Rumors, Road Trips & Reading Between the Lines

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THE SKINNY

• The Costco Craze

• Ask an Attorney

• Calling Back Cursive

• As the World Turns

• Plumbing Summer Storm Prep

• Get Outside

Featured Story

The Costco That Could

I’ll Probably Have Grandchildren Before Costco is Built

You must be new here. Recent reports of a proposed Costco on Big Bend have created quite a buzz. But just because someone whispers Costco doesn't mean Costco is coming.

For starters, the proposed site for all of this is a 137-acre parcel on the south side of Big Bend Road between Covington Gardens Drive and I-75. This property was first zoned for commercial use back in 1986. Yes, 40 years ago. Many a "proposed" project has come and gone, most notably our mall, which, as you can tell, never came to fruition. Talks of Target, Home Depot, and yes, Costco have all been heard on the wind, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

What exactly does a permit being submitted mean? It means a developer filled out some paperwork and said, "We'd like to build a Costco here." The gap between that and actually building one is much wider than you might think. Developers will often include aspirational or desired tenants in permit filings to demonstrate the type of commercial development they're pursuing. Sometimes it's a negotiating tactic. Sometimes it's simply part of the planning process. Either way, it's not the same as Costco announcing a new store. Perhaps the biggest clue about where things actually stand is that Costco itself has declined to comment.

Before any of that becomes reality, here's what still has to happen: the rezoning application has to be voted on and approved by the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners. Detailed site plans have to pass engineering, drainage, traffic, utility, and environmental review. Roadway and infrastructure improvements along Big Bend Road and the I-75 corridor have to be planned and approved. Building permits then have to be issued, not just applied for. And after all of that, Costco would still have to formally commit to the site, sign a lease or purchase agreement, and decide to move forward with construction.

So, is a Costco coming to Apollo Beach? Maybe. Eventually. Possibly. The demand is certainly real, the land exists, and someone clearly wants to build something there. But a permit filing is the beginning of a very long road, not the finish line.

I'm sure plenty of outlets will continue reporting on every new filing and rumor that comes along. But we've got other things to do... like tour nature parks, find the best lobster bisque, and tell you about all the other things happening in Southshore.

Ask a Personal Injury Attorney

Common personal injury questions with McBreeen & Nowak

Today’s question: If the other party was at fault, should I process the property damage claim through my insurance company or the other party’s?

Answer: It depends. If the other party’s insurance company accepts fault for the collision, usually by processing the property damage claim through the other party’s insurer, you avoid having to pay a deductible up front. However, often the other party’s insurance company disputes who was at fault or the other party may not have insurance. In those scenarios, you will likely want or need to process the property damage claim through your insurance company. If you have a deductible, you will have to pay the deductible, but you can recoup your deductible from the at fault driver at a later date. The car accident attorneys at McBreen & Nowak, P.A. do not charge a fee to assist with your property damage claim if needed when we represent you for an injury claim.   If my vehicle was not totaled, do I have any other property damage claim if the other driver’s insurance company pays to fix my car? You may have a claim for diminished value to your vehicle. We can help you evaluate whether you have a diminished property value claim and assist with this type of claim.

*The foregoing does not constitute legal advice, and this Q and A does not create an attorney-client relationship.  We recommend that you speak to an attorney ASAP if you think you may have been injured in an automobile collision.

Our Secret Weapon is Out

Florida's new cursive writing law requires elementary students to read and write cursive by the end of fifth grade

If you're over the age of thirty, then you know a secret. A highly specialized, long-forgotten form of hieroglyphics capable of passing messages that will have the youngsters at the NSA scratching their heads. Yes, I'm talking about cursive.

In fact, I swear we talked about this about a year ago. If you're having déjà vu after seeing headlines that Florida is "bringing back" cursive writing in schools, you're not alone. Earlier versions of the bill made headlines before ultimately stalling. This time, it's actually becoming law.

Beginning this school year, Florida public schools will be required to provide cursive instruction in elementary school, and by the end of fifth grade, students will have to demonstrate they can both read and write in cursive. Instruction will cover forming letters, writing words and sentences, and reading cursive well enough to use it in school assignments.

Here's what's interesting: Florida never completely abandoned cursive. Many schools were already expected to teach it under the state's B.E.S.T. standards. The new law simply puts those expectations into state law and requires students to demonstrate proficiency by the end of fifth grade.

As you'd expect, opinions are mixed. Some parents applaud the return of handwriting, citing brain development, fine motor skills, and the ability to read historical documents and family letters. Others would rather see more classroom time spent on coding, financial literacy, or keyboarding.

Whatever side you're on, your kids may soon be asking you to help them practice their loops and swirls. So if you've still got your old cursive signature, now might be the perfect time to dust it off. For those of us who remember filling entire worksheets with perfectly slanted lowercase "g's" and capital "Q's"... it turns out cursive isn't making a comeback after all. It never completely left.

Things to do

What’s Washing Up on The Shore This Week

Your Weekly What in the World

Has the Planet Been Extra Restless Lately?

Is it just us, or has it felt like the world has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons lately? Over the past two weeks, we've watched devastating back-to-back earthquakes level parts of Venezuela, a record-breaking heat wave grip much of Europe, dangerous heat spread across portions of the United States, and flooding impact communities in several countries. It seems like every time you turn on the news, Mother Nature has another surprise waiting.

It's easy to wonder whether all of these events are somehow connected. The answer is...not really.

Scientists say earthquakes are driven by the movement of Earth's tectonic plates, while heat waves, floods, and tropical weather are atmospheric events. In fact, experts recently pushed back on online speculation that several powerful earthquakes occurring within hours of each other around the globe were linked, saying the timing was simply a coincidence. That doesn't mean everything is business as usual.

Researchers say extreme heat events are becoming more frequent and more intense in many parts of the world. Europe is currently experiencing one of its most severe early-summer heat waves on record, with temperatures topping 100 degrees in several countries and thousands of excess heat-related deaths being reported. Meanwhile, Venezuela continues recovering from twin earthquakes that struck just days apart, with aftershocks still rattling the region and rescue efforts ongoing.

So, is the world falling apart? Probably not. But one thing is becoming increasingly clear: whether it's extreme heat, flooding, hurricanes, wildfires, or earthquakes, major natural disasters are capturing our attention with remarkable frequency.

Sometimes that's because there really are multiple disasters happening at once. Sometimes it's because modern technology allows us to witness events unfolding around the world in real time. Either way, it's a reminder that while our day-to-day lives may feel routine, we live on a remarkably active planet. And every once in a while, it reminds us who's really in charge.

Southshore Spotlight

Sun City Center Emergency Squad

For more than 50 years, the Sun City Center Emergency Squad has been living out its mission of "Neighbors Helping Neighbors."

This volunteer-driven nonprofit provides 24/7 emergency medical response, medical transportation, CPR education, and other vital services that help keep the Southshore community safe. Whether through volunteering, donating, or simply spreading the word, supporting the Squad means supporting one of our community's most valuable resources.

Nominate your local hero by emailing us at [email protected]

When Summer Storms Meet Old Sewer Lines

With Kuma Plumbing & Drain

Living in Florida means afternoon thunderstorms are just part of summer. But what many homeowners don't realize is that all that rain can create problems you can't see until they're suddenly in your home.

As Southshore continues to grow, more roads, neighborhoods, and parking lots mean more stormwater has to move through the same drainage systems. During especially heavy downpours, storm drains can struggle to keep up, leaving water with nowhere to go. If your home's sewer line is already partially clogged or aging, that extra pressure can increase the risk of a sewer backup. Older neighborhoods can be especially vulnerable.

There are usually warning signs before a major backup happens:

• Multiple slow drains throughout the house

• Toilets that gurgle after flushing

• Sewer odors inside or outside the home

• Water backing up into showers or tubs

If you notice any of these symptoms, don't wait until you're calling a restoration company to clean up the mess. Call Kuma Plumbing and Drain first.

Their team can inspect your sewer line, clear blockages, and help prevent a small plumbing problem from becoming thousands of dollars in water damage. Because when it comes to sewage in your home, prevention is always cheaper than restoration.

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!”

Touch Grass. Seriously.

Florida is offering free admission to most state parks this Fourth of July weekend. Here's where you can explore

If you follow The Southshore Circle on Facebook, you already know we're big advocates of getting up and getting outside. And if you don’t follow us on Facebook, why not?

Almost every weekend, we're out exploring a different nature preserve, boardwalk, hiking trail, or waterfront park somewhere around Tampa Bay. If you've watched our videos, you've probably seen us wandering through mangrove forests, spotting wildlife, or discovering another hidden gem that's just a short drive from Southshore. We genuinely believe one of the best things about living here is how easy it is to enjoy the outdoors.

That's why we were excited to see that Florida is waiving day-use admission fees at most state parks from Friday, July 3, through Sunday, July 5, as part of the nation's 250th anniversary celebration. If you've been thinking about checking out one of Florida's famous springs, hiking a new trail, kayaking through a state park, or simply spending a day surrounded by nature, this is a great weekend to do it without paying an admission fee.

A handful of parks are excluded from the promotion, including Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, and the Skyway Fishing Pier State Park. Camping, rentals, tours, and other special activities will still have their regular fees.

Here in Southshore, we're fortunate to have some incredible outdoor spaces nearby, including Little Manatee River State Park and Alafia River State Park. If you're up for a short road trip, there are dozens more parks across Florida waiting to be explored.

So if you're looking for something to do this holiday weekend, put down the phone for a few hours, lace up your walking shoes, and get outside. And if you happen to see someone filming a trail, pointing out a gopher tortoise, or getting way too excited about spotting a bird...come say hi. There's a pretty good chance it's us.

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

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.