Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Which Brandon hospital staffers rang in 2026 with a newborn?
Make time for Just Laughs! First Friday Comedy on the Brandon Patch calendar
Hey hey Brandon! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- Which Brandon hospital staffers rang in 2026 with a newborn?
- How did Middleton’s last showdown with Brandon shape this matchup?
Also on today's calendar: Just Laughs! First Friday Comedy and 4 more events.
Find out what's happening in Brandonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Find out what's happening in Brandonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Saturday: Beautiful with periods of sun, with a high of 77 and low of 63 degrees.
- Sunday: Turning sunny and pleasant, temps: high: 78, low: 53.
- Monday: Mostly sunny and pleasant, with a high of 79 and low of 56 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• Meet the first babies born in the Tampa Bay area in 2026 (fox13news.com) — Brandon residents can celebrate that HCA Florida Brandon Hospital welcomed its first baby of 2026, born to two ICU nurses who both work at the hospital. The story also spotlights other New Year’s babies born at hospitals across the greater Tampa Bay region. 
• Basketball Game Preview: Middleton Tigers vs. Clearwater Tornadoes (maxpreps.com) — Middleton’s boys basketball team is still searching for its first win as it heads into a Friday tournament matchup with Clearwater, after a December loss to Brandon. The preview highlights Middleton standout Sherrick Oliver’s recent double-double and shot-blocking streak, plus Clearwater’s strong overall record.
📸 Around Brandon
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Brandon
★ Featured events ★
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Just Laughs! First Friday Comedy
Just Dance , 124 S Kentucky Ave , Lakeland
9:00 pm - Moon Tree Glow
Painting with a Twist , 1993 W Lumsden Rd , Brandon
7:00 pm - New-Year Women’s Vision Board + Coffee Brandon
First Watch , 2326 W Brandon Blvd , Brandon
10:30 am - Toadally Magical
Painting with a Twist , 1993 W Lumsden Rd , Brandon
1:00 pm - Happy Hour at Bricks Smoked Meats
Brandon Exchange , 459 Brandon Town Center Dr , Brandon
9:00 am - New Year's Market
Brandon Park & Recreation Center , 502 E Sadie St , Brandon
10:00 am - Brandon-What's Brewing Thursday Monthly Real Estate Networking
Just Love Coffee Cafe - Brandon, FL , 2020 W Brandon Blvd Suite 105 , Brandon
10:00 am
Friday January 2
Saturday January 3
Sunday January 4
Monday January 5
Saturday January 10
Thursday January 15
📣 Brandon Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- The Wailers
Tampa Bay Brewing Company , 1600 E 8th Ave , Tampa
1:00 pm - Kids: Draw a Festive Scene with Snoopy - Apple
Apple Brandon , 459 Brandon Town Center Dr , Brandon
2:00 pm - Paris Fleurs
Painting with a Twist , 1993 W Lumsden Rd , Brandon
3:30 pm - Comic's Night Out
Side Splitters Comedy Club , 12938 N Dale Mabry Hwy , Tampa
4:00 pm - Lantern Glow
Painting with a Twist , 1993 W Lumsden Rd , Brandon
4:00 pm
Saturday January 3
Sunday January 4
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 Testing DBA - Athena’s Painting — (813) 424-6644
$50. Off special on car garage doors painting - Gifted IQ Testing of Tampa Bay — (813) 610-7905
Gifted IQ Tests for Children - Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!
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
- Dog found on 12/19 in Heatherlakes neighborhood.
Trying to find the owner, no collar, no microchip! Any info will be helpful to get this baby back home to his owner! I know he must belong to someone… (Nextdoor Heather Lakes at Brandon) - If this is your boy please come get him.
He has been in my backyard on Tuxford drive. Seems very friendly and fixed. Feel free to contact me (Nextdoor Providence Lakes)
- Prairie Mountain Health posted a job opening for Housekeeping Aide in Brandon. Apply here.
- Portillo's posted a job opening for Team Member - $15/hr. in Brandon. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Brandon here.
🗞 Nearby News
South Tampa
- Don't get burned by a contractor in the new year: What to look for and avoid (wfla.com)
Valrico
- Year In Review – Updates On The Top Stories From 2025: Valrico Community Plan Ready To Present (ospreyobserver.com)
- Hillsborough firefighters battle multiple home fires started by fireworks (wfla.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 kept throwing out all the W’s.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
👉 Help make Patch AM better
- Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
- Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
- List items for sale or services offered
We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.