Holiday gatherings celebrate staff
to the Team
City Hall, Public Works, Police and Utilities held holiday parties on Dec. 18. At Utilities, Working Foreman Wayne Ball was lauded for 35 years of service.
Both of Wayne’s parents also worked for the City. His father, Verlon, was a Venice police officer for 31 years, working his way up to chief from 1984-1987. His mother, Ladyeann, was first a crosswalk guard in Venice, then became a meter maid, assigned by police to write tickets for parking violations along Venice Ave.
When he first started at the City, Wayne was working on water mains and fire hydrants, installing and fixing service lines. After 8 years, he moved over to wastewater as a mechanic’s helper, moved up to mechanic, then inventory control tech, then back to mechanic, then got the working foreman job. On a typical day he leads a crew of 6.
More photos, pages 2-6
Jameson Dahlke Municipal Service Worker, Public Works/Parks
Milton Davis Police Officer, VPD
Carlos Dennis Plans Examiner, Building
Wayne Ball is presented with his 35-year service award Dec 18 by Assistant Utilities Director Patience Anastasio and Maintenance
Supervisor Tim Merritt as Wayne’s granddaughter Quincy looks on.
to the Team
Tony Gaetano Inspector, Building
Bobby Gorman Municipal Service Worker, Public Works
Runny Hernandez Firefighter/Paramedic, Fire Rescue
Ryan Hinz Firefighter/Paramedic, Fire Rescue
Jorge Lopez Firefighter/EMT Fire Rescue
HOLIDAY FUN - UTILITIES
Clockwise from far left, Dennis Rodriguez; Patience Anastasio and Zoran Vukic; Stan Brown, Sheldon Sees, Scott Hart and Danny Self
At left, Gerry Mills, Stacy McKenzieGrant, Jim Anderson, Tim Merritt, Patience Anastasio, Jimmy Bennett, Vadim Bugayev, Sam deMartino and Damien Stillings Below, D J Dahl
At left, Wayne Ball with his mom Ladyeann, wife Renee and granddaughter Quincy as Tim and Patience look on; at right, Travis Hardwick, Joel De Leon, Lorraine Anderson and Kelly Treat.
Clockwise from top left, Dan Tucci, Scott “Boots” Marra and Chris Somers; Dwayne Evans, Bob Florenzie, Ricky Simpson and Chris Bruns; Kevin Lashaway, Mike Little, Ethan Lane, David Welsh and Norm Keen; Ashlee Castle, Tim George, Elizabeth Joiner, Ricky Simpson and Chris Bruns; Rob Bondurant and Lionel Aprill
From far left, Ilona Krigsman and Kelsey Shope; Stephanie Fisher and Alan Bullock; Eric Tanner and Jeff Tower Center row, James Clinch and Ed Lavallee; Kevin Barrett; Brianne Lorenz, Kelly Michaels, Christina Rimes, Mercedes Barcia and Nancy Hurley
From far left, Victoria Sanadi; Mel Mosser and Jess Samson; Anthony Garofalo, Andy Leisenring and Toni Cone
15 Years
Wade Heath, Jan. 22 Solid Waste/Public Works
10 Years
Anna Terpstra, Jan. 26 Airport
Adrian Rivera, Feb. 2 Utilities
5 Years
Chris Somers, Jan. 6 Public Works
Jose Luna, Jan. 13 CRO/Police
HOLIDAY FUN - VPD
Payroll Corner
Jan. 17 Pay Day
Accruals available for December; Police clothing allowance
Jan. 31 Pay Day
Premium OT Fire (Kelly cycle 2/7-3/5)
Clockwise from top left, Jim Davis, Tawnie Murdock, Cheryl Prevatte and Mary Wood among those at the taco truck; retiring Chief Charlie Thorpe and his wife Tammy display a gifted quilt with Ed Lavallee, Eric Hill, Andy Leisenring, Dave Smolenski and Mayor Nick Pachota; Charlie and Ed address staff at the holiday lunch; Charlie with an award listing his years with VPD.
Blue Santa efforts support 100 families, 340 kids
Thanks to the community’s incredible generosity, the Venice Police Department helped over 100 local families and 340 children this holiday season through its annual Blue Santa program, headed up by Master Police Officer Paul Joyce.
After facing the challenges of three hurricanes in 2024, our community’s needs were greater than ever — and you delivered! Together, we raised over $24,000 and collected hundreds of toys, books, puzzles, games, bicycles, and more for newborns, toddlers, children, and teens.
We are so grateful for everyone’s kindness in making this holiday season special for everyone. More photos, page 8
THE LATEST
Over 600 attend annual Santa Firehouse
Pancake Breakfast
Everyone had so much fun at the Fourth Annual Santa Firehouse Pancake Breakfast Dec. 14 at Station 51 near City Hall.
Over 600 parents and children came out to enjoy pancakes and sausage; a visit with Santa Claus, the Grinch, Olaf and Elsa; a bake sale; toys for kids; and exploring the firetrucks and other vehicles and equipment.
The free event was sponsored by Sarasota Memorial-Venice, Armstrong Land Services, Dig Life Performance, Twenty1 Coffee Company, PAM Health Rehabilitation Hospital and Paul Davis Restoration.
Venice
Fire Rescue donates $2,800 to prostate cancer research
In its second year, the Venice Fire Rescue “Grow a Mo, Save a Bro” Movember fundraiser yielded donations totaling more than $2,800, which will be donated to the University of Florida Prostate Cancer Research Foundation.
Men’s health is incredibly important, especially since firefighters face a higher risk of cancer compared to the general population. The money was raised through Movember T-shirt sales and bids from the “Bid on a Bro” fundraiser event held Dec. 6 at 3 Bridges Brewing.
Thank you for everyone's generosity this giving season. Your support makes a significant difference!
UPDATES & ACTIONS
Fire Rescue welcomes new Firefighter/Paramedics
During the Dec 10 City Council Meeting, VFR Firefighter/Paramedics
Mackenzie Dunlap, Ryan Perez and Christopher Thall were sworn in by Deputy City Clerk Mercedes Barcia, as Mayor Nick Pachota assisted.
Firefighter/Paramedic Lopez sworn in
Deputy City Clerk Barcia swears in new VFR Firefighter/Paramedic Alejandro Lopez during the Dec. 10 Council meeting, as Mayor Pachota assists.
Deputy City Clerk Barcia swears in new VFR Firefighter/Paramedic
Christine Grundner during the Dec 10 Council meeting, as Mayor Pachota assists Firefighter/Paramedic Grundner sworn in
VFR Firefighter/EMTs Victor Snyder and Ryan Burns were sworn in Dec 10 by Deputy City Clerk Barcia, as Mayor Pachota assisted Fire Rescue welcomes new Firefighter/EMTs
Dec. 10 City Council Meeting Recap
Venice City Council took the following actions at their Dec. 10 meeting:
Approved on Consent Agenda:
Engineering: Execute Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 19ST4 Between the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the City of Venice to Extend the Beach Renourishment Funding Agreement to Dec. 31, 2026.
Finance: Authorize the Mayor to Execute the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) Hurricane Helene Agreement Z4422 and Hurricane Milton Agreement Z4436.
Police: Grant Agreement Between Sarasota County and the City of Venice for the West Coast Inland Navigation District (WCIND) Waterway
Watch the complete Dec. 10 meeting here. Venice City Council is currently meeting in Community Hall Room 165. Council meeting minutes and recordings are typically available within 48 hours of each meeting date.
Development Program Project Agreement for the Police Public Safety Dive Team, Project No. S-448, not to Exceed $138,800.
Grant Agreement Between Sarasota County and the City of Venice for the West Coast Inland Navigation District (WCIND) Waterway Development Program Project Agreement for the Police Marine Patrol, Project No. S-483, not to Exceed $149,730.
Approved 7-0: Appointment of Capt. Andy Leisenring as Police Chief.
Approved 7-0 on Final Reading: Ordinance 2024-28 Amending City of Venice Ordinance No. 2024-25, Which Adopted the Official Budget of the City of Venice, Florida for the Fiscal Year Beginning Oct. 1, 2024, and Ending Sept. 30, 2025; by Increasing the Total Revenue by $8,350,500 and Total Expenditures by $8,350,500.
Approved 7-0: Resolution 2024-26 of the City of Venice, Authorizing the Venice City Council to Participate in a Joint Meeting with Sarasota County, the Cities of North Port and Sarasota, the Town of Longboat Key and the Sarasota County School Board to Receive, Discuss and Act Upon Matters of Mutual Interest.
Resolution 2024-27 of the City of Venice, Approving Amendment No. 2 to the Public Transportation Grant Agreement for Project Number 452977-1-94-01 by and Between the State of Florida Department of Transportation and the City of Venice for the Venice Municipal Airport Master Plan Update; and Authorizing Appropriate City Officials to Execute it.
Resolution 2024-29 of the City Council of the City of Venice, Authorizing City Council Members to Serve as Liaisons to Designated Boards, Commissions and Committees; Superseding Resolution No. 2014-24 and all Other Policies in Conflict Herewith.
UPDATES & ACTIONS
Council Chambers renovation progress
Due to the renovation of Council Chambers at City Hall, 401 W. Venice Ave., all City meetings have been relocated to Community Hall Room 165. The project involves important audio video technology upgrades, a new Council dais, security enhancements, an improved hearing loop, and all new audience seating and carpeting. Project progress is pictured here from Jan. 7. The renovation is expected to be complete by late spring.
There is limited seating capacity in Community Hall, so residents who are not speaking, or presenting a case, are encouraged to view meetings online either during live streaming during the meeting, or by video viewing from the meeting calendar afterward. As always, anyone wishing to speak in-person will be accommodated during this temporary relocation.
To watch a meeting online during live streaming, use this link to the City of Venice Meeting Calendar: https://venice.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx. Click on “In Progress” to the far right of the City meeting on this date.
Dec. 10 City Council Meeting Recap
Approved 6-1 (Council Member Farrell dissenting): The initial project concept for the rezoning of the Venice Bay Mobile Home Park area, and authorize staff to proceed with the City-initiated rezone work.
Approved 5-2 (Council Members Farrell and Smith dissenting): Direct the appropriate Charter Officer to propose a charter amendment that would provide for an annual election of the Vice Mayor for the next regularly scheduled election in 2026.
Approved 7-0: The 2025 meeting schedule, with the removal of the March 25, 2025, City Council meeting.
Tarpon Center Dr. Resiliency Project underway
Construction of the Tarpon Center Dr. Resiliency Project in Venice got underway Jan. 6. This project features replacement of the existing seawall at the intersection of Tarpon Center Drive and The Esplanade N. along approximately 400 feet on Tarpon Center Dr., and installation of hurricanerated glass flood protection barriers on top of the seawall. The project also includes underground utilities replacement and installation of a living shoreline along the seawall. Reef balls will be installed to enhance the shoreline habitat. The project will be substantially completed within six months.
During construction, traffic detours, street transit changes, and sidewalk closures will occur. Every effort will be made to minimize impacts to the traveling public and property owners during construction; however, shortterm road interruptions will occur. Your patience is appreciated as this project is completed.
The map at right shows the project location, with the scope of the project pictured below.
PRESIDENTS PROGRAM AWARDS
Awards for City line employees for qualifying behavior going above and beyond normal expectations.
$100 Ben Franklin
Who: Seth Smith. Department: Utilities. Date: Dec. 18. Reason: Seth has received numerous customer compliments and kudos from other supervisors for him assisting other crews. Seth functions as a liaison between Tech Unit and Field Ops, always willing to help out and get dirty (i.e., the recent reclaimed break in Bay Indies.) He also recently coordinated an effort to get ID balls installed on the new raw water main on Pinebrook by working with Jimmy Bennett, Will Smith, and Dave Guilmette to make sure the data that was most helpful was programmed into the balls and that they were placed at the most needed locations.
Who: John Sweeney and Greg Zielbauer. Department: Utilities. Date: Dec. 18. Reason: Another perfect year of zero hits due to improper locates, resulting in less damage to our infrastructure. John is pictured at top right with Damien Stillings.
Who: Jeanne Davis. Department: Public Works. Date: Dec. 18. Reason: Jeanne was an instrumental part of the cooking team for the EOC at the Police Department during Hurricane Milton. She worked tirelessly day and night to make sure food was available to all employees during each shift of the EOC operations. After working multiple days in the EOC, while little to no sleep, she immediately reported to Public Works for her next assigned 10-hour shift with a huge smile. Jeanne, we are so grateful for all you do! Thank you for being part of our team! Jeanne is pictured at right center with Tim George.
Who: Paul Olsen. Department: Public Works/Solid Waste. Date: Dec. 19. Reason: Thank you to Paul for his quick reactions during an active fuel spill at the Seaboard yard on Dec. 17. Paul was off duty; however, he stopped by the Solid Waste yard on Seaboard Ave. When he arrived, he noticed the fuel delivery truck was discharging fuel onto the ground. Paul’s quick actions to notify management and alert the driver to shut off the pump/truck saved additional gallons of fuel from being spilled onto the ground. He also assisted in getting absorbent to block off drains and contain the area where fuel had spilled. He stayed on site to assist with implementing safety measures to protect others and the area. His actions saved cost in cleanup and saved the environment by protecting our drains and waterways, as the fuel was only inches away from storm drains. If it was not for Paul and his actions, the event would have had a much larger impact to the City. Paul is pictured at bottom right with Travis Hout, Doug Mersek and Chase Banyas.
PRESIDENTS PROGRAM AWARDS
$50 Ulysses Grant
Who: Derek Self. Department: Utilities. Date: Dec. 18. Reason: Derek volunteered to spend the night at the WRF during Hurricane Milton. He arrived Wednesday morning, Oct. 10, and worked on final preparations for the storm all day, including the isolation of the hospital water main and shutting down the island. He even went to the hospital to check their master meter when they called complaining of low pressure. After a very windy night, to say the least, he worked all day bringing the utility system back up, repairing and cleaning out the collection system where needed. As the rest of the team went home, Derek stayed on as on-call water staff, fixing and isolating water services and even one 4-inch AC main break. Late that evening, the WTP operation called him with a list of 10 breaks that were called in as cell service returned. It wasn’t until the police called Patience Anastasio about a water main break at 8:30 p.m., and Patience called Derek, that everyone realized he had been working so long, being absolutely polite and willing to help the whole time. In the ensuing weekend, Derek’s helpful attitude and hard work continued as he ran calls and, in particular, helped FPL staging area at the airport. He built a water connection for their shower trailers and showed them where and how to dump their waste. Derek is such a pleasure to work with. He worked tirelessly before, during, and after Milton and was always respectful and polite and had a positive attitude. Derek is pictured at top right with Patience Anastasio as Tim Merritt looks on.
Who: Jerry Benoit. Department: Utilities. Date: Dec. 18. Reason: Following Hurricane Milton, there were about 60 wastewater pump stations without power. Rental generators from the state arrived the next day with power cords and connections, but the connections did not appear to be compatible with the department’s quick connects and would need to be hardwired to each control panel. When Jerry was contacted that Thursday evening, and said not to worry, he would have them ready to go quickly. He planned to get to VPD where the generators were delivered at 6 a.m. the next morning to prewire them. Field Ops placed them and Jerry wired in all 10 and got them up and running in a few hours, and got the remaining DFS (Data Flow Systems) and City generators operational where needed. Jerry, pictured at center right with Tim Merritt, has continued to be an indispensable resource when it comes to generators and his initiative and specialized skill set got us up and running quickly in a critical time period.
Who: Jason Aills and Austin Fargo. Department: Utilities. Date: Dec. 18. Reason: Jason’s and Austin’s hard work, dedication, and high standards are truly admirable. Any time an assignment is given, Jason and Austin can always be relied on to do it well. These qualities show their professionalism and pride in their work. Valuing these traits is consistent with the culture of excellence at Utilities and encourages our team members to always do their best. Thank you for making us look good! Jason is pictured at bottom right with Vadim Bugayev.
PRESIDENTS PROGRAM AWARDS
$50 Ulysses Grant continued
Who: Brad Holahan. Department: Public Works. Date: Dec. 18. Reason: Brad, pictured at top right with Tim George, has worked tirelessly since the hurricanes to make sure we are replacing street signs and roadway signs as effectively and efficiently as we can after two back-to-back storms. He has embraced all the extra work with a smile and positive attitude. Thank you for all you do, Brad!
Who: Scott Gorski and Brandon Jones. Department: Public Works. Date: Dec. 18. Reason: A huge thank you to Scott and Brandon for going above and beyond every day since the back-to-back hurricanes, making sure to pick up as much debris as possible in our parks to make them safe for use by all our residents and visitors. On top of that assignment, they were assigned additional numerous debris removal assignments around the city and embraced and completed each one with a huge smile. Thank you both for all you do to keep our city beautiful! Brandon and Scott are pictured at right, second from top, with Ricky Simpson.
$20 Andrew Jackson
Who: Kelsey Shope. Department: Planning. Date: Dec. 17. Reason: Kelsey truly knocked it out of the park this year for the Holiday Parade. Tasked with designing a new public-facing map, she delivered a stellar final product that elevated the entire event. When Special Events Coordinator Brianne Lorenz approached her with the idea, inspired by another organization’s map, she was juggling a heavy workload and couldn’t take on another high-priority project at the time. Kelsey stepped up without hesitation, bringing her subject matter expertise and creativity to the table. Her deep understanding of maps and how people use and interpret them was evident in every detail of her design. From the clear legends and thoughtful icons to the intuitive layout, Kelsey created a resource that not only looked amazing but also made a real difference for parade-goers. This year saw the most evenly distributed crowd along the route in the event's history, a testament to the map’s effectiveness in showing seating areas, amenities, landmarks, and other key details. Kelsey’s work was a shining example of teamwork, dedication, and innovation. Her efforts didn’t just meet expectations; they exceeded them. Thank you Kelsey! Kelsey is pictured at right, third from top, with Roger Clark and Brianne.
Who: Scott Treleven and D.J. Dahl. Department: Utilities. Date: Dec. 18. Reason: A customer called because a manhole on Palencia Blvd. was missing and needed to be put back on. The customer marked the location with orange cones. It turned out to be a storm box lid owned by Sarasota County. D.J., pictured at bottom right with Jimmy Bennett, and Scott fixed the lid and alleviated this major safety concern.
TAKE A BOW
The following kudos from citizens, partner organizations, Council Members and co-workers demonstrate the incredible dedication and pride with which you serve the City. Thank you for continuing to make Venice a premier location to live, work, retire, and vacation to.
Airport
After leading a recent tour group, Airport Manager Nick Dumas received five thank you letters from youth. “They had a great time and sent us these sweet letters,” he said in a Dec. 18 email. The letters thank Nick and Operations and Maintenance Manager Jim Eppley. One reads: “Thank you for showing us the airplanes and hangars. It was really cool and I enjoyed it. It was nice seeing all the planes and helicopters. Thank you for having us.”
Engineering
After sending local consulting engineer Erin Trauger the Construction Plan Approval letter for the Venice ECHO (hotel) project on Dec. 19, Assistant City Engineer Jon Kramer received this email from Erin: “Yahoo! Thank you for turning this around so quickly. It has been a pleasure working with your team. We look forward to construction in the new year!”
IT
Jon Watson, Curator with Historical Resources, emailed Director Roger Navarro Dec. 12: “I just wanted to write you a quick note and say how very appreciative I am of Technical Systems Coordinator Mike Deneweth’s help loading over 10,000 new items onto our museum's collections website, venicefl.pastperfectonline.com. He was such a great, knowledgeable resource and went above and beyond in spending time with me and the software's tech support to get the multi-step job done. Mike is an excellent and talented resource for the City. Thanks again to you and your team!”
Public Works
“Thanks again to the two of you for getting the construction fence shored up,” Historical Resources Manager Harry Klinkhamer emailed Director Ricky Simpson and Assistant Director Ashlee Castle Dec. 12 concerning the nearby construction of the Old Betsy Museum for the City’s 1926 LaFrance fire engine. “I’m grateful for getting those footers secured so that the banners would not be an issue. It’s folks like you that make working here a pleasure.”
Utilities
“I received a call from James Scrimger who resides at 905 Ravinia Circle,” Administrative Coordinator Danielle Smith emailed Technical Unit Supervisor Damien Stillings Dec. 12. “He called to express his gratitude for Technical Support Specialist Seth Smith. James said Seth was onsite before 9 a.m. fixing his leaking backflow and did a great job. He said he was so polite and he was very impressed with his knowledge and just wanted to say thank you to the City of Venice Utilities Department for all their hard work.”
“A colleague reached out today to share a fantastic interaction they had with Damien Stillings this week,” Assistant City Manager James Clinch emailed Director Javier Vargas Dec. 13. “She lives in Waterford, and said that Damien reached out to them proactively to notify them of unusually high water usage and a potential water issue at their property. They said Damien was extremely helpful and worked with them to locate and address the issue, which ended up being some sort of fixture issue. He also directed them to the proper process to apply for billing relief due to the issue. She was so thankful for this proactive approach and was incredibly impressed by Damien’s professionalism, courtesy, and helpfulness. These stories always make my day, so a huge thank you Damien and your team!”
THE LATEST
In the December edition of the International City/County Management Association’s magazine, Public Management, Venice City Manager Ed Lavallee talks about the critical value of human resource management.
As we enter the new year, many of us may have personal goals in mind or written down with the aim of changing our behavior. As the years go by, I have come to realize that the more specific, measurable, attainable and realistic these goals are, the more chance of success. For example, “Lose weight” may be better replaced by, “Reduce calorie consumption to 1800 daily, of which 100g is protein; drink 80 ounces of water daily; and weigh in weekly and track progress.”
Congrats on your Promotion!
Marshal Webb, promoted from Municipal Service Worker II to Irrigation Specialist in Public Works, effective Dec. 23.
Travis Carter, promoted from Plant Trainee I to Plant Operator C at the Water Reclamation Facility in Utilities, effective Dec. 20.
Check it out starting on page 42: https://bit.ly/4iOyGkR
Alan Bullock
Human Resources Director
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MEET YOUR COWORKER
Will Smith: Creative outlets
Utilities GIS Analyst Will Smith, who has been with the City since July 2015, got into the career field he’s in from the result of a coin flip.
“I was born and raised in Bradenton; I graduated high school in 2004 and went to University of South Florida for geology,” Will said.
“From the time I was 7 years old until 17, I was absolutely convinced that I would be a paleontologist. When I was 17, I changed it to geology. But I thought I was going to be in a job where I was out in the field digging. I loved that as a kid. If you had told me my job would be mostly an indoor computer job, I would not have believed you.
“But I didn’t do well my freshman year at USF – I failed out. I was too big for my britches. I thought I was too smart for the class and I could just go the first few days, take the exam and be fine. It did not work out well.
“I talked with the Army recruiters on campus and ended up deciding to join the military instead of going back home. After taking the ASVAB test, the military’s aptitude test, my scores were high enough that I qualified for any job that I wanted. I asked them, ‘Do you have any jobs that have to do with geology?’ The recruiter looked through their database and said, I think these two jobs might.’ One of them was GIS (Geographic Information System) and the other was a surveyor – which are very different jobs on a day-to-day basis. But at that time, the Army had the exact same, word-for-word description for both of them; it was somebody not paying attention to the jobs that nobody does. So it was literally a coin flip that made me a GIS analyst instead of a surveyor.”
Will, now 38, went on to serve in the U.S. Army from 2005-2011.
“All of the recruiters and our drill sergeants were very upfront – we were joining to go to Iraq. They told us, ‘You’re going to be driving in convoys, kicking down doors, regardless of what your job title is’ – and I didn’t, thank God. That was the early days. The GIS guys who were there the deployment before mine, that was their experience. But the deployments I was on were almost exclusively, sitting in an office 12 hours a day, six days a week, working on maps. I would literally print out hundreds of maps at a time on a shift when we had boundary changes between unit responsibilities. I had two
MEET YOUR COWORKER
Will continued
deployments to Camp Liberty, just outside Baghdad, and one to Camp Speicher, several miles to the north in the middle of the desert.
“Really, I needed a couple years to grow up – and the Army was a very good experience for me that way. I learned that things like having to go to class at 8 a.m. were not that bad, compared to standing in formation by 6:15 a.m. so I could do an hour of PT after the flag was raised. It taught me that I needed to do the job.
“Like all jobs I’ve ever had, there’s good parts and bad parts to (being in the service). I felt incredibly proud of the work that we did. There’s stuff I did that I’m not allowed to talk about that directly helped the U.S. war effort, helped the people of Iraq. But there were also really negative sides to it, like being away from my family for so long. There’s also no work-life balance.
“I went in right before my 19th birthday and was 25 when I got out. It’s paved the way for my adult life – mentally and economically. I’m very grateful for my time in the service, but I needed to part ways.
“When I got out of the Army, I wanted to go straight to studying GIS and getting my degree. But from USF my grades were so poor that the only school that would accept me was State College of Florida. I was terrified of going back to school, because I had so many negative experiences built up academically that I didn’t think I was smart enough to go to college. I felt like I was not capable of doing well in school. Instead, I was on the dean’s list all semesters and flew through with flying colors. I worked at Five Guys because I didn’t want to spend my G.I. Bill (which assists veterans in getting funds to cover costs for school or training) down here, I wanted to save it for university. And I lived with my parents, who had moved in with my grandparents on Anna Maria Island by then.
At left, Will (circled in back row) served in the U.S. Army from 2005 to 2011 He deployed as a Topographic Analyst to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom 20062007, 2007-2009, and 2010-2011.
MEET YOUR COWORKER
Will continued
“I got my AA degree in general studies from SCF. From there, I applied to a couple of universities and University of Colorado at Boulder accepted me; they were my first choice. They are one of the best schools in the U.S. for geography, so I was very happy to accept. I got full G.I. scholarship money there, and I worked at the campus bowling alley for side money.
“I had been out to Colorado before; my unit was stationed out of Fort Carson. Colorado Springs is my favorite city I’ve ever lived in. It’s like Sarasota in that it doesn’t feel like a big city, but it has a wide variety of amenities. I was a geography major, history minor – Roman history focused – and I fell in love with it. It was a very positive experience.
“I broke through that mental barrier and realized, I am not being forced to go to school. I am paying through my years of effort; I had paid for myself to go to this school. I was the one who wanted it. That was so simple a revelation, but it blew my mind at 27 years old.”
Will graduated in 2015 with a bachelor’s in geography, and says he’s somewhat a believer in destiny after this:
“I put out feelers all across the U.S. for jobs, from a security company in California, to Publix corporate headquarters in Lakeland, and the one organization that gave me a callback was the City of Venice. It worked, because I was graduating, I went to go live back with my parents, I’m in town – I can interview. I hit it off really well with Jeff Shrum, the former Development Services director. I had taken urban geography courses as part of my major, so I was able to use that kind of information. At college, I had also been a teacher’s assistant for a GIS lab course for planners.
“Working in the Planning Department is all about learning how land works on a legal level. It was stuff I had never really thought about before – like I kind of knew what an easement was, but I didn’t know it was a very specific legal term. I learned how form zoning works – here is what is being proposed, here is what we have in the code, can this circle be squared. It (involved) learning the different stakeholders and being introduced to the people who have a vested interest in properties around Venice. It was a great introduction to the city itself, because we were so heavily involved with both the Planning Commission as well as City Council. I got to know the different Council members, the Mayor and Vice Mayor. It was also a great introduction to how Venice is laid out. When I first started working here, Toscana Isles (in northwest Venice) had just broken ground.
Will, who enjoys acting at Venice Theatre shows about once a season, in VT performances of, from left, “Almost, Maine,” and “The Addams Family,” and in a publicity still for “The Mousetrap ”
MEET YOUR COWORKER
Will continued
“I had actually spent very little time in Venice previously. I would come down every so often for a play (at Venice Theatre). One summer my grandma from Ohio came down, and we took her out to Venice Beach. My siblings and I all hunted for shark’s teeth and then we went to Sharky’s for dinner. So Venice was there, I knew of it, but it wasn’t a place I was familiar with. Then I found out the craziest thing when I was in Planning and learned about John Nolen. He had planned a number of cities, and another one of his planned communities is Mariemont, Ohio, my dad’s hometown. My dad grew up three blocks away from a statue of John Nolen and he never knew who this guy was.
“In Planning, I was the first person to take the Nolen Plan and put it into our GIS so that way you could overlay it with the current land use imagery and see the changes that have been made or, in a lot of cases, where things are the way they were plotted out 100 years ago.”
Will says he thinks of his role in GIS as a fusion between technology and art.
“What I love about GIS is that there is a very strong technical component,” he said. “It’s a very stats driven job; there’s a lot of math that goes on behind the scenes. But how we display that information to the user is 100% art. There is no ‘this is the absolute way that you must display things.’ GIS has a wideopen area of, how can you best visually display this information to make it make sense to the end user. And that’s my favorite part of this job by far.”
Will worked in Planning from July 2015 to April 2018.
“By April 2018, I had known Damien (Stillings in Utilities) previously because he, Gillian (Carney, former COV stormwater engineer analyst) and I were the three GIS people in the City. Damien became the tech unit supervisor, and he encouraged me to sit for an interview.
“In Planning, a lot of the work is more theoretical work. We have properties, but we’re examining the legal bounds on them, what does the current zoning say we can do with them, what does the future land use plans, the comp plan say we would like to see done with these properties. Here in Utilities, it’s very much physical things that are in the ground right now. The stuff I deal with has gone from lots, parcels and developments, down to individual pipes and valves. The work that I’m doing now is much more involved in supporting field work. When I was in Planning, my work was most often going to stakeholders and decision makers, neighborhood associations, City Council members, land use lawyers. Nowadays, most of my products are going to plumbers, our field ops crew, my tech unit. And that requires a different presentation method.
“I spent my first few weeks working (at Utilities) assisting the locator. I got to actually see how the pipe network was laid out through following his radar with a can of spray paint and having to physically walk over all of the pipe network. It really taught me about a whole world I had never thought of before.
“I had never known really what these backflow preventers, these devices in the front yards, really did. I just knew they had to be tested every year.
Above, Will, Venice Utilities GIS Analyst, at his desk at the Water Treatment Plant Below, Will with his nieces, Emilie and Elloise, in Colorado.
MEET YOUR COWORKER
Will continued
“All of a sudden I realized this is why there are these facilities and fences all throughout the city. That’s something I love and what I consider a real strength of GIS and geography in general, is that it is a generalist position. Anything that you can do that can be attached to a point on earth, you can do in GIS. It allows me to learn so much about so many things.”
Feeding his creative side, Will has performed in several key roles over the years in productions at Venice Theatre, including Baloo in “The Jungle Book,” Lurch in “The Addams Family,” and Major Metcalfe in “The Mousetrap.” At 6-foot-7, Will is always an onstage presence.
My whole life is a very weird series of last-minute, emergency decisions that have had vast ramifications throughout my life. – Will Smith
“I got involved in theater originally because I like free lunch,” he laughed. “When I was in second grade we had a little performance – it was geography related, funny enough – about a sailing race around the world. Our teacher wanted to get a couple kids to perform for the local Kiwanis Club, and it was a luncheon meeting. I was one of the kids picked, so we got free lunch at a local restaurant and did the performance, and I was hooked.
“I am the kind of person who likes to perform, and I developed a real passion for acting and performing. My mom helped support it; she took me to theater classes at Florida Studio Theater for a few years, and I was in drama clubs and school plays from elementary all the way through high school. But as an adult I never really found time to do it, and it went by the wayside.
“I don’t know what possessed me to do so, but I was having lunch at Gold Rush one day in 2019, and I saw a flyer for auditions for ‘Jungle Book’ at Venice Theatre. I thought, ‘I like “The Jungle Book,” I’ll go ahead and audition. And I get a role – I get Baloo! I didn’t think that would happen. Here I am, I’ve got this big role, and it turns out really well.
“They had auditions again, and I got into (romantic comedy) ‘Almost, Maine.’ From there, I just got more involved. I try and do a play a season. Being in a production means two months of 5-day-a-week rehearsals, with an extra two weeks of 6-day-a-week rehearsals, and then about two months of performing in the actual show, 6 nights a week. “For ‘Addams,’ we had to do double (shows) every Saturday. Now there were a lot of rehearsals I didn’t have to go to. With Lurch in ‘Addams,’ my character shows up and disappears, and I’m offstage for many acts. But in ‘Mousetrap,’ I had a fair amount. I don’t go for the main character,” he added.
“I am always terrified,” Will admitted. “There will be a period two weeks before opening night where I feel like, ‘I don’t know anything, I can’t get this, I will never get this, this show is going to bomb because of me.’ And then I just get into it and I do it, and just keep doing it.
“I love it because it allows me to express all these multiple facets. I like getting into a character, I like playing around in the mindset of a character. When I was doing ‘Maine,’ there was a part that I loved and hated doing, because it was the most physically stressful acting I’ve ever done. During the 15-20-minute intermission, I had to be up onstage, silently miming a man going through utter and complete heartbreak. And I had to lose myself in that role (the entire time), total improv. Some people were heckling me, some were watching, a lot were ignoring it. But that’s part of being onstage – I can’t control the audience. I think it’s the best and worst part of live theater, just the spontaneity of it. It was hard because ‘Maine’ is a play that takes place in the dead of winter in northern Maine. I am wearing a full winter coat, scarf, gloves, pants, and I’m under the spotlight for 20 minutes, and I’m doing intense physical acting. So they ended up using an ice pack in my shirt. I had a pocket on my undershirt, and right before I went onstage I would get the ice pack out of the freezer and put it in there. It worked great, except for one performance, as I’m walking out onstage, I realize I had not picked up the ice pack. The thing about theater is, no matter what, you’ve got to just keep going. The audience can’t ever know that something is wrong. One performance I was barefoot, and I stepped on a safety pin. I had to keep stone-faced while trying to remove a safety pin from my foot.”
MEET YOUR COWORKER
Will continued
Why is community theater important?
“It goes back to the origins of the little theater movement, which starts in the late 19th, early 20th century, as a way for individual communities to be exposed to voices and ideas that aren’t in the common mainstream,” Will said. “We can not only provide a night of entertainment, but we can give you these experiences. The crew at Venice Theatre blows me away with what they are able to do. You’re getting professional level art in our back yard. It also gives an outlet for the passions and creativity of community members who volunteer for stage crew, for front of the house, and up onstage.
“For me, it helps scratch one of my creative itches. I have a lot of different ways I love to express my creativity, and being up on a stage in front of a crowd is one of them.”
Above, Will with his parents, Pam and Ken, sister Katie and her husband Tyler, and Will’s nieces. At right, Will with roommate Anthony Garofalo, who works in the City’s IT Department.
Will’s parents, Pam and Ken Smith, moved out to Colorado Springs last year after his sister and her husband took their family out there. “Colorado Springs has been another one of those places that has collected my family,” he smiled. “I was stationed out of there at the same time my sister, who was in college then, got a job at a summer camp just outside of town, and she fell in love with the area.”
Will is very tight with his siblings, Katie, 36, and brother Bo, 33, as well as two nieces, Emilie, 8, Elloise, 5. Katie is an elementary school teacher, and Bo is studying law at UC Boulder. “My brother just got out of the Navy, he was stationed in Hawaii for many years. He was a Chinese linguist.”
Will’s roommate is another COV employee, Anthony Garofalo in IT.
“Anthony and I met through a mutual friend of ours, Ben Alvarez, who was working at Office Depot at the time. Ben was working in the print shop along with Anthony, who was also doing IT repair work there. Ben was printing out something related to Dungeons & Dragons for our group, and Anthony saw it and said, ‘I’m thinking about getting into this game, could you guys teach me.’ So I’ve known Anthony for about three weeks, and I’m thinking, ‘I need to move out of my parents’ place.’ I had just gotten back, I started working for the City a few months prior to this. But all the places around here are so expensive; you need a roommate to make it work. I said to Anthony, ‘Hey, you don’t like living with your parents, do you? Tell you what man, let’s you and I go into an apartment together.’
“I barely knew him, but he’s such a sweetheart – that comes through as soon as you meet him. So we opened up the A&W House. Then Anthony sadly was unable to continue, he was switching jobs and wanted to save to buy his own place.
“So I got this place on Venice island for a couple years, and the landlord sold it to me,” Will said. “I lived there for one year on my own. It was OK, but I don’t like living here by myself. At that same time, we had the job opening in IT. I had to convince Anthony that he was qualified for the job! He gets the job, and I said, your condo is in the middle of Bradenton, just come live with me. Rent out your condo to your friends and move into my spare bedroom. And he did.”
Will continued
Will also encouraged Anthony to try out for “Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville,” which he did and landed a significant role that included singing and dancing. Now Anthony is in the upcoming VT production of “Don’t Touch That Dial,” which premieres Jan. 17. “I wanted him to realize the extent of his talents,” Will said of why he encouraged Anthony to try out.
Will still enjoys playing D&D with a local group. “It’s a performance thing,” he said. “I’m a theater kid – what can I say.”
He also builds and paints small figure models. “That kind of detail work is zen. It allows me to focus on doing one thing very well at that moment. I also got into landscape photography when I was out in Boulder.
“I have lots of different outlets where I can express myself and explore my creative side. I get that from my parents and grandma Betsy, who was huge in the arts community on Anna Maria. She worked in colored pencils; she loved doing tropical beach stuff.”
Another fun fact about Will: His lineage. “My parents are both Ohioans; they moved down immediately after college because my dad hates winter with a passion. My dad was adopted as a baby, and we find out one of my distant ancestors was the guy who platted Safety Harbor in Florida.”
Odet Philippe, born in 1787 in France, was the first permanent, non-native settler on the Pinellas peninsula, acquiring 160 acres of land in what is now Safety Harbor in 1842. He was a successful businessman who introduced grapefruit and cigar making to the Tampa Bay region. “We had thought I was the first person in my family born and raised in Florida. Turns out, no – long generations of my family have been native Floridians.”
GIS, Will says, “is becoming more of a tool and less of a job. I see more pure GIS jobs going to Don (Hubbard’s) side of the field, the data management expert. You keep the systems up and running, you keep the data integrity. You manage a lot of that end. I tend to see my job becoming more of an administrator role. I’m heavily involved in keeping Cityworks up and running, but also, being the technical support for IT in general. I do a lot of basic tech support to help keep IT’s calendar clear. I’m also finding new ways the Utilities Department can utilize GIS. I’ve been taking a lot of stuff that we put in reports and transferring that to online dashboards, where managers and supervisors can see this information at a glance. It’s going to grow by leaps and bounds. Everything that we are doing now in Utilities is tying in more and more with GIS. All of our Cityworks implementations are GIS based. New locator technology is directly interfacing with the GIS.
“I love the centrality of my job,” he added. “Here in Utilities, I’m sort of the glue that ties together field ops, the tech unit, collections, plan operations. We are our own world over here.”
Top right, Will performs as Baloo in “The Jungle Book” at Venice Theatre; center, some of his painted small figure models; bottom right, Will is a descendant of Odet Philippe, pictured, who platted Safety Harbor in the 1800s and introduced grapefruit to Florida.
Congrats to the Water Production Team for their winning Holiday Door!
The Water Production Team at Utilities won the 2024 Holiday Door Decorating Contest with their 3-D Grinch-themed door, at left. Other departments’ entries, clockwise from above: Engineering, HR, Fire Station 2, City’s Manager’s Office, and City Clerk’s Office.
Thank you to everyone who participated with some truly creative ideas and unique details!
WHAT ARE YOU UP TO?
At left, on Dec 21, Curator Jon Watson, Historical Resources Manager Harry Klinkhamer and volunteer Clarke Presley were bestowed with an Honorary Kentucky Colonel title Larry Humes nominated all three for assisting him with his forthcoming book, “Venice: A Century on the Gulf,” and for the division’s work in preserving the history of the Kentucky Military Institute in Venice. All three received a certificate signed by Kentucky Gov Andy Beshear
Below left, VPD Sgt. Sean Hammett escorted 100 thirdgraders from Venice Elementary to Venice Theatre to see a performance of “A Christmas Carol” on Dec 18
Below center and below right, the Venice Lions Club served a first responder appreciation lunch to VPD and VFR in mid-December, with VPD Capt Eric Hill and K-9 Officer Erin Skaggs pictured.
WHAT
Venice IT Help Desk Technician Anthony Garofalo, far left in photo, stars in Venice Theatre’s upcoming production of “Don’t Touch That Dial,” which runs Jan. 17 through Feb. 9. Get tickets for this nostalgic tribute to golden oldie TV show melodies set in a game show format here Break a leg Anthony!
Santa had a little help getting to Epiphany Cathedral School for a visit Dec. 13 from VFR Lt. Hunter Snyder, Firefighter/EMT Cameron Daniels and FF/Paramedics Jason Esquijarosa
At left, Venice Presbyterian Community Foundation board members presented a check Dec. 6 to the VPD Community Outreach Team for their homeless outreach program.
At right, Bicycle Pedestrian Coordinator Darlene Culpepper leads participants along the Venetian Waterway Park trail in the Dec. 12 Monthly City Bicycle Ride
On Friday, Jan. 17, Venice will recognize Florida Arbor Day at West Blalock Park from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. with a walking tour of the Monty Andrews Arboretum at 10 a.m. and a tree giveaway.
There will also be a planting demonstration at 9:30 a.m.; information on rain barrels, invasive plants, composting and butterfly gardens; a tree scavenger hunt; and a Q&A with City Arborist Jim Yelverton and a Myakka River District County Forester, Florida Forest Service.
West Blalock Park is located at 401 Pensacola Rd. at Nassau St., across from the Venice Museum.
Without question, Venice’s early hotels were a prominent, important, and initial component when first building the Venice community. What did these structures look like? Where are/were these buildings located? How many exist today?
Find out these answers and much more as the Venice Museum celebrates its early lodging history on the eve of the City turning 100!
Venice Museum’s latest seasonal photo exhibit, We’re Staying the Night: The Historic Hotels of Venice, opens on Monday, Feb. 3 and features select photos from our collection highlighting Venice’s early hotel structures.
The exhibit is the first in a series of free educational history exhibits at the Venice Museum that will showcase Venice’s origins as we enter the City’s Centennial celebration in 2025-2027.
The Venice Museum is located inside the historic Triangle Inn, listed in both the Venice Register of Historical Resources and the National Registers of Historic Places. The museum is open Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and the first and third Saturdays in October through April from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information about the exhibit, contact the museum at 941-486-2487 or visit venicemuseum.org
New Year, New Trivia
1. True or False: The first New Year’s Eve celebration was in what is now Times Square in 1904.
2. The American Heart Association recommends that adults consume grams of fiber per day.
A. 10-15
B. 15-20
C. 20-25
D. 25-30
3. A healthy blood pressure for most adults is less than / ?
A. 80/50
B. 120/80
C. 130/90
D. 140/100
4. True or False: “I will reduce stress this year” is an example of a S.M.A.R.T. goal.
5. What is the strongest muscle in the human body?
A. Quadricep
B. Abdomen
C. Jaw
D. Bicep
WORKING ON WELLNESS
January: A Guide to a Healthier You
Kick-start Your Health: S.M.A.R.T Goal Setting
A New Year often comes with many new goals and resolutions. Be sure to use the S.M.A.R.T. framework to help you stay accountable and achieve your objectives.
S.M.A.R.T. Goals are:
SPECIFIC
Clearly state what you want to accomplish Answer: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?
MEASURABLE
Make sure you can track your progress with numbers or parameters Answer: How will I know when my goal has been reached?
ATTAINABLE
Goals should be challenging, but reasonable to achieve Answer: Is it in my power to achieve this? Do I have the right resources and skills to achieve this?
RELEVENT
Goals should be tied to a larger mission, value or purpose
Answer: Does this align with my other efforts/needs? Is this the right time?
TIME-BOUND
Set a timeline for achieving your goal and plan accordingly. Allow enough time to be successful, but do not allow time for procrastination
Answer: When should this goal be achieved? Is this timeframe realistic? Should it be closer? Further away?
Source: health.state.mn.us/communities/practice/resources/phqitoolbox/objectives.html
Start the New Year
Right: Update Your Info
Kick off the new year by ensuring we have your current address and contact details on file. This helps you receive important notices, updates, and forms on time.
Check your COV paystubs for accuracy.
Review your benefits, address, and tax withholding.
Report any updates to HR or Payroll promptly.
Our HR and Payroll teams are here to help. Thank you for keeping your information up-to-date!
21-Day Habit Change Challenge – Are You In?
Ready to build a healthier habit? Join us for the 21-Day Habit Change Challenge and commit to practicing one new healthy habit for 21 days straight. You choose the habit – you make the change!
Challenge Dates: Monday, Jan. 13 – Sunday, Feb. 2
Complete at least 18 out of 21 days to receive a $25 reward via direct deposit.
Sign up via S:\SIGNUP – The Habit Change Tracker will be emailed out.
Accountability makes all the difference. Let’s support each other in building lasting healthy habits. Are you up for the challenge?
WORKING ON WELLNESS
New Year, Preventative Care
Preventive Care screenings are intended to identify health, dental and/or vision issues before they become serious risks and to discuss your overall health with your physician, including ways you can improve or maintain a healthy lifestyle. Many screenings should be done annually.
This month, take time to map out and schedule your preventive care screenings for the year. Unsure where to start? Schedule a Well Check with your Primary Care Physician to determine exams you should receive based on age, family history and/or any other risk factors.
Did you know? Preventive Care vs. Diagnostic Care
Preventive Care Visit
Purpose: Review Overall Health Assumed symptom-free Includes routine checkups, screenings, immunizations
Diagnostic Care Visit
Purpose: Treatment of Specific Concern, Injury or Condition Symptoms or risk factors are present at the time of visit
Based on your conversations during a preventive care visit, your provider may recommend additional lab tests or X-rays, or may treat symptoms of an illness or condition occurring at the time of your preventive visit. This may trigger a change from a preventive care visit CPT code to an office visit/diagnostic CPT code. The CPT or Current Procedural Terminology code is used to correctly code for billing and Explanation of Benefits.
Note: If your provider orders additional testing, remember to confirm lab, diagnostic center or specialist are in-network providers on your medical, dental or vision plan!
Click HERE for a Personal Preventive Care Visit Tracker
Source: uclahealth.org/news/article/preventive-vs-diagnostic-care-what-to-know-and-why-it-matters
Mandatory Dependent
Eligibility Audit – Watch for
Important Communications!
We have partnered with Impact Interactive, an AmWins company, to conduct a mandatory health insurance dependent eligibility verification audit for all employees with covered dependents.
�� Why This Matters: This audit ensures that only eligible dependents – such as a legal spouse and/or dependent child(ren) – remain on the health plan, helping to maintain affordable healthcare coverage for everyone.
�� What to Expect:
Watch your email and mail for important audit instructions from our administrator. Review your dependent elections and eligibility rules at BenTek | City of Venice to prepare. Taking action promptly will ensure a smooth and stress-free process. Stay alert for upcoming communications and respond as needed. Your attention is essential!
Meditation
Join us at noon for a 30-minute meditation with virtual instructor Soozie Kinstler. Feb. 12 - Set Intentions to Transform
March 12 - Nadā Yoga- Sound for Relaxation and Transmutation
WORKING ON WELLNESS
On-Demand Wellness
Presentations Available
Until Jan. 31
To view videos: Click here Use Chrome for best experience
Master Your Motivation (35 mins):
If you’ve attempted to make improvements in your health in the past, you may have experienced setbacks or been frustrated by what feels like the come-and-go nature of motivation. This presentation will help you define your powerful motivators for change and leave you with 7 practical strategies that will empower you to consistently make choices to reach your personal health goals.
Creating Healthy Habits (23 mins):
Learn how habits are formed and how to start thinking about creating positive changes in your life. Learn the ABCs of Tiny Habits along with how to break down your goal until it’s small enough for you to succeed. Close the gap between what you want and what you actually do!
WORKING ON WELLNESS
Personalized Recommendations for Screening Tests & Vaccines
Click here
Stretch of the Month:
Cat-Camel Stretch
Begin on the floor on your hands and knees with your spine in a neutral position. As you inhale, arch your back by dropping your belly button toward the floor and look up toward the ceiling and hold.
Exhale as you round your back up toward the ceiling like an angry cat, lower your head, and drop your shoulders.
Move between these two positions gently and slowly for 5 to 8 repetitions.
Source: prevention.com/fitness/g35491026/ stretches-for-stress-relief/
Recipe of the Month: One-Pot Garlic Shrimp & Spinach WORKING ON WELLNESS
Preparations:
Ingredients:
3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, divided
6 medium cloves garlic, sliced, divided
1 lb spinach
1/4 tsp salt plus 1/8 tsp, divided
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 lb shrimp (21-30 count), peeled and deveined
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
1 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley
1 1/2 tsp lemon zest
Recipe Nutritional Information
Serving size: 1 cup
Total Calories: 226
Total Fat: 12g
Protein: 26g
Carbohydrates: 6g
Sodium: 444mg
Sugar: 1g
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add half the garlic and cook until beginning to brown, 1 to 2 minutes.
Add spinach and 1/4 teaspoon salt and toss to coat. Cook, stirring once or twice, until mostly wilted, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice. Transfer to a bowl and keep warm.
Increase heat to medium-high and add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil to the pot. Add the remaining garlic and cook until beginning to brown, 1 to 2 minutes.
Add shrimp, crushed red pepper and the remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring, until the shrimp are just cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes more.
Serve the shrimp over the spinach, sprinkled with lemon zest and parsley.
WORKING ON WELLNESS
Venice Police, Fire Rescue share the loss of Charlotte County Sheriff’s Sgt. Elio Diaz
On Dec. 17, Venice Police Department and Venice Fire Rescue supported the motorcade to Farley Funeral Home in Venice for Charlotte County Sheriff's Sgt. Elio Diaz, slain in the line of duty Dec. 15 during a traffic stop at a Charlotte Harbor gas station near Sunseeker Resort.
Diaz had discovered that the shooter, Andrew Mostyn, was driving without insurance and had a suspended license. Diaz attempted to assist Mostyn, who was living out of his truck with his dog.
After an hour trying to work with Mostyn’s insurance, Mostyn approached Diaz and fatally shot him with a rifle. The suspect and his pickup were located at a Popeye’s on Kings Highway near I-75. As deputies approached Mostyn’s truck, they say he reached for his rifle, and a deputy opened fire, killing him.
Diaz, who had been a CCSO corporal, was posthumously promoted to the rank of sergeant. He is survived by his wife and four children.
Said Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell, "Elio was a friend, a good family man. He loved his children. And he was a really great cop. He's going to be missed." The service for Sgt. Diaz was held on Dec. 20 and can be watched here. A GoFundMe page has been set up for his family.
#2962
AROUND TOWN
At top left, Venice Fire Rescue and Public Works respond to a mobile shredder that caught fire on Dec. 26. No injuries were reported The culprit was likely a battery that wasn’t disposed of properly
Center left, VFR and VPD respond to a commercial fire at Bird Bay Plaza on Dec. 5. The fire started at Angel Nails salon; the cause of the blaze is still under investigation. No one was hurt.
Below left, the Venice Area Chamber of Commerce Teen Leadership Class stopped by the fire department Dec 11 for a hands-on demonstration of what it takes to be a firefighter.
At right, exciting progress at the future site of the Old Betsy Museum at 343 Nassau St. across from the Venice Museum. Roof work has begun, bringing the City one step closer to showcasing Venice's historic 1926 American LaFrance fire engine in its new home With its wall of windows and covered seating area, the display museum will honor this iconic piece of Venice's history while creating a welcoming space for the community.
At left, Venice police officers get ready to enjoy a meal from Angelo’s Italian Market & Restaurant on Dec 25, donated to the department from the Jewish Congregation of Venice men’s club for the holiday.
Below, the Venice Lions Club donated over 200 teddy bears and stuffed toys to VPD recently.
Above and at left, Austin Fargo, Adrian Rivera, Derek Self, Kevin Freeman, Shawn Martin, Jason Aills and Dustin Little with Utilities work on a 10-inch water main repair Dec 23
City Manager Ed Lavallee and staff surprised fourthgrader Felicity Miller at Venice Elementary School on Dec. 16 to announce that she won the 2024 City of Venice Holiday Card Contest. Felicity’s winning design featured Santa on the beach with the sentiment, "Deck the Palms ” Felicity's mom Amanda
was also on hand to congratulate her, and the young artist showed off her card on the school's morning news program.
Felicity's name will be inscribed on a perpetual plaque of annual card winners displayed at Venice Elementary.
The COV Holiday Card is given to all City employees and sent to City partners. Felicity also received copies of the card to give to family and friends.
Over 1,000 people came together to celebrate the Chabad of Venice & North Port’s Grand Chanukah Festival Dec 29 in Centennial Park The event included the lighting of a 16-foot menorah, a 20-foot interactive dreidel house, Klezmer Band, and a Hebrew School performance. VFR dropped hundreds of chocolate gelt coins from the ladder truck for children Mayor Nick Pachota recognized the week as “Chabad Week” with a proclamation, below left with Rabbi Sholom Schmerling; and new VPD Chief Andy Leisenring and retiring chief Charlie Thorpe, below right, also participated.
Above,
The 2025 Florida Greenways & Trails Summit and 10th anniversary celebration of the Florida SUN Trail Program will be taking place Feb. 5-6 at the Venice Community Center. The summit will include an inspiring lineup of trail experts; informative presentations on trail policy, planning, and implementation; and an incredible opportunity to meet people from around the state who share an interest in the evolution of the state’s greenways and trails network. Get more information here and see the full agenda for the summit here.
Next ride is Thursday, Feb. 13!
