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Hi Brandon, hope you’re having a great weekend!

In today’s in-case-you-missed-it edition: New property tax estimator, AI bathroom sensors, and floating sound bath meditation + the top stories from this week & a sneak peek at next week.

From today’s sponsor, FinanceBuzz: Many Florida drivers end up paying higher auto insurance premiums because they don’t shop around enough. The same driver with the same car can get wildly different quotes from different insurers, so it truly pays to compare. Their free tool makes it easy.*

📰 Most-clicked stories this week

New estimator stirs debate: Hillsborough County Property Appraiser Bob Henriquez launched a calculator to show Brandon homeowners how Florida property tax cuts might change 2026 bills, while critics warn reductions could strain services — see how proposals compare.

Smart tech targets student safety: Hillsborough County high schools install bathroom sensors detecting vaping and fights. All 29 schools are expected to be equipped by end of May, with Valrico’s Bloomingdale High seeing reduced vaping — see how the system works.

Five-year deadline adds stakes: Florida’s governor and cabinet approved a 22-acre land transfer in Tampa for a proposed Rays ballpark at a college campus, with financing unresolved as Brandon fans watch what happens next — see what’s planned here.

Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*

Gold & silver are hot: Last year was gold’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150%… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. Curious about precious metal investing? GoldCo has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.*

All the crowd favorites:

• Find leprechaun gold, color, win prizes
• Create stunning glass-scape resin art
• Kids paint spring hare at Pottery Patch

💎 This week’s top finds

Craving a cozy slurp? Pho Viet makes Brandon’s weeknights easy with deep, reliable pho, crisp spring rolls, and bún bowls when soup feels like too much. No fuss, just warm, satisfying comfort you can sink into after work, then wonder why it wasn’t already in rotation.

Time to re-stash: Gigi’s Fabric Shop keeps sewists stocked and inspired with smartly chosen machines, fabrics, and classes that make finishing your WIP feel doable. When you want friendly advice or a gentle push to start cutting, this Brandon staple quietly saves your project and your weekend.

Craving comfort classics? In Brandon, A&G Diner serves hearty breakfasts, Greek-meets-American plates, and friendly service that remembers your usual. Eggs, a gyro, or both? Consider it handled. Your easy, delicious move is this laid-back staple.

These aren’t ads or sponsored placements — they’re the local spots your fellow readers clicked on most this week.

🫶 We got your back

Your data is for sale right now: There are over 400 websites selling your info to marketers, political campaigns, and scammers. They’ve got your phone number, home address, relatives’ names… you name it. That’s how robocallers seem to know everything about you before you pick up. You can remove your info one site at a time, or pay a service to do it for you. Here’s what we recommend →

Why your last diet didn’t work: Sustained weight loss is nearly impossible with diet alone. Your body literally fights back by making you hungrier the moment you start restricting calories. That’s why more doctors are recommending GLP-1s. The best part? Getting them has never been easier. We compared three programs to help you find the right fit. See which ones stood out →

Paying full price is officially optional: Blu Dot just marked down dozens of their best sofas, beds, dining tables, outdoor pieces, and lighting by as much as 60%. Not because something’s wrong with them, but because every great design eventually has to make room for the next one. The deals change daily, so it’s always a new adventure. *See what’s on sale today →

Most people have no idea what’s happening inside their body: Not because the data doesn’t exist, but because no one’s collecting it. Routine annual checkups miss things like body composition, biological age, and the biomarkers that can help predict long-term patterns. The good news? HumeHealth offers tools to help you track all of that at home for less than the cost of a specialist visit. *Use code NEW20 to save 20% →

Something in your house is about to break: It might be your AC, your water heater, your fridge… doesn’t matter. Every major appliance has an expiration date, and when it goes, you’ll be staring down a repair bill that can climb into the thousands fast. An AHS home warranty covers these types of surprises + *select plans are $150 off right now →

📆 Sneak peek at next week

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🧶 Make a Chunky Knit Blanket @ Painting with a Twist | Tuesday (3/17) at 6:00 PM – Cold nights call for a chunky knit blanket you can brag about making yourself. They provide yarn in cozy colors, clear step-by-step guidance, and calm pacing, so absolute beginners and lapsed crafters both leave with something nap-worthy. Bring a friend, leave smug.

🖼 Glass-Scape Resin Craft Party @ Rare Bird Art Studio | Wednesday (3/18) at 7:00 PM – Rare Bird Art Studio is hosting a resin glass-scape night where you’ll turn crushed glass and resin into a polished 8×10 you’ll actually hang. Choose floral zen or beachy turtle vibes, no experience needed, $65 includes everything, and you leave with your sparkly masterpiece.

🧵 Sew & Grow @ Hope for Her | Thursday (3/19) at 1:00 PM – Put that lonely sewing machine to use at a 3-hour, small-group intensive with Cindy Perkins at Hope For Her in Brandon. You’ll get real instruction, guided practice, and grown-up patience, not YouTube guesses. Only eight spots, so email [email protected] and claim yours.

🍓 Strawberry U-Pics @ Three Son Farms, LLC (McIntosh Station) (Dover) | Saturday (3/21) at 9:00 AM – Whether you’re schooling the grandkids on where fruit comes from or just chasing sunshine, the U-pick strawberry fields are open weekends. Fill a $1 box with berries at $3 a pound, snag a few sunflowers, then reward yourself with strawberry shortcake made from scratch.

🐾 Community Pet Vaccination Clinic @ Adorable Pets by Dena (Valrico) | Saturday (3/21) at 9:00 AM – Whether your dog rules the couch, or your cat runs the house, stop by Adorable Pets by Dena, next to Pizza Hut in Valrico, for low-cost vaccines. Heartworm results and flea, tick, and heartworm preventions on spot, no appointment, cards, cash, info at mobilepethospital.org, 813-388-8308.

🐰 Mommy & Me: Easter Fun @ Brandon Junior Woman’s Club | Saturday (3/21) at 11:00 AM – Craving kid chaos that actually counts as quality time? Bring your mini sous-chef, 10 and under, to an Easter baking class where you’ll make cupcake baskets, decorate bunny cookies, and build a bunny cake. Sticky fingers encouraged, sugar highs handled at home.

🧘 Weightless Bliss: Floating Sound Bath Meditation @ The Yoga House | Saturday (3/21) at 3:00 PM – Float in a Bali-made hammock while quartz and Tibetan bowls, Koshi chimes, and a gong do the heavy lifting. A one-hour sound bath that drops you into deep relaxation, basically a nap you can brag about. Only 10 spots, pre-registration required, socks encouraged, $30.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Brandon report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 86°F – Low: 68°F – Precip: 70%

Patchy fog before 9am, then a chance of rain showers between noon and 2pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny. High near 86, with temperatures falling to around 82 in the afternoon. South southeast wind 3 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

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Tomorrow – High: 83°F – Low: 45°F – Precip: 78%

Showers and thunderstorms after 8am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. South southwest wind 8 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Later: Showers and thunderstorms before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. Northwest wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Most popular house this week

This 4-bed, 3.5-bath home sits on an oversized cul-de-sac lot in Hillside, an enclave of fewer than 40 homes with conservation views. A heated saltwater pool and spa steal the show. Inside, a dedicated office, loft, and cherry floors pair with a chef’s kitchen with new gas cooktop, a fireplace-warmed family room, Tesla solar and charger, and a 2022 roof.

Take a peek inside →