These are all the Blogs posted in October, 2011.
Monday, 24
Travel time
IV. Is on leave. To the winners in the election. Congratulations.
To the candidates,thanks fo running.
We voted and know you will.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
Posted By Ed at 8:55 AM in Category:
Inside Venice
Friday, 21
Inside Venice Takes a Look at John Patten and Dave Sherman
This has been an unusual election choice for Inside Venice. We like both men. We have friends who are supporting each, including friends who have shared support with us for candidates with common values in the past. Further, in conversations with folks who have chosen either Sherman or Patten, they show no inclination to change their plans. One wrote me today and said the ship has sailed, choices have been made.
They both have experience that separates them from the other two
Posted By Ed Martin at 5:49 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Jazz Club Concert at the Venice Art Center October 28
The Piano Artistry of Michael Royal presented by the South County Jazz Club
Friday, October 28, 2011
2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
at
The Venice Art Center
390 Nokomis Ave South, Venice, FL 34285
$5.00 for jazz club members
$10.00 for non-members
Posted By Ed Martin at 12:59 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Thursday, 20
Inside Venice Does Not Recommend the Election of “Bud” Lefebvre or Don Anderson
“Bud” Lefebvre and Don Anderson each have strengths, but they share a fundamental weakness—they have had little involvement in the civic and community life of the City and no real familiarity with the City government. In each case their interest in serving can be reinforced for the future by serving on City committees, and participating in projects or with organizations that are improving Venice. They each display intelligence and their future participation should strengthen their attractiv
Posted By Ed Martin at 6:08 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Tuesday, 18
Report on Candidates Forum at the Venetian Golf and River Club
The candidates’ forum at VGRC provided only a limited opportunity to get to know the candidates, providing each with seven minutes to state their positions and answer three questions. No questions were allowed.
The Club organizers asked the candidates: 1. How the North Venice area including the VGRC could be brought more closely into the City? 2. What their views are on the Budget problems the City has been facing? and 3. What their priorities would be if elected?
Posted By Ed Martin at 10:10 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Monday, 17
Here's Good Reading For You Bike Riders: As Temperatures Cool, We Are Heading for Legacy Trail.
From Pittsburgh across the Mason-Dixon line and enjoying the fall colors along what is called the Allegheny Passage.
Click Here to Link directly to this article publisheed in the
The New York Times.
Posted By Ed Martin at 4:52 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Wireless Phones Outnumber People!
CTIA, the wireless industry says there are 327.6 million phones amounting to 103.9 percent of the US population. Always the entrepreneure, I have started a new agency, HOPA, (Homeless Phone Adoption). Actually, the phones are trying to adopt people. Please help.
Posted By Ed Martin at 4:45 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Sunday, 16
Anonymous Website Takes Foundation To Task.
I have supported the Venice Foundation, Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice and now Gulf Coast: Foundation of the Community, since before Teri Hansen was the president.
It is an enormous asset to Venice. Some years ago, Bob Vedder and I visited an education program in Venice (also in Bradenton),that tried to keep young people on the edge of trouble out of incarceration. We recommended funding it.
Another time, I reviewed a request by the Fire Department for
Posted By Ed Martin at 4:30 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Have "Establishment" Repubs Like Jeb Bush(?) "Stuck a Fork" in Rick Perry?
A day after Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey endorsed Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush was interviewed on National tv and essentially seconded the motion, not quite an endorsement, but supporting Christie.
Wall Street is contributing buckets to Romney.
Connect the dots.
Romney-Cain?
Posted By Ed Martin at 3:11 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Friday, 14
Venice Piano Legend, "Knuckles O'Toole" Plays Hot House with Bird and Diz.
This clip, from a 1952 television show features "Knuckles O'Toole" playing the Bop head, "Hot House" with two other well- known musicians. Unfortunately, "Knuckles" as he was sometimes known, did not get any "facetime" on the clip, but he did get some "two-hand time" during his solo. While "Knuckles" was known for his Boogy Woogie his Bop Chops are impressive, too.
A little research should help identify "Knuckles" or you can ask Ed by commenting below. Other comments are always we
Click Here to Link directly to this article publisheed in the
You Tube.
Posted By Ed Martin at 5:26 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Bud Lefebvre Interviewed by Gondolier Sun
I have not mentioned Bud Lefevbre in my feedback to readers on the Venice City Council election.
Lefebvre is seen my most "observers" as being a longshot, not spending money on advertising, etc. His platform so far emphasizes "marketing" the City, particularly for summer visitors. The Gondo article, click link, does not go into specifics for doing this, e.g., city funds, additional support from business, etc.
Click Here to Link directly to this article publisheed in the
Venice Gondolier Sun.
Posted By Ed Martin at 2:30 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Thursday, 13
Boone Offers to Resign from Charter Commission After Happer Points Out His Apparent Conflict.
Unfortunately, Jeff Boone did not resign, and worse got some support, showing once again, an unfortunate "blind spot" when it comes to conflicts of interest and apparent conflicts of interest in City government. For years, continuing now, council members were elected with special interest contributions from developers and their agents, (usually the Boone Law Firm) and then, predictably, hardly ever saw a development they did not like.
Recently Mayor John Holic and Council Member
Click Here to Link directly to this article publisheed in the
Venice Gondolier Sun.
Posted By Ed Martin at 12:04 AM in Category:
Inside Venice
IV Non-scientific sampling continues to show Sherman and Patten with most support.
Feedback from the Venice Aviation Society forum from readers, neighbors and downtown at the Sertoma Wine Fest charity event reinforced earlier reports that virtually every one I spoke with was supporting Sherman or Patten.
Patten is impressing people with his presentation skills at the forums and one experienced observer said he was the clear winner at VASI. Interesting, since at one point, Patten was not going to attend because of his ill feelings toward the moderator, former Go
Posted By Ed Martin at 10:29 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Monday, 10
Open Letter to Candidate John Patten: Fiction and Fact from Ed's Almanac
Fiction and Fact From Ed's Almanac
1. There are two candidates worth considering in this election from my point of view, you and Dave Sherman. In my first webpiece I said that. I have also pointed out a number of times in the past in in the last two weeks that you have been effective in pointing out mis-behavior on the part of Council Members and City staff.
2. I asked Dave Sherman about two issues that I found were of a concern to some voters contacting me, (including you),
Posted By Ed Martin at 11:57 AM in Category:
Inside Venice
Sunday, 9
Additional Legal Insight Into Short-Term Rental Legal Issues: Too Much Information?
I have published a lengthy reply from candidate for Venice city Council, John Patten, about his views on the short-term rental issue of interest to a number of residents. John opines, (declares), that a ordinance based approach to limiting short term rentals can not succeed under Florida law. One such approach by Venice failed in District Court and is now on appeal. The flaw in the Venice ordinance appears to me to be in its impact on property owners who were renting at the time the ordinance w
Posted By Ed Martin at 6:31 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Saturday, 8
Candidate John Patten Comments on His Views on Short-term Rentals.
The issue of short-term rentals in RSF-1 neighborhoods, (single family and some duplex) has been a hot one for several years, affecting residents from the northern side of Venice Avenue, the Golden Beach area, etc.
The City's ordinance banning such rentals and requiring existing ones to have conformed to State regulations or cease operating has been denied by the State Court. An appeal is pending.)
Patten's views are presented on his website, www.veniceflori
Click Here to Link directly to this article publisheed in the
Preiksat on You Tube, Short-term Rentals.
Posted By Ed Martin at 1:07 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Friday, 7
Jazz Clip of the Week: "Embraceable You" by Charlie Parker, 1947
In the Smithsonian Collection of Classic Jazz, Martin Williams included two Charlie Parker solos of "Embraceable You"--this is one, a short 2 minute clip. A wonderful ballad treatment as is the other.
I am including another version in the Comments under this posting, because I can not put two live links in. You will have to cut and paste the other.
If you listen to them one after the other I think you will hear clearly his inventiveness and virtuosity, each beautifully
Click Here to Link directly to this article publisheed in the
You Tube.
Posted By Ed Martin at 9:33 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Candidate Dave Sherman Discusses Comprehensive Plan and Airport Hotel Views
Yesterday I posted “Replying to Comments on Early Trends..." Former Council Member Jan Collins asked me about a report that Dave Sherman supported building a hotel on the airport. A story in a morning paper did not indicate clearly where Sherman supported building a hotel. In an earlier comment, another candidate, John Patten wrote that Sherman had made statements which indicated he wanted to revamp the Comprehensive Plan. Each asked me what I thought about that.
I wrote
Click Here to Link directly to this article publisheed in the
Inside Venice Florida.
Posted By Ed Martin at 8:37 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Thursday, 6
Replying to Comments on "Early Trends...and follow-up "Feedback"
Former Council Member Jan Collins writes:
Ed, is it accurate to say that Sherman said he would be very supportive of a hotel on the airport property? I understand this question was asked at a forum and he said he thought it would be great for the city. Please tell me how you can support any candidate who would be in favor of such a development.
I am really confused as to whether or not your priorities have changed?
The answer is no. Nor am I in favor of changes t
Posted By Ed Martin at 8:18 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Keith Fitzgerald Challenges Buchanan!
Keith Fitzgerald served two terms in the Florida Legislature demonst rating common sense and integrity. That is also true of his life as a professor at New College.
He is intelligent and caring about older people, (no voucher program replacing Medicare as Buchanan suggested), and about younger people as his students will attest.
The Herald Tribune story, online, asked for voter preference and Fitzgerald took a huge lead. (not scientific sample, but the HT readers are n
Click Here to Link directly to this article publisheed in the
The Sarasota Herald Tribune.
Posted By Ed Martin at 5:53 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
FEEDBACK--On Early Indications on Venice Election.
See article below for latest posting, order is reversed.
My article has produced comments, both to the website and to my private emails. At least one of those called me an "idiot" but I do not think that is newsworthy-it is old information.
The general tenor is that my article was an endorsement of Dave Sherman. When you write an opinion column or blog, most folks use some value-laden description, (see the interpretative piece in the NYTimes today on Herman Cain, and look for
Posted By Ed at 1:27 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Wednesday, 5
EARLY “WORD ON THE STREET” ON VENICE COUNCIL ELECTIONS
Here is what I am hearing from folks across the spectrum of identities, neighbors, business people, city government, politically affiliated, etc. No scientific survey or guarantees of accuracy involved, but the info makes sense to me. I hope to expand the info on candidates as I have more contact with them. This is just the early word on the street.
Sherman is the choice mentioned most frequently. Dave Sherman is the only candidate who has served the City as a volunteer board m
Posted By Ed Martin at 2:40 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Tuesday, 4
Marshall Happer Replies In Detail to Chuck Schmeiler on Venice Airport: Lists Calamaras Era Problems
Editor's Note: Happer's reply to Schmeiler is part of IV's continuing discussion of the Sharky's lease and other airport leases and problems. Happer's email was sent October 3, before the release of the DOT audit of Venice and the FAA reported earlier this evening on IV. See the following article.
Dear Chuck:
Just a few thoughts for you to consider with respect to your comments on Ed Martin’s Blog:
1. O
Posted By Ed Martin at 10:56 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
ACTION: More Rigorous Oversight Is Needed To Ensure Venice Municipal Airport Land Sales and Leases Are Used Appropriately
These excerpts are from a Department of Transportation Inspector General's Report on Venice Airport. It offers timely support to Marshall Happer's and Inside Venice's urgings to the City that they examine these leases more carefully for their real value.
So far these attempts to alert Council have fallen on non-listening ears.
Excerpt 1
Sharky’s on the Pier: In an October 2009 letter, FAA suggested that the City sell airport property being used for a beachfront
Click Here to Link directly to this article publisheed in the
Office Of Inspector General, Department of Transportation.
Posted By Ed Martin at 10:29 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Sunday, 2
Venice Citizen Files Ethics Complaint on Rep. Buchanan
Donna Cubit-Swoyer of Venice has filed a formal complaint on Buchanan with the Office of Congressional Ethics. Her complaint asks for an investigation of charges that Buchanan pressured employees to contribute and some were reimbursed. An investigation is also sought into whether Buchanan testified truthfully to the FEC.
See the story in the Florida Independent. Click link.
Click Here to Link directly to this article publisheed in the
The Florida Independent.
Posted By Ed Martin at 9:57 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Saturday, 1
Former Council Member Jan Collins Provides Some History.
Jan Collins replies to Chuck Schmeiler's comment on my article of September 30th, "Mayor...Fairy Tale."
Chuck's views may be found at the end of the article in the Comments section.
I decided to post Jan's comment here, both because it is based on her actual experience and because the article is now older and people might miss the comments. Also Chuck sees as "harping" my alerting Venice citizens to the impact the Boone's have on questionable Council decisions. Th
Posted By Ed Martin at 4:11 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
