Author: John Manoush

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

Another Successful Resident Orientation

Posted on by John Manoush

The Community Association hosted its 4th Resident Orientation on October 20 for “new” residents and “not new” residents who wanted a refresher on “who does what” at the Venetian. The orientation was well attended by approximately 45 residents in addition to the speakers. 

This event helped attendees understand the roles and responsibilities of the various organizations at the Venetian.  We call it learning about “Alphabet Soup”.  Speakers included representatives from the CDD, POA, HOA, VGRCCA (Community Association), Heritage Golf and several Advisory Committees.  The General Managers of the CDD and POA also provided overviews of their organizations.  If the above initials are not clear to you, sign up for the next resident orientation!

A major message was encouraging residents to volunteer and get involved in our community, as we have many opportunities where residents can share their talents and contribute to our wonderful Paradise here at the Venetian!

Special thanks to the Community Association’s Membership Director, Sharon George, for organizing this very helpful meeting; and thank you to board member, John Manoush, who recorded and edited this event for the first time.  You can watch this 75-minute event on YouTube by clicking on the diagram below.  Hint: If you find the video fuzzy or “grainy”, click on the little gear icon (settings) at lower right while playing it and select a “quality” of 1080 (highest) or 720.

Roger Effron honored by City of Venice

Posted on by John Manoush
Roger Effron bio photo

We invite all residents to join us in honoring and supporting Venetian resident Roger Effron, who will receive the Mayor’s Pillar of the Community Award on Tuesday, Oct 27.  The award will be presented by Mayor Nick Pachota at a City Council meeting at 9:00 AM at City Hall.  The award is the first agenda item.

This award is presented to recognize individuals who have made exceptional, ongoing contributions to their community’s well-being, governance, and civic life.  It is designed to publicly acknowledge citizens whose dedication, leadership, and service have strengthened their community.  It highlights people who are active in:

  • Local decision-making
  • Volunteering and community service
  • Advocacy for public initiatives, and
  • Long-term commitment to the community’s welfare,

Since moving to Venice in 2006, Roger has served as Vice President of the Venice Hospital Board of Trustees, Chair of both the City of Venice Parks and Recreation Commission and the City of Venice Citizen Advisory Board, Chair of the Venice Symphony Board of Trustees, and has participated in Habitat for Humanity.  In 2015, Effron was selected by the City of Venice’s Fire Department as its “Citizen of the Year.”  Roger is a 2008 founding member of the Venetian Golf and River Club Community Association (VGRCCA) and served as its president in 2024.  Since 2010, Effron has been producing the Community Association’s monthly newsletter, Parcels from Paradise.  Roger is also one of the founders of the Hurricane Response Team (HRT) in 2014.

One of the Community Association’s goals is to be tuned in to happenings “outside the gates” and to maintain a positive working relationship with local government officials.  Roger and other VGRCCA board members will continue working to maintain these valuable external contacts to the benefit of all Venetian residents.

To see a schedule of upcoming VGRCCA seminars and many other useful features please explore this website, including our Seminars page.

Water Restrictions Continue into 2027

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 March 31, 2017.  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, or HERE to see the SW Florida Water Management District announcement.  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; updated Oct. 20,2026]

Dr. Cortman provides great advice once again

Posted on by John Manoush

Back by popular demand for the fourth year in a row, Dr. Chris Cortman gave a thoughtful & practical talk about “Dealing with Difficult People” on 10/13/26. 

First, he presented some truths:

1. All YOUR emotions are about YOU.
2. All behavior is purposeful.
3. Don’t take THEIR behavior personally.
4. You can’t change OTHERS, yet…

There are 4 steps to empower yourself:

1.You can talk about what it is like to be YOU when …-the difficult behavior by them takes place.
2. Make a specific request: e.g., please don’t yell & scream when we disagree as I feel….
3. Set boundaries: If you continue to yell, I will leave the room/house.
4. Do what you say you would do if the behavior continues

We included a full-length photo so all could admire those pink shoes! Thanks again, Dr. Cortman!

City Council Candidate Forum

Posted on by John Manoush

The five candidates for two open seats on the Venice City Council participated in a lively forum at our River Club on October 6, 2026.

Click HERE (or in title above) to see a video of the entire event (approx. 1 1/4 hrs).

The candidates (from left to right) are:

Seat 5: David Gress and Rick Howard (incumbent)

Seat 2: Sue Perry, Jenny Heussner and Christopher Derbak

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 October

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!

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.