What about P.J.'s? Teresa Giles says her Parrish sandwich shop can't grow without county service

Teresa Giles of P.J.'s Sandwich Shop.
Herald photo

In a recent Bradenton Herald story, Sia Mollanazar, Manatee County's deputy director of public works, talked about the timetable for bringing sewer to the village of Parrish.

The southern half of Parrish already has sewer, everything south of County Road 675.

And the northern half will be getting it too, all the way to Erie Road. Parrish has been around for well over a century, and most residents probably don't mind waiting another year or so to have the modern convenience that we take for granted.

It'll happen as soon as developers start those big new developments around Parrish.

But just a minute, said Teresa Giles, owner of P.J.'s sandwich shop, which has been serving its tasty sandwiches for more than 30 years.

"What about us?" said Giles. Her sandwich shop is located north of Erie Road.

"I would love to be able to increase my seating, but I can't expand without sewer," Giles said.

At lunch time, P. J.'s has a crush of business, with customers literally lining up out the door to order a sandwich.

"We're at a standstill. I feel like we are always behind the eight ball," Giles said.

Mollanazar has an answer for Giles.

Sewer will become available to P.J.'s, located at the corner of State Road 62 and U.S. 301 North, when Cone Ranch, is built, Mollanazar said.

Cone Ranch, which is located several miles east of P. J.'s on S.R. 62, will need to run a sewer line to Parrish before it can start moving residents into the new homes planned there.

The Herald previously reported that 1,100 homes are planned for Cone Ranch.

Also planned near Cone Ranch are 584 homes by Neal Land Ventures on the Dakin Homestead.

The force main from Cone Ranch will be installed right next to P.J.'s, Mollanazar said.

The developer of Cone Ranch will install the sewer line, but the county will also participate in the project, Mollanazar sid.

"The idea is for growth to pay for itself," he said.

For more on P.J.'s and Parrish sewer improvements, check these links:

http://www.bradenton.com/2015/02/05/5620366_pjs-sandwich-shop-marks-30-years.html?rh=1


http://www.bradenton.com/2015/06/22/5861728/extension-of-sewer-to-heart-of.html

Parrish's Amber Putnam becomes first woman to command Florida Veterans of Foreign Wars

Amber Putnam at VFW State Convention in Orlando.
PROVIDED PHOTO

It's a record year for women commanders at state headquarters of Veterans of Foreign Wars around the United States.

This year, seven women took the helm at state VFWs, the most ever.

Never had a woman commanded the Florida VFW, however, until Amber Putnam of Parrish was installed on Sunday, June 14, at the state convention in Orlando.

Putnam, an Air Force veteran, was installed as the 85th commander of the combat veterans non-profit organization with more than 70,000 members.

For the next year she will lead the members who work in their communities to foster patriotism, assist veterans and their families and act as strong advocates for legislation affecting veterans’ benefits.

Putnam served in the Air Force and Air Force Reserve from 1978 to 2013 in worldwide assignments to include support of Operation Noble Eagle in Kuwait.

Her goals for the Florida veterans group are to support and attract younger veterans as well as women and minorities and re-invigorate the organization’s mission of fostering patriotism and service in the community.

For those interested in more information about the VFW mission and membership, visit www.myfloridavfw.org or call 352-622-5126.

For more information:

http://www.bradenton.com/2015/06/15/5850540_parrish-resident-amber-putnam.html?rh=1