As of Sunday, April 19, 2026, a strict burn ban is back in effect for all of Sarasota County due to high wildfire risks from drought conditions. All open burning is prohibited, including yard waste and campfires, because the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) exceeded 500. The ban was previously lifted on April 14, 2026, but was reinstated.

The Florida Forest Service is out in force, looking for any sparks that could catch. Crews spotted a brush fire Wednesday near Cantonment in Escambia County and jumped in fast to keep it from spreading.

Meanwhile, residents in Collier County are living with an uneasy mix of smoke and sirens. Firefighters there are still tackling the Picayune brush fire, which has burned 1,700 acres so far and was 70% contained by Friday. 

It’s not just Collier County. An interactive map lets you see active wildfires all over the state. Just a day ago, Florida had 69 wildfires burning. Now, less than 24 hours later, there are 82. Florida’s stuck in one of its worst droughts in years, and fires are popping up faster than crews can put them out.

As of 9 a.m. April 17, the 82 active wildfires were burning almost 7,800 acres. Smoke from those fires can travel for miles, degrading air quality even in areas far from the flames.

From January 1 to April 12, Florida logged 1,676 wildfires, burning a huge 97,145 acres, based on data from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Officials have closed no roads because of fire as of April 17, though they continue to urge caution. For example, people reported fire activity in Santa Rosa County near Cold Water Creek and Highway 4, in Collier County on southbound I-75 at Mile Marker 98, near State Road 26 and County Road 234 in Alachua County, and near U.S. 19 and Southwest 307th Avenue in Dixie County.

Smoke is a genuine concern, not just for visibility but for air quality. According to the EPA, air quality in Florida currently ranges from good to moderate. If you or someone in your household has respiratory issues, you need to be careful. 

Simple steps help, keep windows and doors closed, use “recirculate” mode on your air conditioner, and swap out the filter often. An air purifier with a HEPA filter can help if you’re in a smoke-prone zone. If you have to go outside, check air quality updates, keep trips brief, and wear an N95 mask. Change clothes immediately after coming home, as smoke particulates can get caught in fabric.

Burn bans are everywhere right now. As of April 17, 30 Florida counties have burn bans in effect, including places like Alachua, Bay, Citrus, Collier, Hernando, Lee, Pasco, and more. Duval and Pinellas counties always prohibit yard debris burning, regardless of fire risk.

What exactly is a burn ban? It’s a legal order prohibiting the outdoor burning of things like yard waste, campfires, bonfires, and burn barrels. Authorities usually issue burn bans when wildfire risk is high, such as during prolonged drought, low humidity, high winds, or when the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) spikes. The KBDI, a number from 0 to 800, estimates wildfire risk based on how wet or dry the soil is. Zero means soggy, 800 means bone dry and prime for deep-burning fires.

What can you do to keep your home safer? The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, along with the Division of Forestry, recommends “defensible space” at least 30 feet cleared around your house. Within that zone, regularly remove dead vegetation from the yard, gutters, roof, and under decks. Trim branches that hang over your roof and keep all trees at least 10 feet from your chimney and from each other. Move that woodpile away from the house and separate anything flammable, like patio furniture or swing sets, from shrubs and trees. Extend your fire-safe habits. From 30 to 60 feet out, keep the grass cut low, no higher than four inches, and clear out dead leaves, needles, and branches. Beyond 60 feet, thin out undergrowth and trim low vegetation, especially under pine trees.

Even if you don’t see flames, don’t wait. Stay alert, prepare your home, and have emergency supplies ready. And if you suspect arson, report it immediately.

You can check your wildfire risk using the state’s interactive map. Enter your address and see what’s happening near you. Stay informed and stay safe.

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OCEARCH’s data confirmed Bella pinged twice, once around 3 p.m. Sunday, March 8, and again Monday afternoon, about 50 miles out from shore.

Her appearance here isn’t random. It’s just another leg in a massive 4,200-mile migration, which started last July when researchers tagged her in Nova Scotia. With the warm spring sun tempting revelers and sharks alike, Bella’s seasonal arrival fits right into the migration patterns seen year after year. 

Great whites move from the chilly waters of New England and Canada down to the Gulf of Mexico each winter and early spring, drawn by the changing seasons and warmer currents.

She’s not swimming alone, either. OCEARCH scientists are tracking more North Atlantic great whites, like Ernst, a hefty 12-footer, and Ripple, who measures 11 feet, ranging through the Gulf and off the Carolinas this spring. It’s a busy season for these giants.

Of course, the idea of a massive shark nearby might make some people flinch, but experts at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission say there’s no need to worry. Great whites like Bella usually stay well offshore, and shark activity along Florida’s beaches actually peaks between April and October, when most tracked sharks remain out of sight.

Bella’s got a special name, honoring one of OCEARCH’s Florida supporters, and her journey isn’t just a curiosity; it’s crucial for scientists who want to understand migration routes and habitat use for these vulnerable sharks. If you want to monitor her travels, you can watch her movements in real time with the OCEARCH Global Shark Tracker.

And don’t think Englewood gets a break just because all the headlines say Sarasota. This March, the Gulf off Englewood is more than a pretty backdrop; it’s a thoroughfare for sharks. Even though folks around here usually picture great whites as East Coast visitors, recent OCEARCH tracking shows the Gulf is essential for their winter migrations.

As spring break hits, several tagged sharks have pinged near Sarasota and along the West Florida Shelf. They’re like the snowbirds of the sea, sticking to deeper, cooler waters 20 to 40 miles offshore, chasing prey along the continental shelf. While seeing one breach near Englewood’s beach is rare, it’s not impossible, and the odds of a thousand-pound shark just past the horizon are higher this spring than most people realize.

The post Sarasota Today, Englewood Tomorrow? Great White Shark Migration Passes Through Gulf appeared first on Englewood Review.

Many people in the Englewood community may be surprised to learn that a quick 31-mile drive up the west coast of Florida, roughly 45 minutes, leads you to the heart of Amish country.

How Did Pinecraft Begin?

That first wild “Rumspringa-break” started it all, opening up a new direction for both Amish and Mennonite traditions down south. Back in the 1920s, five young men pooled their savings, bought a truck and some fishing gear, and hit the road heading toward the Gulf Coast. They found themselves hooked on fishing, loved the gentle winters, and when they got home, their stories about Sarasota spread fast. That enthusiasm pulled their dads into the adventure before long.

Think about it: if you’re a farmer who doesn’t keep dairy cows or livestock, winter can drag endlessly. The fields are quiet, there’s nothing growing, and you need something to break up the monotony. Sarasota’s Pinecraft became the retreat: warm weather, community, and a welcome escape from frigid winters.

Rumspringa

Not familiar with Rumspringa? Here’s the basic idea. Amish teenagers reach sixteen, and they get a window to step outside tradition, swap the horse-and-buggy for a chance to discover the outside world. “Rumspringa” literally means “jumping about.” It lasts until they choose to join the church, and though some come back in a year, others wander for longer, sometimes ten years.

Melanie Jones* knows these stories well. She’s a retired teacher, once a Mennonite herself, and she says the pull to belong runs deep. “I’d say about 95 percent of Amish teens who do Rumspringa return to the church. There’s a strong sense of community, a deep identity. People want to fit in.”

Her roots go way back. “That’s why everyone landed here,” Melanie says. “It started with tents—Amish people always live close to one another. But tents get cold. So, they built cement-block houses. The neighborhood grew. It covers ten square blocks now, with the community spilling out past Philippi Creek in every direction.”

She smiles, “Look at me—I hardly look Amish. But my grandmother and great-grandmother were Yoders. My great-grandfather? Nine kids. My grandmother, third in line, grew up Amish in Maryland until she married my Roman Catholic grandfather. My husband’s great-grandfather left the Amish church the day he bought a truck, back in the ‘20s.”

Melanie grew up in Pennsylvania, right where Amish culture is part of ordinary life. The tradition still matters a lot to her. “Both my husband and I have cousins who stayed Amish. We lived among it, always. And now we’re retired in Sarasota, which is honestly the only spot in the world where Amish go for a holiday.”

What happens in Pinecraft stays in Pinecraft

She has advice for visitors:

Tourist Tip #1: The Carlyle Inn is close to the heart of Pinecraft. The Inn and the Amish restaurant Der Dutchman are both run by Dutchman Hospitality, Inc.

Pinecraft sits at Bahia Vista Street and Beneva Road in Sarasota, and every winter, Amish families from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana head here. The place is buzzing and still growing.

“It’s lively,” Melanie says. “If you strike up a conversation, you’ll see—we have more in common than you’d expect. Lots of shared values. Sure, some people judge, but every group has that, right? Baptists, Catholics, anyone.”

The media rarely gets it right. TV and movies paint Amish and Mennonites as standoffish, wary of outsiders. That’s not the reality. They stick to tradition, but they’re welcoming; they just respect the customs.

“They’re open to making friends. I wouldn’t walk up and start talking to a man, but I’d chat with a woman or a child. If she’s with her husband, I speak to her first. It’s just polite. I don’t want the husband to think I’m being pushy or showing off.”

Misunderstandings sting, for Melanie, too. “Our roots here run deep. I’ve known people in this community for years, and I don’t want Pinecraft to turn into Lancaster County—a spectacle for tourists. Respect the culture. Don’t treat it like something to gawk at.”

“If you take the time to listen, really try to understand, prejudice fades. Knowledge brings understanding, then acceptance. You don’t have to agree with everything. That’s not the point. I have deep respect for the culture I grew up with, and every now and then, I get to reconnect. Honestly, it feels like a privilege.”

Every year, the Amish look forward to their Florida getaway. Most of the folks who end up in Pinecraft are the ones willing to try something new. Right now, there’s a buzz in town, as sizable crowds roll in for the snowbird season. This is family time. Kids are out of school, so everyone travels together.

Now, how does a horse-and-buggy crowd get all the way to Sarasota? 

They’ve solved that one. Each region runs a big express bus, running three times a week, straight from Lancaster. Aside from bathroom breaks and meals, it barely stops. Almost nonstop.

When the Lancaster bus finally arrives in Sarasota, it’s a sight. Hundreds gather weekly; some are welcoming friends, others are saying goodbye. 

“Years ago, I used to roll my eyes at the crowds,” admits Melanie. “I figured folks were just being nosy. But after we retired and spent a month in Sarasota, I started to understand. One day at Publix, I glanced at my watch, texted my husband, ‘It’s 12:15. If I leave now, we can catch the bus pulling in at 12:30.’ The moment I pressed send, I realized I’d changed. Now I wanted to see who was stepping off the bus.”

Bus stations aren’t usually places people want to linger, but Pinecraft’s different. Imagine 200 friends and relatives crammed into a church parking lot, all eager to say hello.

The season hits its peak right until Easter, when Pinecraft swells to almost 5,000 Amish and Mennonite visitors. The rest of the year? Maybe fifty.

Going home is a whole ritual. The schedule’s posted online and in the parking lot, and everybody knows when Ohio’s bus is arriving, or Pennsylvania’s is leaving. When it’s time to board, the crowd returns to wave goodbye to the fifty most miserable people in Sarasota. It’s heartbreak and sweetness packed into one.

Tourist Tip #2: if you’re near the church around noon on Sunday, stick around. You’ll see lovely older couples spilling out in their black-and-white Sunday best. Grab your lunch and head to the park. Chat with the locals. You’ll enjoy it, and they’ll welcome you.

Maya Angelou had it right: “We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.”

Think about showing up at a party and realizing you and a friend wore the same outfit. Most people would laugh or rush home for something new. Not the Amish. Matching is the goal. Moms buy bolts of fabric, then make shirts for husbands and sons, and dresses for daughters. Everyone wears the same material.

Sometimes, Amish and Mennonite girlfriends decide to match, buying fabric together and sewing identical dresses. It’s not just a quirk. If you pay close attention, you’ll notice each community has its own details.

Walk through Pinecraft and you can spot Amish from Pennsylvania, central Ohio, northern Indiana, southern Indiana; each group stands out if you know where to look. The differences are subtle, mostly in their clothing.

Take hair. Pennsylvania women part their hair in the center and roll it back tightly. Over time, that creates a little bald spot where the pins go. Bonnets also give clues: Pennsylvania’s are heart-shaped from the back; Midwest bonnets are round like pillbox hats; Northern Indiana bonnets have pleats and a bow; Ohio’s are wider and rounder.

These customs, especially how they dress, link right back to scripture. Amish women never cut their hair because the Bible calls it a crown of glory. Why cut off your crown? Like plenty of other faiths, Judaism, Catholicism, the Amish keep their heads covered. There’s a verse in First Timothy about praying non-stop. If you’re talking to God all day, you cover your head. Simple.

Everyone knows the rules: no zippers, no buttons, no snaps. Dresses cover elbows and knees; they stay loose. Cross the Florida border and things relax, though. In Florida, you spot Crocs, flip-flops, even bare feet in the garden.

Mennonite versus Amish

Sometimes, it feels like splitting hairs. Melanie explains, “Some Mennonites are super conservative; some look just like me. We worship at a Mennonite church in Florida, and not all Mennonites are alike. There are hundreds of groups, from strict to liberal.”

She says the Amish branched off from Mennonites, like Protestants split from Catholics. Cousins, more than strangers. “We get along fine. Here’s the rule: If you speak Dutch or German, you’re Amish. If not, you’re English. Doesn’t matter where you’re from—if you’re not Amish, you’re English.”

Why do the Amish do things their way? Melanie lays it out: “You don’t have to agree, but understanding helps. Know the reasons, and it just makes sense. Visit, and you’ll see we’re not so different after all.”

Look at the cracks in modern society. Plenty blame breakdowns in families. For the Amish, their rules come from the Bible, but it’s all about keeping the family strong.

Cars: they’re a big deal. “The nuclear family is central. Our sons are grown now, but if they needed something in town, with a car, they’d disappear for hours. With a horse, you brush, bridle, harness, back into the buggy. You can’t go more than ten miles, twenty all day. No quick errands.”

Amish families go to town together. “That’s why we don’t use cars. Not because we think cars are evil, but because they pull families apart.”

Sit in a restaurant today, and you’ll see people buried in phones. “No real conversation. What I love about my culture—even now—is the way we actually talk.”

That’s the heart of it: horse and buggy keep life slow and grounded; it helps you pay attention.

Amish folk speak the truth, but never swear oaths or place a hand on the Bible in court. “We’re patient, trustworthy. The Bible says, ‘Let your yes be yes and your no be no.’ No ‘So help me God.’ If I promise eight o’clock, I’ll be there.”

Imagine a world with no lawsuits. “The Bible says to talk it out privately, bring in church elders if needed. That’s how we handle disputes.”

No surprise: Amish don’t believe in divorce. “Marriage is forever. You can’t just take off a wedding ring or shave your beard when you’re in town. The beard is the wedding ring—everyone sees it. Divorce isn’t in the Amish community.”

Still, Amish marriages aren’t always easy. The church has changed. “Sometimes you just cope. About twenty-five years ago, folks started seeking counseling—it’s accepted now. Not every marriage is perfect, but there’s no remarriage after divorce.”

People misunderstand the photo thing. The Bible says not to make graven images. The Amish see posed photos as something that could become an idol. Don’t ask them to pose. Snap a candid while they’re working, and most won’t mind. You won’t see them posing. They don’t want to be an image or idol.

Tourist Tip #3: Big Olaf’s Ice Cream. Go for the treat, but half the fun’s in the line. Melanie swears by it. Waiting lets you hear stories, catch local buzz.

Check out the Carlisle Inn. Photos adorn the walls, featuring barn raisings, schoolhouses, and buggies. Melanie can tell a story about each photo.

One barn-raising photo stands out. An Amish man spoke up: “Our barn was struck by lightning and burned down the next day. An English crew cleared everything. That afternoon, 400 men and truckloads of lumber showed up. Eighty-two hours later, we were moving hay into the new loft.”

Melanie’s voice fills with emotion when she talks about it. The memory’s vivid. Another guest, a non-Amish guy, couldn’t believe it. “Eighty-two hours? I can’t even get a permit that fast. How?” The Amish wife just smiled. “That’s what we do.”

The Amish don’t buy insurance; they rely on each other. “You’re responsible for 20 percent,” Melanie says. “The community takes care of the rest.”

That’s not just barns or homes, it’s healthcare, too. Need surgery? A medical board of farmers negotiates a cash price. Each church group (about twenty-five families) has a little tin bucket. Folks pitch in. If there’s not enough, they ask neighboring churches.

The number of Amish kids on Rumspringa who decide to return surprised many. There’s a lot to love about that shared responsibility. Melanie knows it firsthand. When her tomatoes ripen, her mom, sisters, and aunts help her can them. Later, everyone goes to her mom’s house for round two. Weddings, babies, pickling, quilting, and the whole community pitches in.

Canning, quilting and pickles: community. In the end, Amish life and the beach might just be a better match than you’d think. Pickles and ice cream; not such a strange combination after all.

*Name changed upon request.

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That’s what happened on Friday morning, February 27, 2026, in downtown Sarasota: a 100-pound pot-bellied pig was just hanging out, all alone, being oddly chill about the whole thing.

Police say they found the pig wandering on 4th Street, somewhere between Lemon Avenue and Central Avenue, around 1:25 a.m. 

Someone called it in because, what else do you do when you spot a giant pig strolling the city streets? The Sarasota Police Department arrived, and the pig? Friendly. Cooperative. It was simply out on an evening stroll.

The pig’s pretty hard to miss: mostly white, with black spots and some pink markings. No collar, no tags, nothing to say where it came from or who it belongs to. So now the Sarasota Police Department is on the lookout for its owner.

If you know anything about this pig or who might be missing a very large, very sociable animal, give Sarasota County Animal Services a call at 941-861-9500. Somebody out there has to be missing this guy. Is there anyone in Englewood missing a pot-bellied pig?

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FDOT’s already laying the groundwork. The first phase covers airports stretching from Daytona Beach, through Orlando, all the way to Sarasota. They’re not stopping there, either. In the next few months, FDOT plans to set up a headquarters in Polk County to run this aerial highway network and put the tech through its paces.

There’s still a lot to figure out, and nobody’s saying what a ride will cost yet, or exactly which aircraft the FAA will greenlight. But officials are aiming high. They expect flights over the I-4 corridor between Tampa and Orlando to go live by the end of 2026. SunTrax in Auburndale is right at the heart of this, leading research and development for the project.

“We’re in the era of flying cars—think of it as an air Uber or air taxi,” says FDOT’s chief of staff, Jessica Ottaviano. The big idea? Cut down traffic jams along Florida’s busiest highways. The pilot program starts simple with one main route connecting major cities. If it works, they’ll connect Miami, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Fort Myers, and more.

Ottaviano adds, “This will be the first facility in the country focusing on both modes of transportation in one spot, letting us really home in on transportation tech and research.”

These new electric aircraft, called eVTOLs, short for electric vertical takeoff and landing, are built for short hops, carrying a handful of passengers at a time. Riders will board at vertiports, set up around the state. The goal? Become the first profitable commercial flying taxi service in the country, maybe even the world.

eVTOLs use distributed electric motors for quiet, efficient vertical flight. They’re greener than helicopters, flying lower than most planes (about 1,500 to 4,000 feet) and cutting commute times by skipping ground traffic. Companies like Archer (with their Midnight model), Joby, and Lilium are racing to get FAA approval. It’s not all smooth flying—battery technology and infrastructure still need work.

No word yet on how much a trip will set you back. FDOT says different companies will set their own prices, so riders can compare and pick the best deal once the service launches.

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The manatees are the first patients cared for at Mote since the organization received designation as a secondary care holding facility for manatee rehabilitation under the direction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Sleet and Cabbage arrived at Mote on April 28, 2025, after receiving initial treatment at Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership acute care centers. Both animals showed signs of cold stress and significant weight loss when they were transferred.

At Mote, animal care teams provided ongoing medical treatment and monitored the manatees as they gained weight and improved body condition, requirements for release back into the wild. Officials said both animals showed steady progress under care and were ultimately cleared for release by the cooperative rehabilitation team.

Sleet was released in Crystal River on Tuesday, December 9. Cabbage was released the following day, Wednesday, December 10, at Tampa Electric’s Big Bend discharge canal. The releases were conducted in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, ZooTampa at Lowry Park, Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, and the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature.

Florida has experienced unusually high numbers of manatee deaths in recent years, driven by seagrass loss, harmful algal blooms, cold stress, vessel strikes, and other threats. These conditions have increased the demand for rehabilitation and holding facilities across the state.

With its new designation, Mote is housing non critical manatee patients, overseeing the final stages of rehabilitation, and preparing animals for return to the wild in its expanded facilities.

“The successful release of these two patients represents significant progress in statewide manatee conservation efforts,” said Dr. Michael P. Crosby, Mote’s President and CEO. “It reflects the strength of our rehabilitation team and Mote’s commitment to advancing science based care that directly benefits this vulnerable species.”

As part of the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership, Mote works with agencies and organizations statewide to rescue, rehabilitate, release, and monitor manatees while supporting research and public education efforts.

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Tickets start at $43 and a VIP package is also available to give fans early access, premiere seats, pre-show lounge access and photo opportunities to spin the wheel.

Flats, a seasoned game show host, will make his Wheel of Fortune LIVE! debut later this year.  Flats’ lifelong love for game shows launched a career full of energy and unexpected stages. His charisma has landed him cameo appearances on hit shows like Hell’s Kitchen and Hairspray Live, and he has the unique distinction of hosting, The Game Plane, a game show at 35,000 feet!  

At Wheel of Fortune LIVE!, audience members will be randomly selected to come up on stage to spin the famous Wheel and show their skill by calling consonants, buying vowels and solving puzzles for an opportunity to win fantastic prizes, including vacations to destinations like Paris and Hawaii, or cash prizes up to $10,000.

New this year, attendees will have the opportunity to get a head start in the audition process. Exclusive applications will be available to submit on site that will put applicants directly into the producers’ audition queue. If successful, they will appear alongside Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White on the televised version of the game show.

The Wheel of Fortune LIVE! tour will travel to more than 60 cities across North America for more than 80 total performances, thanks to the strategic efforts of United Talent Agency (UTA.) UTA assembled a powerhouse lineup of several dozen top-tier regional promoters to bring the iconic game show experience to fans nationwide.

The most up-to-date tour schedule and ticket information can be found at WheelOfFortuneLIVE.com.

Currently in its 42^nd season in syndication, Wheel of Fortune continues to be one of the most successful shows in history. The show is produced by Sony Pictures Television and Executive Produced by Bellamie Blackstone.

Follow Wheel of Fortune LIVE!® on Facebook and Instagram @wheeloffortunelive.Future updates on shows and productions can be found on the Van Wezel’s website and through social media on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube. Grab and go dining options are available through Mattison’s at the Van Wezel which is located inside the theatre. Select shows may have dinner service available. Reservations can be made on VanWezel.org or through the Veteran Air Box Office.

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According to the complaint filed October 31 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, the Zieglers accuse Detectives Angela Cox and Maria Llovio of conducting an “egregious abuse of power” that included obtaining overbroad search warrants, seizing private communications, and omitting exculpatory evidence from judicial review.

The lawsuit states that Sarasota police “downloaded the entirety of Mr. Ziegler’s cell phone,” accessing more than 470,000 photos and 30,000 videos, including confidential marital and attorney-client communications. The Zieglers allege this violated their rights under the Fourth, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments.

Bridget Ziegler, a Sarasota County School Board member and co-founder of Moms for Liberty, claims the couple’s private messages were unlawfully included in police reports that later became public. “It is as if the Defendants intentionally did an end-run around the Constitution and state law,” the complaint states.

The lawsuit recounts that in October 2023, police opened a sexual assault investigation against Christian Ziegler after a woman accused him of misconduct. Within days, police learned of a video Ziegler said cleared him of wrongdoing. The suit claims detectives knew about the video but still executed a sweeping search warrant. “The exculpatory nature of the video was immediately apparent to everyone who viewed it,” the filing says.

The State Attorney’s Office declined to file charges in March 2024. By then, Christian Ziegler had resigned as chair of the Republican Party of Florida, and both plaintiffs say they suffered severe professional and reputational harm.

The couple is seeking compensatory damages for attorney’s fees and lost wages, as well as punitive damages for “mental anguish, pain and suffering, and humiliation and embarrassment.” The City of Sarasota and the detectives have not yet filed a response. A spokesperson for the Sarasota Police Department declined to comment on pending litigation.

The post Ziegler Couple Sues City of Sarasota, Detectives for Alleged Civil Rights Violations appeared first on Englewood Review.

The celebration opens with Amy Tan, bestselling author of “The Joy Luck Club” and “The Bonesetter’s Daughter.” Tan will discuss her creative journey and her latest work, “The Backyard Bird Chronicles,” on Friday, November 7, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Riverview Performing Arts Center, 1 Ram Way, Sarasota. No registration is required; seating is first come, first served.

Lisa Daily, a USA Today bestselling author and book coach, will present “How to Write Romance That Sizzles” on Tuesday, November 11, from 7 to 8 p.m. at Ringling College of Art & Design, 2700 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Admission is free. For details, email aleuck@scgov.net

Art crime detective Robert K. Wittman, founder of the FBI’s National Art Crime Team, will appear on Wednesday, November 12, from 3 to 4 p.m. at the William H. Jervey Jr. Venice Library, 300 Nokomis Avenue South, Venice. Wittman will share stories from his bestselling memoir “Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World’s Stolen Treasures.” Admission is free.

Award-winning naturalist and author Stan Tekiela will present his wildlife photography and insights from decades of field research on Friday, November 14, from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Jervey Jr. Venice Library. Admission is free and open to adults and seniors.

Bestselling novelist Chris Bohjalian, known for “Midwives” and “The Flight Attendant,” will appear on Saturday, November 15, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at Selby Library, 1331 First Street, Sarasota. He will discuss his latest work, “The Jackal’s Mistress.” A book signing will follow.

Fans of the macabre can join members of the Florida chapter of the Horror Writers Association for readings and discussions on Monday, November 17, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the North Port Library, 13800 Tamiami Trail, North Port. No registration is required.

Annabelle Tometich, author of “The Mango Tree: A Memoir of Fruit, Florida, and Felony,” will speak on Tuesday, November 18, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Frances T. Bourne Jacaranda Library, 4143 Woodmere Park Boulevard, Venice. The event is presented with support from Florida Humanities and the Jacarlene Foundation.

Mother-daughter duo Janet and Alex Evanovich will discuss their writing process and Janet’s new novel, “The King’s Ransom,” on Wednesday, November 19, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Shannon Staub Library, 4675 Career Lane, North Port. A book sale and signing will follow.

The celebration concludes with Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of “The Magnolia Palace” and “The Lions of Fifth Avenue.” Davis will speak on Thursday, November 20, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Jervey Jr. Venice Library.For full details about “Off the Page” events, call 941-861-1110 or visit scgovlibrary.librarymarket.com.

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The Sarasota Police Department reported collecting 44 pounds of unwanted and unused prescription pills. Officers at the 17th Street location took in 23 pounds, while officers at headquarters gathered 21 pounds. The medications will be properly destroyed.

“Thank you to everyone who stopped by our drop-off locations for the Prescription Drug Take Back Day,” the department said in a statement. “Your participation helps ensure these drugs are safely removed from circulation.”

Residents who missed the event can still dispose of medications at the Sarasota Police Department headquarters, 2099 Adams Lane in Sarasota, which has a permanent drop box available daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

In Venice, police partnered with Walgreens to collect more than 157 pounds of expired and unused prescription drugs during the same event. The Venice Police Department thanked residents for participating in the national effort to safely dispose of medications and prevent misuse.

In North Port, HCA Florida Wellen Park Emergency joined forces with the North Port Police Department for the national initiative, encouraging residents to drop off unused or unwanted prescriptions for safe and proper disposal as part of the #CrushTheCrisis campaign. The event collected 135 pounds of medications.

“I’m incredibly proud of our colleagues at HCA Florida Wellen Park Emergency for serving our community during this weekend’s Crush the Crisis event,” said CEO Kelly Lindsay. “Collecting 135 pounds of unused or unwanted medications is a powerful step in preventing drug misuse and overdose. Research shows many addictions begin with access to medications from family or friends, making efforts like this vital. We’re especially grateful to the North Port Police Department for their partnership and support in making this initiative a success.”

The twice-yearly DEA event gives residents across the country a safe way to get rid of expired or unneeded prescriptions. The initiative helps prevent drug misuse, accidental ingestion and environmental contamination caused by improper disposal.

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