On May 5, 2026, Charlotte County Economic Development put the spotlight on Jonathan Varner for its Homefront Hero feature. Varner’s a former Army soldier, a husband, a father, and he’s made his mark as an insurance professional. His journey sums up what makes Charlotte County’s veteran workforce so strong.

After leaving the Army, Varner came back home and settled into a life built on family values and a drive to grow. He didn’t just transition; he thrived. Now, he’s a leader at Wampler Varner Insurance Group. The skills he picked up in the military shape how he connects with clients, leads his team, and gives back to the community every day.

The Homefront Hero series isn’t just feel-good stories. It’s Charlotte County’s way of showing how veterans shape the local economy and workforce. Varner’s path ties right into the county’s mission to help veterans find meaning and new careers close to home.

“Veterans bring leadership, discipline, and problem-solving skills that strengthen our workforce and business community,” says Kay Tracy, who heads up Charlotte County Economic Development. “Jonathan’s story is a clear example of how military experience can fuel civilian success here in Charlotte County.”

Charlotte County doesn’t just talk the talk; it’s a Purple Heart Community and welcomes a large veteran population. By sharing stories like Varner’s, the county aims to highlight the people and employers that are making Charlotte County a true home for veterans and their families. This isn’t just another place to live; it’s somewhere veterans can build a future.

Click here to read more about Jonathan’s story.

The post Homefront Hero: How Army Veteran Jonathan Varner is Powering Charlotte County’s Workforce appeared first on Englewood Review.

The port itself is putting up $16 million, bringing the total price tag for the expansion to $40 million. The plan is to stretch Berth 300 by 800 feet, creating a 1,300-foot berth and a 2,800-foot stretch of contiguous berth space.

Paul Anderson, Port Tampa Bay’s President and CEO, put it this way: “This investment strengthens Port Tampa Bay’s ability to boost Florida’s economic position globally and makes supply chains more efficient and resilient for the region and the nation. We’re grateful for the partnership with MARAD and the support of the administration. They trust our vision for meeting the surge in cargo demand at Port Tampa Bay and throughout West Central Florida.”

Once finished, the expanded capacity will cut ship wait times, improve turnaround, and give the port the flexibility to handle different vessels. With the extra room, up to four 650-foot handy size bulk carriers or three of the Gulf’s largest dry bulk vessels will dock at the same time.

Port Redwing mostly deals in dry bulk cargo, things like granite, limestone, cement, gypsum, and grain, materials essential for construction, infrastructure, and agriculture across the state.

This project means current tenants can keep pace with, or even exceed, their commitments to handle over 5.7 million tons of cargo a year.

As Anderson put it, “We’re positioning the port to meet rising demand now and gearing up for even more growth as Florida keeps expanding.”

Port Tampa Bay is taking on this project to keep up with the region’s growing population and the increased freight that comes with it. The expansion also backs major infrastructure efforts, both public and private, all across Florida.

And, by increasing capacity at the port, they’re looking to reduce truck traffic, make the roads safer, and cut emissions while they’re at it.

The post Tampa Bay Gets $24M ‘Berthday’ Present to Make Room for More Big Ships appeared first on Englewood Review.

For many, this fight isn’t just about one new resort wing; it’s about protecting what makes Manasota Key special. This stretch of beach is more than a popular vacation spot. It’s an important habitat for endangered species, especially sea turtles that nest right here every year. The proposed 10-foot seawall, which would sit directly on top of nesting areas, has many residents alarmed. They argue it puts both wildlife and the beach’s natural beauty at serious risk.

The Charlotte County Planning and Zoning Board plans to discuss the expansion at their meeting on May 11. Leading up to that, concern is spreading fast. Karen Dega Martin, in a letter published by the Englewood REVIEW, called out the project as a threat to the “peace, sanctity, and safety” that Englewood is known for. She pointed out that the plan defies existing county laws meant to protect critical coastal areas and said the project goes against everything “Old Florida” stands for.

The proposal will go before the Planning and Zoning Commission for a vote. In her letter, Karen stated, “We intend to show up in strong numbers, which is what will hold a lot of weight with the commission, every month starting on May 11, at 1:30 p.m. at the Murdock location, 18500 Murdock Circle, Port Charlotte, FL.” 

In addition to the protest on May 2nd, another protest is being held on May 9th, 12-2 p.m. at 776 and Beach Road saying, “NO TO THE REZONE.” Bring Your signs.

Karen urged fellow residents to make their voices heard: “Let the Citizens’ Voices echo that we do not want this change, and it’s AGAINST THE EXISTING LAWS created exactly to protect us from such devastating absurdity and reckless and endangering action. The citizens of Englewood’s peace, sanctity, and safety should and must come before any greedy business agendas.”

From the protests on the sand to the letters sent to local papers, one thing is clear: residents feel this isn’t just about a resort. It’s about standing up for the beaches, the turtles, and the unique character of Manasota Key. For now, the signs say it all: “SAY NO TO THE REZONE!” “SAVE OUR BEACHES!” “SAVE THE TURTLES!” “SAVE MANASOTA KEY!”

Click here to read Karen Dega Martin’s letter to the editor.

The post Manasota Key Residents Rally at Englewood Beach Ahead of Crucial May 11th Charlotte County Zoning Meeting appeared first on Englewood Review.

At 12051 Maryland Ave., south of Punta Gorda, in the heart of Tropical Gulf Acres, the new station will sit near Tucker’s Grade and U.S. 41, ideal for serving the growing neighborhoods in South County.

This isn’t just any construction project; it’s part of a series paid for by the county’s 1% Local Option Sales Tax. The goal: better public safety and faster emergency response as more people move in. According to project updates from late April, crews expect to finish construction and turn the station over on March 27, 2027.

The ceremony was open to the community and was an opportunity to see the start of a project that’s going to make a significant difference for Charlotte County residents.

The post Charlotte County Breaks Ground on New South County Fire & EMS Station appeared first on Englewood Review.

But the start of May brings in a kind of magic all its own. There’s this lighter set of celebrations, almost like a mini holiday trilogy: May Day on May 1st, Star Wars Day on May 4th (yes, “May the Fourth be with you”), and then Cinco de Mayo on May 5th. The first week of May feels like a party squeezed into just a few days.

Star Wars Day on May 4

May 4th: Star Wars Day, which exploded from a simple pun (“May the Fourth be with you”) into a global phenomenon. Fans started celebrating in earnest in the early 2000s, and now it’s official, with Disney organizing themed content releases, costume parties, and even parades. 

There’s a quirky origin: the first use of “May the 4th” appeared in a British newspaper congratulating Margaret Thatcher when she became Prime Minister on that date in 1979. The first big fan bash happened in Toronto in 2001, with film marathons and costume contests. 

Bonus Holiday: The day after, May 5th, is “Revenge of the Fifth.” More Sith, more villains. After Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012, everything shifted up a gear. Major premieres landed on May 4th, like The Clone Wars finale and The Bad Batch. Fans now celebrate with themed parties, trivia nights, marathons, and dressing up. Even if you’re not a superfan, odds are you’ll find yourself swept up in the online mayhem.

Cinco de Mayo on May 5

Cinco de Mayo follows right on May 5th, and good luck getting a table at your favorite Mexican spot. It marks the Mexican army’s stunning victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, not Mexican Independence Day (which is September 16th, if you’re keeping score). 

In Mexico itself, it’s a pretty quiet local event, but in the U.S., it’s huge. The holiday is now a wild celebration of Mexican-American culture and prompts around 87 million pounds of avocados to change hands each year.

The history’s fascinating. People often think it’s about independence, but the actual story is David versus Goliath: General Ignacio Zaragoza led a scrappy, outnumbered Mexican force and beat a French army that hadn’t lost in nearly half a century. 

The proper food for the day? Mole poblano, a rich sauce with chili and chocolate, not the crunchy tacos Americans love. U.S. cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston host massive celebrations, and the holiday gained extra momentum thanks to FDR’s “Good Neighbor Policy” during the 1930s. There’s a festival of colors, green, white, and red, plus mariachi music and baile folklórico. But in Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is really just a local affair in Puebla, not a public holiday for the entire country.

The first week of May packs in history, whimsy, and fandom. It isn’t just a blip between spring and summer, but a mini season brimming with traditions new and old. If you blink, you might miss the fun, so enjoy the lighter holidays while you can.

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In the home stretch, Golden Tempo went wide and kicked into gear, passing the favorites and edging out Renegade in second and Ocelli in third. Ortiz’s savvy ride also gave him the rare Oaks-Derby double for the weekend. They finished the classic 1 1/4-mile distance in 2:02.27.

When asked what gave her the belief that she could win at the Kentucky Derby one day, Cherie said with emotion, “It was really my husband. In the summer of 2017, I was kind of at a crossroads in life and he told me that I owe it to myself to at least try. He had the faith in me, and he saw what I didn’t see, and believed in me.”

Golden Tempo is a homebred son of Curlin, owned by Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stables. DeVaux’s historic win brought new attention to her alma mater, Lemon Bay High, and cemented her place in horse racing’s record books.”

The post Lemon Bay Grad Cherie DeVaux Sets the Pace as First Female Trainer to Win the Derby appeared first on Englewood Review.

If you’re feeling more anxious than usual, you’re not alone; AAA’s latest survey shows nearly one in five Floridians are more worried about this year’s storms than last year.

NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) is urging every Floridian to figure out their evacuation zone and build an emergency supply kit now. Don’t skip this. Insurance experts also say you should take a hard look at your homeowner’s policy, especially the fine print about flood coverage. Standard policies don’t cover flood damage, so if you need it, add it.

Looking at this year’s outlook, forecasters expect a slightly below-average season. That’s some good news. Colorado State University predicts 13 named storms, 6 hurricanes, and 2 major hurricanes. They say a strong El Niño will develop, which means more wind shear in the Atlantic. That knocks down the odds for big storms to grow or make landfall in the continental US.

But don’t let your guard down just because projections are a little tamer. The first week of May is Hurricane Preparedness Week, a perfect time to make sure you’re not scrambling when the storms come. Whether you’ve been through this before or it’s your first hurricane season, here’s what you need to know.

Start by understanding your risk. Hurricanes aren’t just a coastal thing. The effects of wind and water can stretch hundreds of miles inland, and a weak storm can still cause bad flooding. Know if you live in a flood-prone area or an evacuation zone. While you’re at it, check your house for possible weak spots; sometimes it’s a loose roof shingle or basement window that causes all the trouble. NOAA’s website has useful tools to check your risk level and evacuation information.

Don’t wait until the last minute to get ready. Put together a disaster supply kit with enough non-perishable food, bottled water, and medicine to keep your family going for at least three days. Make sure you have extra cash, a flashlight, batteries, and a battery-powered radio. Power can stay out far longer than anyone wants to admit.

Make time for an insurance checkup. Collect receipts, take photos of valuables, and write down serial numbers. You’ll need them if you have to make a claim. Update your family’s communication and evacuation plan now, even if you think you’re already set.

Learn how to read a forecast and know the difference between a watch and a warning. Forecasters and meteorologists will throw out a lot of terms during hurricane season. Focus on actual effects: storm surge, flooding, and wind damage, not just the category or size. Hazards often show up outside the official “cone” on the forecast. If you’re confused about storm jargon, NOAA’s website breaks it all down in plain language.

When a storm’s on the way, don’t hesitate. You should prepare your home immediately when watches or warnings are issued. Cover your windows, secure doors, and bring in anything that could blow away. Know where the shelters are, especially if you have pets. Fill up your car’s tank or get your EV charged. Double-check your “go bag”: medicine, important documents, snacks, and chargers. Charge your phone and make sure your neighbors, especially older adults, have help too. If officials call for an evacuation, don’t ride it out. Listen and head to safety.

During the storm, get to your safe spot. Stay away from windows and water. Make sure you have a way to get weather alerts, mobile apps, a weather radio, or even just text updates from family. Deadly hazards can reach far inland, so don’t let your guard down if you don’t live right on the coast. If you’re not under an evacuation order, stay off the roads.

When the storm’s over, danger isn’t gone. Almost half of hurricane-related deaths happen afterward. Don’t return home unless local officials say it’s safe. Watch out for downed power lines, damaged buildings, deep water, and heat. Clean up carefully: wear gloves, stay hydrated, and only run generators outside, at least 20 feet away from your house. Carbon monoxide kills.

If you haven’t started preparing, don’t put it off. Today’s the right day. Figure out your risks, build your plan, and make sure your family knows what to do before, during, and after the storm.

On a different note, every hurricane season has its own set of names. Since 1953, Atlantic tropical storms have gotten names, with the list now managed by the World Meteorological Organization. Here are the names for 2026:

Arthur 
Bertha 
Cristobal 
Dolly 
Edouard 
Fay 
Gonzalo 
Hanna 
Isaias 
Josephine 
Kyle 
Leah 
Marco 
Nana 
Omar 
Paulette 
Rene 
Sally 
Teddy 
Vicky 
Wilfred

Let’s hope they never have to use most of these. But if one shows up on the news, you’ll be ready.

For more in-depth information and check list details, check out NOAA’s weather.gov.

The post Ready or Not: May is Florida’s Month-Long Countdown to Hurricane Season appeared first on Englewood Review.

This week, Bonita Bay comes alive with world-class women’s tennis as it welcomes one of the most distinctive stops on the USTA Pro Circuit. With a $100,000 purse on the line, few events in the U.S. match this tournament’s stakes, and that prize money draws rising stars from every corner of the globe.

But it’s more than the matches themselves that make this event stand out. Over the years, the tournament’s organizers have developed a reputation not just for high-level play but for the way they run things. 

Thanks to the dedication of those behind the scenes, the event has raised millions for local health causes, especially the Lee Health Cancer Center. A week of tennis turns into years of support for the community.

Keeping a tournament like this thriving isn’t easy. Many new tournaments lose steam. But here, volunteers and organizers pour everything into making it a success year after year. 

The experience also means a lot to the players themselves. Players feel that sense of belonging, the crowd, the support, the local pride. 

The tournament runs through May 3, blending top-tier tennis with real community impact. Don’t miss the next chance to catch it from April 27 to May 3, 2026, for another unforgettable week. The FineMark Tournament just clinched the prestigious ITF Standards Award for the second straight year, one of only six events worldwide with that distinction.

It all happens at Bonita Bay Club, 26660 Country Club Dr., Bonita Springs, FL. Elite tennis, lasting community change, that’s what this tournament is all about. For more information, click here.

The post More Than a Match: FineMark Women’s Pro Tennis Leaves a Lasting Legacy in Southwest Florida appeared first on Englewood Review.

Who’s getting hurt? Seniors, veterans, people barely getting by. They’re the ones feeling the pain as food prices and gas keep climbing.

Across the country, 3 million people lost SNAP in six months. That’s an 8% drop, the steepest decline the program’s seen in decades, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

Florida stands out. Its 9.8% reduction is rough, but look at Arizona, enrollment fell by 42%. Georgia’s numbers dropped 24%. Virginia and Tennessee? Both down 12%. Other states saw similar hits.

Remember last fall’s government shutdown? SNAP recipients in Florida saw their payments stopped, then briefly restored in November. But that was just a pause. By December, the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) had enforced stricter rules.

State officials guessed that about 181,000 would lose benefits under the new guidelines. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities put the number closer to 253,000. Actual federal data shows a drop from 2.85 million recipients in July 2025 to 2.57 million by January 2026, a loss of 278,720 Floridians.

The Center’s take? This isn’t happening because life suddenly got easier for these families. People didn’t stop needing help to put food on the table.

Not only did the bill make it harder to qualify, but it means states pay a bigger share of the program’s costs. By October, Florida can expect to pay an added $50 million a year just in administration. The state already splits those costs fifty-fifty with Washington, but soon Florida will take on another 25%.

There’s another twist: error rates. Florida’s SNAP error rate sits at 15%, among the highest in the country. That’s going to sting, because the penalty is enormous. Florida could be on the hook for $984 million more to cover mistakes.

What about work requirements? It used to be that able-bodied adults under 54 without dependents had to meet minimum work hours or take part in other programs. Now, if you’re 55 to 64, or have kids over 14, you must work at least 20 hours a week, or you’re limited to three months of benefits over three years. Exemptions for veterans, homeless people, and former foster youth are gone.

When DCF crunched the numbers last fall, they predicted 181,000 losing SNAP in Florida: about half were homeless, 55,000 were 55 to 64-year-olds who no longer qualified for exemptions, and 33,000 were parents with teenage dependents.

With these policy changes, the landscape for low-income families in Florida, and across the nation, is shifting fast. And for many, these cuts mean actual choices: food or insurance, essentials or bills, meals or medicine.

If this affects you, or you have a perspective you want to share, consider writing to the Englewood REVIEW editor. We’re listening.

The post Nearly 300,000 Floridians Lose SNAP Benefits Following Landmark Federal Funding Cuts appeared first on Englewood Review.

Charlotte’s Stephen Deutsch opened with a hopeful note: “We’ve been good friends and neighbors, and let’s continue to be such.” Lee’s Brian Hamman agreed.

But the mood shifted when Charlotte officials said Lee’s new parking rules on Boca Grande cut out roughly 300 to 400 public spaces, leaving just 328 spots for visitors, and most of those with three-hour limits. Step over those limits, and you’re looking at a $100 ticket. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office started enforcing the rules in the past few weeks, after they finished a warning period earlier in the winter.

Commissioner Ken Doherty from Charlotte zeroed in on disabled access. He argued that the new locations are too far from the beach, hurting people with disabilities, especially veterans. “A lot of them are disabled Vietnam vets,” he said. “Veterans are harmed by this. They feel it was—it’s cruel to do that to us.” Lee County’s response: the new Boca parking committee should take up these claims.

Meanwhile, Lee’s Kevin Ruane, who represents Boca, said the island’s faced blocked driveways and crowded streets for years, fueled by too many homes approved in Charlotte without enough local beaches. So, Charlotte’s new residents go to Boca. Ruane didn’t sugarcoat it: “That is the elephant in the room. If you want to deal with it. Your growth compared to ours is unprecedented. That is something you have to deal with.”

Despite everything, the two counties agreed on a few points. They’ll look into parking for people with disabilities, check if state property can open up more public spots, and maybe consider more parking during the busy winter and spring months.

This meeting happened under the rules of a state law meant to guide governments in disputes like this. For now, they’re keeping things out of mediation. Both sides want to see what the Boca parking committee turns up, and they plan to keep talking as they look for a solution. Lee put these new rules in place just last summer, and it’s clear the debate isn’t going quiet soon.

The post Parking Feud Escalates: Lee and Charlotte County Officials Continue to Clash Over New Boca Grande Restrictions appeared first on Englewood Review.