🚂 THE FRONT PORCH
All aboard!
It's July in Parrish, which means the AC runs like it's got something to prove, the driveway could fry an egg by noon, and my kids have started treating the ice maker like a 24-hour snack bar.
I caught my youngest stuffing his pockets with ice cubes "for later." 🧊
For later, he says. Buddy, they're a puddle by the mailbox. 😂
But this week gave me the good kind of chills — not the freezer kind.
A wounded Marine is getting the keys to a brand-new home right here in Parrish, there are big trucks for the kids to climb on, a raw bar worth loosening your belt for, a sandwich shop that's fed this town for 30 years, and a big goofy pup named Scooby-Doo 🐶 hunting for his people.
Pour the sweet tea and let's roll. 🍹
📰 COMMUNITY NEWS & THE PARRISH PULSE
A Wounded Marine Gets a Hero's Homecoming in Parrish
• What: The Gary Sinise Foundation is giving medically retired Marine JT Doody and his mom, Chris Ott, a mortgage-free, custom-built smart home. 🏡
• When & Where: 10:00 AM, Thursday, July 16, at 1617 148th Terrace E, Parrish.
• Why It Matters: The home is built around JT's needs to give him more independence and take some weight off his mom's shoulders.
JT Doody was shot by snipers, fought his way back, then a heart infection triggered a string of strokes and months in a coma.
Doctors call his recovery remarkable — and now Parrish gets to say thank you the right way, with a set of keys and a place to call home.
If you can stand in that yard Thursday morning, go show up for a hero.
🗓️ UPCOMING EVENTS & FAMILY ACTIVITIES
🚒 FPL Touch-a-Truck Hurricane Expo
📅 Date: Saturday, July 18, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Sensory-Friendly Hour: 9–10 AM)
📍 Location: LECOM Park, 1611 9th St W, Bradenton
🎟️ Details: Free. Climb-on emergency vehicles, hurricane-prep demos, free food, games, and giveaways.
If your kid has ever pointed at a fire truck and lost their mind, this one's a lock.
FPL's free Touch-a-Truck lets the little ones climb aboard the big rigs while you pick up real hurricane-season know-how before the next storm spins up.
The 9-to-10 hour skips the flashing lights and sirens for the kids who need it calmer.
🌿 Crafty Critters at Mixon Farms
📅 Date: Thursdays starting July 16, 9:00–11:00 AM (through Aug. 6)
📍 Location: Mixon Farms, Bradenton
🎟️ Details: For preschool and elementary kids — a nature lesson, a themed craft, and time to explore the farm. Registration required.
Beat the heat and let the kids get their hands dirty the good way.
Each week brings a fresh critter, a craft, and room to roam the farm. It's a sweet, simple morning out — just sign up ahead so they've got a spot.
🎄 Village of the Arts "Christmas in July" Market
📅 Date: Saturday, July 18, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
📍 Location: Village of the Arts, Bradenton
🎟️ Details: Local artists, handcrafted gifts, food vendors, and festive entertainment throughout the village.
Christmas in July, Florida-style — no snow, plenty of shade.
Wander the artist studios, snag an early handmade gift, and let the kids soak up the festive buzz. It's a fun, breezy way to spend a Saturday close to home.
🏪 SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT & LOCAL HERO
🥪 PJ's Sandwich Shop
📍 Location: 12342 US Hwy 301 N, Parrish
🥖 What They Do: A family-owned sandwich shop serving Parrish for 30 years — subs, sandwiches, and salads made with locally grown produce, fresh bread, and quality meats.
❤️ Why We Love Them: Three decades, same hometown pride. That's a real Parrish Local Hero.
Thirty years in one town is no accident — it's a whole lot of good sandwiches and even better neighbors.
PJ's keeps it simple: fresh bread, local produce, and meats they actually stand behind.
Skip the chain drive-thru and go hand your lunch money to a Parrish institution.
🍽️ NEW & NOTEWORTHY RESTAURANTS
🦪 Oar & Iron Raw Bar & Grill
📍 Location: 8710 US-301 N, Parrish (Creekside Commons)
🍽️ What They Serve: Fresh seafood, a full raw bar, steaks, and craft cocktails in a roomy space that seats more than 225.
✨ Good to Know: One of Parrish's biggest new sit-down spots — easy for a family dinner or a night out.
Parrish's dining scene keeps leveling up, and Oar & Iron is proof.
Nearly 5,500 square feet of raw bar, fresh catch, and sizzling steaks means there's room for the whole crew — no cramming into a corner booth.
Bring an appetite and split a seafood tower.
💪 FAMILY WELLNESS
Beat the Heat: Early Mornings at Parrish Community Park
📍 Location: Parrish Community Park, 12301 US-301 N, Parrish
⏰ Best Time: Right after breakfast, before the heat index climbs into "nope" territory.
👨👩👧👦 Good For: Colorful play structures, open green space, and walking paths for the whole family.
In a Florida July, the trick isn't skipping the outdoors — it's beating the clock.
Hit Parrish Community Park early, let the kids burn a tank of energy on the play structures, and you're home before the sun turns mean.
💧 Pack a full water bottle for each kid and one extra for the parent who swears they don't need it (you do).
🐾 PET OF THE WEEK
🐶 Meet Scooby-Doo!
🏡 Shelter: Manatee County Animal Welfare, Palmetto
🆔 ID & Age: A137745 • About 3 years old, male
❤️ The Story: A big, brown-and-white mixed breed, newly listed and hoping this is his week.
Meet Scooby-Doo — about 60 pounds of good-boy potential.
He's roughly three years old, past the chew-your-shoes puppy chaos, and still bringing all the goofy charm.
If your family's got a spot on the couch and a yard to run, this big fella is ready to fill it.
🚂 That's the whistle for this week, Parrish.
Whether you show up Thursday to welcome a hero home, chase the kids around a fire truck, or bring home a big goofball named Scooby — do one thing that makes this town feel a little more like family. ❤️
Until next week — stay gritty, stay healthy, and keep Parrish strong.
— Greg
