At Lemon Bay Playhouse, in the heart of Englewood, that motto truly came to life.

Susana Falcon, director of the show and Executive-Artistic Director of Lemon Bay Playhouse, explained, “Five days before opening (we were set for October 9), our leading lady, Aleah Colon-Alfonso, had to withdraw for an extended hospital stay. She’d been rehearsing the role of Gillian for weeks. So, I moved Megan Hendricks, one of our seasoned actors who had been preparing for the role of Nicky, into the lead. Then I reached out to Jill Houghton—she’d just returned from vacation and agreed on short notice to play Nicky.”

This is the kind of challenge that defines theater magic. People step up, and everything shifts, sometimes overnight.

“Even after I pushed opening to October 16, the new cast only had five days together,” Falcon continued. “There was so much blocking to learn—in five days, no way anyone could go completely off book. The other three actors went all in for extra rehearsals. By the new preview on Thursday, October 15, somehow, it all clicked. I’m proud of everyone for living the adage, ‘The show must go on!’”

And they delivered. John Van Druten’s supernatural romantic comedy, “Bell, Book and Candle,” is a pure delight.

The original Broadway production (1950-51) won huge critical praise for its zippy dialogue, tight story, and whimsical mix of romance and mild magic. That show inspired “Bewitched” and set the tone for lots of mid-century rom coms with a supernatural twist.

“Bell, Book, and Candle” is a perfect theatrical experience for this time of year when we all crave a little magic in the air. Gillian Holroyd (Megan Hendrick) is a gorgeous witch who falls hard for her neighbor, Shep Henderson (Joseph Giglia), a debonair publisher already engaged to someone else. When normal flirting fails, Gillian relies on witchcraft. Along with her black cat, Pyewacket, she casts a spell on Shep, and Act I ends with the two as glued together as wallpaper and paste.

But witches aren’t supposed to fall in love. If they do, they lose their powers. Still, Gillian can’t resist. Her oddball family keeps things lively: sister Nicky (Jill Houghton) and Aunt Queenie (Linda Ramzell) prove that magic without brains is just chaos.

Randy Huft plays Sidney Redlitch, a clueless author on the hunt for witches who drinks up every story, and literally every drink Gillian offers him. The antics are pure ‘50s.

Eventually, Aunt Queenie spills it all, witches, spells, and secrets. Shep is stunned but believes. Tears roll down Gillian’s cheeks for the first time, and, poof, her powers vanish. The ending shouldn’t come as a surprise: Shep turns up with a flimsy excuse to return a key, and Gillian, now fully human, makes it work, reviewing movies for a living (but not comedies, she insists).

If you’ve watched “Bewitched” with Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick York, you’ll see the family resemblance. There’s something joyful about tracing the sitcom’s roots, and the play still has a playful, subversive bite.

Lemon Bay Playhouse and Susana Falcon deserve nothing but applause for reviving this sparkling gem.

Falcon’s direction keeps the action brisk, light, and thoroughly rooted in that 1950s New York apartment vibe—think Murray Hill, Lucy and Ricky’s old neighborhood. Pam Hayes’s set is right on the mark. Carolyn Robinette’s costumes dazzle (especially Aunt Queenie’s wild velvets), and the whole ensemble shines.

Megan Hendrick captures Gillian’s inner tug-of-war between power and love. Joseph Giglia is all brisk indignation and bashful sweetness as Shep. Jill Houghton gives Nicky great quirk and spark, Randy Huft nails the self-impressed author, and Linda Ramzell steals scene after scene as Aunt Queenie: her goofy guilelessness never gets old.

The whole evening is simply enchanting. One might even say, “bewitching.”

Want to make it extra special? Lemon Bay Playhouse has teamed up with Chophouse285 for a real dinner theater experience. Whether it’s a meal before curtain or a celebration after the last bow. Reserve at LemonBayPlayhouse.com, show your ticket at Chophouse285 for the special menu, and call 941-777-CHOP (2467) to book. Be sure to say you’re with Lemon Bay Playhouse.

Great food, great theater, and one unforgettable night out on Dearborn Street. 

Lemon Bay Playhouse “Bell, Book, and Candle”
By John Van Druten
Playing through November 1, 2026.
Click here for more information.

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After their first Woodstock Benefit Concert raised $9,000 for St. David’s Jubilee Pantry’s generator, the Artist Colony formed as a nonprofit in September 2025. Buoyed by that success, they grabbed Sundays for events and rolled out a Beatles Tribute and a second Woodstock concert in the spring of 2026. 

When cold weather hit, they shuffled the schedule, moving the Beatles Tribute from February to March and shifting Woodstock to April. That’s also when they debuted a food court, with Charlie Foxtrot Brewing on board for adult drinks. The second Woodstock Benefit drew in so many families that for the next season, the Colony added a Kids Korner with lawn games.

This year, they’re running two sets of three Family Festivals, each with concerts supporting Lemon Bay High School Marching Band and St. David’s Jubilee Pantry. Donors and patrons get IRS confirmation letters, and all festivals include an Art Market and the Kids Korner, which opens at 10 a.m. Food and cash donations start at noon. Volunteers can join at any time.

The fall series begins with Oktoberfest on October 25. The Food Court offers a packed selection including German Snack Bar, Sip Sip Hooray Garden Café, Outside the Lunchbox, Dave’s Neapolitan Pizza, Blacken Blues BBQ, The ‘Q’ Ice Cream Truck, and The Twisted Lemon. German entertainment kicks off at 1 p.m. Then the Benefit Concert starts at 4, featuring Stardust Band and Corrupt Signal.

On November 22, the Wizard of Oz-themed “There’s No Place Like Home” festival honors servicemen, veterans and their families. Musicians can take the open mic to share their name and branch or dedicate a song to someone who’s served. Along with the Kids Korner, the Colony is hosting a Korn Hole Tournament matching veterans with ROTC students, and veterans will get to pick a kiddo to compete with them. Every kid representing a veteran in the tourney gets a participation medal. Food Court expands, with Casa Uruguay joining the mix. Rising Tide and The Old Glory Band headline the benefit concert, starting at 4.

The Holiday Showcase wraps up the season on December 6. Alongside art and kids’ activities, musicians are welcome to play in an open mic session, with plenty of seasonal music. The headliners for the benefit show are still in the works.

Director Sydney Martin says, “Becoming a nonprofit, we immediately planned to create more benefit concerts for specific causes.” Sydney is rounding up artists, musicians, and performers for future events. 

If you want to get involved, reach out at i2garden@yahoo.com. The Artist Colony in Englewood is all about supporting the arts, visual, musical, and performing alike.

For more information, click here for their Facebook page.

The post Englewood’s Artist Colony Powers Up Pioneer Plaza appeared first on Englewood Review.

This “soft opening” phase has lasted two weeks so far. Owner Anthony Altadonna is still fine-tuning a few details (as any new restaurant does), but when it comes to the food? He never compromises. Every dish comes out the way his family taught him: with care, tradition, and a lot of love.

Anthony’s story traces back to Sicily. “I started out in Carini, a little town where my parents grew up. They moved to Brooklyn when they were young, carrying dreams, recipes, and a deep love for cooking—especially pizza and pasta. That kitchen I grew up in? Sauce always on the stove, fresh dough rising, a table full of family and friends. I watched my parents transform basic ingredients into something everyone remembered. Those old recipes, those big Sunday meals, that obsession with honest, real food—you’ll find all of it in our menu right now. Every pizza, every plate of pasta is straight from that tradition: rustic crust, handmade noodles, flavors that have been around for generations. For me, this is more than dinner. It’s a slice of Carini, served up with Brooklyn soul.”

What happens when you just switch on the neon ‘Open’ sign and let people wander in? Anthony found out: “The first day we opened, we didn’t advertise at all. No big announcement. I flipped the sign, and people just started showing up. It’s like word got out instantly, and they kept coming.”

Of course, there are hiccups along the way. “The AC worked fine at first,” Anthony says, “but once the ovens fired up, things changed. Now I’m fiddling with the air, the website—trying to get it all right. And the customers? They’re already lining up. We haven’t even cut the ribbon yet.”

He’s aiming for perfection before the official opening, which is just weeks away. “I want everything to be right for everyone. It’s been non-stop, every single day.”

Pizza isn’t just a job to Anthony; it’s what he’s always done. “Pizza has been my life since I was a kid. That’s all I know.”

He knows things aren’t perfect yet. “We just opened. We’re going to bring the best food and service to this area. I really care about Englewood and this community.”

And once the dust settles, Anthony’s already thinking about the future. He wants Alta to be known not just for pizza, but for generosity. “Once we’re up and running, we plan to give back—free slices to police and firefighters, community events. I want this place to be a beacon for Englewood. Taking care of people, showing how much I appreciate their support—that’s what matters most to me.”

Click here for more information. 

Alta Pizzeria & Restaurant
1951 S McCall Rd, Englewood, FL 34223
941-474-8781

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That’s the thread Venice Theatre pulls at in Sharon Pollock’s “Blood Relations.” This award-winning psychological drama, directed by Executive Director Kristofer Geddie, opens Friday, Oct. 9, in the Pinkerton Theatre and plays through Sunday, Nov. 1.

The timing is perfect. Lizzie Borden (played by Cheryl Andrews, back on the Venice stage after eight years) is suddenly back in the headlines thanks to the new Netflix series “Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story.” Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s adaptation wades into grisly, fictional territory, but Pollock’s script smuggles its questions in through subtext. Instead of showing us the murders outright, “Blood Relations” lets its audience play detective, using a layered role-playing game to unravel Lizzie’s life without providing a neat answer about her guilt.

“In truth, I don’t care if Lizzie Borden swung the hatchet or not,” Geddie writes in his director’s note. “This play doesn’t either. Instead, the play and playwright ask something far more intriguing: What might it have felt like to walk around in Lizzie Borden’s shoes?”

Set ten years after the crime, “Blood Relations” finds Lizzie acquitted, trying to move past the infamy. One hot day in 1902, she welcomes a friend, an actress loosely inspired by Nance O’Neil (played by Venice Theatre regular Stacy Gilson), who wants answers about the murders. Lizzie sidesteps every direct question, instead inviting her friend to join a role-playing exercise.

The actress becomes the younger Lizzie, drawing on details provided by Lizzie herself, and piecing together her own narrative. Lizzie, meanwhile, slips into the role of Bridget, the Borden family’s maid, supposedly a mere bystander the day of the killings. Together, they revisit those pivotal events, with other figures from Lizzie’s world drifting in and out. As reality blurs, memory bleeds into imagination, making it tougher with each scene to tell what’s real and what’s invention.

This innovative structure lets Pollock ask bigger questions: How did the stifling pressure of Victorian womanhood and constant scrutiny close in on Lizzie? What pushes someone toward violence? “Blood Relations” isn’t just playing Clue. It’s asking what you do when you’re trapped in a life you never chose, and what it really means to take control of your own story.

“What begins as a murder mystery becomes something much more,” Geddie says. “It asks what happens when the life the world has chosen for you becomes unbearable. What happens when you’re trapped? ‘Blood Relations’ examines whether we can truly trust memory. It asks who gets to tell our stories, and what happens when someone else decides who we are.”

For Geddie, digging through old headlines turned up more than just grim details. “The deeper I dug into the people who inhabited that house—the Borden family, Bridget Sullivan, John Morse, and the others surrounding Lizzie—the less they felt like characters from an American legend and the more they became complicated, flawed human beings trapped by family, money, gender, sexuality, class, expectation, and secrets,” he says. “They are all of us.”

Sharon Pollock’s fascination with Lizzie Borden goes way back; her first attempt, “My Name is Lisbeth,” appeared in 1976 with Pollock herself taking the lead. She later reworked it into “Blood Relations,” which premiered professionally in Edmonton, Alberta, in 1980. The play scooped up the Governor General’s Award for Drama in 1981 and played to audiences across Canada and beyond.

Pollock became one of Canada’s leading playwrights, winning major honors like the Governor General’s Literary Award for “Doc” and the Gwen Pharis Ringwood Drama Award three times. In 2012, Canada recognized her lifetime achievements with the Order of Canada. She died in Calgary in 2021, but her questions live on in plays like “Blood Relations.”

Audience members who stick around after the 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, Oct. 25, can join a talk-back with the cast and creative team, dig into “Blood Relations,” the Borden murders, or whatever theories you bring with you.

“Blood Relations” runs Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., with Sunday performances at 2 p.m. All shows are at the Pinkerton Theatre, Venice Theatre, 140 Tampa Ave. W., Venice. There’s even a Halloween night performance (7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31) for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in true crime on a suitably eerie night.

At the end of the night, Pollock doesn’t hand you a solved case. “Blood Relations” invites you to sift through the evidence, walk inside Lizzie’s world, and reach your own verdict.

As Geddie says: “Watch closely. Listen carefully. Decide what you believe. Come along for the ride!”

Tom and Shelley Devine of Devine’s Wine Bar and Karen Kelly are this year’s sponsors.

Get tickets or more information at VeniceTheatre.org or call the box office at 941-488-1115.

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If you’ve never been, you’re missing out. The market isn’t just good; it’s the local favorite, hands down. Every Thursday, Pioneer Plaza on Dearborn Street transforms into a hive of small businesses, each one bringing its best. You’ll find just about everything: fresh bread, incredible cheeses, handmade pastas, soaps and candles, local honey, colorful produce, flowers and plants, Filipino and Asian specialties, kosher challah, citrus, juices, the list keeps going. Every booth tempts you with something new.

It all runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursdays in the heart of Englewood. Each week, live music plays along Dearborn; there’s always something a little different to discover.

Englewood REVIEW recently caught up with Don Musilli from the Englewood Sunset Rotary, the group that keeps the market running. According to Don, October always feels like a “soft opening.” Some vendors roll in right away, think pizza, bread, cheese, knife sharpening. Others don’t arrive until November or December because they’re busy up north or at other markets. It’s all part of the market’s rhythm. But Don expects October to buzz with energy. The past few years have seen more and more folks wandering Dearborn each Thursday, and that excitement isn’t fading.

Picture the scene: early sunlight, coffee in hand, music weaving through the air. Kids and dogs greet one another, neighbors catch up, and all kinds of people browse tables piled high with fresh food. There’s no better way to start your Thursday. Grab a pastry or a handmade treat, fill your bag with produce so fresh it was likely picked just hours ago, and don’t forget to wander hungry.

Local farmers haul in the very best from Florida’s fields. Fishermen bring wild-caught seafood straight from the coast. Bakers stack tables with crusty sourdough, gluten-free cookies, and everything in between. Some vendors roll out international dishes; others offer small-batch jams, local honey, or even potted citrus trees. The whole plaza feels like a festival of what Englewood does best: food, community, music, and sunshine.

And this isn’t just a quick grocery run. People come for the experience and stick around for the community. It’s a chance to meet the people behind your food and support the folks who make Englewood such a great place to live.

The Englewood Sunset Rotary keeps things running, and every dime from vendor fees gets funneled back into the neighborhood. When you support the market, you’re investing in Englewood itself.

Don summed it up: “I was there at the beginning; me, Marie Laforge, Ricardo Ruggiero from Mango Bistro, and Lee Perron. We kicked things off in 2011, and we picked Thursday—it’s an off day, but it let us land the best vendors. Over the years, other markets have popped up, and sure, they’ve brought some competition. But we’re different. We’re a nonprofit, and every dollar we make goes straight to our community. That’s why we tell people, start with our market first. Support Englewood. That’s our mantra.”

So how did it all actually begin? Back in 2010, Marie Laforge started asking why Englewood didn’t have its own market. By 2011, with help from Ricardo Ruggiero and Mike Hutchinson, and encouragement from the Mango Bistro’s success, she pulled together a team. Lee Perron joined that summer, and before long, over a few lively dinners, they built a plan. Lee took over as manager, Mike handled the books, Marie managed marketing, and Ricardo tackled tech. Their idea quickly became a reality, and the Englewood Farmers Market was born.

Jump ahead to fall 2021: The Englewood Sunset Rotary began managing the market, adding a focus on nutrition, education, sustainability, and a deep sense of community. You still find local organic produce, top-tier baked goods, dairy, seafood, honey, herbs, prepared foods, sauces, and genuinely interesting finds every week.

Their mission is clear: to champion local Florida growers and producers, with a focus on health, education, sustainable practices, and genuine community.

The market partners with local organizations that make a difference: Englewood Community Care Clinic, Englewood Elementary, Florida Organic Growers Association, Helping Hand Food Bank, St. David’s Food Pantry, and more. The Englewood Community Redevelopment Agency pitches in too.

The Englewood Farmers Market runs October through May, then takes a summer break. Pioneer Plaza on Dearborn Street is the place to be on Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. If you’re ready for great food, sunny mornings, real community, and a market that truly gives back, you’ll want to make this a regular stop. Come see why it’s the best farmers market in Florida.

Click here for more information about the Englewood Farmers Market.

The post Dearborn Street Comes Alive: Englewood’s Favorite Farmers Market Returns for the Season October 1 appeared first on Englewood Review.

Earlier this year, the Hermitage acquired the Englewood Art Center from Ringling College of Art and Design. These new programs mark the start of a fresh chapter at the HEAC, with more plans ahead.

Hermitage Saturday Sessions will bring the community together for weekend workshops led by accomplished Hermitage Fellows. Once a month, a small group will dive hands-first into visual art, music, dance, theater, literature, whatever the artist brings to the table. It’s a real chance for anyone to step into the creative process alongside world-class talent.

The Hermitage Book Club

The Hermitage Book Club opens up the celebrated work of Hermitage Fellows to curious readers. Led by Programs Director Tiffany Colli-Moon, the group will meet on the first Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m., digging into a book written by a Hermitage literary alum, sometimes penned right here. Expect lively discussions, fresh perspectives, and on special occasions, maybe even a visit from the author. Readers should finish the book before joining the conversation.

Since taking ownership in December 2025, the Hermitage has been turning the Englewood Art Center into a multidisciplinary hub just ten minutes from Manasota Key. Spanning two acres and 11,000 square feet, the center now hosts new public events like the Saturday Sessions and Book Club while also offering gallery and studio space for resident artists. Plans for the facility are still developing, and the Hermitage recently hosted a public session to hear from the Englewood community. Ongoing conversations with locals remain a key part of the development process.

Hermitage Saturday Session

The first Hermitage Saturday Session takes place Saturday, October 10 at 11 a.m. with Tony Award-nominated Fellow Julian Crouch. Known for operas and musicals from Broadway to London, think Shockheaded Peter, The Addams Family, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Crouch will run “Something from Nothing: A Puppetry Workshop.” Participants will explore live animation and puppetry using everyday materials, learning how to bring the inanimate to life. No experience needed. You will receive all materials, but you have to register beforehand at HermitageArtistRetreat.org.  Spaces are extremely limited.

The Hermitage will hold the Book Club’s first meeting on Monday, November 2 at 5:30 p.m. The spotlight is on Hermitage Fellow, past Curatorial Council member, and acclaimed author Emily Nemens and her second novel, Clutch. Praised as a New York Times Editors’ Choice and described by the LA Times as “White Lotus with more sincerity and heart,” Clutch tells the story of five long-time friends facing life’s biggest challenges. Nemens will join the kickoff meeting in person.

“We’re thrilled to launch these fresh programs at the Hermitage Englewood Art Center,” says Artistic Director and CEO Andy Sandberg. “This space has so much potential, and these two series are just the beginning of deeper community engagement.”

Hermitage programs are free and open to all, though there’s a $5 registration fee. If demand is high, the organizers may switch workshops to a lottery system and notify selected participants two weeks in advance. Most events last 60-70 minutes, with interactive workshops running longer.

Other upcoming programs include Hermitage Sunsets @ Selby Gardens: “New Music Under the Old Oak” on Friday, October 16 at 5:30 p.m. and “We Got the Beat: Poetry & Percussion” on Thursday, October 29 at 5:30 p.m. on the beach. On Saturday, November 7, the Hermitage will hold the Artful Lobster fundraiser on its historic campus, with most tickets already sold. 

For sponsorship details, reach out to the Development Director at Development@HermitageArtistRetreat.org.

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Today, Yany runs Yany’s Café, a Cuban coffee and food trailer parked at 976 S. River Rd. in Englewood. She’s not new to small business. For over six years, she and her husband have owned a window tinting shop in town, and she’s been a realtor for almost a decade. The coffee trailer sits right outside her business and has become a local favorite.

Yany’s path hasn’t been smooth. After Hurricane Ian, she lost her business space on Gasparilla Road, and their insurance covered nothing. On top of that, her landlord kept their deposit. “We had to start from scratch, literally,” she says. 

But Yany isn’t one to give up. Through sheer determination, she got the coffee trailer going, and it’s taken off.

Nutella/Caramel Mini Pancakes made fresh to order.

She laughs when talking about her age. “I don’t mind telling people I’m 40. I say, ‘I’m not old, I’m experienced.’” She’s inventive, too. Try her new egg bites, made on a mini pancake machine with only brown farm eggs. Her menu features sugar-free flavors, whole milk, oat and almond milk, and more for your coffee, just the way you like it.

Bread is serious business to Yany. “I go every other day to a Cuban bakery just to get the freshest bread for my customers.” Ask around, and you’ll hear folks talk about the quality; Yany won’t cut corners, not with coffee, bread, or anything else she does. For six straight years, she’s earned “Best of Englewood,” and her coffee trailer is racking up five-star reviews, too.

She obsesses over details. Even her iced coffee comes with frozen coffee cubes, so your drink never waters down. “Everything’s about the taste.”

Then there’s Yany herself, with her bright clothes, matching shoes, and neon colors. “I’m colorful, not to stand out, but it makes me happy. People know me for my style.”

Her generosity spills over into the community. “We used to host car shows every few months and donate every dollar raised to help families in need.” She supports the Jubilee Center, volunteers at Kids Needs, and encourages her son to give back, who now volunteers at a local animal shelter.

So, what’s next? Yany dreams of opening a small, upscale Cuban restaurant someday. “Not a cafeteria, a real Cuban restaurant, quality over quantity.” For now, the coffee trailer is her steppingstone. “I want something to rely on for retirement, and this is it.”

Yany’s Feature Favorites
– Cuban Coffee: Hot or iced, always strong and rich.
– Mini Pancakes: Try unique combos like Pistachio & Cookie or Strawberry & Blueberry.
– Fresh Cuban Toast, fruit bowls, smoothies, and seasonal specials.

Yany’s motto? Brewing happiness, one cup at a time. They craft every coffee by hand, pay attention to each detail, and welcome every customer like a friend.

Mark your calendars for this special event: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
Venice & Beyond Ladies Circle Gathering
Saturday, October 3rd, 10:00 a.m.
Yany’s Cafe, 976 S River Rd, Englewood

Come out, grab a coffee, enjoy homemade treats, and connect with wonderful people. All are welcome; see you there!

Yany is quick to point out how much she loves Englewood and the people who make the community special. “I’m grateful for the support; so many kind people.”

If you want to taste Englewood’s favorite Cuban coffee and meet the woman behind it, find Yany at:
Yany’s Café
976 S River Rd, Englewood, FL 34223
Phone: 727-225-5472

Hours
Mon–Fri: 7:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Sat: 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. (see social for weekend hours)
Sun: Closed

Instagram: @yanyscafe | Facebook: Yany’s Café
Contact: yanysespresso@gmail.com,  727-225-5472

The post Brewing Up Triumph: How One Woman Turned Post-Hurricane Heartbreak into Englewood’s Favorite Cuban Coffee Café appeared first on Englewood Review.

Coming off the record-breaking 2025 APBA Offshore Powerboat Championship, Waterfest, Inc. is set to return October 8–11, 2026. Last year’s races drew huge crowds. Forty-one boats battled it out over two days, roaring through tight heats with the Gulf backdrop setting the stage. It wasn’t just about the adrenaline, local businesses, civic groups, and hundreds of volunteers made their mark. Families explored educational exhibits, sampled what local shops and restaurants offer, and got a crash course in safe boating and marine conservation.

“Our championship spotlighted skill, teamwork, and community pride,” said Jay Henderson, Board of Directors President. “We hosted thousands, lifted up our small businesses, and showed off Englewood’s natural beauty. Our volunteers brought the event to life. Next year? We’re aiming even higher.”

Veterans and new contenders kept fans riveted, delivering photo finishes and memorable performances. Race officials ran a tight ship, well-organized courses, clear timing, and prime viewing spots for both onshore crowds and boat spectators. Racers and fans praised the logistics, sightlines, and all-around hospitality.

Ray LaBadie, Waterfest Board 1st Vice-President, summed it up: “This event shines because of our race teams, their families, and everyone who traveled here. Our dedicated board, generous sponsors, and especially 500 volunteers—without their energy, passion, and commitment, Waterfest wouldn’t be this incredible.”

Ralph Young, Board 2nd Vice-President and Race Director, added: “We’re ready to keep the momentum going—2026 Waterfest, October 8–11, will be even bigger.”

Money raised at the championship funds ongoing Waterfest programs, covering future spectator events, competitions, and education initiatives built to highlight and protect Englewood’s waterways. The Waterfest team remains dedicated to promoting responsible recreation, marine conservation, and deepening community ties, all through events that bring visitors and locals together.

Englewood Beach Waterfest, Inc. is a Florida-based nonprofit, staging races, shows, and forums for water sports fans. Their mission? Host high-quality events, boost the local economy, and foster environmental awareness.

2026 Waterfest brings a packed schedule:

– Pirate Poker Run: Saturday, September 12
– Paddle for the Pass Cleanup: Saturday, October 3
– Inflated Invitational Beach Race: Friday, October 9
– Waterfest Block Party: Friday, October 9
– APBA Offshore Championship: Saturday and Sunday, October 10 & 11

Mote Marine Laboratory will set up five exhibits for Waterfest’s Family Conservation Center

Fin-Tastic Friends — Get to know sharks and rays, backed by Mote’s latest research.

Florida Watersheds — Encounter local wildlife and learn how you can help preserve our watersheds.

Marine CSI — Step into the shoes of Mote’s rescue team. Touch real dolphin bones, inspect skulls, and solve marine mysteries.

Spineless Sea — Meet sea stars, squids, horseshoe crabs, and more. Explore their wild adaptations and why they need protection.

Radical Reefs — Unravel whether corals are plants, animals, or minerals. See how Mote scientists are working to protect and restore coral reefs.

And there’s more: Butterfly Encounter, Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Lemon Bay Conservancy, Lemon Bay High School AquaLab and Marine Club, Peace River Wildlife Center, PRSAR, Restore Our Oceans, SWFL Sea Turtle Rescue, Venice Photo Booth, and Wildlife Center of SWFL/Venice.

Kids can jump into face painting, crafts, and games. It’s all free.

Want your family to dig deeper into marine life and conservation? Then don’t miss the Family Conservation Center during Waterfest, October 10 & 11, 2026, at Englewood Beach. Bring everyone, there’s something for all ages.

Click here for more information about the activities at Mote Marine Laboratory.

Click here for more information about Englewood Beach Waterfest.

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Let’s talk about the Jubilee Center and the important work they do for the community. It’s a ministry run by St. David’s Episcopal Church, founded in 2008 by Pat Knox, and after sixteen years, it’s still going strong, offering hope for folks right in Englewood.

SDJC’s mission is to empower the poor and the oppressed. The team’s out there delivering direct help: food, clothing, and more. The center operates as St. David’s Episcopal Church’s outreach ministry, serving families, individuals, and people without homes throughout the greater Englewood area.

Here’s what the Jubilee Center provides:

Food Pantry: Residents from both Charlotte and Sarasota counties can pick up food, non-perishables, fresh produce, frozen meat, every other week. If you’re unhoused, you can drop in weekly. They also hand out toiletries, hygiene products, and pet food when they have it.

Pat’s Kindness Closet: Free clothing and shoes.

Financial Aid: Short-term help with utility bills like FPL and the Englewood Water District, and referrals to other agencies.

Backpack Ministry: Working with Community Presbyterian, they fill backpacks with kid-friendly, nutritious food for local students every two weeks during summer break.

Money raised at The Night of Empowerment goes directly into these outreach programs, making a real difference for Englewood families. Laura Roy Fink from St. David’s Jubilee Center summed it up well: “The Night of Empowerment reflects the heart of Englewood, neighbors helping neighbors. We’re grateful to The Waverly for keeping this tradition alive and making our work possible.”

If you want to sponsor, or reserve your spot at the event, just call The Waverly at 941-475-3500.

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No more painting murals directly on walls in Punta Gorda. Those days are over, as the Punta Gorda Historic Mural Society has lived through the headaches. All too often the Society is trying to rescue another piece of public art that’s failing. After three decades, they’ve lost too many murals to crumbling stucco, water intrusion, hurricane damage, or simple redevelopment. 

Their mission is simple: to protect Punta Gorda’s deep history through art and education.

Imagine a city where everyone gets involved: learning, sharing, and celebrating our story. That’s why artists create public murals that tell the tales of our past, right on the city’s walls. Their goal is to put Punta Gorda on the map as a leading Mural City and a top spot for history tourism.

Since 1995, the Punta Gorda Historic Mural Society (PGHMS) has been a volunteer-run nonprofit committed to this work. Thanks to strong support from neighbors, they’ve filled the city with vibrant, meaningful murals.

As an honored member of the Florida Mural Trail, they encourage you to explore the other mural cities across the state too. What a wonderful mission to keep our stories alive.

Preserving Our Past, Preserving Our Murals

The Society has lost at least nine murals to structural problems, old stucco, leaks, those kinds of things. Hurricanes and new construction took out eleven more. Every time, it stings. This isn’t just about losing art. These murals are physical slices of local history, stories made public.

Take the mural on the south wall of the Old Charlotte County Courthouse, commissioned in 2014. It highlights George Brown, a Black landowner who sold his land for the courthouse. Within two years, disaster: after a heavy rain, bubbles swelled on the mural’s surface. Water had crept in, and by the time anyone realized, most of the painting had lifted off.

They took a high-res photo and glued it as a vinyl print to aluminum. But vinyl doesn’t survive Southwest Florida’s sun and humidity. That’s when the Society stepped in and had it repainted the mural-on-mural cloth. Now, it’s back, hand-painted, and everyone hopes, safe for much longer.

Mural cloth is thin, almost batten-like material. Most local buildings are old, built on shifting sandy soil, and they just keep settling and cracking. The answer? Aluminum panels. Now, with removable screws, the Society can take the art down before storms. Though, interestingly, recent hurricanes have left the murals nearly untouched, sometimes faring better than the buildings themselves.

A perfect example would be the three Boat Club murals in Gilchrist Park. Hurricane surge flooded the building, washing all kinds of things into the harbor, even their dishes. The murals? Submerged halfway, came out spotless. Just needed to wipe it down.

Another advantage of the removable aluminum setup is that it preserves the mural even if the building undergoes demolition or significant alterations. It’s not just a practical fix; it’s a way to keep their history safe from Florida’s weather, development, and all the chaos that comes with both.

Murals aren’t just decoration, they’re part of the culture, going back to the WPA era, when the government hired artists during the Great Depression. Nowadays, murals mark historic events and anchor neighborhoods. But outdoor art faces threats: storms, sunlight, age, and the simple fragility of the buildings they’re painted on.

When the Society realized mural cloth might be a permanent solution, they reached out to Mural Arts Philadelphia, a group with serious experience in public projects. Mural cloth isn’t just durable, it’s a bright-white, eco-friendly polymer fabric, created to stand up to years of sun and rain.

Every mural in Punta Gorda’s collection tells a story. 

Take George Brown, born in 1868, a master carpenter and entrepreneur. Brown and his partner, Peter Miller, started a shipyard in 1897. Brown hired based on skill, not race, and paid equal, fair wages, earning him a place as Florida’s first supposed “equal opportunity employer.” By 1916, he’d expanded the shipyard, bought up property, and at one point, owned half the land in Punta Gorda. He donated land to the local Black Masonic lodge, served on church boards, and in 1924, sold the courthouse land to Charlotte County, the same courthouse honored in the mural.

Michael Vires of Alpine, Texas, who also worked on other big Society pieces like “Cattle Drive Down Marion Avenue” and “Movie Memories painted the original mural.”

“Captivating Charlotte County” is another example, originally on the wall at the Best Western but destroyed by Hurricane Charley in 2004. When the mural society recreated it, they moved the design to Laishley Park Marina. But cracks formed in the new concrete wall almost right away, water seeped through, staining and damaging the paint. Repair attempts failed. Finally, the Society switched to curved aluminum panels. 

Even with mural cloth, maintenance matters. Good paint, solid structure, and a quality sealer keep artwork alive outdoors, but there are costs. Large or curved panels, especially custom ones, can be expensive. And the elements take their toll. Punta Gorda’s sun already faded the reds on some Boat Club panels. Every mural gets a maintenance fund, but sometimes even that’s not enough, especially after a hard hurricane season, so the community pitches in with fundraisers.

Removable panels have proven themselves in storms. The Boat Club murals, for instance, survived Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Milton. Surges flooded the building, but the murals just needed a wipe-down. The greater challenge is sunlight, red pigments fade fast, and touch-ups by Goodson are already necessary.

Ultimately, by switching to mural cloth on aluminum panels, the Society struck a balance, keeping art public, the stories alive, and not letting weather or change erase their history again. The solution’s not perfect, but for now, it’s as resilient as the people who care enough to keep painting.

Click here for more information.

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