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THE SKINNY

• And The Winner Is

• Local Media

• The Development Dozer

• Breakthrough Science

Featured Story

The Power & Importance of Local Media

Why local media matters for Southshore’s businesses, residents, and community

This may come as a surprise to some, but The Southshore Circle is part of a larger group of publications under Altered Media. A local media company founded right here in Southshore.

While you may only see this newsletter, there’s a lot more happening behind the scenes. And at the core of it all is one simple focus… local.

On the ground level, everything we do is hyper-local. Every story you read is written by someone who lives here. Someone who knows the roads, the businesses, the growth, and what it actually means when something changes in this area. And that doesn’t just apply to Southshore.

If you’ve read any of our other publications like The Brandon Buzz, What’s Up Wesley Chapel, or The 941 Newsette, you’ve seen the same thing. Every one of those publications is written by someone local to that community. Not someone dropping in for a story. Not someone chasing headlines. But someone who lives it every day. Because when it matters to you, it matters to us.

That’s the difference. And that’s why local media matters. This newsletter isn’t just a list of stories and events. It’s a reflection of the people, places, and businesses that make this community what it is.

When we built this, we made a commitment to keep it local. The businesses you see here aren’t random. They’re your neighbors. They’re the ones hiring locally, supporting families, and reinvesting right back into the community. Supporting them isn’t just helpful. It’s how communities stay strong.

So we won’t stay on the soapbox too long, but it’s worth saying. When you can, shop local. Support small businesses. Pay attention to what’s happening around you. Because local media isn’t just about information.

It’s about connection. It’s about trust. And it’s about making sure Southshore continues to grow without losing what makes it home.

Another One Bites The Dust

New HCA emergency room breaks ground in Riverview, reigniting the debate over growth, space, and what Southshore is becoming

The time has come, and here we are.

We talked about this months ago, but now they’ve officially broken ground on the new emergency room at the old Ace range on Boyette Road. And maybe it’s an unpopular opinion, but I don’t like it.

We don’t need more emergency rooms. We need more wide-open spaces and batting cages. We need more of what Florida used to look like. More room for kids to play, for families to explore, and for Florida to be wild.

The Ace range being developed by HCA is just another example of overdevelopment and short-sighted thinking. I’ve said it before, but we are literally paving paradise.

I understand the need for more places to live and more services to support those residents. But at some point, we have to stop and actually look at the land, the roads, the traffic, the schools, and ask if the area can truly support the growth that keeps getting pushed into it.

Because right now, it feels like the answer is always just to build more. More buildings. More traffic. Less space.

At some point, the limit has to be defined by more than how many structures we can fit on a piece of land. It should be about balance. About preserving what made people want to move here in the first place.

Because once it’s gone, it’s gone.

Things to do

What’s Washing Up on The Shore This Week

Your Weekly What in the World

New gene therapy allows people born blind to gain vision in a groundbreaking medical breakthrough

Imagine being born without sight and then one day, being able to see. That’s not science fiction anymore.

A group of scientists just won one of the biggest awards in science, often called the “Oscars of Science,” for developing a gene therapy that can restore vision in people who were born blind.

Let that sink in. Not improving eyesight. Not correcting vision. Restoring it.

The treatment targets a rare genetic condition in the retina, where faulty genes prevent the eye from processing light. Using a harmless virus, scientists deliver a working copy of that gene directly into the eye, giving those cells the instructions they were missing.

And for some patients, the results have been life-changing. People who once could only detect light are now seeing shapes, movement, and even faces. Some are experiencing vision for the first time in their lives.

This didn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of decades of research and years of testing to prove it works. But here’s the bigger picture. This isn’t just about vision. It’s about what’s coming next.

Gene therapy is opening the door to treating diseases at their source, not just managing symptoms. From blindness to other genetic conditions, medicine is starting to shift in a big way.

We’re not just treating problems anymore. We’re rewriting the code. And somewhere out there right now… Someone is seeing the world for the very first time.

Southshore Spotlight

Seniors in Service

Disabled American Veterans is helping make sure local veterans and their families get the support they’ve earned. Through services like benefits assistance and free transportation to the James A. Haley VA Medical Center, the organization plays a big role in connecting veterans with care and resources. Right now, there’s also a need for volunteers in the Sun City Center and Ruskin area, especially drivers and dispatchers, to help keep that support moving.

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

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.