LECOM looking at adding dental school for Bradenton area

Bradenton Herald file photo
The Bradenton campus of Lake Erie College of Osteopathic medicine is located at Lakewood Ranch.

MANATEE  -- Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, which already has a Manatee County campus at Lakewood Ranch for students seeking to become osteopathic physicians and pharmacists, announced today that it is looking at adding a dental school to the Bradenton area by 2012.

LECOM is also planning adding a dental school in Erie, Pa.

"The College has determined that dental medicine plays an important role in the team approach to better health care involving physicians, pharmacists and other health care professionals," LECOM said in a press release.

"LECOM projects the opening of the school with the first dental students matriculating in 2015. The College also has begun the planning for a dental school to serve the State of Florida from LECOM’s Bradenton campus in 2012," the press release said.

"Both locations will employ a community-based clinical plan, which will allow dental students to provide dental care in smaller dental clinics in off-campus neighborhoods where the need for care is the greatest. Unique among dental schools, LECOM will utilize the problem-based, patient-case based educational curriculum that has been successful preparing osteopathic physicians in Erie, Bradenton, and the newest campus, LECOM at Seton Hill in Greensburg, Pa.," according to LECOM.
 
For more, see Thursday's Herald.
 
Jim

Another honor for Jim Strickland

East Manatee rancher Jim Strickland was named Manatee County Agriculturist of the Year during the annual Farm City Week luncheon today at the Bradenton Kiwanis Club.

The recipient of the award is a closely guarded secret, and Strickland's wife, Renee, was able to get him to the luncheon without spilling the beans.

Strickland has a long record of community service and is this year's state president of the Florida Cattlemen's Association.

For more, see Wednesday's Herald.




 Jim

For the full story, follow the link below:

http://www.bradenton.com/2010/11/17/2745114/rancher-strickland-named-agriculturist.html



Provided photo
Jim Strickland, Manatee Agriculturist of the Year



Doing up Veterans Day right

East side, west side, all around the town there are lots of Veterans Day events in Manatee County this year.

Several schools had events today, and the Women’s Resource Center of Sarasota County Inc. is celebrating the accomplishments of area women who served in the U.S. Armed Forces with a Salute to Women Veterans 5:30-7:30 p.m. today at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing, 7051 Wireless Court, Lakewood Ranch. RSVPs are required for this free community event.

Also, today the expansion of services to veterans was announced for the Bradenton Community VA Clinic. For more on that, and other veterans coverage and stories, see Thursday's Herald.

FYI, here's some of what's planned for Thursday, Nov. 11.

Manatee County pays  tribute to its veterans, living and dead, with its annual Veterans Day parade and service in Palmetto. Staging for the parade begins at the Manatee County Fairgrounds in Palmetto at 8:30 a.m. The parade is scheduled to step out from the fairgrounds at 9:30 a.m., led by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office color guard. The parade will make its way south to Lamb and Sutton Park, 700 10th Ave. W., for a program at 11 a.m. Palmetto Mayor Shirley Groover-Bryant is scheduled to be the keynote speaker. County Commissioner Larry Bustle will read a Veterans Day proclamation.

Afterward, VFW Post 2488, 810 Sixth St. W., Palmetto will have a cookout and is inviting any vet to eat free. Non-vets may also join in for a donation.

Other local Veterans Day events:

Gettel Toyota Collision Center, 6423 14th Street W., Bradenton, with the help of State Farm Insurance and Wheels of Success have combined their efforts and will be giving away a vehicle to a local veteran in need 2 p.m. today . Prizes and gifts will also be awarded.

Veterans groups, VA dignitaries and the public are invited to participate in the Veterans Day observance on Lakewood Ranch Main Street 3-6 p.m. today.The horse drawn military caisson used at Sarasota National Cemetery will be there along with a military honor guard for the displaying of the colors and playing of taps at 4 p.m.

Maj. Gen. Robert John Kasulke will speak at the Sarasota-Manatee Chapter, Reserve Officers Association 18th annual Veterans Day Dinner to be held at the Bird Key Yacht Club, Sarasota today . Kasulke commands the U.S. Army Reserve Medical Command, Pinellas Park. Information and reservations: Col. Ed Brown, (941) 923-9861 or edbrown9@comcast.net.

Free flu shots are being offered to all veterans while supplies last at Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch Urgent Care, located at 4647 Manatee Ave. W. and 9908 State Road 64 East today . Information: 745-5999 or visit www.BradentonUrgentCare.com.

Freedom Elementary School will hold its annual “Let Freedom Ring Courtyard” Ceremony 9 a.m. Friday. Veterans will be on hand at the ceremony along with patriotic musical performances by students and flags representing all of the U.S. Military Services. Information: Freedom Principal Jim Mennes at 708-4990.

Veterans Honor Dinner at Country Pancake House 6-7 p.m. Friday dedicating Veterans Memorial Park San Marco Plaza, Lakewood Ranch. Information: (813) 416-8456.

Dedication ceremony for Veterans Memorial Park set for 1 p.m. Saturday at Lakewood Ranch’s San Marco Plaza. Information: (813) 416-8456.

Chaplain’s service set for 10 a.m. Sunday at Veterans Memorial Park at Lakewood Ranch’s San Marco Plaza. Information: (813) 416-8456.

Suncoast Workforce will hold a Suncoast Veterans Expo 8 a.m.- 2 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Sarasota-Bradenton International Convention Center, 8005 15th St. E., southern Manatee County. This Expo will include a job fair with space limited to 50 employers, presentations on employability skills, and resources available in Manatee and Sarasota counties through community-based organizations. The Veteran’s Expo will be open to the general public from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Jim

'It's a huge problem'

Dr. Lora Brown today told students at Lakewood Ranch High School that prescription drug abuse is a huge problem in Bradenton, in Manatee County and in their school.

Dr. Lora Brown

Is it any less a problem at other Manatee high schools? No, probably not. For those who abuse any kind of drugs, they face messing up their brain, and possible death. Seven Floridians die each day from prescription drug abuse.

For more, see Wednesday's Herald.

Jim

Build it and they will come . . .

Craig and Nicki Hazelett at Lakewood Ranch Music on Main

Remember the scene at the end of "Field of Dreams," the James Earl Jones - Kevin Costner movie, where there's nothing but an endless row of headlights in the night heading to a baseball field in what was an Iowa cornfield?

The refrain throughout the movie was "build it and they will come."

Well, it felt like that tonight at Music on Main at Lakewood Ranch. We got there shortly before 7 p.m. and the street was packed, with more cars coming all the time. The overflow parked across the street in an open field.

Good friendly vibe, lots of energy, and people cutting loose with the music of the Dr. Dave Band. Right in front of the band in front of what must have been several thousand people were a father and his daughter, Nicki and Craig Hazelett, having a really good time.


If you missed out, there's always the first Friday of  December, from 6 to 9 p.m. For more photos, see the Herald on Saturday and check out www.bradenton.com.

Jim