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Good Morning Neighbor,

We’ve got a really nice stretch of weather setting up this weekend. Comfortable temps, plenty of sun, and about as good as it gets for getting outside around here.

March Madness is officially underway too, so between the games all weekend and everything happening locally, there’s no shortage of ways to spend it. Whether you’re out and about or posted up with a few TVs watching your bracket fall apart, it’s a pretty solid mix.

Let’s take a look at what’s going on around town.

-Mike

Access local events three different ways:

Community Calendar
Full List of Events w/Links
Join our Facebook Events Group

Feel free to follow us on Instagram for more local updates.

Yuengling Draft Haus Night Market
Yuengling Tampa
Friday, March 20 | 6:00–10:00 PM

Over 60 local vendors, food, and drinks set up in the courtyard at Yuengling Draft Haus. Easy Friday night spot to walk around, grab a drink, and check out local businesses.

Under the Oaks Night Market
Under the Oaks Event Venue
Saturday, March 21 | 5:00–8:00 PM

A laid-back night market under the trees with local vendors, food, handcrafted goods, and wellness-focused booths. Easy spot to stroll, grab something to eat, and hang out for a bit.

Hernando County Flea Fest

Florida Classic Park, Brooksville
Saturday, March 21 | 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

A new flea market-style event is popping up in Brooksville with space for vendors, food trucks, and plenty of secondhand and handmade finds. Expect everything from vintage items and upcycled goods to farm-fresh products and local crafts, all in a laid-back, treasure-hunting kind of atmosphere.

Swig Sets Sights On Wesley Chapel

If you’ve noticed how busy those Swig drive-thrus have been lately, this probably won’t surprise you.

After opening two Lutz locations on Sierra Center Blvd and Wingshooter Way, the fast-growing “dirty soda” brand is already expanding again. A new Swig is planned for Wesley Chapel at Curley Road and Overpass Road, with construction officially underway, though there’s no opening date yet. The local franchise group says the Lutz openings have been strong so far, helping fuel the push into nearby areas.

Swig, which started in Utah, has built its following around customizable drinks, mixing sodas like Dr. Pepper and Diet Coke with flavors, creams, and fruit, along with sparkling water options for something lighter. With another location now in progress, it looks like they’re planning to keep growing their footprint across the Tampa area.

New Tenants Taking Shape Near Whole Foods

As you’ve probably noticed, the large Whole Foods-anchored plaza just north of County Line on Bruce B Downs is starting to fill in, with several tenants now confirmed and a few spaces still up for lease. I highly recommend following this Facebook page if you aren’t already.

A Huge Thank You to our wonderful local partners!

Help Available For Storm-Damaged Homes

If you or someone nearby is still dealing with storm damage, this might be worth a quick look.

Pasco County is hosting online webinars to walk residents through applying for housing recovery funds tied to Hurricanes Idalia, Helene, and Milton. The sessions will guide you step-by-step through the application process for the Better Future Individual Housing Program, which can help pay to repair, rebuild, or replace damaged homes. The next webinars are March 19 (English) and March 24 (Spanish), both at 6:30 PM.

County officials say the application can be complicated, but funding is still available, and they’re encouraging people not to give up. Priority goes to displaced homeowners and those under certain income levels, but anyone with storm damage is encouraged to apply before funds run out.

Rays Stadium Costs Start Climbing

The renderings look superb, but as they dig farther into the details of this proposed possibility, some concerns are starting to show up.

According to a 10 Tampa Bay report, a preliminary analysis found the planned roof design may be too heavy and not ideal for storm conditions, which could add at least $300 million to the project. That number isn’t final, though, since the team was already planning to revise the roof before the report, and even additional analysis or redesign work could push costs higher.

There’s also some uncertainty around who pays. While the Rays have said they’d cover cost overruns, it’s not clear if changes like this fall into that category.

More Nonstop Getaways From Tampa

TPA and Breeze continue to add to the repertoire, and this one gives travelers a few more ways to get out of town.

Breeze Airways is adding two new international routes from Tampa International Airport, with Punta Cana launching July 2 and San José, Costa Rica starting October 3. The Costa Rica route is especially notable, it hasn’t been offered from Tampa in more than 25 years, and Breeze will be the only airline running it, with flights twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Punta Cana flights will run Thursdays and Sundays, joining existing options from other airlines. With these additions, Breeze is doubling its international presence at TPA, building on upcoming service to Nassau (June 11) and Montego Bay (December 19), giving Tampa Bay travelers more direct options across the Caribbean and Central America.

Kenton Road Debate Continues

This one’s been coming up at county meetings, and it’s still an ongoing discussion.

A proposed project at Kenton and Elam roads in Wesley Chapel is moving forward, but not without pushback from nearby residents who say it doesn’t fit the “community hub” vision. If you want a closer look at the concerns and back-and-forth from the meeting, this article breaks it down.

We’ll be on Instagram with updates wherever we end up. Feel free to slide into our DM’s.

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