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THE SKINNY

• The Storm Settlement

• Play Ball, I Guess

• Foodie Friday with Pita Kebob

Featured Story

That’s A Lot of Wastewater

Tampa reaches a $590K settlement over millions of gallons of wastewater released into Hillsborough Bay

If you enjoy fishing, boating, kayaking or pretty much anything involving Tampa Bay, you may want to pay attention to this one. The City of Tampa has reached a nearly $590,000 settlement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection following years of wastewater problems that sent millions of gallons into Hillsborough Bay. And we’re not talking about a little spill.

According to the settlement, Tampa failed to meet water-quality standards for treated water released into the bay more than 80 times between 2022 and 2025. State regulators also documented major wastewater releases surrounding Hurricanes Helene and Milton. During the storms, nearly 13 million gallons of untreated wastewater were discharged into Hillsborough Bay. Hurricane Milton added another 2.9 million gallons of partially treated wastewater, while roughly another 250,000 gallons were released in incidents unrelated to the named storms.

To be fair, hurricanes aren’t exactly gentle on sewer systems. Tampa officials say Helene’s storm surge flooded seven low-lying pump stations. Then Milton knocked out roughly 100 wastewater pumping stations, causing overflows while crews waited for power to return or portable generators to arrive. But hurricanes aren’t the entire problem. About 60% of Tampa’s wastewater pipes are at least 60 years old, and the city acknowledges that aging infrastructure, grease and construction damage can all contribute to future overflows.

The settlement was finalized in April and included penalties for additional spills. Apparently the meter is already running. In just the following three months, Tampa accumulated another $32,000 in fines after more than 500,000 gallons of reclaimed water and nearly 15,000 gallons of partially treated or untreated wastewater were discharged into the bay.

For those of us down here in Southshore, this isn’t simply a Tampa problem. Hillsborough Bay is part of the larger Tampa Bay system, the same interconnected waterway surrounding our communities and supporting everything from fishing and recreation to dolphins, manatees and other wildlife. So while the settlement may have Tampa’s name on it, keeping our water clean is very much a regional issue. Because when it comes to Tampa Bay, what happens upstream doesn’t necessarily stay upstream.

Your Yard Is Thirstier Than You Think

Why Florida homeowners are choosing synthetic turf with DVD Syn Turf

We spend a lot of time thinking about how much water we drink in Florida. We probably spend a lot less time thinking about how much our yards drink. And according to the team at DVD Syn Turf, that can be a lot.

Keeping a traditional lawn green through Florida’s heat can mean thousands of gallons of water going straight into the grass, especially during stretches when Mother Nature decides to turn the thermostat up and forget where she put the rain. That’s one of the lesser-talked-about benefits of synthetic turf. It doesn’t need irrigation to stay green.

That means no daily sprinkler cycles, no dragging a hose around the yard, and no watching perfectly good water run down the driveway because one sprinkler head decided the sidewalk looked thirsty. There are some other benefits too. Synthetic turf doesn’t need fertilizer, mowing or the constant watering and maintenance that comes with keeping natural grass looking its best.

And DVD Syn Turf says homeowners shouldn’t think of modern turf as simply “fake grass.” Different products are designed for different uses, from backyards and pool areas to pet spaces, putting greens and high-traffic areas. Choosing the right turf and, just as importantly, installing the proper drainage and base underneath it can make a huge difference in how it performs long-term.

So if your sprinkler system seems to be working harder on your lawn than you do at your actual job, there might be another option. DVD Syn Turf is here to help Southshore homeowners understand what synthetic turf can do, where it makes sense, and whether it’s actually the right fit for their yard.

Play Ball…But What About the Roads?

The Rays stadium is approved, with $360 million in infrastructure tax dollars helping fund the deal

After years of proposals, negotiations, failed plans and enough stadium drama to fill several extra innings, it’s official. The Tampa Bay Rays have gotten the green light for a new stadium in Hillsborough County. County commissioners voted 5-2 Friday to approve the deal, one day after Tampa City Council narrowly approved its portion 4-3. The roughly $2.3 billion project will put a new domed ballpark on Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry campus, with the Rays hoping to be playing there by Opening Day 2029.

The Rays are responsible for more than $1.3 billion and any construction cost overruns, while Hillsborough County’s contribution is capped at $796 million. And that’s where this gets a little more interesting for those of us sitting in traffic down here in Southshore.

Of the county’s contribution, $360 million will come from the Community Investment Tax, the half-cent sales tax voters renewed in 2024 to help fund major public infrastructure. The CIT can fund projects including roads, bridges, sidewalks, fire stations and other capital improvements. That doesn’t mean $360 million previously earmarked for Southshore roads was suddenly taken away and handed to the Rays. But it does mean a substantial amount from a limited infrastructure funding source is now committed to the stadium project.

And that's why we've seen one question come up repeatedly: How can we find hundreds of millions for a baseball stadium while residents are still waiting for roads? It’s an especially understandable reaction in rapidly growing areas like Southshore, where infrastructure has struggled to keep pace with development.

The tension even showed up during Friday’s vote. Commissioner Joshua Wostal, who voted against the deal, argued that voters were sold the renewed Community Investment Tax as a way to address community infrastructure needs. Even Commissioner Chris Boles, who ultimately voted yes, questioned committing the $360 million while another major transportation project closer to our side of the county remains uncertain. Hillsborough is still waiting to see whether the state provides its full promised funding for improvements to Lithia Pinecrest Road.

Supporters see the stadium differently. They argue this isn’t simply $796 million being spent on baseball. The broader project includes a rebuilt Hillsborough College campus, infrastructure improvements and a massive privately funded mixed-use development surrounding the stadium. Supporters believe the investment will create jobs, attract visitors, generate new tax revenue and keep Major League Baseball in Tampa Bay for decades.

And there’s certainly an argument to be made there. But there’s also a pretty understandable argument coming from someone who spends 45 minutes trying to travel eight miles down a Southshore road: That’s great. Can I get a turn lane? Both things can be true.

The stadium could become a major economic development project for Hillsborough County, and residents can reasonably question how we prioritize limited public dollars, particularly when government can assemble complicated funding packages for marquee projects while everyday infrastructure improvements can take years or even decades.

For Southshore, that may ultimately be the bigger conversation coming out of Friday’s vote. The stadium question has finally been answered. Now, about those roads…

Things to do

What’s Washing Up on The Shore This Week

Foodie Friday

Pita Kebob Brings the Mediterranean to Southshore

If you’ve driven down College Avenue in Ruskin a hundred times and somehow missed this place, consider this your sign to make a U-turn. Pita Kebob is a locally owned Mediterranean spot serving up the kind of food that makes deciding what to order the hardest part of your visit.

There are the classics you’d expect: lamb and chicken gyros, shawarma, kebobs, hummus, falafel, Greek salads and rice bowls. But then you start digging through the menu and realize they’ve got grilled salmon and shrimp platters, Mediterranean nachos, fresh-cut fries, wings, Philly subs and even a family dinner built to feed four or five people. And whatever you order, we’re just going to go ahead and suggest adding the butter-herb Parmesan pita. Warm pita, buttery herb seasoning, and Parmesan. We probably didn’t need to explain why.

Pita Kebob is tucked away at 3028 E. College Avenue in Ruskin, and they offer dine-in, takeout, delivery and catering. So this Foodie Friday, skip the usual suspects and give one of Southshore’s locally owned spots a try. Now the important question: gyro, shawarma or kebob? 👇

Southshore Spotlight

Forgotten Angels

There’s turning 18, and then there’s turning 18 and suddenly being expected to figure out adulthood largely on your own. Forgotten Angels Florida in Valrico works with young adults aging out of foster care, along with homeless and at-risk youth, providing safe housing, mentorship and the practical skills they need to become independent.

That means helping them finish school, find jobs, open bank accounts, build credit and even providing opportunities to live in their own tiny homes. It’s a pretty incredible organization doing important work right here in our backyard. If you’ve never heard of Forgotten Angels, they’re worth getting to know and, if you can, supporting. ❤️

Nominate your local hero by emailing us at [email protected]

We Know a Guy…or Girl

Southshore Services

Need a painter? A plumber? Someone brave enough to tackle that lightbulb hanging 30 feet above your living room? We've got you. And the best part? They're all right here in our community. Click the link above to find your next Southshore professional because we know a guy...or gal. And now you do too.

Interested in joining the list? Shoot us an email to [email protected]

“Keep it Local!”

Foodies Only

Your Restaurant

New menu items, promos, specials, events- feature them here. This is the place to tell 40,000 readers in Southshore what you've got. Only 20 spots for the year. Claim yours today.

If you’ve got a restaurant, food truck, or even a lemonade stand, it could be featured here. Email us at [email protected]

Local Sports

Our area high schools boast state champions and multiple division titleists. Come out and show your support for these teams and for our community.

Got news, events, or press releases that the Southshore needs to know about? Submit them here. (We’ll do our best to add press releases in our regular rotation.) If you’re looking to run an actual ad, go here instead.

Until next time,

Keep It Local.