Author: John Manoush

Retired food scientist originally from Mass and Maine. Moved to Venice, FL in 2020. Married, no children.

Bob Harrigan Speaks!

Posted on by John Manoush

On Monday, August 31, 2026, Bob Harrigan, ABC7 Chief Meteorologist, spoke to the VGRC community about weather and hurricanes. Over 100 people attended the event and seemed to listen with rapt attention. For over forty years, Bob has been forecasting weather, advising people in the Bradenton, Sarasota and Venice area about the threats of storms including tropical storms and hurricanes.

Bob is unusual in that his goal is to alert the communities and not scare them. He suggested that there are many “weather experts” on social media who are into scare tactics to get the viewers to “click on their” postings pages which generates significant income for them. Bob is opposed to these tactics and cautioned the audience to be selective in whom they turn to for weather/storm forecasts.

Bob is very gracious with his time, and though he is a busy Broadcast Meteorologist, he also is generous with his time, speaking to organizations and communities in our areas. His passion for the topics and his ability to share information with the general population in a manner that is understandable is a testament to his skill, talents and dedication.

After the presentation, some of the leaders of the Community Association, the CDD and the POA posed for the picture below with Bob. Other photos of the event are also shown. Dick Foster, a member of the HRT, created and edited a video of the presentation. It can be viewed by clicking HERE

City of Venice Newsletter for September

Posted on by John Manoush

Please enjoy the latest edition of the Venice City E-News by clicking HERE. Navigate the City’s e-newsletter by using the left and right arrows on your keyboard, or flip to the next page by using the arrows on the viewing screen. Explore additional resources and information by clicking on hyperlinks.  Enjoy the many timely and useful articles in this free newsletter!

Water, Water… No where

Posted on by John Manoush

We have seen various alerts about this topic since at least April, and restrictions have not yet ended.  Homeowners should be aware of this not only to avoid being fined but also because it is the right thing to do.  Be aware of the distinction between irrigation water and potable (city) water, because the restrictions and penalties are different for each.  Irrigation at VGRC (using reclaimed water) is managed by our CDD, who specifies when irrigation can be done depending on your address.  Click HERE to open the current CDD schedule.  Currently, irrigation is limited to one period per week, usually in the early a.m. hours.  Irrigating outside of allowed times can subject you to a warning or fine from our POA, who monitors for compliance.  Residents should not attempt to adjust their irrigation timers without full knowledge of the CDD requirements or consultation with their landscaping service, if applicable.

The City of Venice and the SW Florida Water Management District issued a bulletin on April 3 restricting the use of potable water for landscape watering and car washing.  Although the bulletin carried an end date of July 1, the restrictions have now been extended to October 1.  Watering with sprinklers is restricted to Tuesdays and Thursdays depending on your address, while hand watering or use of soaker hoses may be done any day but only between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m.  It is a rather complicated formula best seen by clicking HERE to view the City of Venice webpage.  Violation of these government restrictions may result in a citation or fine of $75.

Please do your part to understand and comply with these important requirements. [posted July 6, 2026]

Hurricane Preparation Checklist

Posted on by John Manoush

As many of our seasonal residents begin preparing to leave for the summer months, we want to ensure everyone has the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding hurricane preparedness. Taking these steps now can greatly reduce potential damage and help safeguard your property while you are away. Please review the updated preparation reminders below:

Secure all outdoor furniture, umbrellas, grills, flowerpots, garden hoses, flag poles, and any items that could become projectiles during high winds.

Inspect your roof for any loose tiles and ensure no repair tiles are left unsecured on the roof.

Check your trees and remove any dead or loose limbs.

Hurricane shutters may be deployed when a watch or warning has been issued for Sarasota County, or earlier if authorized by the Property Manager and approved by the POA Board. Shutters must be those originally supplied with the home or those approved by the Architectural Control Committee under the Community-Wide Standards.

Inform your home-watch provider, neighbor, or designated contact of your departure date and share your updated contact information.

Inform your home-watch provider, neighbor, or designated contact of your departure date and share your updated contact information.

Keep an eye out for communications from Mary Rau-Foster and the Community Association Hurricane Response Team as the season approaches.

New 2026 Hurricane Guide & Facebook for Hurricane Corner

Posted on by John Manoush

The Venice 2026 Hurricane Guide from the City has been completely revised from past years.

We have created a Facebook site for members of our community, and their families and friends, to be used as a communication tool (in addition to the community emails) for hurricane preparation tips as well as providing post-storm updates. We have found that there is a great need for quick updates and reports of post-storm issues and that this tool may make communication easier. It is a private Facebook site and access has to be approved. The site is “Hurricane Corner-VGRCCA (see https://www.facebook.com/groups/hurricanecornervgrcca). Please sign up for it, as we anticipate that you will be instrumental in providing valuable information after any hurricane has impacted our area.