Taking Stock: The Days Ahead for Greater Brandon (April 26 — May 1)

The Greater Brandon community in the days ahead gets moving with networking, business, cultural, historical and family oriented activities that bring texture to community life. This is just a sampling of what’s on tap as we invite you to post as well your news of what’s happening in Brandon and beyond.

TUESDAY, APRIL 26

• Quote of the Day:  “Many of the animals adopted at this time of year are on impulse but we see a lot of people ending up returning them here,” said Marti Ryan, spokesperson for Animal Services.
• Spring Break Fun for Everyone / April 26 / 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. / , 2551 State Road 60 / Children's classes are Monday and Tuesday from 10:30am to noon or 12:30 to 2pm. Price: $20 per class.  / Open to all / Call: (813) 643-0014
• Brandon Business Builders / April 26 / 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m. / , 701 W. Lumsden Road / Networking  leads group that meets every Tuesday except the third Tuesday of the month. One business per category. Call to see if your category is open.  / Call: (813) 662-1102
• Writers of Children's Literature Critique Group / April 26 / 7pm / , 122 Brandon Town Center Drive / The Writers of Children's Literature Critique Group is open to authors of all skill levels, with an interest in writing books for kids. Join the group for an open discussion on children's literature and share your recent work with other aspiring and professional authors. The club meets every Tuesday at Barnes and Noble.  / Open to all / Call: (813) 661-9883

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27

• Quote of the Day: “It’s beautiful. We had our participants go out and look and they were overwhelmed,” said manager Paula Jory after the center got an Earth Day spruce-up thanks to C.A. Technologies employees.
•  Brandon Business Club / April 27 / Noon-1 p.m. /, 1528 E. Brandon Blvd. / The Brandon Business Club meets every Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m. at Top's China Buffet, 1528 E. Brandon Blvd., Brandon. The club has been in Brandon for more than 16 years promoting small businesses. / Free / Contact: www.brandonbusiness.com/bbc/
• Free Play & Arts and Crafts / April 27 / 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. Meet other families while your child participates in exciting activities and gains new friends. / Free / Call: (813) 740-4634
• Poker League / April 27 / 6 p.m. / 16144 Churchview Drive / The Elite Poker Challenge is a bar poker league created by poker players for poker players. It welcomes all skill levels each Wednesday starting at 6 p.m. with registration. The first tournament starts at 7 p.m. and the second at 10 p.m. Although these are free tournaments, players will compete for  prizes including bar tabs, seats in the World Series of Poker events, shirts, massages, an MP3, sunglasses, vacations, chip sets and poker tables. / Free / Call: (813) 657-2337

 THURSDAY, APRIL 28

•  Quote of the Day: “Many of our elected officials [local, state, and federal] don't live in our area.  I can count them on one hand.  Even at the local level of the [Hillsborough County] Board of County Commissioners, our own District 4 commissioner doesn't live in Brandon.” Lisa Rodriguez, Brandon’s honorary mayor on the need for redistricting.
•  Kiwanis Club of Greater Brandon  / April 28 / 8:00am–9:00am / 704 E. Brandon Blvd. / The Kiwanis Club of Greater Brandon is a service organization "dedicated to changing the world one community at a time." Top initiatives are the Terrific Kids program active in area schools and the Key Club at Brandon High School. Club business, "happy dollars" and a featured speaker highlight each weekly meeting. / Open to All / Call: (813) 294-0645
• Family Night at Pump it Up / April 28 / 5:30pm  / , 729 W. Lumsden Road / Families will enjoy 90 minutes of jumping fun on the inflatable bounce houses, slides, climbing structures and more.  / Price: $8 per child, free for adults / Call: (813) 655-1331
• Bedtime Stories at / April 28 / 7:00pm–7:30pm / Brandon Regional Library, 619 Vonderburg Drive / Children are invited to wear pajamas and bring their blankets to a family bedtime outing featuring stories, songs and activities. The 30-minute program takes place in Room No. 1 and is part of the library's family programming. Groups are required to register in advance.  / Open to all / Call: (813) 273-3652

 FRIDAY, APRIL 29

•  Quote of the Day: “This is a great story!” Reader Sonia Noya comments on the story of the “Most Interesting Man in the World” display which disappeared from  in Brandon. 
•  Brandon '86 Rotary Club / April 29 / 7:00am–8:00am /  11202 Dewhurst Drive / Brandon '86 Rotary Club meeting / Open to All / Call: (813) 630-2237
• Looking Good / April 29 / 5:30pm–7:00pm / 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.  / To register, call 1-800-227-9954
•  Square Dancing / April 29 / 7:00pm–8:30pm / , 502 E. Sadie St. / The Bay Area Twirlers will offer this square dancing class. / Price: $4 per class / Call: (813) 662-1012

SATURDAY, APRIL 30

• Quote of the Day: “It’s no surprise gold is up to a record price. It’s what happens when the economy turns down,” said Jeni Osborne, manager of , after the price of gold hit $1,500 an ounce.
• 3rd Annual Winthrop Art Festival / April 30 & May 1 / 10 a.m.-5 p.m. / Winthrop Town Centre, 11268 Winthrop Main St. / Winthrop plans on hosting the 3rd Annual Arts Festival this year April 30th – May 1 in the Town Center Parking area north of the Times building. Organizer Bryant Martinez, Winthrop’s Town Artist expects around 100 artists and crafters with additional booths available for businesses, food vendors and charities. There will also be a children’s Art Activity Center provided by Center Place and Brandon Sports Aquatic Center. Festival times are Saturday and Sunday, 10-5 p.m. To secure a booth, contact Martinez at 813-601-3129 or bryantmartinez2010@gmail.com.  / Contact: (813) 681-3480
• Greater Brandon Ares Community Picnic / April 30 / 11 a.m. / , 216 N. Parsons Ave. / The 34th annual Greater Brandon Area Community Picnic, previously known as the Greater Brandon Area Old Timers Association Picnic, and the Brandon High School Alumni Association's Grand Reunion is scheduled for April 30 at First Baptist Church of Brandon, 216 N. Parsons Ave. Registration begins at 11 a.m. with lunch at noon. Families should bring a dish with a serving spoon. Beverages will be provided.  / Open to all. / Call: (813) 651-3261
• Multicultural Festival / April 30 / Noon-8 p.m. / the Florida State Fairgrounds' Florida Center,  4800 N. US 301, Tampa / A free community multicultural festival and expo is scheduled for April 30 from noon to 8 p.m. at the Florida State Fairgrounds' Florida Center. Guests can celebrate Latino, African-American and Asian cultures and enjoy crafts, live music and food. A $1 donation is requested at the gate to benefit www.ChristiansFight.com to combate muscular atrophy. / Free, Open to All / Contact: (813) 407-6866 or (813) 407-7191

SUNDAY, MAY 1

•  Quote of the Day: “I first got involved when we moved here from north Florida and my kids started doing plays. I thought, ‘I can do that, I want to do that!’” Joella Abbott on how she caught the acting bug. She takes the stage as Mrs. Mae Peterson in the upcoming Village Players production of “Bye Bye Birdie.” 
• Yard Sales / May 1 / 9 a.m.-2 p.m. / 16144 Churchview Drive / The Farmers Market is scheduled for the first Sunday of the month and approximately 30 vendors set up their booths for the event. In addition to fresh fruits and vegetables, shoppers can find items such as handmade Caribbean cooking sauces, fresh seafood, gourmet jams and jellies, fresh-baked breads, imported coffee, hot breakfast/lunch sandwiches, and imported cheeses, among others. There is also the opportunity to do some shopping for jewelry, clothes and photography as vendors from these areas also come to the market to sell their items. Additionally, there is occasional live music performed by the Eastern Hillsborough Community Band for the shoppers' enjoyment. The monthly event is open to the entire community.
• Exercise and Meditation / May 1 / 9 a.m. / Paul Sanders Park, 3319 S. Kings Ave. / Free classes in Falun Gong meditation and exercise. / Call: (813) 777-9939.
• Car Show / May 1 / 11 a.m.-2 p.m. / Bloomingdale Pizza, 4334 Bell Shoals Road / Bloomingdale Pizza, 4334 Bell Shoals Road, Valrico, will host a monthly car show the first Saturday of the month at 11 a.m. in the parking lot of the restaurant. Residents are encouraged to show off their cars and vie for trophy prizes. / Call: (813) 684-7466