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Thursday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
› Higher levels of red tide found at Sarasota-area beaches; visitors cautioned
The Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County issued a public notice to caution visitors about the presence of red tide at a handful of area beaches. The department cited samples processed on Monday that show "elevated" levels of red tide present at beaches including Venice Beach, Service Club Park, Venice Fishing Pier, Brohard Beach, Caspersen Beach, Manasota Key, and Blind Pass.
› Snowcat Ridge snow park in Dade City will return for third year
Dade City’s Snowcat Ridge, which markets itself as Florida’s first and only alpine snow park, will return for a third year starting Nov. 11. The snow park has huge machines that produce thousands of pounds of “real snow” every day. It features sliding on Snowy Slopes, an indoor play area, ice skating and snowball play. It will remain open on select days through Feb. 26. The park also offers private igloos for rent and multiple food options.
› PorchFest concerts, Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair kick off busy weekend
Looking to stroll through an historic neighborhood and watch live music? Or maybe flip and fly and eat food on a stick? Either way, Jacksonville has you covered this weekend with PorchFest and the opening of the Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair. Twenty or so live musical acts, a drag show and the Jaguars drumline are on the bill for Saturday's PorchFest, which sees the streets of Springfield turned into an open-air concert venue, front porches converted into stages and fans sitting on the lawn to watch their favorites.
› Manatee County to temporarily halt collection of bus fares
Manatee County bus riders will get a glimpse of what it’s like to not pay for transportation soon. The 18-month pilot program for fare-free transportation began Tuesday, Nov. 1, for Manatee County Area Transit, according to a statement. The MCAT buses in Manatee County will be free to passengers until they reach the Sarasota County portion of the Route 99 service, which will still collect a fare. That route links downtown Bradenton to the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport and downtown Sarasota.
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