Garry Overbey

Port Charlotte

Editor, Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda at Charlotte Sun

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Articles

Fostering literacy, one child — and one book — at a time - Charlotte County Florida Weekly

1 week ago | charlottecounty.floridaweekly.com | Garry Overbey

Growing up in East Tennessee, Shawn Gilstad couldn’t wait for his monthly Dolly Parton book to arrive. Of course, the country music superstar wasn’t packing and mailing the books herself, but he still associates Parton with the joy he got from her Imagination Library. “I just remember being a kid and seeing that postcard signed by Dolly, encouraging me to read and to enjoy the books,” he said.
The Next Wellen Park?

1 week ago | townchronicle.com | Garry Overbey

Sarasota County is considering an application for North Port to annex 3,148 acres south of Wellen Park. Representatives for Wellen Park’s developer say the project — to be called Winchester Ranch at Wellen Park — will be a southern extension of the community. Its borders are north of the Englewood Sports Complex, east of Boca Royale, south of Playmore Drive and west of South River Road. Winchester Ranch is a segment of the former Taylor Ranch property that wasn’t annexed by North Port in 2002.
Kids dive into summer books at the library

2 weeks ago | charlottecounty.floridaweekly.com | Garry Overbey

Summer is here, and Charlotte County libraries want to make sure kids keep reading. With school out, kids may find other things to do — often allowing their books to collect dust. One study found that students in grades 1-8 who don’t read over the summer can lose between 17% and 34% of their reading gains from the previous school year. To prevent this “summer slide,” educators say children should read at least 30 minutes a day.
Tools of the Trades

1 month ago | charlottecounty.floridaweekly.com | Garry Overbey

The Englewood Charlotte Library recently hosted “The Trades at the Library,” a career fair offering job seekers a chance to explore a variety of skilled trades. About a dozen representatives from local technical schools and trade associations set up informational booths at Tringali Community Park to answer questions about training, apprenticeships, tuition and other topics related to fields like aviation, roofing, plumbing, welding and auto repair.
At a Crossroads - Town Chronicle

1 month ago | townchronicle.com | Garry Overbey

Police officers working out of storage closets. Storm debris piled high on city streets, bringing rats and frustration. These are just some of the challenges North Port officials say residents were facing as the city geared up for a crucial vote on May 13. On the ballot: a series of referendums that would allow the city to secure short-term loans for emergency storm response, as well as fund long-term infrastructure projects — including a long-overdue new police station.
Keeping watch over Wellen Park’s homes

1 month ago | townchronicle.com | Garry Overbey

Linda Trull has had many jobs in her lifetime, but the one thing she hasn’t been good at is staying retired. The seven-year resident of Wellen Park’s Gran Paradiso neighborhood recently launched Honest and Fair Home Watch Care LLC, a new business providing home watch services for all 21 communities in Wellen Park. A home watch service looks after properties while the owners are away, checking the exterior and interior for leaks, damage and other issues.
105-year-old WWII veteran honored with pinning ceremony

1 month ago | townchronicle.com | Garry Overbey

Richard “Dick” Palmer was part of that generation of young men who saved the world but didn’t talk about it much. His daughter, Mary Palmer, remembers him putting on his old Army uniform for veterans’ parades and other patriotic events. But talk about his time in the service during World War II? “He really didn’t,” she said. One day, she asked him why.
Economic Milestone

1 month ago | charlottecounty.floridaweekly.com | Garry Overbey

Lane Valente Industries, a nationwide facility management and general contracting company, recently celebrated the grand opening of its new facility at 8228 Northup Drive in Punta Gorda. The opening marked a “major milestone” for the county’s economic development, according to Kay Tracy, director of the Charlotte County Economic Development Office. “It’s a significant investment for our local economy, our workforce and the future of Charlotte County,” Tracy said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
At 100, Madeleine Ibberson has much to reflect on

2 months ago | charlottecounty.floridaweekly.com | Garry Overbey

Days shy of her 100th birthday, Madeleine Ibberson wonders if it’s finally time to lose her French accent. “Yesterday we had a friend coming … from Germany,” she said. Her voice carries a musical lilt. “The whole time, I understood not a word he said, and I kept thinking: ‘Poor people in America, they have to listen to me.’”She’s kidding. But then she tells a story about how she gets surprised looks from people when she pronounces the word “sheet.”“So, I don’t buy bedding,” she said with a laugh.
New Wellen Park emergency room boosts North Port’s health care

2 months ago | townchronicle.com | Garry Overbey

Wellen Park’s first free-standing emergency room opened in March. HCA Florida Wellen Park Emergency is an 11,300-square-foot facility open 24 hours a day, where residents can go for ailments ranging from broken bones and upper respiratory infections to chest pains and strokes. “This is a great opportunity for HCA Florida Englewood Hospital to be able to serve the community of South Sarasota County with access to emergency care,” hospital CEO Kelly Lindsay said.