February 21, 2021 10:34February 8, 2021 14:12January 27, 2021 13:47January 5, 2021 12:00December 15, 2020 11:15December 10, 2020 12:31December 6, 2020 17:00August 12, 2020 12:35September 10, 2020 14:41July 29, 2020 17:41July 29, 2020 17:41February 12, 2020 16:18May 10, 2020 10:46May 10, 2020 10:47May 10, 2020 10:47December 3, 2019 17:10December 4, 2019 12:43December 4, 2019 12:45December 4, 2019 12:48December 4, 2019 12:46

Notable Neighbors

A Woman Of Accomplishment Some people may stand out in our society because of a singular talent, be it pianist, writer or juggler. Others can be defined in a word or two by their careers, be they doctor, lawyer or master chef. But one needs at least four or five nouns and a few superlatives to characterize Linda Soderquist and what she’s achieved in her life. Thursday, February 18, 2021 click to read more

Notable Neighbors

She’s There For Children In Need Becca deRosa, Chair of Kids’ Needs of Greater Englewood, did not have a lot of needs herself as a kid. Born in Shreveport, Louisiana to William and Dorothy Creel, she grew up in Gibsonton, Florida, a small town on Hillsborough Bay just south of Tampa... Wednesday, February 3, 2021 click to read more

Notable Neighbors

He's The Man Behind The Spotlight A couple of years back, writer Dean Laux originated the “Notable Neighbors” for this newspaper, and we’ve published around 60 of his columns since then. He frequently gets asked why he doesn’t interview himself for the column, but he says, “Who–other than a certain U.S. president–feels comfortable trying to say nice things about himself? I’d much rather brag about the lives and achievements of the interesting folks around here. They’re truly amazing.” Thursday, January 21, 2021 click to read more

Notable Neighbors

She Keeps Us Connected Humans are social animals. We’re born into families, and they become integral to our lives. Those of us from the Greatest Generation may recall (if we can remember that far back) that in the Thirties families could be sizeable, with three or even four generations living in the same house, or at least in the same town, at the same time... Friday, December 18, 2020 click to read more

Friends of Osprey Junction Trailhead present free "TreeJuvenation Florida" webinar

Join Friends of Osprey Junction Trailhead (FOJT) for their “TreeJuvenation Florida” webinar, a 1-hour workshop on January 13, 2021. A grant from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation is underwriting this webinar... Wednesday, December 16, 2020 click to read more

Help with skunk conservation; report sightings to the FWC

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has launched a new community science project aimed at learning more about Florida’s skunk populations... Wednesday, December 9, 2020 click to read more

Notable Neighbors

A Man With A Mission Growing up in Queens, N.Y., John Catterson figured he’d become a cop or a fireman when he got out of school. His was a middle class family, he recalls. His dad was a bank teller who worked his way up to Vice President at Roosevelt Savings Bank, and his mom stayed at home to care for their handful of kids... Friday, December 4, 2020 click to read more

Notable Neighbors

The Lady Behind The Signs Of Our Times If you were to stand at a busy intersection in Englewood, waving a large sign in your hands, you’d expect at least some people to notice you. And Jean Ranallo can tell you it works. Thursday, July 30, 2020 click to read more

Notable Neighbors

Portrait Of An Artist As A Young Man Bill Farnsworth has to be one of the most visibly notable persons in our neighborhood. Look no further than the Hughes Gallery in Boca Grande or the Dabbert Gallery in Sarasota–or in some of the finest art galleries in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, North and South Carolina, Texas and Colorado–for evidence. Friday, July 17, 2020 click to read more

Notable Neighbors

She Sure Knows The Seashore She may not sell seashells by the seashore, but Brenda Bossman is the one to see if you’re interested in Southwest Florida’s shore life. She’s an independent consultant who, for years now, has worked with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Charlotte County, Lee County and others to help save our Florida shorebirds and sea turtles.  Wednesday, July 1, 2020 click to read more

Notable Neighbors

This Gal Has Had A Moving Career Kristine Sedra was and is a travelin’ gal, to put it mildly. In her 24 years as a professional caregiver, she has, by her count, “worked in 37 emergency departments in 12 states.”  Thursday, June 4, 2020 click to read more

Notable Neighbors

Where ‘The Dogs Are In Charge’ If Allan and Pamela Schildknecht say something to you about dogs, you’d better listen, because they know from experience what they’re talking about. During the 40 years of their marriage they’ve shared their house with over 160 dogs–fortunately, not all at the same time... Friday, November 22, 2019 click to read more

Notable Neighbors

The Travel Guy You could say that Dick Dunham has been a world traveler since the day he was born. His dad, Lt. Colonel Richard Weston Dunham Sr., was a 29-year career officer in the U.S. Air Force, and he moved around a lot, toting his family with him... Thursday, October 24, 2019 click to read more

Notable Neighbors

There's A Maven In Our Haven Though he probably hasn’t thought about it that way, Englewood’s Rich Entlich has been a problem solver pretty much all of his life... Math was his strong suit through grade school and high school, and everyone knows math is all about solving problems: word problems, numerical problems, equations, even “theories of everything” to explain our universe and how we got here... Thursday, October 10, 2019 click to read more

Notable Neighbors

She’s ‘where the magic happens' Jean O’Neil first came to Englewood during the summer after her graduation from Keene State College. Newly equipped with a degree in education and certified in art and English, she landed her first job … as a cocktail waitress... Friday, September 13, 2019 click to read more

Notable Neighbors

SEPTEMBER 11: A time to forget?  Everybody remembers where they were on September 11, 2001...  Englewood’s JoAnn Siciliano certainly remembers, because she was there. And for her, it’s a merciful day even now when she can repress her memories of that fateful event... Monday, September 2, 2019 click to read more

Notable Neighbors

An angel on his shoulder At age 96, Englewood’s Arthur Nicholas is one of a dwindling number of survivors of the “Greatest Generation” that endured the travails of the Great Depression and the even greater hardships of World War II... Wednesday, August 14, 2019 click to read more

Notable Neighbors

She’s ‘hearing the call, Englewood’ Noel Crosby had more than her share of problems growing up: a parental divorce “at a time when no one got divorced,” as she puts it, problems with a speech defect, low self-esteem, difficulty in school and a wrenching relocation from her Manchester, N.H. home... Wednesday, July 31, 2019 click to read more

Notable Neighbors

The ‘King of Cans’ Juergen Kroos is already noticeable in his neighborhood. On his 140-ft. by 100-ft. residential lot in Englewood Isles, he grows over 40 different fruits and vegetables, and he gives many of them away to friends and neighbors. Want some oranges, passion fruit, papayas, lemons, limes, plums, strawberries, pineapple, persimmon or bananas? He’ll get you a few... Thursday, July 18, 2019 click to read more

Notable Neighbors

He went from wine to water Englewood’s Kenn Visser pretty much by accident found himself in the businesses of growing fine wines and making pure water... Tuesday, July 2, 2019 click to read more