Looking for fun events in February?

 https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/entertainment/events/2022/01/31/fun-events-in-february-top-10-things-to-do-for-sarasota-bradenton-port-charlotte-florida/9283197

Wade Tatangeloand Jimmy Geurts  Sarasota Herald-Tribune January 31, 2022

Top 10 things to do in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte

From food and music fests to power boat races and a circus show, the biggest events taking place this month in Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice and Port Charlotte.

To help plan ahead, here's our list of the top 10 things to do this month in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties. You'll find everything from food and music festivals to power boat races and a circus show.

Please keep in mind that due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, events are often canceled or postponed. We highly recommend checking the status online or by phone before attending any of our picks for weekend fun. For instance, a few events set to take place this month have already been put on hold, including Venice Pride Festival, which has been rescheduled for Nov. 12.

Charlotte County Fair, now-Feb. 6

The 33rd annual Charlotte County Fair brings another bunch of family-friendly activities and live entertainment, as well as tasty foods, to Port Charlotte. Info: thecharlottecountyfair.com

Giving Hunger the Blues, Feb. 6 

The 24th annual music festival benefitting Mayors’ Feed the Hungry Program is set to take place at Nathan Benderson Park, with a lineup including Blues Music Award-winning musicians Selwyn Birchwood and Albert Castiglia. Info: jazzclubsarasota.org/giving-hunger-the-blues 

Circus Sarasota, Feb. 11-March 6 

Held under a big top in Nathan Benderson Park on the Regatta Island, this year’s show is set to feature an international cast of circus artists, including some who’ve appeared on “America’s Got Talent” such as Bello and Annaliese Nock. Info: circusarts.org 

Bradenton Area River Regatta, Feb. 12 

The largest single-day spectator event in Manatee County returns to the shorelines of Bradenton Riverwalk and Palmetto with powerboat races, concerts, fireworks and many other family-friendly activities included in this free event that debuted in 2015. Info: bradentonarearegatta.com

Thunder by the Bay, Feb. 18-20 

The 24th annual music and motorcycle festival returns to Sarasota Fairgrounds with live music including rockers FireHouse (“Love of a Lifetime,” “When I Look Into Your Eyes”), along with vendors, motorcycle competitions, food court, “Thunder Alley” and more. Info: thunderbythebay.org 

St. Barbara Greek Festival “Glendi,” Feb. 18-20

St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church hosts this celebration of Greek culture, now in its 38th year, that in past years has featured authentic foods, folk dancing, crafts and live music. Info: stbarbarafestival.org

Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival, Feb. 19-20

Seafood, live music, libations and nautical art will again be the main attractions at this event celebrating its 40th year in the historic commercial fishing village of Cortez, nestled along north Sarasota Bay just east of Anna Maria Island. Info: cortez-fish.org 

Venice Italian Feast & Carnival, Feb. 24-27 

Pizza, calzones and cannoli are just a few of the tempting foods likely to appear on the menu at the 33rd annual event presented by the Italian American Club of Venice. Info: italianamericanclubofvenice.com

Osfest, Feb. 26 

Local reggae favorites Jah Movement throw this sixth annual block party honoring the late Oswald Caines, who used to play in Democracy Reggae Band, with live music, vendors and more on Main Street and Lemon Avenue in downtown Sarasota. Info: jahmovement.com/osfestreggaeblockparty 

Spring training, Feb. 26-March 29

Baseball fans will find the reigning world champion Atlanta Braves kicking off spring training at their CoolToday Park home in North Port against the Boston Red Sox on Feb. 26. Meanwhile, Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota is spring training home to the Baltimore Orioles, Bradenton’s LECOM Park is the Pittsburgh Pirates’ and Charlotte Sports Park is the spring training home of the Tampa Bay Rays, whose Kevin Cash is a Tampa native who was named the American League Manager of the Year in 2020 and 2021. 

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

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

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

Braves Path to the 2021 Postseason is in Their Hands

https://tomahawktake.com/2021/08/23/woodbridge-wines-video-contest-adam-jones/

by Jake Mastroianni Sept 3, 2021

With all the turmoil the Atlanta Braves have had in 2021 they still have all their goals within their grasp as they enter the final month of the season. 

It’s honestly crazy to even write that headline with where this Atlanta Braves team was even a month ago when they were third in the NL East.

Since then they’ve held as much as a 5.5 game lead in the division before seeing that dwindle down to two games.

Still, entering the final month of the season and the last 29 games, their path to the postseason is pretty clear — win and you’re in.

And while the road ahead isn’t easy, it’s also not that difficult.

They just got done playing the hardest teams left on their schedule in the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers. And while they lost all five of those games, there is some solace in knowing three of those games were one-run games and they weren’t overmatched in any of them.

This team is capable of competing with the best teams in baseball.

Braves remaining schedule

They’re in the middle of a four-game series in Colorado where the Rockies have been one of the best teams in baseball. But the Braves got off to a good start with a comeback win on Thursday.

Braves remaining schedule

They’re in the middle of a four-game series in Colorado where the Rockies have been one of the best teams in baseball. But the Braves got off to a good start with a comeback win on Thursday.

If they can win two of the next three they’ll be in good shape coming home where they face a terrible Nationals team, the Marlins, and the Rockies.

Then they have to go back out West to face the Giants, Diamondbacks, and Padres.

The Giants are coming back down to Earth a little and are beatable. The Padres are crumbling, and the Diamondbacks are one of the worst teams in the league.

Finally, the Braves finish up at home with a huge series against the Phillies and end with the Mets.

Certainly not the easiest schedule down the stretch, but with the way this team has played since the trade deadline I feel like they’re more than capable of winning all of those series.

Braves’ Math for Holding Off the Phillies

And the Braves essentially have to win every series the rest of the way in order to stay ahead of the Phillies who have the easiest schedule down the stretch.

After some tough games against the Marlins and Brewers, they play the Rockies, Cubs, Mets, Orioles, Pirates, Braves, and Marlins.

Let’s do a little math and see how many games the Braves need to win.

The best month the Phillies have had this year was in August when they went 17-11. They’ve had double-digit losses in each month.

I could realistically see them going 19-10 or even 20-9 the rest of the way.  That’s likely the best-case scenario for the Phillies, but also really possible with their schedule.

That would put their overall record at 88-74.

And I honestly think the Braves could go 19-10 the rest of the way with their schedule, and that’s predicting a series loss to the Giants and a four-game split with the Padres.

That’s also predicting a series win at home over the Phillies, which will be a big series.

The best month the Braves have had this year also came in August when they went 18-8.

As I said earlier, I definitely believe this team is capable of going on a similar run in September to clinch the division.

If they can win two of the next three they’ll be in good shape coming home where they face a terrible Nationals team, the Marlins, and the Rockies.

Then they have to go back out West to face the Giants, Diamondbacks, and Padres.

The Giants are coming back down to Earth a little and are beatable. The Padres are crumbling, and the Diamondbacks are one of the worst teams in the league.

Finally, the Braves finish up at home with a huge series against the Phillies and end with the Mets.

Certainly not the easiest schedule down the stretch, but with the way this team has played since the trade deadline I feel like they’re more than capable of winning all of those series.

The path for them is clear, just take care of business and win the series that you should and perhaps sweep a series or two. Either way, I hope fans enjoy this final month of the regular season and what this team has had to overcome to put themselves in a position to win the division a fourth straight 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

Shark Tooth Capital of the World

https://sciencing.com/there-teeth-venice-beach-florida-7295925.html 

By J. Dianne Dotson

At different locations in Florida, you may find shark teeth in the sandy beaches. Some of them are fossils, and some are more recent tooth losses.

One area of Florida with a great concentration of shark teeth is Venice Beach on the Gulf Coast. This area is called the “shark tooth capital of the world.”

Shark Tooth Capital of the World

Venice Beach, Florida, is called the “shark tooth capital of the world” because of its preponderance of fossilized shark teeth. In particular, Caspersen Beach is a rocky portion of the area that is home to a glut of Venice Beach fossils.

Every year, Venice hosts a Shark's Tooth Festival that provides educational opportunities as well as the chance to buy good quality fossils. So why are there so many Venice Beach fossils? It helps to understand the lay of the land and sea in both the present and the past.

Prehistoric Seas and Venice Beach Sharks

In prehistoric times, 10 million years in the past, what is now Florida lay submerged under seas. A plethora of sharks plied those waters, and on portions of land, other prehistoric animals roamed such as mastodons, mammoths and saber-toothed cats.

As for the Venice Beach sharks, the species that lived in Florida included makos, bull, sand, lemon, great whites, tiger sharks and the massive megalodon, which is now extinct. Sharks lose thousands of teeth in their lifetimes, so over millions of years, a significant amount of shark teeth fossils have built up.

The enormous megalodon is the most prized tooth fossil of all the Venice Beach sharks. They can be several inches long. There is a layer of fossils in the Venice Beach area that can range up to 35 feet deep!

Good Locations for Shark Teeth Hunting

In southwest Florida, Venice Beach sits along a sloping shelf of a coastal land mass. With no sharp drop, a layer of shark teeth fossils is gradually eroded and brought on shore. The aforementioned Caspersen Beach offers a good concentration of shark teeth fossils at low tide, with about four miles of beach available to search. Other prime locations include Casey Key and Manasota Key.

The Venice Fishing Pier can operate as a base of operations in your Venice Beach shark fossil hunt. There are also places where you can kayak to hunt for shark teeth. The Peace River offers good chances for fossil expedition tours, with November through May being the best time to go. These tours provide great ways to learn about the rest of Florida’s natural history as well.

Different vendors offer rentals or sales of shovels and screened baskets, perfect for sorting through the sand. You may find coral pieces, shells and possibly other fossils in your quest. Finding at least one tooth is essentially guaranteed.

Tools to Use for Venice Beach Fossils

If you would like to hunt for Venice Beach fossils, obtain a fossil-hunting permit. This is not required for shark teeth per se, but as there are vertebrate fossils also prevalent, the permit allows for their preservation.

Fossilized shark teeth tend to be dark in color, whereas newer teeth are paler. Use a scoop to dig into the sand, and use a screen to filter through the sand to look for shark teeth. Some captains provide charter trips for divers, who can find much larger prehistoric shark teeth fossils a bit offshore.

The majority of the shark teeth you will find may range from 1/8 of an inch to 3/4 of an inch. Megalodon teeth are larger, and each inch of tooth length corresponds to 10 feet of the animal’s length! 

Whatever shark teeth you find, you can marvel at the wonder of so many sharks that lived so long 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

Here Are All the Restaurants Participating in Savor Sarasota This Year

 https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/eat-and-drink/2021/05/savor-sarasota-restaurant-list

By Cooper Levey-Baker  4/24/2021

More than three dozen restaurants have signed up so far to participate in this year’s Savor Sarasota, which kicks off next Tuesday, June 1, and continues through Monday, June 14.

During Savor Sarasota, participating restaurants offer multi-course, prix fixe meals for $16 at lunch and $32 at dinner. The special menus can be offered to in-person diners, as well as takeout customers.

Here’s a full list of the restaurants that have already signed up, with more likely to come before next week:

Amore Restaurant

Andrea's

Bavaro's Pizza Napoletana & Pastaria

Bevard's Salute!

The Bistro at The Concession Golf Club

Bistro at Sarasota Art Museum

Bohemios

Bridge Restaurant At Embassy Suites Sarasota

Cafe BarBosso

Cafe Evergreen

Cafe Gabbiano

Cafe Venice Restaurant

Captain Brian's

C'est La Vie!

Chaz 51

Chef Rolf's New Florida Kitchen

Circo

CMX CineBistro Siesta Key

Crab & Fin

The Crow's Nest

Der Dutchman

Duval's

Element

Farlow's on the Water

Fin's at Sharky's

Flavio's o Main

Felmings Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

Libby's Neighborhood Brasserie (both locations)

Mattison's Forty-One

Mattison's City Grille

Melange

Michael's on East

Miguel's 

Off  the Hook Seafood Restaurant

Overture Restaurant & Gallery Lounge at Art Ovation Hotel

Reef Cakes

Ristorante San Marco

Rodizio Grill

Sardinia

The Ringling Grillroom at the Ringling

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

28th Annual Downtown Venice Craft Festival

 https://www.visitvenicefl.org/craft-festival-is-back

West Venice Avenue in Venice, Florida  

Free Admission

The annual downtown craft festival, brought to you by Howard Alan Events & American Craft Endeavors and Venice MainStreet is back! 

Some of the nation’s best crafters will converge along West Venice Avenue, so peruse booths filled with stained glass, photography, personalized products for children and dogs alike, and much more. Stroll the Green Market for plants, handmade soaps, tangy BBQ sauces, and live orchids. 

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