Want to get your business in The Southshore Circle?

Let’s Talk!

THE SKINNY

• FlixBus Launches

• Robotic Vampires

• Foodie Friday

Featured Story

Skip the Airport. Tampa Just Got a New Ride to Atlanta.

FlixBus launches daily Tampa-to-Atlanta service with stops in Gainesville, Valdosta and Macon, giving Southshore travelers a new alternative to flying or driving

Southshore travelers have another option for getting out of town, and this one doesn’t involve TSA, baggage claims, or spending half the trip wondering if your flight is about to be delayed. FlixBus has launched new daily service connecting Tampa with Gainesville, Valdosta, Macon and Atlanta along the I-75 corridor. The fastest Tampa-to-Atlanta trip takes about eight and a half hours, depending on the departure, stops and, because this is Florida, whatever I-75 decides to do that day.

Tampa passengers can board downtown at the Tampa Bus Station on North Marion Street or at USF. From there, the route heads north through Gainesville before crossing into Georgia with stops in Valdosta and Macon on the way to Atlanta.

The buses include Wi-Fi, power outlets, reclining seats, restrooms and luggage storage, making this less "school field trip bus" and more of an alternative to driving yourself several hundred miles.

For Southshore residents, the biggest catch is still getting to the Tampa pickup point. But once you're there, you can park yourself in a seat, connect to the Wi-Fi and let somebody else deal with I-75 all the way to Atlanta. Considering we've all spent enough of our lives staring at brake lights around here, eight hours of letting somebody else drive suddenly doesn't sound half bad.

All About Air with Max Cool

The little blue light you never knew you needed

There may be something living inside your AC system that you definitely didn't invite. 👀 Florida's heat and humidity can create conditions inside HVAC systems where mold and bacteria can grow, particularly around damp components like the evaporator coil. That's where that little blue UV light comes in.

UV air purifiers use UV-C light inside your HVAC system to damage the DNA or RNA of susceptible microorganisms, preventing them from reproducing and helping reduce microbial growth. One example is Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium that can grow in moist environments and can cause infections, particularly in people with weakened immune systems. UV-C has been shown to inactivate P. aeruginosa under appropriate exposure conditions.

UV systems can also help control certain molds and other microorganisms that you probably don't want taking up residence inside the equipment circulating air throughout your house. They're not a replacement for a good air filter, humidity control or regular HVAC maintenance. Think of UV as another layer in your home's indoor air-quality defense.

And that's exactly why Max Cool Air Conditioning looks at more than whether your house is getting cold. They can evaluate your HVAC system, talk through filtration, humidity, and UV purification options, and help you figure out what actually makes sense for your home. Because in Southshore, we spend a lot of time worrying about the temperature of our air. Maybe we should be paying a little more attention to what's in it.

Apparently, Even Needles Are Getting Robots Now

FDA authorizes Aletta, bringing robotic blood draws one step closer to your next lab visit

If getting your blood drawn wasn’t already enough fun, the robots would now like a turn. The FDA has authorized Aletta, the first standalone robotic device in the U.S. capable of drawing blood from a patient’s arm without someone physically performing the procedure. It’s authorized for adults in outpatient settings and still requires supervision from a trained phlebotomist.

And this isn’t just a robot arm blindly coming at you with a needle. Aletta uses near-infrared light to help locate a suitable vein and Doppler ultrasound to make sure it found a vein and not an artery. If the machine can’t confidently find a suitable vein, it simply won’t attempt the draw. Once it locks onto its target, things get a little futuristic.

The machine can handle essentially the entire process itself, including applying the tourniquet, preparing the skin, inserting the needle, changing collection tubes, disposing of the needle, and even putting the bandage on afterward. There are some pretty serious safeguards built in too. If you move too much while the needle is inserted, the needle automatically detaches and the blood draw stops. Other sensors can pause the procedure and alert the supervising phlebotomist if something doesn’t look right.

Here’s where things get really interesting. One trained phlebotomist can supervise up to three Aletta machines at once, something the FDA says could help address the shortage of trained phlebotomists and potentially cut down on wait times. And for everyone who immediately thought, Absolutely not, the early numbers might surprise you.

A European clinical trial reported a 94.5% first-stick success rate, while 90% of patients said the pain was the same or less than a traditional blood draw. Mild adverse events were reported in just 0.6% of patients, with no moderate or serious adverse events reported in that trial.

So apparently the robot is pretty good at this. Which leaves us with the only question that really matters: You walk into the lab, and they give you two choices. A human with a needle or a robot with a needle. Which chair are you sitting in?

Things to do

What’s Washing Up on The Shore This Week

Foodie Friday

Let’s take a trip to Sun City Center and meet Bella Cucina, the family-owned Italian restaurant locals have been raving about

This week’s Foodie Friday takes us to Bella Cucina. You may not have heard of them yet, but you’re about to. This family-owned Italian eatery has been making waves in Sun City Center for years, where locals rave about everything from the garlic bread to the eggplant Parmesan. This is the type of restaurant where the entire menu is an option and saying, “surprise me,” ends with a smile instead of a trip to the emergency room. 😂

As a matter of fact, the only complaint you’ll hear very often is that they need to be open longer. But with goals to bring their family recipes front and center to all of Southshore, that might not be a complaint much longer.

With so many chain Italian restaurants in the area, it’s refreshing to find a spot that makes you feel like you stumbled onto something the locals weren’t quite ready to share. So if Bella Cucina has somehow flown under your radar, consider this your sign to give them a try. And if you’re already one of the locals who knows exactly what all the fuss is about, let us know what we should order. What’s your favorite dish at Bella Cucina?

Southshore Spotlight

Alzheimer’s Association

An Alzheimer's diagnosis affects far more than just the person living with the disease. It impacts entire families, caregivers, and loved ones who suddenly find themselves navigating unfamiliar territory.

The Alzheimer's Association Florida Gulf Coast Chapter provides free support groups, educational programs, care consultations, and a 24/7 helpline for individuals living with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia, as well as the families caring for them.

If you or someone you know is facing Alzheimer's, remember you don't have to go through it alone. Help, resources, and a supportive community are available every step of the way.

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!”

It Was Fine…Until It Wasn’t

TJay’s Tree Service reminds Southshore homeowners why checking dangerous trees and branches should be part of your storm prep

Last month, a Riverview family was inside making dinner when severe storms rolled through the area, and a massive tree came crashing down onto their home. Thankfully, everyone inside was okay. The house wasn’t so lucky.

Here’s the thing about dangerous trees and branches: they usually look perfectly fine right up until they’re lying across your roof. Dead limbs, weak branches, overgrowth hanging above the house, and trees damaged by previous storms can become a much bigger problem once those afternoon winds start whipping through Southshore.

That’s why hurricane prep shouldn’t stop at batteries, bottled water and checking the generator. Take a look up. Our partners at TJay’s Tree Service can trim problem branches, remove dangerous trees and help prepare your property before the next storm decides which limb needs to come down. Because it’s a whole lot cheaper to remove a branch from a tree than a tree from your living room.

Foodies Only

Your Restaurant

New menu items, promos, specials, events- feature them here. This is the place to tell 40,000 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.