Northeast Park Construction Continues on Laurel Road
Category: News
Ajax Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive
The barrels will be at the Golf Club! Please give generously to the needy!
Save the Date: January 21, 2026
On Wednesday, January 21st, at the River Club, there will be a presentation to inform residents of the responsibilities of the various organizations in the Venetian community, including the Community Association, the CDD, the Property Owners Association, as well as the different HOAs. New residents will find this presentation particularly beneficial, while long-time residents may find it a very useful refresher course. A Q&A session will be included, and refreshments will be served. More information will be released in the coming weeks.
Veterans Day is November 11
The purpose of Veterans Day is to honor and thank all American military veterans, living or dead, for their service.
Unlike several other U.S. holidays now celebrated on Mondays to create long holiday weekends, Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11.
History of Veterans Day
In 1938, Armistice Day was established to remember the armistice – or agreement – that had been signed back on November 11, 1918, marking the end of WWI. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first Armistice Day in 1919, emphasizing peace and honoring those who served in the Great War.
In 1938, Armistice Day was declared a federal holiday with a focus on WWI veterans. In that legislation, the date of November 11 was “dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as ‘Armistice Day.'”
Armistice Day to Veterans Day
“Armistice Day” became “Veterans Day” as the holiday evolved from commemorating the end of WWI to honoring all U.S. veterans.
In 1954, after the U.S. had gone through the devastation of World War II and the Korean War, the scope of the holiday broadened. At the urging of veterans service organizations, the 83rd U.S. Congress amended the Act of 1938 by replacing the word “Armistice” with “Veterans.”
In his October 8, 1954, letter to the administrator of Veterans’ Affairs, President Dwight Eisenhower wrote, “I have today signed a proclamation calling upon all of our citizens to observe Thursday, November 11, 1954 as Veterans Day. It is my earnest hope that all veterans, their organizations, and the entire citizenry will join hands to insure [sic] proper and widespread observance of this day.”
November 11 became Veterans Day, a day to honor American veterans of all wars.
Over the years, however, there were some changes to the actual date that Veterans Day was observed. In 1968, the Uniform Holiday Monday Act ensured three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day and Columbus Day.
Under this bill, Veterans Day was moved to the fourth Monday of October. The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on October 25, 1971. Many veterans as well as many members of the general public were not a fan of the date change. Many states also disagreed with this decision and continued to celebrate the holiday on its original date.
Finally on Sept. 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law that returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to November 11, beginning in 1978. This preserved the day’s historical significance.
Over the years, Veterans Day has evolved into a day not just for remembering those who served in wartime but also for recognizing all veterans, including those who served in peacetime. It now serves as a time to reflect on veterans’ contributions and ongoing challenges, such as health care and employment. The day has become a platform for honoring service while also advocating for veterans’ needs.
Veterans Day Flyover on November 6th
Photos are from the November 6 Venetian celebration of Veterans Day which included an aircraft flyover to honor all who have served in the United States Armed Forces, both living and deceased, acknowledging their sacrifice, courage, and dedication to the country.
Venice Water Booster Pump Station Information – Updated
This article has been updated on Nov 7th.
The City of Venice Utilities Department has provided timely information regarding the recently constructed water booster station. The station has been operational for two weeks, with scheduled operations from 6 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 11 pm. These operations are part of a trial period to assess the equipment requirements, chemical balances, and other factors needed to support the booster station.
In our area (Northeast Venice), the normal water pressure is approximately 45 PSI. However, during peak periods, the PSI fluctuates significantly due to increased demand. The Utilities Department reports that the PSI has increased by about 5 PSI (ranging from 48 to 51 PSI) when the booster station is running. More notably, the PSI remains constant during peak periods, which was one of the primary objectives of the station’s construction.
Residents have reported that the water pressure in their homes has not increased despite the recent construction of a water booster station nearby. We will continue to gather information to keep residents informed. If you notice any deviations in your water pressure, either higher or lower than normal, please record them over time. Additionally, we would appreciate your experiences and feedback by emailing vgrccaweb@gmail.com, the email address for the Community Association website.
The Venice Water Booster Station, which has been under construction for two years, has received clearance from the Department of Health to operate its tank and pumping system. The City has been filling the ground storage tank with fresh drinking water.
While originally forecast to be operational in early 2025, integration of the booster system software infrastructure into the Venice water system and supply chain issues have delayed some earlier expectations that the system may be operating in the spring of 2025. We expect another month before you may notice an increase in pressure.
The increase pressure will result in increased flow at our fixtures. However, the extent of the impact on our water bills will depend on how much each water fixture is used. For most people, the increase in a bill will be negligible.
View is looking south into the Venetian.
The primary driver for the construction of a water booster station was that the city has but one water treatment plant serving approximately 26,000 residents and growing, from its location near the Intracoastal Waterway. The new Water Booster Pump Station (BPS) is located on the northern portion of an approximately 40-acre City-owned parcel at the eastern end of Gene Green Road adjacent to Sarasota County’s Dona Bay Surface Water Storage Facility.
The booster station was originally intended to begin construction in 2021; however, a protest and subsequent rebidding process set construction back several years. See HERE for project plan documentation by the City.
The construction includes a 2-million-gallon tank, a solar field, and water pipelines buried in a covered trench along the Perimeter Road to the north. The top of the above-ground storage tank will not exceed approximately 30’ above the existing grade. The facility is designed to allow a second 2 million-gallon tank and two additional booster pumps to be constructed on site if NE Venice continues to experience the significant growth in population we have seen over the last two decades.
An emergency interconnect with Sarasota County’s potable water system was within the Booster Station project work. However, the time needed to secure easements for construction of the interconnect is taking longer than anticipated and the interconnect will need to be constructed as a separate project in the near future. A landscaped berm on the south side of the facility will be built to shield the new facility from view. Overall, the project cost is estimated to be $23.5 million.
The operations building can function as an emergency operations center for water in the event there is a loss of FPL main power. Solar power supplements the FPL feed. Emergency power is supplied by a large diesel powered generator with sound attenuating enclosure. Noise generation is below ambient noise according to modeling. The pipelines along the Perimeter Road are 16” potable water mains.
The photos are recent. During some days over the next week or two, we may experience a decrease in pressure when the booster pumps are turned off to troubleshoot issues and test various scenarios as the technicians continue to fill the 2-million-gallon ground storage tank at a couple hundred gallons per minute.
A 9-foot high landscaped berm will be constructed as shown on the rendering above to further screen the facility from neighboring residential communities.
The main benefits NE Venice residents will likely see are:
- More consistent water pressure throughout the day, especially during daily peak demand periods.
- A couple psi of additional peak pressure being available during low demand periods.
- Higher pressures for homes and buildings having 2nd-floor water fixtures that don’t already have private booster pump systems installed.
Seaboard – Venice City
Seaboard is an area in Venice City, east of the Intracoastal Waterway, bounded by Venice Ave and US-41 By-pass. Venice City council approved a master plan in March 2025 for the development of the area from light industrial to mixed use and residential. See Venice City webpage for additional information. The plan includes the move of the city’s solid waster and fleet maintenance out of the Seaboard area.
Visit the Venice Farmers Market on Saturdays!
Support local businesses and shop fresh by making a habit of visiting the Venice Farmers Market on Saturdays from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Click here for FAQ and also the map of the vendors. The location is in the parking lot behind City Hall at 401 West Venice Ave. The market is open year round.
Avoid Expensive Water Bills with Eye On Water
Have you ever discovered a running toilet after it cost you hundreds of dollars? You’re not alone — and the City of Venice has made it easier to prevent this from happening again.
This writer experienced one in the past month and EyeOnWater saved us hundreds of dollars.
The solution is Eye On Water, a free app available on either the App Store or the Google Play Store. Once registered, you will be able to see your water usage. That capability is available on your computer as well at eyeonwater.com. Once you register using your name, address, and water account number, you’ll be able to monitor your water usage daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly. Most importantly, you can set up leak alerts to catch problems early — before they become costly.
There are over 17,000 water meters within the city limits, and each one communicates directly with the city. If a flow above the alert you choose (such as one gallon per hour) is detected for every hour over a 24-hour period, the system can detect it and send you an alert — making this tool especially valuable for part-time residents who aren’t always around to spot issues and who don’t wish to shut their water off when away for an extended period. It appears you can set alerts for less than one gallon per hour if desired.
The Community Association is happy to help you get started — just contact us at vgrccaweb@gmail.com for help.
Or you can watch a video on how to install the app HERE. See comprehensive instructions on how to operate HERE.