Planning Ahead

Want to get your business in The Southshore Circle?

Let’s Talk!

THE SKINNY

• A Development Project We Can All Get Behind

• Teen Checking

• Looking For a Leviathan

Featured Story

Good News For Southshore's Shoreline

Hillsborough County is investing $18 million in projects designed to reduce flooding, restore habitat, and protect vulnerable coastal areas

Most government infrastructure projects involve concrete. This one involves nature. Hillsborough County announced it will invest $18 million in three environmental restoration projects aimed at reducing flood risks, restoring damaged habitats, and improving the county's resilience to future storms. The funding comes from federal disaster recovery dollars awarded following Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Several of the projects have direct implications for Southshore communities. One project will restore 25 acres of coastal wetlands near Gibsonton along Tampa Bay, helping capture stormwater runoff and reduce the impacts of storm surge along U.S. 41. Another will restore 93 acres of wetlands and stream habitat at the headwaters of Little Bullfrog Creek, an area that experienced significant flooding during Hurricane Milton. County officials say the work will increase water storage and help reduce downstream flooding in Riverview, Gibsonton, and surrounding communities.

The largest investment, $10 million, will be used to acquire and restore environmentally sensitive land along Tampa Bay's eastern shoreline. The goal is to create natural buffers that can absorb floodwaters and storm surge while protecting nearby roads, homes, and infrastructure. While these projects may not be as visible as a new road or shopping center, they serve an important purpose.

Healthy wetlands, coastal habitats, and natural floodplains act like giant sponges during heavy rain and storm events. They slow water down, store it, filter pollutants, and help reduce flooding impacts on nearby communities. Tampa Bay's restoration efforts have long been recognized as some of the most successful environmental projects in the country.

For Southshore residents, that's welcome news. Because when the next major storm arrives, the best flood protection isn't always what we build. Sometimes it's what we restore.

Monday Money Minute

One Of The Best Financial Lessons You'll Ever Give Your Teen

For starters, no, Chase did not pay me for this, but they probably should've. 😉 Since the new Apollo Beach Chase branch is close to opening, I thought it was a good time to talk about getting your teens a checking account.

You see, Chase currently has a solid offer for parents who already have an account when they sign their teen up. The bonus is $125, which to a teenager living off Flamin' Hot Cheetos and root beer might as well be a million dollars. You can find all the details here.

Why is this important? Because teens need to learn how to juggle several things, including their finances. The reality is that most of us didn't learn about money in school. We learned by making mistakes. Sometimes expensive ones.

A checking account gives teens an opportunity to start learning those lessons while the stakes are still relatively low. They learn how debit cards work, how to track spending, how quickly money disappears when you're buying energy drinks every day, and perhaps most importantly, how to avoid spending money they don't actually have.

It also creates opportunities for parents to teach budgeting, saving, and responsible spending in real-world situations instead of hypothetical conversations. Will they make mistakes? Absolutely. That's kind of the point.

It's a lot better to learn financial lessons at 16 with a few hundred dollars than at 26 with a few thousand. And who knows? Maybe that $125 bonus becomes the start of a savings habit instead of another trip through the Chick-fil-A drive-thru. A parent can dream.

Things to do

What’s Washing Up on The Shore This Week

Your Weekly What in the World

We Still Have No Idea What's Living Down There

For all the incredible technology humans have invented, here's a fun reminder: We still don't know what's living in large parts of Earth's oceans.

A recent deep-sea expedition exploring previously uncharted areas of the Pacific Ocean identified 31 potential new species, including strange corals, sea stars, sponges, and other creatures that scientists had never documented before. And before you ask, yes, some of them look exactly like something that would try to eat the crew in a science fiction movie.

The discoveries were made thousands of feet below the surface in an environment so remote and difficult to reach that many of these areas had never been explored. Scientists say it highlights just how little we still know about the deep ocean, despite living on a planet that's more than 70% covered by water.

In fact, experts estimate that a significant portion of the ocean floor remains unmapped and unexplored. Think about that for a second. We've sent spacecraft beyond our solar system. We've landed robots on Mars. We've built computers that fit in our pockets. Yet there are still entire ecosystems on Earth filled with creatures nobody knew existed. It's a little humbling.

It's also a nice reminder that not every discovery requires a trip to another planet. Sometimes the next great discovery is hiding right here on Earth, thousands of feet below the waves, minding its own business and hoping we don't show up with a submarine. At least not yet.

Southshore Spotlight

Mary & Martha House

For more than 40 years, Mary & Martha House has helped women and families escape domestic violence and homelessness by providing shelter, support, and a path toward independence. Volunteers play a vital role in that mission, helping with everything from front desk support and retail operations to maintenance and community outreach. If you're looking for a way to make a difference right here in Southshore, this is a great place to start.

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.

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.