Living near the water is a way of life that gets under your skin. And if you’ve been lucky enough to experience the thrill of wind filling your sails as you cut effortlessly through the water, you’ll understand why sailing has captivated generations since Homer’s “Odyssey.” A committed group of local seafaring women meet for both fun and competition at the newly renovated pram shed at the Dunedin Marina. They race in the intracoastal waters of St. Joseph Sound most Thursdays to prepare for competitions with other sailing groups from around the state in regattas. While some members are middle-aged, these are strong Boomer women who span many decades. They also never miss a chance to dress up; a recent Halloween featured a flamboyance of pink, feathery flamingos as well as many variations on the Barbie revival. windlasses.org —Jon Palmer Claridge

Sisyphus, a deviant tyrant in Greek mythology, was punished by the gods to spend eternity rolling an immense boulder up a hill, only to have it roll back again. So in modern culture, that classical reference has been linked to tasks both futile and laborious. But Elizabeth Brincklow, despite being the daughter of a beloved Dunedin teacher who taught generations of students classical arts and ideas, somehow got a bug in her ear that her Dunedin hometown needs a professional theater complex. She came back to town from New York City to marry Zeke in the ‘80s and they’ve both been fully immersed in local art and politics since. Now, they’ve assembled a team of donors, developers and supporters and are close to having the funds for a feasibility study as a first step toward this marvelous dream.
dunedinpublictheater.org —Jon Palmer Claridge

The last of the WMNF founders to host a regular show signed off in May and headed for Chicago (with intentions of returning at some point as a snowbird). Dilley commandeered the Morning Show on Friday for 45 years. Along the way, his program evolved from a focus on singer/songwriters in the early days, to a wildly eclectic three hours that left no genre unturned. Dilley eschewed the interminable between-sets patter that some of the MNF jocks indulged in. He was a pro in a volunteer environment. Dilley meticulously prepared his shows for flow and coherence, and sprinkled in heaps of musical surprises. He simply loved turning listeners on to shit they’d never heard before. And not for nothin’, Cam is just a really good guy. Come back and guest DJ, friend. —Eric Snider

The laughably named Florida Department of Environmental Protection came up with a nifty idea: Protect our state parks by adding hotels and golf courses and pickleball courts! Because nothing says protection for endangered species and wild places like acres of pavement and tourist traps. —David Warner

Florida's Gulf Coast is a region of bridges. Traffic on the Gandy hump. A towering Corps of Engineer causeway replacing a favorite drawbridge to the beach. (Everything but a commuter rail bridge, but that's another story.) Our most cherished crossings are small-scale affairs, and with the indefinite closure of Hillsborough River State Park's wobbly steel cable concoction, the nod for "Best Bridge" must go to Highlands Hammock State Park. Four planks, with a 2x4 guard rail, zig-zagging through a cypress bottom. Follow this bridge to the oldest oak tree you will ever see, or to an historic orange grove; grab an ice cream at the gift shop, then check out the outstanding little Civilian Conservation Corps Museum. We cherish our state parks. We fight for them. Hold onto the mossy railing at Highlands Hammock with one hand, swat a mosquito with the other, and amble—single file—through this miraculous preserve. floridastateparks.org —Thomas Hallock

Face it, Ron. Trump dumped you (and yet you still suck up to him), and Florida voters are sick and tired of the oxymoronic Moms for Liberty trying to limit liberty in our schools. —David Warner

Many local eateries feature happy hour and live music, but Salty Soul Island Kitchen also taps into the community’s creativity and sense of fun. Christmas in July fans are invited to take home a clear orb and unlock their imaginations with visions of holiday joy. Then the completed ornaments are judged in several categories. It’s all about fun while spreading the island feel in the middle of Downtown Dunedin. Salty Soul delivers fresh, affordable food, local beer, homemade sangria and good vibes in a chill and friendly atmosphere for both locals and visitors who come to hang like they’re on vacation! This summer’s Christmas in July event also created excitement by the Island Kitchen serving their first cocktail. saltysouldunedin.com —Jon Palmer Claridge

The Tampa Bay Rays’ ace relief pitchers Pete Fairbanks and Jason Adam (now with the Padres) share more than a killer fastball. Turns out they’re also big crossword puzzle fans. Voices of Hope for Aphasia invited them to its June crossword-puzzle gala, a fundraiser to help people with language disorders due to stroke or brain injury. The players not only attended (and brough contributions of free tickets and other swag), they led their table to a closely-fought second place in the crossword contest. vohaphasia.org —David Warner

Let’s hope the BOTB curse doesn’t come for Stephanie Hayes. She’s been the Readers’ Pick for Best Columnist for three years running now (and was relegated to finalist in 2024), not surprising since she’s one of the few remaining reasons to have any faith in the Tampa Bay Times. And now, finally, she’s collected her columns into a book, “Be Serious,” in which we guarantee that you can open to any page and land on a laugh line. (Even the titles are funny, as in “This Summer, Beware the Wet Families in Hotel Lobbies.”) Perfectly encapsulating the everyday oddness of Florida, especially in the last few years, it deserves a place on every Tampa Bay bookshelf. (That is, if you can find it. On Aug. 30, I bought the last remaining copy at Tombolo Books. But they’ll reorder if you ask.) @stephrhayes on Instagram —David Warner

The system—and more literally than ever, the man—has its foot on the necks of everyday people now more than ever—but there are people out there throwing all of themselves out there to fight back. For a brief moment last spring, Bree Wallace thought she wanted to do it by running for state house in District 66. She dropped out of the race over the summer, citing a lack of accountability and a prioritization of special interests over constituent needs in the current system. Instead, she’s continued her work as case manager for the Tampa Bay Abortion Fund (TBAF) and launched the Tampa Period Pantry. At TBAF, Wallace acts as sounding board and liaison for pregnant people in peril while the Pantry provides free menstrual hygiene products at nine locations across the Bay area. @bree.wall on Instagram —Ray Roa