Date: 09/02/2017 - 09/03/2017 Times: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Location: Miami Ave W, Venice, FL This event showcases variety of ceramics, jewelry, stained glass, metal works, etc. in the Gifts & Handicrafts industry. Come down and join in the fun!
Ali H. Johnston, MBA in Real Estate
REALTOR®, Lic. Broker #BK3284964
West Villages Realty LLC 19503 S West Villages Pkwy Stes A2 & A11 (by Appt) Venice, Florida 34293
By Diane Bair and Pamela Wright GLOBE CORRESPONDENTS
What is it about places named Venice, and why are they so cool? There’s the one in Italy, famous for its gondolas and grand palaces, and the one in Southern California, with its funky, anything-goes, “tattoo this” beach vibe. Then there’s the other, other Venice, the one in Florida. Recently named one of Coastal Living magazine’s happiest seaside towns, this is the mysterious Venice, the one you probably don’t know unless you’ve spent some time in Sarasota County, on Florida’s southwest coast.
So what’s cool about this Venice? Does it deserve a moment in the sun and is it, in fact, worthy of its name? We headed south to find out.
“Would you like to borrow a shark’s tooth sifter?” asked the woman at the front desk at the Inn at the Beach, where we were staying. Say what? It seems that Venice is, or claims to be, the Shark Tooth Capital of the World. Venice, an island along the aquamarine Gulf of Mexico, sits atop a fossil layer that’s estimated to be 18 to 35 feet deep, a souvenir dating 10,000 years, to when Florida was underwater. Gulf beaches hold a cache of fossilized sharks’ teeth, pointy triangles of black, gray, and brown that run about one-eighth to three-quarters of an inch long.
Beachgoers collect them using a “Venice snow shovel,” a screened basket with a handle, scooping up sand at the water’s edge where the waves break and sifting it.
Sadly, re-nourishment of the beach (when sand from several miles out is scooped up and deposited on the shoreline to replenish the beach after storms) has made sharks’ teeth less plentiful. Still, those little prizes are out there; we saw folks with bottles full of sharks’ teeth, not to mention, a display of sharks’ teeth jewelry at a shop called Sea Pleasures & Treasures on Venice Avenue. (Pieces not nearly as creepy as the alligator claw necklaces for sale alongside them!) If you’re really into this, and are a diver, find a local dive shop with a captain who specializes in fossils. Some super-lucky shark’s tooth hunters find giant, megalodon teeth, the size of a fist, on those trips. Or come in April, for the annual Shark’s Tooth Festival.
But you might not want to wait: From Nov. 9-16, Venice will be adorned in fabulous chalk art, as the site of the 8th annual Sarasota Chalk Festival (www.chalkfestival.org). Heralded by CNN as one of the best events of its kind in the world, the event draws 300-plus artists who create sprawling works in pastel on a decommissioned runway at the Venice Airport Fairgrounds. Visitors can participate themselves, watch the process, and see the glorious (if temporary) results.
This year’s theme is “Eat, Drink, and Be Merry.” “We anticipate 200,000 visitors over the eight days of festivities,” says founder Denise Kowal, formerly of Cohasset. “We host 90 percent of the world’s most renowned pavement artists in one location at one time — nobody else does this,” she adds.
The art is so amazing that it would knock your socks off if you were wearing any. This is flip-flop territory, where the temperature averages around 73 degrees — perfect for hanging out at one of the frequent festivals, hitting the Venice Farmers Market on Saturday morning, or meandering the inviting stretch of little shops along West Venice and Tampa avenues, the city’s pink-stucco downtown area. Thanks to stringent zoning, downtown Venice is remarkably lacking in chain stores and restaurants, making it an anomaly in the Sunshine State.
But the biggest surprise we found in Venice — bigger even than the shark’s tooth on the sign at Caspersen Beach — was this: We could get around almost entirely by bicycle. In our travels around car-centric Florida, we’d given up on finding a bike-friendly city. In Venice, Mayor John Holic himself gets up at 3:30 a.m. to hit the road with his pals, in the dark on his bike before the workday begins. While we don’t recommend that strategy for visitors (Beach Bikes & Trikes, a local bike rental agency, doesn’t open that early anyway), we discovered that this city of 21,000 souls is easy to explore on two wheels.
Venice is a silver-rated bicycle-friendly community, according to the League of American Bicyclists. And, although there are numerous on-street bike lanes, you can avoid cars altogether by sticking to bike paths like the Venetian Waterway Park and the Legacy Trail, a 10.8-mile path that goes all the way to the southern edge of Sarasota, and eventually will connect Venice with Sarasota’s downtown.
“Biking has really taken off here, especially since the Legacy Trail opened up in 2008,” says Mike Brown of Beach Bikes & Trikes. “We get people who come up here to house hunt, and do it all on a bike,” he adds.
We were skeptical, until we hit the paved Venetian Waterway trail, and pedaled to Sharky’s on the Pier for lunch (a must-do here), to Caspersen Beach (shark tooth central) and along both sides of the Intracoastal Waterway, veering off the trail to the bike lane on Harbor Drive to admire the city’s collection of 1920s-era Spanish Revival-style homes. We also encountered Mayor Holic on his bike; he gave us a mini-tour of Venice’s 30-some parks, and steered us toward other sights to see on our DIY Tour de Venice.
One of those “parks” is actually the Legacy Trail, a multiuse former rail trail that runs from the Historic Venice Train Depot, downtown, to Sarasota. So, of course we had to rent bikes for yet another day!
The morning we set out, it was 94 degrees. Were we crazy? Weren’t all the sane people at the beach, sprawled on the tawny sands of Venice’s 14-mile coastline, or bobbing in the surf? Quickly, though, we realized we were onto something, creating our own breeze as we pedaled through neighborhoods, over bridges, and into cool foliage, stopping only to guzzle water and admire views of electric-blue bays alongside the path.
We had hoped to get as far as Oscar Scherer State Park, but alas, we were flying back to Boston and running out of time. Instead, we ended our ride back at Venice Beach, where we promptly locked up our bikes, doffed our helmets, and plunged into the bathtub-warm-but-still-refreshing Gulf of Mexico.
As Venices go, this one isn’t bad at all.
QUICK TAKES
Venice is located just south of Sarasota. Bradenton-Sarasota International Airport is about 30 miles away.
Where to stay: Located right across from Venice Beach, the Inn at the Beach is the one to book thanks to its easy access to the Gulf. Rooms are quiet (the property abuts a residential area) with modern amenities. There’s also a heated pool and spa tub. Guest rooms and suites are done up in casual-tropical style, and many rooms have full kitchens. Continental breakfast is complimentary. Rates from $149. www.innatthebeach.com
Where to eat: You’ll be glad you biked a lot. Like neighboring Sarasota, Venice offers plenty of good food. Some of our favorites: For lunch, try the Soda Fountain & Vinnie’s Pizzeria(www.sodafountainofvenice.com), a real soda fountain, and Sharky’s on the Pier for good food and a Margaritaville-esque vibe (www.sharkysonthepier.com). For dinner, Sharky’s upscale sibling, Fins(www.finsatsharkys.com), offers dazzling sunset views and some of the best food we’ve ever had in the Sunshine State (steaks, sushi — it’s all awesome here). Another waterfront spot we enjoyed: Marker 4 (www.marker4.com), where they make fish tacos with seared red grouper, and top their steamed mussels with tasty things like cherry-smoked bacon.
Renting bicycles: Beach Bikes & Trikes (www.venicebikesandtrikes.com) will deliver and pick up bikes as part of the rental fee; helmets, baskets, and locks are included.
If you are considering
purchasing a home in this community, please let me assist you. My services and
extensive resources are of no cost to you, and in most instances, I am able to
save home buyers some money. I
do not work for any of the wonderful builders in the West Villages Improvement
District, or any others for that matter. My services and information (including
the resources provided on allof my websites) are
wholly independent of these developers. No other independent professional is
more knowledgeable about this community, and enlisting me to assist with your
transaction serves also to fund these resources to keep them available for you
and others on an ongoing basis.
NORTH PORT - Sarasota County's largest and fastest growing city will get even bigger.
On Monday, the City Commission voted to annex 141 acres into the Thomas Ranch development.
About 20 years ago, a sliver of land on what was formerly known as Taylor Ranch was meant to be an extension of River Road, but was abandoned when current River Road improvements were made.
Now it will be absorbed into the West Villages development, which is already 9,600 acres. The move allows the developer better freedom to plan neighborhoods instead of plotting around the county-zoned sliver, which was to be known as Pine Street, bisecting the property.
With the Islandwalk and Gran Paradiso developments already in progress, the addition of the West Villages neighborhoods will eventually mean about 20,000 new homes in the area.
North Port already is Florida's eighth largest city, in land mass, at 104 square miles. It is the county's most populous, at more than 60,000 residents. Its population grew 160 percent from 2000 to 2013, according to census data.
Mattamy Homes, Canada's largest homebuilder, purchased the Thomas Ranch property last year for $86.25 million from Thomas Enterprises. The development is divided into four villages: Main Street Ranchlands, Myakka River Club, Timber Forest Ranch or Manasota Beach Ranchlands.
The project's general manager, Marty Black, said the development will take 30 to 40 years to build out.
With rezoning changes, the density will increase from 1.7 dwelling units per acre to 2.7, city planner Jennifer Malone said.
For now, that is enough, development attorney Jeff Boone told commissioners, but the developer likely will come back to ask for 3 to 4 units per acre, a figure supported by the city's own comprehensive plan to be more sustainable as the city provides services, such as water and sewer.
Commissioner Linda Yates asked planners if the intensity of development would have any negative impact on the city.
Malone replied that the planning staff saw none.
"The West Villages Improvement District is to be obligated to build a water plant and a sewer plant and give it to the city for free," Boone said.
Black told commissioners that the villages will reflect an active lifestyle, lifetime learning, health and wellness opportunities, water features and outdoor recreation.
Developers spent the past nine months meeting with officials from North Port, Sarasota County, State College of Florida, the Sarasota County School Board, chambers of commerce and surrounding land owners, Black said.
They are working with school officials to identify a site for a school serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
[End of Article]
If you are considering purchasing a home in this community, please let me assist you. My services and extensive resources are of no cost to you, and in most instances, I am able to save home buyers some money. I do not work for any of the wonderful builders in the West Villages Improvement District, or any others for that matter. My services and information (including the resources provided on all of my websites) are wholly independent of these developers. No other independent professional is more knowledgeable about this community, and enlisting me to assist with your transaction serves also to fund these resources to keep them available for you and others on an ongoing basis.
If you'd like more
information on anything in particular, just let me know. Also, I would love any
feedback on what you would like to see for future blog topics.
If you are considering purchasing a home in this community, please let me
assist you. My services and extensive resources are of no cost to you, and in
most instances, I am able to save home buyers some money. I do not work for any of the wonderful
builders in the West Villages Improvement District, or any others for that
matter. My services and information (including the resources provided on allof my
websites) are wholly independent of these developers. No other independent
professional is more knowledgeable about this community, and enlisting me to
assist with your transaction serves also to fund these resources to keep them
available for you and others on an ongoing basis.
I just love Florida, especially in the spring! The sandhill cranes
absolutely fascinate me. These birds are so majestic, and their offspring seen this
time of year are incredibly awkward and adorable. This region is so rich with
amazing wildlife, I thought I would share a little about one of my
favorites. The picture was taken recently in the community of Gran Paradiso,
and the information to follow about these lovely creatures comes straight from
the Florida Fish &
Wildlife Conservation site.
One thing of great importance to remember with Florida wildlife, really
typical of anywhere, is to remember not to feed them. With alligators, it is of
particular priority so that they do not associate humans with food. Feeding
them becomes life-threatening to both them and their human neighbors. Likewise,
cranes being fed by humans become aggressive to people.
Sandhill cranes are cherished members of the Florida ecosystem. They stand
almost 4 feet tall and their bugling or rattling calls are haunting and
beautiful. Sandhill cranes occur in pastures, open prairies and freshwater
wetlands in peninsular Florida from the Everglades to the Okefenokee Swamp.
Florida sandhill cranes are present in many urban areas and some unlikely
places such as golf courses, airports and suburban subdivisions. This is
probably due in part to the rapid development of their native habitat by
humans. Cranes are probably attracted by the open setting (mowed grass) and
availability of some foods (acorns, earthworms, mole crickets, turf grubs).
People inadvertently put them in harms way when they attract these birds
to their yards with feed. Some "feeding" is accidental such as when
bird seed is spilled from feeders by other animals onto the ground below making
a nice feeding station for cranes. But, some people deliberately feed sandhill
cranes. In 2002, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission made it
illegal to feed sandhill cranes (Florida Fish and Wildlife Code 68A-4.00(3)).
Why is feeding cranes
prohibited?
Cranes fed by humans can become aggressive toward people. In several
instances, children have been attacked by cranes. Cranes fed by humans also
have been known to damage window screens and do other property damage. This
behavior is probably a response of the birds to seeing their reflection,
bringing out a territorial defense behavior (scratching at windows or shiny
automobiles). Cranes also are more likely to tangle in human garbage in areas
populated by people. Cranes are more likely to crash into power lines in urban
areas where such aerial hazards are concentrated. Cranes attracted to people's
yards for feed are put at risk as they walk across roads. Many sandhill cranes
are killed each year on Florida roads (see photo). Attracting cranes to urban
areas increases the threat of predation (especially to young cranes) by dogs or
cats. Further, the cranes' diets, which normally are quite diverse, are
disrupted when they eat one food item (such as corn), consistently. Heavy
pesticide use in urban lawns also is of concern. Young sandhill cranes have
died from pesticide poisoning.
Conclusion
It's never a good idea to feed wildlife. People inadvertently put cranes
in harms way when they attract these birds to their yards with feed. Florida
sandhill cranes have an abundance of natural foods (insects and small animals)
and they do not need handouts from humans. There are many reasons why cranes
should not be intentionally fed by humans. For the good of the cranes, please
do not feed them.
Four things you can
do to better coexist in "Crane Country"
Never feed cranes and encourage your neighbors not to feed cranes. Cranes
are less likely to inhabit urban areas if easy meals are not provided.
Cover or move automobiles so that cranes cannot see their reflections in
the shiny surfaces. Windows or glass doors that the cranes attack can be
temporarily covered with material so that the birds do not see their
reflections.
Temporarily cover windows or screens. A string mounted on stakes about 2.5
feet off the ground will provide an exclusion "fence" around the
parts of homes (window or pool screens) that are being damaged by cranes.
Accept some digging for food. Cranes sometimes damage lawns and gardens as
they dig for food such as mole crickets and beetle grubs. The birds, in this
case, provide natural "biological control" of these common pests of
turf.
Sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) are long-legged, long-necked, gray,
heron-like birds with a patch of bald, red skin on top of their head. Cranes
fly with necks outstretched like geese, whereas herons fly with necks tucked in
on their backs. For positive identification, look for reddish skin on top of
the crane's head.
Habitat:
Two subspecies of sandhill crane occur in Florida. The Florida sandhill crane (G. c. pratensis),
numbering 4,000 to 5,000, is a non-migratory year-round breeding resident. They are joined every winter by 25,000
migratory greater sandhill cranes (G. c. tabida), the larger of the two
subspecies. The greater sandhill crane winters in Florida but nests in the
Great Lakes region. Sandhill cranes nest during late winter and spring on mats
of vegetation about two feet in diameter and in shallow water.
Behavior:
Two eggs are normally laid. Cranes are monogamous breeders. Within 24
hours of hatching, the young are capable of following their parents away from
the nest. Together, they forage for seeds and roots, crop plants such as corn
and peanuts, insects, snakes, frogs and occasionally young birds or small
mammals.
Cranes are quite omnivorous feeding
on seeds, grain, berries, insects, earthworms, mice, small birds, snakes,
lizards, frogs, crayfish, but do not "fish" like herons.
Resident sandhill cranes are usually seen in very small groups or
pairs. In November and December,
however, large flocks of northern cranes move in, more than doubling the
population in the state and then leave during March and April. The sandhill crane is a close relative to the
nearly extinct whooping crane, which is being reintroduced into the state.
Young sandhills weigh about twelve pounds, males are larger than females, but
external markings are identical. Cranes live to be older than most birds, some
reaching 20 years old.
If you'd like more
information on anything in particular, just let me know. Also, I would love any
feedback on what you would like to see for future blog topics.
If you are considering purchasing a home in this community, please let me
assist you. My services and extensive resources are of no cost to you, and in
most instances, I am able to save home buyers some money. I do not work for any of the wonderful
builders in the West Villages Improvement District, or any others for that
matter. My services and information (including the resources provided on allof my
websites) are wholly independent of these developers. No other independent
professional is more knowledgeable about this community, and enlisting me to
assist with your transaction serves also to fund these resources to keep them
available for you and others on an ongoing basis.
If you are considering purchasing a home in this community, please let me
assist you. My services and extensive resources are of no cost to you, and in
most instances, I am able to save home buyers some money. I even offer
(*with a couple exclusions) $500 towards closing costs to my clients*. I do not
work for any of the wonderful builders in the West Villages Improvement
District, or any others for that matter. My services and information (including
the resources provided on allof my websites) are wholly independent of these
developers. No other independent professional is more knowledgeable about this
community, and enlisting me to assist with your transaction serves also to fund
these resources to keep them available for you and others on an ongoing basis.
If you are
considering purchasing a home in this community, please let me assist you. My
services and extensive resources are of no cost to you, and in most instances,
I am able to save home buyers some money.I even offer (*with a couple exclusions)
$500 towards closing costs to my clients*. I do not work for any of the wonderful builders in the West
Villages Improvement District, or any others for that matter. My services and
information (including the resources provided on allof my websites) are wholly independent
of these developers. No other independent professional is more knowledgeable
about this community, and enlisting me to assist with your transaction serves
also to fund these resources to keep them available for you and others on an
ongoing basis.
Check out Lennar's Fall Festival tomorrow, Saturday, October 18th! (See Flyer)
Happy to answer any specific questions about local
communities and what they have to offer!
Just let me know.
Ali
If you are considering purchasing a home in this community,
please let me assist you. My services and extensive resources are of no cost to
you, and in most instances, I am able to save home buyers some money. I even offer
(*with a couple exclusions) $500 towards closing costs to my clients*. I do not
work for any of the wonderful builders in the West Villages Improvement
District, or any others for that matter. My services and information (including
the resources provided on allof my websites) are wholly independent of these
developers. No other independent professional is more knowledgeable about this
community, and enlisting me to assist with your transaction serves also to fund
these resources to keep them available for you and others on an ongoing
