July 21 / Music Bingo / 7 p.m. / J.F. Kicks
July 28 / BNA Monthly Meeting / 7 p.m. / Bloomingdale Regional Library
August 25 / BNA Montgly Meeting / 7 p.m. / Bloomingdale Regional Library
All posts by Elise Cruz
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.
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.
Editor’s Take: Loss of HART Route Leaves Bloomingdale More Isolated
The recent loss of the HART bus route connecting the Bloomingdale area to MacDill Air Force Base represents more than the elimination of a transit line. It is the loss of an important connection for residents who rely on public transportation to reach work, school and opportunities throughout the Tampa Bay area.
The impact became especially clear during my recent commute to the AP Summer Institute at Robinson High School. Without a convenient transit option, the drive added nearly an extra hour to each morning. Beyond the time spent in traffic, the additional miles meant more fuel, more wear and tear on my vehicle and added stress before a full day of professional learning. While I was fortunate to have a car, not everyone has that option.
For many residents, public transportation is not simply a convenience. It is a lifeline. It connects people to jobs, education, medical appointments and community resources. For military personnel, civilian employees and families traveling to MacDill, reliable transit can make the difference between opportunity and hardship.
As our community continues to grow, transportation should expand with it. Instead, this route’s elimination leaves one more gap for residents to navigate on their own.
Communities are strongest when they are connected. At a time when people need to support one another more than ever, reducing transportation options does the opposite. It isolates neighborhoods, limits access and creates new barriers for those who already face enough challenges.
The loss of this route is not just Bloomingdale’s loss. It is a reminder that public transportation benefits everyone by creating a more connected, accessible and resilient community.
Night Work at Lumsden and Parsons/John Moore
Beginning at 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 2, 2026, construction crews will work overnight at the intersection of Lumsden Road and South Parsons Avenue/John Moore Road to reopen the intersection. During this time, flaggers will be on site to direct traffic. Motorists are encouraged to use caution when traveling through the area.
Crews will continue removing equipment and restoring the area. The intersection will be reopened with its normal traffic pattern as early as Friday, July 3, ahead of the Independence Day holiday.
The project team understands the Brandon July 4th Parade has a new route. Click here for information on the parade and related festivities. On behalf of the project team, thank you for your patience during construction. We wish you a safe and happy holiday as our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary.
For more information and project updates, visit SouthHillsboroughPipeline.com.
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/
Community Members Lend a Helping Hand for the BNA Seeds of Hope Fundraiser
Community members are invited to test their knowledge while supporting local families during the Bloomingdale Neighborhood Association’s annual Trivia Night benefiting Seeds of Hope.
The fundraiser will take place on Monday, July 20, at JF Kicks, 3345 Lithia Pinecrest Road in Valrico. Trivia begins at 7 p.m., and organizers encourage guests to arrive early to enjoy dinner or appetizers before the competition begins.
In addition to the trivia competition, attendees will have opportunities to purchase raffle tickets, with proceeds benefiting Seeds of Hope, a local nonprofit that provides food assistance and other resources to families in need.
This year’s event will also serve as a collection drive for the organization’s annual Back-to-School Backpack Program. Organizers are accepting donations of backpacks, new school supplies and nonperishable food items to help local students and families prepare for the upcoming school year.
Community members who are unable to attend the event can still support the Back-to-School Drive by donating new backpacks, school supplies or nonperishable food items through Seeds of Hope. Donations help ensure students begin the school year with the supplies they need while also assisting families experiencing food insecurity.
Seeds of Hope serves families throughout the Brandon and Valrico communities through a variety of outreach programs, including food assistance and seasonal initiatives.
Trivia Night is open to the public, and organizers encourage residents to bring friends, form teams and enjoy an evening of friendly competition while supporting a local cause.
For more information about the event or to learn how to support the Back-to-School Drive, contact the Bloomingdale Neighborhood Association or Seeds of Hope.
Hillsborough County to Host Hands-On Disaster and Recovery Community Expo
Family-friendly events help residents strengthen storm preparedness with expert guidance, interactive displays, and much more
Prepare today and recover faster by knowing how to keep your family safe before and after a hurricane. Hillsborough County is ready to help residents to do just that.
Residents are invited to take part in a hands-on, family friendly Disaster and Recovery Community Expo, 9 a.m. – noon Saturday, June 13, 2026, at Feeding Tampa Bay, 3624 Causeway Blvd., Tampa, FL 33619.
The expo is designed to help attendees strengthen their disaster readiness and accelerate post storm recovery. County departments and community partners will provide an interactive learning experience suitable for all ages.
Attendees will receive:
- Up-close views of County emergency vehicles and disaster response equipment
- One-on-one conversations with the Office of Emergency Management and other County departments
- Guidance on what to include in a hurricane preparedness kit
- Informative breakout sessions on El Niño, rapid storm intensification, and new flood insurance updates
- Step-by-step information on applying for the County’s Rebuilding for Tomorrow federal funding for housing recovery
- Opportunities to connect with community partners
- Engaging learning experience for children and adults through touch-a-truck tours
- Hurricane supplies giveaways
For more information on disaster preparedness, HCFL.gov/StaySafe.
Everyone Plays a Role in Mosquito Education and Control
Residents can help eliminate pests by spreading the word of best practices
Got mosquitoes again? They’re buzzing the family on the front porch and biting the chef at the grill? Believe it or not, there’s a good chance those mosquitoes are homegrown, whether in your gutter, a potted plant, or even a tarp that’s collected just a little rainwater.
The rainy season has returned and that means mosquitoes are back. Mosquitoes are a major nuisance and real health threat. To battle the dangerous and annoying insects, Hillsborough County’s Public Works team uses a three-pronged approach to keeping residents safe.
- Killing mosquito larvae before they can fly
- Killing adult mosquitoes
- Public Education to help residents eliminate mosquito breeding areas
Hillsborough’s Mosquito Management Services staff uses a helicopter and a fleet of trucks to target known breeding grounds and eliminate larvae and treat for adults.
But the secret weapon of mosquito management is effective, easy-to-understand public education. Hillsborough’s mosquito management team is always working on public education to help residents learn how they can protect themselves.
Where does the mosquito safety education team go to teach Hillsborough residents about protecting themselves? Literally all over the county.
- At the parks, teaching kids at summer camp about how to protect themselves
- In neighborhoods, working with HOAs to teach residents (request the public education team to visit your neighborhood)
- On the road in their popular public education trailer at mosquitofish giveaways or other public events
- In the schools, talking to late elementary and middle school students about how they can interrupt a mosquito’s life cycle and protect students’ family and neighbors
- At the State Fair (or any number of other fairs and festivals that go on throughout the year where the team can share information)
The most important takeaway for residents, educators say, is to empty out all of the standing water on your property and cover or remove items that collect rainwater.
This simple activity will wipe out most of the mosquito threat on your property before they get big enough to fly and bite.
A great way to keep safe this summer is to spread the word to family, friends, and neighbors about how they can protect themselves from dangerous mosquitoes.
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.