Around The Town

Discussion Groups at the Library
If you like to learn and share information in an informal and respectable discussion with others, consider being a part of the two discussion groups that meet regularly at the Englewood Charlotte Library, 3450 N. Access Road. Café Philo meets on the first and fourth Wednesday of the month at 3pm. Topics may be open-ended (what is the meaning of life?) or they may be based on the ideas of one of the great philosophers, from Socrates to Nietzsche. January’s first meeting will be Wednesday, January 8th due to library closure on New Year’s Day. On the third Wednesday of the month, join the Foreign Affairs discussion group at 3pm. Topics include a wide variety of global issues such as climate change, the rise of China or instability in Africa. The Wednesday, December 18th topic is the Ukraine War. To learn more about these groups and be included in the mailing list for topics & background info, email Frank at frank.vorlicek@gmail.com.

Mobile Medical Clinic Bus
The Virginia B. Andes Mobile Clinic Bus will be at Englewood Helping Hand, 700 E. Dearborn Street, on Wednesday, December 18, 9am to 2pm and Thursday, December 19, 8am to 2pm. The mobile clinic provides regular medical services to the uninsured population in this area. For more information, call 941•766•9570 or visit VolunteerCare.org.
Christmas Boat Parade
The White Elephant Pub invites boaters to join their annual Christmas Boat Parade on Saturday, December 21st. Boaters should be ready to leave the White Elephant (1855 Gulf Blvd.) at dusk (5:30pm) for a tour of the bay. Spectators can view the parade from Chadwick Park (bay side) and along the bridges of Beach Road. Interested boaters should stop in or PM the White Elephant at 1855 Gulf Blvd.

SC New Trash Bin Selection
Englewood residents who live in Sarasota County are being asked to select the size of the new trash bin they will be receiving to use when the county switches garbage contractors and automated garbage collection service starts in March. Trash trucks will use a mechanical arm to empty the contents from the container, as has been done in Charlotte County for some time now. Customers are asked to choose a container size: 35-gallon, 65-gallon, or 95-gallon bin by Tuesday, December 31. You can learn more and select your size at SCgov.net/government/solid-waste/fresh-start-with-a-cart. County residents will enter the verification code from the postcard received in the mail. If you did not receive this postcard, call 941•861•5000. For a visual reference, there are sample trash bin containers on display at the Elsie Quirk Library, 100 W. Dearborn Street.

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, January 4 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.

Chef Warren & Mabel Ringling
The Friends of the Englewood Charlotte Library will welcome two talented presenters in January. On Wednesday, January 8 from 2 to 3pm, Chef Warren Caterson begins the new year with a presentation entitled “The Best Breakfast Ever”, providing samples to all in attendance. On Monday, January 13 at 2pm, Kathryn Chesley will provide a portrayal of Mrs. Mable Ringling: the woman behind the man who ran the “greatest show on earth”. Dressed in period clothing, Kathryn is interesting and entertaining. These events are scheduled to take place in the Tringali Community Building, 3460 N. Access Road. If FEMA is still occupying the room for storm-related applications, they may not take place so confirm before attending by calling the library at 941•681•3736.

Looking for a Boat?
The 23rd annual Charlotte County Boat Show is back Thursday through Sunday, January 9-12 at the Charlotte County Fairgrounds, 2333 El Jobean Road, Port Charlotte. The show promises hundreds of boats from all the major dealers, plus marine accessories and services. Boats will be spread outdoors throughout the fairgrounds. Local charter captain Fishin’ Frank will be on hand to provide valuable boating info and fishing tips & tricks. Hours are 10am to 5pm each day. Admission is $5 adult and free for kids age 16 & under. For more information, call 239•656•7083.

Manta Market
For a special gift or a treat for yourself, stop by the next Manta Market at Lemon Bay High School on Saturday, January 11, 9am to 2pm in the school parking lot at 2201 Placida Road. This outdoor market offers over 90 local vendors who offer handcrafted and homemade items perfect for gifts. Artisan food products are available too. This monthly market is held on the second Saturday of the month through March. Follow the market on Facebook: MantaMarket.
Edgewater Club Arts ‘N’ Crafts Show
The 13th annual Edgewater Club Arts ‘N’ Crafts Show will be Saturday, January 11, 9am to 1pm at the Edgewater Clubhouse, 2840 Waxwing Lane (located behind Tiffany Square). This indoor show offers 38+ tables with hand-crafted items, jewelry, pottery, embroidered hats, shirts, towel sets, decorative painting, baked goods, raffle, and more. Enjoy lunch for $10, served 11am to 12:30pm.

Kayaking Adventures
North Port Parks & Recreation invites residents and visitors to embark on exciting kayaking adventures designed for all skill levels. Discover North Port’s hidden gems with North Port Eco Adventures who offer guided kayak tours at 8 to 10am on Saturdays, January 18, April 5, May 3 and June 7. These tours offer breathtaking views and educational experiences, highlighting the area’s rich flora and fauna. Tours cost $10 per person with a kayak provided or $5 per person if you bring your own kayak. Start location will be announced at a later date. Learn more and register at NorthPortFL.gov/OutdoorPrograms and click on North Port Eco-Adventures.
Giant Bag O’ Books Sale
The Friends of Englewood Charlotte Library will sponsor a Giant Bag O’ Books Sale on Saturday, January 18, 10am to 2pm, by the entrance of the library located at 3450 N. Access road. A vast variety of books from fiction to nonfiction and best-selling authors will be available to those wishing to purchase and fill a bag for $5.

Coffee & Conservation: Sharks
SUP Englewood continues its “Coffee & Conservation” series in January with guest speaker Armando Ubeada with the University of Florida Sea Grant Program. The program will be on Tuesday, January 21, 9 to 10:30am at the Englewood Chamber of Commerce, 601 S. Indiana Avenue. His talk will be about sharks, their evolutionary history, their role in ecosystems, human & shark interactions, status & future. The talk is free with a suggested donation of $5-$10 to support the presenting nonprofit. Complimentary coffee and pastries are provided by The Dearborn Coffeehouse & Bakery. RSVP required at SUPEnglewood.com. For questions, call Nicole at 941•265•2925.

Lunch & Learn: Women’s Resource Center
The program for the Lunch & Learn Series at EPIC Community Resource Center on Tuesday, January 21st will be representatives from the Women’s Resource Center in Sarasota who will talk about their programs for women and families. Their programs include financial workshops, legal consultation, life skills coaching & career guidance. The Lunch and Learn is noon to 1pm at EPIC, 655 N. Indiana Avenue. Please RSVP by calling 941•460•6022.

Charlotte County Fair
If you like county fairs, be sure to attend this year’s Charlotte County Fair that runs from Friday, January 31 through Sunday, February 9 at the fairgrounds located at 2333 El Jobean Road, Port Charlotte. The fair schedule and events will be posted at TheCharlotteCountyFair.com closer to the event. For questions, call 941•629•4252.

FEMA Deadline Extended
The deadline for Floridians to apply for FEMA assistance after Hurricanes Milton and Helene has been extended to Tuesday, January 7th. Homeowners and renters with losses from Hurricanes Milton and Helene may be eligible for FEMA financial assistance for displacement, basic home repairs, personal property losses, and other uninsured or underinsured disaster-caused expenses. Homeowners and renters are encouraged to apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by using the FEMA App. You may also apply by phone at 800•621•3362. Lines are open every day. For an accessible video on how to apply for assistance, go to FEMA Accessible: Applying for Individual Assistance – YouTube. If you had damage from Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, you will need to apply separately for both disasters and provide the dates of your damage for each. For the latest information about Hurricane Milton recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4834. For Hurricane Helene recovery information, visit fema.gov/disaster/4828. For Hurricane Debby recovery information, visit fema.gov/disaster/4806.
EPIC to Offer Counseling Support
EPIC Community Resource Center, 655 N. Indiana Avenue, will be offering a new service starting in January: professional, compassionate counseling support to those in crisis, dealing with anxiety after the hurricanes, or having suffered a life trauma. For more information about Healing Pathways Counseling and to make an appointment, call EPIC at 941•460•6022.

SC Parks 2025 Activity Guide
The 2025 Events and Activities Guide is now available online for Sarasota Parks & Recreation. Go to SarasotaCountyParks.com/EventsGuide to view and download the document to keep abreast of all the activities planned at county parks during 2025.

New Rec Center Hours
The Ann & Chuck Dever Regional Park Recreation Center has extended its hours of operation. The new hours will be Monday through Friday, 8am to 6pm, Saturday 10am to 4pm and closed on Sunday. The gymnasium remains closed for ongoing repairs from Hurricane Ian. For more information, call 941•681•3760.
Waterway Debris Removal
State contractors are currently removing debris from navigable waterways in the area. To report debris in canals or local waterways, please contact the Florida Division of Emergency Management. You can submit a report online at FloridaDebrisCleanup.com or call 850•366•6007, 8am to 5pm daily.

FDEM Mitigation Program
The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) is excited to announce Florida’s first statewide Residential Mitigation Program: Elevate Florida. The goal of this program is to enhance community resilience by mitigating private residences against natural hazards. The following projects are eligible under the statewide Residential Mitigation Program: Elevation: Physically raising an existing structure utilizing a variety of methods. Mitigation Reconstruction: Construction of an improved, elevated building where an existing building has been partially or completely demolished or destroyed. Acquisition: A local community purchases a structure from voluntary sellers and the structure is demolished More information about how and when to apply is coming soon. Subscribe to receive future communications by selecting Residential Mitigation Communications at FloridaDisaster.org/Subscription-Topics. To learn more, go to FloridaDisaster.org/dem/mitigation/residential-mitigation/ For questions about the program, email ResidentialMitigation@em.myflorida.com.

SHARING & CARING
Fun Night to Fight Cancer
The Englewood Area Cancer Foundation is holding a fundraiser on Saturday, January 25th at the Englewood Elks Lodge 2378, 401 N. Indiana Avenue. The American Music Co. presents a variety show with entertainers performing your favorite blasts from the past. Show tickets are only $10. Food and drinks will be sold by the Elks. Doors open at 5pm and the show starts at 6:30pm. For show tickets, call Denny at 301•520•9771. For updates, visit Englewood Area Cancer Foundation on Facebook.

SPORTS
Manasota Beach Yoga
Doing yoga on the beach is a preferred location for many people and with Englewood Beach closed due to hurricane damage, yoga practitioners have been forced to find other locations. Loving Light Yoga, which offered the yoga sessions on Englewood Beach, does offer sessions at county parks and in their studio. But if you want to have your yoga session on the beach, consider Manasota Beach Yoga which offers sessions suitable for all levels on Monday through Friday at 8:30am on Manasota Beach, which is open to the public at 8570 Manasota Key Road. Englewood Beach is at the circle on the southern part of Manasota Key while Manasota Beach is at the north end of Manasota Key Road. Suggested session donation is $5 (and up). For more information, contact Katja at 941•313•0358.
Habitat Golf Classic
Habitat for Humanity South Sarasota County invites you to enjoy a day on the links while supporting a fantastic cause when you sign up for the Habitat South Sarasota Winter Golf Classic on Friday, January 17th at the Wellen Park Golf & Country Club, 12060 Wellen Golf Street, Venice. Registration & lunch start at 11:30am followed by a shotgun start at 1pm. Afterwards there will be awards, cocktails & dinner under a tent. Cost is $800 per team, including green fees, carts, lunch, drinks, and dinner. For registration link and questions, email cdonahue@habitatsouthsarasota.org.
Rockin’ Run & Roll 5K
The seventh annual Rockin’ Run & Roll 5K, hosted by North Port Parks & Recreation, starts at 8am on Saturday, January 18th at the Morgan Family Community Center, 6207 W. Price Blvd., North Port. This flat, fast 3.1-mile course is perfect for all ages & abilities. Prizes awarded to top male & female finishers in various categories. The Best Dressed Dog award is back – dress your dog in a fabulous 80s look. Early registration is $30 through Wednesday, January 17th, with race-day registration $35. All participants must register online at RunSignUp.com/np5k. For more information, call 941•429•7275, option #3.
Gulf Coast Games
Ready, set, register! The North Port Parks & Recreation Department, in partnership with Sarasota County Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources, invites adults aged 50 and older to participate in the Gulf Coast Games for Life, a multi-sport event leading to the Florida Senior Games in December, 2025. The Sarasota/Manatee County games run Saturday, January 18 through Saturday, February 15 at various locations through the two counties. There is a one-time registration fee of $13 that includes a T-shirt. Most events have a $4 registration fee; however, some events have a higher fee. Deadline entry is Thursday, January 4th. To see the list of sport competitions available and to register for these Gulf Coast Games events, visit floridaseniorgames.com. Got questions? Please call 941•861•5000.
Learn to Yak
For those new to kayaking, the Learn to Yak program offered by North Port Parks & Recreation is the perfect starting point. This six-week, beginner-friendly course launches on Saturday, February 1st at the North Port Aquatic Center and runs every Saturday from 8 to 10am through March 8th. Participants will learn essential paddling techniques and water safety from trained professionals. After learning the basics in the pool, participants will transition to the Myakkahatchee Creek for real-world paddling experiences. Cost is $100 for non-North Port residents, ages ten years and older. Learn more and register at NorthPortFL.gov/OutdoorPrograms.
Venice Half Marathon/5K
The Venice Half Marathon & 5K will be Saturday, February 15th at Maxine Barritt Park, 1800 Harbor Drive South, Venice. Pre-race instructions start at 6:20am followed by both race groups start at 6:30am. Your entry fee includes a shirt, finish medal, snacks, and photos. For more information, cost & registration, go to VeniceHalf.com.