Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Beloved Sarasota Cheese Shop Closing Despite Efforts To Save It

Coming up: Free Fashion Show for a Cause on the Sarasota Patch calendar

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Saturday September 19th Patch AM
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Hi Sarasota! We have the latest buzz right here. Let's keep you in the loop and get this morning started right! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • Downtown Sarasota's beloved Artisan Cheese Company is shutting its doors
  • Documentary on New College upheaval returns to Sarasota's Burns Court
  • Manasota Key arsonist gets lengthy prison term after Sarasota trial

Also on today's calendar: Free Fashion Show for a Cause and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What do you call cows dancing in the dark 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Saturday: Humid; an afternoon t-storm, with a high of 88 and low of 72 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
  • Sunday: Humid; an afternoon t-storm, temps: high: 88, low: 73.
  • Monday: An afternoon t-storm; humid, with a high of 87 and low of 73 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Beloved Sarasota Cheese Shop Closing Despite Efforts To Save It (patch.com) — Sarasota residents are losing a cherished downtown staple as Artisan Cheese Company in the Rosemary District prepares to close permanently and sell off its equipment starting Monday. Owner Louise Converse describes how pandemic struggles, rent arrears and sharply declining sales made survival impossible, and she thanks loyal customers for 14 and a half years of support while urging the community to keep shopping at small local businesses.
   

2. 'First They Came For My College' Brings New College Upheaval To FL Theaters (patch.com) — Sarasota's New College of Florida is at the heart of a new documentary, "First They Came For My College," which chronicles the school's conservative takeover through students' eyes. After strong festival buzz and sold-out Sarasota previews, the film is touring Florida theaters, including a late-October run at Burns Court Cinema, while raising broader questions about academic freedom and state control.
   

3. Man Sentenced For 2024 Manasota Key Home Arson (patch.com) — Sarasota County residents learn that Stancel Jeffrey May has been sentenced to 15 years in prison and 15 years of probation for a 2024 arson on Manasota Key. The case, tried at the Sarasota County Courthouse, relied on surveillance video, license plate data, and deleted phone records, along with victim identifications, to secure the conviction and, prosecutors say, greater safety for affected families.
   

4. Sarasota Motel Fire Prompts Police Evacuation Of Residents: Watch (patch.com) — Sarasota police officers evacuated residents from an early-morning fire at the Cadillac Motel on North Tamiami Trail, making sure everyone escaped safely. One person was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after flames spread from a single unit into the attic, as investigators continue working to determine the cause.
   

5. Mote's Big Move (floridatrend.com) — Sarasota's new Mote Science Education Aquarium near University Town Center is drawing far more visitors than expected, helping fund major marine research and expansion plans on City Island. Leaders describe how this growth could transform Sarasota into a global hub for ocean science, red tide mitigation, coral restoration, and even local seafood and mangrove projects that support the region's environment and economy.
   

📸 Around Sarasota

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Sarasota

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📣 Sarasota Shout Outs!

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Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Future Residents of Emerson Lakes Customize Their New Living Spaces —Elizabeth Fabiano Read on Patch
  • Florida Easterseals affiliates collaborate with Tampa Bay Buccaneers —Sharon Kunkel Read on Patch
  • Manatee County Habitat for Humanity Now Accepting Applications for a New 1-Bedroom Home in Palmetto
    Manatee County Habitat for Humanity is now accepting applications for a brand-new, move-in-ready 1-bedroom, 1-bathroom home in the Palmetto, Florida,… (Nextdoor Whitfield)
  • I would like to thank the man operating a gang-mower today at Red Bug Slough Nature Preserve for helping my son to untangle me from my crashed bike.
    Thank you for your assistance and for staying with us until I recovered. I am grateful. (Nextdoor Oaks at Woodland Park)
  • Harmar Mobility, LLC posted a job opening for Entry Level Material Handler - Bilingual Preferred in Sarasota. Apply here.
  • Office Pride posted a job opening for Sarasota and Venice Areas Part Time Commercial Cleaning Tech in Sarasota. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Sarasota here.

Ok Sarasota! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Night Moo-s (Thank you John S. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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