Five Things To Know: Panhandling, 'Arty Party,' Casino Night, Golf Tourney, Postal Webinar

Community life is underway in Greater Brandon and beyond with a public hearing on roadside solicitations and panhandling and preparations under way for fundraisers to support the not-for-profit Brandon Sports & Aquatics Center and the Greater Brandon Arts Council. Also, for a golf tournament to help support, in part, the annual race for honorary mayor of Brandon. Rounding out this list of news to know is an upcoming webinar/seminar to help area nonprofits save money with postal discounts.

1. Hillsborough County Commissioners on March 2 at 2 p.m. will hold a public hearing on and whether to amend, and expand, the “Hillsborough County Solicitation and Distribution on Public Roads Ordinance” (91-24) to include state roads. The commissioners meet on the second-floor conference room at the Fred B. Karl County Center, at 601 East Kennedy Blvd. in downtown Tampa.
2. The (BSAC) hosts its annual Casino Night fundraiser March 5 from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. at the Barn Theatre at Winthrop in Riverview. The admission price of $35 per individual, and $60 per couple, features food, casino games, one drink, $50 in chips and both a silent and live auction. Business, casual or western attire is requested. The Barn Theatre is on Bloomingdale Avenue, between Watson and Providence roads, in the Greater Brandon/Riverview community. Call: 813-689-0908. The not-for-profit BSAC, at 405 Beverly Blvd. in Brandon, aims to enhance the life of the community by providing fitness, character and athletic programs for persons of all ages and abilities. Scholarships for children in need are provided for through gifts from members and from fundraising activities.
3. The Greater Brandon Arts Council on March 5 hosts its annual “Arty Party” membership drive, this year at the Center Place Fine Arts & Civic Association. The event, from 7 to 10 p.m., features music, dance, theater and the visual arts. Cost to attend is $10, or free with the purchase of a $25 yearly GBAC membership. The event is free for GBAC members. Center Place shares space in the Sandy Rodriguez Center with the Brandon Regional Library, at 619 Vonderburg Drive.
4. The Tampa Postal Costumer Council is set host a “Nonprofit Standard Mail” webinar/seminar March 15 to discuss discounts available for nonprofit groups and organizations. The cost is $5 to attend online or in person, at the Tampa Airport Post Office, at 3501 Bessie Coleman Blvd., in Tampa. The conference is on the second floor, in room 203, and runs from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. The $5 cost of admission allows the attendee to bring a guest for free. The Tampa PCC has been named the national PCC of the year, for its programs to help mailers take advantage of postal discounts and to understand postal regulations. Sign up online. 
5. B. Lee Elam has announced the date for the Community Roundtable Honorary Mayor’s Race Golf Tournament. The March 19 event will take place at Buckhorn Springs Golf & Country Club, at 2721 South Miller Road in Valrico. Corporate sponsorships are available ($150, $600, $1,000 and $2,500). Cost for individual golfers is $100; for foursomes, $300. The Roundtable runs the race for honorary mayor of Brandon, which each year is run by the candidate who raises the most money for charity in the month of June. The winner, to succeed current mayor, Lisa Rodriguez, is announced the morning of the Greater Brandon Fourth of July Parade, which also is run by th Roundtable. Elam’s offices are at 101 East Lumsden Road in Brandon. Call: 813-685-5661. Golf applications are available also at Center Place.