Welcome Back!
December 1, 2020 at 5:31 p.m.
Welcome Back!
While you were away a lot has changed...
But you already knew that. It’s our goal to share important things you need to know, while understanding that there is no way we can fit every new business, rescheduled event, or change in hours. If you can’t find what you need to know here, please visit the business or agency’s website or Facebook page.
While you were away a lot has changed. But you already knew that. It’s our goal to share important things you need to know, while understanding that there is no way we can fit every new business, rescheduled event, or change in hours. If you can’t find what you need to know here, please visit the business or agency’s website or Facebook page.Covid And Community
Florida does not have a mask mandate, and currently Charlotte and Sarasota counties do not have local mandates. While most businesses do have COVID-19 policies posted, there is no way to enforce them for customers. If you want to patronize businesses with stricter safety guidelines, we recommend you speak to a representative of that business.
The community has responded to the COVID-19 crisis. Linda Lee Mercer of Sewing by Linda Lee and her volunteers have sewn more than 10,000 masks, giving many of them away to those in need. The Lemon Bay Sunrise Rotary donated $500 to SKY Academy for family meals. Larry Ross and Ben Mitchell created the “Up In Smoke” community art project, encouraging the public to post positive messages on Mitchell’s building that was destined to be burned down in a fire department training exercise. The work was auctioned off to benefit the Englewood Community Care Clinic.
In the November elections, Bill Prummell was re-elected as Charlotte County Sheriff, Charlotte County residents voted to extend the 1% sales tax and Florida voters approved an amendment to increase the minimum wage in Florida to $15 by 2026. For all the November election results, visit www.Charlottevotes.com and www.Sarasotavotes.com.
Some things have improved while you were away. Winchester Boulevard North, once a haven for potholes, has been resurfaced for much smoother driving. There’s a lot more room at the beach since the Manasota Key Beach Renourishment project was completed. There are now sidewalks on the northern side of Spinnaker and Sunnybrook Boulevards and additional improvements have been made to those roads as well as State Road 776, including new lighting and curbing.
The community lost two pioneers in the past six months. Annette Dignam, the matriarch of one of the first families of Englewood, passed away at 78, on June 13. Annette, a former teacher, helped establish several local organizations, and Englewood’s first preschool. She, with her husband Tom, were a dedicated philanthropist and a fixture at charitable events. Elsie Anderson Czerwinski passed away at 94 on June 3. Elsie was the daughter of Stuart and Starr Anderson, owners of the Lemon Bay Fisheries and Seafood Market, and a fourth-generation Englewoodian and community advocate.
Non-Profit Round-Up
Englewood is a helping community. If you need assistance, or would like to help others, this is what’s happening at a few of our non-profits.
After closing in March in response to the pandemic, the Englewood Community Care Clinic finally reopened to the public last month for Telehealth visits. The volunteer-run clinic offers free health care based on income to uninsured residents, 18-64, of Charlotte and Sarasota counties. Appointments are required. The clinic does not offer dental services or COVID-19 testing at this time. For information and appointments, call 941-681-2081 and leave a message or email [email protected]. www.englewoodclinic.org.
Englewood Helping Hand’s services are especially crucial during this difficult time. The agency connects people in need with funds and services, and is seeking donations of food and personal care items and is in the middle of a building fund so they can move to a bigger location. Services are available by appointment. Donations can be dropped off at the office at 700 E Dearborn St. 9:30 - 2:30 Wednesday and Thursday. www.englewoodhelpinghand.org
COVID-19 hit the Suncoast Humane Society hard. “There is no part of our operations, shelter, clinic, pet therapy, and even our thrift stores and fundraising that has been unchanged by the virus,” said CEO Maureen O’Neil. “After almost fifty years of dedication to our community’s pets and the people who love them, we have had to evaluate how we best make an impact with all of our efforts. The animals were unshakably central to our decision making. ” Currently, all animal services are available by appointment only, from vaccinations to meet-and-greets for adoptions. Appointments and masks are required. www.humane.org
Habitat for Humanity has opened its new ReStore at 3325 S. Access Road. That was the home of the Salvation Army Thrift Store that closed in March when the COVID crisis hit, and never reopened. The nearly 12,000 square feet of retail space will be filled with appliances, furniture, household goods, clothing and more with proceeds benefiting the popular agency that helps build homes for families in need. www.charlottecountyhfh.org
Englewood Meals on Wheels has been delivering meals to those in need in our area for nearly 50 years. The all-volunteer organization has had an extraordinarily difficult year, said First Assistant Director Kathy Macklin. The agency had to replace its 25-year-old walk-in freezer and had to leave its building, all while facing a higher demand for services. Macklin said local restaurants stepped up to provide food and Englewood United Methodist Church provided a temporary home until the volunteers could move back to their building. To learn more. visit Englewood Meals on Wheels on Facebook.
Entertainment
The local entertainment scene has taken a significant hit, as it has everywhere. While local bars and nightclubs are bringing back live music, especially outdoors, that is not the case for major entertainment venues. As always, things may change in the coming months.
Englewood’s community theater, The Lemon Bay Playhouse had planned to resume performances in January 2021, but recently made the decision to cancel the remainder of the season, said Board President Bob La Salle. “We will revisit the situation in July and have a 21-22 season all planned to open in September 2021.” Patrons will be contacted regarding their tickets. www.Lemonbayplayhouse.org
The show will go on for the students at Lemon Bay High School, who are scheduled to perform all season at the Lemon Bay Performing Arts Center. The hall will be seated at 25% capacity and masks are required. www.lbhstheatre.net
The Englewood Event Center, home to everything from tribute bands to drag shows and community events, has not hosted a major show since March and no performances are currently scheduled. The building is the home to Abbe’s Donuts and church services.
The Englewood Performing Arts Series has postponed its entire 2020-21 season to 2021-22. For more information on this popular Tuesday series at the Englewood United Methodist Church, visit www.epas.org.
Neighboring Arts Organizations
The Punta Gorda Symphony (formerly the Charlotte Symphony) has canceled its 2020-21 indoor concert series, but has added online programming and two outdoor concerts in December and February. Learn more at www.pgsymphony.org
The Venice Symphony has postponed its 2020-21 season to 2021-22 and is offering a free virtual concert series and other on-demand programming at www.thevenicesymphony.org.
The North Port Symphony has canceled all 2020 concerts, and is currently scheduled to resume performances in January 2021. northportsymphony.com.
The Venice Theatre is offering a limited number of productions with strict social distancing and venue sanitization guidelines. Patrons are required to wear masks. On a sad note, Artistic Director Allan Kollar passed away in August. www.venicetheatre.org
The Charlotte Players is open for business and presenting shows with limited performers onstage. Masks are required. www.Charlotteplayers.org
The B&B Theatres Galleria Stadium 11 in Venice was scheduled to reopen at press time. The renovated Venice theater is observing strict guidelines and masks are required. Regal Theatres at the Port Charlotte Town Center Mall is temporarily closed.
Business News
Kim Parks became interim director of the Englewood Florida Chamber of Commerce when Ed Hill resigned in August. The Chamber lobby is open and masks are not required. The community room is open to no more than 20 people. The Chamber has even resumed networking events. Parks is optimistic, especially after a very successful “Let’s Eat, Englewood! Restaurant week campaign. “We’re in better shape than we were in May. A lot of people can work at home and be productive.” Parks said that a few Chamber businesses have closed due to COVID-19 and “a lot are struggling.” She urges people to support local businesses, purchase gift cards for the holidays and if possible, volunteer at nonprofits.
New Businesses
Cedar Valley Crafts, a fabric and quilt shop, opened in May at 232 N. Indiana Ave.
Culture Coffee opened in the former Irving’s Coffee location at 405 W. Dearborn Street. The shop also sells desserts, sandwiches and small plates.
Rise Wellness, a massage studio and wellness center opened July 14 at 180 N Indiana Ave.
Sunflower Discount Market is now open at the site of the old Save-a-Lot Grocery, offering discounted, mislabeled and discontinued groceries as well as fresh produce, prepared foods and household goods
Trulieve Cannabis Corp. opened its 54th dispensary in Florida this August at 1720 S. McCall Road.
If you have a new business not listed here, send your information to [email protected].
Recreation And Nature
Despite this being the most active season for named major storms on record, at press time, the west coast of Florida escaped any significant damage. Our area also experienced no outbreaks of red tide in the past six months. 2020 was good for something. It was a great year for our summer visitors, the endangered loggerhead sea turtles. The Coastal Wildlife Club reports higher numbers than 2019, with 4630 Loggerhead nests, up from 3594 last year. Green turtle nests, however, decreased to 154 from 319 last season.
Charlotte County beaches and boat ramps reopened in May with free parking, but at press time the machines used to collect parking fees were covered up and payment shifted to the ParkMobile smart phone app. Once you download the app, you follow the instructions to pay 75 cents per hour for your space. Of course, residents of Charlotte County can still purchase parking passes for three to twelve months, and if you are returning to the area with time left on a parking pass, you get two additional months because of the COVID closures. The current fine for parking at the beach without paying for parking is $40. If you are parking at the beach but going to one of the local restaurants after sunset, you usually don’t have to worry about getting a ticket. Parking is always free at Blind Pass “Middle” Beach and Manasota Beach in Sarasota County.
Some youth and adult sports and leagues are back, so if you have a particular program that you’re interested in, contact that organization directly. Of course, many will have COVID-19 related regulations for players and observers.
Charlotte County recreation centers including Tringali Park and Ann & Chuck Dever Recreation Center are open with restrictions. Reservations are required for pickleball, tennis, etc. Registration is limited to one activity per day per location. For more information, visit Charlottecountyfl.gov
The Englewood Sports Complex at 1300 S. River Road is open with outdoor activities like pickleball and softball are especially popular. For current activities, call 941-861-1980.
What’s (Not) Happening
Like everywhere else, these last few months were more about what wasn’t happening. Popular events including The Englewood Putt-Putt Tournament, July 4th Fireworks, the Halloween Safewalk, and the Englewood Beach Waterfest were canceled, as were art exhibits at the Englewood Art Center and Cruisin’ on Dearborn Street. The Charlotte Stone Crabs canceled its season. There was no new member named to The Secret Society of the Smoked Mullet. Even Englewood’s signature event, Pioneer Days, fell victim to COVID.
When the Englewood Elks Lodge shut down events, it meant a stop to the popular Tuesday night trivia games. Long-time host Jim Wasowski tried online games, but with no word from the Elks, decided it was time to give up his weekly games. Wasowski estimated he did 500 weekly games at the Elks over eight years, often with 100 or more players. He had previous runs at the End Zone, Englewood’s on Dearborn and other venues and hopes to continue hosting trivia at private parties and fundraisers. Meanwhile, he and his wife Connie have written a crime novel that will be available soon. You can reach him at [email protected].
Lemon Bay High School seniors did not get their senior week or prom, but Project Graduation worked with the community to make sure each senior received a special yard sign. Rotonda Elks Lodge 2710 donated money to pay for the expenses of students identified as homeless by the Adopt A Senior program. And on July 17, thanks to the tenacity of two parents, the students had an in-person graduation outdoors at Fellowship Church in Rotonda West. About 100 of the 250 seniors and their families attended. Scholarships and awards were presented online and you can watch here http://www.lemonbayhigh.com/sas.cfm.
There are signs that things are bouncing back. The Englewood Village Association organized a Halloween house decorating contest. Let’s Eat Englewood was very successful. The Englewood Area Chamber of Commerce’s Manasota Mystique was re-imagined as Sunset Serenade. The Hermitage Artist Retreat on Manasota Key has resumed its popular free artist-in-residence beach programs and held its Artful Lobster fundraiser in November.
A great place to keep track of the events that are taking place is the What’s Happening in Englewood Facebook page administered by Jeannie Joyce. Her page has more than 26,000 followers and Joyce tries to share as many events as possible. “Everyone is having to think outside the box,” said Joyce.