Nokomis, FL Local News and More

Iconic Sarasota County waterfront restaurant reopens

For Mary and Charlie Morhardt, the recent reopening of an iconic Old Florida restaurant in south Sarasota County known for serving comfort food in a waterfront setting could not happen soon enough. The Michigan couple had been visiting Snook Haven , located “Smack Dab on the Myakka River” at 5000 E. Venice Ave., Venice, since the 1970s. “We ride a lot of motorcycles, back in the 70s,” Charlie Morhardt said. “It was more of a motorcycle hangout. It’s always nice to come here, they always have a band going,” he added. Sarasota County closed Snook Haven on April 30, 2025 to begin an $8.75 million makeover that included a new food service building and covered seating pavilion. Last year, while Sarasota County was in the midst of that project, the couple put their kayaks in the river and paddled over to see the new facility from that side. This year, they waited patiently for the reopening. “We stayed an extra day just to be here,” Mary Morhardt added. The Morhardts were the first customers served after the new food pavilion opened. They ordered the Florida Seafood Chowder and Myakka Nachos. What's on the menu at the reopened Snook Haven SSA

Sarasota County, FL · 1d

The Daily Sun

Watchdog group: Nokomis scrap metal plant accused of polluting Venice waters

NOKOMIS — Already immersed in a lengthy, complicated and public legal battle with Sarasota County's code enforcement department over its permitting, a local scrap metal recycling facility has now been accused of additional transgressions.

The Daily Sun

SMH breaks ground on Venice rehab facility

VENICE — Sarasota Memorial Hospital took another step forward in the expansion of services in Venice on Friday, breaking ground on a rehabilitation pavilion scheduled to open in the summer of 2028.

Herald-Tribune

'World famous' Sarasota restaurant plans to reopen with original owner

A Sarasota restaurant that touted itself as "world famous " thanks in large part to a national television spotlight, before closing last year after more than two decades in business, plans to reopen under its original owner. J.D. Chester told the Herald-Tribune that he intends to reopen Munchies 420 Cafe, at 6639 Superior Ave. in Sarasota's Gulf Gate neighborhood, around the end of November or start of December. Munchies opened in 2002, with the idea coming from Chester after he wrapped up a night of drinking and couldn't find a restaurant in Sarasota that stayed open in the late hours, according to a 2017 Herald-Tribune story for the restaurant's 15th anniversary. Downtown Sarasota restaurant closes as neighborhood transforms Ticket Newsletter: Sign up to receive restaurant news and reviews plus info on things to do every Friday Munchies featured a menu of fatty and fried food that would be enticing especially, but not exclusively, to the inebriated, and late-night hours. Its greatest exposure came from a 2009 Sarasota-set episode of Travel Channel's "Man v. Food" that also featured The Old Salty Dog and Yoder's. Chester later sold Munchies to new owners , and the restaurant closed last year , citing the

Sarasota, FL · 2d

Mysuncoast.com

North Port house raided, 2 arrested for drug bust

NORTH PORT, Fla. (WWSB) - The North Port Police Department announced they arrested two individuals after the North Port Special Investigations Unit served a search warrant at a home on Narcissus Terrace. 29-year-old Nicholas Eddy and 28-year-old Jessica Trach were both arrested for having drugs packaged for sale, maintaining a...

North Port, FL · 2d

Herald-Tribune

Every new Trader Joe's opening in Florida in 2027: See the full list

Popular grocery chain Trader Joe's is adding three new stores in Florida this year, and they've already announced six more coming in 2027. The newest store opened on Wednesday, Nov. 5, in Orlando. A Sarasota location will open by the end of 2026, according to company spokesperson Nakia Rohde. Trader Joe's previously opened a store in West Palm Beach in June. "Next year, we plan to add new Trader Joe’s in Boynton Beach, Orlando, Kissimmee, Maitland, Central Naples, and Vero Beach," Rohde said. "We are actively looking at hundreds of neighborhoods across the country as we hope to open more new neighborhood stores each year." Shop Trader Joe's with Instacart The popular California-based grocery chain, is known for its private-label " unique and interesting products ," along with seasonal favorites and its highly sought-after totes , prides itself on "low prices, every day" with no loyalty programs or membership cards. Here's what to know. New Trader Joe's in Orlando The new location, which opened on Nov. 5, is at 1444 North Alafaya Trail in Orlando, in the Waterford Oaks shopping center, near the University of Central Florida. .oembed-frame { width: 100%; height: 100%; margin: 0; border: 0; } New Trader

Florida · 2d

The Daily Sun

SMH, UHC at ‘impasse’ on new Medicare Advantage deal

SARASOTA — Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is hopeful, but not positive, that it will have new commercial (employer-sponsored) and exchange (Obamacare) health plans agreements with UnitedHealthcare in place before the end of the year.

Sarasota, FL · 7h

wslr.org

publisher · 4.3K followers

Sarasota judge quashes county’s pushback against Live Local

Suit against county by the largest homebuilder in the U.S. proceeds. Host: A Sarasota judge allowed a lawsuit by a developer who wants to build high-density workforce housing on rural land to proceed. We have the details. Johannes Werner: Sarasota County Commissioners who pushed back against Florida’s Live Local Act...

Sarasota County, FL · 2d

SuncoastPost

Sarasota County Veterans Day 2026 Closures and What Stays Open

Planning errands for Wednesday, Nov. 11? Most Sarasota County Government offices will be closed for Veterans Day, but trash pickup and public transportation will continue on their regular schedules. The holiday also leaves one familiar midweek outing on the calendar: the Phillippi Farmhouse Market will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Sarasota County, FL · 1d

The Daily Sun

partner publisher · 139.5K followers

Ribbon-cutting set for new Higel Park dock

VENICE — The Venice Youth Boating Association will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 20 near the Higel Park pavilion to celebrate a new floating dock and other site features for its sailing program.

Venice, FL · 16h

Tampa Bay Times

Florida’s most overpopulated jail is poised to reach an overcrowding milestone

The last time Sarasota County built an addition to its jail, the United States was gearing up for an impending invasion of Iraq. That was 2002, under Sheriff William Balkwill, when the jail’s North Wing was constructed to the tune of $15.5 million to house an additional 288 inmates. That year, the county’s population neared 339,000 residents, and the jail’s operational capacity was about 780.

Sarasota County, FL · 1d

Herald-Tribune

Major Sarasota road reopens after vehicle strikes cyclist

Update: All lanes of Fruitville Road reopened by 9 a.m. Saturday. Sarasota police said drivers should expect delays as traffic resumes. A stretch of eastbound Fruitville Road in Sarasota was closed Saturday morning as police investigated a crash involving a vehicle and a cyclist. The Sarasota Police Department said shortly after 7:20 a.m. that eastbound Fruitville Road was closed from North Lockwood Ridge Road to Tuttle Avenue. The crash occurred near Fruitville Road and Brink Avenue. Police said a vehicle struck a cyclist and that one man was taken to a hospital. Police did not immediately release the man's condition or provide additional details about the crash. Photos posted by the Police Department show a bicycle on the roadway near a pickup truck as police vehicles block lanes of Fruitville Road. Police urged drivers to watch for officers in the area and expect traffic delays until the scene is cleared. Additional details about the circumstances of the crash were not included in the alert. Florida’s 2026 crash statistics The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports there were 291,970 crashes in Florida through Oct. 29, 2026, including 2,039 fatalities. The department’s Florida Crash Dashboard also reported 187,622 injuries,

Sarasota, FL · 2d

Herald-Tribune

Venice football makes first ever FHSAA Open Division as an eighth seed

Venice head coach John Peacock has talked to his players all season about Florida's first-ever Open Division, a bracket made up of the top eight teams in Florida, which was approved by the FHSAA in June. "That was our goal to start is to get into the Open Division," Peacock said. "I felt that if we split with Raines and Lakeland that we'd be in." Venice football made the FHSAA's first Open Division , which was announced on Friday, Nov. 6. The Indians are ranked eighth and will have a tough road as it shares a pool with No. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas, No. 4 Chaminade-Madonna and No. 5 seed Lakeland. Venice will start Pool A play at Chamiade-Madonna on Nov. 13 before hosting the top seed Saint Thomas Aquinas on Nov. 20 then traveling to Lakeland, a team the Indians beat on the road earlier this season . Peacock said he's excited to represent Southwest Florida as the elite program moving forward and hopes to provide a good showing against familiar foes. In its previous meeting, Venice beat Lakeland in double-overtime on the road in a 32-25 victory. The Indians lost to Lakeland in two 4S state championship games

thebradentontimes.com

Manatee County opens new Sheriff's Office facility in Lakewood Ranch

Manatee County officials joined Sheriff Rick Wells and members of the Manatee County Sheriff's Office recently to celebrate the opening of a new 5,000-square-foot Special Enforcement Division substation in Lakewood Ranch, marking another investment in public safety and the resources needed to serve the community. The new facility will serve...

Manatee County, FL · 2d

wslr.org

Booker High School honors former principal’s legacy

A painting of Dr. Rachel Shelley will hang permanently on campus. Host: On October 30, Booker High School hosted a portrait unveiling for former Principal Dr. Rachel Shelley. WSLR reporter Ed James III has the details. Ed James III: Students, faculty, alumni and community members gathered inside the BPAC Auditorium...

Sarasota, FL · 3d

uncoveringflorida.com

partner publisher · 42.3K followers

This Old-School Florida Italian Bakery Serves Pizza Worth Getting There Early For

Rhode Island pizza strips are hiding in a Florida bakery case. Yes, the cold, saucy, cheeseless red strips that New Englanders grew up on. They’re sold right here, far from Providence. The case doesn’t stop there. Lobster tail pastries, sfogliatelle, rainbow cookies, and cannoli filled to order share the...

Sarasota, FL · 2d

2paragraphs News

DeSantis Says Amendment 3 Saved Florida From the Blue Wave - Sarasota Commissioner Warns of "Disastrous" Impact

Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis called the national election results "probably the political worst-case scenario for a midterm election" and said "Florida is the last main anchor standing." On Saturday he wrote on X: "Had Amendment 3 not been on the ballot, I don't know that we turn out the voters that we ended up […]

Florida · 1d

wapt.golf

Six ANNIKA WAPT Players Advance to LPGA Q-Series Final Qualifying Stage

DALLAS, Texas — Six ANNIKA Women's All Pro Tour members will compete for 2027 LPGA Tour membership after advancing through the Qualifying Stage of the 2026 LPGA Q-Series, which concluded Friday at Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, FL. Maisie Filler, Milagros Chaves, Claire Vermette, Maria Bohorquez, Tiffany Le and Kate Villegas all finished inside the top 55 and ties to earn spots in the Final Qualifying Stage, November 19-23 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Magnolia Grove in Mobile, AL.

partner publisher · 249.9K followers

WFLA

8 arrested, 7 wanted after $260K stolen in church donation fraud scheme: Manatee County deputies

Eight people have been arrested in connection with a large-scale church check fraud investigation involving donations from congregations throughout Manatee County, the sheriff's office announced Friday.

Manatee County, FL · 2d

Mysuncoast.com