Culberson’s flight is a treat for anyone who loves aviation, including families, veterans, and longtime plane buffs. The MiG-17 comes with a serious resume: built in the Soviet Union, this swept-wing fighter earned its reputation for agility and really made a name for itself during the Vietnam War. Seeing it carve the sky over Punta Gorda brings the era up close and personal.

For Culberson, this isn’t just a job or hobby, it’s in his blood. His dad flew fighters in the Air Force, and Bill followed the same path before switching gears to earn a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Alabama. Then came two decades in commercial aviation, including 17 years as an FAA engineering rep handling aircraft design and rigorous testing.

He hung up his commercial pilot’s wings in 2016 to focus on restoring and flying classic military aircraft full-time. He has type ratings in the L-29, MiG-15, MiG-17, T-33, and even the legendary B-17. Basically, he’s spent a career keeping aviation history alive and in the air.

This year’s air show lineup packs even more action. Rick Sharpe will take flight in the TA-4J Skyhawk, and international aerobatic ace Aarron Deliu is coming, too. Toss in Red Bull athlete Kevin Coleman, Franklin’s Flying Circus, and The Chuters Jump Team, and you’ve got a loaded weekend. Walking the field, you’ll find static aircraft displays, vendors, good food, family fun, and the STEM Innovator’s Pavilion.

The Florida International Air Show isn’t just another crowd-pleaser. It’s run by a nonprofit with a mission, celebrating aviation and supporting local charities. Every ticket and sponsorship helps the show return year after year and keeps its outreach strong.

Gates open at 9 a.m. both days, November 7 and 8. If you want to feel the thrill and history of jet aviation in person, you won’t want to miss this weekend.

For tickets and event information, visit floridaairshow.com/tickets.

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Brian Faro took home the award thanks to his work with Big Brothers Big Sisters. And the committee honored Dawn and Donnie Stephens for their achievements through their nonprofit, Spread Spencer’s Sparkle.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast is the local branch here in Southwest Florida. It’s been around since 1968 and now ranks as the 10th largest agency in the country. They just picked up the 2025 Growth Award from the national organization, which says a lot about their momentum. The group matches kids facing adversity (“Littles,” ages 6 to 21) with adult volunteers (“Bigs”), giving them guidance and connection one-on-one.

Spread Spencer’s Sparkle started in Englewood in 2021 after Dawn Stephens lost her son, Spencer Owen Stephens, in an auto accident. Spencer was a local performer, outspoken about his faith, and known for championing LGBTQ+ kids. He didn’t hide who he was, and that made him a beacon for others. After he died, his family could have just grieved quietly, but instead, they turned it into a movement for kindness, inclusion, and community outreach.

The nonprofit focuses on more than just acceptance. They support youth, arts and theater, LGBTQ+ awareness, and all kinds of local projects. Their scholarships help Lemon Bay High School students. They repair instruments, upgrade school theater equipment, sponsor shoe drives, install community art, and even started a windphone project in town. They cover homecoming, prom, and graduation costs for students who need a little help. It’s about turning grief into good by lifting up kids in the community.

The Ann Dever Children’s Advocacy Award carries a lot of meaning in Englewood. It’s not just a plaque. It’s a community-voted honor that celebrates those who put local children first, push for their protection, and help make their lives better. 

Ann Dever, the award’s namesake, died of lung cancer in 2009, leaving behind a powerful legacy. She was a founding member of the Placida Rotary Club. She served on Charlotte County’s recreation advisory board and lobbied hard to bring modern parks, fields, a pool, and a splash playground to the area. The 315-acre Ann and Chuck Dever Regional Park exists because she refused to settle for less. 

This award exists to remind the community what one determined advocate can accomplish, and to shine that spotlight on the next generation of champions.

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Members work side-by-side, piecing together family histories and making sure these stories get preserved for generations to come.

All meetings are open to the public at Elsie Quirk Library, 100 W. Dearborn St., Englewood, FL 34223. Most sessions also run on Zoom, so you don’t have to miss out even if you can’t make it in person.

Between September and April, the society packs the calendar with family history research programs and workshops. Hit the Events menu on their site for the latest schedule.

Here’s what’s coming up for October through December 2026:

October 28, 2026

10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: “Starting or Restarting Your Genealogy & Family History Research” with Sue Carlson. Bring your questions (and your laptop) and get hands-on help with your research.

1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.: “Genealogy Research Using My Heritage” with Sue Carlson. Tackle the My Heritage platform—ask anything, work through your project, and get practical guidance.

November 18, 2026

10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: “Tracking Your Family Tree Using Family Tree Maker Software” with Karen Mortenson. Learn how to use Family Tree Maker, from setup to tracking ancestors.

1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.: “Genealogy Research Using My Heritage” with Sue Carlson. Another chance to dig deep into My Heritage with all of your questions.

December 16, 2026

10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: “Tracking Your Family Tree Using Family Tree Maker Software” with Karen Mortenson & Paul Skeels. Two experts walk you through the ins and outs of Family Tree Maker.

1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.: “Starting or Restarting Your Genealogy & Family History Research” with Paul Skeels. Bring your questions, ideas, and computers—Paul will help you plot your genealogy journey.

Curious about your roots? Grab your laptop and join in. The Englewood Genealogical Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and is ready to help you tell your family’s story.

Click here for more information.

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Florida’s still on the Daylight-Saving Time train in 2026. The state can’t switch to year-round DST unless the federal government gives the green light, and that hasn’t happened yet.

Here’s what you need to know about the 2026 schedule in Florida:

• Spring Forward: Clocks jumped ahead by one hour on Sunday, March 8, 2026, at 2:00 a.m.

• Fall Back: Clocks turn back one hour on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 2:00 a.m. That’s when we return to standard time.

Why does Florida still switch the clocks? 

In 2018, state lawmakers passed the “Sunshine Protection Act” to keep Florida on daylight saving time year-round. Nearly 20 other states have tried to do the same. But the sticking point is federal law. Congress and the president need to sign off before any state can ditch the clock change for good. As of now, bills like the Sunshine Protection Act have floated through parts of Congress but haven’t crossed the finish line in the Senate. Bottom line: Florida still springs forward and falls back.

The time change always throws some people off. Here are a few ways to make the switch a little easier.

1. Stick to your usual wake-up time on Sunday and don’t sleep in. That helps your body adjust faster.
2. If you want a smoother shift, try moving your bedtime, mealtimes, and naps about 15 or 20 minutes later in the days before the change.
3. Get outside in the morning or early afternoon. Sunlight helps reset your internal clock.
4. In the evening, dim your indoor lights and power down your screens, especially an hour before bed.
5. Avoid caffeine for 4 to 6 hours before you plan to sleep and go easy on the alcohol at night.
6. When driving in the evening, remember it gets dark earlier. Slow down and keep an extra eye out for pedestrians.
7. And if you take naps during the day, keep them short, 20 minutes or less, to protect your nighttime sleep.

If you follow these tips, you’ll adjust to the new time with a little less hassle.

The post Fallback, Florida: Same Old Time Change, 7 Tips to Survive appeared first on Englewood Review.

Emergency crews from Charlotte County Fire & EMS arrived quickly, and they took the student by ambulance to Gulf Coast Medical Center as a trauma alert, mainly to be safe. Fortunately, the student is now in stable condition.

Police shut down the intersection for about two hours while they cleared the scene and started their investigation. Right now, the Punta Gorda Police Department says the crash is still under investigation and hasn’t shared any more details.

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But the Oyster Bar has a tradition where visitors and locals cover the walls and ceiling with dollar bills, many of which are signed and date back to 2003. It started as a way for fishermen to mark the spot, promising they’d always have something waiting for them even if their luck dried up. Eventually, travelers from all over the world added their own bills, creating a patchwork of memories and stories.

In the hurricane’s aftermath, that tradition became a lifeline. The team counted up all the dollar bills hanging around the restaurant and handed the cash to employees who needed it most. For some, it covered groceries and gas, keeping the lights on when things felt uncertain. The gesture mattered. It brought everyone closer, management and staff working side by side to clean up, rebuild, and get the place open again.

Now, the oyster bar is back in business, and employees have added new bills to the wall, remembering how those little bits of paper helped them survive one of the hardest chapters in their history. 

The management keeps the ritual going, donating wall money every year to people hit by natural disasters. It’s not just decoration anymore. It’s a reminder that sometimes help comes from unlikely places and that traditions often become a lifeline.

Click here for more information about the Siesta Key Oyster Bar.

The post The Wall That Stood Tall: How Decades of Customer Dollars Became a Post-Hurricane Lifeline appeared first on Englewood Review.

Walk through the history, and you find a place where the community came together. The Center offered a theater, a library, classrooms, and plenty of space for many programs and activities. In the swiping gallery, you’ll see it as it was, the scars from the hurricanes, and some renderings of what might rise in its place.

A new Cultural Center and Port Charlotte Library are part of the proposed projects for the 2026 1% local option sales tax extension, if voters approve it in the November 3 Florida General Election. The concept images are just that: ideas, not an official blueprint.

Looking closer at the 1% local option sales tax, it’s been around since 1994, renewed several times, and it’s made a big difference in Charlotte County. That extra penny helps fund major projects, especially when state and federal support doesn’t cover the bills. The City of Punta Gorda gets about 10% of the revenue, based on population. Over the years, these funds have tackled economic challenges, property tax reforms, and unfunded mandates.

What’s important is everyone pays in, not just residents but tourists and visitors too. Whenever someone spends money in Charlotte County, one cent for every dollar helps maintain roads, facilities, and services.

If you’re interested in the details about the projects and the 2026 sales tax extension, Charlotte County provides plenty of info through their website, phone lines, and public meetings. It’s your community, your vote shapes what comes next.

Click here for more information from Charlotte County.

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Police arrived quickly. They found Lyons standing by the entrance, hands on his head, and took him into custody right there. According to the arrest report, Lyons confessed. He told officers he suffered from an undiagnosed mental illness and harbored a resentment for “the 1960s era.” 

When pressed about the box cutter, Lyons admitted he came to the store intending to kill someone. He picked the victim because, in his words, the man looked like he was from the 1960s. Lyons described the attack bluntly: “I just pulled it out of my pocket and stuck it in his neck.” He said he tossed the weapon down the aisle after the stabbing to avoid drawing the police’s attention.

Doctors treated the victim for a deep cut, stretching from his left cheek down his jaw, and across his neck. The wound measured four to six inches and needed several stitches.

Lyons now faces charges of aggravated battery against a person 65 or older.

The post Man Arrested After Randomly Stabbing Senior Citizen Shopping at Punta Gorda Publix appeared first on Englewood Review.

I’m Cynthia Butler, running for State House Representative District 75. I’m not a realtor, businessperson, banker, or insurance agent. I’m a mother, grandmother, Registered Nurse (the most trusted profession), and former union leader. I have been caring for Charlotte County for the past 22 years and advocating for us in a healthcare system that puts the bottom line and shareholders first, at the expense of quality care and patient needs.

I think people are seeing their quality of life and affordability vanish before their eyes and are sick of being told it’s because of Joe Biden, Obama, Immigrants, Democrats, or Hunter Biden’s laptop. Things have gotten exponentially bad in the last 200 days, and people are putting 2+2 together and deciding we need change now.

The people see our current legislators as either backed by big corporations, manipulated by them, or helpless against their agendas that push large-scale residential and commercial growth while underfunding infrastructure and community needs. Examples are the proposed data centers that clearly will drain resources without any consideration for our district’s delicate limestone water table or the interconnection of our aquifers. It is unlikely they will bring a significant number of local jobs or quality of life advances. Corporations, given their freedom from regulation, have not and will not make things better for Floridians.

We need leaders who will steadfastly represent the communities of Florida. That means rooting out corruption and greed and demanding accountability from insurers, utilities, and entities that are supposed to serve the public good. We need to address climate change, work toward Medicare for All, support robust Medicaid programs, bring science and academic freedom back into our institutions, and pay a living wage. We need to move away from our reliance on the fossil fuel industry. We need to protect our land, water, and wildlife from overdevelopment. We need to make homeownership more affordable.

Republicans call social safety net programs like Medicare, free college tuition, and social security “socialist” and “radical.” But people are beginning to see that the billionaires are only concerned about being billionaires. When I become your Florida state representative, I vow to promote and support policies and programs that lead to a better life for all Floridians.

Please vote for me and others like me trying to bring about good change.

Click here for more information about Cynthia Butler.

The Englewood REVIEW encourages our readers to share their thoughts. Our opinion section exists online as a space where our readers can discuss and debate issues that matter to our community. We receive a high volume of letters, so we can’t publish every submission. To submit your letter, email michele@englewoodreview.com with “Letter to the Editor Submission” in the subject line.

The post Letter to the Editor: People Before Corporate Profits: Nurse Cynthia Butler Championing Charlotte County Families appeared first on Englewood Review.

He stood next to a screen filled with dramatic flight footage and cockpit views, pointing out the details and breaking down the maneuvers. Kids watched, fascinated, as Deliu talked about his agile Extra 330SC and the tricks he pulls off. He even walked them through his live cockpit-to-ground commentary, showing how he talks to crowds mid-flight, sharing what he’s seeing and feeling.

The visit went beyond words. Deliu handed out autographed photos and leaned over tables to sign each one personally. Kids grinned, collected high-fives, and took home the memory of meeting a performer they’ll soon see soaring overhead.

Deelynn Bennett, the Florida International Air Show’s director of education and STEM, is teaming up with local partners to connect children with aviation through the Jet, Set, Read program. This initiative lets kids dive into aviation-themed books and hands-on projects, offering free air show admission to those who complete the “Earn Your Wings Reading Challenge.” It sparks curiosity, blending reading with real-world encounters and introducing young minds to STEM possibilities.

Mark your calendar: The 2026 Florida International Air Show lands November 7–8 at Punta Gorda Airport. You’ll see Deliu along with Bill Culberson in the MiG-17, Rick Sharpe piloting the TA-4J Skyhawk, Kevin Coleman, Franklin’s Flying Circus, and The Chuters Jump Team. The weekend packs in aircraft displays, hands-on STEM activities, food, and family fun. For tickets or details, head to www.floridaairshow.com or call 941-368-4430.

The Florida International Air Show rallies volunteers every year to celebrate aviation, boost local charities, and inspire future pilots and engineers. Their outreach, through programs like Jet, Set, Read and the STEM Innovators Pavilion, opens doors for young people across the region. It’s not just about thrilling aerial stunts; it’s about igniting curiosity in aviation, science, and technology. 

Find out more at www.floridaairshow.com.

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