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THE SKINNY

• Taking Shape

• Southshore Tax Strategy

• Monday’s Money Minute

Southshore’s Backyard Bayou

Featured Story

Remember When This Was Just a Rendering?

Construction continues on Wimauma's new middle school as another major investment takes shape in one of South Hillsborough's fastest-growing communities

If you've been following us on Facebook (and honestly, if you aren’t, why not?), you may remember when we first visited this site. Back then, it was mostly dirt, heavy equipment, and a lot of imagination. Now, it's starting to look like a school.

Construction continues on Wimauma's new middle school, with crews making steady progress on a campus that will soon welcome hundreds of students from one of the fastest-growing parts of Hillsborough County. Every time we drive by, it's a little easier to picture students walking the halls instead of construction crews.

The project is another sign of just how quickly Southshore continues to grow. Just last fall, students walked through the doors of the brand-new Morgan High School for the first time. Now, another major investment in local education is taking shape just down the road. With plans to welcome students in the fall of 2027

Growth often gets measured in new neighborhoods, restaurants, and road projects. But schools may be the clearest sign that a community is putting down roots. Every new classroom represents families who have chosen to call this area home. It means more students, more teachers, more school buses, and more opportunities for the next generation growing up right here in Southshore.

The Difference Between Filing Taxes and Having a Tax Strategy

With Rae’s Accounting

For many individuals and business owners, taxes become a once-a-year event. Documents get gathered. Forms get filed. Returns get submitted. And everyone breathes a sigh of relief when it’s over.

But there’s a major difference between simply filing taxes and actually having a tax strategy—and understanding that difference can have a significant impact on your financial future.

At Rae’s Accounting, we believe taxes should never be approached as a last-minute transaction. True financial success comes from planning ahead, making informed decisions throughout the year, and understanding how today’s choices can affect tomorrow’s outcomes.

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Monday Money Minute

Should You Give Your Kids an Allowance?

If you ask us, the answer is yes. Not because kids need spending money, but because they need practice.

Think about it. We expect young adults to know how to budget, save, and make smart financial decisions, yet many never get the opportunity to practice those skills until they're managing a paycheck for the first time. An allowance creates a safe place to make small mistakes before the stakes get bigger.

When kids have their own money, they quickly learn that buying one thing often means giving up something else. That's a lesson no lecture can teach quite as well. They also begin to understand the difference between wants and needs, the importance of saving for a bigger goal, and the satisfaction that comes from earning something instead of simply asking for it.

An allowance can also open the door to conversations about giving. Setting aside a small portion for charity or someone in need helps teach that money isn't just something we spend, it's something we can use to make a difference.

If you decide to give an allowance, consider making it more than just a handout. Tie at least part of it to age-appropriate responsibilities or extra jobs around the house. That helps reinforce one of the most valuable financial lessons they'll ever learn: money is earned through effort.

The amount isn't what matters. Whether it's $5 a week or $20, the real value isn't in the cash, it's in the confidence and financial habits your kids will build along the way. Because one day, they'll be making much bigger financial decisions. A weekly allowance is a pretty inexpensive way to help prepare them for that.

Things to do

What’s Washing Up on The Shore This Week

Southshore Adventure Hiding in Plain Sight

Camp Bayou offers families a chance to experience Florida's wildlife, trails, and waterways without leaving South Hillsborough

When people think about summer adventures, they usually picture a beach, a spring, or maybe even a theme park. But one of the best places to explore Florida is probably a lot closer than you think.

If you know us, then you know we're big advocates for getting up, getting outside, and exploring your world. Nearly every Sunday you’ll catch us wandering through local parks, nature preserves, and walking trails. We truly believe some of the best adventures happen right here in our own backyard. That's exactly why we love Camp Bayou.

Tucked away in Ruskin, Camp Bayou gives families the chance to experience the Florida many of us grew up with. Boardwalks wind through wetlands, trails pass beneath towering trees, and the quiet sounds of birds, turtles, and native wildlife replace traffic and crowded parking lots.

Throughout the year, the preserve hosts educational programs, guided walks, and family-friendly events that help visitors learn about the unique ecosystems that make Southshore special. Even if you simply pack a bottle of water and take a walk, it's a great way to unplug for a few hours and see a side of Florida that's becoming harder to find.

Sometimes we spend so much time looking for our next vacation that we forget to explore the place we already call home. Sometimes the best summer memories aren't made on the longest road trips. Sometimes they're waiting just a few miles away.

Southshore Spotlight

Forgotten Angels

Forgotten Angels is changing lives by giving young people who have aged out of foster care, along with other at-risk youth, something many have never had before: a safe place to call home and a support system that believes in them.

Based in Valrico, the nonprofit provides housing, mentorship, education, job training, life skills, and the guidance needed to help young adults build independent, successful lives. Their goal isn't just to provide a place to stay. It's to help create a future filled with opportunity, confidence, and hope.

Sometimes all it takes to change a life is someone who refuses to let a young person be forgotten.

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 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.