🌱 Patch AM: How Brandon’s new hurricane-ready Habitat homes could reshape affordable housing

Morning Brandon! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How Brandon’s new hurricane-ready Habitat homes could reshape affordable housing
• How a Brandon Hospital newborn became a rare life-saving donor

Today's riddle: What did the windowsill say to the glass? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Monday: Partly sunny, with a high of 82 and low of 63 degrees.
• Tuesday: Mostly sunny and very warm, temps: high: 82, low: 57.
• Wednesday: Very warm with plenty of sun, with a high of 83 and low of 57 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Habitat for Humanity hurricane-ready homes take shape in Hillsborough County (wfla.com) — New hurricane-hardened Habitat for Humanity homes are rising now at Windhorst Commons in Brandon, with 23 houses planned for veterans and working families earning under 80% of area median income. State lawmakers are being asked for $950,000 to help finish six more affordable homes, while one local veteran family prepares to move from a cramped townhouse into a five-bedroom Brandon home by next summer.
   

• Florida mom knew baby would not live but carried her to term to give others life (orlandosentinel.com) — A Riverview-area mom carried a baby with a fatal diagnosis to term so her organs and tissue could help other children, with critical support from staff at HCA Florida Brandon Hospital. The family’s daughter, Haven, lived four days, received an emotional honor walk through the Brandon facility, and became one of Tampa Bay’s rare newborn donors, offering heart valves and placenta tissue to patients in need.
   

📸 Around Brandon

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📣 Brandon Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Monday December 22

• Shimmering Lights Winter Walk-Thru
  Sun-Kissed Acres , 2302 N Dover Rd , Dover
  6:30 pm

Tuesday December 23

• Shimmering Lights Winter Walk the Lights
  Sun-Kissed Acres , 2302 N Dover Rd , Dover
  6:30 pm
• Psychometry & Mediumship Group
  Unity of Tampa , UT Fellowship Hall , Tampa
  7:00 pm
• A Course in Miracles 7:15 pm In-person & Zoom
  Unity of Tampa , UT Club House , Tampa
  7:00 pm

Wednesday December 24

• Wednesday Gathering Meditation & Discussion
  Unity of Tampa , 2610 Silver Lake Ave , Tampa
  6:30 pm
• Ladies Night at The River's Edge Bar & Grill
  6226 Ohio Ave , Gibsonton
  7:00 pm

Thursday December 25

• Last Thursday of Every Month at Gaspar's Patio Bar & Grille
  Gaspar's Patio Bar & Grille , 8448 N 56th St , Temple Terrace
  7:00 pm

Saturday December 27

• Swim Lessons - School Age - Intermediate
  North Brandon Family YMCA , 3097 S Kingsway Rd , Seffner
  11:40 am
• The 2026 Freedom Shift: Escape the Trap & Build Your Legacy
  410 N Kingsway Rd , Seffner
  3:45 pm
• Jamie O Acoustic
  The Talking Pint Bar & Bistro , 13418 Boyette Rd , Riverview
  8:00 pm

Tuesday December 30

• Rusty & Laurie Wright
  Council Oak Steaks & Seafood (in Seminole Hard Rock Tampa) , 5223 Orient Rd , Tampa
  6:00 pm
• Riverview Paint and Sip – Night on the Town
  The Talking Pint Bar & Bistro , 13418 Boyette Rd , Riverview
  6:30 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Brandon PatchAM possible:

• Gifted IQ Testing of Tampa Bay — (813) 610-7905
  Gifted Tests for Children
• Athena’s Painting — (813) 424-6644
  $50. Off special on car garage doors painting

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• I found this puppy wandering around with no collar in the Hickory Lakes South development.
  She was very hungry. Does anyone know this puppy? (Nextdoor Hickory Lakes)

• Burlington Stores posted a job opening for Seasonal Retail Stocking Associate - Part Time in Brandon. Apply here.
• Senior Living Management Corporation posted a job opening for Housekeeper - Part Time in Brandon. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Brandon here.

🗞 Nearby News

South Tampa

• Hawaiian Asian fusion restaurant brings island flavors with a twist (fox13news.com)
• Search Underway For Driver Who Fled Deadly Crash On US-92 In Hillsborough County (tampafp.com)
• ‘I Was The Shooter': Suspect Calls 911 To Confess After Deadly Tampa Attack (tampafp.com)

Valrico

• Florida Forest Service warns about wildfires in ‘driest winter' in recent memory (nbcmiami.com)

Seffner

Ok Brandon! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I feel your pane.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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