Happy Sunday, Parrish! ☀️

The cold snap had us reaching for extra blankets this week, but warmer days are ahead — and so is a packed week of community events, Valentine's fun, and some genuinely great news for our little corner of Manatee County.

Let's get into it.

If you love the wide-open views along State Road 62 — the cattle grazing, the live oaks, the feeling of space that makes Parrish Parrish — you'll want to read this twice.

Manatee County commissioners unanimously approved the purchase of conservation easements on Thundercloud Ranch, a 1,045-acre working cattle operation right here in Parrish. Paired with a second easement on Mossy Island Ranch (438 acres in Myakka City), the county preserved nearly 1,500 acres of ranchland for just $2 million.

Here's the clever part: instead of buying the land outright, the county bought the development rights in partnership with Florida's Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. The ranchers keep ranching. The county doesn't take on maintenance costs. And the land is protected from development — forever.

Thundercloud Ranch connects to the Edward W. Chance Reserve and South Fork corridors, preserving critical wildlife habitat alongside our agricultural heritage.

"Easements are exactly the tool we can utilize to assure a perpetual agriculture economy in Manatee County," said Natural Resources Director Charlie Hunsicker. At roughly 1/10th the cost of a fee simple purchase, this is conservation done right.

Why it matters for Parrish: Growth is coming — we all know that. But deals like this prove you can protect what makes a community special while still moving forward. That's a win worth celebrating.

Source: Your Observer

The 48-acre commercial development at US 301 and State Road 62 is officially progressing — Manatee County Development Services has assigned a case manager to the Parrish Town Center project. The plans call for a nearly 48,000-square-foot grocery store anchoring the plaza, two large retail stores, a coffee shop, fast-food restaurants, a gas station, dental office, and more across 13 planned building spaces. Four tenants already have pending leases. No names yet, but: a dedicated grocery store in Parrish. We've been waiting for this one.

Source: Bradenton Herald

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This week's frigid temperatures (wind chills in the 30s!) brought out the best in our community. Manatee County opened cold weather shelters Thursday and Saturday at The Salvation Army (1204 14th St. W., Bradenton) and Under One Roof, which opened early for women in need. MCAT provided transportation from Turning Points, and Our Daily Bread stayed open with warmth and coffee. If you know someone still in need, the shelters remain available as temperatures stay chilly.

Source: Bradenton Times

The Parrish Fire District responded to a fire this week sparked by an ember from a barrel drum — a reminder that the burn ban across Manatee, Sarasota, and surrounding counties is still active. With the severe drought and recent frosts, conditions are extremely dry. North Port saw a 60-acre brush fire jump from 4 to 60 acres in hours. Fire officials are warning this could be a severe wildfire season. Please — no open burning, be careful with any sparks, and keep your property cleared of dry brush.

Source: FOX 13 Tampa Bay

A proposed cruise ship terminal near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on the Terra Ceia waterfront has become the hot topic in Manatee County. Developers SSA Marine and Slip Knott LLC want to build on the 328-acre Knott-Cowen tract, but environmental groups and local lawmakers are pushing back hard, citing the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve and potential ecological damage. County officials report receiving threats over the issue. Whatever side you're on, this is one to watch — public input matters.

Source: MySuncoast, Bradenton Herald

📍 Serenity Oaks Homestead, 15802 Golf Course Rd, Parrish
📆 Every Saturday 1–2 PM & Sunday 10:30–11:30 AM (through May)
💰 Paid (reservations recommended — spots fill fast!)

Hold, pet, and feed baby goats in a relaxed farm setting. Blankets and seating provided, kids under 2 free. This is peak Parrish.

Source: Discover Bradenton

📍 Old Main Street, Downtown Bradenton
📆 Saturday, Feb 15 | 9 AM – 2 PM
💰 FREE admission

Fresh produce, local vendors, live music, and great food. Running every Saturday through May — make it part of your weekend routine.

📍 Waterside Park, Lakewood Ranch
📆 Sunday, Feb 9 | 9 AM
💰 FREE

Start your Sunday with a free outdoor yoga session. All levels welcome. Bring a mat and some good energy.

📍 City Pier Park, Anna Maria
📆 Friday, Feb 13 | 5–8 PM
💰 FREE (potluck — bring a dish to share!)

City Commissioners fire up the grills, live music fills the air, and the whole island shows up. Bring a dish, bring your family, and kick off Valentine's weekend waterfront-style.

Source: Discover Bradenton

📍 Station 1, 1225 14th Ave. W., Palmetto
📆 Saturday, Feb 14 | 10 AM – 2 PM
💰 FREE

Explore the fire station, watch firefighter demonstrations, and bring the kids for a hands-on look at what our local heroes do every day. Great Valentine's Day outing for families.

Source: Discover Bradenton

📍 Cortez Cultural Center, 11655 Cortez Rd. W., Cortez
📆 Saturday & Sunday, Feb 14–15 | 10 AM – 5 PM
💰 Admission — proceeds benefit Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage

Two days of fresh local seafood, live music, nautical arts and crafts, environmental exhibits, dock talks, and restored fishing boats in one of Florida's last working fishing villages. Don't miss this one.

Source: Discover Bradenton

📍 SCF Neel Performing Arts Center / Riverview Performing Arts Center
📆 Feb 14 (3 PM), Feb 15 (3 PM), Feb 16 (7:30 PM)
💰 Ticketed

Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons come alive with tight harmonies backed by a full orchestra. Perfect Valentine's date night (or weekend).

Source: Discover Bradenton

📍 Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 US-301, Tampa
📆 Through Feb 16
💰 Ticketed

The fair wraps up next weekend. Rides, fried everything, livestock, and this year's America250 patriotic theme. About 45 minutes from Parrish — worth the drive if you haven't gone yet.

Source: Bay News 9

Good news on the weather front! After a chilly start to the week, we're warming up nicely:

Translation: perfect Florida weather all week. Get outside and enjoy it.

Source: National Weather Service

Mark your calendars! The Parrish Florida Chili Cookoff returns Saturday, March 7. Details coming soon, but if you've been before, you know this is one of our best community events of the year. Start perfecting your recipe now. 🌶️

This week reminded me why Parrish is special. We protect our ranchland. We open shelters when neighbors need warmth. We show up for each other — whether it's at the fire station, the farmers market, or just waving from the porch.

Got good news? An event we should know about? A neighbor doing something great? Hit reply and tell us. This newsletter is for you.

Happy Valentine's week, neighbors. ❤️

Good News Parrish is a weekly community newsletter covering positive news, local events, and everything worth celebrating in Parrish, Ellenton, and North Manatee County.