Local organizations are taking special, personal collections to provide assistance to the people of Moore, Okla. who have seen their town devastated by the recent deadly tornado. In just 10 minutes, $1,800 was donated for the victims of the Oklahoma … Find out how to read more online.

Why has a small, cozy downtown restaurant held the top restaurant slot compared to 119 others in Venice for several weeks? Surprised and elated, the two young owners said they considered it to be an honor to be No.1 in … Find out how to read more online.

Showroom manager Kris Pike has recently opened for owner John Kennedy at the Citrus Plumbing Kitchen & Bath Gallery, 1237 U.S. 41 Bypass, next to the post office in Regency Square. The Gallery is a registered Kohler showroom with displays that … Find out how to read more online.

Tervo-maniacs can now sport their favorite frog-loving designs while showing support for making environmentally friendly choices. That’s thanks to the new Peace Frogs line of tumbler designs inspiring green living with a groovy style. The designs bring together the Peace … Find out how to read more online.

Pelicans are fascinating creatures, and a local artist, Frederick Stitt, recreated those large birds by hand in burnished copper. Each is a unique item. But with his passing, there will be no more, so these replicas are collectors’ items. A … Find out how to read more online.

When your family, group, company, school, charity or similar organization is looking to purchase T-shirts with a printed full-color photo and message, you can get instant assistance from Monica Fassoth and co-owner Richard Larsen of Digital Photomonics, 127 East Tampa … Find out how to read more online.

Anyone looking to stay for the 2014 season in Venice may want to reserve their home right away. Indications are the coming season for rental properties could surpass this year, according to a local property rental company that has already … Find out how to read more online.

The Matthews-Curry Ford body shop may be a small team, but they certainly put Nokomis on the map this week in being the only auto body repair shop in the state of Florida to win the Nationwide Insurance Award for … Find out how to read more online.

WCI Communities, the Bonita Springs-based developer and homebuilder, has purchased Sarasota National, a 2,400-acre golf course community along U.S. 41 southeast of Venice. WCI is also the developer of Venetian Golf & River Club, in North Venice. It bought Sarasota … Find out how to read more online.

Two free workshops, each titled “Be Scam Smart,” will be held in Venice tomorrow, Thursday, May 9. The workshops are aimed at seniors, their families and their caregivers and will teach attendees how to spot a scam, how scams work … Find out how to read more online.

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Known as an old game, it is fraud and the police receive 10 calls daily for this method of stealing your possessions and money. A Venice Gondolier Sun reader related to us a bad experience using an online service. She … Find out how to read more online.

Realizing there was no Christian-based counseling center in Venice, Dave Upton opened Eagle’s Wings Counseling Center and recently moved the practice to larger offices at 405 Commercial Court, near Cracker Barrel. A nonprofit, it is funded by donations from individuals … Find out how to read more online.

In the fall, residents and visitors to downtown can experience what a real Italian bar looks like, as well as the European culture of drinking. This will happen as part of a major expansion to the Made In Italy Ristorante … Find out how to read more online.

A local inventor has announced what he calls help in the battle of the sexes by creating a LooLifts, a hands-off approach to toilet seats to ease tensions in this key personal sector. This new, everyday item is something you … Find out how to read more online.

A parcel of land on Casey Key that was still owned by heirs to the Potter and Bertha Honore Palmer estate sold May 1 for $4.6 million. The parcel is in what’s known as Palmers Northerly Subdivision. A nearby parcel in … Find out how to read more online.

Just short of a year after disco legend Donna Summer’s death, her Manasota Key home has been sold. The 5,892-square-foot home was sold recently to an undisclosed buyer for a reported $2.85 million. “It was only on the market for … Find out how to read more online.

An entrepreneur may be setting a record in downtown Venice after opening his first store in January and then acquiring three more, all of which will be open within a few days. A young man with a determination to be … Find out how to read more online.