The PG Police Dept. has launched a new VIP Bike Patrol in our community! A volunteer group of experienced cyclists are specially trained in bicycle safety, bicycle education, and bicycle and pedestrian laws.  They will assist the public with safety information, conduct parking enforcement, & report suspicious activity or potential safety concerns to officers – keeping Punta Gorda one of the safest cities in Florida.

Did you know that the city-management of our canal seawalls is one of the only such programs in Florida and the U.S.? It is one more thing that makes Punta Gorda so attractive to home buyers!  The ongoing repair of the Hurr. Irma-damaged seawalls – by the City: 80+% of the seawall panels replaced; 65+% of the seawall replacement project is totally complete including grading and sod. *March 12, 2019

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 law-abiding citizens!

Approximately 1,800 people and 20 vendors attended, fantastic tunes from Matt Marshak, Sax Pack, & Gerald Albright. “You can take wine to everything,” said one attendee, “but you don’t get good jazz everywhere.” You do HERE in Punta Gorda!

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.

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.

• Charlotte High School Trial Team: headed to State Mock Trial Competition in March
• Port Charlotte High School Model United Nations Team: medaled in Boston at the International Model UN Conference
• Charlotte Technical College SkillsUSA team: medaled at the regional competition in Feb., will compete at the state level in April.

Florida Power & Light is set to expand the solar field at Babcock Ranch by an additional 330,000 panels. Doubling the 74.5 megawatts of power, FLP and Charlotte County will lead Florida in the production of solar generated electricity.

Punta Gorda has been noted by Realtor.com to be America’s fastest-growing retirement hot spot. Walkable & tourist-friendly, senior-friendly were among the ranking criteria.

Published in the 6th addition, this book is “your gateway to 100 cities hand-picked by the experts at Where to Retire magazine, the authority on retirement relocation.” Punta Gorda is 1 of 18 Florida cities selected. We also ranked as one of the “Best Small Towns” in the U.S. The book is Available on Amazon.

The exterior of the new Punta Gorda Library was recently painted. Still on schedule to open in August 2019, one of the new features of the larger library is a meeting room that will hold 140 people.  Says PG Friends of the Library President Katie Mazzi, “This new space will provide the opportunity for… free programs, including musical and dramatic performances, guest authors and educational programs.”