All aboard! Greg here.

School is back in business.

My four-year-old son just started a homeschool pod for his first year of school.

Whether you homeschool, out-school, or traditional school, it's a great time to start new routines and new experiences.

Now on to this week's Parrish Express and the wonderful world of Florida life...

Today is the Manatee County primary.

Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Early voting ended Sunday, so today is it.

Still holding a vote-by-mail ballot? Do not put it in a mailbox.

It has to be physically inside the Supervisor of Elections office by 7 p.m. tonight to count.

That office is at the county administration building east campus, 9000 Town Center Pkwy in Lakewood Ranch.

Not sure where you vote? Look up your precinct and pull your sample ballot here.

We don't do endorsements around here. Just the where and the when.

Three issues running we couldn't confirm this one. Now we can.

Rye Ranch Elementary is open at 18655 Rutland Rd.

It's one of two brand-new schools the district opened for this year.

School page is here.

If you've been sitting in that Rutland Rd car line for a week, hit reply and tell us how it's actually going.

The district added routes this year to cover the two new schools while it's still short on drivers.

The earliest pickup in the county right now is 4:43 a.m., out east.

Read that again.

The page worth bookmarking is the daily bus changes list — it updates every morning.

An emergency room is going up at Harrison Ranch.

Corner of Harrison Ranch Blvd and US-301.

More than 10,000 square feet, nine private rooms, a full lab, plus CT, X-ray and ultrasound on site.

Manatee Memorial broke ground last November and is aiming to open this fall.

For a town whose closest hospital is across the river, this is the biggest item on the list.

No firm date yet, and "fall" is a nine-week window. Details here.

Moccasin Wallow, Segment 2.

Between Bay Winds Pkwy and Grand River Pkwy, both directions are running on the newly built eastbound lanes.

That stays put until the north side is finished, then westbound shifts over.

Crews work Monday through Friday, 7 to 5, and the whole $35 million stretch is still aiming at late 2026.

Segment 3 — the one that may shut your water off.

The watermain and reclaimed water lines are in and being leak-tested.

There's still a connection coming that could mean a temporary water shutdown for nearby neighborhoods.

The county says you'll get notice first.

Old utility poles come down over the next few weeks. Project updates live here.

Ivy Run comes back Sept 3.

131 homes at Rye Rd and Waterline.

The Planning Commission recommended denial unanimously back in June, and the county commission pushed the decision to September 3.

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Bradenton Area Convention Center, 1 Haben Blvd.

It's called Repticon Bradenton and it sits in Palmetto, about ten minutes down 301.

Saturday 9 to 4. Sunday 10 to 4.

Single-day tickets run $12 to $15 for adults, $6 to $7 for ages 5 to 12, and free for 4 and under.

Snakes, lizards, tortoises, habitats, and a room full of breeders who will happily talk your ear off.

Indoors and air conditioned in late August is the real selling point. Tickets here.

Meeting room at the Rocky Bluff branch library in Ellenton, about eight minutes from Parrish.

Knitters, crocheters, weavers, anybody with yarn and a half-finished project.

Bring your own work. Runs until 12:15.

No fee listed, no registration listed, and teens 13 and up are welcome.

This is the first dated library event we've ever run, which says more about us than about the library. Full library calendar.

Lakewood Ranch Library, about 25 minutes out.

Nine numbers hidden in the kids' area. Find them all, get a prize.

Ages 2 to 8. Free. No signup.

Drop in any time the branch is open, right through Monday, Aug 31.

Keep this one in your back pocket for the first rainy afternoon.

20007 State Road 64 E, roughly 25 to 30 minutes from Parrish.

Open 8 a.m. to sundown, 365 days a year.

$5 per vehicle for up to eight people, $2 if you walk or bike in.

There's an actual swimming beach in the day-use area, with restrooms and showers nearby and no lifeguards on duty.

Five bucks a carload is the cheapest swim in the county.

One catch, and it's worth a phone call: water plants blow ashore and the beach changes week to week.

The park itself tells you to call for current conditions before you load up the car. Do that.

Park info · Hours and fees

Chinese takeout on Fort Hamer, and somehow it has never been in this newsletter.

Start with the part that gets people: closed Mondays.

Tuesday through Thursday, 11 to 10.

Friday and Saturday, 11 to 10:30.

Sunday, noon to 10.

Phone is (941) 729-3999.

The board runs combination platters, Mei Fun, beef dishes, Kung Pao, Bourbon Chicken, and Crab Rangoon.

You can sit down, order at the counter, or take it home.

Practical note: their website is an ordering app and it doesn't always load. Try it here, but if you're in a hurry, just call.

Eaten there? Reply and tell us what to order. We'll print it next week.

12210 US-301 N.

Here's how a local actually gives you the directions: it's behind the historic chapel, across the street from SouthState Bank.

The Thrift Cottage and its Annex are open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Clothes, furniture, household stuff.

More than sixty volunteers run the place.

Donations come in the same days, 10 to 12:30.

Cottage: (941) 776-3161. Annex: (941) 776-0684.

Same campus runs a food pantry the first and third Saturday of every month, 8 to 10 a.m.

First come, first served, one bag per car. Next distribution is Saturday, Sept 5.

They want hygiene items too — shampoo, toothpaste, soap, deodorant — not just canned goods.

Drop-offs go under the brown canopy at the Education Building, just left of the white columns, and the shopping carts are already sitting out for you.

All of it is open to anybody. No membership, no questions.

Thrift Cottage details · Food pantry details

Small dog. Under 25 pounds. Four years old, male, neutered, mixed breed.

Shelter ID A137945, at Manatee County Animal Welfare, 305 25th St W in Palmetto.

He's been there since July 17.

Fourteen issues in, we've run big dogs, senior dogs, and a couple of cats.

Spunky is the first small dog.

His profile is blank — the shelter is still learning who he is — so call before you fall in love: (941) 742-5933.

And here's the timing.

Every Tuesday is Half Price Tuesday at the shelter, so adoption fees are 50% off today.

Fees are waived entirely for any animal there longer than 60 days, and for military, veterans and first responders with ID.

If you're 55 or older and take home a pet 7 or older, it's $10.

Manatee County residents add $20 to license the pet either way.

See Spunky's photo and full listing here.

Election day, week two of school, and an emergency room going up on 301.

Not bad for a town that had 721 people in it in 1939.

Until next week — stay gritty, stay healthy, and keep Parrish strong. — Greg.