Edition of Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. A new edition posts every Thursday.

Palmarrish

Local news for Palmetto, Parrish & Ellenton. Weekend plans, County Commission news, what's being built nearby, and the housing and safety numbers for North Manatee, in one place.

What's being builtEventsPast editionsAbout

This week in 30 seconds

This weekend

Friday, Sept. 25 to Sunday, Sept. 27. "Near you" means about 15 minutes or less from Moccasin Wallow Rd at I-75.

Friday

  • 12–9 pmEdelweiss Oktoberfest opens. Runs through Oct. 25 with live music and German food. Free entry611 Manatee Ave. E, Bradenton
  • 9 am–2 pmPatched: drop-in clothing repair. Bring something worn out and mend it. Art House Boutique, 1806 Manatee Ave. W, Bradenton
  • 7:30 pm"Always A Bridesmaid" at The Island Players. Nightly through Sunday. 10009 Gulf Dr., Anna Maria
  • EveningTim McGraw in concert. MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa

Saturday

  • 7:30 amVFW Post 10141 charity golf scramble. $125 per player. River Strand Golf & Country Club, Bradenton
  • 8–11 amFelts Audubon Preserve Conservation Day. Help care for the preserve. Near you4600 24th Ave. E, Palmetto
  • 9:30 amKarate Zoo. A short martial-arts class for kids. Bob Gardner Community Park, Lakewood Ranch
  • 1–4 pmAt Home Honor Flight Luncheon. For veterans who can't travel, and their families. RSVP to Janet Orr, 941-773-0177. Bradenton Elks Lodge 1511, 2511 75th St. W
  • 1–4 pmSarasota Opera Food & Wine Festival. $75 in advance. Sarasota Opera House
  • 5–9 pmBomber-Con roller derby. Fans can pay to add old-school rules mid-game. Near youFreeEllenton Ice & Sports Complex, 5309 29th St. E
  • 6–10 pmBradenton Fall Flea. Live music, a food truck and vintage vendors. FreeArt House Boutique, 1806 Manatee Ave. W
  • NightSaturday Night Under the Lights drag racing. Bradenton Motorsports Park

Sunday

  • 8–9 amYoga in the Park. Weekly. Waterside Place, Lakewood Ranch
  • 9 am–2 pmMixon Farms Market. Produce, baked goods, crafts, music. Every Sunday through May. 2525 27th St. E, Bradenton
  • 10 am–2 pmFarmers' Market at Lakewood Ranch. 100+ vendors and a kids' zone. Waterside Place, 1561 Lakefront Dr.
  • 4:05 pmBuccaneers vs. Vikings. Raymond James Stadium, Tampa

Coming up next weekend

  • Fri Oct 26 pmImprov Night. With food trucks. Near youFreeParrish Community Park, 7550 Ft. Hamer Rd.
  • Fri Oct 26–9 pmMusic on Main block party. FreeMain Street, Lakewood Ranch
  • Sat Oct 39 am–2 pmFall Charity Market. For the Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch. Near you4800 Foxbrook Trail, Parrish
  • Sat Oct 3Noon–8 pmOktoberfest & Craft Market. Near youThe Club at River Wilderness, Parrish
  • Sun Oct 410 am–3 pmFall Plant & Garden Festival. FreePalma Sola Botanical Park, Bradenton

Sources: Tampa Bay Beacons, Escape to Sarasota, Discover Bradenton, Buccaneers, Prked. Confirm times with organizers before you go. Know of an event? Tell us.

County Commission

What Manatee County commissioners decided that matters here, and what's coming up.

  • Final 2027 budget vote: Thursday, Sept. 24

    Commissioners unanimously backed a tentative $1.51 billion net budget ($3.7 billion including reserves and grants) on Sept. 10. It includes a small tax-rate cut that Commissioner George Kruse estimated at about $1.80 a year per homeowner. It's the fourth cut in five years. They also gave their $1 million discretionary fund back to residents.

    Source: Your Observer

  • County administrator's job on the Oct. 6 agenda

    At the Sept. 22 meeting, Commissioner Jason Bearden asked to add ending County Administrator Charlie Bishop's contract to the Oct. 6 agenda, saying he wants to hear public comment first. Commissioner Bob McCann also said he wants to hear from the public.

    Source: Your Observer

  • Parrish Town Center approved

    On Sept. 3 the board approved an expanded plan for up to 174,000 sq ft of shops at US 301 & SR 62, capping the three big stores at 100,000 sq ft combined and dropping a proposed cell tower. Details below.

    Source: Tampa Bay Beacons

  • Joint session with Longboat Key

    The Commission and the Longboat Key Town Commission hold a joint work session Thursday afternoon, Sept. 24.

    Source: The Bradenton Times via NewsBreak

  • Lakewood Ranch: no ice rink, more townhomes

    At a Sept. 9 town hall, residents learned an ice rink is off the table at Premier Sports Campus North, though commissioners say something will be built there. Florida's Live Local Act also allows 224 townhomes on Lorraine Rd without a Commission vote. Staff pointed residents to the county's 311 app for problems like flooding.

    Source: Your Observer

On your Nov. 3 ballot

  • District 1

    Liz Arnold (R), Sari Lindroos-Valimaki (D), write-in Jack May. Open seat.

  • District 2

    Incumbent Amanda Ballard (R) vs. Charles B. Smith Sr. (D).

  • District 4

    Incumbent Mike Rahn (R) vs. write-in Allison Sneed.

  • District 6 (countywide)

    Tara Poulton (R) vs. Reggie Bellamy (D). Open seat; every Manatee voter can vote in this race.

Source: WWSB. Meetings start at 9 am at 1112 Manatee Ave. W; watch live at mymanatee.org.

Around Manatee

Other county news from the past week, including downtown Palmetto and Bradenton.

What's being built nearby

Tap a pin or a row for details. Distances are straight-line from Moccasin Wallow Rd at Artisan Lakes Pkwy, just west of I-75.

Sketch map of projects around Palmetto, Parrish and EllentonManatee RiverI-75I-275US 41US 301Moccasin Wallow RdBuckeye RdSR 62Fort Hamer RdEllentonPalmettoParrishNorth River Ranch1 mileE: Apollo BeachX: SkywayR1R2Distances from here123457689ABCD
ShopsHomesSchools and healthCivicRoad work

Map is a sketch; locations are approximate.

Within about 10 minutes

1Grocery and liquor storeApproved0.5 mi west, Moccasin Wallow & Bud Rhoden Rd

About 57,000 sq ft on roughly 10 acres; the first grocery on the west side of I-75. Grocer not named. Rezoning approved 5–1 on June 4. No construction start announced.

Bradenton Herald, Citizen Portal · Details and history

2BayCare Hospital Manatee and HealthHubUnder construction1.4 mi east, 6620 Moccasin Wallow Rd

154-bed hospital with ER, maternity, surgery and cardiology, topped out July 10 and scheduled to open in 2028. The 46,000 sq ft HealthHub next door (primary care, lab, imaging) is opening in 2026; its Google listing already shows patient visits.

Business Observer, WUSF · Details and history

3Veterans Elementary SchoolOpen1.6 mi northeast, 6360 Maidenstone Way

New K–5 school opened Aug. 10 with about 300 students, built for 969. Building work continues through November; only the first floor is in use this year.

WWSB, Bay News 9 · Details and history

4Valor CommonsUnder construction1.6 mi north, 5215 Buckeye Rd

County veterans hub and memorial campus on 24 acres next to Veterans Elementary, about $40 million total. Broke ground Jan. 14; first phase (roads, utilities, early memorials, temporary building) takes 12–18 months; full campus over 3–5 years.

Manatee County, Business Observer · Details and history

5Robinson Gateway: Home Depot, CVS and morePlanned2.0 mi east, 71st Ave E to Carter Rd

Home Depot with garden center (about 136,000 sq ft) and CVS at Carter Rd; next door, Chase, McDonald's, a car wash, 16-pump gas station and drive-thru restaurants. Apartments and 258 build-to-rent cottages behind. Traffic light at 71st Ave E live since May. McDonald's slated for late 2026; no dates for Home Depot or CVS.

Moccasin Wallow Media, Moccasin Wallow Media (traffic signal), Bradenton Herald, Business Observer · Details and history

6US 41 & 69th St E (Northbrooke Commons)Partly open2.0 mi southwest, US 41 & 69th St E

7-Eleven, McDonald's and Kangaroo Express with Dunkin' are open. Still planned: 300 apartments on 20 acres, a hotel, self-storage and four more retail buildings. No dates.

Moccasin Wallow Media, McAdams · Details and history

77 Brew CoffeePlanned2.4 mi east, 7725 Moccasin Wallow Rd

Drive-thru-only coffee stand on the south side of Moccasin Wallow. Site plans filed March 2026.

Manatee County project list · Details and history

8SeaireUnder construction2.8 mi east, Moccasin Wallow at Carter Rd

3,000+ homes around a 4-acre swimmable lagoon. First residents moved in late 2024; lagoon filled in July 2026.

Your Observer, Moccasin Wallow Media · Details and history

9Abrazo at EllentonPlanned4.3 mi south, 5512 29th St E

207 rental cottages and 52 townhomes on about 30 acres at 5512 29th St E, north of Ellenton Premium Outlets. Rezoned January 2024; site plans filed; start date not confirmed.

Bradenton Herald · Details and history

Bigger projects within 20 minutes

ASCF Parrish campusUnder constructionAbout 12 min, 11680 Erie Rd

State College of Florida's fourth campus, a $40 million project on 74 acres beside North River Ranch. Broke ground October 2025; phase 1 building (800–1,500 students) expected to open in about two years.

Business Observer, SCF Foundation · Details and history

BHCA hospital, North River RanchPlannedAbout 12 min, Moccasin Wallow & Fort Hamer Rd

Approved six-story hospital with at least 150 beds on 22 acres. HCA's 24/7 ER on the site has been open since October 2025. No hospital construction start announced.

WUSF, HCA Florida · Details and history

CParrish Town CenterApprovedAbout 15–18 min, US 301 & SR 62

Up to 174,000 sq ft on about 48 acres: a roughly 48,000 sq ft grocery, two big-box stores, restaurants, a bank and gas station. Approved Sept. 3. Tenants and construction dates not announced.

Tampa Bay Beacons, Bradenton Herald · Details and history

DDowntown Palmetto riverfrontPlannedAbout 15 min, Riverside Dr & 10th Ave W

Marina & Main: 80 apartments and 18,000 sq ft of retail by the river, groundbreaking targeted for late 2027. The city is also funding 10th Ave W streetscape work and a Palmetto Women's Club renovation.

Business Observer, FOX 13 · Details and history

ETarget, Apollo BeachPlannedAbout 20 min, Big Bend Rd & I-75

Plans submitted for a Target in the LC Promenade development. No opening date.

Osprey Observer · Details and history

Roads

R1Moccasin Wallow Rd wideningUnder constructionUS 41 to US 301

Two to four lanes with a multi-use path, sidewalk and bike lanes, and a roundabout planned at US 301. One segment due fall 2026, the next mid-2027; work runs through 2030.

Moccasin Wallow Road project site, Manatee County · Details and history

R2I-75 at Moccasin Wallow interchangeIn studyExit 229

FDOT is studying changes to handle traffic from approved development. Public hearing held February 2026; construction not scheduled.

FDOT · Details and history

Off the table

XSkyway cruise portBlockedNear Terra Ceia

A proposed mega-ship cruise terminal by the Sunshine Skyway. Gov. DeSantis signed SB 302 on March 19, barring the dredging it needed.

WWSB · Details and history

Across the line

News from neighboring counties that reaches us.

Sarasota

Hillsborough

Good news

Housing

Manatee County, August 2026 compared with August 2025. Released in September 2026.

$495K
Median single-family price +5.9%
3.9 mo
Supply of homes for sale, down from 4.6
687
Single-family homes sold +5.7%
$307K
Median condo/townhome +5.4%

Sellers got a median 95.6% of their original asking price, and active listings fell 7% to 2,616. Condo and townhome sales jumped 20.5% to 241.

Next door, Sarasota County's single-family median slipped 1.1% to $470,000, with 3.7 months of supply.

How to read it: about 5–6 months of supply is considered balanced. Below that favors sellers, so Manatee's single-family market is leaning toward sellers. In January, supply was 4.6 months and the median was $480,495.

Sources: SarasotaHomes.com (RASM data), Your Observer, Sarasota Magazine, Sarasota Magazine (January report), RASM

Safety

Manatee County Sheriff's Office, 2025 compared with 2024. Updated once a year. Released in February 2026.

−19.7%
Overall crime
−22.6%
Violent crime
−18.8%
Property crime
10 → 7
Murders

Robbery fell 39.6%, vehicle theft 31.9%, burglary 27.3%, aggravated assault 23.6% and larceny 16.1%, while the county's population grew nearly 3% to about 387,000. These are Sheriff's Office numbers; Bradenton and Palmetto police report separately.

Sources: Pulse of Manatee, WWSB, Sheriff's Office reports

This week

From police and news reports. An arrest is an accusation, not a conviction.

Good to know