Community Corner

Community Roundtable Changes Back to Old Parade Route

The roundtable will host its annual Public Affairs Dinner Feb. 23

For those who prefer maintaining the status quo, the Community Roundtable of Greater Brandon has good news.

After trying an evening hour and an alternate route for the annual Fourth of July parade last year, the parade will return to the time and route of the previous 20 years.

Last year the roundtable staged the parade in the evening along Oakfield Drive, starting at Lakewood Drive to move it away from Brandon Regional Hospital. The reason for the shift in time was to take advantage of the cooler evening temperatures.

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However, as a result of feedback from those attending the parade, the roundtable has opted go return to the old route and time. This year's Fourth of July parade will take place Monday, July 4, at 10 a.m. starting at Lumsden Road and Parsons Avenue, continuing north on Parsons to Robertson Street and then ending at the Publix shopping center north of Robertson.

In addition to organizing the parade, the roundtable, comprised of representatives from various Brandon area civic groups, is making plans for its annual Community Affairs Dinner set for Feb. 23 at Center Place.

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At the dinner, the roundtable awards the Alice B. Tompkins Award to a resident who has gone above and beyond in volunteering time to the community. The award is named for the late Alice B. Tompkins, former editor of The Brandon News. Last year Susan Saunders won the award for her work with the Center Place Fine Arts & Cultural Center, 619 Vonderburg Drive.

The roundtable also will present its second annual Nonprofit of the Year award. Last year's recipient was the Emergency Care Help Organization. The Roundtable will present the nonprofit winner with a plaque and a contribution of $500 to its cause. 

Featured speakers at the event, whose theme is "Past and Present," will be Nat Storms and Col. Lenny Richoux, who will share their perspectives of Brandon's past and future. Storms, the first honorary mayor of Brandon, will talk about his successful campaign and tenure as mayor more than 50 years ago. And Richoux, commander of the 6th Air Mobility Wing, will offer his vision for strengthening the relationship between MacDill Air Force Base and Brandon in the future.

Tickets for the dinner at Center Place are $40. A table of eight costs $375 and includes preferred seating and signage.

The Community Roundtable is accepting membership applications. Memberships are $20 a year. The roundtable meets the second Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Center Place.


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