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

2 DEC Venice Christmas Walk

 https://www.google.com/search/venice main street

Thu, Dec 2, 5 – 8 PM

Historic Downtown Venice, FL

101 W Venice Ave #23, Venice, FL

Annual Christmas Walk downtown Venice along the avenues. Live entertainment and light refreshments served in stores. 

Downtown Venice Art Festival

http://www.artfestival.com/festivals/downtown-venice-art-festival-venice-florida/artist

 About the Festival

When:  Saturday, November 6th, 2021

10:00am to 5:00pm

Sunday, November 7th, 2021

10:00am to 5:00pm

Where:

100-300 West Venice Ave in Venice, FL

Cost:  Free Admission

Located on Florida's west coast, Venice is a vibrant town on the Gulf of Mexico, filled with historic charm, natural beauty, and independently owned shops and restaurants. Considered one of the best kept secrets in all of Florida, the community of Venice has a number of special surprises awaiting you. Whether you like shopping in the unique stores of the downtown Venice Main Street district or prefer golfing, boating, or other recreational activities, Venice has it all. 

Settled along West Venice Avenue, the Downtown Venice Art Festival adds to the ambiance of this unique town. More than 100 of the nation's most notable artists will exhibit their work, ranging in mediums from photography to jewelry, paintings to sculpture, ceramics, glass, mixed media and more during this weekend community festival.  Festival patrons and art collectors alike can meet and visit with their favorite artists, view and purchase original works, or commission custom pieces. 

Please be mindful and follow CDC guidelines.

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

Costume Strut in Downtown Venice on Sat., October 30

 https://www.visitvenicefl.org/costume-strut-in-downtown-venice/

VENICE MAINSTREET, October 4, 2021

Show off your Halloween costume in Downtown Venice on SATURDAY, October 30th from 2pm to 4pm! Strut around Tampa, Venice and Miami avenues while you shop and dine in your spooktacular outfit! The east bound lane of West Venice Avenue (from 200 to 300 block section) in downtown Venice will be closed to traffic to allow everyone to enjoy a pedestrian-safe, spacious area to strut your stuff! All ages welcome. Masks are encouraged and social distancing is recommended.

PLEASE NOTE: There will be NO CHILDREN’S PARADE this year.

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