🌱 Venice mourns a felled Patriots Park oak and demands accountability

Good morning Venice! We're back again in your inbox, keeping you updated with what's happening in and around town. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Venice mourns a felled Patriots Park oak and demands accountability
• Why prosecutors ruled a deadly Venice apartment shooting justified.
• How Suncoast campaign stops put Venice voters in the statewide spotlight

Also on today's calendar: 17th Annual Labor Day Weekend Venice Craft Festival and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What has 2 arms and a neck but no head? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Humid with a heavy t-storm, with a high of 89 and low of 78 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
• Friday: A heavy t-storm in the p.m., temps: high: 89, low: 78.
• Saturday: An afternoon t-storm; humid, with a high of 89 and low of 79 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Venice Man Arrested for Cutting Down $50,000 Oak Tree at Patriots Park (englewoodreview.com) — Venice police arrested a 43-year-old man accused of cutting down a large oak tree at Patriots Park, home to the city's 9/11 memorial. The $50,000 tree stood near a recent fatal crash site, and investigators say witnesses and surveillance footage tied the suspect to two attempts. City officials now must decide how to restore the memorial area.
   

2. Killing of intruder deemed justified in Venice apartment shooting, police say (snntv.com) — Authorities have ruled that a July shooting at the Maren apartment complex in Venice was justified under Florida's Stand Your Ground law, and the resident who fired will not face charges. Venice police say video evidence supported the resident's account that an intruder forced his way in, threatened his family, and assaulted him before being shot.
   

3. Candidates in Florida governor, U.S. Senate races make Suncoast stops (mysuncoast.com) — Venice residents were part of the campaign trail this week as gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds toured PGT Custom Windows and spoke with employees about issues like data centers and security. At the same time, U.S. Senate hopeful Angie Nixon rallied Democrats in nearby Sarasota, underscoring how Suncoast voters could shape two of Florida's biggest November races.
   

4. Governor hopeful visits region (yoursun.com) — A major Florida employer in North Venice, PGT Custom Windows and Doors, hosted gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds as he pitched plans to cut living costs and answered workers' questions. He weighed in on data centers, immigration, AI, and surveillance cameras, stressing privacy rights and local control over big tech infrastructure that could affect Sarasota County communities.
   

📸 Around Venice

Subscribe

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Venice

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday September 5
• 17th Annual Labor Day Weekend Venice Craft Festival →
  Downtown Venice, 101 W Venice Ave, Venice
  10:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Friday September 4
• Lego Afternoon
  William H. Jervey, Jr. Venice Public Library 300 Nokomis Avenue South, Venice, FL, 34285, US
  3:00 pm
Sunday September 6
• 17th Annual Labor Day Weekend Venice Craft Festival →
  Downtown Venice, 101 W Venice Ave, Venice, FL, 34285
  10:00 am
Monday September 7
• Libraries and History Center Closure All Day
  William H. Jervey, Jr. Venice Public Library 300 Nokomis Avenue South, Venice, FL 34285
• Genealogy Assistance
  William H. Jervey, Jr. Venice Public Library 300 Nokomis Avenue South, Venice, FL, 34285, US
  10:00 am
Tuesday September 8
• Family Game Night
  William H. Jervey, Jr. Venice Public Library, 300 Nokomis Avenue South, Venice
  4:00 pm
• Literacy Volunteers of South Sarasota County - Conversation Class
  William H. Jervey, Jr. Venice Public Library, 300 Nokomis Avenue South, Venice
  6:00 pm
Wednesday September 9
• Genealogy Assistance
  William H. Jervey, Jr. Venice Public Library, 300 Nokomis Avenue South, Venice
  10:30 am
• Off the Shelf Book Club - Venice
  William H. Jervey, Jr. Venice Public Library, 300 Nokomis Avenue South, Venice
  11:45 am
Thursday September 10
• Genealogy Assistance
  William H. Jervey, Jr. Venice Public Library, 300 Nokomis Avenue South, Venice
  1:00 pm
Friday September 11
• Friday Night Concert: The Generation Gap/Oldies Review →
  Centennial Park, 200 W Venice Ave, Venice
  7:00 pm
Friday September 18
• September Sidewalk Sale 2026 →
  Venice MainStreet, Venice Main St
  10:00 am

📣 Venice Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Wilson-Wood Foundation funds early education for area families —Sharon H Kunkel Read on Patch
• Tickets now on sale for All Faiths Food Bank's Bowls of Hope fundraiser —Sharon H Kunkel Read on Patch
• Sertoma Kids, Inc. to offer free hearing screenings for children on September 15 —Sharon H Kunkel Read on Patch

• Can anybody identify this bird?
  He was staring down at me this morning while I was having my coffee in Treasure Island. He sat staring at me for about 10 minutes. What kind of bird… (Nextdoor Venice Gardens & S Venice)
• Can someone recommend a decent tree trimming/shaping service that doesn't cost an arm and a leg?
  Our ficus tree is hanging over our roof and impeding upon our neighbor's property. It needs to be cut back by 50%. Someone licensed and insured… (Nextdoor Pinebrook South)

• Skechers USA, Inc. posted a job opening for Retail Sales Associate in Venice. Apply here.
• TJX posted a job opening for Merchandise Associate in Venice. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Venice here.

Ok Venice! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A shirt (Thank you Dianna H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

• Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
• Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
• List items for sale or services offered

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook