Villages would go a really long way.” Suncoast Searchlight Deputy Editor/Senior Investigative Reporter Josh Salman contributed to this report This story was produced by Suncoast Searchlight, a nonprofit newsroom of the Community News Collaborative serving Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto counties. Learn more at suncoastsearchlight.org SRQ DAILY THURSDAY FAMILY AND RECREATION EDITION Pictured: Lago Tacos is now open at The Yard in Downtown Wellen Street tacos and all the trimmings are now available at Downtown Wellen’s brand-new Lago Tacos in The Yard Located in one of three repurposed shipping containers the eatery is the latest offering from Jamie Albano the owner of downtown’s Kind Vibes Outfitters and Lakeside Bites including freshly made limeade and Jarritos in a variety of fruity flavors tradition and a dash of creativity to bring diners the ultimate street food experience,” said Albano “Lago Tacos is where the flavors of Mexico meet the breezy vibes of the Grand Lake.” Downtown Wellen is the region’s newest social and gathering hot spot Abrupt Closure of Euphemia Haye Leaves Staff Members in Need of Assistance Chef Ryan Ward has found a home at EVOQ in Sarasota Celebrate the sprit of our hometown with SRQ Magazine boutiques and philanthropic hearts of Sarasota Bradenton Area and the Barrier Islands on the West Coast of Florida We invite you to experience living and loving local - in print and online SRQ Media transforms what it means to live and love local through its portfolio of hyper-local print and online publications including its flagship city regional SRQ Magazine and video production division Moving Stories and non-profit development division Story Project The SRQ Media team leverages its strong audience footprint to catalyze visionary community programs such as SB2: Regional Symposia Series SkillSHARE and ProjecThinkby engaging individuals to positively impact their hometown of Sarasota and the Bradenton Area situated on the vibrant West Coast of Florida cultural and education organizations and not-profits throughout the year with custom programs and sponsorships Venice High School parents questioned the district’s decision to not include grandfathering siblings of VHS alumni or seniors when it comes to redistricting for the new Wellen Park High School Scenario A shows proposed boundaries for Wellen Park High School that extend from the Charlotte County line in Englewood north to Center Road and East Venice Avenue in Venice Scenario B shows proposed boundaries for Wellen Park High School that extend from the Charlotte County line in Englewood north to Jacaranda Boulevard and East Venice Avenue along with a portion the Warm Mineral Springs area Scenario C shows proposed boundaries for Wellen Park High School that extend from the Charlotte County line in Englewood north to Jacaranda Boulevard and Center Road VENICE — With slightly more than a year until Wellen Park High School’s opening redistricting in south Sarasota County is becoming a reality Venice High School families met Tuesday night with Sarasota County Schools leaders Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account New additions will enhance outdoor recreation opportunities in Southwest Florida's premier master-planned community the #6 top-selling master-planned community in the US is expanding outdoor recreation this year with the addition of three new parks and approximately 10 miles of nature trails Located close to new and existing neighborhoods and Downtown Wellen these parks and trails will complement Wellen Park's existing parks and expansive trail network "Current and future residents spend a lot of their free time enjoying our existing parks and they have expressed a desire for even more opportunities to connect with nature and experience being outdoors," said Rick Severance "We're excited to offer new play areas and nature trails that will enhance the well-being of our residents and visitors while fostering environmental stewardship." Two new parks will be located in Downtown Wellen a vibrant area and popular gathering space known for its restaurants and boutiques A temporary Pop-Up Play Park for children 6 years and younger opened in early March featuring two sets of playground equipment will offer an area for pet owners to let their pets run free The two-acre fenced park will include canine agility equipment A new and larger community playground – Park 87 opening in early 2026 – is set to become a vibrant and engaging community space featuring custom-built fire station-themed playground equipment The theme pays homage to its location next to Wellen Park's future Firehouse No Park 87 will offer a multi-purpose lawn for recreational activities and community events shaded areas and a covered pavilion with restrooms and dedicated areas for toddlers The surrounding freestanding play equipment a Universal Carousel and swing set with ADA-accessible seating cater to children of all ages and abilities Poured-in-place rubber surfacing lets children with mobility-assisted devices move throughout the play space with greater ease Also slated for construction is Oakheart Nature Trail boardwalks and an immersive natural experience It will include a fishing pier and connect to a planned school campus for kids walking and biking to school The trail will include two trailheads with restrooms and parking Wellen Park has also unveiled the Buttonwood Trail a 2.5-mile shell path and boardwalk trail through natural scenery which will include a gated entry directly to Wellen Park's Palmera community The Buttonwood Trail development is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2025 Wellen Park's investment in public spaces underscores the importance of fostering connections among residents while enhancing the overall quality of life By welcoming families and creating spaces where neighbors can interact these parks play a crucial role in strengthening the fabric of local communities As the #6 top-selling community in the United States Wellen Park is a place where genuine connections and shared community come together to flourish and grow Wellen Park combines a diverse mix of neighborhoods with dining and outdoor recreation to offer an exciting destination for residents and visitors from the young to the young at heart Wellen Park is committed to the wellness and wellbeing of our residents We are proud to support physical wellbeing by offering a variety of healthcare services on-site including a free-standing emergency clinic opening soon Educational wellbeing also thrives at Wellen Park Wellen Park is also proud to be home to CoolToday Park the site of the Atlanta Braves' spring training facility Do not sell or share my personal information: Pictured: The new phase is located on Wellen Park Boulevard and Foxtail Coffee and close to Tropia luxury apartments Wellen Park is introducing the second phase of Downtown Wellen Due to the success of Downtown Wellen’s first phase the time is right to introduce additional businesses that will complement existing merchants and restaurant operators Future tenants include a clothing boutique various professional offices and additional restaurants The first floors will feature restaurants and retail and the second floors will consist of professional offices Featuring a signature tower and canopied patios for outdoor dining the buildings were designed by New Orleans-based Trapolin-Peer Architects which designed Downtown Wellen’s existing two-story office building located along Wellen Park Boulevard The second phase also includes a boutique hotel and additional parking Construction is underway with a tentative opening expected during the first quarter of 2026 The new phase is located on Wellen Park Boulevard To accommodate any parking impacted by construction Wellen Park has accelerated the construction of a paved surface parking lot adjacent to the future hotel The parking lot is scheduled to open October 1 An overflow parking lot was also incorporated into the site several months ago Phase II downtown tenant specifics will be announced in the coming months principal and director of brokerage services at Hybridge Envisioned as the region’s vibrant new gathering hub for dining Downtown Wellen’s inaugural phase was completed in early 2023 with businesses opening through fall 2023 The 80-acre Grand Lake provides a scenic backdrop The Landing fishing pier as well as paddleboarding Downtown Wellen emphasizes social and natural connections with unique outdoor gathering areas a lakefront fountain and splashpad and the Great Lawn for community festivals celebrations and events overlooking the stage at Solis Hall The Yard features retrofitted shipping containers serving casual food and offers outdoor dining and an activity area with yard games Taking the Pulse on the Next Generation of Medical Professionals Plant Struck: Your Guide to Plant-Based Healing S-One Holdings Corporation Builds Itself Through Strong Workplace Culture Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation Names Laura Ansel Director of Communications A fire station-themed playground will be offered at Park 87 This shows what Grand Lake Dog Park will look like Downtown Wellen features a 3-mile trail around Grand Lake This will be some of the playground equipment at Park 87 Wellen Park offers The Landing fishing pier Wellen Park offers over 30 miles of trails and paths WELLEN PARK — Wellen Park is expanding outdoor recreation this year with the addition of three new parks and approximately 10 miles of nature trails close to new and existing neighborhoods and Downtown Wellen are in addition to Wellen Park’s existing parks and expansive trail network Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines NORTH PORT –  Wellen Park ranked as the sixth-highest selling master planned community in the United States for 2024, as determined by RCLCO, a Bethesda, Maryland-based real estate consultant that compiles semi-annual and annual rankings. A total of 3,208 homes were sold in The Villages in 2024 2,210 homes in Lakewood Ranch and 960 new homes in Wellen Park Wellen Park is technically the third fastest growing master-planned community in Florida with those 960 new home sales representing a 10% increase from 2023 “Every sale at Wellen Park represents the decision by homebuyers to live a vibrant lifestyle in a community focused on wellness and community connections,” Rick Severance “We are thrilled by the trust these new residents place in our community We have consistently sold more homes each year for the past several years.” Augustine was the fourth ranked master-planned community in Florida while Babcock Ranch near the Lee-Charlotte County line southeast of Punta Gorda ranked fifth in the state with 797 home sales – though that figure represented a 17% drop from the 2023 sales total of 958 homes 38% of all sales within ranked communities occurred in Florida while sales in Texas accounted for 35% Hot sales reflect an expansion in housing optionsThe 34293 ZIP code that includes Wellen Park was also recognized among the "hottest" ZIP codes in the country for home sales, according national online real estate company Opendoor While The Villages has expanded from its status as a retirement community by opening up Middleton an all-ages community; home builders in Wellen Park are diversifying offerings Stillwell at Wellen Park – a build-to-rent single-family subdivision custom and semi-custom single-family homes “Buyers recognize that Wellen Park is more than a new home; it’s a lifestyle filled with boundless opportunities to connect to nature neighbors and enjoy a sense of community,” Severance said “We host year-round community and cultural events like art shows the community’s downtown core centered around an 80-acre manmade lake attracts visitors from around the region Sarasota Memorial Health Care System plans a free-standing emergency room in the community as well Millennium Physician Group opened a new 13,000-square-foot location in Wellen Park late last year which provides early learning for infants through kindergarteners is working towards an opening in the first quarter of 2025 The Sarasota County Public School District plans both a new high school and K-8 school The State College of Florida Collegiate School-Venice in Wellen Park is a free public charter school offering a high school dual enrollment program where students earn a high school diploma while also earning an associate in arts degree from State College of Florida Wellen Park is currently home to about 10,000 residents more than 50,000 people will occupy roughly 22,500 homes there The city of North Port is experiencing a growth in population and popularity. Last March, it was ranked No. 21 on Southern Living Magazine’s list of The South’s Best Cities on the Rise for 2024. The future land use map for Winchester Ranch Boca Royale and State Road 776 are on the left Wellen Park developers want North Port to annex the planned Winchester Ranch community into the city The property lies on both sides of South River Road between Englewood and the current North Port city limits NORTH PORT — Another community of nearly 9,000 homes could become a part of the city of North Port the planned Winchester Ranch development could stay in the unincorporated area of South Sarasota County between North Port and Englewood The County Commission is also taking steps toward eliminating an alternative route via Keyway Road from its long-term thoroughfare plan much to the relief of residents in Boca Royale Golf & Country Club who told commissioners that even the prospect of a future road there impacted their property values representing the Economic Stimulus Working Group – a limited liability corporation he helped found with a purpose of building roads and other infrastructure – said he could build the nearly two-mile portion of Manasota Beach Road from State Road 776 to the North Port city limits for roughly $15 million Neal noted the road would create a link between S.R 776 – also called Englewood Road – and South River Road in time to create a safe bus route for the August 2026 opening of two new schools in Wellen Park 26 opening for the school,” said County Commission Chairman Joe Neunder “We want to make sure we do everything proactively to protect those students East Manasota Beach Road is a two-lane thoroughfare from S.R. 776 east to Coastal Blue Drive on the northern edge of Beachwalk. The extended right of way would span west from there to link with the portion of Manasota Beach Road in North Port that has already been built by the West Villages Improvement District The Wellen Park stretch runs from just west of Foxtail Loop in the Palmara subdivision to just west of South River Road chairman of the West Villages Improvement District said there’s no reason to finish the road until it can connect with the county portion Manasota Beach Road intersects at roundabouts with Preto Boulevard and West Villages Parkway and represents a key portion of the master planned community’s interior road network I would like to get this road opened by August ‘26 when the new Wellen Park High School opens the County Commission voted to give staff policy guidance to put Manasota Beach Road in its five-year work plan and formalize a partnership with the Economic Stimulus Working Group for design permitting and construction of the extension the commission still must approve it at a subsequent public hearing Funding could come from 1% sales tax revenue south Sarasota County mobility fees and gas taxes Sarasota County already owns most of the right of way save for fractional acreage owned by Lennar There is room in the 150-foot wide right-of-way for one 12-foot wide travel lane – in each direction – separated by a 24-foot wide grass median with 7-foot wide buffered bike lanes in each direction with a 5-foot wide sidewalk on one side and a 10-foot wide multi-use trail on the other During his presentation on the Manasota Beach Road extension, Neal frequently referenced an August 2024 preliminary study of extending Keyway Road – another potential east-west link between Englewood Road and River Road. That study referenced a four-mile extension of the road from Englewood Road to West Villages Parkway Both Neal and his transportation consultant raised concerns with that planned alignment ranging from proximity to and conflicts with existing power line rights of way roughly three acres of wetland impacts and the fact that at least 33 parcels would have to be acquired to build a road that would T-stop at West Villages Parkway The estimated cost to extend Keyway was projected at $17 million More convincing were the comments by about a dozen Boca Royale residents who voiced concern about the right-of-way that would be less than 50 feet from their homes and the negative effects on home sales and property values linked to its existence as part of Sarasota County’s 2040 future thoroughfare plan Prior to the residents sharing their thoughts commissioners had thought about keeping the Keyway project in that plan Resident Daniel McMahon called the prospect of the road “a sword of Damocles hanging over our head that someday a four-lane highway will be built.” a Boca Royale resident and real estate agent with Michael Saunders noted that she has a home listed in the community that would be impacted by Keyway Road Potential buyers have asked about the road and “because a road may potentially be built Dan Kett said that after his wife Susan learned about Keyway road “First thing she said was ‘sell the house’ and it was her dream to come to Bocal Royale.” who made the motion to remove Keyway from the 2040 plan said he had envisioned leaving it there but for “the testimony brought to light that this really harmful to these folks Related: Winchester Ranch developer seeks annexation by North Port for water, sewer service “Since we are building the Manasota Beach connection this is a millstone around the necks of these folks,” he added The motion passed unanimously but county staff must still bring back a growth plan amendment for approval that will officially delete the road from the future road plan NORTH PORT — The inaugural Wellen Park Fishing Rodeo is set from 9 a.m to noon May 3 in Downtown Wellen at Grand Lake outdoor enthusiasts and anglers of all ages are invited to cast their lines for the event The live shopping pioneer hired Alex Wellen to steer its growth as it adapts to the ever-evolving social media and streaming era Wellen’s hiring is part of QVC Group’s efforts to compete in the streaming and social commerce era. The company in November revealed its goal to reach $1.5 billion or more in revenue from social commerce and streaming over the next three years “Alex is a pivotal hire in our strategy to return to top-line growth by becoming a live social shopping company,” Rawlinson said in a statement “He has a proven ability to innovate and drive growth through live experiences on social His unique skillset will be instrumental as we continue to execute our growth strategy The new strategy comes as the retailer has struggled financially. In its Q4 earnings report released earlier this year, QVC Group reported an operating loss of nearly $1.3 billion in its fourth quarter and an $809 million operating loss for the year Fourth-quarter revenue dropped 6% year over year to $2.9 billion while revenue for the year declined by 8% from last year to $10 billion Amid its financial struggles, QVC Group closed its former St. Petersburg, Florida-based headquarters, a move it made to merge its QVC US and HSN operations. In late January, the company said it would relocate its corporate headquarters to West Chester and create a content engine at Studio Park where the company will generate social commerce and streaming content for QVC and HSN Get the free daily newsletter read by industry experts agreed to buy the global rights to the BuyBuy Baby brand and Reebok’s U.S The Container Store and Joann have all filed for Chapter 11 The free newsletter covering the top industry headlines Rick Severance said he designed the downtown layout around this heritage live oak tree The tree and the splash park fountain are a focal point of Downtown Wellen’s open space Local master-planned communities Wellen Park and Babcock Ranch grabbed top spots in national rankings in home sales While both being named one of the top 50 communities to sell the most homes, Wellen Park beat out Babcock Ranch’s previously held higher rank in 2023 welcomes the Atlanta Braves for spring training every year WELLEN PARK — People of all ages are invited to a public event to meet Bruce Benedict The former Major League Baseball catcher was a part of the Braves in the 1980s April 27 during Wellen Park’s Fresh Harvest Farmers Market The annual Wellen Park Fishing Rodeo at Downtown Wellen’s Grand Lake is for shore fishing and non-motorized watercraft NORTH PORT — Wellen Park is hosting its inaugural Wellen Park Fishing Rodeo on from 9 a.m to noon May 3 in Downtown Wellen at Grand Lake A valid freshwater fishing license are required to participate visit wellenpark.com/events/wellen-park-fishing-rodeo Concerns surrounding a reduced Sarasota County School Board meeting schedule lingered as the board held its last meeting of the year Tuesday On the heels of a decision to cut meetings from two a month to one in 2025 the board tied up loose ends as it convened for the last time in 2024 Approved items included the 2026-27 student calendar an affiliation agreement with New College of Florida and the name and mascot of the new high school in Wellen Park with a public comment period that saw speakers still protesting the reduced meeting schedule the board signed off on last month some members of the public said reducing meetings from two to one per month would limit the opportunity for public input a frequent meeting attendee and coordinator with the local SEE Alliance said fewer meetings would pack agendas with important items and lead to longer sessions which could impede the public’s opportunity to comment with more attendees and extended wait times discouraging busy parents like myself and working families from participating,” Forestier said “Our School Board should be a model of open government.” More: 51-year-old Sarasota restaurant closed by hurricanes to reopen with new name, concept The board will test the new schedule for three months before holding a workshop to evaluate its effectiveness If one meeting per month proves insufficient board members suggested they’d be open to reinstating two meetings per month The board also indicated it would consider holding meetings in South County to make them more accessible for parents in the area And board members hope to implement other ways of public engagement in the new year where members of the public can discuss concerns with board members one on one Board member Bridget Ziegler said she looks forward to speaking with the public outside of meetings where she said board members often don’t get the chance to respond to speakers' concerns “It’s brutal sometimes for us because you can’t go back and forth and maybe it feels as though we’re dismissing the comments,” Ziegler said “My hope is to seek out different ways in which we can engage the community.” Sarasota School Board approves New College affiliation agreement new Wellen Park high school name and mascotThe board voted unanimously to approve a consent agenda that included an agreement with New College which will allow New College students to “complete classroom observations and field experiences related to their classroom instruction and degree path” within the district and its schools The board approved a similar agreement with Liberty University earlier this year A handful of speakers at both meetings expressed concern regarding the two colleges which are both headed by conservative leadership “We cannot discriminate based upon someone’s schooling and all of the protected classes that follow suit,” board member Tom Edwards said The approved 2026-27 school calendar’s first day of classes is Aug The board will convene next for a workshop Jan Wellen Park is rolling out its inaugural Family Fun Day Saturday in Downtown Wellen — and everyone’s invited Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or a blanket to relax on the Great Lawn change of clothes and towel for the foamboree Delicious food and drinks will be available at Downtown Wellen’s restaurants and The Yard food park A roundup of paw-sitively paw-some animal friends Jewish Congregation of Venice Presents The 30th Annual Jewish Food Festival Enjoy Our Hometown History with a Discover Sarasota Tour Family Saturdays Return to Selby Gardens Downtown Sarasota Campus Bone Health Technologies Takes a Pivotal Step Toward a Future of Comprehensive One-Stop Bone Health Care for Patients Everywhere a Brooklyn-based health technology company reinventing exercise-based osteoporosis care as a personalized and science-backed solution The acquisition of Wellen is a major step toward achieving BHT's vision of a comprehensive anchored by the company's prescription-only FDA-cleared Osteoboost vibration therapy belt launching in late 2024 Wellen CEO Priya Patel will join Bone Health Technologies as Chief Product Officer to drive the development of layered services in order to provide the best possible outcomes for people with low bone density The Wellen exercise program will remain live and supported for both existing and new members "We're thrilled to welcome Wellen to the BHT team," said Laura Yecies "One in two women and one in four men will suffer an osteoporotic fracture in their lifetime Priya and the Wellen team have built the gold standard for personalized exercise-based care designed by physical therapists to strengthen bones and reduce the risk of falls and fractures The Wellen program will bring tremendous value to our platform." "Anticipation is high for the launch of Osteoboost among both patients and healthcare professionals and our science-backed osteoporosis exercise platform is a natural fit," said Wellen's Patel "New treatments for low bone mass have been few and far between for a long time and too often have focused on a single type of treatment I couldn't be happier to join BHT and continue making a difference for people with low bone density." "Osteoboost is the therapeutic anchor to BHT's holistic non-pharmacological approach to bone health we will be able to offer patients not only convenience but better results and a stronger an estimated 64 million Americans - and hundreds of millions more worldwide - are at risk of life-altering spinal and hip fractures due to osteopenia and osteoporosis While pharmacological interventions for osteoporosis exist patient acceptance is critically low due to side effects there were no prescription treatments developed specifically for osteopenia will feature the precision-targeted vibration therapy belt as part of a 360° bone health solution personalized based on science to increase overall results and ensure patient success The acquisition of Wellen comes on the heels of several recent significant milestones for Bone Health Technologies including FDA-clearance of Osteoboost as a Class II De Novo Breakthrough medical device plus the award of the company's fifth patent and addition of two key new executives announced earlier this month Michelle Kafka Kafka Media Group michelle@kafkamediagroup.com 407-603-5716 View the original press release on newswire.com Pictured: The entertainment takes place on the stage at Solis Hall with seating on the Great Lawn Guests are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets the world of dance and theater – even artistic circus performance acts are coming to Downtown Wellen this October as Wellen Park presents its first visual and performing arts festival in partnership with the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County The Wellen Park Visual and Performing Arts Showcase is Saturday with performances beginning at noon and continuing through 6 p.m The event is free to the public and includes a visual art walk by the North Port Art Center Venice Art Center and the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County.Performances are 30 to 50 minutes and include dance and theater companies The entertainment takes place on the stage at Solis Hall with seating on the Great Lawn Guests are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets.Visitors will enjoy music by the Perlman Music Program/Suncoast the Chamber Orchestra of Sarasota and the Venice Symphony Orchestra The showcase also includes Sarasota Contemporary Dance Venice Theatre and Circus Arts Conservatory Showtimes and additional performers will be announced early October Wellen Park is a frequent collaborator with the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County and many of the participating organizations ensuring they flourish throughout the community visit wellenpark.com/events/visual-performing-arts-showcase 'Syncopated Avenue' An Underwritten Love Letter to the Art of Tap Rob Langdon Announced as Headlining Performing Artist for Taste and Toast at the Palmetto Marriott Edwin Culver’s modern classical guitar compositions pay homage to his heavy metal roots Tania Vergara Perez revives a dream with Endedans' Contemporary Ballet but North Port’s newest emergency center is finally opening on Tuesday The city of North Port is prioritizing making healthcare accessible to all their residents as they previously have a lack of healthcare they have a facility right in their backyard The 11,300 square foot facility will operate 24/7 offering full emergency services including lab testing it is designed to serve more than 10,000 patients annually for Englewood Hospital to be able to serve the community this truly is a critical access site for the community and to do lifesaving high quality care.” highlight how important it is to provide accessible healthcare services to the community The Emergency Center will start accepting patients Tuesday Zachary Russell is the digital editor at Chain Store Age He has been with CSA’s parent company EnsembleIQ since 2021 first serving as associate editor at Store Brands he was a freelance reporter covering local news stories of all kinds for the Press & Guide and The News-Herald newspapers Zach graduated from Wayne State University with a degree in print and online Journalism in 2020 Connect with Zach on LinkedIn. Video commerce platform QVC Group has added a media veteran to its C-suite Alex Wellen has been named president and chief growth officer of QVC Group and brings over 20 years of experience in digital media Wellen will “define and lead” QVC Group's growth strategy across social selling a leader in media for automotive enthusiasts serving as president and CEO since July 2018 Wellen has also held strategic senior leadership roles at Turner Broadcasting and CNN Worldwide "Alex is a pivotal hire in our strategy to return to top-line growth by becoming a live social shopping company," said QVC Group CEO David Rawlinson "Alex brings an impressive blend of media and digital product expertise to our top leadership team He has a proven ability to innovate and drive growth through live experiences on social [READ MORE: Parent company of QVC completes name change] QVC Group, Inc. operates through its six brands: QVC QVC Group’s recent rebrand from Qurate Retail rebrand is part of a new growth strategy to focus more on social media and live streaming to engage customers It has set a goal to achieve $1.5 billion-plus run-rate revenue from streaming and social within three years "QVC and HSN are the original disruptors,” said Wellen “They pioneered storytelling through live shopping and are poised to transform the experience again across social and digital connecting consumers whenever and wherever they shop With beloved hosts who are trusted by hundreds of millions of fans worldwide it's a privilege to join this iconic brand and world-class team at such a pivotal moment in the convergence of retail and media." This gated neighborhood will include a collection of spacious one- and two-story Toll Brothers home designs and an array of luxury amenities and the community is anticipated to open for sale in summer 2025 Home buyers will find a beautiful retreat close to everything at Oakbend Wellen Park A selection of one- and two-story Toll Brothers home designs offer a range of 2,156 to over 2,900 square feet with 3 to 5 bedrooms and versatile features including lofts and flex rooms Homes are expected to be priced from the upper $600,000s “Our new Oakbend Wellen Park community will offer residents an exciting opportunity to build a new construction home within the well-established and highly desirable Wellen Park master plan,” said Brian O'Hara Division President of Toll Brothers in Tampa and Sarasota “With flexible open floor plans and unrivaled personalization options through the Toll Brothers Design Studio experience this resort-style community will continue the standard of luxury living in Wellen Park.” The Oakbend Wellen Park community features direct access to a wide walking/biking/golf cart trail that leads to the Downtown Wellen Park and CoolToday Park the spring training facility for the Atlanta Braves In addition to the Wellen Park master plan amenities residents will also enjoy exclusive amenities within the gated Oakbend community including a resort-style pool Centrally located near waterfront shopping Oakbend Wellen Park will offer incredible convenience and exceptional living Thoughtfully designed environments and curated amenity offerings and trails are located throughout Wellen Park The community is less than a 15-minute drive to Florida's most beautiful beaches Wellen Park’s growth and increasing popularity among homebuyers is attracting more businesses The community is located within the highly rated Sarasota County School District which is currently building a new high school and K-8 school in Wellen Park Children are also able to attend A-rated Taylor Ranch Elementary the State College of Florida Collegiate School-Venice in Wellen Park is a free public charter school offering a high school dual enrollment program in which students earn a high school diploma while also earning an Associate of Arts degree from the State College of Florida Numerous daycare and early learning options have also recently opened in the community Home buyers will experience one-stop shopping at the Toll Brothers Design Studio The state-of-the-art Design Studio allows home buyers to choose from a wide array of selections to personalize their dream home with the assistance of Toll Brothers professional Design Consultants For more information and to join the Toll Brothers interest list for Oakbend Wellen Park, call (855) 600-8655 or visit TollBrothers.com/Florida is the nation’s leading builder of luxury homes The Company was founded 58 years ago in 1967 and became a public company in 1986 Its common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TOL.” The Company serves first-time Toll Brothers builds in over 60 markets in 24 states: Arizona The Company operates its own architectural The Company also develops master-planned and golf course communities as well as operates its own lumber distribution Contact: Andrea Meck | Toll Brothers, Senior Director, Public Relations & Social Media | 215-938-8169 | ameck@tollbrothers.com Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/909aae1b-a34a-45af-931f-7f9788944f27 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/41b417a5-3dec-446f-95f7-72fe8ec628f0 Sent by Toll Brothers via Regional Globe Newswire (TOLL-REG) Registration underway for Wellen Park's 3rd annual Half Marathon and 5K RaceSarasota Herald-TribuneWellen Park preparing for 3rd annual Half Marathon/5K RaceWellen Park in North Port will host its third annual Half Marathon and 5K Race on March 15 starting at Solis Hall in downtown The 13.1-mile course is certified by USA Track & Field Both races include opportunities for participants taking a slower pace including walkers and those with strollers or leashed dogs with men’s and women’s overall record times of 1:16:12.7 and 1:25:56 set in 2023 Benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast, half marathon entry fees are $55 for ages 13 to 18 and $75 for those over 18. The 5K is $22.50 for entrants 18 and younger and $35 for those over 18. The morning also includes post-race food and beverages and award ceremonies. For more information and to register, visit wellenpark.com/events/half-marathon-5k Big Waters Land Trust, formerly the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, will present an exhibition of Florida Highwaymen artwork on Feb Three artists will be in attendance – Curtis Arnett and Roderick Hair – along with Kandie Ingram Artwork will be available for purchase with a portion of proceeds benefiting Big Waters’ mission Learn more and register at bigwaterslandtrust.org/highwaymen. For more about the Highwaymen artists, visit floridahighwaymenpaintings.com The barbershop style chorus will sing popular pieces from the Great American Songbook Selections include the music of composers Elton John and Neil Sedaka and theatrical movies and stage plays such as "Cinderella" and "The Lion King." “Our Annual Show has been known for the love and laughter that is shared with audiences as we bring together the harmony of the music and of the men who have worked diligently to present a high-quality concert,” said Ken Rear The event also features special musical guest “Brouhaha, A Quintessentially Quirky Quartet." For tickets, visit chorusofthekeys.org (discounts at the door for students with ID) The office of Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner is accepting applications for $1,200 scholarships to be awarded by the Florida Supervisors of Elections Association in 2025 The FSE is offering three scholarships to college/university juniors and seniors who have been residents of Florida for at least the prior two years and who are registered to vote in the county where applying for the scholarship To be eligible an applicant must be enrolled or accepted as a full-time student in a senior college or university in Florida; have maintained a “C” average or above; and be majoring in political science Additional eligibility requirements are listed on the application, available at SarasotaVotes.gov Applications may also be picked up at Sarasota County Terrace Building · The fifth annual Lakewood Ranch Fine Art Festival is Jan. 25-26 on Main Street in downtown Lakewood Ranch featuring national artisans with painting, sculpture, jewelry, photography, glasswork, ceramics, fiber and wearable art, and woodworking. paragonfestivals.com · The Hermitage Artist Retreat’s “Hermitage Sunsets @ Selby Gardens” continues its fifth anniversary season with “Book, Music, and Lyrics” featuring Emmy Award and Drama Desk nominee Mark Sonnenblick on Jan. 30 at 5:30 p.m. at Selby Gardens’ downtown campus. HermitageArtistRetreat.org · The Boy Scouts Troop 776 pancake fundraiser at Gulf Cove United Methodist Church (1100 McCall Road Tickets (adults/youth $15; children under 12 $7; under 5 free) are available at the door; in advance at the church office (941-697-1747); or by calling 941-716-2918 · The sixth annual Englewood Seafood & Music Festival is Jan. 31 (4-10 p.m.), Feb. 1 (11 a.m.-10 p.m.), and Feb. 2 (11 a.m.-6 p.m.) at Dearborn Street Plaza (348 W. Green St.). The pet-friendly (on leash) event includes all-day lineups of musical performances and an arts and crafts marketplace. paragonfestivals.com · Temple Beth Sholom in Sarasota will hold a fundraiser, “Harmony of Souls,” on Feb. 2 at 5:30 p.m. at The Ora. The community event, which will support the Jewish-Christian Alliance of Sarasota-Manatee Counties, includes “Soul Stream” featuring Westcoast Black Theatre performers and a band. templebethsholomfl.org · The Kosher Food Festival hosted by Chabad of Bradenton & Lakewood Ranch (5712 Lorraine Road) is Feb. 9 from 1-3 p.m. The event includes music and Kosher crafts and visitors can pre-order Super Bowl party packages. Info: chabadofbradenton.com/kosher; info@chabadofbradenton.com; 941-752-3030 This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application She married Alfred "Otto" Wellen 1952 in Germantown and he preceded her in death on February 15 Anita dedicated a significant portion of her life to her career as a factory worker for Falcon Products in Arkansas a role she embraced with diligence and pride In addition to her professional achievements where she found joy and fulfillment in her faith and the community around her Anita’s vibrant personality extended into various hobbies and interests she often found joy in playing Bingo and Euchre neatly melding competition with camaraderie She particularly cherished the time spent visiting with her grandchildren and grandpups sharing stories and laughter that would create lasting memories Anita will be lovingly remembered by her children Her legacy will also live on through her grandchildren as well as her great-grandchildren who brought her immense joy along with several nieces and nephews who cherished their time with her Anita is preceded in death by her beloved parents; husband; son Sharon Dumstorff and Barbara Jean Southard; her siblings and Clifford Mollet; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:00 AM at St Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois or to the Family Wishes and will be received at the church or Nordike Funeral Home and she will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Gran Paradiso residents took to the streets Friday to protest developer Mattamy over an irrigation water fight Some Gran Paradiso residents say developer Mattamy is being unfair to them WELLEN PARK — With the region’s dry season underway and irrigation lines turned off in Gran Paradiso residents are turning toward state lawmakers and taking their concerns to the streets NORTH PORT – The developers of Winchester Ranch in south Sarasota County want to be annexed into the city of North Port to guarantee the availability of water and sewer utilities on its 3,148 acres next to Wellen Park Merrill III of the Sarasota-based Icard Merrill law firm explained to roughly 50 people who logged into a Monday online workshop that the anticipated annexation would not change the potential buildout on the acreage or the zoning of about 3,024 acres as moderate density residential development and 124 acres as major employment center “This is something that’s required by the county charter,” Merrill said of a proposed growth plan amendment The workshop was not a public hearing but it’s typically one of the last steps before an application for a land use change is formally submitted to Sarasota County Merrill said the application could be submitted to Sarasota  County within a month it would be subject to staff development review and then scheduled for public hearings before the Planning Commission and the County Commission Winchester Ranch is the portion of the former Thomas Ranch within the West Villages Improvement District and owned by Mattamy Homes through  Winchester Florida Ranch, LLLP. The original tract, once almost 3,700 acres, was outlined in the 2021 Winchester Ranch Critical Area Plan. allows for nine communities to be developed on Winchester Ranch with residential density capped at 1.99 units per acre Officials estimated at the time that the buildout of the subdivisions could take more than five decades developer of Boca Royale Golf & Country Club announced plans for the first of those communities – Boca Royale East That vision calls for 825 new homes on 507 acres and an extension of Boca Royale Boulevard from the country club into the new development and in subsequent phases to Preto Boulevard Neal also has a guarantee of water and sewer service for the development from the Englewood Water District a special government that supplies water and wastewater services to portions of southwestern Sarasota County and western Charlotte County Merrill said that the annexation application does not include Boca Royale East the 202.46-acre Myakka Pines Golf Club and the surrounding development or 67.9 acres owned by Sarasota County and earmarked as Florida Scrub-Jay habitat That habitat also provides a buffer to two existing subdivisions Tangerine Woods to the west and the Foxwood Condominium Association to the south senior vice president of Wellen Park LLLP and chairman of the West Villages Improvement District board of supervisors said the main reason for the annexation request was so water and sewer services could be provided by North Port through the WVID The district was established by the state Legislature in 2004 as as a special government to build infrastructure “This is solely tied to utilities,” Luczynski said “Englewood Water District had contemplated building a north wastewater treatment plant that was to be done by now and they always represented that the water system was adequate to handle the property.” Luczynski cited the water district’s January 2024 master plan update that indicated it would need to invest $145 million in its infrastructure over the next two years to supply water to the intended service region “What we’ve actually done is we talked with Englewood saying it doesn’t make economic sense to the existing residents in Englewood to try to put the burden of those improvements – both water and wastewater,” Luczynski said then added that those estimates could balloon to $210 million over a short time the WVID and North Port teamed up to build new water and wastewater treatment plants to serve Wellen Park Many of the questions were centered around how the proposed development would impact their quality of life – be it visually or through impact on traffic and whether the development would increase flooding Merrill stressed that the proposed density would not exceed what had been outlined in the 2021 Critical Area Plan and stormwater issues would be addressed in the development stage Englewood resident Mitchell Moe asked about plans to improve South River Road “This is our hurricane route; it’s already extremely busy,” Moe said “I imagine there’s going to be traffic lights now and lighting is already bad out there – it’s horrible out there “My concern again is this is a hurricane route for me and my family and a lot of people around me.” Luczynski said that Sarasota County and the WVID entered into an agreement last July to engineer improvements to South River Road from Tamiami Trail south to the Charlotte County line with initial plans submitted in February for review He projected that final plans and permits for that project could be ready by June 2026 Luczynski noted that Sarasota County has set aside $47 million for Phase One of the widening of South River Road from two to four lanes with multi-modal paths on each side and intersection improvements at Playmore Drive Manasota Beach Road and an intersection between Manasota Beach Road and the Myakka Pines golf course That project includes plans to raise the road between three and four feet as well as stormwater drainage and intersection improvements Mark your calendars for an event you won’t want to miss! The inaugural Wellen Park Fine Art Festival is set to debut on February 15th and 16th This exciting addition to the Paragon Festivals lineup promises to be a standout celebration of artistry and creativity set against the backdrop of the affluent and picturesque community of Wellen Park 2025⏰ Time: 10 AM – 5 PM both days📍 Location: 19745 Wellen Park Blvd Stroll through the stunning surroundings of Wellen Park enjoying not only the beauty of the art but also the community’s serene and welcoming atmosphere This festival is a perfect outing for families or anyone seeking to enrich their lives with the transformative power of art Step into a vibrant open-air gallery showcasing the works of talented artisans from Florida and across the United States This festival brings together a diverse collection of original handmade artwork crafted with passion and expertise Each piece is a reflection of the artist’s unique vision offering you the opportunity to find something that resonates with your personal style Whether you’re looking to add a stunning centerpiece to your home One of the most rewarding aspects of this festival is the chance to connect directly with the artists and discover the inspiration behind their work If you’re looking for something truly one-of-a-kind consider commissioning a personalized piece that’s tailored specifically to your tastes and vision The Wellen Park Fine Art Festival is proudly presented by Paragon Festivals boutique-style events that bring people together to celebrate the best in art Known for curating exceptional experiences Paragon Festivals consistently delivers events that inspire and delight Join us for the inaugural Wellen Park Fine Art Festival and immerse yourself in the world of creativity Let the beauty and craftsmanship of these talented artists inspire your imagination and leave you with memories to cherish Florida's Gulf Coast source for local area business news © 2025 Suncoast Post | Web Design by Sande Caplin & Associates | Sitemap | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Wellen Park is rolling out its inaugural Family Fun Day on Saturday family-friendly event is packed with exciting activities for all ages from classic carnival games and face painting to a high-energy dance party and the ultimate foamboree — a bubbly laughter-filled twist on the classic slime experience Kids and parents alike can test their pitching skills at the Atlanta Braves’ fast-pitch batting cage and explore Downtown Wellen’s many kid-approved attractions The Yard’s unique shipping container food kiosks and the brand-new Pop-Up Park in Hammock Green Families can also embark on Wander at Wellen an interactive augmented reality storytelling adventure that brings Downtown Wellen’s playful spirit to life those who complete at least three experiences will win either an ice cream from Bright Ice or a small coffee from Foxtail Coffee visit wellenpark.com/events/family-fun-day by 07/25/2024 Leave a Comment – Bone Health Technologies (BHT), a pioneer in non-pharmaceutical bone health solutions acquires Wellen a Brooklyn-based company focused on personalized exercise programs for osteoporosis designed for women over 50 – By combining BHT’s innovative medical device with Wellen’s personalized exercise programs this strategic move positions Bone Health Technologies as a leader in providing effective non-drug solutions for people struggling with osteoporosis and osteopenia A Comprehensive Solution Anchored by Innovation This acquisition positions BHT to achieve its vision of a holistic bone health solution The centerpiece of this approach is the Osteoboost vibration therapy belt a prescription-only medical device awaiting its late 2024 launch and cleared by the FDA Wellen’s expertise in personalized exercise programs will be integrated with Osteoboost to offer patients a layered treatment approach leading the development of these combined services for optimal patient outcomes in managing low bone density including an estimated 64 million Americans are susceptible to debilitating fractures due to osteoporosis and osteopenia limited patient acceptance due to side effects creates a pressing healthcare challenge there were no prescription options specifically targeting osteopenia Osteoboost will offer a first-of-its-kind targeted vibration therapy belt as part of a personalized 360° bone health solution This science-backed approach will combine Osteoboost with a customized exercise program empowering patients to achieve optimal results and adherence to treatment plans “We’re thrilled to welcome Wellen to the BHT team. One-in-two women and one-in-four men will suffer an osteoporotic fracture in their lifetime. Priya and the Wellen team have built the gold standard for personalized exercise-based care designed by physical therapists to strengthen bones and reduce the risk of falls and fractures. The Wellen program will bring tremendous value to our platform,” said Laura Yecies Tagged With: , Get in-depth healthcare technology analysis and commentary delivered straight to your email weekly Latest insightful articles delivered straight to your inbox weekly Submit a Tip or Pitch 2025 EMR Software Pricing Guide Copyright © 2025. HIT Consultant Media. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Pictured: HCA Florida Wellen Park Emergency is offering children a unique hands-on experience in a real emergency department setting at the Public Open House and Teddy Bear Clinic HCA Florida Wellen Park Emergency is inviting families to a special Public Open House and Teddy Bear Clinic hands-on experience in a real emergency department setting This fun and educational event will take place on Friday at the intersection of South Tamiami Trail and Preto Boulevard Children are encouraged to bring their favorite stuffed teddy bear to participate in a simulated medical journey allowing young caregivers to experience the emergency room process in an engaging and interactive way The first 100 registered children to attend will receive a free teddy bear as a special gift Families will also have the opportunity to tour the brand-new state-of-the-art emergency facility and meet the dedicated emergency care team.To register for the Teddy Bear Clinic Explore an integrative approach to wellness with local practitioners Local Author Kristine Casart Shares her Journey to Healing in New Book Alex Wellen’s career path defies conventions From his double-sided ping-pong paddle patent to revolutionizing CNN and MotorTrend By Jerica Kingsbury / July 2 would spend hours upon hours in his family’s workshop working alongside his dad These moments felt playful and fun throughout his childhood they were the building the foundation of innovation that Wellen has leaned into throughout his decades-long career as a leader who never shies away from a new challenge he’d filed his first patent for a double-sided ping-pong paddle “I realized that if I had another paddle on the backside of my hand so I started building a prototype with my dad Filing that patent while I was still a student set in motion a much different career than I ever could have imagined,” Wellen admitted Wellen describes his career path as “emergent,” and believes that’s a large part of what has made it so enjoyable “Most of my professional titles are peculiar because no one was doing that particular thing yet.”  a dynamic automotive media company that not only helps people find the cars of their dreams understands the role that vehicles play in our personal lives and creates spaces for car lovers to dive into their passions even further “If I understand the three cars that mean the most to a person and the people they surround themselves with,” Wellen says “Understanding how cars affect our stories is a window into understanding people on a very individual level.”  Wellen spent time as an intellectual property litigator and then as a leading voice throughout CNN’s digitization journey While the connection between his career paths might seem hard to understand at first Wellen’s ability to act as the “connective tissue” between complex ideas has always come naturally and a commitment to creating a better mousetrap,” he says Wellen finds fulfillment in looking at the current state of something and figuring out how to make it better Improved inventions have been part of his world since before the double-sided ping-pong paddle patent was filed electronic pointers—I’ve always looked at things through a lens of trying to solve a problem,” he says you’re constantly trying to see around corners and decide With an engineering degree from Rutgers University as well as the innovative experience he collected early on Wellen was comfortable creating new products he went to law school and began practicing IP law garnering an ability to understand how innovation worked behind the scenes While at Harvard University for business school Wellen honed in on a key piece of his career profile: looking at things through the addressable market “Business school helped me understand what problems I was solving what cohort of people I was trying to serve and all the ways in which I could create value through innovation,” Wellen says the lessons offered by his emergent career are what paved the path for his success at CNN and MotorTrend alike innovation was all about the media company’s digital journey I had to be able to prove that the digital and linear pieces of the business could work in harmony When TV was where most of the money was coming in it was difficult to convince the rest of the leadership team that taking a chance on different media channels made sense for the organization Instead of sticking with the notion that all new content should be released to TV Wellen challenged the team at CNN Worldwide to step into new areas of content it was that push that helped the longtime television network transform into the digital global powerhouse that it is today boasting the most multiplatform monthly unique visitors in the world MotorTrend’s 75th Anniversary Factory 5 Type 65 Coupe Wellen had a very wide role: He had to be able to look at the big picture and focus on breadth more than anything else he decided it was time for a new challenge “I wanted to be able to spend my time building a deeper relationship with 20 million people than a wider relationship with 200 million,” he says Wellen said goodbye to CNN and jumped right into a new where he was focused on being a cost center MotorTrend gave Wellen the chance to lead a profit center “It went so much further than the product itself,” he says “My challenge was to build a team and create a culture that could distribute the content and other products in a powerful way to connect with our audience.”  In an effort to form deeper connections with MotorTrend’s user base Wellen reached out to executive director at the Petersen Museum Wellen learned that over the last 70 years Petersen had published more than 50 magazines many of which were dedicated to a particular category of cars like Mustangs or Corvettes “He was already achieving the ultimate personalization then so all I had to do was figure out how to emulate that in a digital world,” Wellen says MotorTrend Group reduced its reliance on print from 59% of its revenue to 5% and replaced those dollars with digital content and programming to achieve a nine-figure business annually In addition to doubling-down on digital editorial car coverage MotorTrend grew revenue from its automotive programming by over 18x in the same time span the company offers its users long-form programming on platforms like Max and Discovery+ and even helps people find their perfect car matches through a proprietary technology platform By playing in the content and entertainment sides of the business MotorTrend gets to know its customers better What are they spending time learning about “I feel like we’ve truly stepped back into our namesake it’s called MotorTrend for a reason,” Wellen says “We’ve got to be able to set trends and be at the forefront of more than just cars; we’re at the forefront of mobility.” Wellen hasn’t always known where his career would lead he seems to be more comfortable not knowing than most people I never would have guessed that it would be this,” he says with a laugh His ability to innovate in any situation and his commitment to understanding the people on the other side of his innovative endeavors are what propel his career the most gratifying feeling is getting to be part of people’s lives They’re part of my life,’ that is the most rewarding part of any job I’ve ever done,” he says If the next two decades are anything like the last two it’s anyone’s guess as to what Wellen will be up to career-wise but there are a few things we’d feel comfortable betting on: He’ll be creating new products building deep connections with his customers and C-Suite Advisors are registered trademarks of C-Suite Media Inc Image: Courtesy Photo Despite our area seeing a return to pre-pandemic housing inventory and longer times on the market, more new construction is on the way—this time, in Wellen Park Home builder Taylor Morrison plans to bring its Esplanade brand to the master-planned community in the Venice area is set to open in early 2026 and will include roughly 877 homes and a private "Bahama Bar" for residents only A full-time manager will also be on-site to organize events and activities president of Taylor Morrison's Sarasota division the community will span roughly seven acres and will be located west of the Myakka Pines Golf Club though the course is not owned by the developer But “we’re looking forward to working with the golf course so that our residents can have easy access,” Nason says Tony Morrison bought the acreage from Fairway Development - Myakka Pines which is located at the same address as John Cannon Homes The homes in Esplanade at Wellen Park will range from attached condos and villas to single-family homes offering between two and six bedrooms with sizes ranging from 1,500 to 3,000 square feet Many of the homes are aimed at seasonal residents with low-maintenance designs for those who may spend part of the year elsewhere and home prices are expected to range from the $400,000s to more than $1 million continues to grow and has around 9,500 residents it's projected to house more than 50,000 people in 22,500 homes Esplanade at Wellen Park is one of several new developments by Taylor Morrison in the region The builder currently has four other Esplanade communities in development across Sarasota and Manatee counties “We’ve just announced the second phase of our Skye Ranch project which will add over 1,200 new homes,” Nason says Esplanade at Wellen Park was not originally part of Wellen Park’s master plan Taylor Morrison worked with the Wellen Park team to incorporate the project into the broader community He adds that many buyers come from outside the area, including states like New York, Illinois and New Jersey. A significant number are also drawn by the fact that their children or grandchildren already live in Wellen Park, which has seen fast and furious growth over recent years Sales for Esplanade at Wellen Park are expected to begin in fall 2025. For more information, click here Bone Health Technologies (BHT), a company specialized in the development of non-pharmacological solutions to improve bone health and reduce fractures, has announced the acquisition of Wellen a Brooklyn-based health technology company specializing in exercise-based osteoporosis care This strategic move aims to create a comprehensive The acquisition of Wellen marks a significant step toward BHT’s vision of providing a holistic bone health platform The platform will be anchored by BHT’s FDA-cleared Osteoboost vibration therapy belt Wellen CEO Priya Patel will join BHT as Chief Product Officer to spearhead the development of layered services aimed at optimizing outcomes for individuals with low bone density “We’re thrilled to welcome Wellen to the BHT team,” said Laura Yecies “One-in-two women and one-in-four men will suffer an osteoporotic fracture in their lifetime The Wellen program will bring tremendous value to our platform.” known for its personalized and science-backed approach will remain active and supported for both existing and new members This integration aligns with BHT’s holistic approach to bone health “Anticipation is high for the launch of Osteoboost among both patients and healthcare professionals and our science-backed osteoporosis exercise platform is a natural fit,” said Priya Patel “New treatments for low bone mass have been few and far between for a long time and too often have focused on a single type of treatment I couldn’t be happier to join BHT and continue making a difference for people with low bone density.” “Osteoboost is the therapeutic anchor to BHT’s holistic an estimated 64 million Americans—and hundreds of millions more worldwide—are at risk of life-altering spinal and hip fractures due to osteopenia and osteoporosis patient acceptance is low due to side effects aims to address this issue with a precision-targeted vibration therapy belt as part of a 360° bone health solution The acquisition of Wellen follows several significant milestones for BHT, including FDA clearance of Osteoboost as a Class II De Novo Breakthrough medical device, and the award of the company’s fifth patent and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" About Femtech Insider Advertise with us! Become a Member! Contact us Privacy Policy // Terms of Use (This story was updated because an earlier version contained an inaccuracy and an inaccurate headline) NORTH PORT – North Port Mayor Phil Stokes will give a State of the City update at 6 p.m. in a meeting that includes two guest speakers: Sarasota County Commissioner Ron Cutsinger and Sheriff Kurt Hoffman will cover the latest developments impacting the city Topics include expansion of healthcare in the city limits; new schools; upcoming city infrastructure projects; new businesses and job opportunities; and the May 13 special election, which includes five questions for city voters The questions include two city charter changes and three seeking permission to finance new projects – the largest of which is a proposed new headquarters for North Port Police Solis Hall is in Downtown Wellen Park at 19745 Wellen Park Blvd The referenendum will also be discussed at two more town hall meetings: April 2 at the North Port Public Safety Building in Wellen Park and April 24 at Suncoast Technical College The deadline to register to vote in this special election is Monday at the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections office Those wanting to vote by mail must also request a new vote-by-mail ballot by 5 p.m. Those ballots can be dropped off between 8:30 a.m May 5-10  at the Supervisor of Elections Office in Biscayne Plaza In-person early voting will be available from 8:30 a.m at the North Port Supervisor of Elections Office in Biscayne Plaza For more information, visit sarasotavotes.gov/Next-Election HCA Florida Wellen ParkSM Emergency will celebrate the opening of its new $32 million state-of-the-art emergency center with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony this emergency department operates as a department of HCA Florida Englewood Hospital It is not an urgent care center; its services are billed at hospital emergency department rates Wellen Park to celebrate the spirit of Oktoberfest on Great Lawn in Downtown WellenSarasota Herald-TribuneOktoberfest is coming to Wellen Park on Sept The inaugural event will be a celebration of beer and brats and entertainment on the Solis Hall stage throughout the day the family-friendly festival (noon to 8 p.m ) will transform the Great Lawn into a quintessential Oktoberfest atmosphere Entertainment begins at noon with DJ Jessie Rodriguez until 4 p.m Then it’s all-out polka as the DeLeon Oktoberfest Band takes the stage from 4-8 p.m The ensemble includes three generations of accordionists who have performed at Florida’s biggest Oktoberfest events Table seating can be reserved on a first-come basis Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs In addition to traditional German food offered by Wellen Park restaurants Oktoberfest attendees will also discover a variety of cuisine at Downtown Wellen restaurants American and ballpark favorites available in The Yard Guests can also take advantage of Wellen Park’s Sip & Stroll program by purchasing alcoholic beverages from participating restaurants No outside coolers or alcoholic beverages are permitted For more information about Oktoberfest at Wellen Park, visit wellenpark.com/events/wellen-park-oktoberfest Inaugural wine festivalWellen Park also is kicking off Southwest Florida’s wine festival season with its first Wellen Park Wine Festival in November The ticketed outdoor event will feature 30 vintners a class for those aspiring to learn more about wine light bites and plenty of opportunities for aficionados to sip The festival, taking place along Wellen Park Boulevard and on the Great Lawn, celebrates distinguished winemakers and the culinary talents of Wellen Park restaurateurs. Space is limited and tickets are now available at wellenpark.com/wine “We are always looking for new exciting cultural opportunities we can bring to our residents and the public and are sure this will be a big hit,” said Christine Masney vice president of marketing for Wellen Park The Wellen Park Wine Festival offers a Premium Experience beginning with a gourmet wine dinner and preview tasting on Nov The package also includes early entry to the grand tasting on Nov to noon will introduce the essentials of wine tasting and how to pick the right wines based on smell and taste All Premium Experience and general admission tickets include a souvenir wine glass swag bag and four food tickets for the festival’s food tents featuring culinary partners Acqua Pazza Guests will also enjoy live jazz on the Solis Hall stage Vintner tents provide opportunities to sample favorite vintages A limited number of select wines will be available to purchase on the day of the event with exclusive wines available to order for pickup at The Banyan House within two weeks General admission tickets are $85 for the grand tasting event on Nov Wine festival guests are encouraged to bring a refillable water bottle as well as chairs and blankets for the Great Lawn