Around The Town

Elijah Palmer of North Port crossed the finish line on Englewood Beach with a time of 18:27.92 to win first place in the inaugural Englewood Turtle Trot on April 20th. He was followed by Alexandra Casi from Port Charlotte and Z. Sammet from Ft. Myers for second and third place. The race was a sold-out event with 310 people participating in the 5K and one-mile fun run/walk. Participants all received a commemorative turtle finishers medal and trophies were awarded to the top finishers in the age group categories. The race proceeds will be donated to the Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Florida. The race organizer was Apex Promoz, a company founded by three fathers who saw a need for family-oriented fun activities. John Bodner of Apex Promoz was on site for the event and said they had been wanting to do a beach run and Englewood Beach has proved to be a great location.

Take a Seat for Kids’ Needs
Come see the amazing, refurbished chairs that have been transformed into pieces of art by Englewood local artists and community members. All chairs are on display through Friday, May 3rd at the Englewood Art Center, 350 S. McCall Road. They will be auctioned off to benefit Kids Needs of Englewood. Auction is online at KidsNeedsEnglewood.org. Plan to attend the auction celebration event from 6 to 9pm on Friday, May 3 at the Englewood Art Center where the successful bidders will be announced (last bid at 8:30pm). Enjoy live music, food and creative fun. Come see how creative Englewood is and support a great cause!

Hibiscus Festival
The 19th Annual Hibiscus Festival will be Friday through Sunday, May 3-5 in Gilchrist Park, 400 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda. A dinner and evening concert under the stars kicks off the event on Friday from 6 to 10pm. The festival offers a plant sale, featuring hibiscus varieties, food vendors, arts & crafts, live music, Lil’ Miss Hibiscus Pageant Saturday at 9am and more. Saturday hours are 9am to 4pm and Sunday, 10am to 3pm. Free admission. The festival honors the legacy of Harry “Pete” Goulding, aka the “Hibiscus King”, who was one of the world’s most renowned hibiscus hybridizers and a lifelong resident of Punta Gorda. Learn more at thehisbiscusfestival.com.

Cruisin’ on Dearborn
“Cruisin on Dearborn”, a gathering of people and their classic cars, is still the place to be on the first Saturday of the month from noon to 6pm. Anyone with a classic car or a love of cars is invited to this free event. Saturday, May 4th is the next Cruise-In. Enjoy music to cruise by and music trivia sponsored by the Old Englewood Village Association. Don’t forget to visit the businesses that are open for your shopping pleasure and stop by the broadcast booth to get your raffle tickets for prizes.

Free Comic Book Day
Come celebrate your favorite fandoms with Charlotte County Libraries on Saturday, May 4, 3 to 5pm, at the Family Services Center, 21500 Gibralter Drive, Port Charlotte. Pick up a free comic book, meet local artists and nerd out in the best ways possible. Come dressed in cosplay or wear a T-shirt sporting your character of choice. Enjoy games, trivia, prizes and more for ages five and up. No registration necessary. This event is part of Suncoast Remake Learning Days.

Kentucky Derby Party
Celebrate the Kentucky Derby with the Leadership Englewood 2024 class on Saturday, May 4, 5 to 9pm, at the Englewood Elks, 401 N. Indiana Avenue. In addition to a Derby watch party, there will be horse racing games, woman’s hat contest, live music, bourbon tastings, photo booth, food and more. Tickets are $75 and may be purchased online at englewoodchamber.com, click on the Leadership Englewood link. This event is a fundraiser for the class legacy project: a First Responders Memorial to be erected at the Veterans Memorial and Freedom Pavilion at the end of West Dearborn Street. Learn more about supporting the class project on the Leadership Englewood 2024 page at englewoodchamber.com.

FantaSea Fishing Tournament
Join the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) for a night of dinner, dancing, music, FantaSea Fishing and more on Saturday, May 4 at 5pm. The FantaSea Fishing event will be held at TT’s Tiki Bar, 33 Tamiami Trail, Punta Gorda (on the water at Four Points by Sheraton). The two largest combined fish weights win $1,500 top prize. There will also be a silent auction, prizes, cash bar and lots of fun. Tickets are $30 single/$50 couple. FantaSea Fishing starts at 7pm. The event benefits the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches. Tickets can be purchased at any CCSO District Office; the Englewood office is at 11051 Willmington Blvd and can be reached at their nonemergency number 941•475•9005. 

Sailor Circus Spring Show
Sailor Circus will present their spring show, “Origins”, on Saturday & Sunday, May 4 & 5 at the arena, 2075 Bahia Vista Street in Sarasota. The students have completed a year of rigorous and fun training and are ready to amaze you with an incredible spectacle of youth circus arts. Showtime is Saturday at 2pm & 4pm and Sunday at 1pm and 5pm. Tickets are $20-$40 and may be purchased online at circusarts.org or call 941•355•9335.

Cake & Sip
 Hey Moms! Enjoy a night out on Tuesday, May 7, 6 to 8pm, at Rumours Wine Bar, 1807 Englewood Road. Create a heart shaped cake with Picketts Sweets and build your own flower bouquet with Keri Palmer of Kamaluna Collective Florals. Cost is $105 and includes all cake supplies and flowers, one glass of wine, small bites and dessert. For more information, go to facebook.com/pickettspies.

Libraries Closure
All Charlotte County Libraries will be closed on Thursday, May 9th for staff training. Libraries will reopen during normal operating hours on Friday, May 10th.

Sip n’ Paint Mocktails
 Due to popular demand, the Englewood Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) is holding another Sip n’ Paint Mocktails event on Thursday, May 9, 4 to 6pm, at Pioneer Plaza, 325 W. Dearborn Street. Paint supplies and refreshments will be provided at this free event. Space is limited and registration is required by emailing [email protected]. For questions, call 941•473•9795.

Evening with Matt Venuti
The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature presents “An Evening with Matt Venuti” on Thursday, May 9, at 7pm. Join Matt in The Bishop’s planetarium theater to experience “AmeriCosmos”, a 75-minute performance combining live music with breathtaking nature & space imagery that Matt has captured from his travels. The performance is described as “An inspiring live music & visual journey through the heart of nature, the depth of sound and the vastness of space”. Cost is $15 and seating is first-come, first-served. Doors open at 6:30pm. The Bishop is located at 201 10th Street West in Bradenton. Visit bishopscience.org or call 941•746•4131 for more information.

Smoked Mullet Luncheon
 An honored Englewood tradition returns on Friday, May 10, noon, at The Hills Restaurant, 100 Rotonda Circle. The Secret Society of Smoked Mullet will reveal the 2024 winners for this year’s Smoked Mullet Award and the Englewood Legends Award. Master of Ceremonies will be Eric Fogo and Carroll Swayze will be the Award Presenter. Lunch is $25 and guests will have their choice of pineapple chicken salad with seasonal fruit or a grilled chicken sandwich with bow tie feta pasta salad. The Smoked Mullet Award honors people from the past who helped create the Englewood of today. The Legends Award honors the historic families of the area who contributed to the growth of the area. Register online at englewoodchamber.com or call 941•474•5511 for more information.

Boating Safety Classes
The US Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 99, Cape Haze, is offering a new course, “Personal Watercraft”, on Saturday, May 11, 8 to 10am. This two hour in-person course covers safety considerations, rules of the road and laws pertaining to the operation of personal watercrafts. Cost is $25 per person. All classes are held at South Gulf Cove HOA building, 14859 Ingraham Blvd., Port Charlotte. For more information and registration, call 941•249•5848 or email [email protected].

Treat Yourself Like a Queen
Just in time for Mother’s Day, the annual “Treat Yourself Like a Queen” women’s expo returns to The Mall at University Town Center, 140 University Town Center Drive, Sarasota. The event is Saturday, May 11, 10am to 3pm. There will be a fun day full of free activities, fashion shows, photo stops and giveaways from 40+ exhibitors from the health, beauty and fashion industries plus live entertainment, dance performances, fashion show, mother-daughter look-a-like contest and more. This is a free event, but you can register at eventbrite.com to become a VIP at no additional charge! For questions, call Florida Penguin Productions at 727•674•1464.

Mommy & Me Event
 The Arctic Alligator invites you to their “Mommy & Me Coffee & Cake Event” on Saturday, May 11, 11am to 1pm, at their store at 3385 S. Access Road, Unit 1. You will learn to cut, build, frost and decorate a heart shaped cake, and enjoy muffins, tarts, coffee and sherbet punch. The cost is $85 per mom and one child, with additional children $10 each. Register online at arcticalligator.com.

Mother’s Day Yoga
Join Loving Light Yoga on Englewood Beach to honor all the mothers of the world with Divine Love, a gentle yoga flow and the sound healing tones & vibrations of the quartz crystal bowls. This special yoga practice will be Sunday, May 12, 8:30 to 9:30am, on the north end of the beach at 2100 N. Beach Road. Cost is $5 cash or Venmo Loving Light@loving-light.

Learn Something New Registration is open for the 2024 summer semester at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Ringling College, which offers noncredit educational opportunities for adults to pursue new interests, expand intellectual horizons, and enrich their lives. The semester, which runs Monday, May 13 through Tuesday, July 2, features more than 40 single-session courses, tours, presentations, movies, and hands-on programs covering a wide variety of topics, including arts and entertainment, history, music appreciation, health, literature, philosophy, religion, and science. Semester highlights include “Opera Houses: Musical Landscapes of Power”; “What Wall Street Doesn’t Want YOU to Know”; “Why Are You Left-Handed or Right-Handed”; “Creating the Florida Landscape You Love”; “The Early Days of Comic Books (1939-1948)”; and a tour of St. Petersburg’s Imagine Museum and Duncan McClellan Gallery. Classes are offered at Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. For more information about becoming an OLLI member and registration, visit olliatringlingcollege.org or call 941•309•5111.

Health in Motion Bus
The Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County Health in Motion staff will be at Elsie Quirk Library, 100 W. Dearborn Street, on Tuesday, May 14, noon to 4pm. You can receive no-cost health screenings and referrals for general health & wellness. Nursing staff will help find a medical home for those with no insurance. No appointments necessary. The bus will be in the parking lot. For more information, contact Cathy Jones at 941•861•2873. 

Florida Hurricane History
 Learn about the hurricane history of Florida with a focus on 23 impactful storms at a free program on Wednesday, May 15, 2pm, at the Englewood Charlotte Library, 3450 N. Access Road. Presenter will be JC Havlin. For more information, call the library at 941•681•3736.

Make a Fairy House Planter
Have fun making a Fairy House Planter using terracotta pots, pebbles, moss and paint in this free class on Wednesday, May 15, 2 to 4pm, in the Reading Garden at the Elsie Quirk Library, 100 W. Dearborn Street. All materials will be provided along with some seeds for you to plant in the finished planter. This class is open to ages 13 to adult. Registration required at scgovlibrary.librarymarket.com. Sponsored by the Friends of Elsie Quirk Library. For more information, call 941•861•1110.

Cricut Basics
Learn the basics of crafting with Cricut during a free program on Friday, May 17, 10:30am to 12:30pm, at the Englewood Charlotte Library, 3450 N. Access Road. Cricut can be used for designing iron-on patches, vinyl stickers, cards, labels and more. Participants will be provided a Cricut Joy, a laptop and tools to use in class. Registration is required at charlottecountyfl.libcal.com or by calling 941•681•3736.

Community Cleanup Notice
There will be a community clean up event for hazardous waste, household items, yard waste, tree trimmings, appliances, paint, tires and electronics on Saturday, May 18, 8am to noon, at two locations in Englewood. Free dumpsters will be available for residential customers at Old Englewood Road at Buchan Airport and behind the Englewood Elks at North Broadway and Englewood Heights Road (access only from N. Broadway). Please note that hazardous waste can only be dropped off at the Buchan Airport site, 1398 Old Englewood Road. Staff from Neighborhood Services will be present to share information and resources available through Sarasota County neighborhood programs. For more information, call 311.

Venice Sidewalk Sales
Get great deals in downtown Venice on the island on Friday and Saturday, May 18, 10am to 4pm. Your shopping purchases will help support these small, local businesses offering men’s, women’s and children’s fashions and accessories, toys, books, thrift shops, jewelry stores, vintage boutiques, home décor, gourmet food items and more during the two-day sale. For more information, go to visitvenicefl.org.

Celtic Music Festival
Fishermen’s Village will host a Day of Celtic Music on Saturday, May 18, noon to 9pm, at the Village, 1200 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda. This event is presented in partnership with the Cultural Heritage Center of Southwest Florida and the New World Celts (Sarasota chapter). Celebrate all things Celtic! Music Schedule – Noon to 3pm: McIntyre Band at the Dry Beach. Noon to 4pm: Mac Tier Band in Center Court. 3pm and 5pm: Kellyn Celtic Dancers in Center Court. 5 to 9pm: Celtic Conundrum at the Dry Beach. 6 to 9pm: West of Galway in Center Court. Admission and parking are free. Learn more at fishermensvillage.com or call 941•639•8721.

Venice Brew Fest
If you are a fan of craft beers, plan to attend the inaugural Venice Brew Fest on Saturday, May 18, noon to 4pm, at Centennial Park, 200 W. Venice Avenue, Venice. This event offers something for everyone, with a wide array of styles and flavors to explore and each brewery represented is there by invitation only with a focus on area craft breweries. Enjoy live music and food vendors will also be onsite. Tickets are $35 general admission for beer tasting, $65 VIP includes the VIP tent and the option to purchase preferred parking for an additional $20. Limited ticket sales at the event. A portion of beer sale proceeds will go to The Twig Foundation. For more information and ticket purchase, go to venicebrewfest.com. For questions, call 941•445•4067.

Passwords 101
Learn what makes a strong password and how to keep your passwords safe in this free class on Tuesday, May 21, 10:30 to 11:30am, at the Elsie Quirk Library, 100 W. Dearborn Street. Registration is required at scgovlibrary.librarymarket.com or call 941•861•1110.

CERT Training
 Charlotte County Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) is now offering basic training courses in May. The class will provide citizens with the skills to perform essential lifesaving functions while waiting for professional responders to arrive following a disaster. This free course is spread out over three days with hands-on training and in-depth instruction. Components are disaster preparedness, fire safety, light search & rescue, team organization, disaster psychology, medical training and hands-on drills using the concepts learned. Classes are open to the public and will be held on Tuesday through Thursday, May 21-23, 9am to 3:30pm, at the Charlotte County Emergency Operations Center, 26571 Airport Road, Punta Gorda. For more information, email [email protected]. 

Vets Memorial Hike
The ninth annual SRQ Vets 5K Memorial Hike to honor fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice will take place on Saturday, May 25, 8am, at JD Hamel Park, 199 Bayfront Drive, Sarasota. The hike starts at JD Hamel Park, then over the Ringling Bridge and back to the park where there will be an afternoon of fun with a cookout, music and inflatables. Cost: a $35 donation by the online registration deadline Saturday, May 11th and then $40 donation at the event. The event raises funds to support SRQ vets and their efforts to help local veterans. For more information and registration, go to srqvets.us/hike.

Concerned About Falling?
For those who have concerns about possibly falling, take note. An award-winning program designed to help people learn practical strategies to manage falls and increase physical activity levels is being offered on Thursdays, May 30 through July 18, 1 to 3pm, at the Englewood Chamber of Commerce, 601 S. Indiana Avenue. “A Matter of Balance” will educate you on making changes to reduce fall risks at home, set goals for increasing activity and present exercises to increase strength and balance. To register, contact Kelly Ward at [email protected] or call 941•861•2758.

Mental Health Awareness
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and Charlotte County Community Services has developed an interactive Mental Health Awareness Month activity calendar that encourages Charlotte County residents and visitors to “Get Up, Get Out and Get Active” this May. Surveys by the National Recreation and Park Association show 93% of adults say that recreational activities benefit their mental health. Calendars are available at all recreation centers, pools and libraries and are available for download online at charlottecountyfl.gov/recprograms.

Englewood Hurricane Expo
Save the date for the Hurricane Expo scheduled for Saturday, June 1st at Englewood Methodist Church, 700 E. Dearborn Street. After Hurricane Ian’s devastation, even long-time Englewood residents could benefit from a “refresher” course, and newer residents and short-time renters do not want to miss this free community event on how to be prepared for the upcoming hurricane season which is predicted to be an active one. The event runs from 10am to 1pm and is a family-friendly event where there will be a variety of organizations with tables giving out important hurricane preparedness information. There will be giveaways such as portable weather radios and drawings for prizes such as hurricane survival kits. Both Sarasota and Charlotte County Emergency Management Team representatives will be there to answer questions. There will also be speakers on topics such as Navigating Insurance Claims, General Hurricane Preparedness and Avoiding Scams. Your hosts are the Englewood Community Health Action Team (CHAT) and Englewood Community Coalition, Inc. For questions, call Andre McClerklin at 941•861•2964 or email [email protected].

Florida Intl. Air Show
Save the date for the Florida International Air Show which will be back delighting the crowds with acrobatic flying feats, providing aeronautical educational opportunities and offer performances by some of the best flight teams in the country. Headlining this year’s show is the F-16 Viper Demo Team. The air show is scheduled for Saturday & Sunday, November 2 & 3 at the Punta Gorda Airport. Stay up on date to the latest at floridaairshow.com.

Book Donations Sought
The Friends of the Englewood Charlotte Library are seeking donations of “gently used” fictional paperback and hardcover books to be sold in the bookstore within the library at 3450 N. Access Road. Monies generated from such sales support the Friends’ scholarship fund awarding yearly $2,000 scholarships to two Lemon Bay High School graduates. Donations can be brought to the library bookstore Monday thru Friday 10am to 4pm and Saturdays 10am to 1pm.

Sharing & Caring

Hunks in Heels Returns
Mark your calendars now to reserve the date for the next Hunks in Heels Fundraiser on Saturday, July 20th at the Englewood Elks, 401 N. Indiana Avenue. This is an evening of laughter and fun, where Englewood men don a pair of high heels to entertain you for a good cause: Spread Spencer’s Sparkle. Sponsors and auction items are needed to make this another sell-out event. For more information about sponsorships and auction donations, email [email protected]. Learn more about Spread Spencer’s Sparkle and its mission at spreadspencerssparkle.com.

Food Donations Needed
Due to a contaminated food donation, volunteers at the Salvation Army in Port Charlotte had to dispose of most of the pantry donations. The Salvation Army is in dire need of dry food donations such as cereal, rice and pasta. Food price increases are resulting in a higher number of families requesting food assistance. If you would like to make a donation, please bring your items to 2120 Loveland Blvd., Port Charlotte, between the hours of 9am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday. For more information, call 941•629•3170.

One CAN Makes a Difference
Collection boxes have been set up for non-perishable items to help feed veterans and the women and children housed in the C.A.R.E. shelter at the Rotonda West Community Center, 646 Rotonda Circle, and the South Gulf Cove Clubhouse, 14859 Ingraham Blvd. The boxes are available for donating until Monday, May 13th. If you are able, please donate even just one can. Suggested food items for the veterans should include soup, chili, tuna, vegetables, spaghetti sauce, Manwich, beef stew. For C.A.R.E. recipients, cereal, Pop Tarts, Spaghetti O’s, ravioli, peanut butter, jelly, soup and beef stew would be appreciated. This food drive is sponsored by the GFWC Rotonda West Woman’s Club Civic Engagement and Outreach. Contact Linda at [email protected] for additional information. 

Project Graduation Prizes Need
The Lemon Bay High School Project Graduation committee needs your help to make the 2024 Project Graduation event a success for this year’s graduating seniors. This all-night party on Friday, May 17th is designed to help keep the high school graduates safe by providing a place for them to celebrate in a supervised, drug & alcohol-free event. Funding for this event is solely based on community support. Prizes are needed, such as gift cards for gas, fast food, restaurants, coffee, Amazon, etc. Items for college such as bedding, electronics, cooking utensils, etc., are also greatly appreciated. Item donations can be delivered to StyleCraft Cabinetry, 358 W. Dearborn Street, weekdays 10am to 4pm. Learn more about Project Graduation at lemonbayhsprojectgraduation.org. For questions, call Mandy at 941•270•6115.

Community Blood Drives
The OneBlood “Big Red Bus” has scheduled the following blood drives in Englewood during the upcoming weeks. Donors are requested to visit the OneBlood website, oneblood.org, to schedule an appointment. Please note that blood drives are subject to change at any time. Tuesday, May 7, 9am to 3pm: EPIC Community Resource Center, 655 N. Indiana Avenue. Friday, May 10, 10am to 4pm: Gulf Coast Hardware, 975 S. McCall Road. Sunday, May 12, 9am to 3pm: Publix-Merchants Crossing, 1500 Placida Road. Saturday, May 18, 10am to 4pm: Winn-Dixie-East Englewood, 4100 McCall Road. Monday, May 20, 10am to 4pm: Bealls Outlet, 1500 Placida Road. Friday, May 24, 10am to 4pm: Publix-Merchants Crossing, 1500 Placida Road. Monday, May 27, 10am to 4pm: Walmart, 2931 S. McCall Road.

Sports

Golf Tournament
Enjoy a morning of golf, at Rotonda Hills, 100 Rotonda Circle, knowing your participation is benefiting Lemon Bay High School’s Touchdown Club and the LBHS athletics department. The golf tournament is set for Saturday, May 11th with a shotgun start at 8:30am. There will be raffles, mulligans and beverage carts. The cost is $90 per player, so get your foursome together now and have a great time. For more information and registration, contact Meghan Becker at 815•543•1661 or email [email protected]. You can also go to the Lemon Bay Touchdown Club’s Facebook page to scan the QR code.

Bridge to Bridge Bay Slam
Sarasota County Parks is excited to introduce the Bridge-to-Bridge Bay Slam, a catch-and-release fishing tournament for non-motorized vessels set to take place on Saturday, May 18, 7am to 5pm, at Phillippi Estate Park, 5500 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Anglers should bring their own gear & kayak to have the opportunity to fish for Red Drum, Spotted Seatrout and Snook. Each angler must catch & release one of each species, and the largest overall length of all three species combined will be the winner. The fishing area covers Sarasota Bay from the Ringling Causeway to Black Point Bridge. Results announced at 4pm. Registration is $45 per angler and limited to 100 anglers. Pre-tournament meeting is Friday, May 17, 6pm, at Phillippi Park. To register, visit bit.ly/btbbayslam or call 311.

Charity Golf Tournament
The Learning Center for Dyslexia is hosting a charity golf tournament on Saturday, June 15th at The Hills Rotonda Golf & Country Club, 100 Rotonda Circle. Registration 7am; Tournament starts at 8am. Cost is $86 per person or $344 for a team of four and includes your golf game & lunch. For more information, visit tlc4dyslexia.com or call 941•525•2529.