Venice bridge dangerous to bicyclists

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A LOSS LAMENTED Memories linger

Page 10A JANUARY 25-26, 2014 • Vol. 68 No. 78

An edition of the Sun

Venice bridge dangerous to bicyclists In the initial pursuit of the Bicycle Friendly Community designation, some interesting suggestions were made, and they continue. The latest one came from a gentleman, an avid cyclist, who correctly thought the Venice Avenue Bridge was unsafe for cyclists. His suggestion to improve the situation was to widen either one or preferably both of the existing walkways on the bridge. At a meeting held recently to discuss the proposal, two representatives from Sarasota County, which owns and maintains the bridge, met with a small group of us to discuss the possibility of widening the walkway.

Monty Andrews

Long story short, the answer was no. Reasons, all reasonable, included the bridge design is out of date and any significant modifications to it may trigger cause to update various elements of the bridge. Further, additional dead weight could create problems with the hydraulic lift system,

NEGLECT | 11

SUN PHOTO BY MONTY ANDREWS

A bicyclist rides across the Venice Avenue Bridge, just a little way past the

BRIDGE | 11 sign telling bicyclists to walk their bikes across.

A warbird’s-eye view

Woman faces child neglect charge By GREG GILES News editor A woman who dodged a Sarasota County warrant for child neglect for more than seven years — including possible extradition from Massachusetts — was picked up this week in Venice. Venice police responded to a call from Ntino’s Restaurant on Jan. 19 near midnight about a suspicious person. Jean Marie Conley, 31, advised someone in the restaurant that she had injured her ankle and didn’t know where she was. Paramedics arrived, evaluated her CONLEY foot and transported her to Venice Regional Bayfront Health. An officer had her name checked and was advised by dispatch that Conley had the outstanding warrant. She was taken into custody and charged with child neglect. She’s in the Sarasota County Jail on $150,000 bond. According to Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office documents, the charge against Conley dates back to 2006, when she called 911 to report her 3-year-old son was missing. She had left the boy with an unidentified woman at an unknown address in the Briarwood Road area, she told deputies, while she went to purchase cigarettes, and couldn’t recall where the house was when she returned to pick him up. Deputies learned that Conley had been in an argument with her mother earlier that day and left with her son in a stroller without a canopy or diapers and nothing to

and a protective railing would be required separating vehicles from cyclists and pedestrians. Of course, finally, there was the cost. At each end of the bridge, there are signs stating “Walk Bikes Over Bridge.” The reason they are posted is because the walkway is narrow, 42 inches wide, elevated 12 inches above the traffic lanes, and separated by only about 30 inches from the passing vehicles. It is a potentially dangerous situation. To make matters worse, only about half the cyclists crossing the bridge actually walk their bikes.

SUN PHOTO BY JUSTIN FENNELL

Dennis K. Flood gets an aerial view of Venice from the window of the Collings Foundation’s B-17. Flood organized the warbird event at the Venice Municipal Airport. The B-17, a P-51 Mustang and a B-24 will be on display Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. World War II veterans get in free. Admission for adults is $12, while those 12 and under get in for $6. Flights are also available. For more information or to book a flight, call 800-568-8924.

Drones in Venice generate buzz By GREG GILES News editor Ever see a miniature helicopter hovering over your residential area? One prominent Venetian has, and he isn’t happy about it. “It was quite a sophisticated camera set-up they had,” said Julio Gonzalez, a Venice orthopedic surgeon.

Gonzalez was coming back from taking his dog for a walk recently when he came upon a van parked partially on his lawn. The drone lifted off from his yard. Its operator said he was filming in conjunction with a local Realtor. “It is no longer just interesting, just theoretical,” Gonzalez said. “Now it’s become palpable. Here I am,

minding my own business, and he parks on my property. It went from ‘who’d a thunk it’ to a very real issue not just about police powers but private filming on your property.” “They are absolutely intruding on my property flying 50 feet to 100 feet above my house,” he said. The Federal Aviation

Administration is in the process of rule-making that would allow the commercial use of drones so that, among other things, the real estate industry can gather photos and video of high-end or larger properties at a fraction of the cost of hiring an actual plane and pilot.

DRONES | 5

Vendor fights ‘firing’ via social media By GREG GILES News editor

SUN PHOTO BY GREG GILES

Jami Lin, a vendor at the Farmer’s Market and proprietor of Sharing Transformations boutique in the KMI Building claims she was bullied out of the market. Good morning, Gondolier Sun subscriber Carson Cox

Farmers Market as of Thanksgiving Day for violating rules and allegedly Getting shut out of the exposing herself — a Venice Farmers Market claim she called a lie. stung Jami Lin so bad Lin videotaped Venice she took her case to police officers as they cyberspace in an effort to requested she pack up reverse the decision. her belongings and leave A retail store owner and the market premises. On author who specializes the videotape, Lin can be in spiritual expression heard telling the officers through feng shui interior she doesn’t have a gun, design, color alchemy only a camera. They can through skin-care prodbe heard telling her it’s a ucts and clothing, Lin civil matter, and she has was terminated from the to vacate the premises.

FRONT SECTION LEGALS ........................................10A LET ’EM HAVE IT ........................12A LOTTERY........................................ 2A OBITUARIES.................................. 7A

WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY

OPINION......................................12A POLICE BEAT ................................ 4A SPORTS ..................................14-15A WEATHER ...................................... 2A

The market’s manager, Linda Wilson, previously complained of Lin pointing her camera at her and other vendors without permission, and mentioned it in an email listing Lin’s rule infractions and behavior issues. In May, Wilson apparently terminated Lin for a number of infractions, but she was allowed to continue as a vendor. In another email, Wilson said Lin didn’t have the proper liability

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CLASSIFIEDS COMICS DISCOVER ENGLEWOOD TV BOOK USA WEEKEND

Twin Palms Chiropractic.........6A American Air ...........................11A Venice Car Care ......................11A Pro Guard Industries .............13A

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insurance because it had expired — a claim Lin disputes. Wilson also said Lin got down on her knees and begged to be moved to another location due to smoke generated by another vendor. Wilson said other vendors were asking her if Lin was doing yoga. “In my frustration, I begged for help,” Lin said. “It wasn’t my finest hour,

VENDOR | 11

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