Taking Stock: Investing Your Time in Greater Brandon This Week (May 23-29)

Books, cooks, dogs, bowling, theater and the law are among the featured offerings and topics in this week’s kickoff listing of things to do and attend in the Greater Brandon area this week, May 23-29.

 There’s more, of course — and we welcome your additions, in the comment box  below  — but in the meantime, here’s a to-do list to get you started:

MONDAY, MAY 23

• Quote of the Day: "Here in the Sunshine State, the fifth month of the year marks the return of bull sharks. Yeesh ... and I thought love bugs were a pain in the butt." Local Voice blogger Dann Berkowitz on one of the perils of living in Florida.
• Cooking For A Cause II / May 23 / 11 a.m.-2 p.m. / , 401 S Parsons Ave. / Local community leaders will be serving as guest celebrity chefs trying to raise money for their selected charity.  Tammy Bracewell, president of the Greater Brandon of Chamber of Commerce, will be cooking a barbecue dinner to benefit the YMCA. Copper Bell Cafe will also offer free local delivery during these events. / Call: 813-681-3354
• Toddler Time at the Library / May 23 / 10–10:20 a.m. / , 619 Vonderburg Drive / This 20-minute program is designed for toddlers and their parents to start the day with a fun activity. The program includes stories, finger plays and songs and takes place in Room No. 1. Groups are required to register in advance. / Open to all / Call: 813-273-3652.    
• Dog Obedience Classes / May 23 / 7–8:00 p.m. /, 510 E Sadie St. / An eight-week dog obedience course will be offered beginning April 4 at the Brandon Recreation Center, 510 E. Sadie St., Brandon. A basic training course will be offered Monday or Tuesday and a sub-novice course will be offered Wednesday or Thursday from 7 to 8 p.m. The registration fee is $80. Call 813-689-0731 or e-mail sibesite@tampabay.rr.com.

TUESDAY, MAY 24

• Quote of the Day: “No one knows the date or time Jesus will come. No one knows the mind of God. It’s sad that some people claim to know Him and put Him in a box.” Pastor Steve Barber of Landmark Baptist Ministries in Seffner on claims the world was to end May 21.
• Ask A Lawyer: Elder Law / May 24 / 10–10:20 a.m. / , 619 Vonderburg Drive / Lawyers from the Hillsborough County Bar Association will present a brief overview of legal issues concerning the elderly including estate planning, Medicaid, Medicare and nursing home rights. A question and answer session will follow the presentation. / Open to all / Call: 813-273-3652
• Brandon Business Builders / May 24 / 6–8 p.m. / , 701 W Lumsden Road / Leads group that meets every Tuesday except the third Tuesday of the month. Meeting is held at O'Brien's Irish Pub in Brandon. Must call 662-1102 to see if your category is open. / Price: $40 annually / Call: (813) 662-1102.
• Free PowerPoint / May 24 / 6–7 p.m. / Seffner-Mango Branch Library, 410 N. Kingsway Road / Learn how to add text boxes, clipart and auto shapes to your presentation. Previous experience with Microsoft PowerPoint is recommended. / Call: 813-273-3652

WEDNESDAY, MAY 25

• Quote of the Day: "We are processing applications right now but we are always looking for families,” said Kathy Brogli, community relations director for Habitat for Humanity Hillsborough. The group is looking for qualifying families for a new 15-home development in Greater Brandon.
• Free Play & Arts and Crafts / May 25 / 10:30 a.m. /Brandon Family Support and Resource Center, 1277 Kingsway Road / Parents, along with toddlers and children up to 4 years of age, are invited for fun playtime and crafts projects. / Free / Call: 813-740-4634
• Power of Persuasion / May 25 / 11 a.m.–1 p.m. / Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce, 330 Pauls Drive, Brandon / In the Teco board room at the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce.  For more information or to register, contact Jamie Reid, (813) 689-1221, ext. 8843 to reserve your spot. Chamber members: $18. Elite members: $12. Lunch provided by Chick-fil-A. RSVP is suggested! Call Crystal Colegrove, 813-689-1221, ext. 8824 for more information.
• Free Cosmetology Class for Cancer Patients / May 25 / 5:30–7 p.m. / 1462 Oakfield Drive / Certified cosmetologists help cancer patients deal with appearance-related side effects of treatment the last Wednesday of the month at the Brandon office of the American Cancer Society.  / Call: 1-800-227-9954. / Free.
• Biz for Breakfast / May 25 / 8-9:30 a.m. / Greater Seffner Chamber of Commerce event at Delaney Creek Lodge, 320 South Lakewood Drive, Brandon / Networking event "with the best breakfast in town." / Admission: $4 / Call: 813-627-8686

THURSDAY, MAY 26

• Quote of the Day: "But what do you do when it is almost 100 degrees and no matter what you put on, you look like a stripper?" Local Voices blogger Irma Davila on trying to dress appropriately during the summer in Florida.
• Free Excel Class / May 26 / 10:15-11:15 a.m. / Seffner-Mango Branch Library, 410 N. Kingsway Road / AutoFill, freeze titles, sorting, and Excel printing options. Previous experience with Microsoft Excel is recommended. / Call: 813-273-3652.
• Greater Seffner Chamber Board of Directors Meeting / May 26 / Noon-1 p.m. / Delaney Creek Lodge, 320 South Lakewood Drive, Brandon
• Book Nook Book Sale / May 26-28 / 10 a.m.-6 p.m. / Seffner-Mango Branch Library, 410 North Kingsway Road, Seffner / Friends of the Library (FOL) members get a 50 percent discount. The May 26 date is a preview date only, and only open to FOL members. / Call: 813-273-3652

FRIDAY, MAY 27

• Quote of the Day: “It’s a great opportunity to reach out to the community and display what our local businesses have to offer and have a little fun at the same time.” Pat Magruder, secretary of the Greater Seffner Chamber of Commerce on the group's Business Expo at the Brandon YMCA in North Brandon.
• "Les Miserables" / May 27, 28 and 29 / 7:30 p.m. / Riverview High School Theater, 11311 Boyette Road, Riverview / Newsome and Riverview high schools will present the school edition of "Les Miserables" May 27 and 28 at 7:30 p.m. and May 29 at 3:30 p.m. and in the Riverview High School Theater. / Tickets are $10 / Call: (813) 671-5011, Ext. 259 / Order tickets online.
• / May 27 / 8 p.m. / James McCabe Theater, 506 Fifth St., Valrico / The Village Players community theater troupe returns to the stage with a cast of 48,  including Abby Bailey, as Kim MacAfee, the lucky teenager selected from among high school students nationwide vying to send Conrad Birdie off to the draft with "one last kiss," televised on The Ed Sullivan Show. Directed by April Golombek. 

SATURDAY, MAY 28

• Quote of the Day: “Mathew was a two-year veteran of CIS who took pride in the de-escalation techniques he used to diffuse emotionally charged situations.” K.C. Poulin, chief executive officer and president of CIS after Brandon's Mathew Finley Little was killed while working as a CIS security guard in St. Petersburg. A 20-year-old man was arrested in the slaying.
• / May 28 / 8 p.m. / James McCabe Theater, 506 Fifth St., Valrico / The Village Players community theater troupe returns to the stage with a cast of 48,  including Abby Bailey, as Kim MacAfee, the lucky teenager selected from among high school students nationwide vying to send Conrad Birdie off to the draft with "one last kiss," televised on The Ed Sullivan Show. Directed by April Golombek. 
• Saturday Night Swing Dance / May 28 / 7 –11 p.m. / , 610 Oakfield Drive / Strap on your dancing shoes and let loose to the sounds of Big Band, jazz and oldies hits. Experienced or a novice, this event is open to all skill levels.  / Price: $8 / Call: 813-966-4788.
• Annual Bazaar and Yard Sale / May 28 / 8 a.m.–2 p.m. Boardwalk of Riverview , 10011 Water Works Lane, Riverview / The Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce holds its annual Bazaar and Yard Sale on. Donations will be accepted through May 27. The event will take place at the Chamber offices off Gibsonton Drive, between U.S. 301 and I-75. Call: 813-234-5944

SUNDAY, MAY 29

• Quote of the Day: “This format also allows students to live in other places and come here for four intensive days a month.” Mary Blackinton, associate program director of Nova Southeastern University's new physical therapy program that uses online technology to allow students to learn from home.
• Exercise and Meditation / May 29 / 9 a.m. / 3319 S Kings Ave, Brandon / Free classes in Falun Gong meditation and exercise at Paul Sanders Park. / Free / Call: 813-777-9939.
• Bowl with the Brandon Ballet / May 29 / 1:30–4 p.m. / The Alley at Southshore 10221 Big Bend Rd, Riverview / Join the for an afternoon of unlimited bowling. There will also be chances to win prizes and giveaways. Bowling starts at 2 p.m. Cost: Adults, $15, students, $10. Shoe rental is free. Each lane holds six bowlers and spaces are limited. Sign up by calling (813) 684-4282 or email dance@brandonballet.org.
• Yard Sales / May 29 / 7 a.m.-Noon / Alafia American Legion Post 148, 7240 Us Highway 301 S., Riverview / The Alafia American Legion Post 148 holds a yard sale every Sunday from 7 a.m. to noon at the post, 7240 U.S. 301, Riverview. Spaces are available for $7 and tables can be rented for $5. The post will serve breakfast from 9 to 11 a.m. / Call: 813-677-6529
• / May 29 / 8 p.m. / James McCabe Theater, 506 Fifth St., Valrico / The Village Players community theater troupe returns to the stage with a cast of 48,  including Abby Bailey, as Kim MacAfee, the lucky teenager selected from among high school students nationwide vying to send Conrad Birdie off to the draft with "one last kiss," televised on The Ed Sullivan Show. Directed by April Golombek.