It is officially that time of year in Parrish when you can fry an egg on the hood of your truck and the kids still ask why the pool feels like bathwater.

I told mine the river runs cooler and it's free, and they looked at me like I'd asked them to go wrestle a gator. (For the record: we do not wrestle gators around here.)

Summer's in full swing, and so is our little town.

This week we've got a half-billion-dollar hospital breaking ground, real Jersey bagels rolling in, fireworks on the way, and a big shelter pup named Oakley looking for a couch to call home.

Grab your sweet tea and let's get into it.

1. Parrish Is Finally Getting Its Own Hospital

• What: BayCare has broken ground on BayCare Hospital Manatee, a $548 million project.

• Where: 6730 Moccasin Wallow Road, in the Robinson Gateway development.

• The Details: 154 private patient rooms plus a 45,000-square-foot medical arts building — the first hospital north of the Manatee River and the county's first not-for-profit hospital.

• Opens: Hospital expected in 2028, with the medical office building coming sooner.

For years, folks on our side of the river had to cross a bridge for serious care. That's changing. This is the first hospital ever built north of the Manatee River — a real milestone for a town growing as fast as ours.

2. A Grocery Store (and More Shops) Headed to 301

• What: Plans for the Parrish Town Center, a new commercial plaza.

• Where: Off U.S. 301 and State Road 62, on nearly 48 acres.

• The Details: Plans include a grocery store, coffee shop, quick-service restaurants, retail shops, and more.

If it's felt like Parrish is one giant construction zone lately, you're not wrong. The proposed Parrish Town Center would drop a grocery store and a stack of new shops right on 301. More options close to home means fewer long drives. We'll take it.

1. Palmetto Fourth Fest

• Date: Saturday, July 4, 5:00–10:00 PM

• Location: Riverside Park, Palmetto

• Details: Free admission, live music from the Soul Circus Cowboys, food trucks, vendors, and fireworks over the Manatee River.

Nothing says summer like fireworks over the river. Palmetto's Fourth Fest is free, family-friendly, and just a short hop from Parrish. Get there early — the good parking spots disappear fast.

2. Food Truck Fridays at North River Ranch

• Date: Every Friday, 5:00–8:00 PM

• Location: Brightwood Pavilion Event Lawn, North River Ranch, Parrish

• Details: A rotating lineup of local food trucks for dinner and dessert. Family- and dog-friendly.

Skip cooking on Friday night. North River Ranch brings local trucks to the Brightwood lawn every week. Pack a blanket, let the kids run, and call it dinner.

3. Manatee Library Summer Learning Program

• Dates: Now through July 31

• Location: All Manatee County libraries (track reading in the Beanstack app)

• Details: Free for kids and teens up to 18. Log 20 hours of reading to earn two Bradenton Marauders tickets for the August 7 game.

Keep those young brains sharp all summer. Twenty hours of reading earns Marauders tickets and a shot at the grand prize. Sign up in Beanstack and start logging.

Jersey Girl Bagels

• Location: Creekside Commons, 20 U.S. 301, Parrish

• What They Do: Real New Jersey-style bagels, dough made from scratch daily, house-made cream cheese, and breakfast sandwiches.

• The Story: Owner Kim Fishman and her family moved to Florida, couldn't find a proper Jersey bagel, and started baking at home — until friends pushed them to go pro.

This is the kind of story we love. The Fishman family missed real bagels, so they made their own — and now Parrish gets the payoff. They run a 24-hour process and bake every flavor fresh, every day. That's grit you can taste.

OAR & IRON

• Location: 8710 U.S. 301 N, Parrish

• Cuisine: American seafood and steakhouse — fresh catches and classic favorites with a modern twist.

• The Vibe: Cozy and a little upscale, but still family-welcome.

When you want to dress it up a notch without driving all the way to Bradenton, OAR & IRON has you covered. This seafood-and-steak spot right on 301 keeps it local with fresh catches and steaks done right. Date night or a family celebration — it fits the bill.

Beat the Heat at Rye Preserve

• Location: 905 Rye Wilderness Trail, Parrish

• Activity: Shaded nature trails, a creek, fishing spots, and picnic areas.

July in Florida is no joke, so take the family somewhere with shade. Rye Preserve's trails wind under a canopy of oaks along Rye Branch — one of the cooler places to hike near Parrish this time of year. Pack water and bug spray, and let the kids hunt for turtles. Fresh air and a little movement is still the cheapest medicine there is.

Meet Oakley!

• Shelter: Manatee County Animal Welfare, Palmetto

• Pet ID: A137159

• The Details: A 3-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier, about 71 pounds, gray and white, and already neutered.

Oakley is a big, handsome boy with a blocky head and (we're betting) an even bigger heart. At 3 years old and already fixed, he's past the shoe-chewing stage and ready for a family of his own. Bonus: every Tuesday is Half-Price Tuesday at the shelter, so bringing him home is a little easier on the wallet.

Meet Oakley here.