New Venice Museum exhibit celebrates Sarasota County centennial

https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/venice 

Earle Kimel Sarasota Herald-Tribune

The Sarasota City Commission first met in the Hoover Arcade, which was built in 1913 at the foot of Main Street.  It was purchased by the city in 1917

PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE VENICE MUSEUM

VENICE – A new photo exhibit that opens Tuesday at the Venice Museum, “Celebrating a Centennial: The Origins of Sarasota County,” looks back at the era when Sarasota County split off from Manatee County, with a decidedly Venice twist.

“The Venice district was the only district that did not vote to separate from Manatee County,” noted Venice Historical Resources Manager Harry Klinkhamer.

The June 1921 vote passed overwhelmingly, 508 to 154, but in Venice, it failed with a tally of 22 votes for and 30 against, according to the front page of the Sarasota County Times. The county’s official founding date is July 1, 2021.

“Keep in mind it’s 1921; there weren't a whole lot of people out there,” said Klinkhamer, who added that only male property owners voted.

Back then, the name Venice referred to the area now known as Nokomis, and the district extended from Nokomis to the Myakka River area, with Sarasota, Osprey, Englewood, Miakka and Manasota the other available districts.

Englewood voters logged in with a unanimous 25-0 approval of the measure.

“There were enough votes in the city of Sarasota alone to make it happen,” Klinkhamer said.

In the city of Sarasota, the vote was 406-118 for creation of the new county.

The Venice Museum is in the Triangle Inn at 351 Nassau St. S., on the Venice Cultural Campus, and is generally open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Wednesday, though it is closed Jan. 18 for the birthday of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

More featured events highlighting Sarasota County’s centennial can be found at sarasotacountycentennial.com.

Kinkhamer said the exhibit in Venice mostly comprises historical photos with extended captions.

Venice voters were worried about Sarasota County’s ability to succeed on its own.

“There had been meetings over at the old Pollyanna Inn; that was the hotel built by Dr. Albee in Nokomis,” Klinkhamer said.

Dr. Fred Albee, a wealthy orthopedic surgeon, would later buy 2,916 acres of what is now the island of Venice in 1925 and hired urban planner John Nolen to design the city.

Before working on the Venice plan, Nolen designed Sarasota.

Albee later sold Venice to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, which retained Nolen.

The first street in Venice opened in June 1926. The city itself was incorporated in 1927 and will be gearing up for its centennial celebration in 2027.

Though Venice’s founding fathers had worried about the success of Sarasota County, heirs of Bertha Honore Palmer, who had bought more than 80,000 acres in and around Sarasota, made a pitch to bring the county seat to the area.

“The Palmer family offered up land and money to build a courthouse, and they got turned down on a technicality,” Klinkhamer said.

Scaffolding surrounds the east wing of Sarasota County’s historic courthouse in June 12, 2017. By then, workers restoring the building had completed the roof and tower and were starting on restoring ironwork, stripping old paint and repainting the exterior of the east wing.

The first Sarasota County Commission, which was appointed by the governor, operated out of rented space in the Hover Arcade in the city of Sarasota.

The now historic Sarasota County Courthouse was built in 1927.

The exhibit in the Venice Museum will be available through Jan. 12, 2022.

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

Golf cart rules in West Villages explained at Wednesday meeting

 By CRAIG GARRETT Staff Writer Jan 17, 2021

https://www.yoursun.com/northport/news/golf-cart-rules-in-west-villages-explained-at-wednesday-meeting/

NORTH PORT — Rules of the road get discussed Wednesday at the West Villages.

But not for motorists. Rather, this discussion focuses on golf cart operators, particularly kids and their parents. Neighbors had complained that children and teens on golf carts within the West Villages had been sometimes reckless, were often underage.

Others are confused about which type of golf cart is allowed where, including operators crisscrossing Tamiami Trail at the busy West Villages Parkway intersection.

North Port police, the town’s mayor and others will log into a Wednesday Zoom meeting to explain precise rules for operating a golf cart and how to modify one to make it street legal. Citywide laws get explained, as well, specifically in the West Villages, where buyers are sold the idea that golf carts are accepted transportation. But the rules were sometimes enforced, sometimes not.

Wednesday’s meeting will clear the air.

“We’re looking at this (meeting) as a safety issue. Get the information … and know,” said William Crosley, district manager for the West Villages Improvement District, the governing body within that sprawling series of neighborhoods and communities.

North Port in the last year had tweaked its golf cart rules. Some owners that included police and public officials, in fact, had plied local streets on the vehicles, some out of compliance with safety rules or with underage operators at the wheel.

North Port police interpreted the rules as not allowing basic golf carts on streets, the ones designed to haul a couple of guys and their clubs down 300-yard fairways.

Everything else was fair game, though. You could, for instance, operate modified golf carts with state-approved upgrades such as lighting, turn signals, licenses, seat belts and insurance.

And one odd rule was that a North Port golf cart dealer couldn’t rent his products. In the backdrop of all of this, some North Port retail centers had been built with designated golf cart parking spots, meaning the carts had to somehow get there.

Operating rules to reflect Florida laws were introduced. A final reading of new North Port standards is pending.

Wednesday’s virtual meeting is to explain the rules and to provide options for upgrading a golf cart. It is open to the public at westvillagesid.org.

Some in West Villages had reported kids on golf carts acting recklessly, some well under age 14, the legal limit for a regular golf cart. That and explaining the rules prompted Wednesday’s meeting, said Jill Luke, North Port’s mayor.

“Rules (for years) were not enforced,” she said. “Now there’s so much activity, this has come up.”

West Villager and golf cart owner John Meisel said kids sometimes scorn driving rules, pull one another on skateboards, race around and act … like children.

“Is it my place to police parents? No,” he said. “But most people are pretty good about it.”

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

P.A.W.S. celebrating a decade of service

 https://www.yoursun.com/venice/p-a-w-s-celebrating-a-decade-of-service/article_7f988b22-4319-11eb-b8cc-f357f0c0ba30.html

Staff Report Jan 2, 2021

Photo Provided by Rachel Duke  

Pet Advocates Working in the Suncoast Child Protection Center is celebrating it's 10th Anniversary.

SARASOTA - The Children Protection Center is celebrating a decade of its program Pet Advocates Working in the Suncoast.

Known as P.A.W.S., it uses "nationally certified pet therapy dogs whose handlers are volunteers who have received training on mandatory reporting of child abuse and dynamics that surround child sexual abuse," it said in an email. 

"P.A.W.S. dogs have been utilized in the following capacity: stress relief for clients and staff, the State Attorney’s Office for pre-filing interviews, depositions and trial, YMCA Youth Shelter, Ringling College students, state and national presentations with the Florida Network of Children’s Advocacy Center and the National Child Protection Training Center."

It was founded by Danielle Hughes.

Hughes is a team coordinator of the Child Protection Team and 2020’s Child Advocate of the Year. Her dog, Harley Duke, inspired the program "to benefit children in the traumatic and stressful situations that occur after child abuse," the email noted. 

For more information about assisting the Child Protection Center, contact Sheila Miller 941-365-1277 Ext. 111

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

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