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THE SKINNY

• Fertilizer Ban in Effect

• Ask an Attorney

• Well, That Wasn’t on the Bingo Card

Featured Story

Lawn And Order

Hillsborough County's annual fertilizer ban is now in effect through September to help protect local waterways during the rainy season

Let's be honest. After months of drought, a lot of Southshore lawns are already looking like they lost a fight. Brown patches. Thin spots. Mysterious areas that seem to have given up entirely.

And now comes the news many homeowners don't want to hear: fertilizer restrictions are officially in effect across Hillsborough County. From June 1 through September 30, fertilizers containing nitrogen and phosphorus cannot be applied to lawns and landscapes as part of the county's annual rainy season fertilizer ban.

Before anyone panics, the goal isn't to make your yard look worse. The restrictions are designed to prevent fertilizer runoff from washing into ponds, creeks, rivers, and ultimately Tampa Bay during Florida's wettest months. Environmental experts say excess nutrients can contribute to algae blooms, fish kills, poor water quality, and other environmental problems. In other words, that fertilizer you spread on your lawn today could end up helping grow pond scum somewhere tomorrow.

The good news is your lawn isn't necessarily doomed. Experts say homeowners can still focus on proper watering, mowing practices, and products that don't contain the restricted nutrients. Some recommend iron-based products to help maintain color during the summer months.

So if your yard isn't looking quite as green as you'd like right now, take comfort in knowing you're not alone. Between the drought, the heat, and the fertilizer ban, much of Southshore is entering what experts call "summer." And what homeowners call "maybe it'll look better in October."

Ask a Personal Injury Attorney

Common personal injury questions with McBreeen & Nowak

Today’s question: Is it okay to move the vehicles involved in an accident before the police arrive?

Answer: In many cases, it is okay and sometimes necessary to move the vehicles before the police arrive. If it is unsafe for you or other drivers to leave the vehicles where they are located at the time of the collision, you will likely need to move them to a safe location nearby. You will need to use your best judgment. If you decide to move the vehicles off the roadway before law enforcement arrives, take pictures of the vehicles and the location of the vehicles before they are moved. If there are skid marks, take pictures of the skid marks. If there are no skid marks, make note of that.

*The foregoing does not constitute legal advice, and this Q and A does not create an attorney-client relationship.  We recommend that you speak to an attorney ASAP if you think you may have been injured in an automobile collision.

Things to do

What’s Washing Up on The Shore This Week

Your Weekly What in the World

Cuba Shakes, Florida Checks For Sinkholes

For a few strange moments Monday afternoon, thousands of Floridians had the exact same thought: "Was that an earthquake... or is my house finally giving up?"

A powerful earthquake struck off the coast of Cuba around 2 p.m. Monday and was reportedly felt across parts of Florida, including Tampa Bay, Orlando, Miami, and other areas around the state. The quake was initially reported as a magnitude 6.4 before being revised to 6.1. The epicenter was located just west of Cuba near Mantua at a depth of about six miles.

Residents from Clearwater to Orlando reported feeling buildings sway, pictures shake, and floors tremble. Some office buildings were temporarily evacuated while workers tried to figure out what exactly was happening.

In true Florida fashion, many people assumed it was construction, a sinkhole, or maybe just another insurance rate increase hitting their mailbox. Scientists say this was one of the strongest earthquakes ever observed in the Gulf region. Despite being centered offshore near Cuba, the quake was powerful enough for vibrations to travel hundreds of miles across the Gulf and into Florida.

The good news is there were no immediate reports of significant damage or injuries in Florida. Experts say aftershocks are possible in the coming days, although most would likely be too small or too far away for Floridians to notice.

Florida isn't exactly known for earthquakes. We're nowhere near a major tectonic plate boundary, which means when the ground starts moving here, people tend to pay attention. So if your office chair started wobbling Monday afternoon, you weren't imagining things. For once, the thing shaking Florida wasn't a hurricane, a tropical storm, or a new housing development proposal.

Southshore Spotlight

Oasis Opportunities

For many students, success starts with something as simple as a pair of shoes, a school uniform, or basic hygiene supplies. That's where OASIS Opportunities comes in.

The Hillsborough County nonprofit works with local schools to provide clothing, shoes, hygiene items, and other essentials to students facing hardship, helping remove barriers that can stand in the way of education.

Because sometimes the biggest difference in a child's life starts with making sure they have what they need to walk through the school doors with confidence.

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

We Know a Guy…or Girl

June is for celebrating

Birthdays

Anniversaries

Father’s Day

Graduations

Girls’ trips

Family reunions

“Just because” moments

This is the perfect time to turn plans into reality.

At MAQ Travel, I help you create personalized, stress-free travel experiences designed with intention—so you can focus on celebrating, not stressing.

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.