The new Discovery Channel TV show, Guardians of the Glades, features Dusty “Wildman” Crum, from Venice. The 6 episodes that started May 28^th are on 10 pm Tuesdays. Python hunting to save The Glades.

Our community children have a beautiful and safe playground facility in which to play at Gilchrist Park. A donation to the City from area Moms added $100,000 to upgrade the original plans. Take a walk on the Harborwalk at Gilchrist to see it.

The PicklePlex is slated to open June 3^rd with 3 courts ready. More will be coming online every day until all 32 are available for play. The final vision for the ‘Plex will include 8 indoor courts, a restaurant, a fitness center & a conference center. MUCH of the labor is volunteer!

In April 2019, 701 residences sold. Median days on market was 44 days, however 21% of these accepted a contract within their first 10 days on the market.

This year, two districts will be electing candidates, District 3 and District 5. Important dates: Qualifing Period (forms/petition due) June 17 Noon to June 21 Noon. Primary election: Aug 27. General election: Nov 5. MORE INFO HERE

More than 900 students graduated from Charlotte County high schools recently. At 87.6%, that’s an improvement from last year and higher than the state’s average (86.1%).

We wish all of you a successful future!

Both Bayfront Health Port Charlotte and Fawcett Memorial Hospital are now listed as “Comprehensive Stroke Centers” by the FL Agency for Health Care Administration. Both now have the equipment and doctors to handle advanced treatment here in Port Charlotte, instead of sending patients out of county.

The F-16 jet team will perform their aerobatic expertise at the Nov 1-3 Florida International Air Show at the Punta Gorda Airport. Tickets and sponsorships are available now.

The “Dig the Sun Pro Am Volleyball Tournament” was in Punta Gorda, along with TV crews that broadcast the pro matches. In its 3rd year here, teams have come from the U.S. as well as internationally, Germany & Brazil.

As of March 20th, Sunseekers Resort is officially building. Several walls went up quickly, pilings are now in the works. Phase 1 will include 3 buildings and the convention center. The project promises to offer hundreds of jobs in the local area.

Punta Gorda ranks 10th in the state of FL in the Top 20 Safest Cities. Venice and North Port also ranked in this group. Thank you to our local Charlotte County law enforcement agencies – and to law-abiding citizens!

Every year the PG Chamber prints a substantial magazine that includes Chamber members, along with info-articles about the area. The Chamber office sees a steady flow of vacationers throughout the year and this is the first thing they pick up. Watch for it late May.

About every 3 years, Chamber prints a new, local-use street map of Downtown Punta Gorda, complete with featured downtown businesses. It just went to print and is due out late June.

Katie Mazzi, Friends of the Punta Gorda Library president, reports that the shelving and furniture for the new library have been ordered and is expected to arrive and be installed by July. A projected grand opening is still planned for August. The Friends donated $155,000 for the furnishings for the children, youth and teen areas. 

The Friends of the Punta Gorda Library requested that the teen area of the new library be named for Mary Knowlton. The County Commissioners have approved this request.   Mary was an educator and was committed to having a space in the new library for teens.

The new library will now be open on Mondays.  This means that the Punta Gorda-Charlotte Library will be open Mondays through Saturdays.

Starting salary for new teachers in Charlotte County was raised 17+% by the County Commissioners, bringing the them more in line with the state. Teachers in the system may also see a pay raise of about 6%. Says Superintendent Breiner, “[low salaries] has left our district in a less-than-competitive position in the recruitment, instructional and leadership staff.”

After airing a couple series in 2015, HGTV has been filming around Punta Gorda for three episodes on finding dream homes in Port Charlotte (beach front), North Port and Punta Gorda. VIEW HERE.

50 years ago, New York had 4-times the population of Florida, now Florida is larger than New York. Gov. DeSantis reports a $1.4B revenue surplus. In PG, home sales abound, small businesses see growth.