Brandon Events and Things To Do (February Report)

One month into the new year and it’s time to look ahead to what’s happening and worthy of note in the Greater Brandon community.

The weekend starts with the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce's annual membership dinner and includes a yard sale staged by The Frenzie - Life Theatre troupe.

As always, we invite you to help us grow this list of community events by submitting your own "must-do's" in the comment box below.

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Feb. 3
Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce Membership Dinner 

• The Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner is scheduled for The Regent from 6:15 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., at 6437 Watson Road in Riverview, in the southwest corner of the Winthrop community, east of Providence Road and south of Bloomingdale Avenue. The cost is $50 for members, $75 for non-member. Awards to be presented include the Key Citizen of the Year award.

Feb. 3
"Babies Wear Red" at Brandon Regional Hospital

• "Wear Red Day" at means babies will receive red bonnets and booties from the American Heart Association. Moms will receive information about heart-disease prevention. Heart disease reporedly is the No. 1 killer of women in the United States and is largely preventable. The American Heart Association has posted online more information about the group's "Go Red For Women" initiative.

Feb. 4
The Frenzie Stages a Yard Sale

•  Browse for items large and small at a yard sale hosted by The Frenzie - Life Theatre community theater troupe. Includes furniture, toys and clothing. Concessions for purchase. Yard sale is from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 3110 North Falkenburg Road in the Greater Brandon area of Tampa. Added incentive: With your purchase of $15 or more (not including concessions) you will receive a “Frenzie Five” coupon good for a $5 discount off the price of one ticket to a future Frenzie production (the “Faux Show” is excluded). Donations of items to be sold can be made by arrangement before Feb. 3. Donations can be dropped off at the yard sale location Feb. 2 between 2 and 8 p.m. The location is on the corner of Falkenburg and Reeves roads, south of Broadway Avenue and north of Columbus Drive.

Feb. 5, 7 and 10
So, You Think You Can Paint?

• Amateur and seasoned painters alike are asked to present up to three pieces of their artwork of any subject, size or format. There is no fee to enter the contest, which will be judged on concept. A panel of judges will critique the submitted paintings with an assessment of skill and how well the artist handled his or her medium. Drop off your paintings Feb. 5, from5-8 p.m., or Feb. 7, from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The reception and awards ceremony is scheduled for Feb. 10 from 6-8 p.m. HCC at The Regent is at 6437 Watson Road in Riverview, in the southwest corner of the Winthrop community, east of Providence Road and south of Bloomingdale Avenue. The Regent community and special event space is managed by the Brandon Community Advantage Center Board of Directors. HCC at The Regent is owned by Hillsborough Community College, which runs the lower level of the building as a satellite to HCC’s Brandon campus, with six classrooms, including two computer labs, in operation. For information on The Regent, call 813-571-2494. For information about HCC classes at The Regent, call 813-253-7845.

Feb. 10 and 11
Music Showcase Auditions: "Legally Blonde"

• Cast hopefuls for the upcoming production of "Legally Blonde: The Musical!" are invited to audition Feb. 10 at 6 p.m. or Feb. 11 at 11 a.m. Bring a song with accompaniment music to Music Showcase, at 402 Oakfield Drive. The musical will be performed by the not-fot-profit Florida Academy of Performing Arts, in residence at Music Showcase. The FAOPA Players production, directed by Tammy Modica, is for actors ages 13 and up. The story is based on the novel "Legally Blonde" and the 2001 feature film of the same name. For information, email Deborah Evans at debbie@musicshowcaseonline.com.

Feb. 14
"Love a Child Diaper Drive"

• H&R Block, at 1967 Lumsden Road, in the Brandon Center South Plaza, is hosting a Valentine's Day diaper drive to benefit the Blessed Bottoms Diaper Bank. All sizes and brands of diapers are welcome, with donations collected from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Also scheduled are hourly drawings for door prizes and gifts. Tax professional will be on hand as well for a "Free 2nd Look" at previous years' returns and to help process 2011 tax filings. Blessed Bottoms is a non-profit organization "dedicated to helping meet the critical need for disposable diapers in our community.”

Feb. 16
Open Mic Night at The Regent

• Do you like so sing, read poetry, play music or perform? If so, the staff of The Regent wants to see what you’ve got. Come prepared to perform for no more than six minutes. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided. Requested is $2 at the door to help offset the costs of the event and any remaining proceeds reportedly will be donated to a local non-profit. Time is from 6-8 p.m. in the upper-floor ballroom. 

Feb. 18
Indoor Percussion Competition

• Newsome High School, at the adjacent Randall Middle School, will host about 20 drum-line units from schools throughout Florida for an Indoor Percussion Competition on Feb. 18, starting at 2 p.m. More than 750 performers and spectators are expected to attend. Unites will be judged on their visual presentation and musical performance, with awards presented to the top-three finishers in each class. The competition is open to the public. The cost is $12 for admission, parking is free. Concessions will be available. For infomration, e-mail newsomebandnews@gmail.com.

• To mark February as American Heart Month, Sweetbay Supermarket is partnering with the American Heart Association to launch its "Portion for a Pound" program. During the month, a portion of sales from every pound of strawberries sold at will be donated to the American Heart Association.

THROUGH MARCH 1
Grant Application: H&R Block Dollars & Sense

• Free personal finance curriculum grants are available to teachers through the H&R Block Dollars & Sense program. "Provided free thrugh the grant process, the curriculum uses a game-like simulation to teach students how to budget, used debit and credit cards, save money, pay rent and avoid debt," according to a company release. The program since 2009 has reportedly awarded more than $2.5 million in curriculum grants and scholarships to high school students nationwide. More than 3,000 schools nationwide particpate. Grant applications for the free curriculum are being accepted through March 1. Visit www.hrblockdollarsandsense.com to fill out a five-minute application; 250 schools will be awarded the curriculum for the upcoming school year. (Let Brandon Patch know if you are one of them!)

THROUGH FEBRUARY 11
Photographic Exhibit: “Bud Lee’s America”

• The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts (FMOPA) has been awarded the Creative Contribution Enriching the Community Award, as presented at the Eighth Annual Brush Strokes Awards in October, which each year recognizes excellence in the arts. The museum through Feb. 11 is presenting “Bud Lee’s America,” an exhibition based on the work of Lee, a Plant City resident, who, as noted in the Osprey Observer was named U.S. Military Photographer of the Year in 1966. According to the Osprey, “In 1967, his photograph of a wounded boy caught in the crossfire of a New Jersey riot made the cover of Life magazine.” Also, “his work has appeared in magazines such as Life, Esquire, Harper’s Bazaar, Town & Country, Rolling Stone, Vogue, The New York Times Sunday magazine and more.” The museum is in Tampa, at 200 North Tampa St., Suite 130. Cost is free to members and $6 for non-members and $4 for students and military. The museum is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday, from noon to 5 p.m. The museum is closed on Monday.

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SATURDAY MORNINGS
Chair Yoga Classes

• Chair yoga classes are being offered Saturday mornings in the clubhouse at The Bridges Retirement Community. Open to the public, these classes are free of charge and taught by Gary Lenza, a certified yoga instructor, who noted in a news release that the classes are "great for seniors because they can experience the benefits of yoga without getting on the floor." With regular practice, he added, "yoga improves balance, strength and energy." The Mayo Clinic notes that yoga's potential benefits include stress reduction, increased fitness, management of chronic health conditions and weight loss. For information, call Janet Noah at 813-413-8900.

FIRST THURSDAY OF THE MONTH
Network at the YMCA

• The Greater Brandon area is not shy of networking groups, with the addition as well of a new group in 2012. The inaugural session of a networking group at the Campo Family YMCA in Valrico was held this month. The group meets the first Thursday of every month, at the Campo Y at 3414 Culbreath Road. Call Kavita Marballi at 813-684-1371, ext. 212, or email: kmarvalli@tampaymca.org.

ONGING
Family Support Classes

• Free classes on a variety of topics are offered at the at 12777 Kingsway Rd. For information, call: 813-740-4634.

ONGOING
Classes in the Arts

• Free classes in the arts for children and adults are offered at the Center Place Fine Arts & Civic Association, which shares space with the Brandon Regional Library in the Sandy Rodriguez Center at 619 Vonderburg Dr. For information, visit Center Place online, pick up a schedule at the center or call: 813-685-8888.