Freedom Festival

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

Ready for some fireworks? The City of North Port’s annual Freedom Festival, presented by American Irrigation, will kick-off at 5:00 p.m. on July 4, 2022 at CoolToday Park (18800 W Villages Parkway). This family-friendly signature event will include fun activities, great vendors, plenty of food options, and of course, fireworks.

Available on the front event lawn of the stadium will be a children’s activity section which will include a variety of free activities, vendors, lawn games, and much more.  Local food and merchandise vendors are welcome to join in the fun

In addition to the stadium concessions inside the ballpark, there will also be a variety of vendors and community organizations providing informational booths stationed along the concourse. Live music will be performed throughout the night featuring the Maiden Cane band. Seating will be available both inside the stadium or outside on the Event Lawn. If watching the Fireworks Show from the Event Lawn, the public is welcome to bring blankets or chairs to enjoy the show. No personal fireworks, sparklers, animals, or stickers will be permitted. Those who prefer to enjoy the show from home will be able to stream it on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/NorthPortParksAndRec.

Free seating and parking are available on a first come, first serve basis (the public is strongly encouraged to carpool). The high-flying fireworks show by Garden State Fireworks will start at 9:00 p.m. weather permitting. The display is expected to end around 9:30 p.m.

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

Friday Night Concert Series

https://www.visitvenicefl.org/

 

Join the fun in historic downtown Venice for the bimonthly Friday Night Concert Series at the gazebo in Centennial Park! This event, hosted by Venice MainStreet, is held every second and fourth Friday of each month from 7pm-9pm and is free and open to the public.

PLEASE NOTE: Social distancing is required and masks are recommended. Attendees are asked to follow current CDC guidelines. Bring your own chairs or picnic blankets. No alcohol is permitted in Centennial Park.

UPCOMING 2022 CONCERTS- All at 7PM

February 25  Steve Arvey   SteveArveyMusic.com

March 11  Patchouli & Terra Guitarra  Patchouli.net

March 25  Harbor Drive  harbordrive.pro/theBand

April 8 PLEASE NOTE: There is no concert on this date due to another pre-scheduled event at the gazebo.

April 22  Robert Garcia  RobertGarciaSoloAct.com

May 13  John Howard  JohnHowardMusic.net

May 27  George Durham & Company Band  thebash.com/variety/george-durham-and-company

June 10  Joseph Lawhorne  facebook.com/joelawhorneentertainment

June 24  Doug Burns  dougburnsmusic.com

July 8  Marcus Magellan  marcusmagellan.com

July 22  To be announced

August 12  Dean Johanesen  deanjohanesen.com

August 26  Clover’s Revenge  cloversrevenge.com

September 9  To be announced

September 23  To be announced

October 14  To be announced

October 28  Patchouli & Terra Guitarra  patchouli.net

November 11  Joe Mullan  facebook.com/JoeMullanEntertainment

November 25  To be announced

December 9 To be announced

Please Note: There is NO CONCERT on December 23rd

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 Area Chamber of Commerce Non-Profit Rally

 https://www.venicechamber.com/member-engagement/non-profit-rally

Are you interested in learning about the many non-profit organizations serving the greater Venice area?

Come explore the many opportunities there are to give of your time, talent, and/or treasure and support non-profits.

‌‌Friday, January 21, 2022

10 AM - 2 PM

Venice Area Chamber of Commerce

(This event will be held in the Chamber parking lot) 

2022 Participating Non-Profit Organizations:

 

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast

Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties

Center Place Health

Dollars for Mammograms

Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County

Elephant's Trunk Thrift Store

Family Promise of South Sarasota County

Friends of Oscar Scherer Park

Friends of Sarasota County Parks

Habitat for Humanity South Sarasota County

HVV Medical Guardian

Kiwanis Club of Venice

Lighthouse Vision Loss Education Center

Loveland Center

NAMI Sarasota and Manatee Counties

Restore Global - SRQ Office

SCORE Manasota

Senior Friendship Centers

Sertoma Club of Venice

START of SC

The Long Walk Home

The Twig

the WareHouse of Venice

Tidewell Hospice

United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 86

Venice Area Beautification

Venice Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation

Venice Area Garden Club

Venice Area Historical Society

Venice Art Center

Venice MainStreet

Venice Musicale

Venice-Nokomis Woman's Club

Visit Sarasota County

Wildlife Center of Venice

Women's Resource Center

Women's Sertoma Club of Venice

AND MORE!

 

British Open Pub-2-Go and Auntie Anne's Pretzel Truck SWFL will be on site throughout the event.

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

New K-8 and high school coming to Wellen Park

https://www.wellenparkjournal.com/articles/new-k-8-and-high-school-coming-to-wellen-park/

December 15, 2021

BY NANCI THEORET 

Wellen Park Journal Correspondent

 A new high school and kindergarten-to eighth grade school are coming to Wellen Park sooner than planned. Sarasota County Schools is fast-tracking construction to alleviate student counts at Venice High and Taylor Ranch Elementary and a projected increase of nearly 3,400 future students from Wellen Park, one of the top-selling communities in the U.S.

We’re moving everything up a year,” says School Superintendent Brennan Asplen. “There’s been a large influx of new students and a lot of people moving to our area.”

The schools will be built on two adjoining sites at River Road and the future Manasota Beach Road extension, allowing them to share parking lots and bus loops for increased efficiency and cost savings.

Design and construction of the $155-million 425,000-square-foot high school will begin in summer 2022, with completion expected for the 2025-26 academic year. Work on Wellen Park’s K-8 school, which carries an $82-million price tag, will start in 2023. Unexpected growth in south Sarasota County has pushed enrollment at Venice High and Taylor Ranch Elementary over capacity and will continue to increase with the addition of 14,800 housing units planned in Wellen Park, according to Jody Dumas, the district’s assistant superintendent chief operations officer.

“This was the first year we had to put up portables at Taylor Ranch,” he says. “We have the infrastructure for 10 more and think of the new school in Wellen Park as relieving that need.”

Sarasota County Schools is reviewing high school prototypes from other districts that it could potentially repurpose for Wellen Park. The district will model Wellen Park’s K-8 school after a design borrowed from Lee County to the south.

“Instead of reinventing the wheel, we talk to other districts about what works for students, what works for the system and makes sense,” says Dr. Asplen. “It saves costs and time.”

Dr. Asplen says the K-8 concept, combining traditional elementary and middle schools under one roof, provides two different administrations, lunchrooms and other separate facilities while improving the transition from elementary school to middle school. “Our research shows it helps academically,” he says.

Wellen Park, ranked No. 5 on real estate consulting firm RCLCO’s 2021 list of fastest selling communities, is expected to add 3,372 K-12 students as construction of new homes continues. Those projections include 2,334 more K-8 students and another 1,038 high school students.

“We haven’t addressed growth in a number of years,” Mr. Dumas recently told school board members in presenting proposed revisions to the district’s five-year capital budget. The budget includes an extra $30 million to cover escalating construction costs to build the Wellen Park schools and a third school down the road.

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

Poinsettia Parade & Festival

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

Kick off your holiday with the annual Poinsettia Parade & Festival! This annual North Port tradition will be held on Saturday, December 4, 2021  from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the City Center Campus (4970 City Hall Blvd). 

Prefer to watch from home? We've partnered with our friends at WKDW 97.5 FM to livestream the Poinsettia Parade. You can tune in to 97.5 FM for entertainment and event updates throughout the evening. If you will be attending in person and would like to opt in to receive safety messages about this event, text Parade2021 to 888-777.

About the Poinsettia Festival

Presented by Achieva Credit Union, the Festival will take place throughout the grounds of the City Center Campus, including on the Front Green and inside City Hall. This fun-filled holiday festival will feature a tree lighting ceremony, food vendors, entertainment, performances by local school choruses, attractions, vendors, and so much more.

About the Poinsettia Parade

Presented by Quality TV, the Poinsettia Parade will march south down Sumter Boulevard starting from Sylvania Avenue through the City Center Campus, ending at the Festival (a prime location to catch the parade). The theme this year is "Retro Rockin' Holidays". An esteemed judging panel will select the winners of the various parade awards, 

Route Description

Floats adorned with poinsettias, decorated vehicles, and walking groups will start at Sylvania Avenue and follow the one-mile route south on Sumter Boulevard. The route will turn east onto City Hall Boulevard, before making its way along the Front Green. Escorted by North Port Fire Rescue, jolly St. Nick will make a special appearance in the parade.

The parade will end at the annual Poinsettia Festival, presented by Achieva Credit Union. The Festival will include a tree lighting ceremony.

Entertainment Schedule 

4:00 p.m.- Poinsettia Festival Begins

4:15 p.m. - 60 West Band

5:00 p.m. - Poinsettia Parade Begins

5:15 p.m. - The Rock Box

6:20 p.m. - Imagine School of Young Marines Presentation of Colors accompanied by Linda Zick Performing the National Anthem

6:25 p.m. - North Port City Commissioners and Mayor Opening Remarks and Holiday Message

6:35 p.m. - Tree Lighting

6:40 p.m. - Announcement of Gingerbread House Winners

6:50 p.m. - Announcement of Parade Winners

7:00 p.m. - Universal Dance Academy

7:15 p.m. - North Port High School Theatre

7:45 p.m. - 60 West Band

8:30 p.m. - Poinsettia Festival Ends

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

Atlanta Braves News : Baseball Reigns Supreme in Atlanta

https://tomahawktake.com/2021/11/03/atlanta-braves-news-baseball-reigns-supreme-atlanta/

by Brandon Brosch, October 3, 2021

 Braves are World Series Champions for the first time since 1995, defeating the Astros 7-0 in game 6 in Houston.

The 2020 season ended in heartbreak for the Atlanta Braves, falling just one game short of a trip to the World Series to the Dodger.  Expectations were high before the 2021 season started, but the Braves lost key pieces and could not even break through the .500 mark for most of the campaign.

Losing players like Acuna, Ozuna, and Soroka had many in Braves country wondering what the rest of the season would look like, but against all odds, the Braves turned it around in late August and stayed hot all throughout the postseason.

Even so, nobody gave the Atlanta Braves a chance in the World Series against the Astros:  after all, Houston had been to three finals in the last five years, but the Atlanta bullpen — probably the strongest point of the Braves — held the dangerous Astros at bay throughout the series.

Game one saw the Braves ace of the season Charlie Morton exit early after suffering a fractured right fibula, which had everyone in Braves Country wondering what else could go wrong this season, but exceptional showings from Ian Anderson, Max Fried and Tyler Matzek showed just how resilient this team is.

Max Fried took the mound in game 6. Fried got off to a shaky start through little fault of his own, which included a big scare at first base when Michael Brantley stepped on his ankle during an awkward play.  For a few moments, we all feared Max had suffered a Charlie Morton repeat.

Fried seemed to actually get angry after that, quickly found his form, and was locked in for the remainder of his night, allowing no walks and striking out 6 through six full innings.

Matzek came in and continued his postseason dominance before Will Smith came in and slammed the door on the Astros.

This was the Braves first World Series appearance since 1999 and their first World Series championship since 1999.

Soak it all in, Braves Country! All the heartbreak throughout the years and the “almost had ’em’s” is what makes this victory so sweet.  Baseball is once again supreme in Atlanta.

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

Atlanta Braves World Series schedule

https://tomahawktake.com/2021/10/24/atlanta-braves-world-series-schedule/

by Alan Carpenter, October 25, 2021

Yes, the Atlanta Braves were the host team vs. the Dodgers, but that doesn’t matter for the World Series.

Still dealing with the euphoria:  our Atlanta Braves are going to the World Series!  They will face Troy Snitker and the Houston Astros starting on Tuesday, October 26th at Minute Maid Park.

Snitker — yes, the son of Braves manager Brian Snitker — is one of the hitting coaches for the Astros.  Somebody has already wondered aloud on twitter whether Brian’s wide is going to get one of those ‘split jerseys’ to pay allegiance to both.

But… about that game schedule:

TUESDAY OCT 26.  8pm EDT.  Braves at Astros; Minute Maid Park, Houston.

WEDNESDAY OCT 27.  8PM EDT.  Braves at Astros; Minute Maid Park, Houston.

Travel Day

FRIDAY OCT 29.  8PM EDT.  Astros at Braves; Truist Park, Atlanta.

SATURDAY OCT 30.  8PM EDT.  Astros at Braves; Truist Park, Atlanta.

The obligatory “if necessary” games:

SUNDAY OCT 31.  8PM EDT.  Astros at Braves; Truist Park, Atlanta.

Travel Day

MONDAY NOV 2.  8PM EDT.  Braves at Astros; Minute Maid Park, Houston.

TUESDAY NOV 3.  8PM EDT.  Braves at Astros; Minute Maid Park, Houston.

All games will be broadcast on the “Big Fox” network (yes… we’re done with Ron Darling for the year… thank heaven above).

After meeting the Astros in the post-season for what seemed every year in the 1990’s, it’s been quite a while since these clubs have even played at all… 2017 to be exact.

That year, of course, was the season of Houston’s tainted championship — though as it happens, most of the members of that club are no longer with the team:  only Altuve, Bregman, Correa, and Gurriel are still there.

But after some 700+ games between these teams, this will be their first matchup for the whole enchilada.  The World Series.

We will have much more to say about this event in the coming days, but I will go ahead and get this on the record now:  Braves take the series in 5 games…. 6 tops.  Lets git ‘r done.

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

https://www.wellenparkjournal.com/

October 20, 2021

It WAS A GLORIOUS DAY FOR A GROUNDBREAKING. SMILES AND painted shovels everywhere. Hundreds of invited guests. All coming together to celebrate the beginning of the construction of beautiful Downtown Wellen.

Food and drink were abundant as guests chatted, took photos and milled around in the tent erected on the site of the future downtown.

The many development partners of Wellen Park, local officials and community members used the shovels they artistically painted to begin the earthmoving process. The shovels will be featured as a permanent art installation once Downtown Wellen opens.

“We wanted to do something forward-thinking with the same synergy that one will feel when visiting Downtown Wellen,” said Rick Severance, president of Wellen Park.

The event perfectly captured the lifestyle vibe that has made Wellen Park so attractive to homebuyers.

Guests were able to put together fresh flower bouquets from a mobile floral vendor, enjoy specialty drinks from a retrofitted vintage horse trailer-turned modern boutique bar and participate in an interactive painting station where they decorated pavers that will be used as part of a colorful walkway in the playground area of Downtown.

Downtown Wellen will feature an 80-acre lake, retail shops, numerous dining options, pedestrian-friendly streets and walkways, a permanent food truck park, a great lawn and a Town Hall that will host concerts and events. Residents and visitors alike will enjoy relaxing in the hammock grove and gathering under a giant heritage oak tree, nearly 100 years old.

The food truck park will include one from the Atlanta Braves, serving ballpark fare in Downtown Wellen.

Even the youngest residents will enjoy the downtown space with its natural playground, designed to appear as part of the landscape.

“We are designing a downtown that functions from morning to late evening,” Mr. Severance says. “Take a morning walk, meet for a business lunch or enjoy an evening concert. People want a purpose, with things to do and experiences they will remember.” The spacious downtown will create an environment that is spread out and comfortable. “It will be one of those places you’ll want visit again and again.”

“We are designing a downtown that functions from morning to late evening,” Mr. Severance says. “Take a morning walk, meet for a business lunch or enjoy an evening concert. People want a purpose, with things to do and experiences they will remember.” This is a place you will want to visit again and again.”

“I really believe that Downtown Wellen will be a place where families, couples and members of every generation can make memories. Grandkids will visit over spring break. People will get engaged or married here, maybe celebrate a 50th wedding anniversary,” Mr. Severance says.

“We want to be that spot that helps them make those memories.”

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