Around The Town

Friday Night Dances
Creators Farm and Garden announces they are now holding Friday night dances in their covered barn from 6 to 9pm. Your admission includes line dancing lessons, s’mores by the fire and you are free to explore the five acres of gardens. Dances in May are Friday, May 17 and Friday, May 31. Admission is $15 adult, $10 under age 13 and free for kids under age five. Creators Farm is located at 3025 Frederick Drive, Venice. For more information, visit creatorsfarmandgarden.com or call 941•275•2650. Creators Farm is also open on select dates for the public to visit the gardens with Biblical themes covering the property. May dates are Wednesday, May 22, Thursday, May 30 and Friday, May 31 from 10am to 4pm. Admission on these dates is $17 adult, $12 ages 21 & under and free for ages four & under.

Community Cleanup Notice
There will be a community clean up event for hazardous waste, household items, yard waste, tree trimmings, appliances, paint, tires and electronics on Saturday, May 18, 8am to noon, at two locations in Englewood. Free dumpsters will be available for residential customers at Old Englewood Road at Buchan Airport and behind the Englewood Elks at North Broadway and Englewood Heights Road (access only from N. Broadway). Please note that hazardous waste can only be dropped off at the Buchan Airport site, 1398 Old Englewood Road. Neighborhood Services staff will be present to share information and resources available through Sarasota County neighborhood programs. For more information, call 311.

Venice Sidewalk Sales
Get great deals in downtown Venice on the island on Friday and Saturday, May 17 and 18, 10am to 4pm. Your shopping purchases will help support these small, local businesses offering fashions & accessories for men, women and children, toys, books, thrift shops, jewelry stores, vintage boutiques, home décor, gourmet food items and more during the two-day sale. For more information, go to visitvenicefl.org.

Rain Barrel Workshop
Learn to save money and protect resources by using rain barrels to capture stormwater runoff during a free program offered by UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County on Saturday, May 18, 10 to 11am, at the Englewood Sports Complex, 1300 S. River Road. Participants have the opportunity to purchase a recycled food grade-plastic rain barrel for $28.50 (plus fees). Registration is required and rain barrel(s) must be pre-ordered during registration. Registration link is ufsarasotaext.eventbrite.com.

Celtic Music Festival
Celebrate all things Celtic! Fishermen’s Village will host a Day of Celtic Music on Saturday, May 18, noon to 9pm, at the Village, 1200 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda. This event is presented in partnership with the Cultural Heritage Center of Southwest Florida and the New World Celts (Sarasota chapter). Music Schedule – Noon to 3pm: McIntyre Band at the Dry Beach. Noon to 4pm: Mac Tier Band in Center Court. 3pm and 5pm: Kellyn Celtic Dancers in Center Court. 5 to 9pm: Celtic Conundrum at the Dry Beach. 6 to 9pm: West of Galway in Center Court. Admission and parking are free. Learn more at fishermensvillage.com or call 941•639•8721.

Venice Brew Fest
If you are a fan of craft beers, plan to attend the inaugural Venice Brew Fest on Saturday, May 18, noon to 4pm, at Centennial Park, 200 W. Venice Avenue, Venice. This event offers something for everyone, with a wide array of styles and flavors to explore and each brewery represented is there by invitation only with a focus on area craft breweries. Enjoy live music and food vendors will also be on-site. Tickets are $35 general admission for beer tasting, $65 VIP includes the VIP tent and the option to purchase preferred parking for an additional $20. Limited ticket sales at the event. A portion of beer sale proceeds will go to The Twig Foundation. For more information and ticket purchase, go to venicebrewfest.com. For questions, call 941•445•4067.

Felid Fest
Big Cat Habitat invites you to join them for “Felid Fest” on Saturday, May 18, noon to 8pm, at the habitat located at 7101 Palmer Blvd., Sarasota. This event is dedicated to wildcat conservation and features speakers, interactive activities, a lemur yoga workshop, animal & bird presentations and you can explore the sanctuary on your own. At 4pm, the park closes and the event continues with a dinner, silent auction, keeper Olympics and speaker program until 8pm. Tickets $55.20. Learn more at the Felid Fest Facebook page. 

Pioneer Trail Paving Repairs 
Beginning Monday, May 20th, asphalt replacement and repairs will begin on the Cape Haze Pioneer Trail. Work will encompass the entire trail and the trail will be closed in sections during the repair time frame. These sections will change as work gets completed. Patrons are asked to avoid the work areas during repairs. All repairs should be completed by Thursday, June 20th. For more information, email [email protected].

Bag O’ Books Sale
The Friends of the Englewood Charlotte Library will be sponsoring a “Bag O’ Books Sale” from Monday, May 20 through Saturday, May 25 in the bookstore located within the library at 3450 N. Access Road. Sale hours will be Monday through Friday 10am to 4pm and Saturday 10am to 1pm. A vast variety of books will be available: fiction, nonfiction and best-selling authors. Purchase a bag for $5 and fill it up with your summer reads!

Community Walking Tour
The Community Health Action Team (CHAT) invites you to join them on a walking tour in Sarasota County communities during the month of May. Your observations during the walk will be used in completing the Community Health Assessment that will be used towards the CHAT goal of making Sarasota County a healthy & safe place to live. For Englewood, the group walk is scheduled for Tuesday, May 21 at 10:30am and meets at the Englewood Chamber of Commerce, 601 S. Indiana Avenue. The walk will last about 30 minutes and you will be marking observations that you see along the way. No reservation needed – just show up. For questions, contact Andre McClerklin, Jr. at the Sarasota Dept. of Health at 941•861•2964.

Charlotte County Libraries and History invite you to attend the dedication ceremony of its 22nd historical marker at New Point Comfort on Wednesday, May 22 at 9am. The marker is located on Lemon Bay Road, just across the street from the south entrance to Bealls in the Merchants Crossing Shopping Center, 1500 Placida Road, and the ceremony will take place in Bealls parking lot. Charlotte County Historian Dr. Jennifer Zoebelein will speak about the area’s history and importance. The marker is the result of an application by the Englewood Museum to Charlotte County to recognize the New Point Comfort area which was named after the childhood home of Colonel James M. Lewis who first settled in the area in 1891. New Point Comfort was also home to the Gottfried family and later developed by Stanley Lampp during the 1920s. Beginning in 1931, the area was home to the Bass Biological Laboratory, founded by John F. Bass, Jr. as a full-time marine laboratory designed to “furnish research facilities to investigators in biological fields”. Today New Point Comfort contains the largest number of historical buildings in Englewood and the lot upon which the marker now sits is the last of Lampp’s original lots and was donated to the county by Stanley’s nephew, Jim Christman.

CERT Training
Charlotte County Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) is now offering basic training courses in May. The class will provide citizens with the skills to perform essential lifesaving functions while waiting for professional responders to arrive following a disaster. This free course is spread out over three days with hands-on training and in-depth instruction. Components are disaster preparedness, fire safety, light search & rescue, team organization, disaster psychology, medical training and hands-on drills using the concepts learned. Classes are open to the public and will be held on Tuesday through Thursday, May 21-23, 9am to 3:30pm, at the Charlotte County Emergency Operations Center, 26571 Airport Road, Punta Gorda. For more information, email [email protected].

Disaster Preparedness 101
UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County is offering a free webinar, “A Guide to Living on the Suncoast: Disaster Preparedness 101”, on Wednesday, May 22, noon to 12:30pm, and Thursday, May 23, 1 to 2pm. This 30-minute class will offer tips and ways to prepare for disasters, such as hurricanes. Learn how to assemble an emergency supply kit, how to handle your food and other ways to handle loss of electricity and water. Register only for this webinar at ufsarasotaext.eventbrite.com. For questions, call 941•861•5000.

Covering True Crime
Join Elaine Allen-Emrich, a reporter and community news editor for the Suncoast Media Group, as she shares her experience covering high profile true crime events in Southwest Florida during a free program on Tuesday, May 21, 5-6pm, at the Port Charlotte Library, 2280 Aaron Street, Port Charlotte. Registration required at charlottecountyfl.libcal.com or call 941•764•5562.

Savvy Caregiver Training
Join experts from the Dubin Center of Ft. Myers for a six-week, evidence-based course designed to help you become a more confident caregiver for your relative or friend living with dementia. This free course will be offered on Wednesdays from 1 to 3pm, starting May 22nd at the Port Charlotte Library, 2280 Aaron Street, Port Charlotte. You must commit to attending all six classes. Space is limited and registration is required at dubincenter.com/training. For more information, call 239•437•3007.

DJ Suncoast Music Bingo
Who knows their tunes? Enjoy DJ Suncoast Music Bingo at the Superior Pools Tomahawk Tiki Bar & Grill at CoolToday Park every Thursday night beginning Thursday, May 23 at 6pm. Four games will be played each night with a winner every round. Seating is limited. Reservations are not available for this event. Two item minimum purchase per person or a $15 show charge will apply. CoolToday Park is located at 18800 S. West Villages Pkwy., Venice. For more information, call 941•413•5000.

Vets Memorial Hike
The ninth annual SRQ Vets 5K Memorial Hike to honor fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice will take place on Saturday, May 25, 8am, at JD Hamel Park, 199 Bayfront Drive, Sarasota. The hike starts at JD Hamel Park, then over the Ringling Bridge and back to the park where there will be an afternoon of fun with a cookout, music and inflatables. Cost: a $40 donation at the event. The event raises funds to support SRQ vets and their efforts to help local veterans. For more information and registration, go to srqvets.us/hike.

Freedom Celebration Service
Pastor Garry Clark and Fellowship Church of Englewood invites the entire community to join them on Sunday, May 26 for two big Freedom Celebration Services at 8:30am and 10:30am. The services will be held at the Fellowship Worship Center & Campus located at 140 Rotonda Blvd. West. Both services will feature the “Saltwater Worship Band” with some incredible music. Then, at noon, enjoy a free luncheon of fried chicken with all the fixings by the picnic area. This event is free, and all are welcome. For more information, call 941•475•7447.

Weekend Beach Service
First Baptist Church of Venice will host a beach service in honor of Memorial Day on Sunday, May 26, 6:30 to 8:30pm, at the North Jetty Park, 1000 S. Casey Key Road, Nokomis. Bring your own seating. All are welcome. Ice cream sandwiches will be served. For more information, call 941•485•1314.

Wreath Laying Ceremony
The public is invited to attend the Memorial Day Wreath Laying Ceremony on Monday, May 27, 9am, at Gulf Pines Memorial Park, 2401 Englewood Road. Besides the wreath laying ceremony, the event will include a 21-gun salute and a special guest speaker, Charles Shaughnessy, USMC Corporal, who has been awarded the bronze star and two purple heart medals for his heroic actions in Vietnam. The event is free. For more information, call 941•474•2413. This event is hosted by Gulf Pine Memorial Park, Lemon Bay Funeral Home and Kays-Ponger & Uselton Funeral Homes.

Memorial Day Cookout
The VFW 10178 Auxiliary is having a Memorial Day Cookout on Monday, May 27, 2 to 4pm, at the Post, 550 N. McCall Road. Along with a great meal, there will be raffles, 50/50 and lots of fun. For more information, call 941•474•7516.

Sarasota Memorial Day Parade
The annual Memorial Day Parade in Sarasota will be Monday, May 27th. The parade steps off from the corner of Osprey Avenue and Main Street in downtown Sarasota at 10am and will end at JD Hamel Park, 199 Bayfront Drive, Sarasota. The parade will feature City of Sarasota Police Color Guard & Motorcycle contingent, numerous veterans groups, local dignitaries and other community organizations. A Memorial Day Ceremony will be conducted at 11am at the park. Keynote speaker at the ceremony will be Michael Tollerton, who is a West Point graduate and spent six years in the U.S. Army. Michael joined Representative Vern Buchanan’s Military Academy Selection Committee in 2022 and the Sarasota Military Academy’s Board of Directors in 2023. For more information, contact Dan Kennedy at 941•812•5406.

Venice Memorial Day Ceremony
American Legion NO-VEL Post 159 is hosting a Memorial Day Service on Monday, May 27, 10am, at Patriots Park, 800 Venetia Bay Blvd, Venice. Participating will be the VFW, DAV and Marine Corps League. Mayor Nick Pachota will present a city proclamation. The event is open to the public. Bring your own seating. For questions, call 941•488•1157.

Memorial Day Commemoration
The public is invited to attend a Memorial Day commemoration on Monday, May 27, 11:30am, at the Military Heritage Museum, 900 W. Marion Avenue, Punta Gorda. Featured speaker at the ceremony in the Gulf Theater will be Anthony “Bud” Bell, Brigadier General, USAF retired. The Military Museum will be open from noon to 4pm with veterans receiving free admission. There will be live ham radio, noon to 4pm; Huey cockpit tours 12:30 to 2:30pm, and a free hot dog lunch for the first 100 guests, noon to 1:30pm. At 4pm, the Florida Philharmonic will present “A Salute to the Red, White and Brass” in the Gulf Theater. Concert tickets are $45 and may be purchased online at gulftheater.org or by calling 941•205•8545.

Memorial Day Ceremony
The public is invited to attend a Memorial Day Ceremony at the Rotonda West American Legion Post 113, 3436 Indiana Road, on Thursday, May 30 at 11am. Guest speaker will be Charles Shaughnessy, USMC Corporal. A luncheon to follow (Veterans eat free; all others pay a donation) For more information, call the Post at 941•697•3616.

The Englewood Beach Waterfest board and organization are continuing the commitment to provide a safe environment for the annual Powerboat Racing participants at the annual event held in November. One of the board members, Dive Captain Seth Strahan, joined Peace River Search and Rescue Association, Inc. Director Deb Maki and Search and Rescue (SAR) Specialist (Diver) Michael Forsen for a pool training session recently in Englewood. Peace River SAR trains monthly in rapid extrication techniques for submerged and capsized boats. Emergency response divers are equipped with Rapid Diver scuba buoyancy devices, allowing quick entry and movement into the water for emerging incidents that often occur during offshore powerboat racing. These dedicated safety-focused partners and trained volunteers will help make the race safer. Pictured here poolside at the training session are (l-r): Deb Maki, Seth Strahan and Michael Forsen.

Cuban Rancho Heritage
The Florida Gulf Coast has always been a hotbed for commercial fishing activity and the Cuban Rancho period of the 18th century was no exception as Cuban fishermen spent almost 100 years fishing along the coast. Learn more about these fishermen in a free lecture on Tuesday, May 28, 2 to 3pm, at the Osprey Library and History Center, 337 N. Tamiami Trail, Osprey. Sara Alvarez, Education and Volunteer Specialist with the Natural Resources Department of Manatee County will speak on this important piece of Florida history. Registration is required at scgovlibrary.librarymarket.com/event or by calling 941•861•1770.

Concerned About Falling?
For those who have concerns about possibly falling, take note. An award-winning program designed to help people learn practical strategies to manage falls and increase physical activity levels is being offered on Thursdays, May 30 through July 18, 1 to 3pm, at the Englewood Chamber of Commerce, 601 S. Indiana Avenue. “A Matter of Balance” will educate you on making changes to reduce fall risks at home, set goals for increasing activity and present exercises to increase strength and balance. To register, contact Kelly Ward at [email protected] or call 941•861•2758.

Englewood Hurricane Expo
Save the date for the Hurricane Expo scheduled for Saturday, June 1st at Englewood Methodist Church, 700 E. Dearborn Street. After Hurricane Ian’s devastation, even long-time Englewood residents could benefit from a “refresher” course, and newer residents and short-time renters do not want to miss this free community event on how to be prepared for the upcoming hurricane season which is predicted to be an active one. The event runs from 10am to 1pm and is a family-friendly event where there will be a variety of organizations with tables giving out important hurricane preparedness information. There will be give-aways, such as portable weather radios and drawings for prizes such, as hurricane survival kits. Both Sarasota and Charlotte County Emergency Management Team representatives will be there to answer questions. There will also be speakers on topics such as Navigating Insurance Claims, General Hurricane Preparedness and Avoiding Scams. Your hosts are the Englewood Community Health Action Team (CHAT) and Englewood Community Coalition, Inc. For questions, call Andre McClerklin at 941•861•2964 or email [email protected].

Hurricane Tax Holidays
Prepare your hurricane supply list so you are ready to stock up during this year’s Hurricane Sales Tax Exemption Holidays. There are two periods of tax exemption this year: Saturday, June 1 through Friday, June 14 and Saturday, August 24 through Friday, September 6. Some of the items that are tax-exempt are flashlights & lanterns costing $40 or less; reusable ice; radios $50 or less; tarps & tie down kits costing $100 or less; coolers & portable power banks costing $60 or less; smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and carbon monoxide detectors costing $70 or less; and generators costing $3,000 or less. Also included are a number of items related to the safe evacuation of household pets. For a complete list, go to floridarevenue.com.

Rummage Sale
St. Vincent DePaul will hold its monthly Rummage Sale on Saturday, June 1, 8am to 11am, at the corner of 25200 Airport Road & Taylor Road, Punta Gorda. Shop for household items, furniture, linens, clothing, shoes, purses, jewelry, books and toys. No pets, please. Credit cards accepted. Rain date is Saturday, June 8, 8am to 11am. For more information, call 941•575•0767.

Ready for a Summer Adventure?
Sarasota County Libraries invites you to join them for reading adventures this summer. All ages can participate in the summer reading challenge and there will be summer programming, as well, to ignite imagination, foster creativity and promote lifelong learning. The summer learning program kick-off at the Elsie Quirk Library will be Thursday, June 6, 10:30am to 1pm. There will be a juggling and magic show by “Out of My Hands”, a visit from the Florida Forest Service, a dance party with DJ Jam, outdoor activities and refreshments. Plan to stop by the library at 100 W. Dearborn Street to celebrate the start of summer reading fun. For more information, call 941•861•1225.

Backpack Bike Run
Charlotte County Toys for Tots is holding their annual Backpack Bike Run with Hades Hounds LEMC on Sunday, June 9th. This bike run is to collect supplies for the upcoming school year. Registration and breakfast are at 10am at Portside Tavern, 3636 N. Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte. Ride to American Legion Post 110 (3152 Harbor Blvd., Port Charlotte) at 2:15pm. At 2:30pm, ride to LEMC Clubhouse, (1434 Market Circle, Port Charlotte) for the ending party. Cost is $10 per rider. Suggested backpack items are sticky notes, folders, composition books, ziplock bags, tissues, binders, notebooks, pens, pencils & markers, glue sticks, disinfectant wipes and fidgets. For more information, message Hades Hounds LEMC Sine Pari.

Neighborhood Best Practices Series
Sarasota County has launched a new online educational series to help homeowner associations and residents with the array of challenges often encountered in neighborhoods from stormwater management to wildlife interactions. Developed by UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County, the free online “Neighborhood Best Practices” series offers multiple self-help modules that address frequently asked questions and common misconceptions about managing common-area resources. Completion of the modules and assessments allows individuals to obtain a Neighborhood Best Practices certification. To learn more and register, go to sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu.sarasota or call 941•861•5000.

Primary Election Prep
Now is the time to review your voting registration for the Tuesday, August 20th Primary Election. Early in-person voting will take place Monday, August 5 through Sunday, August 18 in Charlotte County. Last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot is Thursday, August 8th. For Charlotte County voters, go to soecharlottecountyfl.gov/voter-information. For questions, call 941•833•5400. In Sarasota County, early in-person voting is Saturday, August 10 through Sunday, August 18th. Vote by Mail ballots should be mailed by Tuesday, August 13th. For Sarasota County voters, go to sarasotavotes.gov to register, review and request ballots by mail. For questions, call 941•861•8600.

Sarasota County Burn Ban
A burn ban is currently in effect for Sarasota County due to local drought conditions and an increased chance of fire hazards. All outdoor burning is prohibited unless a permit has been issued and is applicable for the unincorporated areas of Sarasota County. Exceptions to this include cooking on barbeque grills or pits that do not exceed three feet in diameter and two feet in height, or any other valid state or county authorized burn. The burn ban will lift automatically if drought index falls below 500 for seven consecutive days and the announcement will be made on scgov.net and county social media pages. For more information, call 311 or visit scgov.net/fire.

Sharing & Caring

Foster Parents Needed
May is National Foster Care Month and All Star Children’s Foundation is urgently seeking compassionate individuals and families in the regional community to become foster parents due to a critical shortage of foster homes for children displaced from their families due to abuse or neglect. All Star’s Campus of Hope & Healing offers large, fully furnished, rent-free homes and provides an extensive range of support, training and guidance to ensure foster parents are well-prepared to meet the needs of children in foster care. The campus is located at 3300 17th Street in Sarasota. Those interested in learning more can visit allstarchildren.org for the schedule of upcoming campus tours and more information or call 941•259•3694.

Community Blood Drives
The OneBlood “Big Red Bus” has scheduled the following blood drives in Englewood during the rest of May. During the summer months, when seasonal residents are out of state, your blood donation is needed even more to help save lives. Incentives are offered to donors such as gift cards and, during May and June, T-shirts. Donors are requested to visit the OneBlood website, oneblood.org, to schedule an appointment. Please note that blood drives are subject to change at any time. Monday, May 20, 10am to 4pm: Bealls Outlet, 1500 Placida Road. Friday, May 24, 10am to 4pm: Publix-Merchants Crossing, 1500 Placida Road. Sunday, May 26, 9am to 3pm: Winn-Dixie East Englewood, 4100 McCall Road. Monday, May 27, 10am to 4pm: Walmart, 2931 S. McCall Road.

Sports

Basketball Officials Clinic
Anyone interested in learning the basics of becoming a basketball official can attend a free basketball official clinic on Saturday, May 25, 3 to 5:30pm, at Harold Avenue Regional Park, 23400 Harold Avenue, Port Charlotte. The clinic is open to those ages 14 and older. Participants should bring a Fox 40 whistle and lanyard. To register, call 941•627•1074.

Manatee Mosey
The inaugural Englewood Turtle Trot was such a success that Apex Promoz has planned another event at Englewood Beach, the “Manatee Mosey”, on Saturday, November 2 at 8am. Whether you are an experienced runner or just starting out, this is the perfect opportunity to challenge yourself, meet new people and have fun. Note: the race is entirely on the beach in the sand. A manatee beach towel and Medal will be awarded to all 5K and One Mile finishers. Fee is $27.50 for the 5K and $22.50 for the one-mile fun run/walk for those who register by Saturday, July 27. Register online at runsignup.com. The number of participants is capped, so register early. Manatee Awareness Month is November, so this is the perfect time for a reminder to boaters to slow down and look below as manatees begin to travel to warmer water in the fall.

If you have an upcoming event you would like to have considered email info and/or photo to:
 [email protected].