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Featured Story

Happy New Year…Again

This is officially our first newsletter of 2026, so let’s kick things off with a bang. And by bang, I mean let’s give away some stuff.

First up, we’ve got several sandwich cards left from Mission BBQ. Each card is good for one free sandwich at the Riverview location. Want one? Go follow us on Facebook, invite a few friends, then send us a direct message. Quantities are limited, so this is strictly while supplies last.

Next, because we love seafood and we love books and movies, there’s a trivia question on our Facebook page that brings at least two of those things together. It went live as you’re reading this. (Click Here) The first person to answer correctly and include the quote “I read the newsletter” will get a $25 gift card to Finn’s.

And because all good things come in threes, the first person to tag us on Facebook (@southshorecircle) with a photo of themselves at one of their favorite Southshore spots will score a $25 gift card to Crumbl Cookie.

Happy New Year, Southshore. Let’s make 2026 a fun one. 🎉

Things to do

What’s Washing Up on The Shore This Week

2026 is in. Straws Are Out.

Remember when plastic straws were basically public enemy number one because of the turtle video that took over the internet and made everyone feel guilty for sipping their soda? Plastic was the devil, paper was the hero, and suddenly every restaurant had a mason jar full of those flimsy tubes that half-melted before you even finished your drink. Now, in 2026, it looks like paper straws might be the villain instead.

Florida lawmakers are now considering a bill that would ban paper drinking straws and stirrers at restaurants and other food businesses after studies found that many of the paper options contain PFAS chemicals, a group of substances sometimes linked to health concerns and nicknamed “forever chemicals” because they stick around forever. The proposed legislation would set statewide rules for regulating straws and could limit how local cities and counties create their own straw policies. Studies cited by supporters of the bill say a large percentage of paper straws tested had these chemicals used to make them water-resistant, raising questions about whether paper is truly the safer choice.

If the bill passes, restaurants could have to rethink not just plastic straws but how they handle all of the alternatives they’ve adopted over the last few years. Lawmakers behind the push say they want science-based decisions and consistency across the state, especially after years of different regulations in places like Orlando, Miami Beach, and West Palm Beach that restricted plastics in different ways.

So it seems we went from “don’t kill the turtles” to “maybe these paper tubes aren’t great for us either.” Pretty wild how that turned out. The bigger question now is how restaurants will respond and whether locals who got used to paper straws will miss them, or breathe a sigh of relief.

So, straws, whether they are paper or plastic, will likely be the first victim of 2026. If you had that on your bingo card, you’re off to a great start.

Southshore Spotlight

Inspira

Inspira Tampa Bay is a local nonprofit dedicated to empowering families by providing high-quality programs and resources for neurodivergent and at-risk children while fostering inclusion and community support. They work with therapists, volunteers, and partners to help children and families grow stronger together through education, mentoring, and therapeutic-focused activities.

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.