Our first podcast: 750 papers and a golf cart

Good morning, East of Tampa.

84 and sunny today, and it holds all week. The rain chance never gets above 24%, and Halloween night looks dry after a stray afternoon shower.

This is the week everything lands at once. Halloween is Saturday, early voting closes Sunday, the clocks fall back Sunday morning, and Election Day is next Tuesday. Here is the plan.

And something new this week: the first episode of the East of Tampa Podcast is out. It is right below.

John

NEW: THE EAST OF TAMPA PODCAST

Episode 1 is out. In 2002, Marie Gilmore borrowed the HOA golf cart and hand delivered the first Osprey Observer to 750 FishHawk homes. Twenty-five years later, the paper runs five editions and nearly 200 local stories a month.

We talked about FishHawk when a 7-Eleven was the only business for seven miles, how a hometown paper survived 2008 and the pandemic, and whether Lithia Pinecrest ever gets widened.

Listen free: Spotify or Apple Podcasts. 27 minutes, made right here.

NEED TO KNOW

Early voting ends Sunday. Every day through Nov. 1, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., at any of 27 Hillsborough sites. Bring a photo and signature ID. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at your assigned precinct. Find your precinct

Clocks fall back Sunday. Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Nov. 1. You get an hour of sleep back, and the drive home gets dark starting Monday.

North Moon Ave is still closed by day. Victoria St to Brandon Blvd, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, for the Tampa Bay Water pipeline. Detour on Knights Ave, Victoria St and Parsons Ave. Access at Brandon Blvd should be back in early November. Detours

I-4 overnight closure Thursday. Westbound from east of I-75 to Mango Rd, 10 p.m. Thursday to 5 a.m. Friday. FDOT closures

FRIDAY NIGHT

Game of the Week: Robinson at Brandon, Friday 7:30. Robinson rolled Chamberlain 46-7 last week, and Brandon closes the regular season at home at E.F. McLane Stadium. This is the final regular-season Friday. Regional playoffs start Nov. 13. Get there early.

The upset of the week: Bloomingdale went to Dad's Stadium and beat Plant 36-30.

YOUR WEEK

Photo: Osprey Observer

Chipotle opens in Apollo Beach today. 5571 N. U.S. 41, with a Chipotlane for drive-thru pickup. Open 10:45 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, and new Rewards members get free chips and guac with a qualifying purchase. Details

Bealsville Trunk or Treat, Thursday. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Bealsville Park in Plant City. Free, second year running, with a costume contest, music and games. Details

Paws in the Park, Saturday. A free dog costume contest at the Apollo Beach Dog Park, 10 a.m. to noon, with prizes for the top three. Six-foot leash, no retractables, and bring water. Details

Trunk or Treat at First Baptist Brandon, Saturday. 6 p.m. at 216 N. Parsons Ave. Church calendar

REAL ESTATE CORNER

Photo: Zillow

Room for everyone this holiday season, now $750,000. 5924 Cherry Oak Dr in River Hills, Valrico. Five bedrooms, three baths, about 2,654 square feet on one story, a private pool and a three-car garage, on Hole 14 inside the gate. Call Danielle Plumstead of Team Plumstead at 813-495-2136.

ONLY OUT HERE

Photo: Osprey Observer

A Riverview Vietnam vet takes his war to class. Bill Dixon of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 787 has told about 700 students in the past year what Vietnam was really like. With Veterans Day two weeks out, teachers can book a speaker through the chapter at vva787.org. The story

OUR PARTNERS

Photo: Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Brandon

In Florida, the palms get the lights. Wrapped palms are the Tampa Bay version of a snowy roofline, and they are what stops traffic on your street. Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Brandon designs around your trees, beds and rooflines, installs it, keeps it lit through December, then takes it down. The design consultation is free. Book at eastoftampa.com/fishhawk-christmas-lights or call 813-755-4344.

PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

Photo: Magnolia Soap & Bath

Soap-toberfest ends Thursday. Magnolia Soap & Bath in Lithia, on Lithia Pinecrest next to Stoner's, has a wax melt plus a room spray for $20 through Oct. 29. After that, the five-for-$35 bar soap bundle is the easy teacher and neighbor gift. Want a girls' night? The store books soap-making parties. 813-986-7835.

Halloween candy, then a checkup. Little Fins Pediatric Dentistry on FishHawk Blvd is accepting new patients and emergencies, and is in network with most plans. No insurance? Their membership plan has no yearly maximums, no deductibles and no waiting periods. (813) 454-0821.

Prestige Pressure Washing & Detail: Marine Corps veteran owned in Brandon, and veterans get 20% off. (813) 438-6315.

MVP Orthodontics: free exam for braces and Invisalign, ages 7 to adult, in Riverview. (813) 640-0220.

Maid Pure Cleaning: holiday guests on the way? Free quote, and gift certificates too. (813) 670-2004.

Environmental Protective Solutions: free mold inspections and a one-year warranty on remediation. (813) 438-5937.

Fix It Today Plumbing: flat-rate pricing, family-owned in Brandon. 813-743-7793.

Glaros Law: family law and personal injury in Brandon. Personal injury consultations are free. 813-854-1234.

Harbor Trust Accounting: a Valrico and Brandon CPA. Next estimated tax payment is due Jan. 15. 813-642-4647.

Swim Life with Coach Natalee: Florida pools do not close for winter. Survival swim lessons in Lithia. 813-613-3377.

Walk the Walk Pet Care: ten years walking Valrico and Lithia dogs. 813-465-3082.

Osprey Observer: your free monthly paper, online any time.

See every East of Tampa partner

Halloween is Saturday. Hit reply and tell me the best-decorated street East of Tampa. I will drive it this weekend.