Say bonjour to the cronookie, a mouthwatering combination of chocolate chip cookies and croissants, at local favorite Five-O Donut Co. Christine Nordstrom, the company’s owner and founder, has conjured up many tempting treats during her time running both Five-O and Sift Bakehouse, and with the fun and fresh cronookie, she’s combining her passion for baking donuts and cookies into the ultimate indulgent bite.

“We’re launching a new line of croissant-focused specialties. This is the first one, and it’s the cronookie. It’s basically like a half-baked chocolate chip cookie inside our croissant donut, and we bake it with our crispy chocolate chip on top with a touch of sea salt. I travel a lot and I always see things here and there. I take inspiration from a lot of different things I’ve seen, but this is more a marrying of the two things that I do well,” Nordstrom says. “There’s a Parisian bakery doing these. They bake croissants, and then they cut them, and bake the chocolate chip cookie dough inside of them. It started in Paris, and I saw it a couple of weeks ago.” For Five-O’s cronookies, Nordstrom starts with the shop’s beloved croissant donut, also known as Le Five-O. “The croissant donut is super popular and is probably one of the number one things we sell,” she adds. “It just makes sense for what we do with croissants because nobody’s doing it with a donut. We actually do fry the donut. It’s a fried croissant donut and then we take it and manipulate it again and bake it. Ours is deep-fried and glazed with our vanilla bean glaze. Then we process them and fill them with the cookie dough and rebake them, so it’s a little bit more of a process.”

Both crunchy and gooey, the cronookie is a versatile dessert and can feature a myriad of flavors. Nordstrom plans to roll out exciting new varieties like an Ohio buckeye cronookie and a 4/20-themed version with potato chip and candy bar elements. For now, stop by and try the original cronookie. “It’s a really good juxtaposition of sea salt, chocolate, butter and vanilla,” she says. “We recommend people buy them and warm them slightly at home.”

Five-O Donut Co., Various locations in Siesta Row, University Town Center, Ringling Boulevard, Bradenton and Ellenton, fiveodonutco.com. 

Pictured: The decadent and delicious cronookie at Five-O Donut Co. Photo by Laura Paquette.

Five-O Donut

The Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open announces the players that will compete in the singles qualifying matches. This strong qualifier list includes former world 14th ranked Kyle Edmund from Great Britain and former NCAA champion American Thai-Son Kwiatkowski. Qualifier entry list also includes seven top twenty ranked juniors in the world including world #2 junior and reigning Australian Open Junior Champion Rei Sakamoto from Japan. Four more qualifiers will be added soon via wild cards. The qualifiers playing at this years event include: Liam Draxl, CAN #257, Thai-Son Kwiatkowski, USA #263, Mitchell Krueger, USA #282, Giovanni Fonio, ITA #283, Pedro Sakamoto, BRA #309, Toby Kodat, USA #340, Federico Agustin Gomez, ARG #346, Gerard Campana Lee, KOR #356, Bogdan Bobrov, #391, Kyle Edmund, GBR #398, Viktor Durasovic, NOR #412, Corentin Denolly, FRA #414, Learner Tien, USA #431, Arthur Gea, FRA #441, Bruno Kuzuhara, USA #477, Matija Pecotic, CRO #479, Garrett Johns, USA #480, Bor Artnak, SLO #486, Rei Sakamoto, JPN JR 19, Alexander Frusina, USA JR 21. The qualifying matches start off the 8-day tournament on Sunday April 7. The top 6 players will then move on to play in the main singles draw on Monday April 8. For schedule information, visit www.sarasotaopen.com. 

The Centennial Park Boat Ramp, 1059 N. Tamiami Trail, will be closed for emergency repairs Monday, April 1 through Friday, April 5. Underwater damage to the concrete ramp has created an unseen hazard for boat trailers. The lane with known significant damage is currently closed. All three double-lane ramps will be temporarily closed starting Monday while scuba divers inspect the ramps. They will clean and prepare all confirmed damaged areas, then crews will conduct the necessary repairs. The boat ramp is expected to reopen to the public by Saturday, April 6. The boat ramp at Ken Thompson Park, 1700 Ken Thompson Way, on City Island remains open to the public. 

Please be advised, the Office of Angelina “Angel” Colonneso, Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, is closed on Friday, March 29, in observance of Good Friday. The office will reopen on Monday, April 1, at 8:30 a.m. However, customers can still access online services on the Clerk & Comptroller’s website 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at www.ManateeClerk.com.  

A well-received past speaker at the club, Florida native Susan MacManus is a widely recognized author, expert, and commentator on many facets of state and local politics. Come hear her skilled analysis of our state’s changing political landscape – firmly grounded in the most current data. Dr. MacManus will consider what has happened in Florida and what we might see in the November elections at all levels of government. Q/A to follow the presentation.

Tuesday, April 2, Sarasota Yacht Club, 1100 John Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, Registration: 11:30, Lunch: Noon, Program, Q&A: 12:30 - 1:30 

MidFlorida Credit Union is offering teens from 10yrs old to 20 yrs. old an opportunity to learn about finances and open up an account with their own debit card. Have you outgrown your piggy bank? Designed for money-savvy teens and young adults between 10 - 20, the Absolutely Free Student Checking account is a great first step towards financial independence. No monthly service fee, no minimum balance requirement, rewards when you use your debit card and just $25 to get you started. Once you open a new student checking account, just use your debit card for 5 purchases and we'll give you $25.00.  It's that easy! Free Online Banking; Free Bill Pay (available at age 18); Free Mobile Banking & Mobile Deposit; Free Text Alerts; Free eStatements; Free Debit Card Rewards Mobile Wallet with Apply Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay; Free ATM Transactions at MidFlorida and Pulix Presto! ATMs; Free Linked Accounts; Text Banking & Phone Banking. 

To learn more, visit

On March 24, All Faiths Food Bank (AFFB) presented its signature annual event to raise awareness and funds to end child hunger: the Walk to End Summer Hunger. The Walk is the kickoff for the 11th annual Campaign Against Summer Hunger.This year's event, which took place at Nathan Benderson Park, featured a 1-mile "fun walk" and a 5K walk. The event was sold out, with 500 walkers on-site. On-site were AFFB's President and CEO Nelle S. Miller, AFFB Chair of the Board Terri Vitale, and 2024 Campaign Against Summer Hunger Chair Lisa Krouse. During the brief speaking portion of the event, Vitale announced that, while the goal for the "quiet phase" of fundraising for the challenge match was $900,000, Campaign investors had contributed $1 million in advance of the community fundraising phase, which kicks off on April 1 and runs through May 15. Registration and light breakfast by Zildjian Catering began at 7:30 a.m., the speaking program began at 8:15 a.m., then the walkers were led in calisthenics by Kourtney Kalahar of KK Active; the Walk – proudly led this year by Principal Dr. LaShawn Frost and students from Booker Middle School – began at 8:30 a.m. Nearly 50% of Sarasota County and 100% of DeSoto County students rely on free and reduced-cost meals at school. The Campaign supports efforts to feed area children during the summer months when they no longer receive those meals. AFFB estimates that more than 40,000 local kids will need food this summer. On top of an already high cost of living and growing inflation, Florida has opted out of the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children (Summer EBT) program, which would have provided $250 million in funding to help families in need buy food this summer. Through the food bank’s hundreds of partners and summer programs, AFFB works to make sure children receive the nutritional assistance they need. Support from investors – who contribute matching funds to inspire greater widespread giving – and the community are critical to these efforts. From April 1-May 15, the Campaign – the community’s strongest line of defense against child hunger – gratefully accepts community contributions designated toward ending hunger for local children. AFFB is thankful for lead investors Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation and Gulf Coast Community Foundation for helping to fund the significant challenge match, as well as the more than 300 community partners – including schools, libraries, early learning centers, summer camps, community centers and numerous other organizations throughout Sarasota and DeSoto counties – that help the organization reach all who might be in need. In 2023, the Campaign raised over $2 million. With this support, nearly 38,000 local children received nutritious meals. Since its inception in 2014, donors have contributed more than $16 million to the Campaign. For more about All Faiths Food Bank or to learn more about the Campaign to End Summer Hunger, visit allfaithsfoodbank.org or call 941.379.6333.