Immanuel Offers Holiday Services

Immanuel Lutheran Church, located at 2913 John Moore Rd. in Brandon, will host various holiday services which include: a 5 p.m. youth service, a 7 p.m. candlelight service and a 9 p.m. candlelight on Christmas Eve, (Nursery at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. services only); a 10 a.m. service with communion on Christmas Day and a 6 p.m. service with communion on New Year's Eve.

For more information, call 689-1787 or go to www.GodSoLoved.org.

Women's Connection Hosts Brunch

Stonecroft Ministry's "Brandon Christian Women's Connection" is inviting ladies to a New Year's Brunch, Monday, January 14 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at Bell Shoals Baptist Church, located at 2102 Bell Shoals Rd. in Brandon in the Special Events Center. Cost is $12 and the feature presentation will be given by Ilene Stubbs with tips on how to decorate for the New Year. Deanna-Henson-Doying of Port St. Joe will be the speaker, sharing how to find balance in the most unexpected place. Along with special music by Liz Brewer, the morning is sure to offer a time of good fellowship, entertainment and inspiration. Complimentary childcare is available by reservation. 

For reservations, call Bobbie at 657-8632 or e-mail barbara_gardner4@yahoo.com by Tuesday, January 8.

Bereavement Group Forming in January

A new weekly Christian-based bereavement group is being formed at St. Anne Catholic Church located at 106 11th Ave. NE in Ruskin. To better facilitate those who cannot attend the sessions during the day, and/or for seasonal members who come for the winter, starting Monday, January 7, there will be a new series beginning at 7 p.m. in the Religious Education Building.

GriefShare is a professionally produced program lasting approximately 13 weeks. At each session a video will be shown featuring personal stories of people like you who are grieving the death of a loved one. After the video, discussion will take place about what was viewed and what is going on in group members' lives.  One need not be Catholic to attend.

Please call the parish office at 645-1714 to register or visit http://www.griefshare.org/about/ for more information.

Church Offers a Multitude

Awaken Singles Ministry takes place the last Thursday of every month. This is a college/singles event that provides dynamic worship and a powerful message from God's Word.  Fellowship and snacks will be provided. Childcare will be provided for birth-fifth grade during the program. The church is located at 216 N. Parsons Ave. in Brandon.

For more information please call 689-1204.

School of Music Now Enrolling

The First Baptist Brandon School of Fine Arts, located at 216 N. Parsons Ave. in Brandon, is accepting applications for the Spring session which begins Monday, January 7 and includes 12 lessons. Private lessons are now available for piano, voice, guitar, brass, drums, violin, flute and clarinet on Mondays and Tuesdays in the afternoon and evening. Art classes for ages 6-adult are available on Mondays while general music classes are available for ages 2-4 on Mondays and K-5 grades on Tuesdays. These classes are excellent for home-schooled children. New for spring is an adult singing class offered on Tuesday mornings, 9:15-9:45 a.m.

For more information or to receive a brochure/application, please call the music office at 689-1204 or go to www.fbcbrandon.org. Click on ministries, then music, then School of Fine Arts.

Bell Shoals Celebrates Recovery

The Fellowship of Encouragement at Bell Shoals Baptist Church, located at 2102 Bell Shoals Rd. in Brandon, hosts Celebrate Recovery every Monday night in the Annex. Join the group for live praise and worship followed each week by a lesson or personal testimony. Support and encouragement is offered as the group overcomes harmful habits, hang-ups and unresolved hurts. In addition, CR Kidz program is available at the same time for grades 4-6. Children learn how to deal with life's difficulties in a Godly manner. Free childcare is available for ages 0-12 years.

Reservations can be made by calling 689-4229, ext. 501. For more information, go to www.bellshoals.com.

Youth Basketball Contest Announced

St. Stephen Knights of Columbus Council #14084 plans to sponsor a Youth Free Throw Championship. All boys and girls ages 10-14 are invited to participate in the local level of competition for the 2008 Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship on Saturday, January 19, from 9 a.m.-12 Noon at the Campo YMCA located at 3414 Culbreath Rd. in Valrico.

All boy and girls 10-14- years-old are eligible to participate and will compete in their respective age divisions.

Participants are required to furnish proof of age and written parental consent. For entry forms or additional information, contact Tom Bailey at 787-1021 or at tebe1021@yahoo.com.

Brandon Ballet Seeks Dancers

Brandon Ballet, the Bay area's premier ballet company, offers training to aspiring ballet dancers and provides the opportunity to students and professionals to perform in at least two major ballets a year. Auditions for company dancers and an extras audition for parts in The Nutcracker, which include little rats, soldiers, party adults and angels, are held in August. Brandon Ballet, a not-for-profit organization, brings a broad repertoire of classical ballets to the community, including a performance in May 2008 of Cinderella. Tickets are on sale at Brandon Ballet located at 161 East Bloomingdale Ave. in Brandon. Office hours are: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Monday-Thursday, 3:30-5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Ticket prices start at $12. Group rates are available. For tickets and information, call 684-4282 or visit www.brandonballet.org.

Judo Club Opens in Brandon

A competition-style Judo club has opened at 501 Faulkenburg Center, Ste. E20, in Brandon. Come and learn the art of Judo and get in shape at the same time. Judo classes for men and women are offered with those of any age and skill level being welcomed. Adult classes are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7-8:30 p.m. and Saturday from 12 Noon-1:30 pm. Junior classes are offered for ages 7-17, Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 6-7 p.m. and Saturday from 12 Noon-1:30 p.m. This is a competitive-style Judo for competition and self-defense. The trainers are also available for demonstrations at your next school function. Call Dave for more information at 662-7910.

Holiday Chess Camp Begins

The 2008 Holiday Chess Camp begins January 2-4 at the Tampa Chess Club located at 10936 N. 56th St. in Temple Terrace. The cost is $50 for all three days. What a way to start the year out right by learning to play chess. Ages 5-15, all levels and schools, are welcome. The classes are from 9:30 a.m.-12 Noon or 2-4:30 p.m. All day camp, which is from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., includes lunch and is only $85 for all three days.

For more information, call Coach T at 727-8852.

BOBCATS Search for Players

The BOBCATS 14 and under AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) Baseball Team is looking for players, including pitchers, catchers and other skilled players, to participate in it's winter training sessions from December 2007-January 2008. Players should have at least four years of baseball experience and solid fundamentals.

A formal tryout will be scheduled sometime in January at the Bloomingdale Little League Fields. Players should not turn 15 until after May 1 to participate in the 14/U age category. 

Contact Randy Zak at 789-7925, Fred Campbell at 918-1287 or Jim Harris at 863-286-4824 for more information and the practice schedule.

Resource Center Offers Classes

The focus of the Brandon Family Support & Resource Center is on the family, offering tutoring, car seat safety and parent-child play groups. Located at 1277 Kingsway Rd., it welcomes the community with events such as: Baby Café, a support group for nursing moms and pregnant women on Mondays, 11 a.m.- 12 Noon; Arts and Crafts for children ages 5-12, offered the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 4:30-5:30 p.m. All programs are free.

For more information, go to www.familysupporthc.org or call 740-4634.

Dream Team Unveils Beauty Competition

All American Dream Team Superstars invites you to the 2008 Masquerade Ball Baby Contest and Beauty Pageant at the Best Western Conference Center, 9331 Adamo Dr. in Brandon, on January 6 with registration starting at 1 p.m. The event begins at 2 p.m. and welcomes boys, ages 0-6, and girls, ages 0 and up.

For cost and additional information, call Ashlee Killeen at 383-5147, Dreamteamfamily@aol.com or go to www.dreamteampageants.com.

Groups Organize Free Deployment Gatherings

Jennifer Tracey of James-Rivard Buick-Pontiac-GMC, The Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW Post 6287 and the VFW Post 6287 would like to welcome deploying military groups to contact them if they are interested in the groups providing a family day and deployment gathering. There is no charge for this function, just an opportunity to meet community members ready to offer support and services to families of deployed soldiers.

In a joint effort to provide this function, James-Rivard Buick-Pontiac-GMC is providing food and entertainment, a certificate providing each family with free oil changes, car washes, discount on services as well as one percent over invoice on all new vehicles while deployed.

To schedule your Deployment Gathering or to donate, contact Jennifer Tracey, James-Rivard Buick Pontiac-GMC at 645-0505 or Lois McBride, president of LAVFW Post 6287, at 671-9411.

BHS Announces Upcoming Events

The Brandon High School Alumni Association will be sponsoring an Appreciation Luncheon honoring all Brandon High School teachers with 25 years or more tenure at BHS on January 7 beginning at 11:30 a.m. in the Brandon High School dining room being complimentary to these teachers. All other teachers with less than 25 years, alumni and other guests are welcome to attend the catered luncheon and recognition ceremonies for a nominal donation. However, reservations are required for all attendees.

The Greater Brandon area Old Timers Association meeting and luncheon will be held on Saturday, April 26, at the First Baptist Church of Brandon's social hall located at 216 N. Parsons Ave.

The BHSAA will be hosting its annual Grand Reunion on Saturday, May 3, in the McLane Middle School Cafeteria located at 306 N. Knights Ave. starting at 11 a.m. with music from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Advance reservations are required by April 25 by calling Karen Rodriguez at 651-3261.

Please call Rodriguez or Nancy Lentz Dukes at 643-2785 for information and reservations for the other events posted.

Library Offers Writing Workshops

Bloomingdale Regional Library, 1906 Bloomingdale Ave. in Valrico, will offer the first two Melody O'Shea Life Story Writing Workshops of 2008: The Melody O'Shea Life Story Writing Cancer Support Workshop: 10 sessions, Wednesday mornings, 10 a.m.-12 Noon, January 9-March 12 and The Melody O'Shea Life Story Writing I Workshop: Four sessions, Saturday afternoons, 1-4 p.m., February 9, 16, 23 and March 1. Participants must be able to attend all sessions. These popular writing workshops are sponsored by the Friends of the Bloomingdale Regional Library.

To sign up, send an email to LSWBloom@hotmail.com and put the words "sign-up" in the subject line. Include the following: name, address, phone and the course you'd like to take. Or call 273-3652 and ask for the Bloomingdale Regional Library.

Business Women to Meet

The Greater Brandon Business and Professional Women (GBBPW) group meets on the second Thursday of each month at Giordano's Restaurant, 11310 Causeway Blvd, Brandon, at 6:30 p.m. New attendees are welcome. Dinner cost is $15. 

For more information or to RSVP, please contact Donna Fore at 528-0902 or Dee Loar at 295-0457.

Classy Sassy Lassy's Seek Bookings

The Classy Sassy Lassy's, an over-50, entertainment group, are now taking bookings for their Christmas program. The group is also looking for gentlemen to join and anyone who can lip-sync and show expression. For information, call Shar at 653-9366.

Network Professionals Meet

The Valrico chapter of Network Professionals Inc. meets every Wednesday from 11:45-

1 p.m. at River Hills Country Club, 3943 New River Hills Pkwy. in Valrico. NPI is a group of business professionals whose main purpose is to help each individual businesses succeed. It has one professional per category represented and would love to have you share your business with it. Lunch is on the group when you visit.

Please RSVP to Anne Lewis at 380-5228.

MOPS Forms in Brandon

Brandon MOPS, Mothers of Preschoolers, invites moms of all denominations, backgrounds and ages into an accepting atmosphere where they receive a two hour break to social with other moms. Meetings are held in Brandon every first and third Tuesday from 6:30-8:30 p.m. (September through May). Planned activities and dinner are provided for moms and children. Contact Kristi at 748-9063 to attend. For more information, go to www.brandonmops.org.