Posted By Ed Martin at 9:12 PM in Category:Inside Venice
Happy International Jazz Day, (Today)
UNESCO, in recognition of the worldwide impact of that uniquely American music, Jazz, has begun a celebration each April 30, identified as International Jazz Day.
A concert today at the General Assembly in New York featured major American musicians and other stars from around the world.
The head of UNESCO said the music symbolizes "freedom."
For more click on the link to the NY Times story.
Click Here to Link directly to this article publisheed in the New York Times.
Posted By Ed Martin at 9:07 PM in Category:Jazz Corner
Sunday, 29
Trib Columnist Eric Ernst Agrees With Our Position on Council's vote to Drop Protection Language.
This is an excerpt from an article, link below. The rest of the article is on a different topic
A HOME PROTECTION ZONE
Even if the designation carries no direct liability, no one wants their home sitting in an airport's "runway protection zone." We can all empathize with the 26 Gulf Shores homeowners who learned a few years ago that they have that distinction in relation to the Venice Airport.
It doesn't sound good, and they feared they might even fac
Click Here to Link directly to this article publisheed in the Herald Tribune.
Posted By Ed Martin at 4:45 PM in Category:Inside Venice
Thursday, 26
Was Rubio Grandfather an Illegal Alien For Some Years? Woman crashes into "unconditional surrender"
In order of interest.
A woman, not seriously hurt according to the Herald Tribune, crashed her car into the notorious "Unconditional Surrender" statue in Sarasota. It is the one of the sailor kissing the nurse at the end of WWII, copied from the famous photo.
The rumor that the woman is an art-critic is not true.
Rubio's family came to the U.S., not as he has claimed to escape from Castro, but in fact, five years earlier. Hmmm?
His grandfather
Click Here to Link directly to this article publisheed in the Sarasota Herald Tribune.
Posted By Ed Martin at 4:37 PM in Category:Inside Venice
Wednesday, 25
Insured by Citizen's? Hold onto your hats, (and wallets).
Zac Anderson, a rising star for the HT on the "Capital" (Tallahassee) beat, points out a "backdoor" move to get around Legislative resistance to raising insurance rates.
For more click on the link below to the Zac's article.
Click Here to Link directly to this article publisheed in the Sarasota Herald Tribune.
Posted By Ed Martin at 11:16 AM in Category:Inside Venice
Tuesday, 24
Council by 6-1 vote Supports Airport Special Interests: Eliminating Protections for Neighbors
In an action reminiscent of the one which caused the NY Daily News to write a headline “Ford to City: Drop Dead,” the Venice City Council rejected the recommendations of its Planning Commission in favor of recommendations from airport administrator, Chris Rozansky which were framed by the Venice Aviation Society and the Venice Area Business Association special interest groups.
The airport neighbors, who hoped the assurances in the City’s comprehensive plan for growth would offer pro
Posted By Ed Martin at 6:46 PM in Category:Inside Venice
Sunday, 22
Will "Single Payer" emerge out of Court consideration of Healthcare Legislation-Ironic but possible
A physician discusses "single payer" and his hopes for improved services for patients. Written for the Baltimore Sun it is reprinted by the Herald Tribune. Here are some brief excerpts:
"President Barack Obama's vision for health-care reform could have resulted in a much better law had it not been for congressional decrees at the start that a single-payer system was "off the table." But guess what has appeared back on the table during the thoughtful pondering of the problem by the
Click Here to Link directly to this article publisheed in the Sarasota Herald Tribune.
Posted By Ed Martin at 9:33 PM in Category:Inside Venice
Live from Stockholm in 1983 on Swedish Television, Stan Getz Quintet with Chet Baker
Jazz on the Tube provided this interesting uptempt recording of Stan Getz and Chet Baker in 1983. The tune is "Airegin" by Sonny Rollins. The two ballad masters hold their own, with Getz the stronger it seems to me. Each had been playing almost 40 years at this point and had been through some hard times. The rhythm section is Jim McNeely on piano, George Mraz on bass and Victor Lewis on drums.
Click Here to Link directly to this article publisheed in the Jazz on the Tube, Youtube.
Posted By Ed Martin at 9:24 PM in Category:Jazz Corner
Possible End to Free Jazz Concerts Attracts Attention from Gondolier and Councilman Bob Daniels
In today's Venice Gondolier, News Editor Greg Giles writes on the proposal by City staff to adopt the recommendation from the Venice Mainstreet organization to end weekday afternoon jazz concerts held between 3-5 p.m at Centennial Park. Giles also notes what seems a poor idea to me, that is turning over the scheduling of events in Centennial Park to Mainstreet, a private group.
In his article, Giles mentions that Council Member Bob Daniels has expressed many of the same concerns tha
Click Here to Link directly to this article publisheed in the Venice Gondolier Sun.
Posted By Ed Martin at 8:31 PM in Category:Inside Venice
Friday, 20
CITY MOVES TO ELIMINATE FREE AFTERNOON MUSIC AT KIOSK
Following the lead of “Mainstreet,” an association of merchants, City Manager, Ed Lavallee, will present a plan to City Council to eliminate weekday afternoon, 3-5 pm, concerts in Centennial Park during the season, beginning after this April.
The item will be discussed Monday during a workshop, a new procedure where Lavalee briefs Council on the following day’s agenda rather than having individual meetings. Formal votes are not taken during the workshop, but a consensus is
Posted By Ed Martin at 6:32 PM in Category:Inside Venice
STAFF BRINGS AIRPORT COMP. PLAN CHANGES FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION: FIVE WERE TURNED DOWN BY PLANNING COMMISSION.
Planning Director, Chad Minor and Airport Administrator Chris Rozansky will present proposed amendments to the City’s Comprehensive Plan. The list of proposed changes has been reviewed by the Planning Commission and five were not recommended for approval by Council. A number of others were supported by the Commission.
This is a rather lengthy article, although limited to only the changes not approved by the Planning Commission. The City has spent years trying to support both the
Posted By Ed Martin at 6:23 PM in Category:Inside Venice
CITY MOVES TO ELIMINATE FREE AFTERNOON CONCERTS AT KIOSK
Following the lead of “Mainstreet,” an association of merchants, City Manager, Ed Lavallee, will present a plan to City Council to eliminate weekday afternoon, 3-5 pm, concerts in Centennial Park during the season, beginning after this April.
The item will be discussed Monday during a workshop, a new procedure where Lavalee briefs Council on the following day’s agenda rather than having individual meetings. Formal votes are not taken during the workshop, but a consensus is asked
Posted By Ed Martin at 4:03 PM in Category:Guest Bloggers
Thursday, 19
INSIDE VENICE TESTS THE THREE VENICE SUPERMARKETS ON PRICE, WHICH IS THE LEAST EXPENSIVE?
The news that Albertson’s will be closing its Venice store along with most Florida stores made me wonder about the possible impact on prices at Publix and Sweet Bay and also how these three stores compare today.
I made a list, without regard to advertising specials, and visited all three stores today and compared prices on items we often buy. For this comparison I searched for the least expensive item in each category, generally a store brand, but there were occasional exceptions on
Posted By Ed Martin at 9:33 PM in Category:Inside Venice
Tuesday, 17
Embarrassed By Bad Laws: Businesses Abandon A Right-Wing Group That Helped Enact Dangerous Statutes
Excerpted from the New York Times, April 17,2012
"A year ago, few people outside the world of state legislatures had heard of the American Legislative Exchange Council, a four-decade-old organization run by right-wing activists and financed by business leaders. The group writes prototypes of state laws to promote corporate and conservative interests and spreads them from one state capital to another.
The council, known as ALEC, has since become better known, with news o
Click Here to Link directly to this article publisheed in the The New York Times.
Additional Comments to Mayor and City Manager About Airport Meeting, Submitted by Earl Quandt
Editor's note: I received a prompt reply from City Manager Ed Lavallee saying he would review Tom Brener's email with Airport Administrator, Chris Rozansky. Meanwhile, Earl Quandt's letter was posted on the City email server.
*****
218 Rio Terra
Venice, FL 34285
April 15, 2012
Mayor Holic:
I attended Friday’s presentation by the Airport manager to the surrounding neighbors. It was one of the most dreadful events I have
Airport Director Rozansky Rejects Need For Noise Policy: Demonstrates Ties to Airport Lobbyists
Hopefully new City Manager Ed Lavallee is begining to get the picture that he needs to help Chris Rozansky become a friend of citizens who are not part of the airport power structure. Not that they really have any power, other than that a submissive airport director has ceded to them.
Tom Brener has written to Rozansky and the Mayor about the need for a more pro-active process to encourage compliance with noise reduction measures. Rozansky is marching to the Venice Aviation Societ
Posted By Ed Martin at 4:40 PM in Category:Inside Venice
Wednesday, 11
Led by Commissioner Robinson, County Commissioners Vote 3-2 for Unlimited Heights-Commercial Areas.
Land Attorney Dan Lobeck, who has been active in representation of individuals and neighborhood groups, writes in distress about Commissioners Christine Robinson,Joe Barbetta and Carolyn Mason. He referred to Robinson as "an extreme ally of developers."
*****
“I don’t want to hamper any future development by limiting the height.”
With that shocking comment and her vote, County Commissioner Carolyn Mason made a 3 to 2 majority to allow unlimited building he
Posted By Ed Martin at 10:34 PM in Category:Inside Venice
Tuesday, 10
Venice Citizens Have Had Two US Reps With Campaign Finance Problems: Keith Fitzgerald Is Different
Katherine Harris received illegal contributions to her campaign, and Vern Buchanan is accused of the same. Investigations by the House Ethics committee and the FBI are underway. In addition, he votes against the interests of his constituents in order to raise millions from Lobbying groups seeking his vote.
Keith Fitzgerald has a proven record of honesty and integrity as well as intelligence.
Read more about Fitz and Buchanan
Click Here to Link directly to this article publisheed in the Keith Fitzgerald .
Posted By Ed Martin at 10:20 PM in Category:Inside Venice
Sunday, 8
"Queen of the Blues" Dinah Washington, Live with Clifford Brown, Maynard Ferguson and Clark Terry
This 1954 recording in Los Angeles included Junior Mance on Piano, Keter Betts on Bass, and Max Roach on Drums.
The trumpet solos and exchanges are timeless. The sound on this You Tube reproduction does not do justice to Dinah's wonderful voice and style, but the trumpet wizardry comes through pretty well.
Enjoy Cole Porter's, "I've Got You Under My Skin."
Posted By Ed Martin at 7:49 PM in Category:Inside Venice
All American Basketball Player Marries Miss America-Begins Athletic Family Now In Third Generation
Ernest “Ernie” Vanderweghe, may have been born in Montreal, but he moved to Oceanside, Long Island, NY and played three sports at Oceanside High School. (Oceanside residents were known as “clam diggers” by uppity residents of nearby commuter towns. The town, itself, is best known for the fact that I was born there, although somehow they never put a plaque outside the tiny bungalow.)
Ernie went to Colgate where he made the All-American Team, (although on the second team—they all ra
Posted By Ed Martin at 7:18 PM in Category:Inside Venice
Saturday, 7
Suggestion for Consideration by City Manager Ed Lavallee About Airport Administrator's Role
This note in reply to the memo from Airport Director Chris Rozansky's published yesterday, made so much sense, I thought it deserved its own space rather than just as a comment. It comes from a citizen who has long involvement in the City's government.
The new City Manager needs to have a conversation with Mr. Rozansky and remind him:
1. Rozansky is not a Charter Officer and he does not have a direct line to the Mayor.
Posted By Ed Martin at 8:51 PM in Category:Inside Venice
Friday, 6
Airport's Chris Rozansky Wants Mayor to Sign Form Letter Criticizing President's Call for Jet Tax.
The general aviation lobby is churning out its press releases about a proposed tax which will do greivous harm to general aviation, interfere with all kinds of good things, etc., etc. etc.
Rozansky wants Mayor Holic to add his "John Holic" to a list of Mayors protesting.
What is the tax all about? Will it harm the pilots at Venice who fly their planes for pleasure? In Rozansky's initial presentation and in the Lobby's letter it was unclear just what general aviat
Posted By Ed Martin at 3:58 PM in Category:Inside Venice
New Florida Law is Hindering Non-Partisan Voter Registration: Court Challenges May Be Too Late.
Here is an excerpt from a story in the Florida Independent. The full story may be read by clicking on the link below:
Voter registration changes by the numbers
By Ashley Lopez | 04.06.12 | 12:46 pm
The Institute for Southern Studies yesterday released a breakdown of the changes to voter registration rules in Florida and how last year’s law has affected the number of registered voters as the presidential elections nears.
As we have repor
Click Here to Link directly to this article publisheed in the The Florida Independent.
Posted By Ed Martin at 2:56 PM in Category:Inside Venice
Thursday, 5
City to Meet on Employee Pension Changes. Open and Closed Meetings to be held April 25th
On Apr 4, 2012, at 3:08 PM, "Robert C. Anderson" > wrote to Jim Linn
Lewis, Longman & Walker, PA
o 850.222.5702
m 850.443.0086
Yesterday I met with the mayor, city manager and city clerk to discuss the format of the April 25th meetings. The city decided to schedule a workshop, an executve session and a staff meeting regarding the city's Chapter 175 and Chapter 185 pension plans.
Posted By Ed Martin at 9:42 PM in Category:Inside Venice
Wednesday, 4
Circus Aquatica Sells 30,000 Tickets To Venice Event-Do the Math and Think of Circus Arena's Future
A month or so ago the City's Economic Development advisory committee, pronounced they did not see an economic future for the Circus Arena, some even felt it might compete with the High School's 1000 to 1500 seat Performing Arts Center-now in construction.
Hopefully, the reaction to their pronouncement may have already caused some rethinking. One lesson they may have learned is to do some research, have some facts, make their decisions based on data, as they move forward in the fut
Click Here to Link directly to this article publisheed in the Venice Gondolier Sun.
Posted By Ed Martin at 3:05 PM in Category:Inside Venice
Tuesday, 3
Council Member Jeanette Gates and Commissioner Nora Patterson on the Right Page re Beach Yoga
For the last several weeks the emails have been pouring in to City Council and to the County Commissioners concerning the Yoga classes on Venice Beach which are enjoyed by many writers.
The problems is the Yoga instructor, while not charging, per se., is collecting contributions and also selling auxiliary materials by web. She does not follow the County Park/Beach procedure of registering for time, paying the standard fee, etc.
Posted By Ed Martin at 6:09 PM in Category:Inside Venice
Sunday, 1
Solar Panel Idea On City Land Catches Fire: Is Crow’s Nest Next?
When Council listened to Sharky’s “conceptual plan” to put a solar collector in a city parking lot, dry sump and approved it in principle without raising any questions about revenue benefit to the City now or in the far, far, future, others recognized an electric opportunity.
Although Crow’s Nest Owner Steve Harner declined to make any comment, some observers think he will ask to place a solar collector on free City land to charge his electric boats. Harner is not only the operator
