5 Things To Think About July 26

Five things to know today, July 26, as you go about your business in Brandon and beyond.

What's Up With Tropical Storm Dorian?

• From Weather.com — Interests in the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Hispanola, the Turks and Caicos and southeast Bahamas should monitor the progress of this system.  It is far too soon to either rule out or speculate about a U.S. threat. As of 5 a.m., July 26, winds were 50 miles per hour; pressure, 1,001 mb; and the storm was moving west-northwest at 50 miles per hour. Coordinates: latitude 17.1 degrees north; longitude, 41.5 degrees west.

Hurricane Preparedness

• From The Home Depot — In select stores throughout the U.S. [and Brandon and Riverview made the list], The Home Depot will offer Hurricane Preparedness Workshops for our customers.  These workshops are designed to help customers in hurricane-affected markets prepare their homes, families and businesses for a possible hurricane. Customers will learn about generator safety; sizing generators for specific home or business needs; what to include in an emergency/disaster preparedness kit; how to safely store their valuables; and projects they can do to protect their homes in the event of a storm. Find a store and register online.

Part-Time Or Full-Time?

• From National Public Radio — With the new health care law on the horizon, the restaurant industry is looking carefully at the looming health insurance requirements. Some national chains are looking at ways of limiting the new law's impact on the bottom line, while other restaurant owners say the new law won't change much for them. See: Full-Time Vs. Part-Time Workers: Restaurants Weigh Obamacare. Do you work in the restaurant industry in Brandon? Has your job, your work hours been affected?

Lemonade For A Cause

• From Panera Bread of Tampa Bay — Nothing says summertime like Panera Lemonade. Stop by the Lemon-Aid Stand at any participating Panera Bread bakery-cafe Friday, July 26 and 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and enjoy a refreshing lemonade. Show your support by donating $1. Proceeds will be donated to the Panera Bread Knead for Knowledge Scholarship Program benefiting Children's Cancer Center.
  
  

'Les Miserables' Returns To Plant City Stage

• From Brandon Patch — Enthusiasm is high for the summer 2013 production of "Les Miserables," brought locally for the first time to the community theater stage by Plant City Entertainment, under the direction of veteran director and Brandon High School graduate Domin Pazo. Remaining show dates are July 25-27 and Aug. 1-3 at 8 p.m.Also, July 28 at 2 p.m. The Plant City Entertainment Theater is at 101 North Thomas St. For more, see 'Les Miserables' Opens In Plant City For 9-Show Summer Run and Final Rehearsal Look at Les Miserables, On Stage In Plant City (video highlights). Also, photos from the last night of Les Miserables rehearsals in Plant City.