Greetings!

Well, after scoffing at the "experts," who in May forecasted a greater number of hurricanes than normal this season, and to have only one named storm of little consequence through the middle of September - then came Helené (Hellonwheels)!  Even though the eye missed us, the storm surge wiped out the South Jetty, wrecked most of our beaches, and even flooded a good portion of the Golden Beach neighborhood.  It is not nice to scoff at Mother Nature!

The Society has been busy during the summer, as this newsletter details.  I want to highlight some initiatives, though.  The Pop-Up Meet-Up events have been highly successful; new contacts are made, old friends reunited, and we are reminded our love of history replenishes us all.

I hope you were able to enjoy the "VAHS Traveling Exhibition" Board Director Bill Haberthur put together from stored items in our collection and put on display at both the Jacaranda Library and the Jervey Library this summer.  The displays garnered rave reviews from patrons and staff at both libraries.  Bill has arranged to continue these exhibits as space or interest becomes available.

VAHS also created "Flat Carl" - a life-sized cardboard cutout of a KMI Cadet which will be photographed at various locations in Venice, and viewers on Facebook will be asked to identify "Where in the world (Venice) is Carl?"

I also want you to know the Society hosted a "Coffee Connections" event on September 12th for the Venice Area Chamber of Commerce at the Train Depot, which was attended by seventy-five chamber members.  Most of those attending had never been to the Depot.  It was a great opportunity to introduce them to the Depot Campus and VAHS, and our efforts to keep history alive.