Ten Minutes in Paradise

From 2:07 to 2:17 p.m. on February 7 ... From Venice to Punta Gorda, Fort Myers, Naples ... from Jupiter and Palm Beach to Miami and Key West ...

It’s a blip — nothing, really, in the continuum of time. But it can seem like an eternity when you observe all that transpires during that span. The Florida Weekly team takes you on a journey across the Sunshine State as we document the goings-on from 2:07 to 2:17 p.m. on Feb. 7 — yes, that’s 2:07 on 2/7. As […]

Concert pianist to perform benefit



Isaac James, the new guy in town, has taken in the musical landscape. He likes what he has seen. “It’s very hungry for music,” he said the other day while enjoying a morning coffee at The Bean on 41 in Punta Gorda. “It’s not like there’s too much of it. The community is very hungry for the performing arts, which […]

Socialists ‘R’ Us, since 1933

COMMENTARY


It was a good year for some people: Rudy Vallee and his Connecticut Yankees hit it big with “Honeymoon Hotel.” Bread was 7 cents a loaf, gas was 10 cents a gallon, and you could buy Henry Ford’s Model 40 V-8 for $550. Even better for Henry, who sold half a million Fords, a man he greatly admired became chancellor […]

Equal-opportunity skepticism



Let’s be fair to Donald Trump. No, seriously. That’s not a joke. When it comes time to judge the presidential candidates, we should remember what they say about geese and ganders, and apply the same standards to all members of this growing gaggle. Both males and females of this species should get equal treatment, in other words. That’s where the […]

Why the Robert Kraft bust matters



Robert Kraft’s name will now long be associated with one of the most despicable scourges of modern life and rightly so. The New England Patriots owner is charged with soliciting prostitution at a Florida massage parlor busted as part of a sex-trafficking ring. Kraft denies it, although the police in Jupiter say they have video evidence. The charges against him, […]

Upcoming CHEC programs

Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center and the Charlotte County Natural Resource Department will be conducting the following free programs. Unless noted, walks begin at 9 a.m. For directions or information, call Cedar Point Environmental Park at 475-0769. For all programs: www.ChecFlorida.org. ¦ Thursday, March 7 — Join Florida Master Naturalist Kate Borduas as she explores “The Lost Forests of America – […]

Treat beat

Food rewards aid in training, reduce fear in unfamiliar situations, and are just plain fun to give. Here’s what to know about treats for cats and dogs


Did you celebrate International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day last month? Even if you didn’t know about it, you probably gave your dog or cat a treat that day for any number of reasons. Pet lovers give treats as rewards during training sessions, after a great agility run or nosework search, or for pottying in the right spot; as distractions in […]

Pets of the Week

These animals are available for adoption at the Animal Welfare League, 3519 Drance St., Port Charlotte. All animals are microchipped, neutered and current with their shots. The shelter is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day. To view adoptable pets, visit www.awlshelter.org. To learn more, visit EARS at 145 W. Dearborn St., Englewood, visit www.earsanimalrescue.com or call 681-3877. […]

It’s time: Report horseshoe crab spawning sightings with FWC app

Spring is peak mating season for horseshoe crabs, and biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are encouraging reports of sightings with the FWC Reporter application. Horseshoe crabs mate year-round, and it is most common to see groups along the shore in March and April, biologists said. To identify mating pairs, look for a smaller male on top […]

Observing nature in the raw



There’s nothing quite like observing nature in the raw. No, I’m not talking about running around in your birthday suit on a private beach somewhere. I’m referring to the world of our fine feathered and furry friends. (Darn if that doesn’t sound weird, too.) And the underwater world of fish and such. How much of it do you want to […]