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THE SKINNY

• Businesses Beware

• New Laws

• Meteor Time

• Meet Your Neighbor

Featured Story

The Struggles Continue

Here's what the latest phase of the South Hillsborough Pipeline project means for drivers, commuters, and local businesses

If you've driven through Riverview lately, you've probably noticed two things. First, there are orange barrels everywhere. Second, no matter which road you choose, you somehow end up in construction anyway.

We've talked quite a bit over the past year about the massive South Hillsborough Pipeline project, and now we're starting to see another wave of impacts as crews move farther into South Hillsborough.

The $500 million project will install a 26-mile drinking water pipeline capable of carrying up to 65 million gallons of water per day to support one of the fastest-growing parts of Hillsborough County. It's a critical piece of infrastructure that officials say is needed to keep pace with the area's continued growth. Construction is expected to continue through 2028.

The downside? Getting there. Recent work has created lane closures and shifting traffic patterns along roads like Boyette Road and Bloomingdale Avenue, with drivers already reporting longer commutes and more congestion. As the work progresses, businesses along the construction route are beginning to feel the effects.

A few weeks ago, we covered how road construction in Brandon created headaches for local businesses as customers simply stopped making the trip. Now, business owners in Southshore are beginning to voice similar concerns, saying fewer customers are stopping in because navigating the construction has become more difficult.

It's an unfortunate reality of projects this size. We all want reliable drinking water, safer infrastructure, and roads that can support the thousands of new residents moving into South Hillsborough. But while those long-term benefits are easy to appreciate, they're little comfort to the small business owner wondering why this month's sales are down.

The good news is that the work is temporary. The not-so-good news? "Temporary" on a project expected to wrap up in 2028 can feel like a very long time. So if your favorite restaurant, coffee shop, boutique, or neighborhood business happens to sit behind a maze of orange barrels over the next few months, consider making the extra turn or two.

Sometimes the biggest thing we can do for our local businesses is simply keep showing up.

New Rules Florida Style

More than 140 new Florida laws take effect July 1

Every July, a new batch of Florida laws quietly takes effect. Some you'll never notice. Others could affect everything from your next restaurant bill to the roads you drive on and the equipment your landscaping company uses. Here are a few of the biggest changes taking effect July 1 that could impact Southshore residents.

🌿 Say Goodbye to Local Leaf Blower Bans

If you've ever wondered why your neighborhood still sounds like a NASCAR race on Saturday mornings, it may stay that way for a while. A new state law prevents local governments from creating or enforcing regulations that restrict gas-powered leaf blowers and other gas-powered landscaping equipment. Supporters say the law creates consistency across the state, while critics argue it removes local control over noise and emissions.

💵 More Tax Relief on Outdoor Gear

Florida's latest tax package includes temporary sales tax exemptions on certain outdoor recreation items, including firearms, ammunition, camping gear, fishing equipment, and related accessories later this year. While portions of the tax package are still awaiting final action, lawmakers say the goal is to provide targeted tax relief for Florida families and outdoor enthusiasts.

🍽️ No More Surprise Restaurant Fees

Restaurants will now be required to clearly disclose mandatory service charges, automatic gratuities, credit card surcharges, delivery fees, and other required charges before customers receive the bill. The goal is simple: fewer surprises when the check arrives.

🤖 New Rules for AI Data Centers

Florida also approved new regulations surrounding large data centers used to power artificial intelligence. The law is designed to encourage economic development while helping ensure everyday utility customers aren't forced to shoulder the costs of massive power demands created by these facilities.

💰 Florida's New Budget

July 1 also marks the start of Florida's new fiscal year, bringing a new state budget that funds transportation projects, education, environmental programs, public safety, and other services across the state.

As always, not every new law will affect your daily life. But chances are, at least one of them eventually will. If you'd like to browse the complete list of Florida laws taking effect July 1, you can find them HERE

Things to do

What’s Washing Up on The Shore This Week

Your Weekly What in the World

The Meteor Shower That Refuses to Follow the Rules

Most meteor showers are pretty predictable. Astronomers know when they'll arrive, roughly how many shooting stars they'll produce, and whether they're worth staying up past your bedtime to watch. The June Bootids didn't get that memo.

The annual meteor shower is expected to peak around June 27, but unlike most celestial events, nobody really knows what it's going to do. Some years, skywatchers see only a handful of meteors per hour. Other years, the shower has unexpectedly exploded into a full-blown light show, producing dozens, and even more than 100, meteors per hour. Scientists still can't accurately predict which version will show up. That's why astronomers often call the June Bootids one of the most unpredictable meteor showers of the year.

The meteors come from debris left behind by Comet 7P/Pons-Winnecke, which crosses Earth's orbit every few years. As our planet passes through the comet's dusty trail, tiny particles slam into Earth's atmosphere and burn up, creating the streaks of light we call shooting stars. What makes the Bootids especially unique is how slow they appear to move. Most meteors flash across the sky in the blink of an eye. Bootids tend to drift more slowly, creating long, graceful streaks that can be easier to spot.

So what about Florida? Good news. We actually have a chance to see them. The June Bootids favor observers in the Northern Hemisphere, which includes Florida. The shower's radiant point is located in the constellation Boötes, and while you don't need to find the constellation to enjoy the show, you'll want to look toward a dark sky away from city lights. The best viewing will be after sunset and before dawn as the shower approaches its peak.

Now for the bad news. The June Bootids are famous for underdelivering. In most years, you'll only see a few meteors per hour. But that's also what makes them fun. Nobody knows whether this year will be a dud or whether it might surprise everyone with an unexpected burst of activity.

So if you happen to be outside late this week, maybe take a few minutes to look up. At worst, you'll see a couple shooting stars. At best, you'll witness one of the sky's most unpredictable shows. And honestly, after surviving another week of Florida summer heat, standing outside at midnight might not be such a bad idea anyway.

Get the scoop on the Bootids

Southshore Spotlight

Lighthouse Gospel Mission

For more than 70 years, Lighthouse Gospel Mission has been serving some of Tampa Bay's most vulnerable residents through addiction recovery, food assistance, and faith-based community outreach. Based in Riverview, the organization operates an 18-month residential discipleship program for men and women seeking freedom from addiction while also providing food assistance to families throughout the region.

Through its Operation Hope ministry, Lighthouse Gospel Mission helps distribute hundreds of thousands of pounds of food each year to families in need and partners with other local organizations to expand its reach across Tampa Bay. The nonprofit also operates a thrift store and food truck that help support its mission of serving the hurting, hungry, and addicted in our communities.

Whether it's helping someone overcome addiction, putting food on a family's table, or offering hope during a difficult season of life, Lighthouse Gospel Mission continues to make a meaningful impact right here in our community.

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

🏡 Meet Your Neighbor:

Robin Huntely with Rae’s Accounting

If you pay taxes, which, let’s be honest, means if you live in America, you might think you don’t need a good tax professional. But trust me, you absolutely need a Robin.

What or who is a Robin, you ask? Besides being the founder and brains behind Rae’s Accounting? Well, let me introduce you to this tax-fighting diva who isn’t afraid to speak her mind or tackle the toughest financial messes while making sure her clients pay the lowest amount legally possible.

No one likes taxes. It’s not even an exciting topic. But somehow Robin makes it less painful and dare I say… fun. I’ve only known her for a few months, but in that short time, I’ve learned two things. She knows exactly what she’s doing when it comes to tax strategy, and she might be one of the most selfless people I’ve ever met. More on that later.

Robin has called Apollo Beach home for the last 10 years. She loves the sunshine and lack of snow, but the growing traffic and the closure of our Post Office have definitely struck a nerve. She’s a strong advocate for small businesses and one of the first people to step up when locals are in need.

When she moved to Florida, she left behind the cold as well as her old business, but she opened Rae’s Accounting and brought with her more than 41 years of tax experience and 15 years of strategic tax planning. Her passion for the tax world started when she was young, watching The Rockford Files with her father. That early spark grew into a lifelong profession she’s been immersed in since high school.

When she’s not battling overinflated tax bills, Robin loves to travel and work out at Chica Boom Fitness. She also enjoys a good glass of red wine and eating at some of her favorite local spots like Circles and Mi Viejo.

On a personal level, Robin is one of the most good-hearted people you’ll ever meet. She cares deeply about the clients she serves and the community she calls home. Whether she’s saving you money or helping save your business, Robin is truly one of a kind and a real ray of sunshine in the Southshore community.

We Know a Guy…or Girl

MAQ Travel

June is for celebrating

Birthdays

Anniversaries

Father’s Day

Graduations

Girls’ trips

Family reunions

“Just because” moments

This is the perfect time to turn plans into reality.

At MAQ Travel, I help you create personalized, stress-free travel experiences designed with intention—so you can focus on celebrating, not stressing.

Connect with me here

Foodies Only

Marco’s Pizza (Apollo Beach)

Life gets busy.

Between work, school, sports, and everything else on the calendar, dinner has a way of becoming one more thing to figure out. That's why Apollo Beach families know they can count on Marco's Pizza.

Fresh dough made daily, quality ingredients, and the pizza your family loves—ready when you need it most. Because when life gets hectic, you should never have to wonder what's for dinner.

You can always count on Marco's. 🍕

Local Sports

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Until next time,

Keep It Local.