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Southshore Welcome to The Future

Every Sunday, someone new to the area hops on social media and asks about all the airplanes. Usually, someone will politely point across the water toward MacDill and tell them to get used to the flyovers during games. Well, now you can add one more thing to bewilder Southshore visitors as Amazon launches its Prime Air delivery in Ruskin.

The facility will deliver to addresses within about an eight-mile radius in roughly 30 minutes, so keep an eye out for the drone option when you check out. More importantly, it’s about to send an untold number of aerobatic robots across the Southshore sky just in time for the holidays.

Translation for Southshore life: faster stuff, fewer last-minute sprints to big box stores, and more UFOs. The Ruskin hub should mean local jobs and extra spending at nearby spots, so your favorite coffee place might see a longer line and bigger tips. Service will roll out in phases, which means your neighbor may get drone-dropped batteries before you do.

The bots are built to handle our dramatic afternoon weather, dodge nosy seagulls, and keep packages out of puddles, which already puts them ahead of half the cars on Big Bend at 5 p.m. (I’m eager to see this in action.) Bottom line: quicker gifts, fewer parking-lot battles on 301, a modest economic bump, and free airshow entertainment. If you look up and see a tiny helicopter hauling dog treats, don’t panic. It’s not the apocalypse. It’s Prime time.

Things to do

What’s Washing Up on The Shore This Week

Florida’s New Rules

Southshore, quick disclaimer before we dive in. I’m not a lawyer, I don’t play one on YouTube, and the closest I’ve come to “legal counsel” is telling a friend not to microwave aluminum foil. Nothing here is legal advice. It’s jokes, vibes, and a friendly heads-up so you don’t end up explaining yourself to a judge who also hates Big Bend traffic.

Today is October 1, which means a bunch of Florida laws just kicked in. Here’s a few that stood out to us.

First up, flood disclosure. If you’re renting or buying, owners now have to tell you about flood risks, prior flooding, and damage. Translation for canal life and rain-season veterans: if the living room once doubled as a kayak launch, they have to say so.

Paw Patrol, but the serious kind. Leaving or abandoning your pet outside during a natural disaster can now land you in real trouble. We all remember last year. Bring the furry ones inside when the cones of uncertainty start pointing at Tampa Bay.

The Tristan Murphy Act. More funding to steer folks with mental health challenges toward treatment instead of the criminal justice system. In plain English, a care plan beats a court date.

UFO Control, also known as drone rules. Florida updated where you can fly drones, redefined a few terms, and cranked up penalties for ignoring the map. If your plan is to buzz a Friday night football game or chase a pelican for “content,” plan to land that thing. (I’m sure the Amazon drones get a pass.)

That’s a no-no. Harsher penalties if you assault a utility worker. Which raises the question, who was out here attacking the people restoring your power after a storm?

If you want the fine print, hit the official state pages or call an attorney who actually passed a bar that isn’t a tiki hut.

Southshore Spotlight

Wheels of Success

Wheels of Success is a Tampa Bay nonprofit that helps low- and moderate-income working families with reliable transportation—vehicle replacement, repairs, and help with licensing and payments. Through programs like Build-A-Car and other targeted initiatives, they repair and place donated vehicles so people can get to work and keep life moving.

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

We Know a Guy…or Girl

Stellar Notary Services

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“Keep it Local!”

Foodies Only

Marcos Pizza

Marco’s Pizza keeps it simple — hot, cheesy pies, piled-high subs, and breadsticks that are basically an excuse to eat melted cheese for dinner.

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

Football

Lennard vs Plant City, Friday 10/3 @7:30 PM - Home

East Bay vs Wharton, Friday 10/3 @ 7:30 PM - Away

Sumner vs Lakeland, Friday 10/3 @7:30 PM - Away

Riverview vs Bartow, Friday 10/10, @ 7:30 PM - Away

Spoto vs Freedom, Friday 10/3, @7:30 PM - Home

News or Events you’d like to share? Email us at: [email protected] 

Until next time,

Keep It Local.