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THE SKINNY

• Spring Bling Giveaway Reminder

• Florida Just Made the List Again

• Osgood Mental Health Counseling

• The Water Police

• We’re Going Back to the Moon

Featured Story

Welcome to Allergy Season… Year Round

Tampa Bay ranks among the worst places in the country for pollen allergies, and Southshore residents are feeling it

If you’ve been stocking up on Claritin all year and popping Allegra like Tic Tacs, then you already know what’s going on. Florida just showed up again on a list nobody wants to be on.

A new report ranking the most challenging places in the country to live with pollen allergies found five Florida cities among the worst, with several right here in the Tampa Bay region. Lakeland landed inside the top 20, while Tampa and Sarasota also ranked near the top, highlighting just how rough allergy season has become locally.

And if it feels worse than usual, you’re not imagining it. The rankings look at more than just pollen counts. They factor in how often people rely on over-the-counter allergy meds and how easy it is to access specialists. In other words, it’s not just about how much pollen is in the air. It’s about how hard people are having to fight it.

Here’s what that looks like in Southshore. That layer of yellow dust on your car. The random sneezing fits. The itchy eyes that show up out of nowhere. That’s life in a region where tree, grass, and weed pollen can stay active for months at a time.

Experts say warmer temperatures and shifting weather patterns are making things worse. Pollen seasons are starting earlier, lasting longer, and hitting harder than they used to. Which explains why allergy meds have basically become part of the daily routine for a lot of people.

The takeaway isn’t that Southshore is unlivable. It’s that this is part of living here now. So if it feels like you’ve been battling allergies nonstop, you’re not alone. You’re just living in one of the places where it hits the hardest.

Osgood Mental Health Counseling

If you haven’t heard of Osgood Mental Health Counseling yet, it’s time to change that. As the stigma around therapy continues to fade, more people are realizing something simple. Taking care of your mental health matters just as much as taking care of your body. And right here in Southshore, Osgood Mental Health Counseling is helping lead that shift.

 Whether you need someone to talk to, are looking for evaluations, or want to be part of a therapist-led group, they’ve created a space built to meet people where they are.

And now, they’ve added another rockstar to their team.

 Meet Dr. Martinez.

 Dr. Martinez earned her undergraduate degree from the University of South Florida, where she completed a dual bachelor’s in behavioral health science and psychology. She went on to earn her doctoral degree from the Florida School of Professional Psychology at National Louis University, where she also served as a crisis hotline counselor, helping individuals in moments of immediate need. She takes an integrative approach to therapy, using evidence-based methods tailored to each individual.

 Dr. Martinez specializes in psychological assessments for both children and adults, providing clarity and direction for families navigating important decisions. Her work includes ADHD and autism evaluations, comprehensive psychoeducational testing, behavioral assessments, and gifted testing for children.

These assessments are designed to do more than diagnose. They help identify strengths, uncover potential, and give families the tools they need to move forward with confidence.

 Having this level of care right here in Southshore isn’t something to overlook. Because a strong community starts with strong people. And that starts with mental health. And in Southshore, that starts with Osgood Mental Health Counseling.

Bet You Didn’t See That Coming

Area restaurants stop automatic water service as drought conditions tighten restrictions across Southshore

It might not sound like a big deal, but the next time you sit down at a restaurant, something will feel a little different. That automatic glass of water waiting at the table is going away. (Honestly, I’m not sure how automatic it’s been lately anyway)

Under an “extreme” water shortage order across Tampa Bay, restaurants are now only allowed to serve water if customers specifically ask for it. The change comes as the region continues to deal with well below average rainfall and tightening water supplies.

For Southshore residents, it’s less of a disruption and more of a reset. It’s one of those things you don’t think about until it’s gone.

Officials say the reasoning is simple. Across thousands of tables every day, untouched glasses of water add up fast. Cutting automatic service is an easy way to reduce waste without putting a real burden on businesses or diners.

But it also says something bigger. Water conservation isn’t just about sprinklers and lawn days anymore. It’s starting to show up in everyday moments, even something as routine as sitting down for a meal.

So now, if you want water, you’ll just have to ask for it. A small change, but one that makes it clear just how tight things are getting.

Things to do

What’s Washing Up on The Shore This Week

Your Weekly What in the World

NASA’s Artemis II rocket returns to the launch pad for the first crewed mission around the Moon in over 50 years

First, they went back to the Moon without people. Now they’re getting ready to send humans again.

NASA’s Artemis II rocket is back on the launch pad, setting up what could be the first crewed mission around the Moon in more than 50 years.

After months of testing, delays, and last-minute fixes, the massive Space Launch System rocket has rolled back out to Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The goal is simple, at least on paper. Send four astronauts on a roughly 10-day trip around the Moon and bring them back safely. But getting there hasn’t been simple at all.

Earlier this year, engineers had to pull the rocket off the pad to fix issues, including a helium flow problem and other system checks that needed attention before launch. Now, with those fixes complete, NASA is aiming for a launch window that opens in April. And if it works, this becomes a turning point.

This isn’t just another test flight. It’s the mission that proves humans can travel deep into space again, setting the stage for future landings on the Moon and eventually, missions to Mars. It also marks something we haven’t seen since 1972. People leaving Earth’s orbit and heading back toward the Moon.

For now, everything comes down to the next launch attempt. Because after years of delays, testing, and billions of dollars, the question isn’t whether we’re going back to the Moon. It’s whether this is the moment it finally starts.

Southshore Spotlight

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Southshore Services

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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

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.