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THE SKINNY

• Spring Bling Giveaway Reminder

• Abe Agosto For Mayor

• Ask an Attorney with McBreen & Nowak

• More Rays News

• Weird Science

Featured Story

Abe Agosto For Mayor

Things are heating up in the Brandon Riverview Honorary Mayor’s Race

Meet Abraham Agosto, better known as Mortgage Coach Abe. And yes, the nickname fits. Between helping families navigate homeownership and coaching on the field, Abe’s built a reputation around one thing… showing up for people. He’s also a friend of The Circle, and someone we’ve seen consistently give back to the community.

He’s now one of the candidates in the Brandon Riverview Chamber of Commerce Honorary Mayor race, and while no, he won’t be fixing potholes or rewriting policy, what he is doing absolutely matters.

This race is all about raising money and awareness for nonprofits that are making a real difference in the community. And if you know Abe, you know giving back isn’t something he just talks about.

He’s been in the mortgage industry for over a decade, working with first-time buyers, veterans, and investors, helping them navigate one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives. But at the core of it, it’s always been about people. Communication, trust, and helping others win.

That same mindset is exactly what he’s bringing into this race. The two organizations he’s rallying behind are Impact and A League of Their Own (ALOTO) Riverview.

ALOTO creates opportunities for adults with disabilities to participate in sports and community activities, and their first softball game is this Saturday at the Apollo Beach Rec at 9am. If you’ve ever been to one of their events, you already know it’s bigger than just a game. It’s about inclusion, confidence, and community. We’ll also be there, and it’s definitely worth checking out.

Impact works directly with students, parents, and teachers to promote positive decision-making and build stronger relationships at every level. The goal is simple. Reach people early and make a difference that lasts.

For Abe, this isn’t new territory. He was raised in a faith-based household, the son of pastors, and that foundation shows up in how he moves. Whether it’s business, volunteering, or just everyday interactions, it’s all rooted in service and connection. And that’s really what this run is about. Not the title. The impact.

His goal is to bring more people together. More businesses, more residents, more awareness around the organizations that need it most. Because when the community gets involved, everything changes.

Outside of work and volunteering, you’ll probably find Abe at a local event, staying active, or connecting with people, something he genuinely enjoys. And if there’s one spot he keeps coming back to, it’s The Regent, a place that’s become a hub for a lot of those connections.

If you’re looking to support a candidate who’s already doing the work, Abe’s someone worth paying attention to.

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.

Baseball is Back in the News, Southshore

Vote on new Tampa ballpark could come as soon as early May as negotiations continue

If you’ve been following the Rays stadium saga, here’s your latest update. After weeks of delays and back and forth, Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa are now lining things up for a potential vote on a new ballpark deal as early as May.

Originally, this decision was expected in early April, then mid-April. Now the timeline has shifted again, but this time it feels like things are actually moving toward a real decision. The holdup has mostly come down to money.

The proposed stadium is part of a larger development that includes retail, housing, and entertainment. The Rays are expected to contribute, but public funding is still a major piece, and not everyone agrees on how that should work. That disagreement has slowed things down.

At the same time, officials have been pushing for more transparency before making a final call. Now, for the first time in a few weeks, there’s a clearer path forward.A county vote is being targeted for May 6th. And if it happens, it could be the biggest step yet in deciding where the Rays will play long term.

The current lease at Tropicana Field runs through 2028, with hopes for a new stadium by 2029. For Southshore baseball fans, this story has had plenty of starts and stops. But this time feels different. Because we’re getting closer to an actual answer.

Things to do

What’s Washing Up on The Shore This Week

Your Weekly What in the World

Quantum tech could make location spoofing impossible by using the laws of physics

What if proving where you are didn’t rely on GPS, IP addresses, or even trust… but on the laws of the universe itself? That’s exactly what scientists are working on.

It’s called quantum position verification, and the idea is to use quantum physics to confirm someone is physically standing exactly where they claim to be.

Here’s the simple version. It uses something known as quantum entanglement, where two particles are linked no matter how far apart they are. Scientists can send one of those particles to a person claiming to be in a specific location. That person has to measure it and respond instantly.

If everything lines up perfectly, they’re exactly where they said they were. If not, the system knows something’s off. Because of how fast light travels and how quantum measurements work, you can’t fake this from somewhere else without creating tiny inconsistencies that give you away. In other words, you can’t just spoof your location. Physics itself would call you out.

Down the line, this could help stop things like hacked logins, fake access attempts, or even secure highly sensitive locations where you physically have to be there to get in.

It’s still early, and not something you’ll see tomorrow. But the shift is interesting. Security has always been about passwords and code. Now it might come down to the rules of reality itself.

Southshore Spotlight

Creative Junk Therapy

A hidden gem in Brandon, Creative Junk Therapy is a nonprofit creative reuse center that turns everyday “junk” into opportunity. By collecting donated materials and giving them new life through art, classes, and community spaces, they help artists, students, and families create, connect, and rethink what waste really is. It’s part thrift store, part art studio, and all about creativity with purpose.

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

We Know a Guy…or Girl

LLT Destinations

Now’s the time to start planning. Whether it’s Mother’s Day, a graduation cruise, or your summer getaway, booking early means better options, better pricing, and less stress.

Interested in joining the list? Shoot us an email to [email protected]

“Keep it Local!”

Foodies Only

Roots Southern BBQ

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.