23 Habitat homes coming to Brandon neighborhood
BRANDON – Habitat for Humanity and Hillsborough County was scheduled to celebrate the groundbreaking for a 23-home affordable community in Brandon on July 23.
One of the new single-family homes will be for a woman and her family who lost nearly everything during Hurricane Milton last year.
All of the homes in Windhorst Commons, 205 W. Windhorst Road, will include hurricane shutters. The neighborhood is targeted at those with incomes at or below 80% of the area median income.
Hillsborough County contributed $1.4 million toward home construction in Windhorst Commons, plus another $600,000 for infrastructure costs.
Pasco County hosts open house for 4H program
PASCO COUNTY – Pasco County Cooperative Extension invites the community to a 4-H Open House to showcase the program’s fun, hands-on experiences.
It’s a great way to connect with fellow Pasco County 4-H kids and the leaders who help make it all happen.
The 4-H Program open house takes place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 19 at UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County Office, 36702 County Road 52, Dade City.
4-H members work with adult volunteers to complete projects, community service, camps and workshops in areas such as leadership and citizenship, environmental science, animal science, shooting sports, plants and gardening, food and nutrition, and community service.
Email for more information or to join a club.
Pasco to resume fees for storm-related permits
PASCO COUNTY – If you still need permits for damage related to hurricanes Helene or Milton, act fast. Pasco County property owners can save money on permit applications while fees are still waived, but you must apply by July 31.
With the 2025 hurricane season underway and last season’s recovery efforts progressing across the county, permitting fees will resume on Aug. 1 to support ongoing services. Pasco has so far waived approximately $3 million in storm-related permitting fees after last fall’s hurricanes caused billions of dollars in property damage.
To help you take advantage of zero fees on required storm-related permits, Pasco’s Building Construction Services team has permitting technicians ready to assist with your applications. To avoid fees, be sure to complete your forms properly before Aug. 1.
Apply for your permits online at PascoGateway: https://aca-prod.accela.com/pasco/Default.aspx.
Veterans help veterans with donation
TAMPA – Joel Markman, CEO of Florida Veterans Assistance Association Inc., made a donation of needed supplies to Liberty Manor for Veterans.
Florida Veterans Assistance Association Inc. collects veteran donations and distributes resources for veterans in the Tampa area. The charity has been helping veterans since 1996. It also hosts a holiday food basket program in which volunteers offer baskets of food to veterans so they can feed their families. Additionally, veterans have access to food certificates from various grocery stores and cash grants to VA hospitals in Florida. These cash grants help veterans pay for necessary medical equipment.
Liberty Manor for Veterans promotes the developmental and social needs of disabled and honorably discharged veterans who have fallen victim to homelessness. The nonprofit has transitioned over 1,000 veterans since 2016. Contact Connie Lindsay at 813-900-9422 for more information.
On the web: libertymanor.org
Florida Aquarium to open new exhibit Aug. 1
TAMPA – The Florida Aquarium is rolling out The Tide Pool, a new hands-on exhibit that brings the rugged beauty of the Pacific Northwest coast to downtown Tampa.
Opening to the public on Aug. 1, The Tide Pool is one of the only cold-water touch habitats on Florida’s west coast, quadrupling the number of animals from the previous touch experience.
Guests will be able to connect with more than 200 marine invertebrates, from colorful sea stars to purple urchins, in a 60-foot habitat featuring crashing surf sounds, wave motion and a day-to-night light display.
“The Tide Pool offers a multi-sensory, up-close experience that connects our guests with marine life like never before,” said Roger Germann, president and CEO of The Florida Aquarium.
Presented by Robert R. Sharp & Family and Marvin L. & Betsy Holloway, The Tide Pool marks the second major milestone in the aquarium’s multi-year expansion. The project continues with the arrival of puffins in 2026 and a new California sea lion habitat in 2027 along with a new habitat for the aquarium’s African penguins.
Buy tickets at flaquarium.org.
