How times have changed

How times have changed! 

We bought our home in Venice East in 2012. At the time foreclosures were high and property values very low. We just loved this neighborhood from the first drive-through. We were visiting, it was our last day looking for a new house, and happened to ask someone doing yard work what the neighborhood was like. After talking with him we were sold! He pointed to the house across the street & said we should look there bc people come running out of the house just for the fact EVERYTHING was 1979 original including the olive green old-fashioned carpet complete with dark green spots where the furniture had sat for the last 33 years. 

Two months later it was ours! 

At the time Venice East was turning over. Foreclosures eventually were all bought and new people like us started to move in. We met so many residents that have been here for years and loved hearing their stories! Some of them still “patrolled the neighborhood” looking things that needed attention from Sarasota county—things beyond what our little association can do. Over the years property values increased, and so did our newer neighbors! We’ve seen more families in the past few years, kids riding bikes & school busses everywhere indicating times again are changing. Again we loved the community aspect of this neighborhood. We have been a VECA member from the very first month. I’m not sure who told us about VECA but everyone was very proud of this association & what it did! Block captains still collected dues & newsletters were mailed. 

As much as this was a sense of community, I’d love to go back to the beginnings of VECA. I’ve had the opportunity to go through old newsletters dating back to the "‘80’s. Back then the membership was higher than it is now, yet they were always concerned with getting new members so they could do things like hold holiday dinner-dance parties that seemed divine and have bowling leagues. There were various social clubs, people played shuffle board and had bake sales to fund new plantings. A night patrol took two-hour shifts over night to make sure the community was safe, and the residents knew everyone as well as everyone’s children. Newsletters were typed & mailed out monthly. Each newsletter greeted new residents, sent well wishes to those whom were ill, and acknowledged those who were no longer with us. Committees did different things. One even checked on those who were elderly or ill and brought food or flowers for bereavement. It sounds like it was almost a magical place to live.

Of course back then times were different, I hesitantly say “simpler” ( I say that because to them times may not have felt simple). There was no cell phones or social media. They relied on talking with their neighbors, writing letters, calling on the phone and so on— things most of just don’t do anymore. I would love to go back to the way it was in “simpler” times. So much more personalization. 

My husband & I have talked with so many neighbors who have been here for years and believe in the good VECA has to offer. 

These days families are busy! Times are crazy. Work, school, kids, homework and on and on. If information doesn’t come across a screen it is lost…myself included. I rely on a phone to tell me about the world. Shame on me. 

So what’s the future of VECA? I can tell you we are ramping up our technological game as far as communication is concerned! We’re trying to reach the new residents here and get them involved in whatever way they can help this community beautiful, friendly, safe, and an amazing place to live and raise a family! 2024 has started off strong! Thanks to all VECA participants—you are all so appreciate!! 

~Jill resident since 2012