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THE SKINNY

• Happy Mother’s Day!

• Notes From the County Commission

• Summer Budget Trips

• Chasing The Fountain of Youth

Featured Story

Impact Fees and Infrastructure

Officials question if infrastructure can keep up with Southshore’s growth

Growth in Southshore isn’t slowing down, and neither is the debate over who should pay for the infrastructure needed to support it. During county commission discussions this week, leaders revisited impact fees and long-term infrastructure funding as residents across Riverview, Apollo Beach, Ruskin, Wimauma, and Sun City Center continue raising concerns about traffic, flooding, and strained public services.

At the center of the conversation is whether current impact fees tied to new development are enough. County staff outlined potential updates covering transportation, fire rescue, parks, and water systems, but commissioners acknowledged that recent state law changes could make increases harder to implement gradually. That creates even more pressure as growth continues to accelerate.

For Southshore, this isn’t theoretical. Communities like Riverview and Wimauma have seen explosive growth over the past decade, bringing thousands of new homes and a growing list of frustrations. Congested roads, drainage issues, and overcrowding during peak hours have become part of daily life for many residents.

That frustration is starting to show up louder at the county level. Commissioners openly discussed whether infrastructure is falling behind development approvals, and whether developers are contributing enough to offset the long-term impact on the communities they’re building in.

Transportation remains ground zero. Corridors like U.S. 301, Big Bend Road, Balm Riverview Road, and State Road 674 continue to carry heavier traffic as development pushes further into South County. Additional hearings are expected to focus on how the county plans and pays for future road improvements.

And this conversation isn’t slowing down anytime soon. More land use and rezoning hearings are already on the horizon, meaning Southshore’s growth story is far from finished.

At this point, most residents aren’t asking if Southshore will keep growing. They’re asking whether everything around it can keep up.

Summer Style on One Tank

Three easy day trips Southshore residents can make without filling up twice

You don’t need a long drive or a full tank to make summer feel like summer. Living in Southshore puts you within reach of some of the best quick getaways in the region. If you’re looking to break up the routine without turning it into a full trip, here are three spots that get the job done.

Anna Maria Island

If your idea of a day off is sand and water, this is your move. Spend the morning on the beach, grab lunch at a local spot, and stick around for sunset. The water is calm, the pace is slower, and it actually feels like a getaway without going far.

Fort De Soto Park

This is the all-in-one option. You’ve got beaches, shaded picnic areas, biking trails, and kayak rentals all in one place. It’s perfect if you want to mix things up instead of just sitting in one spot all day.

Little Manatee River State Park

For something quieter, this is your reset button. Walk the trails, spot wildlife, or just find a shaded area and unplug for a bit. It’s close, it’s calm, and it’s a different kind of Florida than most people see.

You don’t have to go far to get away. Sometimes all it takes is one tank.

Things to do

What’s Washing Up on The Shore This Week

Your Weekly What in the World

Closing in on The Fountain of Youth

If you’ve ever wished you could turn back the clock, you might not be as far off as you think. A growing wave of scientists and researchers is shifting the conversation around aging from something we simply accept… to something we might actually be able to control.

We’re not talking about better skincare or another supplement promising miracles. This is deeper than that. Researchers are now using AI to track how our bodies age at the cellular level, identifying patterns that can predict how fast we’re aging biologically, not just based on how many birthdays we’ve had. At the same time, new drugs are being developed that don’t just treat diseases, but target aging itself as the root cause.

Instead of asking how we treat cancer, heart disease, or Alzheimer’s after they show up, scientists are starting to ask if slowing aging could delay or prevent them altogether. And it’s not some fringe idea anymore.

The field of longevity research is quickly becoming one of the biggest emerging industries in the world, with projections putting it in the trillions. Major companies, startups, and research labs are all racing toward the same goal… helping people live longer, healthier lives.

There’s still a long road between lab results and real-world impact. But for the first time, the idea of extending not just lifespan, but healthspan, how long we stay healthy, is starting to feel less like science fiction and more like something within reach.

So no, we haven’t found the fountain of youth, yet. But science may well be on its way to creating it.

Southshore Spotlight

Frameworks of Tampa Bay

If you’ve ever thought success in school was just about academics, this local nonprofit is working to change that. Frameworks of Tampa Bay focuses on emotional intelligence, helping students build skills like self-awareness, decision-making, and healthy relationships through hands-on programs.

Because the reality is, kids aren’t born knowing how to handle stress or pressure. But those skills can be taught. And when they are, the impact goes far beyond the classroom.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

Well, Southshore, many tried… but only one remains.

It should come as no surprise that Lennard’s girls’ flag football team is still standing this late in the season. They’ve been building toward this moment all year.

On Friday, May 15, at 12 pm, they’ll take the field in the state semifinals against Harmony at the AdventHealth facility.

This one has all the makings of a game you’ll be talking about for years.

If you can make it, get out there and support the Lennard girls as they stampede toward history.

Girl’s Flag Football

Lennard vs. Harmony

Advent Health Facility, May 15th @ 12 PM

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Until next time,

Keep It Local.