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THE SKINNY

• Spring Bling Giveaway Reminder

• Next Up on The Bingo Card…

• Weird Science

Featured Story

It’s The Final Countdown

Times Almost Up on The Spring Bling Giveaway

That’s right, in less than two weeks, we’ll be delivering $1,000 in gift cards to one dedicated reader… but it’s not too late to win. There’s still plenty of time to rack up points and climb your way to the top of the leaderboard.

If you haven’t been paying attention, you can click the link in the top announcements for all the details, but here’s the quick version. You earn points by referring new readers, answering Friday Trivia on Facebook, finding and answering the hidden trivia in the newsletter, and taking pictures with or at the locations of our business partners.

It’s winner-take-all. And like Ricky Bobby said, if you ain’t first, you’re last.

Winnings include $500 in Visa gift cards, $100 to NBS Esthetics, $100 to SDS Auto Detailing, and $25 gift cards to Eggs Up Grill, Marco’s Pizza, Finn’s, Circles, Waves, American Honey, Pita Kebob, Sunset Bar and Grill, Ybor Grille, Tiki Docks, The Healthy Spot, and E Sushi.

The winner will be announced here and on our Facebook page and notified by email on April 20. Then we’ll be hand-delivering the prize… and of course, we’ll be filming it all. Speaking of hidden trivia, we’ve come a long way since we first started, and that’s all thanks to you. So prove you’ve been here from the beginning. What was the subject line of our very first newsletter?

And don’t get too comfortable…

Our next $1,000 giveaway is gonna blow this one away, and it’s set to start in May/June, right around the time we launch Southshore Circle Snipes. (Our super secret street team)

So, stay tuned. Stay reading. Stay Southshore.

Southshore Meet Asian Swamp Eels

Invasive Asian swamp eels are making their way to Southshore waters

Well, this is pretty on par for Florida, so why not? Just when you thought we had officially filled out the wildlife bingo card here in Southshore, something new slides onto the scene like it’s been here the whole time. Not splashes. Not swims. Slides.

Asian swamp eels. Because of course.

Researchers from the University of Florida are warning that these eel-like escape artists are not only in Florida, but they’re already showing up in places that hit a little closer to home. In fact, they’ve been reported as common in areas like the Little Manatee River and Bullfrog Creek. So yeah, they’re here.

And if that wasn’t enough, these aren’t your typical stay in the water and mind their business kind of creatures. If conditions aren’t great, they can leave. As in, wriggle across land, find a new spot, and keep it moving like they’ve got somewhere to be. So now we’ve got something that looks like a snake, swims like a fish, and occasionally decides to go for a walk. Totally normal.

They also aren’t picky. Freshwater, brackish water, low oxygen, muddy bottoms, they’ll take whatever they can get. Which means beyond the Little Manatee River and Bullfrog Creek, you’re looking at plenty of other Southshore spots that could fit the bill. The Alafia River, the backwaters around E.G. Simmons Park, Apollo Beach canals, even neighborhood retention ponds all suddenly feel a little more active.

The bigger issue isn’t just that they exist. It’s what they do once they settle in. Asian swamp eels are invasive, which means they don’t politely blend into the ecosystem. They compete with native species, eat pretty much whatever they want, and slowly throw things out of balance. Not exactly the kind of neighbor you want moving in next door.

Officials are asking people to report sightings if they come across one, which sounds simple enough until you realize you now have to decide whether the thing you just saw slither near the water is a snake, an eel, or Florida just adding another chapter to its ongoing wildlife story.

At this point, it almost feels expected. Every year, there’s something new. Another species. Another moment where everyone collectively shrugs and says, yeah, that tracks. So if you’re out near the water in Southshore and something moves in a way that makes you question everything you thought you knew about fish, you might not be wrong. You might just be looking at your newest neighbor.

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

Stellar Notary Services

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

“Keep it Local!”

Foodies Only

Marcos Pizza

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.