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A Year in Review

As 2025 comes to an end, it’s worth taking a quick glance over our shoulder and a focused stare forward. This is that time of year when everyone makes the obligatory post about how far we’ve come. And when I say we, I don’t mean The Southshore Circle. I mean Southshore.

We started the year wondering about the new Apollo Beach Aldi. It’s here, although it’s kind of like 5/8 of a regular store. The new Walmart was also on the radar. Not quite open yet, but the gas station has been handing out free drinks, so that counts for something. And then there was The Yard at Waterset. I might be alone here, but if I’m being honest, it’s been a bit of a letdown.

We were also still riding a community high after surviving the great storms of 2024 and the incredible efforts that followed to rebuild. Watching Southshore come together during that time was genuinely inspiring. If there’s one thing we should carry into 2026, let’s not forget that feeling.

After dodging a few cold fronts and celebrating some exciting high school sports moments, Sumner Girls Soccer especially, we found ourselves asking a familiar question. Why are the roads out here so bad? Things have improved a little. I haven’t replaced a windshield or a tire in a few months. But we’ve still got a long way to go.

As the weather warmed up, so did the conversation around Beer Can Island. Funny how quickly things shift. Talk of dropping sales tax and eliminating property tax picked up steam, then promptly got stuck in the mud. As far as I can tell, we’re standing in about the same spot we were a year ago.

Over in Riverview, 301 kicked off its big makeover. Unfortunately, she’s not ready for the prom just yet. They say never stop working on yourself, and 301 really took that advice to heart.

We’re only a quarter of the way through 2025, and this reflection is already longer than I expected. So let’s wrap it up.

2025, we lived, we loved, we laughed, we grew. From new neighbors to new onramps, this year was a whirlwind. Each town in South Hillsborough has its own identity, but living here is very much a shared experience.

So from all of us at The Southshore Circle to everyone who’s ever glanced at a page in this newsletter, Happy New Year…in just a few hours.

Here’s hoping 2026 exceeds expectations and becomes your best year yet!

Start the New Year with a New You

With Wellness Vitalized

Maybe not a NEW you, but a BETTER you.

If you haven’t realized it by now, the staff who write this publication have what you would call a lifetime of knowledge. 🤣 We use that term loosely around here, of course. But what I can tell you is that life is meant to be lived. You should be surprised. You should be excited. You should be curious and hang onto that child’s sense of wonder, because it’s a statistical anomaly that we even exist. And when you acknowledge how insane the idea of life really is, only then can you truly begin to enjoy it.

Now, you’re probably thinking this is some type of philosophical rant, but this is actually about your health. If you want to, as the scholars say, carpe diem, then you’ll need to carpe some energy. We only get one body, and if you want it singing and dancing into your wonder years, you might want to give it a little tune-up every now and then.

Carine Pierre and the folks over at Wellness Vitalized are all about keeping Southshore in tip-top shape. From IV hydration and hormone therapy to labs and weight loss management, their goal is to keep you in the game and out of doctors’ offices. This isn’t quick-fix science. It’s about getting to the root cause and introducing you to the person you could be.

So whether you’re running triathlons or running to the fridge at midnight, Wellness Vitalized can help put a little more pep in your step. There’s plenty to do out here, and you don’t want your battery running low before you get to see it all. It’s my wish that every single one of us gets to squeeze the last drop out of this thing called life because, as my favorite unattributed quote says,

“Forever we do not exist, until now.”

Things to do

What’s Washing Up on The Shore This Week

Thank You Southshore For an Amazing Year

While we’re on the subject of bringing in the new year, I do want to take a second to acknowledge some of the folks who allow us to bring this ridiculously fabulous publication to you. Our brand partners.

First up, Stacy and Mike Self over at Square One Garage Solutions. Our very first brand partners and some of the biggest champions of the Southshore area. If you have a garage, you need to talk to them. Get a jump on your spring cleaning and they’ll make sure when you start organizing, you actually have a place to put things.

Jon Starry with Steadfast Roofing. Not only a solid roofing company, but if you’ve seen any of his content, the man might have a future in media production.

Carine Pierre with Wellness Vitalized. Most of our partners make sure your home keeps running. She makes sure you keep running.

Robin Huntley with Rae’s Accounting. Literally my spirit animal. Means what she says and says what she means. A heart of gold and a head full of tax deductions and ways to make sure you pay the least amount…legally.

Jermaine and Tatanisha Dixon with Kuma Plumbing and Drain. Everyone needs a good plumber in the family, but this is the first plumbing company I’ve met that actually makes you feel like family. It’s not all about the money, it’s about fixing the problem. If Kuma says you need it done, you need it done.

Jeremy Forrest with Premier Pro Wash & Seal. From pavers to pressure washing, they keep Southshore shining. Jeremy is like the Warren Buffett of small business out here. Quiet, calm demeanor, knows exactly what he’s doing, and leads with integrity.

Eric Nowak from McBreen and Nowak. I honestly think he’s singlehandedly rebranding what it means to be a personal injury attorney. Definitely a number you should have saved in your phone.

Kataya Alvarez with Rising Phoenix Bookkeeping Solutions. She may hate public speaking, but she talks to financial records and speaks fluent profitability.

David Castlewitz with Most Insurance. Not only can he find you a cheap cup of coffee, he’ll move mountains to find you a more affordable and effective insurance rate.

Our brand partners are the lifeblood of this publication. They’re also the lifeblood of Southshore. Local companies that don’t just work here, they live here. Thank you to all of our brand partners, advertisers, and most of all, our readers.

We’re excited about the future and our continued growth in Southshore. This is just the beginning.

2026 is gonna be a movie.

I’m not exactly sure what that means, but I heard a cool kid say it, so I’m going with it.

Southshore Spotlight

Inspira

Inspira Tampa Bay is a local nonprofit dedicated to empowering families by providing high-quality programs and resources for neurodivergent and at-risk children while fostering inclusion and community support. They work with therapists, volunteers, and partners to help children and families grow stronger together through education, mentoring, and therapeutic-focused activities.

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 orbiting 30 feet above your living room? We’ve got you. And the best part, they’re all right here in our community.

(Updates are almost finished. We’ll be ringing in the new year with a new look and an easier interface to help you locate the best of what Southshore has to offer.)

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

“Keep it Local!”

Foodies Only

Roots Southern BBQ

Where Every Bite Tastes Like Home
At Roots Southern BBQ, we smoke, season, and slow-cook with passion. Whether you love brisket, ribs, pulled pork, or juicy wings, we’ve got the flavor that hits the spot. Stop in, grab a plate, and see why this BBQ is getting rave reviews. Check our page to find out where we’ll be next.

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.