Stores see surge in sales as Christmas nears
Area merchants report rising business ahead of Christmas with bigger crowds than last year. Beall's notes the day after Thanksgiving as the peak shopping day and Venice merchants say competition from Sarasota Square Mall affects some shops while Florida Wig Fashions calls the mall crowded and improving.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sun Coast
Joan Dillon
East of the Sun
Brickyard
Beall’s
Venice
Sarasota Square
Helen Barry
Proprietress of
Florida
Wig Fashions
Venice Art Students Propose Downtown Redesign Plan
Two Ringling Art School students Linda Martin and Donna Pullen sketch a theoretical redesign for Venice Avenue to boost appeal for shoppers. They suggest closing the street to cars, brick paving, trees and benches, sidewalk cafes, youth oriented venues, racquetball courts, and clearer signs to help visitors locate stores. The project is in early stages with a January presentation planned for local merchants.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ringling Art School
Venice
Linda Martin
Donna Pullen
Linda
Venice Avenue
Donna
Venice Worker Finds Diamond at Dump Before Snake Attack
A Venice public works employee stepped from a county dump truck to find a large diamond at his feet yet reacted in fear as a five foot three inch diamond back rattlesnake bit. He killed the snake with a pocketknife after the episode and plans to mount or belt the reptile.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Venice City
Robert Phillips
Public Works
East Venice Avenue
Phillips
Circus replaces director after 29 years at Ringling Bros
Richard Barstow steps down after 29 years as Ringling Bros. director. Bill Bradley, formerly Barstow’s assistant, will lead the 108th edition of the circus. Barstow, once a nightclub dancer under Al Capone, reflects on the job as exciting and unpredictable.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Richard Barstow
Ringling Bros
Barnum & Bailey Circus
Barstow
Bill Bradley
Bradley
al Capone
Ringling
Tricks of the Venice magician Robert Eldredge revealed
Robert Eldredge, an 81 year old Venice resident and longtime prestidigitator, recalls starting in Adrian Michigan in high school and later performing at parties, clubs, and schools. A former American Ambulance Service member in World War I, he guards his tricks and notes the thrill of mystery remains his hook.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Robert Eldredge
Venice
Eldredge
Adrian, Mich
The
Society of American Magicians
Prestidigitator
Also Mentioned on This Page
Santa
Matthew Minter
Sandy Gray
Venice-Nokomis Bank
Circus
Nokomis
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!