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Annual Seawall Luminaries are back. Get yours today!

Learn more about the volunteers running for the VI Board in the January Election

What’s next for the Overlook Bridge? Turn to page 12 to find out.

Venetian Isles News

The Official Newsletter of the Venetian Isles Homeowners Association

Issue 19

Dec 2015

IN THIS ISSUE

1

“State of the Isles” a Letter from our President Dear Neighbor:

The lights are up and the decorations abound throughout VI. Cooler temperatures are here (almost!!!) and VI once again takes on that magical holiday glow. The VIHA Board hopes you have a great holiday season and best wishes for the New Year. Don’t forget to get your seawall candles from the “candle seller” for your block (see www.ourvi.org) and light up your street on Christmas Eve!!!

We have a lot planned for 2016 and, as always, there are lots of things going on in our neighborhood so let me catch you up on the “State of the Isles.”

2016 Membership Dues - invoices have been mailed to all the properties in VI. Annual dues remained at $120.00 again for 2016. You can pay your dues via Pay Pal by going to www.ourvi.org. Please support the efforts of your homeowner’s association to maintain VI as the one of the highest quality neighborhoods in St. Petersburg!!! Members have the ability to vote in the elections at the January 21 Annual Meeting.

2016 Annual Meeting - Thursday, January 21 at Lutheran Church of the Cross (LCC). An outline of the agenda follows:

Guest Speakers: SPPD Chief of Police Tony Holloway (invited); City Councilman Ed Montanari (invited) and SPPD Community Officer Brandon Bill

Election of VIHA Officers/Members – nominees include President – Rich Scanlon; Vice President – Drew Rosen; Treasurer – Lisa Schwartz; Secretary – Linda Testa; At large members – John Bodimer; Chris Ewing; Bob Johnson; Mark Brenman; Glen Gomer and Tom Testa. Brief bio’s for each of the above are on www.ourvi.org.

Topics for Discussion – 2016 budget overview; DR 54 final comments; traffic calming; VI seawalls; and 2016 Oktoberfest

Venetian Isles News

2

Review of 2015 Accomplishments - As I have mentioned before, the “lifeblood” of VI are the committees comprised of your neighbors who work extremely hard during the year to maintain the quality of life here in VI. Here is a summary of what some of these committees have done through November 30:

Architectural Review – 79 projects approved including 24 docks/lifts; 12 fences; 9 seawalls; 6 roof and driveway replacements; 4 home renovations; 2 new homes; and, 8 other projects.

Beautification – installation of new street signs; three irrigation and landscaping projects along Grand Canal; installation of a new LED light on the Overlook Monument; and, annual mangrove trimming. Look for completion of the Overlook Bridge landscaping in early 2016!!!

Communications – produced the 2015 Directory of Homeowners, quarterly newsletters and maintained the Facebook page. The Newsletter will change from a quarterly on-line publication to one which will be updated more frequently so the content will be as up to date as possible.

Deed Restrictions – 3 community reviews were completed; 150 deed restriction violation notices were mailed to property owners with over 50% corrected within 30 days.

Hospitality – 25 welcome gifts have been presented to new residents of VI.

Membership – created in mid-2015 to address concerns of property owners and build membership in the VIHA.

Committees - if you have just a few hours a month to dedicate to VI please volunteer for one of the VIHA Committees. A lot of people want us to bring back Oktoberfest in 2016. This was a signature event in VI for a great many years and an event we all took great pride in. There is a core group of residents who can lead the efforts but we need volunteers in order to assist with the 2016 event and become the leaders for years thereafter. Others have contacted me about having a VI fishing tournament. Please contact me at rscanlon@ourvi.org and I’ll be happy to assist you with joining the committee of your choice.

Email Addresses - Currently, we have email addresses for approximately 304 persons living within VI (there are 532 properties). This is the last President’s Letter that will be printed and delivered by the Block Captains to all the homes in VI. All future correspondence will be sent electronically (except for those senior residents of VI who have limited access to email and the internet). It simply is not cost effective to print paper copies of these letters four times a year and there are better things that we can do with the funds we spend every year in copying charges, etc…. Block captains will be canvassing the community in an attempt to increase the number of email addresses that we have on file or you can go to www.ourvi.org. The VIHA does not release the email addresses of our members for any purpose other than the furtherance of VI business and activities.

VI Based Businesses - if you are a VI resident who owns/operates a business consider becoming a “VI sponsor” which includes advertising in the Directory of Homeowners and on the website. Additional advertising opportunities in the Directory of Homeowners are also available. Information is available on www.ourvi.org.

Future Board Meetings - the first 10 minutes of each Board meeting are set aside as “open mic” time for property owners to voice their opinions, concerns about life in VI. The next Board meeting is scheduled for January 4, 2016 at 7:00pm at LCC Day School. Meetings for the balance of 2016 will be set after the elections on January 21. Please check www.ourvi.org immediately prior to a meeting to make sure it has not been rescheduled.

3rd Annual VI Golf Outing - was held Sunday, October 25 at Mangrove Bay Golf Course. For the first year we had a “full field” with 44 players participating. Thanks to Steve Lippincott for serving as the “Grand Master” again this year. Congratulations to this years’ winners: Steve Lippincott (pure coincidence I’m sure!!!); Spencer Hutchins; Gil Lazenby; and, Rob Boutwell.

2016 Directory of Homeowners - will be printed and made available to VIHA members shortly after the Annual Meeting.

Let me know of things that you see and hear in VI. Remember, the VI Annual Meeting is January 21 at LCC. Have a great holiday season and all the best for 2016.

Rich Scanlon VIHA President

www.ourvi.org 3

Venetian Isles News

The Tradition Continues… The Annual Seawall Luminaries

December 24th with light up at 6:00 pm. Please plan to participate. The seawall candles are available from the seller on your street per below or contact Linda Testa or Terri Boyle. Telephone numbers are listed below.

Street Member Telephone Number

Carolina Circle Julie Scanlon 525-0477

Carolina North Julie Scanlon 525-0477

Carolina South Andie Holzler 346-6662

Hawaii North Terri Boyle 521-4772

Hawaii South Judy Sauers 522-1370

Terri Boyle 521-4472

Illinois North Mindy Busler 612-8791

Illinois South Mary Satchwell 526-9401

Iowa North Marianne Scarupa 528-4742

Iowa South Kari Mainelli 525-4562

Kansas North Marie Testa 527-2008

Kansas South Mary Jane Peabody 521-4434

Kim Gross 586-850-7059

Kentucky Marie Testa 527-2008

Mass North Sara Younger 420-0253

Mass South Sara Younger 420-0253

Michigan North Brooke Bouis 813-767-7700

Michigan South Jeanette Comstock 525-7002

Montana North Marie Liberatore 813-313-0875

Montana South Linda Testa 525-6120

Lansing Nicole Wahl 527-9793

Mermaid Point Linda Testa 525-6120

Terri Boyle 521-4772

Overlook Drive Marie Testa 527-2008

Point Overlook Jill Holvoet 954-6237

www.ourvi.org 5

Venetian Isles 2016 Elections At the January 21, 2016 annual VIHA General meeting, elections for the VIHA Officers and Board of Directors open positions will once again be completed. To help VI residents know more about these volunteers included below are short introductory bios on each candidate running for a board position in 2016.

The Candidates running for Officer Positions for 2015 are:

President

Rich Scanlon: Rich has been the President of VIHA since 2012. He and his wife, Julie, reside at 2048 Carolina Ave and are “empty nesters” with their oldest son in San Francisco and a daughter and son at FSU. Rich graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1980 with a BA in Economics and from the University of Pennsylvania/Wharton School with an MBA in Finance in 1986. Rich has been employed as a Managing Director of B.C. Ziegler and Company since moving to Venetian Isles in 1993.

Vice-President

Drew Rosen: Drew, with wife Meredith, and two kids Chelsea and Chandler purchased a home on Carolina Avenue North in April 2010. After building a new seawall, new house, and new dock, the Rosen family moved into their new home in October of 2011. During Drew’s time in Venetian Isles, he has been a member of the VI Board of Directors, and presently serves as Vice President of the Board. Drew also chairs the communications committee focused on improving communications between the VIHA and Venetian Isles Residents through vehicles such as the website, newsletters, residents directory, surveys and email communications. Drew also led the Drains to Bay initiative replacing all drain markers throughout the community with the goal of reminding residents and workers in the community to help do their part to keep our waterways clean. Drew also contributes as a member of the Deed Restrictions Revisions committee supporting efforts to enhance and update the existing Deed Restrictions.

Treasurer

Lisa Elkin-Schwartz: Lisa and husband Neal moved into Venetian Isles in 1991 after an extensive renovation. Lisa worked for Raymond James for twenty-three years as an institutional municipal bond salesperson. Now retired, Lisa has served on the All Children’s Development Council for five years. She also co-chaired the Venetian Isles Oktoberfest for four years. Lisa has served as Treasurer of the VIHA for the past several years and is also Chair of the Beautifications- Special Projects committee, which has spearheaded the recent landscaping of Grand Canal Boulevard. Lisa’s goal is for Venetian Isles to receive their first grant from the city of St. Petersburg to enable VI to continue on with a lengthy list of capital improvement projects.

Venetian Isles News

Secretary

Linda Testa: Linda is a current Board Member and a Venetian Isles resident since 2000; has served

as Chair, Deed Restrictions Committee, and Co-Chair of the Hospitality Committee and the annual seawall luminary’s since 2001; also a member of the Finance Committee since 2013, and Deed Restrictions Revisions Committee. Linda was actively involved in the successful Dredging (canals) project. Other associations and interests include SPYC Salty Sisters, Old NE Garden Club, Friends of Strays, and golf.

The candidates running for the 2016 Board of Directors are the following:

Board of Directors

John Bodimer: John and family moved to Venetian Isles in 1999. John quickly became involved

in the VIHA and has served in many capacities including President, Vice-President and Secretary. He also served as a Board Director and chairman of several committees. Most recently John played an active role in the development of the recently passed new Deed Restriction governing fencing. He believes preserving neighborhood aesthetics and associated higher property values is the number one focus of the Association.

Mark Brenman: Mark, with his wife Virginia, moved into Venetian Isles in September of 2014, and

has quickly become an active member of the community. Mark joined the Venetian Isles Architectural Review Committee in January of 2015. He volunteered to be the Tabulator for DR54, and in the spring of 2015, Mark was nominated by the current VIHA Board as a Director, when a Board member stepped down leaving a vacancy. Mark graduated from Tufts University with a degree in History and a concentration in Economics, and since 1993, has been an Owner and Managing Member of several real estate development, construction, and property management companies.

Chris Ewing: Chris and his family have lived in Venetian Isles since 2004. Venetian Isles has been a fantastic neighborhood to raise our children and we know many of the families in VI quite well. I would like to contribute my time and expertise as a way to give back to our beautiful community and help preserve its appeal and desirability for all current and future residents. I would greatly appreciate your support in the January 2016 Board of Directors Election.

Glenn Gomer: Glenn has served on the Venetian Isle Home Owners Association for approximately the past 10 years. Glenn and his wife Barbara have lived in VI for the past twenty years. The Gomer's are empty nesters as their daughters Marlo and Natalie now live in New York City. Glenn is an Assistant Regional Manager for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company. He manages a law firm in Tampa and assists the Regional Manager in Texas and Louisiana. Glenn attended Florida State University for his undergraduate degree and went to California Western School of Law for his law degree.

www.ourvi.org 7

Tom Testa: Tom Testa, 66 years old. Born in Indiana, Pennsylvania and relocated to the New Port Richey area in 1972, after serving four years in the U.S. Navy. I have two children, a daughter, Kristina a FSU/USF graduate, and a son, Casey, also a USF graduate. I have been married to my wife Marie since 1990, who is a 38 year resident of Venetian Isles. We both have been active in our community with various projects and community activities, including being a block captain for a number of years. I retired from the U.S. Postal Service in 2006 with 37 years of service. During my career, I held various Postmaster positions and was Postmaster of Pinellas Park when I retired. On the day of my retirement, I joined the St Petersburg YMCA, of which I am still an active member. I am an avid golfer, playing at various courses in the area. I have been organizing an annual golf trip with a bunch of guys for the past several years, and we’ve been fortunate to have traveled to Ireland and Scotland, along with many other cities in the U.S, playing many of the most famous courses in the world. Having lived in Venetian Isles for over 25 years, I feel I have a lot to contribute to our organization and the welfare of our beautiful neighborhood, and if elected to the board, I will endeavor to do so.

For the 2016 election, all officers must be reelected and serve for 1-year terms. The Board of Directors positions are elected for 2-year terms. Write in candidates are also allowed at the Annual Meeting held on January 21, 2016.

Crime Watch Report The following information was obtained from the SPPD Neighborhood Calls for Service Summary Report from 9/15/2015 through 12/15/2015. In the neighborhood there have been two incidences of identity theft; one on Illinois Avenue South and another on Carolina Circle. There have been three reports of open doors, two on Carolina and one on Massachusetts. On Montana Avenue, a traffic accident occurred and traffic stops were conducted on Iowa and Overlook. We had speed patrols from the city and 14 drivers were given citations. The causes for these were speeding and running the stop sign on Overlook and Grand Canal. The majority of the speeding citations were VI residents – PLEASE WATCH YOUR SPEEDS ON OUR ROADS. Petit theft was reported on Carolina Circle and Michigan Avenue. In addition one case of trespassing was reported on Carolina Circle. Please remember to lock you doors and lock your cars. That is the best means to protect your property. There was one report of auto burglary on Michigan South. If you see any suspicious activity you are encouraged to report it to the St. Petersburg Police department.

Venetian Isles News

Pressure Washer For Rent Are you a DIYer with a dirty driveway, dock, seawall or roof? Lutheran Church of the Cross (LCC) has a commercial grade pressure washer available to Venetian Isles and local residents. Rental fee is $35 for 1/2 day, $50 for full day. For information, contact Steve Cropper, 727-521-2258.

The Third Annual Venetian Isles Residents Golf Tournament was a Success On October 25th, Venetian Isles Residents descended on the Mangrove Bay Golf course to play the 3rd Annual Venetian Isles Residents Golf Tournament. Thanks to this year’s chairs Steve Lippincott, and Rich Scanlon.

The event provided an afternoon of fun and prizes for 44 participating golfers. We would like to extend a hearty thanks to our sponsors:

Elizabeth and John Funk St. Pete Country Club Dr. Mary Burton

Sports Therapy Rick Sandon Mangrove Bay

Stress Relief Clinic The Moon Under Water Stone Soup Café

Jenny moore Harvey’s 4th Street Grill Café Cibo

Siam Garden Winghouse Gigi’s

Rich Scanlon Noble Crust Chili’s Parkside

Steve Lippincott BJ’s Outback

Bob Lee’s El Gallo Grande Golfsmith

Bonefish Lippincott Marine Canvas

Joel Carlson 4th Street Shrimp Store

www.ourvi.org 9

WEEKS OF DECEMBER 21ST & 28TH

THURSDAY COLLECTIONS WILL BE ON WEDNESDAY.

FRIDAY COLLECTIONS WILL BE ON THURSDAY.

MONDAY & TUESDAY COLLECTIONS WILL NOT CHANGE.

BRUSH SITES WILL BE CLOSED ON

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25TH (CHRISTMAS DAY) AND FRIDAY, JANUARY 1ST (NEW YEAR’S DAY).

RESIDENTIAL TRASH & RECYCLING COLLECTIONS

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

Venetian Isles News

www.ourvi.org 11

The Second Annual Elaine Anderson Michigan Avenue Ladies Gift Exchange The gift exchange was held at the home of Grace Wagner. Twenty-four ladies shared food, drinks and an "Elegant" elephant gift exchange. Amazing what a soft blanket and chocolates can cause when there are only three steals!

Michigan Avenue Fall Meet and Greet Michigan Ave hosted their fall meet and greet in November. With better way to welcome new neighbors to the block than with food and drinks. Do I see Piña Colada shooters? The next Michigan Avenue Meet and Greet will be held in the spring as we move these events around to different homes on the block.

Venetian Isles News

Overlook Bridge Update The beautification committee has been working with the City of St. Petersburg to update and upgrade the main Venetian Isles entrance along Overlook Drive. We are installing reclaimed water and a new irrigation system (Your dues at work) to support the watering needs of our new landscaping. Once completed, the city will then install 11 Royal Palms along the bridge entrance. This project has been in the works since July 2015 and is scheduled to finish in the first quarter 2016. We chose the Royal Palm because it’s one of the most prestigious looking and most recognizable of all the palms in the world. These palms are often chosen by tropical resorts, hotels, and communities to line streets and driveways, as their roots won't break through roads or sidewalks. The old landscaping was a hodgepodge of plant and bush material. The new landscaping will be simple, clean and regal looking.

www.ourvi.org 13

VI News Retiring

After 5 years and 18 Issues, our Venetian Isles News will officially be retired at the end of 2015. This December 2015 issue will be the last issue in the series.

Why are we retiring the Quarterly newsletter?

Retiring the Newsletter is a positive step to increase the timeliness of communications to VI residents. Rather than waiting for news on a quarterly basis, the communications committee will be utilizing our Venetian Isles web site at: www.ourvi.org to post important news and events as soon as we are notified about them.

We will still use email announcements for important community information and direct you to our web site to be sure you don't miss important community news and events. So now more than ever it is important you sign up for our email list on the home page of our web site.

Look for upcoming changes to the VI web site to improve its readability, features, and ease of navigation. As always we would love any feedback or suggestions you might have. These can be sent to us through the web site under the “Contact Us” tab on the main menu.

Venetian Isles News

Illinois Avenue Oktoberfest Once again the fine neighbors on Illinois Ave hosted their annual Oktoberfest.

This year they even had a live band. The delightful weather, terrific food and wonderful camaraderie made this a very special day in Venetian Isles.

Universal Curbside Recycling Update

Now that the universal curbside recycling program has launched throughout

St. Petersburg, some residents has been asking for an easy way to

remember trash pick up schedules for both recycled and non-recycled

waste. To help residents keep abreast of the pick up schedules, the city

has created mobile and table apps. The apps, called “St. Pete Collects” are

available on both the iPhone Apps Store and the Google Android Play store.

More details can be found on the homepage of the VI web site at:

www.ourvi.org 15

VIHA Board Meetings

Interested in knowing more about the Venetian Isles Homeowners Association? Have a question for the board or want to discuss a topic? If so, attend one of the monthly board meetings.

Board meetings typically occur on the first Monday of every month starting at 7:00pm at the LCC Day School Art Room.

The upcoming meeting dates are:

§ January 4, 2016

§ January 21, 2016 (Annual VI Residents Meeting)

Please note the January 21st meeting is a general meetings and it is intended for the entire community. General Venetian Isles meetings are typically held at LCC in the Sanctuary.

Please refer to the calendar on the front page of www.ourvi.org for the latest meeting schedule.

Venetian Isles News is a Quarterly Publication

Sponsored by the Venetian Isles Homeowners

Association for the exclusive use of the VIHA and its

members. For article submissions or to report errors,

please email us at:

admin@ourvi.org

© 2015 Venetian Isles Homeowners Association, Inc.

St. Petersburg, FL. All Rights Reserved.

Photo credit: Steve Schadt (www.schadt.com)

No part of this publication may be reproduced,

stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any

other form or by any other means, electronic,

mechanical, photocopying, recording or

otherwise, for the purpose of solicitation,

commercial use, or any use for profit, under penalty

of law without written or expressed permission from

the Venetian Isles Homeowners Association (VIHA).

While the VIHA makes every effort to publish full

and correct information for Venetian Isles News, the

VIHA assumes no responsibility and hereby must

disclaim any liability. VIHA cannot assume

responsibility for such errors or omissions.