The Road to a State Championship

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THE SKINNY

• Sumner Boys Still Making Noise

• Fire Safety in Southshore

• Climate Change is back on the menu.

Featured Story

Sumner Basketball is Still Chasing Rings

Stingrays Keep Cinderella Run Alive with Road Win Over Lehigh, Set Sights on Sarasota

Rings, trophies, banners, whatever the reward is, the Sumner Stingrays boys basketball team is on a mission to collect.

After upsetting top-seeded Plant, the Stingrays moved on to the regional quarterfinal to face Lehigh. Saturday evening down in Lehigh Acres, Sumner made an impact that could be felt all the way back home in Southshore.

Junior Karson Coleman led the way with an impressive 25 points, helping secure a hard-fought four-point win over Lehigh. Senior big man Devin Houston added 10 points and 8 rebounds. Miles Moore, Immanuel Kelly, and Jacob Marseille all contributed on the offensive end, while Bernard Anson kept the defensive pressure high with four steals on the night.

Now Sumner gets to play a little closer to home as they take on Sarasota this Saturday in the regional semifinal.

Let’s wish them the best as they keep this Cinderella story rolling. The road to a state championship is paved with the hopes and dreams of many, but these Stingrays look ready for battle, and the clock is nowhere near midnight.

When the Numbers Finally Make Sense

Helping Southshore Small Business Owners Turn Financial Chaos Into Confidence

If you’ve spent any time in Southshore, you know how many small businesses quietly keep this community running. The family-owned restaurants. The local contractors. The wellness offices tucked into plazas you drive past every week. Behind the scenes of all of them is something most customers never see.

The books.

And for a lot of business owners, that’s the part that gets pushed to late nights and weekends.

That’s where Rising Phoenix Bookkeeping Solutions steps in. They work with small and growing businesses across our area to keep finances organized, accurate, and up to date. From monthly reconciliations and payroll to QuickBooks setup and financial reporting, they help business owners move from scrambling to structured.

It’s easy to focus on sales, customers, and day-to-day operations. But when the numbers aren’t clear, decisions get harder. Growth feels riskier. Tax season feels heavier than it needs to be.

Rising Phoenix helps Southshore business owners stay proactive instead of reactive. When the books are clean and current, you can actually see what’s working, what’s not, and where the next opportunity is.

In a community built on local entrepreneurship, having your financial house in order isn’t just about compliance. It’s about confidence. And when business owners feel confident, the entire community benefits.

If managing receipts, payroll, and reports has been sitting on your “I’ll get to it” list, this might be the year to finally bring clarity to it.

Wimauma Fire a Wake-Up Call

Drought conditions increase wildfire risk across Southshore communities

Earlier this week, firefighters battled a brush fire that burned roughly 350 acres near Wimauma. Crews from across the county worked in dry, windy conditions to contain the flames and protect nearby homes and property.

While large fires often feel like something that happens in other parts of the country, Southshore has plenty of open land, dry brush, and fast-growing neighborhoods that sit close to natural areas. When rain has been limited, and the ground dries out, it doesn’t take much for a small spark to turn into a serious situation.

Something as simple as a discarded cigarette, improperly burned yard debris, or equipment overheating in tall grass can ignite a fire. That’s why prevention matters, especially during drought-like conditions.

Now is a good time to clear excess brush from around your home, use grills and fire pits carefully, and make sure your address is clearly visible in case emergency crews ever need to find you quickly. It’s also important to keep fire extinguishers readily accessible in your home and garage and to make sure everyone in the household knows where they are and how to use them.

Firefighters will always respond when needed, but during dry stretches like this, awareness and preparation start with all of us.

Things to do

What’s Washing Up on The Shore This Week

Plastic in Our Waters

Plastic Pollution in Florida Waters and What It Means for Southshore

When we picture life in Southshore, we think about the Bay, the Gulf, manatees, sea turtles, fishing trips, and sunset walks along the water. But a recent marine study is raising concerns about what’s happening beneath the surface.

Researchers examining marine animals in Florida waters found widespread plastic inside sea turtles, manatees, and other wildlife. In many cases, that plastic wasn’t just present. It was deadly. Even relatively small amounts can block digestive systems and lead to starvation or internal injury.

While this may sound like a problem happening somewhere else, our local waterways are connected to Tampa Bay and the Gulf. What enters storm drains, canals, and creeks here in Apollo Beach, Ruskin, Gibsonton, and Riverview can eventually make its way into the same waters where these animals live.

For a community built around the water, this hits close to home. Boating, fishing, kayaking, beach days, and waterfront living are part of the Southshore lifestyle. The health of those waters directly affects property values, tourism, recreation, and the wildlife many of us enjoy seeing every day.

The takeaway is simple but important. Trash does not disappear. Plastic breaks down into smaller pieces, but it does not go away. And what starts in a parking lot or backyard can end up in the Bay.

For Southshore residents, this is a reminder that small habits matter. Securing trash bins, reducing single-use plastics, and supporting local cleanups are not just feel-good actions. They protect the waters that define our community.

Out here, the water is part of who we are. Keeping it clean protects more than wildlife. It protects the Southshore way of life.

Southshore Spotlight

Military Family Support

Military Family Support is a nonprofit organization focused on helping active duty service members, veterans, and their families when they need it most. Through scholarships, career grants, and partnerships with local organizations, they provide financial assistance, education support, and programs aimed at improving stability and opportunity for military families. The organization has been serving military communities since 1992, with a mission centered around giving back to those who have served and supporting them both during and after their time in uniform.

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

We Know a Guy…or Girl

SDS Auto Detailing

Your vehicles represent you and your business every single day. With our $149 Monthly Maintenance Detail, you never have to worry about dirt, buildup, or first impressions again. We come to you, keep your vehicles spotless inside and out, and make them look brand new every month. Lock in your spot now and stay ahead of the competition.

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

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.