🌱 Kookies & Kream + 7-Story Siesta Key Hotel + Turkey Giveaway

Morning, Sarasota! It's Thursday, so let's get you started with everything you need to know going on in town today.

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First, today's weather:

Sun through high clouds. High: 82 Low: 68.

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Here are the top stories in Sarasota today:

1. When a bipartisan group of Florida lawmakers met in Washington D.C. Wednesday to discuss the state's water quality issues, Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium's president and CEO, Dr. Michael P. Crosby, spoke about the need for a seagrass restoration project. Seagrass, which has been dying off in parts of the state, is a primary food source for manatees. (WTSP.com)
2. Sarasota-based Kookies & Kream, which ships it's made-from-scratch, oversized sweets across the country, has opened a brick-and-mortar location in Fruitville Commons Shopping Center. The bakery has a retro vibe that feeds off '90s nostalgia. (Sarasota Herald-Tribune)
3. Sarasota County Commissioners approved the development of a seven-story, 120-room hotel with a separate five-story parking garage in Siesta Key on Old Stickney Point Road despite many public speakers opposing the project. (Sarasota)
4. A convicted felon was arrested after attempting to rob a Sarasota business Monday. He claimed to be armed and ran off when the employee he tried to rob said he had no cash. (WWSB)
5. All Faiths Food Bank plans to distribute more than 12,500 turkeys to families in need this Thanksgiving season. That's the largest number the organization has ever distributed. (Sarasota)

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Today in Sarasota:

• Oscar Scherer State Park Walks - Sarasota Audubon Society (8:30 AM)
• Yoga at the Point – November (10:30 AM)
• Glam Glass Pumpkin Class (Resin) (3:00 PM)
• The Next Horizon: The Latest with Playwright Bess Wohl (5:30 PM)
• Glam Glass Resin Class (6:00 PM)

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Sarasota Patch Notebook

• New College of Florida: "New College Art presents paintings, drawings and sculptures by students, alumni, and faculty at the Manatee Performing Arts Center in Bradenton, FL through November 30. Works in this post by: Lianna McDonald, Kim Anderson, Yajaira Urzu..." (Instagram)
• Sarasota Police Department: "TALK ABOUT A RUFF DAY🐶 🚔On Wednesday, our Marine Patrol (who we may re-name Marine PawTrol 😉) was coming into New Pass when they saw someone swimming in the channel which is out of the norm. Rut-Roh.🐾 Turns out a jet skier and his p..." (Instagram)
• Sarasota Police Department: "Great work by our Traffic Unit 👏🚔 Jordan Schopfer, 30, of Bradenton, has been arrested in Manatee County by the United States Marshals Service Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force in connection to a deadly crash that happened in June 2..." (Instagram)
• Sarasota County (FL) Sheriff's Office: "You may remember last month, several inmates graduated the CORE class on their way to electrical pre-apprenticeship. On Friday, seven students completed another step by earning their NCCER Level 1 electrical certification! This course in..." (Facebook)
• MacDill Air Force Base: "Mission success within the Air Force only happens with its No. 1 asset - its people. The Professional Development Center and Airman Leadership School teamed up to provide members at MacDill with the first-ever professional development we..." (Facebook)
• Sarasota County Schools: "Squad ghouls at Oak Park School's Trunk-or-Treat" (Facebook)
• Visit Sarasota County: "Congrats to the Atlanta Braves 🙌⚾😍 #WorldSeries Champions!! #DYK Sarasota has NEVER hosted a World Series Champion for Spring Training in its 100 year history! 📷 Norman Schimmel" (Facebook)
• Sarasota County Schools: "Our very own Booker High School Principal, Dr. Rachel Shelley, received a Key to the City of Sarasota, Government this week for her commitment to education and ensuring academic and personal success for her students. Check out that shiny..." (Facebook)
• Sarasota High Baseball: "⚓⚾⛳💯👏 HUGE THANKS to the 144 golfers who played this past weekend in the 17th Annual Sailor Baseball Boosters Golf Tournament!!! The generosity and support of the Sarasota Sailor Baseball community is unmatched! CONGRATULATIONS to Sail..." (Facebook)
• City of Sarasota, Government: "Just a couple of nights away! See you in downtown this Friday night for the inaugural Fresh Fridays! 🥳🎶👏" (Facebook)

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From our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

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Events:

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• JOBLINK 2021 JOB FAIR Sarasota / Bradenton / Tampa Bay - Hundreds of Jobs Available! (November 10)
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You're all caught up for today. I'll see you around! If you're into these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to read along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Tiffany Razzano

Have a news tip or suggestion for Sarasota Patch? You can reach me at tiffany.razzano@patch.com.