Crossing Guards, Costly Leaks & $650 Million Beneath Our Feet

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Featured Story

Retired? HCSO Has a Job That Pays You to Keep Kids Safe

HCSO needs more than 20 crossing guards before students head back to school

If you’re retired, looking for a little extra income, or just want something that gets you out of the house for a few hours each day, this might be worth a look. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is hiring more than 20 school crossing guards ahead of the new school year to help students safely get to and from school. With more than 350 school crossing locations across the county, HCSO is working to fill open positions before classes begin.

The position pays around $21 per hour and offers part-time hours that fit around the school day, making it an ideal opportunity for retirees, grandparents, stay-at-home parents, or anyone with a little extra time during the mornings and afternoons.

One thing we thought was pretty neat is the wide range of people who already do the job. According to HCSO, their crossing guards range in age from 19 to 95 years old. One longtime Riverview crossing guard, known to generations of local families as Mr. Willie, even had a crosswalk named in his honor after years of helping students safely cross the street. That's the kind of impact a few hours a day can have on a community.

With Southshore continuing to grow and more kids heading back to school every year, crossing guards play an important role in keeping everyone safe during those busy morning and afternoon rushes.

This Tiny Puddle Could Cost You Thousands

Just the Facts with Max Cool Air Conditioning

It starts with a little puddle. Maybe it's next to your indoor AC unit in the garage. Maybe it's a small water stain that wasn't there yesterday. Most homeowners wipe it up, assume it's "just condensation," and move on. Sometimes it is. Sometimes it's the first warning sign of a clogged condensate drain line, and ignoring it can become a very expensive mistake.

Your air conditioner pulls gallons of moisture out of the air every day. That water is supposed to flow harmlessly through a small drain line and outside your home. But when that line becomes clogged with algae, dirt, or debris, the water has nowhere to go except into your walls, ceilings, flooring, or insulation.

Here's the scary part. A drain line cleaning that might cost around $150 today can become a $10,000 water damage restoration project if the leak goes unnoticed long enough. That's the difference between fixing a small problem and paying for everything it damages afterward. And with August right around the corner, your AC is about to work harder than it has all year. Long stretches of heat, high humidity, and nonstop run times are when small problems often turn into emergency service calls.

That's why our friends at Max Cool Air Conditioning encourage homeowners to have their systems checked before the hottest part of summer arrives. Catching a clogged drain line, worn component, or other minor issue now is almost always faster, cheaper, and far less stressful than dealing with a breakdown during a heat wave.

To make that decision even easier, Max Cool is currently waiving their service fee when you move forward with any recommended repair.

Sometimes the biggest home repairs start with the smallest warning signs. The trick is catching them before they become something much bigger.

What’s Another $650…Million?

Hillsborough County approves $650 million for water and wastewater projects

If it feels like we've been talking about water infrastructure a lot lately, you're not imagining it. Just a couple of months ago, we covered the groundbreaking of One Water South, the massive $1.2 billion project that will expand wastewater capacity and modernize infrastructure serving Apollo Beach, Riverview, Ruskin, Wimauma, Sun City Center, Gibsonton, Brandon, and Valrico.

Now, Hillsborough County has approved another $650 million in financing for water and wastewater improvements. While it's a separate decision, it's all part of the same long-term effort to prepare for the region's rapid growth. Think of One Water South as one of the county's largest individual infrastructure projects. The newly approved funding helps support a much broader list of improvements across Hillsborough, including water treatment facilities, wastewater plants, pump stations, and major pipeline upgrades. Some of that funding will help advance projects like One Water South, while the rest will modernize and replace aging infrastructure throughout the county.

So why is all of this happening? Growth. South Hillsborough has been one of Florida's fastest-growing areas for years. Every new neighborhood, school, business, and hospital adds demand for water and wastewater systems that have to be built long before new residents arrive. Roads usually get all the attention, but the infrastructure beneath them is just as important.

The county says the $650 million will be financed through utility revenue bonds, which are repaid through the county's water and wastewater utility system rather than through property taxes. We've said it before, and this latest announcement reinforces it. The construction you're seeing across Southshore isn't happening in isolation. Whether it's road expansions, new schools, hospitals, or major utility projects like One Water South, they're all pieces of the same puzzle as our community continues to grow.

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What’s Washing Up on The Shore This Week

Local Fire Chief Earns One of Florida's Highest Honors

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Chief Jason Dougherty has been named Florida's 2026 Career Fire Chief of the Year

If your house has never burned down, there's a pretty good chance he's one of the reasons why. Or maybe you've never needed the fire department because the smoke alarm only starts singing the song of its people when you burn the toast, and nobody on your street has tested the theory that fireworks and dry grass make a good combination. That's exactly how firefighters like it. I watch a ridiculous amount of Chicago Fire, so trust me, I'm basically an expert.

This week, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Chief Jason Dougherty was named the Florida Fire Chiefs' Association's 2026 Career Fire Chief of the Year, one of the highest honors in the profession. While most of us only see firefighters when something goes wrong, Chief Dougherty's job has just as much to do with making sure they're ready long before the emergency ever happens.

As Hillsborough County continues to grow, so does the demand for emergency services. Every new neighborhood, school, shopping center, and business means more calls for help and more planning behind the scenes to make sure someone can respond when seconds count. That's especially true here in Southshore, where growth seems to be happening on just about every corner. New communities don't just need roads, utilities, and schools. They also need fire stations, paramedics, equipment, and the people who keep all of it running. It's easy to notice a new fire station going up. What's harder to see are the years of planning, hiring, training, and coordination that make sure help is there when you dial 911.

This award recognizes Chief Dougherty's leadership not only within Hillsborough County Fire Rescue but also his contributions to the fire service across Florida. Congratulations to Chief Dougherty and the entire Hillsborough County Fire Rescue team on a well-earned honor. Here's hoping the only time we see you is at community events and not in our driveway.

Southshore Spotlight

Sensory Spaces of Tampa Bay

Not every child experiences the world the same way, and that's exactly why organizations like Sensory Spaces of Tampa Bay matter.

Their mission is to create calming, inclusive sensory environments where children with autism, sensory processing differences, and other special needs can feel safe, supported, and free to explore at their own pace. While they're still preparing to launch, their goal is simple but meaningful: provide a place where families can access sensory-friendly experiences designed with their loved ones in mind.

We love highlighting organizations working to make our community more inclusive, and this is certainly one to keep an eye on.

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

We Know a Guy…or Girl

SDS Auto Detailing

Sometimes a water hose, soap, and a little elbow grease just won't do it.

That's when it's time to call the pros.

From deep interior cleaning and paint correction to ceramic coatings and showroom-quality details, SDS Auto Detailing brings your vehicle back to life.

Because "good enough" isn't always good enough.

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

“Keep it Local!”

🏆 And the winner of our Best Sunset Contest is... Terry Sages! 🌅

Congratulations, Terry! Your stunning sunset photo earned you a $50 Ybor Grille gift card! 🎉

Be on the lookout for an email from us with instructions on how to claim your prize.

Thanks to everyone who shared their incredible Southshore sunsets. We loved seeing our community through your lens, and don't worry... there will be plenty more contests and giveaways coming soon!

Foodies Only

Your Restaurant

New menu items, promos, specials, events- feature them here. This is the place to tell 30,000 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

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.