The Arcadian

06/13/2026

State law lifts permit fees for some smaller residential projects

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has approved a bill eliminating local building permit fees for some residential renovation and repair projects under $7,500.

06/13/2026

🚨 TODAY’S THE DAY (6/13)! 🚨🌀

Hurricane season is already here… but are YOU ready?

Don’t wait until a storm is heading toward Southwest Florida to start preparing. Join us TODAY at the Home & Hurricane Expo and get the information, resources, and expert advice you need before the next storm appears on the forecast.

📍 Englewood Elks Lodge
401 N. Indiana Ave., Englewood, FL 34223

⏰ TODAY • 10 AM – 3 PM

✅ 60+ local vendors
🎤 Hear from Matt Devitt Weather
🚨 Charlotte County Emergency Management
❤️ American Red Cross
🩸 SunCoast Blood Centers Blood Drive
📸 “Be a Meteorologist for a Day” Photo Booth
🎁 Giveaways all day long
⚡ TWO GENERATORS WILL BE GIVEN AWAY!

Whether you’re a longtime Florida resident or experiencing hurricane season for the first time, this is your chance to get storm-ready, ask questions, meet local experts, and learn how to protect your family, home, and business.

🌪️ The best time to prepare is BEFORE a storm is named.

Admission is FREE.
Bring your family. Bring your neighbors. Bring your questions.

We’ll see you TODAY in Englewood!

06/12/2026

🚨 This is your daily reminder that you DO NOT want to miss the Hurricane Expo tomorrow! 🚨

Join us for a fun, informative day packed with hurricane preparedness tips, local experts, great vendors, giveaways, and activities for the whole family.

🌪 Hear from meteorologist Matt Devitt Weather, Emergency Management, the Red Cross, SunCoast Blood Centers, and more.

🎁 Enter for your chance to win one of TWO generators!

📸 Stop by our famous “Be a Weatherman for a Day” photo booth.

🛍 Browse 60+ local vendors�🩸 Donate blood�🍔 Enjoy food and refreshments�🎉 Grab giveaways and gift bags

📍 Englewood Elks Lodge�401 N. Indiana Ave., Englewood, FL 34223�🗓 Saturday, June 13�⏰ 10 AM – 3 PM

Hurricane season is here. Get prepared, support local businesses, and have some fun while you’re at it. See you tomorrow!

06/11/2026

Day 4 Spotlight: Kerri Ducharme-Tyree 💜

🗳️ Vote Daily at sunfiercewomen.com

Meet Kerri Ducharme-Tyree, one of our June FIERCE Women nominees!

What started as a way to help her family's garden center through the slower winter months grew into a lifelong passion and successful floral business. After relocating to Southwest Florida, Kerri brought her expertise and entrepreneurial spirit with her, founding A Vermont Touch and building a loyal customer base from the ground up.

Known for her creativity, hard work, and commitment to her community, Kerri thrives in an industry where no two days are ever the same. Her willingness to adapt, connect with others, and continuously grow her business has made her a respected local business owner.

Her determination and passion for making life's special moments even more beautiful make her a truly FIERCE Woman.

💜 Show Kerri your support by voting daily at sunfiercewomen.com

Follow along FIERCE Women

06/10/2026

Day 3 Spotlight: Courtney Fontenot 💜

🗳️ Vote Daily at sunfiercewomen.com

Meet Courtney Fontenot, one of our June FIERCE Women nominees!

After moving from California to Port Charlotte in 2013, Courtney transformed her passion for photography into a thriving business. Today, through Courtney Nicole Photography, she captures weddings, families, and life's most meaningful moments while also empowering women through her bo***ir photography sessions.

Despite navigating the challenges of social media changes, artificial intelligence, and the pandemic, Courtney continued to grow and evolve, turning her dream into a successful business with a physical studio location.

Her creativity, resilience, and dedication to helping others see their beauty and confidence make her a true FIERCE Woman.

💜 Show Courtney your support by voting daily at sunfiercewomen.com

Be part of it FIERCE Women

06/10/2026

🚨⛈️ HOME & HURRICANE EXPO THIS SATURDAY! ⛈️🚨

Ready or not, hurricane season is here! 🌪️ Don't get caught scrambling when the next storm pops up on the radar. Join us THIS SATURDAY for a fun, family-friendly event packed with everything you need to prepare, protect, and power through hurricane season!

📍 Englewood Elks Lodge
401 N Indiana Ave, Englewood, FL 34223

🌴 What’s waiting for you?

🌀 Meet with 60+ local vendors and experts
🎤 Hear from local weather favorite Matt Devitt Weather
🚨 Learn from Charlotte County Emergency Management
❤️ Get preparedness and recovery tips from the Red Cross
🩸 Meet the team from SunCoast Blood Centers and donate blood to help save lives
📸 Step into our "Be a Meteorologist for a Day" photo booth and strike your best weathercaster pose!
🎁 Enjoy giveaways and prizes throughout the day
⚡ Enter for your chance to WIN one of TWO generators!

Whether you're a seasoned Florida resident or new to hurricane season, you'll find valuable resources, expert advice, home services, emergency planning information, and plenty of opportunities to connect with local businesses and organizations.

🌪️ The best time to prepare is BEFORE a storm is named.

Grab your family, bring your neighbors, and spend a few hours getting storm-ready while having some fun along the way!

🎉 FREE to attend.
🎉 Great giveaways.
🎉 Amazing speakers.
🎉 Valuable resources.

We'll see you Saturday, Englewood! 🌴☀️⚡

06/09/2026

⏰ Last Chance to Nominate! ⏰

Tomorrow is the FINAL DAY to submit nominations for our latest FIERCE Women theme: Women Who Build Foundations! 🏗️🏡

We're looking for the incredible women who help shape our communities through real estate, architecture, construction, engineering, development, design, skilled trades, and related industries.

Do you know a woman who is helping build the homes, businesses, and communities we rely on every day? A woman whose hard work, leadership, and dedication deserve to be recognized?

💜 Don't let her story go untold.

Whether she's a realtor helping families find a place to call home, an architect designing the future, a builder creating opportunities, or a professional working behind the scenes to make it all happen, we want to celebrate her.

📣 Nominations close tomorrow!
📲 Submit your nomination now at SunFIERCEWomen.com

06/09/2026

Day 2 Spotlight: Caitlin Barrett 💜

🗳️ Vote Daily at sunfiercewomen.com

Meet Caitlin Barrett, one of our June FIERCE Women nominees!

Born and raised in Port Charlotte, Caitlin serves as the Chief of Creativity and Director of Events for the Charlotte-DeSoto Building Industry Association. While attending college online, she helps coordinate nearly 200 events and fundraisers each year that make a positive impact throughout our community.

Her creativity, organization, and passion for bringing people together have helped create countless opportunities for connection, networking, and community support.

Caitlin's ability to balance her education, career, and commitment to serving others is what makes her truly FIERCE.

💜 Show Caitlin your support by voting daily at sunfiercewomen.com

Follow our page at FIERCE Women

06/08/2026

Day 1 Spotlight: Caitlin Keller 💜

🗳️ Vote daily at sunfiercewomen.com

Meet Caitlin Keller, one of our June FIERCE Women nominees!

As the Sales & Catering Director at Hotel Venezia in Venice, Caitlin has spent nearly a decade helping create memorable events and experiences throughout our community. Her journey began at just 15 years old working in hospitality, where she quickly discovered her passion for catering and event planning.

Caitlin describes herself as someone who never gives up. Whether she's organizing successful events, tackling new challenges, or pushing herself through bodybuilding competitions, she is driven by discipline, determination, and the belief that hard work pays off.

Her passion for creating unforgettable moments and her commitment to excellence make her a true FIERCE Woman.

💜 Show Caitlin your support by voting daily at sunfiercewomen.com

Follow us at FIERCE Women

06/07/2026

Buchan's Bayside Phase II gets plan board OK

VENICE — Phase II of the Buchan’s Bayside project on Dearborn Street in Englewood fared much better in its second presentation to the Sarasota County Planning Commission than it did