Brandon/Winthrop
28
January 2023
Volume 15, Issue 1
Ph: 813-657-2418
Y EIAN R REVIEW See Pages 28-31
CELEBRATING 21 YEARS OF PUBLISHING P OSITIVE COMMUNIT Y NEWS
BRANDON FIRE STATION CELEBRATES NEW DESIGN CONCEPT RELEASED FOR GRAND OPENING & HIGH TECH FEATURES ‘AMAZING’ BRANDON LIBRARY By Linda Chion REPLACEMENT SET FOR LUMSDEN ROAD Hillsborough art safety feaBy Linda Chion
PRSTD STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID TAMPA, FL PERMIT #2118
A red-brick with ivory trim, facade with an entry porticos ivory trim is one with Ionic colof the many deumns, a standing sign details for seam roof that the “amazing will be topped replacement by a raised culibrary that is pola that pervery, very needhaps will include ed” in Bran- An aerial view of the design concept for the new Brandon a clock or clock don, accord- library, showing the entry plaza set for potential public art tower in its deand parking. ing to Andrew sign, and public Breidenbaugh, art potential for director of the the driveway.” Tampa-HillsborAt his last ough County meeting as a Library System. two-term HillsHillsborough borough County County commiscommissioner, sioners at their Stacy White November 16, said he appreci2022, meeting ated the staff’s The new library is set for construction on the northwest reviewed initial quadrant of the intersection of Lumsden Road and Parsons efforts to presAvenue. A closer view of the entry plaza. design concepts ent the library for the $12.5 mock-up demillion, single-story, signs in time for him 2 5 , 0 0 0 - s q u a re - f o o t to review before giving library set to stand up his seat to Michael roughly 3,000 feet from the original li- Owen, the newly elected commissioner brary at 619 Vonderburg Dr. in Brandon. for the District 4 seat. That library opened on March 10, 1991. “I have been working with staff on this The new library is set for construction library rebuild for a long time,” White on the northwest quadrant of the inter- said before making a motion to receive section of Lumsden Road and Parsons the report and to direct staff to ensure Avenue. “that the selected design and/or archi“Procurement for the design phase is tectural professionals for this library reunderway and expected to be made in build design the building substantially as mid-2023,” Breidenbaugh said, “and as depicted in the images.” most of our libraries take about a year The motion carried 6-0. of design and a year of construction, “I am thrilled to see this happen,” we expect completion sometime in late Commissioner Kimberly Overman said. 2025.” “This is a good example of what our The neoclassical design “is very rem- ad valorem and other fees go towards, iniscent of the Carnegie era of library bringing a beautiful resource like this construction,” Breidenbaugh said. “The into a community that certainly needs design incorporates red-brick facade this type of enhancement.”
County Fire tures, including Rescue Station isolated sleep45, located at ing quarters, 1209 Oakfield individualized Dr. in Brandon, alarms and a was celebratfirefighter deed with a ribcontamination bon-cutting in area for first January. responders. “With the “After a density of structure fire, The ribbon-cutting held on January 4 at Brandon Brandon, the byproducts of Fire Station 45 celebrates one of the busiest stations in need for the combustion Hillsborough County. From left to right: Bob Bivins, station was chair of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce Board of that are caroverwhelmcinogenic get Directors; Hillsborough County Commissioner Gwen ing,” said Rob on their clothes Myers; Hillsborough County Administrator Bonnie Herrin, spokesand skin,” HerWise; Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Chief Dennis person for rin said. “It’s Jones; Hillsborough County Commissioner Michael H i l l s b o r o u g h Owen; and Hillsborough County Commissioner Donna a pretty big Cameron Cepeda. County Fire health initiaRescue (HCFR), tive, putting a who for many of his private shower in 17 years as a first rethe bay before ensponder worked at tering the living Station 11 in Brandon. quarters.” SepaSo great was the rate alarms for reneed, Herrin said, Stasponders assigned tion 45 first respondto engines and amers and equipment Brandon Fire Station 45 at 1209 Oakfield bulances lessen the Dr. in Brandon. were housed in temincidence of sleep porary shelter during construction and deprivation, which is another health the station’s engine today ranks among benefit,” Herrin said. the top five in call volume countywide. Brandon’s station is the first new staAccording to Herrin, HCFR eclipsed tion completed since the most recent 139,000 calls last year, a 23.1 percent update of HCFR’s capital facilities masincrease over the previous five years. ter plan, approved in 2019. Updated regHerrin said HCFR Fire Chief Dennis ularly to address the changing needs of Jones for years has pushed to increase growing communities, the plan calls for the station count in Hillsborough to 24 additional fire stations. keep up with its growth. According to The Brandon station houses an adU.S. census data for 2010 to 2020, Hill- vanced life support fire engine and ressborough, behind Orange, is the second cue ambulance. Six firefighters per shift fastest-growing county in the state and are set to operate from the station 24 ranks 14th among counties nationwide. hours per day, seven days a week. Hillsborough’s 230,536 resident increase brought its population to 1.46 million people. Ribbon-cuttings on January 3 and 4, respectively, were held in Brandon and GRANT FOR HIGH 5 .......................... PG 3 for HCFR Station 29 in Apollo Beach, MOTORING TAMPA BAY ................ PG 5 located at 6720 N. U.S. Hwy. 41, which TB HISTORY CENTER ....................... PG 8 is a replacement station and outfitted EYE ON BUSINESS ..........................PG 25 to respond to emergencies by land and sea. Both stations sport state-of-the- YEAR IN REVIEW ..................... PG 28-31
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27 Years in Brandon!