The City of Venice will present its 5th Fire and Police Public Safety Day event from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 18 at the Venice Community Center, 326 Nokomis Ave. S., inside and outside.
Fun for the whole family, the free event will include first responder vehicles and big trucks that children can sit in and learn about; demonstrations every half-hour; photo ID cards for kids; free food, snacks, face painting and balloon twisting; music; and other activities and giveaways. In addition, come check out the nearby Venice Museum (open that Saturday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.) and Old Betsy Museum.
We are fortunate to have a current NFL Assistant Coach living in the VGRC who will be conducting an informal seminar as to what it is like to be in the big leagues of professional football. The seminar was originally scheduled for today, March 31st, but due to his scheduling conflicts, it has been changed to June 16th at 5pm. Flag it on your calendar.
The VGRC Community Association presented “Community Forum 2026” on March 16, 2026 to a packed house at the Venetian River Club.
Information updates by Tom Jones concerning external developments outside the gates included:
Venice Crossings Shopping Center home to a Walmart and Home Depot to be constructed on Laurel Road
the Village at Laurel and Jacaranda across from the VGRC entrance,
two hotels being built nearby, one on Laurel Road and another on Pinebrook Road
the newly constructed Water Booster Station close to and northwest of the community, and
other issues in the city of Venice and Sarasota County.
Mayor Nick Pachota spoke on the Water Booster Station and issues related to water pressure for NE Venice, upcoming elections for seats on the council, the status of property taxes in the state, the new city Fire Station under construction on Venice Avenue next to the Police Department, and the need to either harden the city water treatment plant or move it elsewhere since it sits in a flood plain.
Dr. Joe Neunder, County Commissioner for District 4, spoke about the long awaited construction on Laurel Road for its widening to 4 lanes. He expects construction to begin by December of this year, although it could start sooner. Dr. Neunder also briefly described the strategic plan for the county, the budget and traffic issues in the city, as well as county preparations for hurricanes and the opening of Midnight Pass.
In addition to external developments, representatives from the CDD and the POA gave updates. CDD Vice Chairman Cheryl Harmon Terrana spoke on the newly hired amenity management company for the River Club, budget issues, staffing stabilization at the River Club, access to the community and the use of the Ciltadella Road exit There are no plans to upgrade this exit until the shopping center is open across the street. Finally, Cheryl discussed the need to update the irrigation system in the community. Barbara Silkworth of the POA described the need for volunteers for the HOA and POA boards and the committees. Barbara stressed the need to give the Venetian a “Wow!” factor by replacing landscaping, especially hardwood trees which were either destroyed by hurricanes and disease or were removed prematurely.
Cheryl Harmon TerranaBarbara Silkworth
The highlight of the forum was the presentation of the Gratitude Awards to John Moeckel, Steve Thomaston, Pamela Henard and Nancy Spokowski. This was the third year that gratitude awards were presented to residents and has become the most rewarding feature of these annual gatherings. The true strength of a community like ours is found in the quiet, selfless actions of the people who live here. This award was created for those who make the community a better place to live.
John Moeckel and Tom JonesSteve Thomaston and Steve HeflerSharon George and Pamela HenardDarlene Schimberg and Nancy Spokowski
For those who could not attend the forum in the River Club or the LaSala room, the Community Association organized a live TV presentation and a “Zoom” feature so that others could view the proceedings from outside the main dining room or from home. While the video quality was excellent, the audio was not. The reconstructed video with improved audio is available on our YouTube Channel. Click on the yellow card on the YouTube page to view the video.
The Community Association sincerely apologizes for any inconvenience or frustration to those residents who participated in the Zoom session and those in the LaSala room for the sound distortion of the presentations.
For those who wish to reference the various handouts used by Tom Jones for his presentation of external developments in the area during the video:
Page 1AgendaPage 2 Survey TopicsPage 3 NE Venice Map Page 4 NE Venice Development DataPage 5 Milano Shopping Center Map
On Tuesday, March 10th, the Community Association hosted their 17th “Knock Your Socks Off” Seminar at the River Club titled “Preparing your Final Wishes”. The Presenter, Mr Darwin Reeck, spent an hour advising fifty community members about actions recommended for people to complete before the death of a loved one. Mr. Reeck has years of experience assisting people plan memorial and burial services as the Director of Lay Ministries at Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church along with being a Family Service Coordinator at Toale Brothers Funeral Home.
Click HERE for the After Death Comprehensive Checklist of Actions.
Tad Johnson won the contest with a selection of Seattle and a spread of 13 points. Congratulations! Click on the image or HERE for finalists and their predictions.
Al Pandl visited the Venetian for the third year to educate residents about the importance of protecting their assets for their heirs as well as the processes involved. Pandl explained the terminology and potential predators who may attempt to exploit these assets. The seminar sponsored by the Community Association took place on February 3, 2026
What is and how to avoid probate was a primary topic. The seminar covered various options, including power of attorney, living wills, and healthcare POAs. It also explained Florida-specific laws and the state tax structure. The goal was to provide residents with the knowledge and tools to protect their assets from potential threats.
Do you have a knack for keeping things running smoothly online? The Community Association is looking for a tech-savvy neighbor to help us maintain and support our community website!
We aren’t looking for a full-time job commitment—just a little bit of your expertise to ensure our digital home stays updated, secure, and user-friendly for everyone in the neighborhood.
What We’re Looking For:
The Community Spirit: This is a volunteer position, perfect for someone who wants to give back and help keep our residents informed.
The Maintainer: Someone to help with regular updates, troubleshooting occasional “hiccups,” and ensuring our information stays current.
The WordPress Whiz (Optional but Awesome): We’d love someone with WordPress experience, but if you’re a general tech enthusiast who’s quick to learn, we still want to talk to you!
Why Help Out?
As we demonstrated in our recent Residents Orientation, our website is the “Wi-Fi” of our community spirit. By volunteering your skills, you’re helping us provide the news, seminars, and community information that make our paradise special. Interested?
Interested? If you’re willing to lend a hand (and a few clicks), please reach out to us at vgrccaweb@gmail.com or come find us at the next Community Association meeting on February 16th at the River Club, 10 am.
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)
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.
According to the August 21st edition of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, the Home Depot will be located near a planned Walmart expected on Laurel Road across from the Laurel-Nokomis School.
