Current Gazette

Lane Diversions Extended to Fishhawk Boulevard on July 12

South Hillsborough Pipeline construction will extend eastward on Boyette Road to Fishhawk Boulevard beginning at 9 p.m. on Sunday, July 12, 2026. Crews will be working overnight to restripe the roadway and adjust traffic signals for a lane diversion that will be in place at 6 a.m. on Monday, July 13. 

All current lane closures and diversions on Boyette Road will remain in place. On Monday, July 13, the extended traffic pattern will:  

  • Reduce and divert the eastbound lanes of Boyette Road near Bell Creek Academy through the Bell Shoals Road intersection, until just east of River Springs Town Center. 
    • A dedicated left-hand turn lane will allow traffic to turn north on Bell Shoals Road from Boyette. 
  • Reduce and divert westbound lanes of Fishhawk Boulevard just east of River Springs Town Center through the Bell Shoals Road intersection.  
    • A dedicated left-hand turn lane will allow traffic to turn south on Boyette Road from Fishhawk. 

Access to 7-Eleven will be maintained via the River Springs Town Center entrance just east of 7-Eleven or from the entrances south of the intersection. All other business entrances will remain open. 

This traffic change is needed to allow crews to work on tunnel shafts required to install the pipeline beneath Bell Creek and Bell Shoals Road. This is the second phase of work that will affect the Boyette Road/Fishhawk Boulevard corridor for the next 12-16 months. 

Motorists are encouraged to plan alternative routes when possible. When driving through the area, please use caution, expect delays and plan additional drive time.  

Visit SouthHillsboroughPipeline.comfor more information on the project.

 
Current Gazette

Greater Brandon Fourth of July Parade Moves to Fairgrounds, Expands Into Community FunFest

The Greater Brandon Fourth of July Parade is taking on a new look this year as organizers relocate the annual celebration to the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds.

Construction and road closures along the parade’s traditional route made it impossible to safely host the event on Brandon roadways. Rather than cancel the celebration, organizers developed a new concept that combines the community’s patriotic parade with a family-friendly FunFest.

The event will commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary with the parade followed by a full day of activities designed for all ages.

Guests can enjoy live music, a variety of food vendors, local businesses and community organizations, as well as a beer station for adults. Competitive events throughout the day will include a watermelon eating contest, chili cookoff and cherry pie eating contest, with prizes awarded to winners.

Families with children will also find plenty of activities, including a petting zoo, horse rides, dunk tanks and face painting.

Organizers say the new venue offers an opportunity to expand the celebration while providing a safe, centralized location despite ongoing construction affecting the area’s roadways. The Fairgrounds also allow attendees to spend the day enjoying entertainment and community activities after the parade concludes.

While longtime residents may miss the traditional parade route through Brandon, organizers hope the expanded festival atmosphere will create a new Independence Day tradition that brings together residents from across the Greater Brandon community.

Additional event details, including the parade schedule and participating vendors, are expected to be announced by organizers leading up to the celebration.

Current Gazette

A Cool New Way to Unwind, Right Around the Corner

Just in time for Independence Day, MilkShake Factory is serving up patriotic flavors and festive treats at its Brandon location on Causeway Boulevard.

Known for its handcrafted milkshakes, premium chocolates and specialty desserts, the shop is inviting families to stop by and celebrate the holiday with limited-time Fourth of July offerings featuring red, white and blue flavors and toppings.

Franchise owner Clark Evans said the store is excited to continue serving local residents while becoming an active part of the Brandon community.

“As Brandon-area residents ourselves, we’re excited to become part of the community here,” Evans said.

Since opening, MilkShake Factory has welcomed guests looking for everything from classic milkshakes to gourmet chocolates, with a focus on quality ingredients and handcrafted desserts. Evans said he and his team look forward to serving both longtime residents and first-time visitors throughout the summer and beyond.

Whether celebrating after a fireworks show, enjoying a family outing or simply looking to cool off from the Florida heat, guests can find a variety of frozen treats and seasonal specialties during the Fourth of July holiday.

MilkShake Factory is located on Causeway Boulevard in Brandon and is open daily. Community members are encouraged to stop in to enjoy the holiday menu and experience one of the area’s newest dessert destinations.

Current Gazette

BNA Briefs

Event Updates

With the new year in full swing, we’re looking to update how we get the word out about our increased visibility in the neighborhood. Check out the Events tab on the left hand side of the navigation to see our full roster of events, and come back often as we update regularly!

Service Hours for Students

If you’re looking for a little help within your organization and want to offer service hours, make sure to reach out to Mindy Edgeman at Bloomingdale High School. She can help navigate you through the process so our students get the hours they need for Florida Bright Futures, and you get the most assistance from our Bloomingdale students.

Make Your Voice Heard

It’s no secret there’s a lot of changes going on in our neck of the woods. Stay abreast of what’s happening through our monthly meetings, where we invite those in the community to hear proposed intiatives from guest speakers, find out new events, and talk to our BNA board. We’re here to serve, and would love to have you with us on this journey!

Road Closures? Know Before You Go

Keep tabs on which roads are open and closed as the county begins construction on the new water pipeline. You can find closure dates and more information at https://southhillsboroughpipeline.com/

Archived Gazettes

WUSF wins five regional Murrow awards, including for overall station excellence

TAMPA, Fla. (June 2, 2026) – WUSF this week was honored to win five regional Edward R. Murrow awards, including the top honor for overall excellence. This is the second year in a row the station received the award, which recognizes work from the entire news team.

WUSF Reporter Nancy Guan won two awards for her work on immigration, one in the hard news category and another for excellence in diversity, equity and inclusion.

WUSF’s “Your Florida” team that covers Florida state government won for excellence in innovation. As well, digital producer Meleah Lyden took home top honors in the sports reporting category for a feature on a golf course’s legacy for Tampa’s Black community.

The Murrow awards recognize journalism excellence produced in local and national broadcasting newsrooms, and they are considered the most prestigious broadcast journalism awards in the United States. WUSF competes in the Large Market Radio division in Region 13, which includes news stations in Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

WUSF’s news coverage winning honors:

— Overall Excellence: A compilation of some of the best work produced by WUSF in 2025

— Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Coverage of immigration issues

— Excellence in Innovation: Your Florida’s team coverage of state government

— Sports reporting: Swinging through history: How a golf course shaped Tampa’s Black community

Michael Cooper is shown helping junior golfer Terrence Cole in the 1990s. SOURCE: WUSF

These regional awards follow last year when WUSF won a national Murrow Award for overall station excellence, with WUSF competing against broadcasters from every corner of the nation. That award recognized the station’s performance in covering a number of tumultuous events in 2024.

“Our exceptional journalists continue to attract accolades and recognition at the highest level of the news-gathering profession, and we are tremendously proud of them,” said WUSF General Manager Leslie Laney.

A non-profit broadcaster licensed to the University of South Florida, WUSF is this region’s home for NPR, blending reports from around the world with local news stories. The local team of journalists is focused on the mission of serving the residents of Florida with clear and objective news and information broadcast on radio, online and mobile.
Archived Gazettes

Why Aren’t Crews Working During the Day on Boyette Road?

Residents on social media and in contact with the project team are asking why lanes on Boyette Road are closed if crews are not yet working. There are several reasons, but the most important reason is safety. 

Crews are working at night for several nights to close the westbound lanes of Boyette Road in phases to keep motorists and workers safe while traffic signals are moved, installed or retimed. They are also restriping travel lanes and placing barricades and barrels for the new traffic pattern. Closing the lanes in phases allows Hillsborough County and the project team to monitor the new traffic pattern and make adjustments before construction begins.  

While it may look like nothing is happening during the day right now, residents should know that the project team has carefully planned each segment of construction to ensure a safe traffic plan and a safe construction zone.  

Site preparation is an important part of that plan. Once the westbound lanes are fully closed, crews will: 

  • Trim or remove trees from the right-of-way or construction easements 
  • Deliver 25-foot segments of 4.5-foot-diameter pipe to the area 
  • Deliver heavy machinery to the area, including excavators, dump trucks, trench boxes and more 
  • Excavate small areas to confirm the locations of utilities beneath the roadway before major excavation occurs 
  • Install dewatering systems 
  • Remove asphalt and install the new pipeline 

Once pipeline installation begins, the contractor will work in a rolling operation with three sections: 

  • The forward section will provide space for materials and safety 
  • The middle section will be active construction 
  • The trailing section will be restored with a temporary drivable surface 

We know construction is disruptive and are working as fast as possible to install this pipeline to serve Hillsborough County’s needs by the end of 2028. For more information, visit SouthHillsboroughPipeline.com. 

Archived Gazettes

Residents, Developer Differ on Proposed Hawk Springs Trail and Emergency Access Connection

A proposed pedestrian trail and emergency access connection associated with the Hawk Springs development has generated discussion among nearby residents, developers and community stakeholders as Hillsborough County reviews plans for the project.

The proposal is part of the Hawk Springs rezoning application, which would allow the construction of 55 single-family homes on approximately 15 acres south of Bloomingdale. As part of the plan, developers are seeking approval for a gated emergency access route and pedestrian trail that would connect the new neighborhood to Erindale Drive through county-owned property. According to project representatives, the route would serve primarily as a pedestrian pathway while remaining accessible to emergency responders when needed.

Some homeowners in the neighboring community have voiced opposition to the proposal. In a letter distributed to residents, homeowners stated that their neighborhood was developed in 1974 as a collection of one- and two-acre homesites intended to support a rural lifestyle. Residents argue that the proposed connection is not compatible with the area’s long-established semi-rural character.

Homeowners emphasized that they are not opposed to development of the property itself. They noted that in 2021, county officials approved plans allowing development of the parcel and said residents worked with both the county and the developer to find solutions that balanced development rights with neighborhood compatibility. However, they remain concerned about the project’s density and the proposed emergency access and pedestrian connection between neighborhoods.

Residents also expressed concerns about long-term maintenance responsibilities. According to the homeowners’ letter, they were informed that maintenance costs for the emergency access route and pathway could ultimately be shared by homeowners associations within both communities.

Developers, however, describe the trail and emergency access route as a public-safety improvement designed to benefit both existing and future residents. According to project materials, the trail would provide an additional evacuation and emergency access option during severe weather events, flooding, roadway closures or other emergencies. Project representatives point to challenges experienced during Hurricane Milton, when some residents reportedly relied on access through Cimino Elementary School while surrounding roads were impacted.

Supporters of the proposal also cite pedestrian safety and school access as potential benefits. According to project representatives, the trail would create an additional walking route to Cimino Elementary School for students living in both the proposed development and surrounding neighborhoods. School representatives have reportedly expressed support for efforts that improve safe pedestrian access to the campus, particularly as the area continues to grow. The developer’s proposal notes that the connection could provide families with an alternative route to school while improving overall walkability in the community.

Project representatives maintain that the connection would not function as a through road. Plans call for the route to remain gated, limiting daily use to pedestrians while restricting regular vehicular traffic. Emergency personnel would be able to access the route through a secured emergency access system.

The proposal remains under review by Hillsborough County. Residents on both sides of the issue are expected to have opportunities to provide input during the public review process before any final decision is made.

The Zoning Hearing Master is currently scheduled to consider the Hawk Springs rezoning application later this month. County officials will ultimately determine whether the requested approvals and variances meet local planning requirements and community needs.

Archived Gazettes

BNA Briefs

Event Updates

With the new year in full swing, we’re looking to update how we get the word out about our increased visibility in the neighborhood. Check out the Events tab on the left hand side of the navigation to see our full roster of events, and come back often as we update regularly!

Service Hours for Students

If you’re looking for a little help within your organization and want to offer service hours, make sure to reach out to Mindy Edgeman at Bloomingdale High School. She can help navigate you through the process so our students get the hours they need for Florida Bright Futures, and you get the most assistance from our Bloomingdale students.

Make Your Voice Heard

It’s no secret there’s a lot of changes going on in our neck of the woods. Stay abreast of what’s happening through our monthly meetings, where we invite those in the community to hear proposed intiatives from guest speakers, find out new events, and talk to our BNA board. We’re here to serve, and would love to have you with us on this journey!

Road Closures? Know Before You Go

Keep tabs on which roads are open and closed as the county begins construction on the new water pipeline. You can find closure dates and more information at https://southhillsboroughpipeline.com/

The official website of the Bloomingdale Community