Golf is at once a magical, mystifying and maddening game. Those who play know that the sport can bring great joy and even greater frustration. It can also bring, especially for those just starting out, a sense of unapproachability—for many, the word golf is associated with exclusive country clubs and exorbitant prices. Such is not the case at Lake Venice Golf Club.

Rod Parry and the team at Lake Venice Golf Club have a mantra: “We carry to the masses, not classes.” The semi-private 27-hole golf club, established in 1959, is something of a throwback. There are no tee times at Lake Venice, golfers can walk or ride at any time and play all 27 holes, starting from either the first or 19th tee. There is a purity to Lake Venice that Parry, who has been the General Manager of for 34 years, wants to keep. There are no housing developments along Lake Venice Golf Club, meaning that the course, located adjacent to the Gulf on Venice Island, gets plenty of ocean breezes and marvelous sunsets. Some things at Lake Venice have changed over the years. Parry has added more tee boxes, to make life easier on some of the course’s older regulars. “We moved the tees up and gave them a chance to play from something where they can at least have some fun and play the way they did when they were younger,” says Parry. “That’s the beauty of golf. You can play anywhere in the world without knowing another person.”

The course, originally designed by Mark Mahannah, has undergone renovations, such as the redesign of holes 19-27 in 2013 by renowned golf course architect Jan Bel Jan. Other things, like Parry’s desire to grow the sport, have not changed. For just $3, juniors who attend a Venice school, can walk the course. Holes 16 and 17 are some of the most picturesque, lying adjacent to the intercoastal waterway, with Parry calling the 17th one of the toughest in the county. “It’s a par four dogleg left with a narrow landing area,” he says. “You can either go for it or you can lay up and then you’ve got around a 165 yard shot to the green over some mangroves with water on both sides.”

Lake Venice Golf Club, 1801 South Harbor Dr., Venice, 34285, 941-488-3948 

Provided photo.

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Oh no, 80s fans! We're so sorry to report that That 80s Show experienced some unexpected technical difficulties last Friday, the 13th, preventing us from delivering the full, awesome experience you deserved. We truly appreciate your patience and understanding as we worked through the issues. But don't fret, because we're ready to make it up to you! Let's do the time warp again and "redo" That 80s Show this Friday, June 27, at 9PM! This special makeup show will be replacing the previously scheduled Laser Foo Fighters. For those who already had tickets to the original That 80s Show, your tickets have automatically been moved to this Friday, June 27. If you're unable to make it, please reach out to Christine Bouchard at cbouchard@bishopscience.org to schedule a different show or request a refund. 

The Humane Society of Sarasota County (HSSC) is proud to be part of a statewide effort to find homes for 2,000 shelter pets during the Petco Love Florida MEGA Adoption Event, taking place June 27, 28 and 29. Nearly 50 animal welfare organizations across 31 counties are joining forces for this lifesaving initiative—all working toward one shared goal: saving the lives of cats and dogs across the state of Florida. Locally, HSSC will be waiving adoption fees for all available animals during the three-day event, and the shelter will be open special hours. All pets will be spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and ready to go home the same day. No appointments are necessary, and all adoptions are first come, first served.

Humane Society of Sarasota County, 2331 15th Street, Sarasota, Friday, June 27, 12pm-7pm, Saturday, June 28, 10am-4pm, Sunday, June 29, 10am-4pm. 

S-One Holdings Corporation, a global company headquartered in Sarasota with a focus on the digital imaging industry, is dedicated to share its core value of Selfless Service with its interns by showing them firsthand the positive results of community service. S-One team members will volunteer with seven interns at All Faiths Food Bank to pack and sort non-perishable goods in support of its mission to end hunger in the community. The S-One internship program includes mentorship, work projects to gain real-world knowledge, as well as opportunities to embrace social impact, which is an integral part of the company's culture. S-One interns are college students, and one of them is in the process of getting a master's degree.

Thursday, June 26, 2025, 1:00 - 3:00pm, All Faiths Food Bank, 8171 Blaikie Ct., Sarasota. 

Forty Carrots Family Center welcomes new Board of Trustee members Puja Dhanraj and Anthony Glover. Puja serves as Head of Investor Relations at Align Private Capital. Anthony is a recently retired financial services executive and has served in an array of board roles from finance to human resources and marketing. Puja and Anthony will serve a three-year term supporting Forty Carrots' mission of nurturing healthy child and family development and preventing child abuse, neglect, and other childhood traumas. Officers include Board Chair Ben Jones, Managing Director at Mariner Wealth Advisors, Treasurer Valerie Dall’Acqua, Global Real Estate Advisor Premier Sotheby’s International Realty, and Secretary Dawn Doughty, nonprofit fundraiser, volunteer, philanthropist. Remaining board of trustee members: Kevin Cooper, Jag Grewal, Jackie Griese, Hal Johnson, Eric Kaplan, Bob Lewandowski, Alan Ross, Susan Sakhai, Joleen Searles, Susan Travers, Monica Van Buskirk, Brian Volner, CEO Michelle Kapreilian (ex-officio) and trustee emeriti Kim Githler, and Jeff Steinwachs.  

The Venice Symphony is proud to announce the appointment of Roger Effron as Board Chair for the 2025-26 season, along with the addition of three new members to its Board of Trustees: Robby Cordes, Joshua P. Perez, Esq,. and Natalie Croston. These leaders bring valuable experience in the arts, business, and community engagement, and will play a key role in guiding the Symphony’s continued growth and impact. 

NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) Sarasota and Manatee Counties recent Arts & Minds celebration raised $110,500 to support mental health programs and services for local youth, adults, families, and caregivers living with mental health conditions. Held at Art Center Sarasota, the event drew nearly 150 guests to mark NAMI’s 40th anniversary serving the local community. In addition to catering by Mattison’s and live jazz music by The Geniuses, the evening featured a chance to meet and mingle with five local artists: Dave Flach (3-D Ceramics), Janice Newman (oils and watercolors), Diana de Avila (digital and augmented reality), Lenny Hoffman (acrylics and oils), and Karen Arango (photography and multimedia). Each artist shared his or her own journey related to mental health and wellness and how those experiences have impacted and inspired their creative works. The event concluded with an exclusive live auction of artwork and artist-led experiences led by From the Heart Fundraising, all in support of the free mental health programs, services, and resources NAMI provides. 

Halfacre Construction Company, a Lakewood Ranch-based commercial construction company, recently celebrated the groundbreaking for The Dann Bouwer Community Pavilion for The Salvation Army of Manatee County.  The new outdoor pavilion building will include an open-air sports court with large overhead fans, restrooms and storage facilities. The building will be used for kids’ camps, church gatherings and luncheons, sports activities and more. Bouwer was a longtime supporter of The Salvation Army’s mission, and he recently passed away. Construction on the pavilion located at 5328 24th Street in Bradenton will begin at the end of this month and is slated for completion at the end of October. Phase two will include a splash pad adjacent to the new building.  

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Join us for the inspiring 10th Annual SRQ Women Who Roar Leadership and Awards Luncheon, celebrating local women leaders who significantly impact our community. Enjoy a dynamic program featuring the introduction of the esteemed 2025 Leadership Circle inductees, engaging PopUp Boutiques, and opportunities to network during our post-event reception. 

Get ready to be inspired at the Annual Giving Coast Luncheon: Philanthropic Agenda & Good Hero Awards, recognizing local changemakers. Join us in bringing the philanthropic community together on Wednesday, December 10, 2025 at Michael's On East and help celebrate the nonprofit spirit of our area. Featuring a panel of distinguished philanthropic leaders discussing giving trends, the honorable Good Hero Awards, and the interactive Giving Tree Program, this event will be nothing short of spectacular. Also highlighting the acclaimed SRQ Lifetime Good Hero Achievement Award, the program will uplift attendees and spark meaningful change.