5 Things to Know Today, April 20

1. Get ready for record heat. It's expected to hit 90 degrees in Bloomingdale Patch-land.

2. If your home was damaged by the storms that struck the area March 31, there may be help available.

Hillsborough County Affordable Housing Services will hold an open house at the Progress Village Recreation Center, 8701 Progress Village Blvd., Thursday, April 21, to provide detailed information and assist homeowners with the process to apply for assistance through the county's Housing Programs.  This meeting is targeting eligible homeowners whose homes were damaged as a result of the storms on March 31. 
 
The housing assistance available includes home rehabilitation/repair, assistance with insurance deductibles and emergency relocation assistance. For more information, call 813-612-5397.

Damage has been estimated at $1.4 million from the storm. Damages in unincorporated Hillsborough County included 165 homes damaged, one mobile home destroyed, 170 calls to remove trees, 40 notifications of flooding, 26 traffic signals out and 116 lift stations lost power.

3. Stop by the library this evening for a history lesson.

Historian, Civil War re-enactor and member of the 17th Connecticut Infantry, Jeff Grzelak, will speak on central Florida’s role in the Civil War Wednesday, April 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the Bloomingdale Regional Library, 1906 Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico. Grzelak has appeared in the films "North and South," "Glory," "The Rose and the Jackal," "Class of 61" and "Andersonville."

4. Have some fun on Hump Day. Wednesday is Karaoke Night at J.F. Kick's Bar & Grill, 3345 Lithia-Pinecrest Road, Valrico. Each Wednesday from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., local singers are invited up on stage to sing. 

5. Try your luck tonight at Upstairs in Park Square.

The Elite Poker Challenge is a bar poker league created by poker players for poker players. It welcomes all skill levels each Wednesday starting at 6 p.m. with registration. The first tournament starts at 7 p.m. and the second at 10 p.m. at Upstairs, 16144 Churchview Drive, Lithia. Although these are free tournaments, players will compete for  prizes including bar tabs, seats in the World Series of Poker events, shirts, massages, an MP3, sunglasses, vacations, chip sets and poker tables.