Kudos!

Man of the Year!

Dr. Mark Asperilla was recognized as Rotary Club of Punta Gorda’s 2008 Man of the Year at the organization’s annual testimonial dinner on August 21 at Isles Yacht Club. Asperilla has been honored by President George W. Bush for his outstanding work in the formation of emergency response teams in Charlotte County. He founded Charlotte County Health Department’s HIV/AIDS clinic, an indigent care facility at the St. Vincent De Paul Pharmacy and Care, Inc., an organization that sends groups of doctors to Latin America each year to care for sick and malnourished people.

Ribbon Cutting!

Charlotte State Bank opened its newest branch, located at 23112 Harborview Road in Port Charlotte, on July 29. Craig DeYoung, the bank’s president, presided over two ribbon cuttings that day, for both the Charlotte County and Punta Gorda Chambers of Commerce. “We’re delighted with this new office and the opportunity to broaden our footprint in the Charlotte County community,” DeYoung said, “and we appreciate the customer support that has made our growth possible.” The Harborview branch is Charlotte State Bank’s sixth area location.

Good Deeds!

Animal Medical Clinic of Punta Gorda hosted its first-ever charity event on July 20, the Stray Cat Roundup. Drs. Andrea Bivens and Randall Hitesman and their staff, Cherie Perez, Jason Maleck and Susan Hayes, decided to spay and neuter feral cats in the community to address the cat overpopulation problem without causing fi nancial strain on community members. People were invited to safely catch feral cats in their neighborhoods and have the animals sterilized at no charge. Another roundup is scheduled in the early spring. Animal Medical Clinic is located at 324 Cross St., Unit 111, in Punta Gorda.

 

Congratulations!

Bonnie Yonker, owner of The Yoga Sanctuary, is now certified in prenatal yoga. Prenatal yoga is a wonderful way to prepare the body for birth, ease the physical discomforts that accompany pregnancy and deepen a mother’s relationships with her baby. The Yoga Sanctuary will be hosting a four-week prenatal yoga series on Saturdays at 12:30 p.m., beginning October 11. Call (941) 505-9642 or visit www. theyogasanctuary.biz to register.

 

Outstanding Service!

Geoffrey Lorah and Webb, Lorah and Company, P.L. have been recognized for outstanding service to the Charlotte Local Education Foundation and Take Stock in Children. Each year, CLEF presents the Traveling Award to an individual or company that supports the foundation and students of Charlotte County. Lorah has been an active participant, board member and mentor for the program for more than 10 years.

To market, to market, to buy a fat pig…

Punta Gorda Downtown Merchants Association, in conjunction with Punta Gorda Chamber of Commerce, is pleased to announce the establishment of the Punta Gorda Farmer’s Market. The market will be held every Saturday, with the exception of Block Party Saturday and major holidays, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. beginning on October 4. You will be able to purchase the goods of 40+ local vendors, including produce, seafood, meat, baked goods, homemade soups and honey, plants and orchids. The market will be located in the parking lot across from Presseller Delicatessen and Gallery and along Taylor Street in front of the old courthouse. On the evening of October 3, the Downtown Merchants Association will host a special Oktoberfest celebration to kick off the new market. Come on down for beer, bratwurst and the chance to win gift certificates to local stores.