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Hey Charlotte County, hope your week’s off to a good start! In today’s edition: Gift card boom signals recovery, Fishermen’s Village sale, a comedy Italian wedding, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Englewood’s comeback gains traction: After a difficult year, Manasota Key Group recorded $275,000 in gift card sales reaching buyers in all 50 states and every Canadian province. The surge signals renewed confidence in Englewood’s recovery — learn how tourism supports services.
Second sales push underway: Punta Gorda’s Fishermen’s Village is back on the market, with offers open now through Feb. 27, featuring a 142-slip marina, five leased waterfront restaurants, and a spot along Charlotte Harbor — get all the details.
Fresh reasons to get out: January’s best festivals, art exhibits, and live music around Sarasota, Bradenton, and Punta Gorda are happening this month. Highlights still ahead can help you plan an outing close to home — check out the full lineup.
Are you overpaying? The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. I was paying over $300 for ONE car until I checked out various quotes, switched providers, and ultimately cut my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably losing money too — this free comparison tool makes it easy.
Gold & silver are hot: Gold just had its best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150% in 2025… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. If you’re curious about adding precious metals to your portfolio as a market hedge, American Hartford has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
Local governance in focus: Today in Port Charlotte, the Charlotte County Commission is set to share updates on county finances, utilities, and key infrastructure projects. Commissioners, the county administrator, and the county attorney are expected to speak. It remains unclear whether all discussions will be held publicly. Read the full story.
Dial in your swing: No weather excuses… The Back Nine Golf features high-tech simulators, public tee times with no membership, casual tournaments, and kids camps, so you can sharpen your swing or squeeze in a quick 18 without leaving town, plus it’s a solid spot for low-key hangs and private events.
Glow-up, but make local: For a routine that actually works, ästhetik spa & skincare pairs custom facials like hydrodermabrasion, microcurrent, and LED with a cruelty-free, esthetician-made line. Small-batch, plant-based formulas come home with you, so the glow lasts between visits.
A new haircare solution: My hair’s been thinning and I’ve been quietly ignoring it, hoping it’ll fix itself. Plot twist… it hasn’t. When I finally started looking into what I should do, there were so many options I didn’t know where to start. I stumbled on Keranique, and its simplicity really sold me. One kit, no pills, no choosing products, and no confusion whatsoever. It’s also on sale with a money-back guarantee (although I doubt you’ll need it).
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📆 Around town this week
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All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
This week
🥕 Partners in Play @ North Port Library | Tuesday (1/13) at 10:15 AM – Partners in Play from Forty Carrots is popping up with a drop-in play session for mobile babies to age five, plus friendly Parenting Educators who know what to do with a tantrum. Bring the kiddo, your coffee, and your questions, leave with tricks, calmer mornings.
🧘 Somatic Sound @ Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens | Wednesday (1/14) at 9:30 AM – Give your nervous system a morning on the great lawn at Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens, where sound and stillness do the heavy lifting. Bring a mat, a blanket, and an open heart, donate what you feel, and half supports the Gardens. No experience required.
🍷 Sip, Savor, and Salud: Intro to Spanish and Portuguese Wines @ Total Wine & More | Thursday (1/15) at 6:30 PM – Think you can tell Rioja from Ribera in one sip? Take a laid-back tour of Spain and Portugal by the glass, learning the quirks of their regions and varietals. It is educational, delicious, and pleasantly grown-up, no passport, pretension, or bachelorette glitter required.
This weekend
✂ 29th Annual Sullivan Street Craft Festival @ Sullivan Street Fair | Saturday (1/17) at 10:00 AM – Ready to swap big-box decor for something made by actual humans? Stroll Sullivan Street downtown, meet top crafters, and soak up the Peace River breeze while you justify that second handmade mug. It is a Punta Gorda winter ritual, with easy side-street parking, of course.
🏡 Port Charlotte/Punta Gorda Home & Garden Show January 2026 @ Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center | Saturday (1/17) at 10:00 AM – If your counters still scream Tuscan, head to the Home & Garden Show at the Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center in Punta Gorda. Free admission and parking, local pros, show-only deals, door prizes, and all the windows, roofs, kitchens, and decor under one roof.
🌳 Family Day Whimsy Tree @ Painting with a Twist | Sunday (1/18) at 1:00 PM – This family day is all about building a Whimsy Tree, with hands-on art stations, make-and-take crafts, and nature-inspired fun that keeps little hands busy. You get charming chaos, they get glitter and glue, everyone leaves with something fridge-worthy, and maybe a new leaf of patience.
🌊 Resin Ocean Trinket Trays @ Shipwreck Saloon | Sunday (1/18) at 1:30 PM – Craving beach vibes without tracking sand into the car? At The Shipwreck Saloon, craft two resin ocean trays with WhimSea using sand, shells, and UV magic, all supplies and a drink coupon included. No experience needed, $50, and a $10 deposit holds your spot.
Live music & entertainment:
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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How it works:
- Sign up (it takes less than 5 minutes)
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Everything you share is reviewed, and approved submissions are automatically considered for future newsletters. AKA… your business has a much higher chance of being featured in front of thousands of Charlotte County locals who live, shop, eat, and share good things with their friends.
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Click here to get started (it’s free) →
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📻 Charlotte County report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 75°F – Low: 61°F – Precip: 14%
Partly sunny, with a high near 75. North northeast wind around 7 mph. Later: A chance of rain showers after 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. North wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
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Tomorrow – High: 72°F – Low: 58°F – Precip: 31%
A chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Northwest wind 3 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Later: Rain showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. West wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
This house is wild
Southern exposure and unobstructed waterfront views set the tone, framed by a great room of glass sliders and a breakfast room with a picture window. Mostly furnished interiors showcase master carpentry, custom cabinetry, and a gourmet kitchen with wall ovens and a range hood. A spacious primary suite pairs with an extra wide laundry and pull down ironing board.
Outdoor highlights include a heated pool with jets and waterfall and a pool bath. A 60 foot Trex dock includes a covered 10k lift and Gulf access. Generator ready power, hurricane shutters, and updates, roof 2023, AC 2022, pool heater and salt generator 2023, irrigation pump 2024.
Take a peek inside →
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