Anthony Westbury: Trouble with raccoons, teenagers and other wild animals
By Anthony Westbury, TCPalm , Posted August 7, 2010 at 2:28 p.m.
Bothered by recalcitrant raccoons? Blindsided by buzzards? Homeowners who turn to their local animal control department might end up feeling rather muzzled.
Chuck Johnson wrote me about his daughter in Port St. Lucie who’s been having problems with raccoons “demolishing” her new trash cans.
Swampy visits the Venice Train Depot, at 303 E. Venice Avenue., historic site. Not surprisingly the depot is home to the Venice Historical Society. Click here for more information about the historical society.
The railroad station was active until 1991 when the last of the many Ringling Brothers and Barnum Bailey trains came through. Venice was the winter home for the Ringling circus.
Here is a view of the station from the tracks.
Here is the other side from the tracks.
Housed in the main depot is the Venice Museum. Outside is a train caboose housing the Venice Historical Society’s offices.
Part of the tracks are still at the park and beside the tracks is a walking and biking trail.
By the depot is the Rollins Coakley Railroad Park. Click here to learn more about Rollins Coakley.
In teh railroad park is a very fine statue of Gunther Gebel-Williams, the “Lord of the Rings” of the Ringling circus. Williams was known for his incredible ability to handle tigers and lions in the circus ring. Click here to learn more of Gebel-Williams.
This past Thursday marked the 42nd anniversary of Richard Nixon being nominated for President at the Republican National Convention held in Miami. Above is a bundle of items from that convention that Swampy has collected over the years.
Above is a Nixon button, bumpersticker, tickets to the event, Esso coins given out at the event, a pin for radio and television folks, a layout for the Miami Beach Convention Hall and a letter from Nixon thanking a supporter.
Here’s the first of a new weekly feature, Postcard Wednesdays. This postcard is of the entrance to the world famous Silver Springs. There is no date on the card and would figure this to be from around 1960.
I seem to recall this picture had a back story to it, but can’t recall what that is. Feel free to leave any stories you have below of Silver Springs.
The back side does reveal that this card is from when entry to the park was free! AND no parking charge!
