2021 VENICE HOLIDAY PARADE INFORMATION

https://veniceholidayparade.com/

The Venice Holiday Parade returns to downtown Venice this yeaon the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 27.

The parade officially begins at 6:30 p.m. at the corner of Park Blvd. and W. Venice Ave (south side). It will proceed on the north side of W. Venice Ave. after crossing over Harbor Drive. From there, it will make a turn on Nokomis Avenue and go all the way down to Turin Street, where it turns right, ultimately making its way to the Venice Community Center, where the parade ends.

DUE TO COVID-19, ADDITIONAL SAFETY MEASURES WILL BE IN PLACE THIS YEAR:

• No early setup of chairs, blankets, etc. along the parade route. These items will be removed by the City. Chairs may be set up the afternoon of the parade ONLY.
• No pre-parade performances are planned.
• No food vendors will be included.
• The City prohibits the throwing of candy and trinkets to spectators from floats and parade participants. For extended safety and health purposes, this year the distribution by parade marchers of any handouts (candy and other items) will not be permitted. We will be relying on group organizers and parade participants to enforce this rule.
• Event participant groups will be provided with advisories on safety precautions including: practicing social distancing to the extent possible, recommended wearing of masks, and the use of per-positioned sanitation stations.
• Additionally, with the complete redesign and expensive landscaping of the Venice Avenue median, spectators will not be permitted to use the median as a parade viewing site. Signage will be posted.

For parade viewers wishing to be more socially distanced along the route, we encourage you to watch the parade from Nokomis Avenue. Masks are encouraged in crowded areas where social distancing is a challenge.

The 2021 Holiday Parade will most likely be smaller this year, but traditionally exciting. For more information, please visit the parade website at veniceholidayparade.com or call 941-488-8780.

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

FantaSea comes to Venice

 https://www.yoursun.com/venice/fantasea-comes-to-venice/article_26f0cc5e-9612-11eb-89c2-9f4bbdb4e1d1.html

• By FRAN VALENCIC Gondolier Social Columnist, April
 7, 2021

From left, Carol Anne Laufenberg, lead cashier, and Pat Mada, volunteer with the Venice Art Center, enjoy welcoming seahorses and mermaids to the facility.

PHOTO BY FRAN VALENCIC

Sea horses and mermaids arrived at the Venice Art Center ready to come alive as FantaSea Venice. Artists selected one of the 47 statues to bring to life. Each statue will have its own unique personality.

Over the next few months the project becomes more exciting with each brush stroke as the white statues take on a rainbow of color thanks to 47 talented artists.

In the end. each creation takes center stage at an auction soiree ready for purchase and a permanent home in Venice and beyond.

Venice Art Center Director Mary Moscatelli supervised the delivery and unpacking of the statues. Kearney Movers unloaded the cargo which traveled for about 22 hours from Nebraska. Icon Poly was the producer.

Over the last few years Venice has experienced the fun of Art Center fund raising projects starting with the Pigs in Paradise. They were a hit around town with some folks challenging themselves to pose for a picture with each one.

Then there were dolphins and turtles and Sea Venice. These brought more excitement and more people came to town to Sea Venice. Now we will celebrate FantaSea Venice. These days the Venice Art Center is in a get ready, get set mode.

After the pigs, turtles and dolphins, getting ready for sea horses and mermaids is a no brainer. Patrick Jaehne, of Patrick Air, one of the sponsors summed the project up best when he said: “After what Venice has been through this past year, it needs this.”

Let the fun begin with FantaSea Venice.

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

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

Country music event coming to Cool Today Park

 https://www.yoursun.com/country-music-event-coming-to-cool-today-park/

By LUCY MICANFRI Guest Writer

WELLEN PARK — With the High Tide Country Music Festival postponed until next year, a smaller concert fundraiser for Suncoast Charities for Children called “Denim By The Diamond” will now take place Nov. 21 at CoolToday Park.

Guests will enjoy live modern country music by Stone Buckle; a silent auction; country-themed food stations; and two complimentary drink tickets to a full bar.

Venice residents and Suncoast Charities board members Michelle Hazeltine and Christine Robinson will serve as co-chairs for this new event as well as next year’s High Tide Country Music Festival.

Suncoast Charities for Children provides support to Children First, The Florida Center for Early Childhood, Loveland Center, Sarasota County Special Olympics and Venice Challenger Baseball, all with locations in the South Sarasota County area.

“Since the coronavirus postponed the High Tide Country Music Festival until Nov. 20, 2021, we are extremely excited that we are still able to host a smaller event fundraiser here at CoolToday Park and partner with such a great charity that supports several nonprofits in South Sarasota County,” said Mike Dunn, vice president of Florida Operations for the Atlanta Braves. “The impact that these agency programs and services have on clients with special needs, and their families, is tremendous.

“We are extremely grateful to the Atlanta Braves organization for this opportunity because every dollar we can raise makes an impact,” said Lucy Nicandri, executive director of Suncoast Charities for Children.

Limited tickets are now on sale for $85 per person and must be purchased in advance online at SuncoastCharitiesForChildren.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

Braves Complete Sweep of Marlins and Advance to NLCS

 https://tomahawktake.com/2020/10/08/braves-complete-sweep-marlins-advance-nlds/

by Jake Mastroianni  Oct 9, 2020

The Atlanta Braves made quick work of the Miami Marlins in the NLDS sweeping them three games to none and advancing to the NLCS.

While the Atlanta Braves might have been heavy favorites over the Miami Marlins coming into this series, I don’t think you’ll find any Braves fan who was overly confident.

And after the Marlins took a 4-1 lead over Max Fried in game one of this series there were a lot of fans who suddenly felt sick.

But that was as close as the Marlins would get to beating the Braves in this series at Atlanta outscored them 17-1 after they had that 4-1 lead and sent them packing — and sent the Braves to the NLCS for the first time since 2001.

And yes, the offense certainly was on full display in games one and three, but it was the pitching that once again carried them in this postseason.

Fried certainly didn’t have his best stuff in game one, but the bullpen held the Marlins to just one run over 5 innings. And then in game two Ian Anderson and the bullpen shutout Miami.

That was followed up by a gutsy performance from Kyle Wright in his postseason debut when he threw 6 shutout innings and the bullpen completed the shutout.

It’s crazy to think when we entered this postseason how worried everyone was about the starting pitching and they’ve been fantastic.

Granted, the Reds and the Marlins didn’t supply the most potent offenses in baseball this year, but what this pitching staff has done is still really impressive.

Travis d’Arnaud still might be the MVP of this division series as he continues to stay red hot at the plate.

The Braves are most likely going to be facing the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship series that is scheduled to start on Monday.

That will be a much biggest test for the Braves, but with the way they’re pitching and hitting right now I have a lot more confidence in them taking down the Dodgers right now than I did even two weeks ago.

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 wins national America in Bloom awards

https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/venice/2020/10/06/venice-wins-2-america-bloom-awards/3637688001/

Linda Lewis, one of the Venice Beautification Inc. Venice in Blooms Team, tends to one of the flower pots near Venice and Nokomis avenues in May.  The City earned both the Coolest Downtown Award and the Outstanding Achievement Award for landscaped areas at the 2020 America In Bloom National Awards Program.  

EARL KIMMEL/HERALD TRIBUNE

VENICE – The city of Venice was the winner of the Coolest Downtown Award and the Outstanding Achievement Award for Landscaped Areas at the 2020 America in Bloom National Awards Program.

Announcements were made during a virtual Symposium in the Sky educational conference and awards celebration from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2.

Awards were presented that reflect excellence in the areas of community vitality, floral displays, landscaped areas, urban forestry, environmental efforts, celebration of heritage, overall impression and community involvement. 

“America in Bloom is helping communities of all sizes achieve their potential. Every year our participants raise the bar, and the accomplishments and progress shown by this year's group is remarkable,” America in Bloom executive director, Laura Kunkle, said in a news release.

“These are, without a doubt, some of the best places to live and visit."

“Congratulations to Venice for the excellent work making your community more beautiful and vibrant.” 

To date, nearly 275 communities from 43 states have participated in the program and more than 22 million people have been touched by it. 

Eligible participants include towns, cities, college and university campuses, business districts, military installations and recognized neighborhoods of large cities.

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

Sunsets in Venice Florida

https://venicetravelplanner.com/beaches/sunsets.html
Unknown Author, Venice Florida Travel Planner


Spectacular! There's no other word. Venice's west-facing beaches provide the most pleasant and convenient vantage point for nature's nightly sunset extravaganza. The brilliant colors and changing cloud-shapes are never boring.

Pick your Venice beach, get there early, and plan to stay well after the sun goes down—sunset doesn't end the show by any means.

The sun below the horizon can still shine up on the underside of the clouds, spreading incredible color.

Here's what I mean:








Note that tables at Sharky's on the Pier are in highest demand an hour before and during sunset, but you can buy a drink and climb to the upper lookout to enjoy the view. (No alcohol permitted outside the restaurant property.)




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

School supplies to be distributed

 Staff Report Aug 13, 2020

https://www.yoursun.com/venice/school-supplies-to-be-distributed

VENICE — Three nonprofits are teaming up to help with “provide needed educational resources for South County students and families who have been impacted by the current pandemic and economic crisis.”

According to a news release from United Way South Sarasota County along with American University Women and Laurel Civic Association, the groups will help Laurel Civic Association clients.

The students involved will have “backpacks full of school supplies” that will be distributed at Laurel Civic Association Monday.

Volunteers with the Venice Branch of the American University Women and United Way will “organize and package school supply items and new back packs.”

The items are bought through United Way South Sarasota County’s COVID-19 Relief & Recovery Fund partners, which, according to the news release, includes Publix, Walmart, Four Thought Private Wealth (Venice), Lions Club of Venice, Sertoma Club of Venice and Wells Fargo.

Also assisting are Giraffe Packaging and Moving of Bradenton and Nick’s Landscaping, assisting with transporting supplies, the news release states.

“We are excited to be putting aspects of our new Modern United Way Blueprint into tangible projects where we do what United Way does best, which is plug into a community, identify a need or gap, and bring together resources, funding, and/or collaboration with businesses and non-profits whose mission and/or philanthropic goals align with that need and make it an impactful reality,“ United Way South Sarasota County President & CEO Barbara Cruz said. “Our generous COVID-19 Relief & Recovery Funding partners made it possible for us to purchase quality items for this project, and having truly invested partners like AAUW alongside Laurel Civic Association makes this a successful project for our families and individuals in need here in South County.”

The United Way of South Sarasota County said the needs remain great in the area and donations are needed and pushed into the community. Financial donations to the COVID-19 Recovery & Relief Fund can be completed by visiting www.uwssc.com, calling 941-484-4811 or texting UWSSC to 243725.

The Recovery & Relief Fund “provides financial assistance to families and individuals in South County in need of: rental assistance, child care, prescriptions and other eligible expenses,” the release said. “Any donation large or small will have an immense impact in the lives of so many.”

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

Link to our West Villages blog page

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Our Venice Florida Real Estate Website

Our West Villages Real Estate Site

Our Gran Paradiso Website

Poll workers still needed

By Elaine Allen-Emrich Community Editor  Jul 19, 2020

https://www.yoursun.com/venice/poll-workers-still-needed/article_e9aaae48-c842-11ea-a767-9b45b9b6bce8.html

SARASOTA — Primary Election Day is Tuesday, Aug. 18, for Florida voters. Polls are open that day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Vote-by-mail ballots must be returned to your supervisor of elections office by 7 p.m. that evening.

The Gondolier reached out to Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner to ask a few questions for the upcoming election.

Do you still need poll workers?

The Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections employs approximately 1,000 workers for early voting, and at the polls on election day. In the recent March election, approximately 30% of poll workers opted not to work.

We have experienced a number of poll workers who are still unable to work for the coming August primary election. We are doing our best to fill poll worker positions. However, it is likely that some election day polling places will change due to poll worker staffing issues or locations being unable to accommodate us.

Is voting by mail safe?

Vote-by-mail began in Florida in 2002 as no-excuse absentee voting. Since that time, vote-by-mail also called absentee has been available for all registered voters in the state. The name absentee was changed to vote-by-mail by the Florida Legislature in 2016.

Can a voter track their ballot?

Yes. Vote-by-mail ballots are tracked on our website from the time your request is processed until your voted ballot is received back in the elections office and tabulated. A voter’s record is updated when the ballot is received in the election’s office to prevent a voter from voting twice in an election. Upon receipt, voters’ signatures on the certificate (return) envelopes are compared to signatures on file.

When does early voting start?

Early voting for the Aug. 18 Primary Election will run Saturday, Aug. 8, through Sunday, Aug. 16. For more information, call 941-861-8606 or visit www.sarasotavotes.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

Link to our West Villages blog page

Our Gran Paradiso Blog Page

Our Venice Florida Real Estate Website

Our West Villages Real Estate Site

Our Gran Paradiso Website