But they’re not letting their guard down. Most of Sarasota County is still dealing with drought, and rain isn’t in the forecast. There’s a real chance they’ll bring the ban back if conditions get worse.

The original ban went into effect on October 11, 2025, when the county’s drought index hit 500, as specified in county code. Now that wildfire risk dipped, fire department officials lifted restrictions, but they’re still watching things closely. They’re asking everyone to stay careful, keep up with the open burning rules laid out in county regulations, and don’t take unnecessary risks.

If conditions get dry again and the KBDI climbs back to 500 or higher, the county will automatically reinstate the ban. It’s smart to keep checking county updates for the latest status.

Meanwhile, there has been some confusion as to whether or not North Port has lifted its burn ban. Englewood REVIEW reached out to the North Port Fire Rescue for comment. They say that in accordance with the city ordinance 26-28, Fire Chief Scott Titus has rescinded the burn ban, and it no longer exists. A public notice will be posted on Monday, April 20, 2026.

Officials recommend the Ready, Set, Go!approach for wildfire safety:

Ready: Plan for possible evacuations and create defensible space around your house to help protect it.

Set: Pull together emergency supplies, talk through your plan with family or roommates, and stay up to date through news sources and the county’s website or social media.

Go: If you’re told to evacuate, do it right away and follow your emergency plan.

For more details on wildfire safety and how to protect your home, visit scgov.net/fire.

The post Sarasota County Lifts Burn Ban: Cautious Optimism Amid Drought Challenges appeared first on Englewood Review.

A Sarasota County jury found Darryl Wayne Dye, 64, guilty of second-degree murder with a firearm on Friday, March 20, 2026, after a five-day trial. Shortly after the jury returned the verdict, Circuit Judge Donna Padar handed down the life sentence.

The Incident

The case dates back to August 7, 2023, when North Port police responded to a non-emergency call from Dye reporting a dead body in his home. According to prosecutors:

Dye told dispatchers that the situation was “beyond” attempting CPR.

Arriving officers found 57-year-old Kim Szymaszek deceased from multiple gunshot wounds to her head and neck.

Investigators later discovered a firearm, magazines, and ammunition inside a silver briefcase in Dye’s bedroom.

The Verdict

During the trial, which began on March 16, 2026, the 12th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office presented evidence uncovered through a joint investigation by the North Port Police Department and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).

While the charge of second-degree murder with a firearm carries a minimum of 25 years, the judge opted for the maximum penalty of life in prison. State Attorney Ed Brodsky’s office announced the final sentencing details on Tuesday, March 24, following the initial reports of the conviction.

The post ‘No Remorse’: Judge Hands North Port Man Life Sentence in Roommate’s Murder appeared first on Englewood Review.

This week, that “lost” pond finally made its comeback. After months of people pushing for action, Sarasota County crews and contractors rolled in and got to work. They hauled out the thick mats of weeds and brush, clearing away years of overgrowth and letting the water see daylight again.

County officials say this cleanup is part of a bigger push to keep local stormwater systems working and head off flooding. The change is striking. This previously hidden patch of water now resembles a proper retention pond. The first round of clearing made a tremendous difference, but the county promises there’s more work lined up to keep the area in shape.

For the Englewood neighborhood, it’s a real win. The pond can finally do its job, handling runoff the way it’s supposed to. Folks walking along Dearborn can actually see the water again; no more eyesore, just idyllic scenery. It’s a reminder that a little attention and effort can breathe life back into forgotten places.

County crews and contractors cleared out thick vegetation, including cattails and water lilies, from the retention pond at the west end of Dearborn Street. They’re planning to restore the pond to the way it was in 2013, when the water was clear and the aerator was running. The county says this isn’t a one-and-done fix; more maintenance is coming soon.

This project fits into a bigger plan to manage stormwater in the area, alongside projects like the Alligator Creek stream restoration and other drainage upgrades across Sarasota County.

The post From Overgrown to Overhauled: Englewood’s ‘Lost’ Pond Makes a Comeback appeared first on Englewood Review.

Drought conditions won’t let up, and now the reservoir, crucial for Sarasota, DeSoto, and Charlotte counties including North Port, is only half full. That’s a big drop from the usual 70 to 80 percent capacity seen this time of year.

Every day, these communities draw about 30 million gallons from the reservoir. But with water levels sinking, the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority are getting serious about conservation.

Richard Anderson, executive director of the water supply authority, doesn’t sugarcoat the problem. “Right now we’re at 50% capacity. That might sound like a lot, but with three months left in the dry season, that’s really not that much water on hand.” He’s urging everyone to be careful with how they use water until the rains return.

When full, the reservoir holds about 6 billion gallons and reaches 35 feet deep. Anderson puts it in perspective: if the reservoir were full, you’d be standing in 15 feet of water at the current spot.

But that’s not the situation now. The region is facing a 13-inch water deficit, and the steady, soaking rain needed to refill the system rarely arrives until June. Until then, the rivers, lakes, and aquifers remain dry.

This drought is not solely a local problem. The U.S. Drought Monitor reports these dry conditions affect 18 million people in Florida. The warning is clear: water isn’t endless, and this year, it’s running short.

The post Peace River Manasota Reservoir Drops to Half Full Amid Ongoing Drought appeared first on Englewood Review.

Residents say building this new stretch would destroy Manasota Key. The county’s behind the project, a $15 million extension that would connect Manasota Beach to Wellen Park. Pat Neal, who used to be a Florida senator and now runs Neal Industries, is developing it.

But many people aren’t on board. They organized before, back in February, when residents covered their cars with ribbons and signs and drove out to get the commissioners’ attention.

Over 2,000 people have already signed a petition to stop the extension. The county recently held a meeting to show off the road’s design, but from what the opponents say, nothing in those plans changed their minds.

Many residents living near the proposed road believe the county should spend its money and energy elsewhere. Spending money on River Road is a popular option.

The county has explored widening River Road and Winchester Boulevard, all hoping to ease the region’s notorious traffic. With new schools in Wellen Park, K-8 and High School, and growing neighborhoods, leaders argue solutions must be reached.

People in the community aren’t staying quiet about this. They’ve started petitions like “STOP PAT NEAL: Saving the Wetland, Wildlife, and Preserving Land – STOP MBR Expansion” to push back against the Manasota Beach Road expansion.

Residents from Englewood and nearby areas have come together, determined to stop the project. They believe property rights are being ignored, and the threat to wildlife is real. The campaign says Pat Neal, his company Neal Communities, and other developers keep chipping away at what makes Florida unique. Every new development means more wetlands and open land disappear. Their petition is just one part of a much bigger fight.

Protesters are also concerned about the wildlife living in the wetlands nearby. Residents plan to keep showing up and making noise.

The post Manasota Key at a Crossroads: Residents Challenge County’s Expansion Plan appeared first on Englewood Review.

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Intelligence Unit worked with the Florida Gaming Control Commission on the operation. They say this raid is just the latest in a series of gambling busts across the Suncoast.

Illegal gambling arcades are a significant problem in Florida. 

Organized crime isn’t just lurking in the background; it’s fueling the expansion. The Attorney General’s office has jumped in, leading a massive crackdown statewide. 

By March, authorities seized over 500 machines from 39 different spots in just one sweep. We’re talking about so-called “sham arcades,” but the net’s wider: bars, restaurants, even businesses that look like nail salons have gotten caught up, all running rigged slot-style machines.

The crackdown isn’t just for show. Early this year, Operation “Reels of Fortune” hit 39 locations across Volusia, Brevard, Duval, and Flagler counties. Investigators walked in expecting arcades and found illegal gambling setups hidden behind the fronts of everyday businesses.

State lawmakers are pushing HB 189, which would seriously raise the stakes. If it passes, penalties for illegal gambling jump from misdemeanors to felonies, a big difference and a simple message.

Law enforcement, especially in places like Lee County, says these arcades aren’t working alone. They’re tied into bigger criminal webs, like prostitution, organized crime, you name it.

And the public? They’re not just losing money. These machines are unregulated, rigged to keep people from ever cashing out, and offer zero consumer protection. It’s a rigged game from start to finish.

With Alex Jacobs, 39, he faces charges for maintaining a gambling house and possessing illegal slot machines. His court hearing will take place in Sarasota County.

The post Suncoast Crackdown Continues: North Port Man Alex Jacobs to Face Hearing Over Illegal Gambling Charges appeared first on Englewood Review.

Betts was more than just a guitarist; he was a Florida original who helped shape the sound of the Allman Brothers Band and, honestly, Southern rock itself. Most people know him as the voice and songwriter behind “Ramblin’ Man,” the band’s biggest pop hit. That song’s got Betts all over it, from the unforgettable guitar solo to the lyrics about being born “in the back seat of a Greyhound bus rollin’ down Highway 41.” Now, that very highway carries his name.

Sadly, Betts died at 80 in April 2024 at his home overlooking Little Sarasota Bay. His family, in their own words, said goodbye to a legend, someone larger than life, whose music and spirit stretched far beyond Florida. They asked for privacy, promising to share more when the time felt right.

If you know the Allman Brothers, you know they did things differently. Their music was this wild mix: rock, blues, jazz, country, and at the center of it was Betts, trading lead guitar lines with Duane Allman. Listen to their classic live album, “At Fillmore East,” and you’ll get why people still talk about those twin guitars.

When tragedy struck and the band lost Duane Allman and bassist Berry Oakley, Betts stepped up as leader. He wrote and sang “Ramblin’ Man” for the 1973 “Brothers and Sisters” album, which went platinum and also gave us Betts’ “Southbound” and the instrumental hit “Jessica.”

Betts didn’t stop there. He put out solo albums through the ’70s and ’80s, then helped bring the Allman Brothers back together in 1989 after a long break. He even brought guitarist Warren Haynes into the band and wrote most of the 1990 comeback album “Seven Turns,” singing the title track himself.

The ’90s were busy with new albums, sold-out tours, and a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, thanks to Willie Nelson. During the induction, Betts’ guitar solo on “One Way Out” stole the show, just like old times.

Sarasota and Manatee counties have seen plenty of famous faces, but nobody’s roots here run as deep as Betts’. His family’s been around since the Civil War days, settling in Myakka City. Drive around the area now and you’ll even find Betts Road, a reminder that before he was a rock legend, he was just a local kid with a guitar and a dream.

Betts’ songs and guitar style inspired everyone from Lynyrd Skynyrd to Tedeschi Trucks Band. Naming a highway after him isn’t just a tribute; it’s a sign for generations to come that a music legend called this place home.

The post Ramblin’ Man Comes Home: US-41 Renamed Dickey Betts Memorial Highway appeared first on Englewood Review.

Not everyone is on board. Approximately 2,000 residents have spoken out and stand firm against the extension.

The project has now reached the 90% design phase. County and project staff set up in the lobby at 6 p.m., speaking with residents and showing project boards before the main presentation kicked off at 6:30 in the chambers. The meeting wrapped up at 8 p.m. after a long round of questions. Because this wasn’t an official Sarasota County Board meeting, no votes or decisions happened that night; it was strictly for information.

In August 2025, the County Commission had already approved the deal for the project. Commissioners unanimously supported spending $15 million to hire local developer Pat Neal to build the half-mile extension.

The county’s also looking at widening River Road and Winchester Boulevard, all hoping to ease the region’s notorious traffic. With new schools in Wellen Park, K-8 and High School, and growing neighborhoods, leaders argue the project is overdue. The new road will link Englewood Road and River Road. This will help reduce traffic on Tamiami Trail and compensate for the problems with the Keyway Road project. Once the work wraps up, Manasota Beach Road will open to the public.

Who is Pat Neal?

Pat Neal isn’t just any developer. He served as a state senator and representative, and he’s been running Neal Communities since 1970. Forbes pegged the combined net worth of Neal and his sons at $1.2 billion in 2025. He’s the driving force behind Wellen Park, Esplanade, and Windward at Lakewood Ranch.

He’s also a heavyweight in Republican politics. Since 2019, Neal has poured over $3.6 million into GOP committees, including $180,000 to the Republican Party of Florida and $126,500 to the Sarasota GOP. One of Neal Communities’ lobbyists, Evan Power, even chairs the Florida GOP.

When will construction start?

Planners expect work to kick off in spring 2026. The River Road widening is already underway, and they’ll start widening Winchester Boulevard later this year.

Why are people against the road?

Many residents aren’t happy about the project. They see Pat Neal building a road right through their front yards just to connect his Wellen Park community to the beach. Folks living on the section east of Englewood Road especially don’t want a brand-new two-lane connector running off their driveways. They’re worried this extension will open the door to more development in their quiet, rural spot, which already feels boxed in by new subdivisions.

They’ve also seen more flooding as development speeds up, and now they fear adding thousands of cars racing past their homes every day will make things worse and more dangerous.

People in the community aren’t staying quiet about this. They’ve started petitions like “STOP PAT NEAL: Saving the Wetland, Wildlife, and Preserving Land – STOP MBR Expansion” to push back against the Manasota Beach Road expansion.

Residents from Englewood and nearby areas have come together, determined to stop the project. They believe property rights are being ignored, and the threat to wildlife is real. The campaign says Pat Neal, his company Neal Communities, and other developers keep chipping away at what makes Florida unique. Every new development means more wetlands and open land disappear. Their petition is just one part of a much bigger fight.

Their main reasons for opposing the Manasota Beach Road (MBR) expansion in Venice and Englewood are:

1. Public safety and risk to the environment

2. Shady decision-making and outside influence

3. Not enough notice or transparency, and potential legal violations

4. Concerns about the public – private partnership

Their focus is on four items:

– Pat Neal must follow all county rules and regulations.

– All work on MBR needs to stop until the county follows the right procedures.

– Sarasota County should provide certified documentation showing communication with residents about the road and proof of the eastern segment’s approval.

– The project must fully comply with Florida’s stormwater management standards and federal environmental protections.

The organization states that if the county doesn’t do a thorough review and stick to these requirements, people, wildlife, and public trust all get put at risk. The group wants Sarasota County to reject or at least suspend the MBR project for now.

There’s a call to action. On February 10th at 9 a.m., there is a commissioners’ meeting. If you want to speak, you’ll get three minutes. Bring up delaying or canceling MBR and support building Keyway Road instead.

The group also wants answers about the $15 million in federal funds that were meant for River Road but ended up going toward planning for MBR.

For more information thepetitionsite.com.

The post Opposition Groups Form as Manasota Beach Road Extension Plans Revealed appeared first on Englewood Review.

According to their latest study, North Port landed second place among the nation’s fastest-growing cities, just behind Ocala. Florida basically dominates the list, with Panama City, Daytona Beach, St. Augustine, Fort Lauderdale, Clermont, and Kissimmee all making the top ten. Only Myrtle Beach in South Carolina and McKinney, Texas, broke Florida’s streak.

So how does U-Haul figure all this out? Simple: they track where people rent their moving trucks and where those trucks end up. Every year, they look at over 2.5 million one-way rentals across the U.S. and Canada. Their “Growth Index” doesn’t directly measure population or economic numbers, but it’s a solid way to see which places are drawing new residents and hanging onto them.

Growth isn’t just a headline in North Port; it’s happening on every street. Other companies have ranked this city as one of the fastest growing in the country, and the stats back it up. Right now, about 95,000 people call North Port home, making it the biggest city in Sarasota County by both size and population. And there’s still plenty of room to grow. North Port has the potential for eventually reaching 250,000 residents.

The post From Hidden Gem to Hot Property: The Evolution of North Port appeared first on Englewood Review.

First up, mark your calendars for Thursday, February 5th. Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer, fresh off Tony Award nominations for her standout roles in “Spamalot” and “Beetlejuice,” returns to the Hermitage, this time, not just as a performer, but as a writer. She’ll share new stories and give you a behind-the-scenes look at her latest theatrical projects. 

Harriet Steinke, who took home the 2025 Hermitage Prize in Composition at the Aspen Music Festival, will be there too. Expect a night of original music performed live by a classical ensemble, all set by the lake at Nathan Benderson Park. They’re calling it “Chamber Flights & Broadway Nights,” and honestly, that’s exactly what it sounds like.

On Friday, February 13th, the action shifts back to the Hermitage’s iconic beachfront campus. World-renowned flutist Claire Chase, described by The New York Times as “the most important flutist of our time,” is back to wow Sarasota once again. Chase is a pioneer—her “Density 2036” project is rewriting the rules of modern flute music. She’ll share the stage with Kirstin Valdez Quade, an author with a Guggenheim Fellowship and a “5 Under 35” nod from the National Book Foundation. Quade’s writing is changing the landscape of Latinx literature, and together, these two promise an evening where music and story blend in unforgettable ways.

Then, on Thursday, February 19th, get ready for a different vibe at Selby Gardens’ Historic Spanish Point. Comedian, musician, and writer Morgan Bassichis—called “fiercely hilarious” by The New Yorker—will join forces with Doug Wright, the Pulitzer and Tony-winning playwright behind “I Am My Own Wife.” They’ll dig into the art of solo performance, crack a few jokes, and share excerpts from their own work. 

This February, the Hermitage isn’t just offering performances, it’s bringing together artists at the top of their game and inviting Sarasota to be part of something special. If you enjoy music, theater, or storytelling, you’ll want to be there.

You can join Hermitage programs for free, they just ask for a $5 registration fee per person. It’s a rare chance to meet and connect with some of the world’s top talent, right here on the Gulf Coast. Most programs run about an hour, maybe a little longer, and there’s no intermission. Space is limited, so you’ll need to register at HermitageArtistRetreat.org.

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