FAA Offers New Clarification as Citizens Take Lead on Airport/Golf Course Environmental and Safety Issues: Participation Needed in Upcoming Meetings
Exclusive to Inside Venice.
Questions are being raised by citizens about safety and the environmental impact of the renovation of runway 4-22 for which the city has requested funding (90%) from the FAA. These questions need to be prominent in the airport planning session in the first week in August so citizen input is greatly needed.
Mike Rafferty, a professional engineer with considerable experience with airports, has been raising a number of questions about the effect of th
Posted By Ed Martin at 2:01 PM in Category:Inside Venice
Wednesday, 25
City Plan for "Villages" at Golden Beach, Esplanade and other sites--a Disaster!
Amid lovely verbiage about fidelity to the historic Nolen plan for Venice and some pretty illustrations of other places, the city’s comprehensive plan, now being reviewed by the state, will allow development that will have a devastating effect on a number of residential neighborhoods.
The plan identifies “community villages,” including such areas as the Esplanade, which includes the small neighborhoods on canals between Humphris (South Jetty) Park and the yacht basin. Other
Posted By Ed Martin at 12:36 PM in Category:Inside Venice
Monday, 23
Vote on Sarasota's Growth Pattern, November 6
On Nov 6, 2007 you and other Sarasota County voters will have an opportunity to be heard and vote on whether you want to set higher standards for future Sarasota County growth decisions. Visit our web site to learn how you can make a difference in future of Sarasota County.
JOIN THE CAMPAIGN
Against sprawl and overdevelopment
www.sarasotacitizens.org
Citizens for Sensible Growth in Sarasota County, Inc.
Posted By John Simmonds at 3:23 PM in Category:Inside Venice
Saturday, 21
Council of Neighborhood Organizations Writes Commission on JPA with Venice and Bella Citta.
The Council of Neighborhood Organizations, a county-wide organization is concerned about the response of Venice to the County's request to discuss the Bella Citta zoning.
Click on Guest Bloggers to read their letter to commissioners.
Council of Neighborhood Organizations writes County Commissioners: JPA and Bella Citta
Dear Commissioners:
We understand that you have scheduled a meeting with the Venice City Council to discuss several issues including application of the Joint Planning Agreement’s (JPA’s) neighborhood compatibility provision to the Bella Citta project. CONA President Ann Kaplan has asked that I write to thank you for initiating this process and ask that you continue to pursue the integrity of the mutually agreed JPA neighborhood compatibility protection for existing county ne
Posted By Bill Earl at 12:21 PM in Category:Guest Bloggers
Friday, 20
Sue Lang presents some worthwhile suggestions to airport advisory board
Dear Mr. Hollowell and Airport Advisory Board Members:
This is a follow up to my comments on the airport budget this past Wed. Again, I will re-iterate our request that funds be budgeted for noise abatement/fly friendly promotion, monitoring and follow up. Other small airports have paid staff and far more comprehensive noise abatement/fly friendly programs than the Venice airport. Your statement at the end of the meeting that the public should call the FAA if we have a complai
“Sundays at Vic’s,” a new Boulder, Colorado band grew up around pianist/composer Scott Martin as members began to sit in and eventually evolved into a seven-piece band including vocals, violin, clarinet, vibes, bass and hand-drums. Their book ranges from Ellington and Monk to Jobim and even a winning version of “I Want to be Like You” from the Jungle Book. Click on Jazz Corner for more.
“Sundays at Vic’s,” a new Boulder, Colorado band grew up around pianist/composer Scott Martin as members began to sit in and eventually evolved into a seven-piece band including vocals, violin, clarinet, vibes, bass and hand-drums. Their sound is acoustic and pleasing and their rhythms evocative of a time when jazz was popular music. Their book ranges from Ellington and Monk to Jobim and even a winning version of “I Want to be Like You” from the Jungle Book.
Follow the City and County approach to planning at Bella Citta, Venice offers more density.
Gerald Rogovin, correspondent for the Venice Gondolier Sun writes on Joint Planning approach to resolving Bella Citta controversy. -Gondo, July 18. to read click Guest Bloggers.
Posted By ed martin at 12:56 PM in Category:Inside Venice
Venice, County to Meet on Planning Dispute
BY GERALD A. ROGOVIN CORRESPONDENT, Venice Gondolier Sun
Staff of the city of Venice and Sarasota County will meet Thursday to discuss how the two governments can resolve their dispute over the rezoning of the proposed Bella Citta development and their six-month-old joint planning agreement.
The meeting was scheduled originally in January so that both staffs could address how to coordinate their efforts and to review concerns about the Join
Posted By ed martin at 5:34 PM in Category:Inside Venice
Monday, 16
Randall Greene Uses John Simmonds' Words, Slightly Revised.
Randall Greene, noting Venice council member John Simmonds' complaints about water scooters recently published in the Herald Tribune, uses Simmond's views to make some satirical changes to comment on planes flying over houses and beaches. Greene shared the letter with Insideveniceflorida.com (editor's note.)
Mr.Simmonds,
I read, with great interest, the Sunday Herald-Tribune's editorial, "Water Hazard." It reminded me of our mutual, "warped" sense of humor.
Sounds a lot more polite than "Chinatown," doesn't it? Do you like "Dim Sum?" It is not often found on Buffets, although there are often one or two examples such as dumpling stuffed with pork, or a Sesame ball with a sweet filling. These are suspiciously uniform, leading me to suspect they are bought frozen in a box.
When you are in a population center with a number of Chinese people, you may find a
A blind man accompanied by his guide dog walks into a bar. The bartender says, “How’s it going?” The man, unaware that the question was directed to him, does not answer. The dog, however, replies, “Ruff.”
I am reminded of this story by the recently publicized letter to council members by Mayor Fred Hammett, suggesting that a busy schedule and citizen comments might make it wise to continue the airport planning process with public input into the fall, when more summe
Posted By ed martin at 12:02 PM in Category:Inside Venice
Monday, 9
Dick Hyman and Richard Rodgers
I have been enjoying Dick Hyman’s new album, “Dick Hyman Plays Variations on Richard Rodgers.” At least it is a recent album, 2006 from the Musical Heritage Society, Inc., number 5186061, but with Dick’s amazing creativity he may have done one or more since. Dick is one of the rare pianists who is identifiable in his own style, despite being able to play James P. Johnson, Fats Waller, among many others. More than once I have tuned in a radio show, heard the piano and guessed correctly it was Di
Posted By ed martin at 1:47 PM in Category:Inside Venice
Herald Tribune's Larry Evans See Growth As Key Election Issue
While Larry Evans and citizens see growth as major issue for election, the city council and planning commission seem to be following, unabated, their big growth, height and density policies.
VENICE ELECTION--GROWTH, AIRPORT MAJOR ISSUES.
Growth will be the main issue in November when three seats on the seven-member Venice City Council are on the ballot.
Mayor Fred Hammett and Councilmen Bill Wilson and Jim Woods are in the final four months of their current terms.
Because t
Posted By ed martin at 12:39 PM in Category:Inside Venice
Sunday, 8
Betty Comora gives free concerts at Lakewood Ranch
Every Tuesday in August, 5 to 8 pm Betty Comora (pianist/vocalist) and Mr. Gerry Millar (bassist) will play Jazz on Main St. in Lakewood Ranch. Free to the public.
Posted By Betty Comora at 4:11 PM in Category:Jazz Corner
Saturday, 7
Brener writes Airport Manager about Safety Issues; previous contacts not replied to.
Editors Note: Thomas Brener has written Venice Airport Manager, Fred Watts, about safety concerns and related matters and writes that he has not received a reply to his earlier inquiries. He has not included details on various safety issues he has raised and I will ask him for those materials to confirm his concerns. I will also ask Watts for his views. Meanwhile here is his letter to Watts.
From: "Thomas Brener" Sent 7/5/2007 5:10:32 PM
To: "'ed martin'"
Posted By ed martin at 1:43 PM in Category:Inside Venice
Roberta Gamberini; Freddie Cole--Live from the Montreal Jazz Festival
Roberta Gamberini, displaying exquisite musicianship, a very wide vocal range, and the best performance of “scatting,” I believe since “Bebop Betty Carter” stole the hearts and minds of a sold-out Montreal Jazz Festival Audience at “Club Soda.” Her set ended with a standing ovation from an audience with many young listeners and a minority of “gray heads” like this writer.
I had first heard a record she made on Bob Seymour’s Jazz program on WUSF-89.7, coming in on the middle of a “
Posted By ed martin at 1:41 PM in Category:Jazz Corner
Jazz Club to Bring Concerts to Venice
The Jazz Club of Sarasota will bring live jazz concerts to Venice, beginning September 29 at 2 p.m. at Centennial Park. The Club, one of the largest and most active in the nation, received a $17,850 grant from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice to sponsor the concerts and also to assist in providing transportation to the Club’s annual Jazz Festival in Sarasota in March 2008.
Venice resident, and world-famous, pianist and composer, Dick Hyman will be a special guest for t
Rafferty Details Destruction of Golf Course Necessary to Meet
Airport Plan Before Council.
Ed,
As sent to the Mayor and Members of the Council.
Regards,
Mike Rafferty
-----Original Message-----
To: fhammett@ci.venice.fl.us; rfh704@comcast.net
Sent: Sun, 1 Jul 2007 12:24 pm
Subject: Request for Delay of the Airport Charrette
Good Morning Fred,
I am writing you as an individual citizen and registered voter in the City.
However, I am also a Director of the Bay Indies Home Owners Associat
