The Best Of

New Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Lutz, Land O Lakes, Zephyrhills, and Odessa

Featured Story

More Than an Extra Day Off

The history behind Presidents Day and how Washington’s Birthday became a national holiday observed across the United States

For a lot of people, Presidents’ Day feels like a bonus. A long weekend, a day off work for some, and plenty of sales signs reminding you the holiday has arrived. But the day itself actually started with a much simpler purpose.

Presidents’ Day began as a way to honor George Washington’s birthday. Washington was born on February 22, and after his death, Americans began recognizing his leadership and his role in helping shape the country. By the late 1800s, Washington’s Birthday became an official federal holiday.

Things changed in the 1970s when several federal holidays were moved to Mondays to create more three-day weekends. Washington’s Birthday shifted to the third Monday in February, and over time, people began referring to it as Presidents Day. The meaning gradually expanded from honoring one president to recognizing all U.S. presidents and their influence on the country’s history.

Today, the holiday means different things depending on who you ask. For some, it is a history lesson. For others, it is simply a welcome pause during a busy time of year. Either way, it offers a moment to reflect on leadership, how the country has changed, and how traditions themselves evolve over time.

Here in Wesley Chapel, it usually means kids home from school, families out running errands or enjoying the extra day together, and maybe catching up on things that did not get done during the week. And while it may feel like just another long weekend, Presidents’ Day is still a reminder that the holiday was meant to be about something a little bigger than a day off.

The Real What’s Up

Oasis Community

Oasis Community Outreach and Café is one of those organizations that works behind the scenes but makes a real difference. Through meals, clothing, and community support, the nonprofit helps individuals and families facing difficult situations get the resources they need and take steps toward stability.

Foodies Only

Your Restaurant Could Be Here

Get your restaurant, food truck, bakery, or café in front of thousands of local food lovers every week. This is where Wesley Chapel, New Tampa, Lutz, Land O’ Lakes, Odessa, and Zephyrhills go to discover their next favorite bite.

Make sure they discover you. Advertise with us and turn hungry readers into hungry customers walking through your door.

Email us at: [email protected] 

We Know a Guy…or Girl

What’s Up Working

Looking for a painter? A plumber? Or a hero willing to wrestle with that lightbulb hanging 30 feet in the air? You’re in the right place.

Want your business to be one of the go-tos?

Email us at: [email protected] to get on the list.

Another One

Portion of Morris Bridge Road near Cross Creek Boulevard to close for stormwater repairs, causing detours for Wesley Chapel and New Tampa drivers

If it feels like there’s always road work happening somewhere around Wesley Chapel lately, you’re not imagining it. And now another stretch of Morris Bridge Road is about to join the list.

Hillsborough County says a portion of Morris Bridge Road just south of Cross Creek Boulevard will close for up to two weeks starting February 16 while crews repair stormwater drainage beneath the roadway. The closure will affect the section between Cory Lake Boulevard and Cedar Cove Drive. Homes and businesses will remain accessible, but through traffic will need to use detours around the work area.

The official reason is stormwater repair, which is not exactly exciting news unless you’ve seen what happens when drainage fails during heavy rain. The work is meant to prevent future flooding issues and keep the road functioning long-term. The challenge is that Morris Bridge Road does not have many easy alternatives, so when it closes, traffic tends to spill onto Cross Creek Boulevard and Bruce B. Downs fairly quickly.

For drivers in Wesley Chapel and New Tampa, this is another reminder that growth and infrastructure tend to move together. Roads that once handled lighter traffic are now carrying a lot more people every day, and maintenance that might have gone unnoticed years ago now turns into a noticeable disruption.

The good news is that full closures usually mean the work gets done faster. The bad news is that for the next couple of weeks, commutes may take a little longer, and navigation apps will probably become your best friend.

In other words, more road work is on the way. If Morris Bridge Road is part of your daily routine, plan ahead and give yourself a little extra time. Around here, it is becoming part of the routine.

What’s Up This Week

That’s it for this week.

Thanks for reading. Keep showing up for each other, supporting your neighbors, and building the kind of community we’re all proud to call home.

The Folks Behind The Curtain

P.S.

You see something, say something. Any information the community needs to know? Email us @ [email protected]