Be Bold & Get Cold at the Second Annual Polar Dip

https://www.cityofnorthport.com/government/city-services/parks-recreation/city-events

Join North Port Parks & Recreation on January 2, 2021 to be bold and get cold at the second annual Polar Dip.  The event will be held at the North Port Aquatic Center (6205 W. Price Blvd.) from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.  and is only $5 per person. 

Participants will have the chance to slide down the Tarpon Twister or the Dolphin Dive and splash among ice cubes at the bottom. Float down the Relaxahatchee lazy river or escape the cold water and warm up with some hot chocolate in addition to glacial games and activities!

Space is limited, so pre-registration is recommended. Sign up today at https://bit.ly/NPPolarDip or stop by the North Port Aquatic Center, the Morgan Family Community Center, or the George Mullen Activity Center for assistance.

If attending the event, please remember to practice good physical distancing. The use of masks on the pool deck, when not participating in the swimming activities and when distance cannot be maintained, is strongly encouraged.

Questions? Please call 941-429-PARK(7275) or email Parks@CityOfNorthPort.com.

Ali H. Johnston, MBA in Real Estate

REALTOR®, Lic. Broker #BK3284964

West Villages Realty LLC

19503 S West Villages Pkwy

Stes A2 (by Appt)

Venice, Florida 34293

Office: 941-460-3179

WINGS UP Venice Named a ‘Monarch City’

https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/news-and-profiles/2020/12/venice-named-a-monarch-city#

A monarch butterfly rests on a flower

IMAGE: PARRY PHOTOGRAPHY/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Nearly a billion monarch butterflies have disappeared since 1990. The City of Venice wants to help the population recover.

 Monarch City, USA, a nationwide organization dedicated to preserving the dwindling monarch butterfly population, recently named Venice a a Monarch City. Nearly a billion monarchs—or 90 percent of their population—have vanished since 1990; that loss comes from farmers and gardeners spraying herbicides on milkweed plants, a food source, nursery and home for butterflies. Other threats include the loss of habitat as a result of development. Monarchs are critical pollinators, helping grow the food humans and animals rely upon.

However, despite the catastrophic decrease in their population, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced last week that the monarch will not be part of its Endangered Species Act. Inclusion on the list “is warranted, but precluded by work on higher-priority listing actions,” the agency said in a statement.

To help the monarch population recover, the city of Venice will plant milkweed and other nectar plants. Monarch City also provides street signs with photos of the butterfly on them. Venice Area Beautification, Inc., Keep Venice Beautiful and Venice in Bloom all helped the city of Venice achieve its Monarch City designation.

Ali H. Johnston, MBA in Real Estate

REALTOR®, Lic. Broker #BK3284964

West Villages Realty LLC

19503 S West Villages Pkwy

Stes A2 (by Appt)

Venice, Florida 34293

Office: 941-460-3179

20 SURPRISING FACTS ABOUT VENICE FLORIDA

 https://www.mustdo.com/articles/20-surprising-facts-about-venice-florida/

Venice is tucked away 23 miles south of Sarasota in Southwest Florida. Voted one of the Top 10 Happiest Seaside Towns 2015 by Coastal Living, it has much to recommend it. See how many facts you know about this Gulf-front city. We think there are a few things that will surprise even life-long residents! 

Taking its name from its more famous Italian namesake, Venice Florida is a city on water. Separated from the mainland by the Intracoastal Waterway, this coastal city has several bridges and is often called “Venice Island”.

The VMA (Venice Museum and Archives) has over 30,000 photographs, exhibits, and archives housed in the Triangle Inn, built in 1927.

Settled in 1870s, the City of Venice was incorporated in 1927. Homes and businesses featured Italian-style architecture to create a charming model community.

Venice is one of just three cities in Florida that is on the water but does not have any barrier islands.

Calusa Indians were probably the first residents in the Venice area. These Native Americans lived in Florida over 12,000 years ago. Their shell middens provide important historical evidence for archaeologists. In the 16th century, Florida was occupied by the Spanish, although much of the southwest coast was an unchartered, mosquito-infested wilderness.

Frank Higel is considered the “Father of Venice”. He suggested the name Venice as the area has a striking likeness to the famous canal city in Italy. The area was previously called “Horse and Chaise” due to a tree formation that resembled a horse drawn carriage.

Roberts Bay is named after Richard Roberts who established a homestead in the area in the 1870s.

Venice is the home of the only professional School for Clowns in the world!

During World War II, the 27th Service Group relocated from Tampa and established the Venice Army Air Base in 1942. After the war, the air base was acquired by the city.

Don’t miss a visit to the Venice Centre Mall which has a fascinating past. It was once a classroom for the Kentucky Military (around 1932) and later operated as a hotel.

Venice City covers 16.6 square miles of which 1.4 square miles (8%) is water.

Photo credit Chris L. Smith

The original Venice Pier was built in 1966 and was washed away in a nameless storm in July 1981. It was rebuilt from swamp timber in 1984 and was again rebuilt in 2004 using wood fiber composite. The pier is 720 feet long, 22 feet wide, and 20 feet high. It stands in water up to 18 feet deep.

Boardwalk to Nokomis Beach. Photo credit Jennifer Brinkman

Venice has four main beaches: Venice Municipal Beach (the most popular); Nokomis Beach (home of the Drum Circle at sunset on Wednesday and Saturday evenings); South Browhard Beach (22 acres including a dog park) and Caspersen Beach (the longest beach in Sarasota County and famous for its shark teeth).

Venice Beach. Photo credit Justin Fennell

Brohard Beach. Photo credit Justin Fennell

The population of Venice has grown from 309 in 1930 to an estimated 22,465 in 2016.

Photo credit Debi Pittman Wilkey

Thanks to Caspersen Beach, Venice is known as the “Shark’s Tooth Capital of the World”. Many fossilized shark teeth wash up on the coastline of Venice and can easily be found by sifting the sand along the water’s edge.

Photo credit Debi Pittman Wilkey

The city of Venice has 12 structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include Hotel Venice, Triangle Inn, Venice Depot, the Valencia Hotel and Arcade, and the Levillain-Letton House. It also has three listed historic districts: Venezia Park, Eagle Point, and Edgewood.

Venice Depot. Photo credit Justin Fennell

Hotel Venice opened in 1926 and was the first hotel in the city.

Venice Municipal Pier is a popular place for fishing. No license is required and there’s no admission fee. It’s open 24 hours a day and shark fishing is popular after dark.

Photo credit Chris L. Smith

The Venice Theatre is the largest community theater per capita in the USA. It has been a non-profit organization since 1950 and has an operating budget of almost $3 million.

Thanks to its historic preservation and the delightful palms, live oaks and trumpet trees gracing the downtown area, Venice has been designated a Florida Main Street City.

If you haven’t already visited Venice, go check out this unique and lovely city with its charming downtown architecture, cafés and shops. It’s a treat!

Ali H. Johnston, MBA in Real Estate

REALTOR®, Lic. Broker #BK3284964

West Villages Realty LLC

19503 S West Villages Pkwy

Stes A2 (by Appt)

Venice, Florida 34293

Office: 941-460-3179

We're turning 75 and would like your help

 https://www.yoursun.com/venice/opinion/were-turning-75-and-would-like-your-help

Scott Lawson Gondolier Editor, December 14, 2020

If you've spent any time in Venice, we'd like to see your photographs and hear your stories. 

It's a part of what we do — learn about our community and showcase our shared stories. 

And, as the Venice Gondolier heads toward its 75th anniversary, we're hoping you'll help with our project. 

Maybe you're someone who has been in the city or area for a few months but you have that epic shot at the South Jetty with waves splashing the kids from last week. Maybe you're someone born here 75 years ago with boxes of photos from seven decades. 

We'd love to see the photos and hear the stories. 

Because while we're turning 75, our job has never been about us. It's always been about you — our readers and our community. You have the stories that we, in turn, tell. 

Our offices remain closed to the public due to the pandemic, but through the magic of this internet you can email us fairly easily. 

We are hoping to collect a lot of images and stories that go with them and add them to the 75th year of The Venice Gondolier in a variety of ways. Of course, this is completely up to our readership to help out. 

And that's one of the reasons why newspapers exist: to give future generations a chance to look back at our momentary experiences. 

So, do you have a story about community and how it shaped you for a day or a lifetime? We'd like to hear it. 

The plan is to highlight the main stories of  Venice and the surrounding community in the last 75 years as part of our celebration. At a recent planning meeting, a group of four journalists came up with more than 50 story ideas in just 30 minutes. It's going to keep us busy. 

Everything from the main things that have shaped Venice — the Venice Intracoastal Waterway, the circus, the Venice Municipal Airport — to the businesses and people who impacted it through the decades. 

From festivals to the Venice Little Theatre that became Venice Theatre to the creation of South Venice, the longtime community of Laurel and the annexation of North Venice (and everything beyond Capri Isles, for that matter), we know experiences last longer than just moments. 

And that's one of the reasons why newspapers exist: to give future generations a chance to look back at our momentary experiences.

 You can email me at scott.lawson@yoursun.com. We'll be working with our staff and correspondents in coming weeks to put these stories into our special edition — but, with 75 years worth of editions and literally thousands of stories a year, it's going to take a lot of work. 

And we don't mind work. We're just hoping for a bit of a helping hand from our readership and community. 

If you have any questions, feel free to either email me at scott.lawson@yoursun.com or give me a call at my office phone, 941-429-3002. And thanks, in advance, for putting us to work. 

Ali H. Johnston, MBA in Real Estate

REALTOR®, Lic. Broker #BK3284964

West Villages Realty LLC

19503 S West Villages Pkwy

Stes A2 (by Appt)

Venice, Florida 34293

Office: 941-460-3179

Restaurant News: Food Network stars opening The Chateau Anna Maria in Holmes Beach

 https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/entertainment/dining/2020/12/11/food-network-stars-open-anna-maria-island-restaurant/3881394001/

Jimmy Geurts Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Dec 11, 2020

The restaurant at Waterline Marina Resort will be a second location for The Chateau on the Lake, which has appeared on the series "Summer Rush."

Anna Maria Island's Waterline Marina Resort will soon welcome a new restaurant, which television viewers may already recognize along with its owners.

The Chateau Anna Maria is set to open on Dec. 20 in the former space of Eliza Ann's Coastal Kitchen at the Holmes Beach hotel that is part of Marriott's upscale Autograph Collection. It will serve as a second location for The Chateau on the Lake, an upstate New York restaurant that has been named one of the 100 Most Romantic and Scenic Restaurants in America by OpenTable and appeared on the Food Network show "Summer Rush."

The reality series follows the Foy family and three restaurants they run in Bolton Landing, a tourist town at Lake George. Married couple Buddy Foy Jr. and Jennifer Foy, who operate Chateau on the Lake, will also serve as co-owners of The Chateau Anna Maria. 

In a phone interview with the Herald-Tribune, Foy Jr. said he already knew Sarasota-Manatee well through family. His parents Cate and Buddy Foy Sr. have lived on Anna Maria Island for more than 20 years, his brother Keith lives in Sarasota and his daughter Summer graduated this year from IMG Academy in Bradenton.

“It’s a very similar environment during the winter in Florida as it was here in the summer," Foy Jr. said. "(We said) let’s duplicate what we did, let’s bring our employees and keep them employed, and let’s go for it."

The Chateau Anna Maria's menu will feature a similar sensibility as Chateau on the Lake, which Foy Jr. described as "French-inspired, Italian portions." There will be an emphasis on fresh seafood, with imported cheeses and meats from Europe.

Seating will accommodate about 75 inside, though that will be reduced for social distancing during the pandemic, and around 100 outdoors, offering dock slips for guests arriving by boat. They plan to expand seating to 300-400, the majority of which will be outside, in a later second phase.

The restaurant will be open daily serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, though it plans to open with continental breakfast before expanding to a larger menu. Lunch will be more casual than dinner, with reservations recommended for the latter, but Foy Jr. doesn't want the atmosphere to be overly formal.

"It's white tablecloth, but it's comfortable white tablecloth," Foy Jr. said. "We don't turn away people in flip-flops. People walk in with khakis and flip-flops, they're more than comfortable."

Foy Jr. plans to move to Sarasota-Manatee and spend about half of the year here, continuing to spend the summer in upstate New York. Filming has taken place during the process of opening The Chateau Anna Maria, Foy Jr. said.

Waterline Marina Resort is located at 5325 Marina Drive in Holmes Beach. For more information on The Chateau Anna Maria, visit thechateauannamaria.com.

Ali H. Johnston, MBA in Real Estate

REALTOR®, Lic. Broker #BK3284964

West Villages Realty LLC

19503 S West Villages Pkwy

Stes A2 (by Appt)

Venice, Florida 34293

Office: 941-460-3179

 

Venice annual calendars available

 https://www.yoursun.com/venice/arts_entertainment/venice-annual-calendars-available/article_

• Staff Report
 
• Dec 2, 2020

VENICE — Need a simple gift that is beneficial to a Venice resident?

Want one for yourself?

The city has released its Venice 2021 calendar — limit one per person while supplies last.

“The new calendar features beautiful photos of some of Venice’s best-known landmarks by local photographers, an overview of the city budget, photos of City Council and charter officers, a directory of frequently used phone numbers, month-by-month listings of council and advisory board meetings, a map of Venice city limits and other useful information for both residents and visitors,” the city said in an email.

A free copy can be picked up at Venice City Hall inside its information center at 401 W. Venice Avenue. The calendar can be obtained 8 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday, the city said.

Ali H. Johnston, MBA in Real Estate

REALTOR®, Lic. Broker #BK3284964

West Villages Realty LLC

19503 S West Villages Pkwy

Stes A2 (by Appt)

Venice, Florida 34293

Office: 941-460-3179

The little art guild that could … and does!

https://www.wellenparkjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/image

BY CHARMAINE ENGELSMAN-ROBINS

Executive Director Dee Dee Gozion has had her hands full with the leaps-and-bounds growth happening over at the North Port Area Art Guild. And she’s glad of it.

This friendly little haven for artists and art lovers has garnered so much adulation since its 1988 inception that participants and members from all over Southwest Florida now flock to its exceptional exhibitions, classes, social events and Artisans Port Gift Shop (featuring original artwork from local artists, including handmade jewelry and pottery).

Once an unknown little organization hidden away in a location you had to look for to find (5950 Sam Shapos Way, North Port … Google it), “find it” folks did. And as they did, the word spread far beyond the North Port base. As the center’s popularity and prestige grew, it wasn’t long until larger gatherings drew so many people that finding enough parking to accommodate everyone could be challenging.

The guild’s expansive children’s program is especially popular with families, but seniors also love devoting some of their free time to creating art and/or soaking up the beauty and knowledge offered there. Despite the recent changes in how we congregate and interact, the center has continued to offer something for everybody — just not everybody at the same time. Class size has been limited and social distancing is observed, temperatures taken, hand-washing and sanitizing encouraged, masks mandatory. With this additional effort and consideration, the center’s slogan of “Art for Everyone” and its mission/motto of “Inspiring and encouraging creative possibilities for everyone through visual art” remain accessible. Here are just some of the offerings the center has refined for the times; for more, keep checking www.northportartcenter.org.

Ali H. Johnston, MBA in Real Estate

REALTOR®, Lic. Broker #BK3284964

West Villages Realty LLC

19503 S West Villages Pkwy

Stes A2 (by Appt)

Venice, Florida 34293

Office: 941-460-3179

 

 

Holiday nights at Selby Gardens are stunning

 

https://www.yoursun.com/holiday-nights-at-selby-gardens-are-stunning

Staff Report Nov 18, 2020

Lights in Bloom delights children of all ages at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.  PHOTO PROVIDED BY MARIE SELBY BOTANICAL GARDENS.

SARASOTA — Marie Selby Botanical Gardens brings “Lights in Bloom: An Open-air Holiday Light Show” to the community.

More than two million lights illuminate the gardens, and walkways are transformed into sensory light tunnels. Stroll through magical gardens filled with beautifully lit flowers, radiant rainforest butterflies, dragonflies and more.

“Lights in Bloom: An Open-air Light Show” has become a tradition for residents and visitors to celebrate the holiday season in Sarasota.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Your safety is important to us. COVID-19 protocols are in place. Here is what you can expect:

• Masks are required for entry.

• Access each evening is limited. Selby Gardens will monitor the number of visitors to ensure appropriate social distancing and safety for all.

• Santa will not be visiting this year and interactive games will not be available. Instead, they will be offering a special, free photo opportunity for you and your guests.

• Food and beverages will be available for purchase at a variety of locations throughout the Gardens, including the Selby House Cafe.

• A trolley will be available from 5:30 to 10 p.m. from the Sarasota Friendship Center (1888 Brother Geenen Way).

For full details on our COVID-19 protocols, visit the website.

• If you have any questions, contact special events@selby.org.

General admission ticket holder check-in at 6 p.m. – Do not arrive prior to this time.

Limited number of General Admission tickets available each day.

General admission tickets may be purchased online (recommended) or on-site on day of (if any remain) beginning at 6 p.m.

Early Entry Tickets:

Members: $30

Non-members: $35

Children ages 5-17: $15

4 and under: free

Four Night Pass

Members: $80

Non-members: $100

Children ages 5-17: $30

4 and under: free

Early Entry ticket holders receive early access to on-site parking on a first come-first served basis and a 5 p.m. entry to Lights in Bloom.

Early Entry check-in opens at 5 p.m.

Early Entry tickets can be purchased online only with a limited number available each day

Four Night Pass holders receive early access to on-site parking on a first come-first served basis and a 5 p.m. entry to Lights in Bloom.

Visit the Downtown Sarasota Campus

The former Sarasota home of William and Marie Selby, Selby Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota 15-acre campus is an urban, bayfront oasis showing a living collection of rare and beautiful tropical plants. It is the only botanical garden in the world dedicated to the display and study of epiphytic orchids, bromeliads, gesneriads and ferns, and other tropical plants. Through the Living Museum operating model, Selby Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus also creates and hosts rotating exhibitions of horticultural and garden displays some tied to works by well-known artists.

Historic Spanish Point Campus

Selby Gardens’ Historic Spanish Point campus is a 30-acre museum site on Little Sarasota Bay in Osprey that focuses on both local history and plant life. While strolling the picturesque HSP campus—one of the largest waterfront preserves showcasing native Florida plants in the state—visitors can explore ancient peoples, pioneer history, the Palmer Legacy, and native plants.

Membership

Being a member of Selby Gardens is an ideal way to visit 45 acres of bayfront sanctuaries as often as you’d like. Members receive access to both the Downtown Sarasota and Historic Spanish Point campus as well as benefit from opportunities to connect with Selby Gardens on a deeper level. Become a member today.

Selby Gardens is a nonprofit organization sustained by the generosity of patrons. Gifts directly support the Gardens’ operations, collections and plant displays, engaging educational programs for children and adults, and conservation work to protect the bayfront sanctuaries at both the Downtown Sarasota campus and the Historic Spanish Point campus.

Sarasota-Manatee EcoFlora Project

Using your smartphone or a camera, snap a picture of a plant in Sarasota or Manatee County and upload it to iNaturalist. Each month, we will feature a new EcoQuest Challenge to focus on different species and keep things exciting.

Classes

Learn a new skill, expand your current skills or join your friends for a fun day in the peaceful oasis of Selby Gardens as you take a class. Taught by experienced instructors, classes range from painting and watercolor, to mind-body connections, yoga and more.

For more information call 941-366-5731 or contact info@selby.org.

Open daily 10 a.m. — 5 p.m.Closed Christmas Day

The Museum of Botany & the Arts is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Downtown campus: 1534 Mound St., in Sarasota.

Historic Spanish Point Campus, 337 North Tamiami Trail. in Osprey.

Selby Gardens is in Phase Two reopening operations.

Ali H. Johnston, MBA in Real Estate

REALTOR®, Lic. Broker #BK3284964

West Villages Realty LLC

19503 S West Villages Pkwy

Stes A2 (by Appt)

Venice, Florida 34293

Office: 941-460-3179

Good weekend for smoked mullet

https://www.yoursun.com/englewood/good-weekend-for-smoked-mullet/articl

• Staff Report
 
• Nov 13, 2020

The Smoked Mullet Band, of course, will play the first Mullet Fest 2020 this Saturday at the Charlotte Fairgrounds.

 ENGLEWOOD — There will be live music, lots of food and beverages, a cast-net tossing contest, and even a mullet hair competition.

But make no mistake about it: The highlight of Saturday’s Mullet Fest 2020 will be the smoked mullet competition.

Drawing on the traditional Florida lifestyle, which involved a lot of inshore mullet fishing, cooking and eating, Brandon and Kori Hancock have planned the inaugural Mullet Fest 2020 around the competition, which is Saturday at the Charlotte County Fairgrounds.

The Hancocks, owners of Hancock Grills, a locally based manufacturer of custom wood grills and accessories, will donate proceeds to the Lemon Bay Conservancy, a local nonprofit dedicated to protecting and restoring natural areas that nurture fish and other sea life.

The entry fee for the mullet competition is either 15 smoked mullet or $75. First place wins $100 and a trophy with bragging rights. Second place gets $75 and a trophy, and third place takes $50 and a trophy. More details are available online at englewoodmulletfest.com.

The musical lineup features, of course, the Smoked Mullet Band, which has more than 30 years experience playing country music in Southwest Florida, and headliners Pure Country.

In light of the coronavirus, the Hancocks’ aim is simple: “Our mission is to bring the community ‘safely’ together and support the local fishery and artists. This is a chance to give back to the community.”

Ali H. Johnston, MBA in Real Estate

REALTOR®, Lic. Broker #BK3284964

West Villages Realty LLC

19503 S West Villages Pkwy

Stes A2 (by Appt)

Venice, Florida 34293

Office: 941-460-3179