Usually, the team starts at 5:45 a.m. That means lineups, sprints, and calisthenics before a lot of kids have even hit snooze on their alarms. But it’s Thursday morning, September 17, 2026, and they actually “slept in” and didn’t start until 6:30 a.m. 

Still, no one’s late. The coaches don’t have to chase them down. That’s just how things are with this program; discipline isn’t optional, it’s automatic.

Coach Jason Mensing doesn’t waste time. As soon as he steps onto the field, the players huddle up and are ready. When asked what it’s like to run practices at the crack of dawn, he doesn’t sugarcoat it. “We switched to mornings over a year ago. We actually start at 6 a.m. with warm-ups from 5:50,” he says. “We moved practice before school for health and safety. We were dealing with so much lightning and heat in the afternoons that we’d go entire weeks stuck inside. Then, on game nights, the kids struggled to handle the weather. Morning practices let us get outside almost every day, and the temperature’s a lot like it’ll be at kickoff.”

And it’s paid off. “I’m thrilled with how it’s gone,” Mensing says. “The guys prefer getting the work done early, and it’s made a huge difference in our team’s discipline and academic performance. We’ve seen fewer discipline issues at school, too.”

Right now, Lemon Bay’s off to a solid start: 3-2 with both losses coming against some of the toughest teams in the area. The roster is young; they’re starting six sophomores, ten juniors, and even a freshman. But with this kind of work ethic, Mensing believes they’ll keep getting better and have a real shot at the playoffs.

Participation is higher than it’s ever been, and the standards haven’t dropped. That’s why the staff is excited not just for this season, but for the whole direction of the program. These early mornings aren’t just about football; they’re building something bigger.

Lemon Bay High School’s mission? Simple. They push students, teachers, and parents to come together as learners, striving for excellence in every area. Their beliefs are clear: every student can learn, each one brings unique value, and the school’s primary job is to help them do it. They rely on high expectations, teamwork, and a commitment that lasts beyond graduation. 

There’s a strong set of values, too: empowerment, community, resilience, innovation, safety, and more. This isn’t just a place to play football; it’s a school determined to help kids grow.

Walking on the field with the players in the dark, a few players turned to this reporter and said, “Good morning, ma’am.” These players are not just talented athletes; they’re polite, and all before 6:30 a.m. 

Back on the field, there’s a chant the players do before getting to work: “You for me! Enjoy your struggle! I trust you! Work!” It’s loud, it’s real, and it speaks volumes.

Ryan LaVallee, the Athletic Director for the Lemon Bay Manta Rays, watches it all with clear pride. He spoke with the REVIEW and confirmed Coach Mensing’s message regarding why they moved to morning practices. 

“When you practice in the afternoon down here, you’re constantly dodging lightning and high temperatures. We were losing one or two practices a week. Now? In almost two years, we’ve only missed a day and a half.”

What about the early alarms? Did parents complain? “Honestly, there was a little grumbling at first,” LaVallee explains. “The kids weren’t thrilled about getting up early. But now, they’re used to it; they actually like it. Plus, it means they get to school on time and have more free time after classes.”

This is only the second year of morning practices, but everyone’s buying in. The players are all here, before the coaches, ready to go.

How’s the season shaping up? LaVallee is optimistic. “We’re 3-2. Lost to a couple of really strong teams, but that’s a good test for us. We have a lot of good games left, and we feel good about our chances.” 

With Lemon Bay now in the new SSAA for football, the playoff format’s changed, but everyone’s eager to see where they’ll land.

The community spirit here is alive. JV just played at Sarasota Christian, and varsity is up against DeSoto County next. “Next week’s big: JV’s away, but varsity’s playing at home Friday night. Everyone should come out. It’ll be a great game. And Homecoming’s on the horizon, along with the Hall of Fame game. So yeah, there’s a lot to look forward to.”

At Lemon Bay, football is more than just wins and losses. It’s 5:45 a.m. wake-up calls, discipline, grit, teamwork, and building a program and a school that everyone can be proud of.

At the end of each month, the Lemon Bay High School Athletic Department announces the Female and Male Athlete of the Month along with the Good Sportsmanship Award. Here are the August recipients.

Click here for more information about the Lemon Bay High School Athletic Department.

The post Chasing Championships Before Sunrise: Inside Lemon Bay’s Early-Bird Football Program appeared first on Englewood Review.

Families can head to one of three kickoff events at Charlotte County libraries, all free and packed with hands-on fun. At these gatherings, kids get a close-up look at the world of flight, meet pilots, and pick up details about the reading challenge:

Mid-County Regional Library 

2050 Forrest Nelson Boulevard, Port Charlotte 

Saturday, September 12 | 2–4 p.m.

Englewood Charlotte Library 

3450 North Access Road, Englewood 

Saturday, September 26 | 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

Deelynn Bennett, Director of Education & STEM Programming for the Air Show, is spearheading this effort, working closely with partner organizations to get families across Charlotte County involved. Bennett sums up the program’s spirit: “Jet-Set & Read brings together reading and aviation, two gateways to discovery for children. Our goal is to inspire curiosity and provide young readers with a memorable experience at the Air Show.”

Denise Dull, President of the Florida International Air Show, adds, “Programs like Jet-Set & Read are central to our mission. Thanks to our community partners, we offer kids the chance to read, explore, and dream beyond their limits. We can’t wait to see them and their families at the Air Show in November.”

Jet-Set & Read builds on the Air Show’s ongoing commitment to aviation education and meaningful STEM experiences. By tying books to real-life activities and aviation adventures, the program helps kids see that reading isn’t just about stories; it sparks imagination and opens doors to future opportunities.

Mark your calendars: The 2026 Florida International Air Show comes to Punta Gorda Airport on November 7 and 8, celebrating America’s 250th anniversary with aerial displays, interactive exhibits, and plenty of family entertainment.

Want to learn more about Jet-Set & Read or the Air Show itself? Visit FloridaAirShow.com.

About the Florida International Air Show: 

This nonprofit connects families and kids with the excitement of aviation, supporting both STEM education and local charities. Every year at Punta Gorda Airport, the event gathers world-class performers, hands-on exhibits, and educational experiences that help shape the next generation of aviation and STEM leaders.

The post Reading Takes Flight: Florida Kids Can Earn Free Air Show Tickets in New Literacy Challenge appeared first on Englewood Review.

This is a big moment for an organization that works hard every day to support children and families throughout our community. The whole Kids’ Needs team and their dedicated volunteers deserve real credit. They’ve poured time and effort into making this new space inviting and useful.

“I want to thank the many sponsors, businesses, and individuals that helped put this remodel together, and to make it truly happen,” says Becca DeRosa, secretary and a member of the board of directors for Kids’ Needs Greater Englewood FL. “Our organization is so truly grateful for all the help. We could’ve never done it by ourselves at all, so thank you to Englewood and the many people and businesses that did help us.”

If you get a chance, stop by their boutique store. They’re at Tiffany Square, 2828 S. McCall Rd., Suite 38-39 in Englewood. The boutique opens Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon, but only when Charlotte County schools are in session. No need for appointments; they welcome walk-ins because they want to serve families right when they need help.

Kids’ Needs is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, completely run by volunteers who live right here. Their work stretches across Englewood, Rotonda, Boca Grande, and Placida, neighbors pitching in for neighbors. They collect and distribute school-approved clothes, school supplies, personal hygiene items, socks, underwear, and shoes. The goal? It’s simple but powerful: keep kids in school and out of harm’s way.

The support doesn’t stop there. They accept monetary donations, using those funds to replenish supplies, provide holiday assistance, and back youth programs both in schools and in the wider community. Each year, Kids’ Needs proudly awards three $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors at Lemon Bay High School, with the recipients chosen by the school staff.

Kids’ Needs has earned the community’s trust, not just as a nonprofit, but as a true neighbor. If you’re interested in getting involved, now’s the perfect time. There’s a place for you at Kids’ Needs, whether you want to volunteer, donate, or just spread the word. Your support helps Kids’ Needs make a real difference, one child and one family at a time.

Click here for more information about Kids’ Needs Englewood.

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Their mission is straightforward: they’re the united voice for Englewood across Sarasota and Charlotte Counties, working to promote health and wellness, especially by reducing and preventing youth substance abuse. They educate kids and parents, both in and outside of schools, and give them meaningful, mentored, substance-free activities outside of school. Creative arts have become a central part of this effort, offering something positive and engaging for young people to do.

The Englewood Community Coalition (ECC) is not just busy; they’re getting results. Since COVID, teen alcohol use dropped from 22% to 12% by last September. Every year, our youth surveys show fewer kids using substances and more kids understanding why it’s risky. 

Executive Director of the Englewood Community Coalition, Kay Tvaroch says, “I wasn’t directly involved with the coalition at the start. I worked for another big nonprofit, but I remember when the alcohol-fueled accident changed everything here. Historically, alcohol has been tangled up with local culture. Old-timers remember the ‘Whiskey Corners’ nightclub, where people came from all over. Englewood has always been a fishing town, a tourist spot, a party place. That kind of culture means local teens face higher substance risks than kids in some small Midwestern town.”

Parents and the wider community knew something needed to change. Even though the CDC funded Drug-Free Charlotte County for prevention, county lines excluded Englewood. Tvaroch says the only solution was to, “start our own coalition—which we did with their mentorship, tackling all the paperwork, research, and surveys it takes to secure a government grant. By 2015, we’d earned a Drug-Free Communities Grant. That’s about when I retired from my old job and joined the coalition.”

These grants run for five years at a time, with renewal if you stay on target and hit the government’s benchmarks. “We stretched it to 10 years total,” says Tvaroch. “But grants don’t last forever. Our CDC funds officially run out this September.”

That steady funding allowed the Englewood Community Coalition to keep going, even through COVID and the hurricanes. “We didn’t chase new donations when so many people were struggling,” explains Tvaroch. 

For ten years, including through COVID and three hurricanes, the CDC fully funded the Englewood Community Coalition. They didn’t ask the community for money during those tough years, but local churches and libraries backed them up with their spaces and staff help. 

“It’s key for us to move forward and keep building on our successes,” explains Tvaroch. “The ups, downs, all of it. What works for us isn’t lecturing or just telling kids, ‘Don’t do drugs.’ Instead, we address the bigger picture: what in the community pushes local teens toward alcohol and drugs? We’re a tourist town with a lot of empty houses, so there isn’t that ‘everyone knows the neighbors’ feeling. That lack of tight-knit oversight means greater risks for kids. Add to that the fact that most of Englewood’s public events are centered around adults. There’s less for teens, especially outside of sports.”

For over a decade, their coalition helped drive a 12% drop in youth substance use across the peninsula. They launched Fun Night Done Right and D-FY (Drug-Free Youth Memberships) to support kids with positive alternatives. Three years ago, they started Englewood Creative Arts, offering free classes at both Englewood libraries and the Boys and Girls Club so kids have genuine, fun options, not just more “don’ts.”

The core purpose of the Englewood Community Coalition is to be the voice for the Englewood and Cape Haze Peninsula, always pushing for health, wellness, and keeping our kids substance-free.

Southern Nights at the Rotonda Hills Golf & Country Club

Because the Englewood Community Coalition’s CDC grant ends this September 2026, it’s time: they’re hosting Southern Nights at Rotonda Hills on November 14. 

Tvaroch says, “This isn’t just another fancy fundraiser at the Rotonda Hills Golf & Country Club. It’s a lifeline for prevention and education efforts, leadership programs, and especially its creative arts for youth. Every dollar raised stays right here in the community, fueling projects that keep kids safe, strengthen families, and build a healthier Englewood.”

The evening features Southern cuisine, a Dixieland band, gambling tables, a live auction, dancing, and the opportunity to make an impact and change a child’s future. 

Tvaroch explains, “Fundraising is not our strength. Plus, we’re up against other community events that weekend, so we need both sponsors and people at the event.”

Englewood Creative Arts

Their message is simple: creative opportunities for everyone. Arts for All.

When parents sign their children up for the Englewood Creative Arts programs at the library, they also get materials from the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), brochures and guidance on talking to kids about alcohol, drugs, and healthy choices. Each week, kids take home something: a wristband, a trinket with positive, drug-free messages. “We don’t just preach at them; we help parents stay informed, one family at a time,” says Tvaroch. “Meeting parents face-to-face is the only reliable way to share these materials. Sending leaflets home almost never works—they just get lost in the shuffle.”

A few years ago, Tvaroch says their surveys found lots of athletic options for middle schoolers, but not much else. That’s when they teamed up with both Englewood libraries to offer free creative arts for youth, targeting ages 10 to 15. 

High schoolers have more choices, but younger teens, especially those around fifth grade, need this outreach. They also support Red Ribbon Week and other school initiatives, thanks to strong school resource officers like Mark Arnold at Englewood Elementary.

“Mark was the first in Englewood trained through LEAD, a program for school resource officers that covers not just drugs, but a range of health and safety issues,” says Tvaroch. “Now, Charlotte County’s training its officers in this approach too—so we hope to see it spread across more schools soon.”

“I’m proud of how we’ve created genuine opportunities for all kinds of kids,” says Tvaroch. “Not every child wants to play sports. Many can’t afford the cost of private lessons or classes. Our arts program means more children have a safe, welcoming, and affordable place to belong.”

Tvaroch says her key takeaway is this: “I’m old enough to know how fast time passes. These kids will be leading Englewood before we know it. Our job is to keep them safe, healthy, and substance free—give them every tool, every bit of inspiration we can.”

“This is why we need community support now. We want Englewood’s next generation of leaders to be healthy, substance-free, and inspired—and we’re not slowing down.”

A few of Englewood Community Coalition, Inc. and Englewood Creative Arts Org.’s upcoming events:

– Carnival game at Pioneer Park after next Monday’s parade. 
– Lemon Bay High School on September 4 and Lemon Bay Academy on the 11th. 
– “Community Talks” at Christ Community Church on September 15, with guests from the Department of Health, our schools, and Drug Free Charlotte. 
– Partnering in the Coastal Cleanup on September 19 with Keep Charlotte Beautiful and Tobacco Free Charlotte County.
– Free Fun Night Done Right Pizza Party for 10–15-year-olds at Christ Lutheran’s social hall on September 25.

Click here to check their website for more upcoming events, updates, and information about Southern Nights.

The post Teaming Up for Teens: Englewood Community Coalition Announces, ‘Southern Nights’ Golf Club Benefit appeared first on Englewood Review.

The course, which started in the 1961–1962 school year, ran for six weeks or a semester and focused on showing the dangers, errors, and perceived evils of communism when stacked up against American values. This requirement stuck around for over two decades before the legislature repealed it, officially in 1983, according to state archives, replacing it with economics. Even after the repeal, though, some schools hung on to remnants of the course before eventually phasing it out.

Now, Florida is back in the spotlight as it expands communism instruction for students in grades 6 through 12. This isn’t just a history lesson; students are diving into specific regimes like the Soviet Union, Mao’s China, and Castro’s Cuba. The new curriculum highlights the suppression of speech, religion, and individual freedoms that occurred under those governments.

This expansion lands right in the middle of a fierce political debate over what young people should think about capitalism and socialism. With socialism and even communism garnering increased attention, and some degree of favor among younger Americans, there’s fierce discussion over how schools should present these ideologies.

This question strikes especially close to home in Florida, where around 2 million residents have direct experience fleeing from communist or socialist governments in countries like Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. For many students, this means they aren’t learning about these ideologies just from textbooks; they’re hearing firsthand stories from family or neighbors who lived through it.

The intention behind the expanded curriculum is clear: to give students a deeper look into the history and ideological roots of communist movements, but also to let them grapple with actual accounts of life under these regimes. Beyond abstract definitions or dusty theory, they need to understand the practical tradeoffs, especially the consequences that come with concentrating too much political or economic power in the hands of the state.

Recent polls show a sharp generational divide. About 53% of Gen Z participants had a favorable view of socialism; just 45% felt positively about capitalism, and 38% viewed communism favorably. Numbers like these make the case, at least for some, that more comprehensive education around these topics isn’t just useful; it’s necessary.

As debates over political and economic systems continue nationwide, Florida’s curriculum changes look set to fuel discussions about how schools teach communism, socialism, capitalism, and what it all means for the next generation.

The post Florida Revives and Expands Anti-Communism School Curriculum Decades After Repealing Cold War-Era Law appeared first on Englewood Review.

If you’re looking for another spot to play, check out the playgrounds at Cedar Point Environmental Park or Ann & Chuck Dever Regional Park.

Questions? Contact Robin Schilb at Robin.Schilb@CharlotteCountyFL.gov, call 941-626-0574, or click here for the website.

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The Imagination Library isn’t just an idea. It’s a program that puts real books into little hands, helping kids dream, learn, and grow, all starting with a simple story. That’s Dolly’s legacy, and it’s one that sticks around, changing lives for generations to come. Thank you, Dolly, for turning little readers into lifelong dreamers.

Here in Florida, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library brings those stories straight to our communities through local partnerships. In Charlotte County, the Gilstad Literacy Foundation runs the program with support from groups like the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, sending free books to kids from birth to five years old. You can sign up locally through the Charlotte County Imagination Library. 

Sarasota County runs things through the Library Foundation for Sarasota County, making sure families get age-appropriate books right in the mail. 

In Lee County, the United Way keeps the program going, funding enrollment for young children across the area.

Dolly has made other memories here in Sarasota, too. She performed at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall back in 2011 for her Better Day World Tour. Even earlier, in 1968, she took the stage at Robarts Arena with Porter Wagoner as part of the Festival of Stars Country Music Jamboree.

What an incredible inspiration Dolly was to all. Dolly’s Imagination Library is a living legacy for children from birth right until their fifth birthday. If you want to get involved or sign up, just check with the Charlotte County Imagination Library for local details, explore what Sarasota’s Library Foundation offers for regional early literacy programs, or in Lee County, contact United for Reading. 

Thank you, Dolly, for making the world a better place. That’s how Dolly’s gift keeps growing: one book, one child, one dream at a time.

Click here for more information about Dolly’s Imagination Library.

The post Beyond the Stage: Honoring Dolly Parton and Her Global Literacy Legacy appeared first on Englewood Review.

This law took effect on July 1. For the first time, every student athlete in grades 9-12 needs an ECG screening before their first game or meet. Hundreds of students have already gone through it this school year, and for Cameron, it was life changing.

Initially, he experienced confusion. Why would he need a heart test? “I was confused at first because I have been playing sports my whole life and I haven’t had any symptoms of anything,” Cameron told WWSB ABC7 News.

The nonprofit Who We Play For performed his screening. That’s when they found the problem. Cameron was born with two small holes between the upper chambers of his heart, a defect he never knew about.

Doctors explained that the danger lies in how quietly the damage builds. With this specific type of defect, the danger is slow heart damage over time. By the time symptoms show up, it’s often too late.

Cameron still wanted answers. “I didn’t know what it was. I just wanted to know how to fix it,” he said.

Screenings like this matter because most student athletes look and feel healthy. That’s what makes these heart defects so tricky. Andres Barona, a cardiac sonographer at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, put it plainly: “The student athletes will have no idea they have these problems, and the small percentage that we have with positive findings can change their lives.”

Florida passed the Second Chance Act after a tragedy. Chance Gainer, a high school athlete, died after suffering sudden cardiac arrest during a football game on September 6, 2024. Chance wasn’t the first, or even the eighth, student to die like this that year. His mother, Equillar Gainer, couldn’t accept that nothing would change. “Chance was the eighth child to die that way the year he died, so something had to be done,” she said.

She teamed up with Evan Ernst, the co-founder of Who We Play For, to push for the law. The organization estimates that out of 100,000 Florida students screened, about 300 will discover a life-threatening heart condition before it’s too late.

For Laura Crider, the families who turned their heartbreak into action made all the difference. “In their grief and anger and everything else they had to feel, they decided not anybody else’s kids,” she said.

Now Cameron faces heart surgery in October. He’s got six months of recovery ahead of him, but already he’s waiting for the day he can get back on the field.

Click here for more information about Who We Play For.

The post The Law That Saved a Sophomore: 15-Year-Old Athlete Shocked by Heart Diagnosis appeared first on Englewood Review.

As you settle back into your driving routine, here’s the big one: slow down for school zones and always watch for kids near bus stops. 

When you see a school bus, remember the rules: if the yellow lights are flashing, it’s time to slow down and get ready to stop. When those red lights flash and the stop arm swings out, stop. No exceptions. That’s the law, and it’s one of the simplest, most effective ways to protect students.

The Florida Department of Transportation made this graphic explaining exactly when you need to stop for a school bus, depending on the road, so check it out if you’re unsure.

Put down your phone, watch your speed, and stay extra alert around schools and bus stops.

Here’s the reality: Florida sees around 2,700 school bus crashes a year. Of those, about 15% cause student injuries, and every year, over 10 people die in crashes tied to school buses across the state. 

Most accidents happen right when school starts up again in August and September, as drivers are still getting used to new traffic patterns. Even with those numbers, riding the classic yellow school bus is still much safer than taking a private car or walking.

One of the biggest dangers isn’t the bus drivers; it’s people illegally passing stopped buses. Florida sees thousands of these illegal passes in a single day across several school districts. Errors from other drivers, bad weather, or mechanical problems, not by the bus drivers themselves cause most crashes.

If you notice a safety issue near your school, let the district, School Board, or Transportation Department know. Speaking up keeps all children safer.

Let’s look out for each other, especially our children. Here’s to a safe and successful school year.

Click here for Florida Department of Transportation.

Click here for Sarasota County Schools. Click here for Charlotte County Schools.

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This wasn’t just any season opener; it was the first football game ever played at Wellen Park, and the Eagles didn’t disappoint. They cruised to a 45-7 victory over their rivals from North Port, putting on a show for a packed stadium in Sarasota County.

The atmosphere after the game was electric. Wellen Park High took to social media to soak it all in: 

“We’re still taking in everything that was last night. What a way to finish our first week at Wellen Park High School. 

To our families and our Wellen Park community—thank you.

Thank you for showing up. Thank you for packing Wellen Park Stadium. Thank you for cheering on our kids, our cheerleaders and our band. And thank you for being part of a night that we’ll remember for a long, long time.

There are going to be a lot of ‘firsts’ this year, but last night felt different. Walking around the stadium and seeing our students, families, staff and community all together—it felt like Wellen Park High School became a little more real.

We learned some things, we’ll keep getting better, and we appreciate the patience and grace you showed us throughout the week.

And getting to finish it all with the first football win in Wellen Park High School history? Pretty special.

One week down.

We’re just getting started.

Go Eagles!”

Wellen Park High School officially opened its doors to students on August 10, 2026, kicking off the 2026–27 school year. Before that, the community celebrated with a ribbon-cutting on July 28. Now, with their first victory in the books, the Eagles are off and running.

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