Super Bowl Predictions for 2026
Author: Joe Browne
Sarasota County to get a new Home Depot
by Earle Kimel
Sarasota Herald-Tribune USA TODAY NETWORK
According to the January 15, 2026 edition of the Sarasota Herald Tribune, a Home Depot has been approved for the new Venice Crossing Commercial Center on Laurel Road. There will also be a Walmart in the same shopping center. Other occupants are a Panda Express, a proposed car wash and Laurel Civic which is relocating to Venice Crossing from the Sandra Sims Terry Community Center.
The Venice Planning Commission approved the site and development plan for an 11.29-acre parcel that would include a 106,651-square-foot store, an accompanying 28,156-square-foot garden center and a parking lot. The site plan has two entrances to Home Depot from Twin Laurel Boulevard. See HERE for the complete article.
Copyright © 2026 Herald-Tribune 1/15/2026
“Self Protection Tool Box” Presented by Sheriff’s Office
On January 13, Sarasota County Deputy Lt. Cathy Duff of the Crime Prevention Unit reviewed all that we can do to provide for our own personal safety.
Lt. Duff made us aware to lock our doors, never open doors to strangers, have a peep hole in your door, invest in a doorbell camera (they are cheap!), keep a clear view to your door, and install a good dead bolt.
Events Scheduled in January
January 24th Bik-O-Rama, River Club parking lot, 9-11 am Probably the longest running Community Association event is the always popular Bike-O-Rama in cooperation with Bicycles International on Tamiami Trail. For those who have never been to this well-attended event, just bring your bike to receive a free maintenance check by the highly trained mechanics from Bicycles International. Consider bringing some cash to tip the mechanics for their free service. There will also be items for sale for bicycle enthusiasts. A Community Association membership table will be present for those who need to renew or join the Community Association. Don’t be late, Bike-O-Rama closes promptly at 11 am.
January 26th Developer Approval Process, River Club, 3:30 pm What did you say? They are building another &(%^%^(^ development nearby!!!!! Certainly, we have heard that comment numerous times over the years. Many residents are curious of the approval process that the city goes through when facing a development proposal. That process will be addressed at the seminar, “Developer Approval Process” on Monday, at 3:30 pm (note time change) at the River Club when Roger Clark, head of the Venice Planning and Zoning Department, will provide a presentation on this topic. Getting the facts may help residents gain a better understanding of a process associated with a growing Venice.
See Active Petition Schedule on Venetian Gems. This is a map of the intended developments in our area.
See the full Seminars and Events schedule HERE.
Christmas Golf Cart Parade @ Venetian
Shout out to all the golf cart owners, cheerleaders, carolers & festive friends! You all brought such a bright light to the holiday season by participating!
See the Christmas Golf Cart Parade around the Venetian Golf and River Club HERE.
Photo of all 3 winners together
3rd Place Cart Alene Iafelice – Stockings & Gift Décor theme (left)
1st Place Cart The Mangiaranos – Elves, Santa, Gifts & Tree theme (middle)
2nd Place Cart Ethel and Lucy – Light-Up Candles & Christmas Décor theme (right)
Costume winners
Alene Iafelice and
Sean Gerahty
Venice Police on Scams and Fraud
On December 8, two officers (Sgt Montez and Det. Lt. Kenny) from the Venice Police Department presented an informative overview of prevalent predatory scams that pose a significant threat to everyone. The presentation was well-received and provided valuable insights into the extent and severity of these dangers.
The officers highlighted the risks associated with using debit cards to pay online demands and emphasized that government agencies will never request money or personal information over the phone. Threats to citizens can manifest in various forms, including exploiting vulnerable individuals. See this US government website for common types of scams, identify theft and how to protect yourself HERE.
Suni Williams Visited the Venetian River Club on Monday, December 1st
It was an immense honor that the VGRC Community Association presented NASA Astronaut and U.S. Navy Captain (Ret.) Sunita “Suni” Williams at the River Club on December 1, 2025.
Residents were captivated by her genuine personality and the captivating description of her life and experiences as an American astronaut. Suni Williams was selected as an astronaut by NASA in 1998 and has since become a veteran of three space missions. Over her three flights, she has logged an impressive 608 days in space. For more information about her, please refer to her full bio here.
Suni graciously met all requests for photos and chats, bringing immense delight to everyone present. Meeting Suni was truly a memorable event for all the residents who attended. See the video “286 Days in Space with Suni Williams” by clicking here.
Venetian Gets Sharp!
Eddie Swing sharpened our knives and other implements for us on November 22 in the golf course parking lot. His ‘dance card’ was full with all appointments taken as residents took advantage of his expertise. Eddie’s grandfather in North Carolina started the family tradition.
His customer, resident Jack Pritchard, bought knives made from Chinese artillery shells by a master craftsman in Taiwan. The original steel was a Chinese artillery shell shot from canon on the mainland. From a craftsman in the Republic of China to our local craftsman in Venice — Eddie Swing.
Venetian Community Grateful to Fire Chief for CPR & AED Training
On November 18, Venice Fire Chief Frank Giddens conducted two classes for residents on CPR, AED, and Heimlich Maneuver training. This training, sponsored by your Community Association, has been ongoing at the VGRC for over a decade, training hundreds of residents in life-saving techniques. Notably, training residents has directly resulted in at least two lives saved at the Venetian. This information was previously reported in an article on this website in August 2023.
Fire Chief Giddens estimates that over a dozen citizens have been saved in Venice over the past few years through the Fire Department’s CPR and AED services. He recommends that residents download the PulsePoint app on their smartphones for guidance, tips, and pulse count signals when performing CPR.
Mayor Pachota Presented Venice’s Plan for Development of Seaboard
This article was updated with more detailed information on November 20th. See last two paragraphs for additional comments made by the Mayor.
Mayor Pachota visited the Venetian on November 17, 2025, to present information about Venice’s conceptual plan for developing Seaboard, which is an area comprising 130 acres in Venice City, east of the Intracoastal Waterway, bounded by Venice Ave and US-41 By-pass. It includes the historic train station and a section of the Legacy Trail. The Venice City council approved a master plan in March 2025 for the development of the area from light industrial to mixed use and residential. The plan includes the move of the city’s solid waste and fleet maintenance out of the Seaboard area.
The goal of this project is to take a section of the city that is currently under-utilized and sometimes referred to as an “eyesore”, and to look ahead to a time when it might become a vibrant location for people to live, shop, dine or attend concerts. It is not intended to replace Centennial Park or the existing downtown, but to provide an alternate location for events and activities. It is seen as a continuation of the downtown zone that would reduce crowding and parking problems as the city grows.
One interesting feature being considered is a “swing bridge” that would allow pedestrians and bicyclists to cross the Intracoastal without using the 41 by-pass bridge.
The Mayor stressed that Seaboard is a LONG-TERM planning project for which our City Council has laid the groundwork by modifying zoning as mentioned earlier. Building heights of up to 75 feet would be possible there, compared to 35 feet in the main city. The Mayor indicated that the actual build-out of the area might not take place for up to 20 years, and even that is not guaranteed. The city’s role is not to own such a development, but only to lay the groundwork to facilitate it. The actual acquisition of property, design and building will be up to one or more developers working within the rules the council has established. Most of the property involved is in private hands and it will take years to work with those owners to decide whether they remain a part of the district or decide to sell and relocate.
See Venice City webpage for additional information.
Additional Comments by Mayor
Mayor Pachota addressed questions from Venetian residents on other matters of significance. However, he deferred commenting on the water booster station to the Venice Utilities Department. Regarding the construction timeline for the shopping center across from VGRC, he mentioned that the situation may have changed, referring to a plan to build a Walmart and Home Depot shopping center on Laurel Road across from the Laurel-Nokomis School. That development could potentially affect the timing of construction of the shopping center across the road from Veneto Blvd.
He clarified that the start of construction for the shopping center closest to VGRC is at the developer’s discretion, as all city approvals have been obtained. As previously noted by the Community Association Board, he also stated that the start of construction for widening Laurel Road, which falls under the County’s jurisdiction, depends on acquiring properties along the road.