Latest Posts

Joshua Gillen
‘Super-Speeders’: What Qualifies for the Terrifying Traffic Violation
It’s a terrifying experience: driving with the flow of traffic on I-75 when a super-speeder flies by, exceeding 100 mph. Super-speeders are popping up more often these days, and they’re […]

2023 Pirate Poker Run Courtesy Englewood Beach Waterfest
Shiver Me Timbers: Pirate Poker Run Deals a Wild Hand to Kick Off Englewood Beach Waterfest
The Pirate Poker Run drops anchor on Saturday, September 12, 2026, kicking off the Englewood Beach Waterfest with some real character. Think of it as a wild, good-hearted party straight […]

Welcome to Beautiful Downtown Rotonda West
Superstars Competition Put Rotonda on the Map
By Ken Kocab One of the most exciting events to ever take place in Rotonda was the 1973 Superstars Competition. This “sporting” event, broadcast nationally by ABC TV, not only […]

2026 Mayor 4 a Day, Courtney DeFilippis with Linda Stevens, 2026 Grand Marshal
Meet Englewood’s Newest ‘Mayor 4 a Day’: The Literacy Center’s Courtney DeFilippis
Courtney DeFilippis, who leads The Literacy Center for Dyslexia (TLC), stepped into the spotlight as Englewood’s 2026 “Mayor 4 a Day” on September 2 at the Grove City Bar & […]

FDOT’s $600 Million I-75 Expansion Project
$600 Million I-75 Expansion Project Targets 21-Mile Stretch in Southwest Florida
The I-75 widening project, stretching 21 miles through Lee and Collier counties, isn’t flying under the radar. People are watching closely, and for good reason. The Florida Department of Transportation […]
Pioneer Days 2026 Is Here: Your Official Guide to Englewood’s Big Weekend
Pioneer Days began as a three-day celebration conceived by Josephine Cortes in 1956 before expanding into a weeklong event. After the Englewood Chamber of Commerce took over sponsorship, the festival […]

Linnda Stevens, Pioneer Days Grand Marshal 2026
Beloved Business Owner Linda Stevens Chosen as Pioneer Days Grand Marshal
The Englewood community has named Linda Stevens as the Grand Marshal for the 2026 Pioneer Days Parade, a moment that feels long overdue, given her decades of unwavering commitment to […]

(From left) Jimmie Choate, Linda Ramzell, and Leo Dominiqua Courtesy Lemon Bay Playhouse
Fast, Funny, and Flawless: Lemon Bay Playhouse Opens Season with Divine 1940s Screwball Farce
Lemon Bay Playhouse kicked off its season on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, with “Theatre People or The Angel Next Door.” If you catch just one show this year, this is […]

Cockfighting is illegal in Florida.
Over 100 Birds Rescued After Florida House Fire Exposes Active Cockfighting Rings
Deputies in Florida pulled over 100 birds from two active cockfighting rings, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. The first bust happened Friday, August 21, 2026, after a mobile […]

Buc-ee’s Courtesy Buc-ee’s
Buc-ee’s Un-Beaver-able Expansion Plan: Buc-ee’s CEO Keeps Chain in Conservative Comfort Zone
Buc-ee’s CEO Arch “Beaver” Aplin III isn’t shy about where he wants the popular convenience store chain to go next. At the grand opening of Arkansas’ first Buc-ee’s, Aplin spelled […]

Becca DeRosa is holding the scissors and is surrounded by Kids’ Needs volunteers and Chamber members. Courtesy Marilyn Johnson
Kids’ Needs Celebrates Ribbon-Cutting at Tiffany Square
Let’s congratulate Kids’ Needs Greater Englewood FL, Inc. on their official ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating their brand-new home at Tiffany Square. This is a big moment for an organization that works […]

Hosts for the evening, Amy Gonzales and Michael Dalke Courtesy Erin Carter
The Winner of the 2026 Pioneer Days Honorary Mayor 4 a Day Is…
It was the night we have all been waiting for: the big reveal. The energy at the Grove City Bar & Grill on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, was electric. People […]

The Florida Black Bear
Florida Bears: Out of the Woods, Into the Zoo, and Facing Hunting Season
Bear sightings and run-ins with people have picked up in parts of Florida this year, thanks to a swelling black bear population that’s now over 4,000 strong across the state. […]

Patriots Park in Venice Courtesy venicegov.com
Venice Man Arrested for Cutting Down $50,000 Oak Tree at Patriots Park
Police in Venice arrested a 43-year-old man after he cut down a large oak tree at Patriots Park, the same park that holds the city’s 9/11 memorial. The tree, estimated […]

Inside look at a data center
North Port Pushes Forward with 18-Month Data Center Freeze
On August 31, 2026, the North Port City Commission took a major step: they voted to move forward with an 18-month freeze on new data center development, sending the proposal […]

Oppose Manasota Beach Road Courtesy Oppose Manasota Beach Road group
Zoom Hearing Addresses Deadlines in Kelly Bauman, Oppose Manasota Beach Road Case as Intervener Pushes for Dismissal
On Tuesday, September 1, 2026, from 10 to 11 a.m., there was a public Zoom hearing to address Kelly Bauman’s motion to extend deadlines for discovery regarding the Manasota Beach […]

