The Best Of

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

Featured Story

The Rays and the Long Road Home

Why Wesley Chapel fans are watching the latest stadium talks

For most people in Wesley Chapel, the Rays feel just close enough to care about and just far enough to make every game a commitment. That’s why the latest movement in the never-ending stadium conversation is worth paying attention to, even if it isn’t happening in our backyard.

Hillsborough Community College is set to vote next week on whether to open formal discussions with the Tampa Bay Rays about potentially using land near its Dale Mabry campus. This isn’t a green light for construction or a final decision. It’s more like turning the porch light on and seeing who shows up to talk.

After years of rumors, stalled deals, and false starts, any step forward feels notable. Still, there’s a long list of unknowns. No finalized site. No financing plan. No timeline. Just the possibility that the conversation is finally moving again.

So why should Wesley Chapel care? Because geography matters. A stadium location can turn a game night from an all-night event into something you actually do on a Tuesday. It affects traffic patterns, drive times, and whether you’re watching the first inning in person or from your couch.

The Rays may be negotiating with Tampa, but their fan base stretches well beyond city lines. Wesley Chapel shows up. We plan around games. We make the drive. This isn’t just about where a stadium sits on a map. It’s about how accessible baseball is for the people who support the team.

This vote won’t settle the stadium debate, but it might shape where the next serious chapter begins. And wherever that ends up, the Rays remain a Tampa Bay team, claimed by fans across the region, including right here in Wesley Chapel.

The Real What’s Up

Keepers of The Innocent, INC.

Keepers of the Innocent is a Florida-based nonprofit made up of a tight-knit group of bikers on a mission to support children, youth, and families affected by abuse, neglect, and trauma. What started as a community of riders has grown into something deeply meaningful, a team that shows up for kids who have been hurt, overlooked, or forgotten.

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.

A New Chapter for Florida Schools

What the expansion of Schools of Hope could mean for Wesley Chapel classrooms

Wesley Chapel and the surrounding area found itself pulled into a much bigger education conversation this week as Governor DeSantis publicly addressed the expansion of Florida’s Schools of Hope program for the first time. At its core, the issue is about how the state supports struggling schools and what role charter operators should play in that effort.

The expanded program allows certain charter schools to move into unused space on public school campuses, with the goal of giving students more options. Supporters say it brings opportunity where it’s needed most. Critics worry it could stretch already tight school resources even thinner, especially in fast-growing areas like ours, where enrollment, staffing, and funding are constant balancing acts.

The governor struck a more measured tone than some expected, acknowledging concerns from school districts and suggesting the program should be implemented thoughtfully rather than rushed. That nuance matters, because this isn’t just a policy debate happening in Tallahassee. It’s one that could eventually affect classrooms, budgets, and families right here.

For Wesley Chapel parents and educators, the bigger question is how choice and support coexist. How do we expand opportunities for students who need them while making sure local public schools are not left carrying the cost alone. As our community continues to grow, decisions like these shape what education looks like long term.

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]