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Featured Story

Watch Out For Our Mascot

The weather is cooling off, I promise.
At least that’s what they tell me, and out in Southshore, colder weather means manatees making their way to the Big Bend Power Plant.

This is your friendly reminder that when you’re out navigating our beautiful waterways, keep an eye out for the not-so-little guys. They’re bulky, they’re slow, and their reaction time isn’t quite what it used to be.

Every year, as the Gulf waters drop below 68 degrees (not quite yet), hundreds of manatees head for the warm-water discharge near Apollo Beach. It’s a migration we’ve learned to love, part wildlife documentary, part hometown reunion. Families bundle up, grab hot chocolate, and line the Manatee Viewing Center boardwalk, pointing out the gentle ripples and gray backs gliding just beneath the surface.

But here’s the thing: those ripples are more fragile than they look. Boat strikes remain one of the leading causes of manatee injuries and deaths in Florida. Propellers slice, hulls bruise, and wakes can flip young calves. A single careless throttle can turn a Saturday joyride into a tragedy for one of our most beloved locals.

Southshore has always been a place where people and nature share tight quarters, from dolphins in the canals to ospreys on streetlights. The manatees are part of that same heartbeat. They’ve survived red tide, cold snaps, and boat traffic because enough of us still care to slow down, pay attention, and give them room to breathe.

So, as the temperature drops, be safe, be kind, and keep your eyes on the water. The manatees are home for the winter, and it’s up to us to make sure they stay that way.

Southshore Story Time

🏝 THE RIVER BENEATH US

Part 1: THE CHEST

The day they found the chest, the water was too still.
Construction crews widening the canal off Apollo Beach said the mud smelled like copper. Around noon, a backhoe hit something that clanged instead of cracked. When they cleared the muck, a chunk of blackened wood surfaced, ribs of an old hull covered with barnacles thick as knuckles.

Inside the hollowed-out timbers sat a metal chest, welded shut and chained twice over. It wasn’t uncommon to find things like that, but the foreman called the county anyway. By sunset, deputies, an archaeologist, and a half-curious crowd gathered on the bank, phones out, filming history breathe again.

That’s when Lena Morales showed up with her camera bag and a deadline. She wrote for The Southshore Circle, mostly covering grand openings and storm prep. “River pirates,” she joked to a deputy. He didn’t laugh.

The archaeologist, Dr. Hensley, insisted on hauling the chest to a secure facility before opening it. They winched it onto a flatbed, tarps tied tight, and drove off as thunder rumbled inland.

That night, Lena dumped her photos onto her laptop. One shot caught her eye: a faint carving along the chest’s edge of three overlapping circles. She’d seen that symbol before, etched into the limestone near the Little Manatee River trailhead.

Her phone buzzed.
Unknown Number: Stop digging. The river remembers.

Things to do

What’s Washing Up on The Shore This Week

A New Chapter for Wimauma

In the heart of Wimauma, something remarkable has quietly opened its doors. A place built not just out of bricks and windows, but out of belief: belief in reading, in possibility, and in the idea that information should be free.

The new Wimauma Public Library (5714 North St., Wimauma) now stands as the latest chapter in this community’s story. What was once a county building has been repurposed into a sanctuary of learning and connection, with more than 1,000 items already on its shelves.

From children’s picture books to cookbooks, from bilingual collections to computer access and printing, this library is a reminder that the only cost is the willingness to walk through the door.

At its opening, the Wimauma library didn’t just add another “public service.” It reaffirmed something essential: that the last true place where information is free still matters. When we support — and show up for — our libraries, we support each other. We declare: We believe in knowledge. We believe in community.

So, to every reader in Wimauma and beyond: visit the new library. Borrow a book. Use the computer. Sit for a moment in that quiet space. Know that when you walk in, you carry no price tag, no membership fee, no barrier but curiosity. That’s power. And it belongs to all of us.

Southshore Spotlight

National Autobody Council (NABC)

The National Auto Body Council’s Recycled Rides® initiative refurbishes vehicles through industry partnerships. Since 2007 it has donated more than 3,500 vehicles to veterans, single mothers and those in need.

The program not only restores cars, it restores opportunity, giving recipients reliable transportation, greater independence, and a fresh shot at stability.

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

We Know a Guy…or Girl

Stellar Notary Services

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

“Keep it Local!”

Foodies Only

Marcos Pizza

🎃When the moon’s out and the cravings creep in, Marco’s is your treat of choice.
Hot, fresh, and hauntingly good, no broomsticks required.
Order tonight and scare off the hunger.

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

Battle of the Quarterbacks: Who Rules Southshore?

It’s time to settle the score. You have until Friday to decide who’s the true throwing king of Southshore. Cast your vote, rally your team, and let’s see who takes the crown. The winner gets a full feature in The Southshore Circle and a gift card to one of our favorite local spots.

Football

Lennard vs Palmetto, Friday 10/24 @7:30 PM - Home

East Bay vs Spoto, Friday 10/24 @ 7:30 PM - Home

Sumner vs Alonso, Friday 10/24 @7:30 PM - Home

Riverview vs Bloomingdale, Friday 10/24, @ 7:30 PM - Away

Spoto vs East Bay, Friday 10/24, @7:30 PM - Away

News or Events you’d like to share? Email us at: [email protected] 

Until next time,

Keep It Local.