By RICK MAYER APOLLO BEACH − Playing has been deemed a right for every child by the United Nations. It’s that important. However, finding the time and right environment to get the little ones moving can be a chore for some caregivers. The Florida heat…
Read More Playtime provides a cool indoor playground − and more − for the tiniest tots
By GEOFF FOX Dec. 7, 1941: There are still Americans who remember where they were when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, forcing the U.S. to defend itself and its allies in World War II. Plenty of Americans still have clear memories of their whereabouts on…
Read More Commentary: None of us should ever forget what happened on 9/11
By PAUL CATALA When Hurricane Donna smacked into southwest Florida in September 1960, meteorologists from the National Weather Service were monitoring as sustained winds of over 100 mph and 5 to 10 inches of rain ravaged the state. In late August and early September 1985,…
Read More From Ruskin, National Weather Service keeps eyes on the skies in Tampa Bay area
By BOB D’ANGELO If you’re looking for a snowball’s chance of relief from the summer heat blasting through south Hillsborough County, there is a cool alternative. Snowball Station opened 2½ years ago at 7415 U.S. 301 S. in a trailer near the front entrance of…
Read More Here’s a snowball’s chance for icy refreshment in Riverview
By RICK MAYER RUSKIN − A wandering eye can be excused after stepping into Heart to Home, a home decor business featuring refinished work by the owner, Sarah Sheppard. The front room is a tight fit, though, so step cautiously as your head gimbals amid…
Read More At Heart to Home decor shop, turn furniture you have into furniture you love
By YVETTE C. HAMMETT The personal finance website WalletHub recently released its list of top pet-friendly cities in the United States, and Tampa ranked No. 3. But South Shore is not to be left out. There are numerous pet-friendly restaurants throughout Riverview, Ruskin, Apollo Beach…
Read More South Shore businesses put out welcome mats for pets
A Staff Report Best-selling author and world-renowned birder Kenn Kauffman will be among the keynote speakers at this year’s Florida Birding & Nature Festival, Oct. 17-20. The festival, headquartered at the Hillsborough Community College campus in Brandon, coincides with the peak migration of more than…
Read More Florida Birding & Nature Festival scheduled
By BOB D’ANGELO RIVERVIEW − The Silver Ring Cafe opened early during the first week of September, but not for customers, who would have jumped at the chance to get an early start gorging on Cuban sandwiches, deviled crab cakes or stuffed potatoes. The longtime…
Read More Silver Ring Cafe’s ingredients for success include helping others
By RICK MAYER Donations for Bahamas relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Dorian are being accepted at the Salty Shamrock Irish Pub in Apollo Beach. There is a tent for donations outside the pub, at 6186 N. U.S. 41, just south of Apollo Beach…
Read More Donations for Bahamas hurricane relief accepted at Salty Shamrock
By GEOFF FOX APOLLO BEACH – Enter Amy Abdnour’s office and Nina, her assistant, will calmly show you where to sit. Nina will command your attention until she decides to saunter across the rug and find a comfortable spot to lie down. Abdnour is a…
Read More Meet Nina, a ‘super chill’ therapy dog for young and old