BrandonInfo.com

There’s one advantage to the cooler weather we’ve had this spring - it keeps the mosquitoes down. Did you know the city traps mosquitoes and counts them four days a week all summer long? That’s how they determine whether to fog the whole town with repellant. In addition, the city puts repellent in the parks before events like ball tournaments and the arts and crafts festival.

What’s your best defense against mosquitoes? My main strategy is to stay indoors. I’m pretty sensitive to fragrances, so the smell of most repellents bothers me almost more than getting bit.

I’ve heard that vanilla repels mosquitoes. Now that’s a bug spray I wouldn’t mind. Isn’t Avon’s Skin so Soft supposed to be good also? What other products do you recommend?
Do you check your downspouts and other stuff in the yard to make sure they don’t have standing water in them?

Have you had any peddlers stopping at your house yet this spring? If so, what were they selling?

Did you know that peddlers aren’t allowed to solicit on your property if you post a “No Peddlers Allowed” sign?

Have you ever bought anything from a door-to-door peddler? I’ve had fruit sales come past my house, meat sales … one time a guy wanted to sell me a cheap looking painting. He had some lame story about how he had to get rid of it because he needed the money for something-or-other.

Of course, there are the kids who come by selling products to raise funds for their club or organization. I always worry about them going door to door, and I’m always relieved when I see a parent with them.

How do you feel about peddlers?

Do you agree with the city council’s decision for 212 restaurant/bar to create a smoking patio on the south side of the building?

The bar’s owners said they want to have the outdoor patio because of the smoking ban that goes into effect July 1. But there have been many media reports that petitions might be filed to bring the matter to a public vote in November, 2010. Are the 212 owners jumping the gun a little?

I’ve said publicly in the past that I personally prefer that people just don’t smoke in the first place, by their own choice. But do I mind a smoking patio next to restaurants? I don’t know.

What do you think?

I see that a new photo has been posted under “Get Published” on brandoninfo.com. It’s a cute picture of a boy covered in fallen leaves.

We don’t get many viewer submitted photos, even though it’s always fun to see new pictures show up on the site.

Have you ever posted a photo? Have you tried to but have had problems? Is there anything we can do to make it easier to post photos?

I can envision all kinds of photos posted on the site. Do you have a new grandbaby you’d like to show off? Did you pet do something cute? Did one of your children win an award? Are you proud of your child’s ball team? Feel free to post pictures for the rest of us to enjoy also. For example, I’ve included here a picture of the latest afghan I completed. It was a soft baby afghan for a coworker, who recently had her first baby.

I have a unique Volkswagon Beetle. I enjoy seeing other VW Beetles on the road. Lots of people play “Slug Bug,” where they punch the other person whenever they see a bug.

I’ve been thinking for some time that it would be fun to name a time and place, and any Brandon person with a Volkswagon Beetle would show up, and we’d take a picture of all the bug owners.

What do you think of that idea?

Do you drive a bug? What do you like about it? I like the looks I get when I drive my bug around town. Kids, especially, like the paint job. I also like that I can scoot the seat up far enough to reach the gas pedal. i couldn’t on the van I drove before. I like how the seats are very adjustable.

I don’t like the console very much. Not enough cup holders. And my bug doesn’t have the original “beep-beep” horn, but my husband says we can get one and install it. I would like that.

What do you think about the city’s plan to put Welcome to Brandon signs at the entrances to town? The city first wants to put one on West Holly Boulevard. It hasn’t been approved by the city council yet. One of the things the council has to decide is whether to add an electronic message board, which would cost an extra $10,000 or so. Do you think the message board is worth the extra cost? I suspect it would have messages about upcoming events in Brandon. I suppose a city employee would have to program them in. I wonder how often the messages would be updated. It would be embarrassing if old stuff appeared. The messages could be a good reminder to people and might increase attendance at community events.

The long-term plan is to put three other Welcome to Brandon signs at other Brandon entrances. There has been discussion about selling advertising on those signs. What do you think of that idea? There has been much debate in other cities about selling commercial advertising on public-owned structures. Some folks don’t care much for that. If the city allows advertising on a road sign, then how about selling space on the front of City Hall, or on the carts on the golf course? Where would it end? On the other hand, there is advertising on the fences at the ball park, and those are city-owned structures.

What are your thoughts?

The Brandon Community Foundation gave away $8,500 in grants this year. The Brandon Volunteer Fire Department got the most, at $1,750. Six other groups got $1,000 each, and this summer’s Hometown Days got $750. Every group that applied this year got a grant.
Have you ever contributed to the Foundation? So far, it has given away $16,000 in two years.

Has your group ever been a recipient of Foundation money?

Mother’s Day is this coming Sunday. Do you have any special ways you typically celebrate?

My grandma likes pink, so the card I choose for her is always pink. A religious card for my mother. Something with bright colors for my mother-in-law.

I remember once when my kids were little they brought me breakfast in bed. I never understood why eating in bed would be a good thing. Toast crumbs in the sheets … ick. But I did appreciate the gesture. Good memories.

What are your family Mother’s Day traditions?