On September 26th and 27th, the league is hosting a charity tournament for the Lemon Bay High School swim team. Nichole Reyes, whose daughter is a senior swimmer, took charge of the fundraising. The swim team gets hardly any money for its season, so Nichole and the softball crew stepped up. The event features a coed tournament on the 26th, followed by a men’s tournament on the 27th. You’ll find concessions, raffle baskets, vendors, everything you need to help boost the team’s funds. Every dollar goes toward travel, new swim gear, uniforms, and more.

But this group is more than just softball. Listen to what the members say about what the team means to them, and to Englewood.

Kelly Williams, President and Coach, puts it simply: “Where I found my people, lost my patience, spent all my free time, and somehow wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Nichole Reyes, Security and Coach, shares her perspective: “Some people go to therapy. I go to the softball field. It’s not about wins and losses—it’s about escaping life for a while, finding peace between the lines, making memories, and being around people who turned into family.”

Coach Kenny Laymance keeps it light: “Play hard, have fun, compete and keep the good vibes!! YOLO.”

Derek Richardson, Security, gets to the heart of it: “If you want to be remembered, don’t just play the game. Leave everything you have on the field, lift your teammates up, and make every moment count.”

Here’s to another incredible season, on and off the field.

For information go to https://sportsplus.app/public/6518/schedule or check out their Facebook page Englewood Adult Softball League, Inc.

The post Softball with a Heart: Englewood League Steps Up to Bat for Local High School Swimmers appeared first on Englewood Review.

Early Monday morning, well before most people’s coffee kicked in, 14 ham radio operators from EARS spread out along the parade route. Their mission? Make sure the parade ran smoothly, no matter what.

“Kim Parks from the Chamber of Commerce handed us the basic plan,” explained Ken Blackshaw of EARS. “From there, we got practical. First challenge: organizing the staging area in Obie’s parking lot. That’s always a bit of a circus. Parade entries rarely show up in order, so it turns into a puzzle every year, shuffling groups around until everyone is where they need to be. Some groups arrive at the last minute, hoping to jump the line, and sometimes they manage it, too.”

And then there are the details only parade veterans appreciate: horses. It’s a parade necessity; the crowd loves them, but you don’t want them in front of the marching band for reasons that are probably obvious.

Of course, there’s also the Shriners. Everybody loves the Shriners, so EARS tried to spread them out in the lineup. Shriners keep the energy up from start to finish.

At the scheduled time, the parade got underway. If you saw it from above, it’d look like a slow-motion version of unspooling yarn: threads gradually working themselves out, winding from the parking lot through twisting side streets, and eventually stretching out onto Dearborn Street where the crowds wait. “It’s a lot more complicated than it looks,” laughs Ken.

The first groups, usually seasoned marchers, set a lively pace. The groups behind them? Sometimes they’re more focused on tossing candy than keeping up. Suddenly, a massive gap opens up, and it threatens to turn one big parade into a few smaller, disconnected ones. That’s when the radio operators riding along really became essential, relaying updates so they could pause the front ranks until everyone caught up.

It all worked out. The parade kept its shape; the crowd enjoyed every moment, and the good luck held, as the rain waited until the very end.

By the time everything wrapped up, the Chamber of Commerce seemed pleased. Having skilled radio operators at every key spot meant problems were spotted and solved before anyone noticed. EARS is already looking forward to next year, ready to fine-tune things even further. That’s just what they do: keep showing up for the community of Englewood.

The post EARS to the Rescue: Ham Radio Operators Helped Make the Pioneer Days Parade Smooth Sailing appeared first on Englewood Review.

The core issue is that developers want to put up a four-story, 96-unit apartment complex at the intersection of SR 776 and Old Englewood Road, right at the end of the airfield’s runway. You don’t need to be a pilot to see the problem: a tall building just beyond a runway introduces obvious safety and airspace risks. Planes need an unobstructed, safe approach. Adding a multi-story building so close to flight paths puts pilots, residents, and the local environment in danger.

Many residents feel frustrated because officials never gave them any official notice about this project or the meeting itself. People found out through word of mouth, not from any formal process. This kind of lack of transparency leaves folks feeling shut out of decisions that could permanently change their neighborhood.

The area isn’t just home to a small, historic airport; Buchan Airfield is a place for local events, and its surrounding wetlands host a variety of nesting wildlife. There are claims that the construction of The Gateway Court threatens to destroy much of this fragile habitat. The development doesn’t just endanger pilots; it puts local wildlife and Englewood’s charm at risk.

Many residents believe the airfield, the wildlife, and the very fabric of the neighborhood are at stake. At moments like this, many voices hold importance, particularly when the people most affected have not received a seat at the table.

The Gateway Court project isn’t just about new apartments. It’s about safety, transparency, local heritage, and protecting the airfield and wetlands that make this part of Englewood unique. 

The Meeting

At the neighborhood workshop, residents and local pilots didn’t hold back; they opposed the Gateway Court project and hammered away at serious safety issues. 

The idea of putting a four-story building right on the edge of the Buchan Airfield runway? Most people in the room thought that was reckless. Residents pointed to recent runway accidents across the country. “Why risk it here?” a few asked, clearly worried about airspace safety and the possibility of crashes.

Brian Lichterman, president of Vision Planning and Design, LLC, organized the workshop, but not as a formal step; he wanted feedback before moving ahead with any official paperwork at Sarasota County. The developer’s side tried to calm fears, saying, Buchan isn’t some giant commercial airport. It’s a small, local airstrip with its own set of county rules. But that explanation didn’t win over the crowd.

At one point, the property owner even asked whether people would rather see a commercial development instead of apartments. The answer was still no. People just didn’t want high-density buildings there at all. They argued that building here would threaten the airfield, cut into wildlife space, and put one of Englewood’s last historic spots at risk.

In the end, the meeting wasn’t the place for any final decisions or votes. It was just a first step, a way to hear what the neighborhood thought unofficially. And the message came through loud and clear: they want to protect what’s already there.

This is a developing story. We will update this page as more information becomes available.

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Our little newspaper isn’t just sticking around town these days; it’s going places. Recently, Terrence and Melinda LeCompte from Englewood packed their bags for the wild beauty of Slieve League Cliffs in Donegal, Ireland, and tucked their copy of the REVIEW right into their suitcase.

What about you? Bring the REVIEW along the next time you set off somewhere new or memorable and snap a photo of yourself with it. Perhaps you’re lounging on a sunny beach, hiking up a mountain trail, or just relaxing in a cool little café. Send the photo our way. Let’s see how far the REVIEW can go.

How to participate:

1. Grab your copy of the Englewood REVIEW.
2. Snap a photo of yourself with it in an exciting or unique location (a tropical beach, a mountain peak, or even your favorite cozy local café).
3. Share your photo in the comments below or post it on your feed and tag us! Better yet, email it to michele@englewoodreview.com and we’ll feature you in an upcoming edition.

Happy Travels!

The post Join the Adventure: Show Us Your Englewood REVIEW Traveling the World appeared first on Englewood Review.

The calendar and bulletin section covers everything happening on September 11th as well as throughout the next two weeks, so you’ll have the events laid out for you. In the travel feature, “Join the Adventure,” Terrence and Melinda LeCompte from Englewood took their REVIEW along as they explored the stunning Slieve League Cliffs in Donegal, Ireland. We’ve included a photo from their trip in this edition. Of course, they are posing with the REVIEW.

Pioneer Days 2026 really brought the energy, didn’t it? This month’s profile focuses on Courtney DeFilippis, our Pioneer Days Mayor 4 a Day. Dive into her story and learn about her work with The Literacy Center for Dyslexia, a nonprofit that founded.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of September 11th. Today and every day, we remember those we lost and those still healing. Quiet moments of reflection remind us of the past, while we celebrate the heroes among us and promise to never forget.

The post Englewood’s Latest REVIEW Hits the Stands appeared first on Englewood Review.

Every contest and parade float carries a memory, and this year, the stories revolve around Talen Garrett, who’s 11, and his little brother, Aeson. This year’s champion is Aeson, just six years old, who took home the top prize at the watermelon and pie-eating contest.

Englewood REVIEW sat down to talk with their mom, Karis Russell, who was happy to fill us in on their story.

Karis explained, “Aeson’s my youngest; he just turned six. Talen’s 11, and Pioneer Days has always been something we look forward to as a family.”

Apparently, watermelon and pie-eating is a talent that runs in the family. Karis explains, “Talen’s won more than once. Actually, not last year but the year before, he was up against a younger girl. Her dad had won the pie-eating contest, and Talen realized how much it mattered for her to win with her dad. So before the medal ceremony, he quietly told the folks at the Dearborn Coffeehouse who organized the event not to give him the prize, but to pass it to the girl. He did it so smoothly that nobody noticed until afterward. That’s just how he is, a sweetheart. He also won a bike raffle and gave away his bike to another kid.”

That was a couple of years ago. Last year, Talen won another bike in the raffle, and he gave that one away too. 

Karis laughed as she explains how Talen cheered for his brother Aeson during the contest. “He started calling Aeson ‘Hana,’ from Lilo & Stitch. It’s supposed to be ‘Ohana,’ but he couldn’t say the ‘O.’ It’s funny. He’s so gentle, always nudging people to the front, helping out.” 

Karis says that Aeson is a little powerhouse. “He’s beaten grown men in the pie-eating contest. He took both the watermelon and pie prizes back-to-back for two years running. Last year, he came in second, but the year before that, he won both.”

She added, “Talen loves to win, but if he sees another kid who would appreciate something more, he gives it away. He said, ‘I already have a bike. They look so excited—maybe it’s their first bike.’ That’s just how he’s always been. Like when that girl really wanted to win, her dad had already won, and Talen just slid his medal to her. No hesitation. So sweet.”

Karis is a cancer survivor and has been in remission for a year. “Both my boys are wonderful. When I went through eighteen rounds of chemotherapy, my youngest was just three years old. He’d pull laundry in for me, put it in the wash. Always saying, ‘I got it, I got it.’ They’re both just like that, thoughtful and caring.”

Both Talen and Aeson have won Little Mr. Englewood. After winning the diaper derby, a local paper highlighted Talen. “Aeson missed out,” she explains. They didn’t hold it his year because of COVID. But when Talen won Little Mr. Englewood, he played a mini-piano for the crowd.”

We jokingly asked, “Okay, Karis, level with us: do you train these kids for the Pioneer Days contests all year?”

She laughed, “Yes, they eat a lot of pies! Especially when you see my little one eat, you’ll wonder how he does it. I tell him, ‘Boy, you need to compete against the adults!’ They really are both wonderful.”

The post Englewood Brotherly Love: Pioneer Days Champion’s Biggest Fan Is His Big-Hearted Big Brother appeared first on Englewood Review.

But on September 9, 2026, just days before the hearing, Kelly moved to withdraw her case. Kelly explains, “It is extremely difficult to make this motion. It’s a heavy weight to carry, and even harder not to complete. I just don’t have the time to review discovery and prep for a final trial. I’ve never done this before, but I was willing to try my best. At this point, I can’t properly represent myself or the other witnesses given the rushed timeline. I’d only have a single weekend to review everything and get all the paperwork together by the 14th.”

Kelly went into detail in her motion, laying out exactly why she couldn’t move forward. She tried to preserve the record, stating: 

“You can see the language from my filing. I’m relying on it and keeping the record intact. It’s a travesty that ordinary people must endure this process when their livelihoods and safety are at risk. 

“I’m deeply disappointed seeing the county’s failures up close. Development keeps favoring developers again and again. Developers lead, not elected commissioners. Commissioners pass responsibility to developers. They let developers negotiate buffers, and later they don’t even maintain them. Developers make promises to residents with no backing. All at the taxpayer’s expense! Meeting after meeting, residents plead with commissioners not to flood their property, not to destroy what they’d worked for. Yet new development keeps taking priority over the people and families who’ve built these communities for decades, even their entire lives. 

“The hypocrisy is stunning, like Commissioner Mast saying, ‘If you’re new to Florida, welcome to Florida, it floods!’ The responsibility-shirking is appalling. The county spends money building fancy trails, but can’t take care of its own people. Maybe commissioners would act differently if their pay depended on actually representing the people. We wouldn’t have trouble with term limits, either.”

Kelly Bauman’s official motion to withdraw included detailed reasons:

She started this proceeding in good faith to challenge the agency action. She tried to pursue the case as best she could, but the existing schedule made it impossible. The technical discovery left: stormwater, drainage, engineering, and environmental-resource-permit matters is crucial. 

She served written discovery on Sarasota County in July, and the county was supposed to reply in August. They asked for more time, needing help from their expert engineer, Ben Quartermaine, who wasn’t available. Kelly didn’t oppose the request, and the extension was granted. The county served responses in late August, but pointed Kelly to third parties for technical information.

The county also identified Quartermaine as its expert witness, stating that he reviewed application materials about stormwater and permit compliance. So, after getting extra time to answer, the county handed off responsibility to ESWG/Stantec while naming Quartermaine their expert on the same issues.

Kelly pursued discovery from ESWG right away, filing notices and motions to request more discovery time and a delay for the hearing. She raised concerns about the compressed schedule before the discovery period ended and before her computer broke down, which added insult to injury. Her laptop was in for repairs during crunch time; not expected back until the discovery deadline. This tech failure made an impossible timeline even worse. Still, her concerns about the schedule came first, not the laptop.

The Administrative Law Judge held a hearing on September 1 to address these issues. The judge recognized the county’s responses as a material issue, saw that Kelly was forced to pursue new discovery after August 21, and acknowledged that the time needed to finish discovery would run out before the parties could prepare for the hearing. The judge asked Kelly to narrow her interrogatories to thirty total, including subparts, and she complied. All discovery, including depositions, needed to be done by September 11, with the final hearing scheduled for September 21.

Kelly laid out that the remaining window wouldn’t let her receive, review, or understand the technical materials, identify follow-ups, decide which depositions were necessary, or prepare for the hearing. She couldn’t make sense of which witnesses or experts she actually needed without first reviewing the technical discovery. She didn’t want to waste witnesses’ time or depose experts without first understanding the materials herself.

She stated clearly: proceeding under these circumstances meant either going forward without meaningful use of the technical discovery, or rushing to analyze complex engineering and environmental data, decide on witnesses, prep for depositions, and get ready for trial, all in days. 

Given the situation, Kelly chose to withdraw, not delay or request another extension. She reiterated: this was not about stalling, and fundraising concerns were separate and related to the broader legal fight, not this administrative case. She’d gotten legal help for other aspects, but represented herself here. The fundraising wasn’t for delay.

Her withdrawal wasn’t because her concerns about flooding, drainage, permitting, or the broader issues had been resolved or abandoned. She didn’t concede their merits, nor did she ask the Administrative Law Judge to decide on them now. She requested only permission to withdraw, that the Division close the file and relinquish jurisdiction, that the September 21 hearing and prehearing deadlines be canceled, and that each party pay its own attorney’s fees and costs.

In addition, if anyone seeks fees or costs against her, she wants proper notice and a chance to respond. She’s conferred (or tried to confer) with all the other parties. ESWG agreed; the others’ positions weren’t stated.

Kelly Bauman, appearing pro se, respectfully requested the court to allow withdrawal, close the file, cancel the hearing, terminate any remaining deadlines, let each party cover its own fees and costs, and grant any other relief the Administrative Law Judge sees fit.

Kelly Bauman and the Oppose Manasota Beach Road group have bravely pushed back every step of the way. They showed up at protests, stood in front of microphones at public meetings, and called out developers, asking pointed questions that mostly still hang in the air, ignored. Along the way, they’ve felt triumph and disappointment. It takes immense courage to stand up for yourself, and equal courage to recognize when the system’s timelines prevent a fair fight.

The post ‘I Can’t Properly Represent Myself’: Kelly Bauman Ends Legal Case Under Rushed Timeline appeared first on Englewood Review.

The 70th annual Englewood Pioneer Days filled Englewood, Florida with disco fever over Labor Day weekend, running September 5th through 7th, 2026. To mark the milestone, the whole town leaned into a playful “70s Disco” theme, with bright colors, big hair, and a lot of polyester. 

Families and neighbors turned out in full force, packing three days with crafts, food stalls, live music, pirates roaming the streets, and parade entries dripping in disco flair.

Saturday kicked off with the ever-popular Cardboard Boat Races at Indian Mound Park, thanks to the Englewood Sailing Association and Lasbury Tracy Realty. Teams showed off their creativity (and, sometimes, a questionable sense of physics), cheering each other on as homemade boats bobbed and raced for the finish.

Sunday brought one of the festival’s cutest moments: the Diaper Derby, put on by the Lemon Bay Women’s Club. Carson K. took home first place, with Bodie A. following up in second, a photo finish.

Everything built up to Monday’s Pioneer Day Parade. Floats lined up at the Englewood Shopping Center, then rolled down Dearborn Street to the Veterans Memorial Pavilion, with WENG Radio broadcasting live as the crowd clapped and danced along.

And Pioneer Park and Pioneer Plaza buzzed with activity the whole weekend. The Englewood Chamber kept families busy with games and contests: pie and watermelon eating (hosted by Amy Gonzales and The Dearborn Coffeehouse) drew big, hungry crowds. Dale Shumate kept everyone movin’ with live music, rain showers or not.

A huge thank you to the Englewood Chamber and all the generous sponsors who worked so hard to pull off this amazing event for the Englewood community. Here’s to a fantastic anniversary bash. Can’t wait to do it all again next year.

The post Boogie Fever Hooks Englewood: 70th Pioneer Days Grooves into the History Books appeared first on Englewood Review.

Start things off at the Captain’s Party, the official registration, on Friday, September 11, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Sandbar Tiki & Grille. 

On Saturday morning, get yourself checked in at The Backyard at Skip’s Marina between 8:30 and 10:00 a.m.

The Poker Run is the main event, and runs from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. You’ll hit at least five of seven stops scattered across the area, by boat, by car, or even by motorcycle. Each stop, like Rum Bay, Endzone Bar & Grill, or Sportman’s Pub, hands you a poker chip. Collect at least five, then show your hand at Lighthouse Grill and Tiki Bar from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., where the tournament and after-party lights up the night.

You’re playing for genuine treasure here: $500 to the top poker hand, $250 for second, $100 for third, and special contests for best pirate costumes and best decked-out boat. Pre-register for $40 or pay $45 if you wait until the day of the event.

It’s not just about cards and costumes, either. Pirates of the Floridian bring the music from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., then Marker 5 Band takes over from 5:00 to 8:00. 

The air hums with stories of gold doubloons, gemstone-laden chests, leather pouches stuffed with diamonds and pearls. Imagine that old Spanish loot spilling across split timbers and silver bars.

History breathes through this event. In 1493, a nineteen-year-old named Juan Ponce De LeÓn sailed with Columbus to the New World. Twenty years later, he led Spanish galleons along Florida’s coast, mapping the land, chasing treasure, and tangling with the Calusa, who fought back hard enough to send him retreating, wounded, to Cuba. Ponce De LeÓn’s death in 1521 didn’t close the chapter; it shifted Florida into the true pirate era.

Back then, pirates were no joke: brutal, desperate, and deadly. The Gulf Coast swarmed with an estimated 5,000 of them during their heyday from 1715 to 1735. They knew these tangled waterways better than anyone, slipping away from pursuers who risked their ships and lives in unfamiliar waters.

“Dana Lutz and the Pirate Poker Run team are so pleased with the overwhelming support from the Englewood community,” says Ray LaBadie. “We look forward to seeing everyone on the water helping us support Englewood Beach Waterfest and our local restaurants and businesses. ARRRRGG!”

If you’re looking for excitement, history, and maybe a taste of treasure, mark your calendar. Register now and join the adventure, matey!

Click here for more information and to register.

The post Shiver Me Timbers: Pirate Poker Run Deals a Wild Hand to Kick Off Englewood Beach Waterfest appeared first on Englewood Review.

One of the most exciting events to ever take place in Rotonda was the 1973 Superstars Competition. This “sporting” event, broadcast nationally by ABC TV, not only attracted millions of viewers but also helped to popularize Rotonda as an ideal Florida resort community. During the five-year run of the show, interest in Rotonda increased greatly as viewers were given a snapshot of the “Florida Lifestyle.”

The original idea for the Superstars came from Olympic skating star Dick Buttons. After winning the Sullivan Award as America’s top amateur athlete in 1948, Buttons felt he really wasn’t our country’s best athlete. Button formulated an idea at this time that there must be a way to find out just who is the best all-around athlete in America. Button didn’t act on his idea for another 25 years until he became an influential television analyst for figure skating. In 1973 Button founded his own production company and pitched his idea for a professional athletes’ decathlon. Unfortunately, all three networks turned down his idea. Things quickly changed as Buttons acquired Fram Filters as a half-sponsor for the show. ABC Sports, which had lost the broadcast rights for NBA games and was looking for a new sports program to fill its weekend sports slot, agreed to broadcast the show. All that was needed now was a place to host the event. ABC mounted an intense search for a place that featured ideal weather and facilities that would cover all ten sports in the competition.

Joe Klein, the original developer of Rotonda, was delighted when he was informed Rotonda was selected as the host of the first Superstars Competition to be held in February 1973. Klein was especially excited that Rotonda would be publicized week after week to millions of viewers on network TV. Don Ohlmeyer, an award-winning sports producer at ABC, was given the job of organizing the entire affair. The ten events would be taped on February 19, 20, and 21 and would be shown in a special two-hour presentation on February 25.

Ed McMahon, Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show sidekick and Rotonda spokesman for Joe Klein, was chosen as the official host for the Superstars. Before and during the competition, McMahon hosted many parties at his Rotonda home for TV, sports, and media types.

Before the games began, construction began on living quarters for the athletes, and the building of the various venues for the ten events. Crews worked day and night, as Klein put in $1 million towards construction costs. A condominium complex, an Olympic pool, and a PGA-rated golf course were quickly built. In Rotonda Shores, a 36-acre park was built featuring a track and field oval, canals for rowing, a baseball diamond, and a portable bowling alley.

Some of the top names in professional sports were invited to compete. Among those accepting invitations were: Johnny Bench, baseball; Joe Frazier, boxing; Bob Seagren, pole vaulting; and Johnny Unitas, football. Prize money for the contestants totaled $122,000. This was not all, however, as residual TV contracts, personal appearances, commercials, and endorsements all sweetened the pot. Joe Klein also presented each athlete with a Rotonda lot, worth about $8,500 at that time.

Each competitor could pick seven of the ten events that they wanted to compete in. Athletes could not compete in their own sport, however. Jim McKay, ABC sports announcer, was chosen to be the commentator for the show, and Howard Cossell also made a guest appearance. After seven grueling events, pole vaulter Bob Seagren eventually won the first superstars’ competition, getting $39,700 for his efforts.

An unforgettable moment happened in the 50-meter swimming event as competitors lined up to swim two laps of the pool. Joe Frazier did a massive belly flop into the water and barely made it to the other side of the pool. As it turned out, Frazier almost drowned and later realized that he didn’t know how to swim.

Audience reaction to the Superstars was so good that ABC returned to Rotonda in 1974 for another five weeks of shows. Table tennis, however, was eliminated as a sport, replaced with an obstacle course which became one of the most popular events in future contests. Superstars remained in Rotonda for five years, from 1973 to 1977. By 1975, women began to have their own Superstars competition, with volleyball star Mary Jo Peppler winning the first women’s contest.

Klein had signed a ten-year contract with ABC to broadcast the Superstars from Rotonda. However, by 1977, ABC wanted to broaden the television coverage for the Superstars and decided to look elsewhere to stage the contest. After ABC left Rotonda, it continued to broadcast the show for another seven years. By 1984, however, ratings had dropped, and ABC cancelled the Superstars altogether.

For a brief period of five years, Rotonda was the sports entertainment capital of the world. Even though the Superstars left in 1977, Rotonda had gotten the “jump start” it needed to expand as a resort community. It hasn’t stopped growing since.

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