Bob Harrigan, Chief Meteorologist for ABC, is returning to the Venetian Golf & River Club Community to educate residents about tropical storms and hurricanes.
A much-beloved and appreciated expert on weather in the Sarasota/Venice area, Bob has been forecasting Suncoast weather for more than 30 years. His presentation promises to be both informative and entertaining.
Please note: The presentation begins at 2:00 p.m., earlier than most presentations, to accommodate Bob’s 5:00 p.m. forecast schedule.
This is a very popular presentation, so come early to get a good seat!
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. ClickHERE 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]
The City of Venice hosted another Hurricane Expo on Friday, May 29th at the Venice Community Center. For the second consecutive year, city officials invited our HRT to host a table and to share information with attendees on how to create and maintain a community hurricane response team program. The VGRC was the only community asked to participate and showcase its program, and there was a great deal of interest and appreciation expressed by those who stopped by. A couple attendees said that they had a group of CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) members who are activated after a storm; but unfortunately, most of those with whom we spoke said that there was no team in their community and agreed that one was needed. Handouts with an outline of our program contents and contact information was provided to anyone who was interested. City officials stopped by the booth and, as in the past, applauded the community for such a wonderful program.
Who has this capability: You need an iPhone 14, 15, 16 or 17, and your phone must be updated to iOS 18 or newer.
How to use it: When your phone loses all cell and Wi-Fi service, open your normal Messages app. A prompt will appear at the top of the screen offering to use the satellite connection.
What happens next: The phone will guide you to point your device toward a satellite. Once connected, you can text your friends and family.
Keep in mind: Satellite signals travel a long way and are much slower than regular cell service. A short text may take a minute or more to send. You cannot send photos, videos, or group texts—only words and emojis
You must be outdoors with a clear view of the sky. Trees, tall buildings, and roofs will block the satellite signal.
2.Open the Control Center:
Swipe down from the very top-right corner of your iPhone screen.
3.Tap the Cellular Icon:
Look for the button with the antenna icon on the right side of the Control Center and tap it.
4.Select Satellite:
Tap the Satellite option, then select Try Demo. (Note: This will temporarily turn off your cell service and Wi-Fi to simulate a power outage).
5.Follow the On-Screen Tracker:
The screen will show a radar graphic. Simply turn your body left or right as the arrows instruct until your phone connects with a satellite passing overhead.
Once you are done practicing, you can exit the demo, and your normal phone service will immediately return.
Standard Android Phones: Major cellular carriers (like T-Mobile) are launching networks using Starlink satellites. This means even older Android phones will automatically connect to a satellite in a complete dead zone, allowing you to send normal text messages without needing to buy a brand-new phone.
On April 14th, residents visited Venice’s water booster station off Gene Green Road. The visit was sponsored by the VGRC Community Association and was very informative of the impact of the WBS to Venice, operations of utilities during an emergency, and the general strategy of water treatment and distribution in Venice. Residents appreciated the opportunity to visit the site, engage in a free-flow Q&A, and receive very knowledgeable information from city officials.
The main benefits of the WBS are stabilization of the water pressure levels and an increase in reliability pressure levels to facilitate firefighting water requirements. Go HERE to read the full article.
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.
