For more than 50 years, the members of the Rotary Club of Brandon, have been raising funds and working on service [...]]]> The Rotary Club of Brandon works hard to give back to the community. Annual events such as the Wild Game Dinner allow the club to consistently distribute over $50,000 each year to local nonprofits.

For more than 50 years, the members of the Rotary Club of Brandon, have been raising funds and working on service projects that benefit the nonprofits that serve the greater Brandon community. To do this, the Rotary Club of Brandon holds a variety of fundraiser throughout the year. One of their signature events is the Annual Wild Game Dinner.

This year’s Wild Game Dinner was held in April at Lupton’s Boggy Bottom Ranch in Plant City. More than 550 men attended this fun event which included dinner featuring every imaginable type of game such as venison, duck, wild pig, fun door prizes and fellowship. The event raised approximately $25,000.

The funds raised by the club at its various events including the Wild Game Dinner, an annual golf tournament and a raffle for a new car, benefit several area nonprofits including A Kid’s Place, I Am Hope Cafe, ECHO, Rotary’s Camp Florida, Brandon Sports and Aquatic and the Brandon Outreach Clinic. Overall, the anticipated distribution from all of the fundraisers for this year will be approximately $50,000.

According to Kevin Baker, a Rotary Club of Brandon director and Public Relations chair, “The nonprofits to which we give are selected because they serve children, needy families and the homeless.” Baker added, “The organizations are nominated by members each year. The Charity Board determines the group who could best use our help.”

The Rotary Club of Brandon has 65 dedicated members. Since its inception, the club has raised and distributed more than two million dollars to local nonprofits, scholarships for high school seniors and more.

In addition to raising money, the members work on service projects such Relay for Life and construction projects for organizations such as the Brandon Outreach Clinic and the Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center. Baker said, “Rotary’s motto is ‘Service Above Self.’ We do everything we can as individuals and as a club to live that motto.”

The Rotary Club of Brandon meets every Tuesday at Barnacles Seafood Restaurant, located at 926 Providence Rd. in Brandon. Everyone is welcome to visit the club. For more information, please visit www.brandonrotary.org.

The Green Berets [...]]]> Jon Mueller (far left), Vice President and Chairman of the Scholarship Committee for the U.S. Army Special Forces Association Chapter 60 of MacDill AFB, feels the video works as a recruiting tool, as well as showing civilians where some of their tax dollars have gone in regards to the war on terror.

The Green Berets started in 1953. The berets were worn when Special Forces personnel were in the field for prolonged exercises even though the Army refused to authorize its official use.

Years later, President Kennedy showed his continued support for the Special Forces by calling the Green Beret, “A symbol of excellence, a badge of courage, and a mark of distinction in the fight for freedom.” The Green Berets have played a vital role in securing our freedom since 9/11. The U.S. Army Special Forces Association made a video called, Why We Fight Now, The Global War on Terror, to show the public how they have served our nation.

The film is produced by Frank Capra, Jr., son of legendary filmmaker, Frank Capra, who produced the famous WWII series, Why We Fight. The video has recently been declassified and is being shown in various venues within the Brandon community.

Jon Mueller, vice president and chairman of the Scholarship Committee for the U.S. Army Special Forces Association Chapter 60 of MacDill AFB, said a few months ago the U.S. Army Special Operations Command at Ft. Bragg N.C. wanted help from the Special Forces Association to get the video shown in the hopes of getting more recruits.

“As you may know, each service branch now has its own Special Operations Force and the competition to find that really tough, smart and mature young man to join and qualify is fierce,” Mueller said. They also wanted to show civilians what the Army Green Berets have been doing since 9/11, as well as, where some of their tax dollars have gone in regards to the war on terror.

“We initially started this program for the college ROTC cadets, a number of churches, veterans groups, retirement homes and civic organizations have request presentations,” Mueller said. “There is no charge for this program.”

The organization has even offered the video to local JROTC programs and they include a question and answer session at the end of the viewing.

For more information about the video or if you would like to have a screening, contact Mueller at 684-3951. For more information about the Special Forces Association, visit www.specialforces.org.

As the song goes, [...]]]> The staff and owners of Ooh La-La (Candy Torres, Lareise Trotman, Lashanda Singleton and Leah Glover), a full service salon designed especially for girls ages seven to 14, think that a girl should be a girl and enjoy a spa experience in a salon designed with a young girl in mind.

As the song goes, “Girls just wanna have fun!” This saying is true for big girls and little girls alike. Little girls can now get special treatment at Brandon’s newest salon. Ooh La-La, located at 522 Wilbur St. in Brandon, caters to girls ages 7-14. Ooh La-La is open Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Over the summer, Ooh La-La will also be open on Wednesday and Thursday, 2-7 p.m.

Ooh La-La opened on March 3. Lashanda Singleton and Lareise Trotman are the owners of Ooh La-La. Singleton said, “Opening this salon is a dream come true. We are both cheer coaches and have girls. They can come to Ooh La-La, run around and not have to listen to adult conversation.”

At Ooh La-La, a full service salon and spa, a girl can get a manicure, pedicure, facial and haircut and style and be treated like royalty. Singleton and Trotman make their facials on-site with edible ingredients. “We offer three kinds of facials: strawberry, chocolate and honey. Since they are kids, they like to taste stuff. We don’t put chemicals in our products,” explained Singleton. The bath fizzes they use are also made on site, and the lip gloss they use is made from shea butter.

“The whole experience is relaxing. The girls can be themselves. The experience of going to salon and spa teaches self-confidence. Their confidence is boosted when they look good and take care of their appearance,” said Trotman.

Ooh La-La offers wonderfully reasonable prices. Manicures and pedicures are $9 each. Haircuts and shampoo/blow out are $10.

Girls can make appointments for individual services or they can book a party at Ooh La-La. “We offer a party for every budget,” said Singleton. Every third Saturday, Ooh La-La offers Spa Day. For just $25, a girl can get a manicure, pedicure, facial, wear a plush pink robe and enjoy a pink lemonade toast.

For more information on Ooh La-La and to book and appointment or your next party, please visit www.oohlala4girls.com or call 653-7808.

Leigh Anne Brown has always loved vintage clothing. She describes it as a [...]]]> Pictured are Leigh Anne Brown (left) and her daughter Carli Brown (right) pose among a portion of Leigh Anne’s wedding dress collection. The private collection was shared recently at an event for the Valrico chapter of Daughter’s of the American Revolution (DAR).

Leigh Anne Brown has always loved vintage clothing. She describes it as a “passionate love affair” which led her to start collecting vintage wedding dresses more than 15 years ago.

What began as a humble collection to indulge her need for vintage is now a 75-piece assemblage, with dresses spanning from the 1890s to today. Women keep donating their unique dresses, and their memories, to be shared in the collection. “I haven’t purchased a gown in over five years,” acknowledged Brown, although she has had more than 30 dresses donated to her during that time.

Her private collection of 12 pre-1930s dresses was introduced to the public in 2005, when Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon held a vow renewal ceremony. Brown was asked to put together a collection for the reception, and within a month, she had collected 62 wedding dresses. “I was surprised how many women didn’t have their dresses anymore, but also that so many were willing to uncrate their dresses for me,” commented Brown. 

Over the years Brown has collected 75 dresses from different style periods, and has put them into a travelling program that she calls “Portrait of a Bride: The Evolving Silhouette.” “Most of the dresses are not elaborate,” Brown said. “They are simple and represent the average American bride.”

“Portrait of a Bride: The Evolving Silhouette” transports audiences through time, as Brown shares the stories of different wedding dresses and their sequences in American History. Her oldest dresses, for instance, show the transition out of Victorian style, when women had to give up their metal cages for the war effort during World War I. Some reflect the Great Depression and others still, World War II when zippers were forfeited to be made into bullets.

“I want people to appreciate the art as well as the history,” said Brown. “I am the product of the generations before me, and my wedding dresses reflect this.”

Brown is always accepting dress donations from women who want to pass theirs on to someone who appreciates and knows how to care for vintage. For more information on donating or booking her program for an event, e-mail Brown at lelu22@juno.com. “I am blessed to be able to enjoy my love for antique textiles and share this with other people,” she said.

The [...]]]> A Kid’s Place founder, Dottie Berger MacKinnon, poses with a life-size bronze statue depicting her and a child sitting on a bench, which was unveiled during the final ceremony of the “Celebrate a Legacy” campaign spearheaded by her husband Sandy MacKinnon, commemorating his wife’s passion and life work with abused, abandoned and neglected children.

The living legacy of former Hillsborough County commissioner, child advocate and founder of A Kid’s Place, emergency foster shelter in Valrico, Dottie Berger MacKinnon, 68, was celebrated by family members, friends and supporters last month.

“We are actually celebrating a love story and the fulfillment of a dream,” said event emcee, Cathy Unruh, as she addressed the audience that has been supporting the effort to provide a temporary home for children.

The event was the conclusion of the “Celebrate a Legacy” campaign spearheaded by Sandy MacKinnon, commemorating his wife’s passion and life work with abused, abandoned and neglected children.

The ceremony included a special gift by Sandy as he unveiled a life-size bronze sculpture created by artist, Steven Dickey, honoring Dottie’s tireless efforts on behalf of the young residents.

The statue depicting Dottie reading to a child on a park bench, now sits at the center’s front entrance. A Kid’s Place currently houses about 60 children, cared for by more than 20 employees that run the facility around the clock.

Also in attendance was Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee, who drew attention to what A Kid’s Place truly means to the community and the reason why it has become a reality, while mentioning that he gets a smile on his face as he drives by the center and sees the children waiting for the school bus.

“Yes, it is a place, but it is also a dream of a special person who saw the need and did what it took to make it happen,” Gee said. “ She has been an inspiration to all of us. We thank you.”

No one seemed more proud during the event than Sandy, who spoke at length about his decade long marriage to Dottie, and what his wife has been able to accomplish with the help of loyal friends and supporters that have shared her dream over the years.

“Having so many supporting Dottie’s dream speaks volumes of the kind of person she is and whom I have been blessed with having by my side,” Sandy said before listing more than a dozen attributes befitting his wife, such as pretty, passionate, dedicated, unbending, cunning, resolute, determined and loving. 

A special presentation by A Kid’s Place 14-member Pre-K class sang a few songs to Dottie, in her honor.

Dottie’s  relentless effort on behalf of abused or neglected children has raised millions of dollars to first build Joshua House in 1994, a haven in Lutz for children removed from their families, followed by the opening of A Kid’s Place, located at  1715 Lithia Pinecrest Rd., in Brandon in 2009.

Reflecting on the celebration, while keeping her focus on her work in behalf of the children, the support, and her husband’s affection, Dottie’s comments summed up the ceremony well when she said, “It is quite humbling. This was done by my husband so they would never forget me at A Kid’s Place. The love of a man for his wife. I am so blessed.”

For info about A Kid’s Place or to donate, please visit www.kidscharitytb.com or call 843-1833.

In Gallery format, hundreds of items will be presented— antiques, collectables and art of the Jacobs’ Estate. A former Miss Indiana, runner up Miss Universe and artist, [...]]]> Join us Saturday, June 9, at the Terra Ceia Bay Grove House Grill as the Estate of Jan K. Jacobs will be AUCTIONED ABSOLUTE!

In Gallery format, hundreds of items will be presented— antiques, collectables and art of the Jacobs’ Estate. A former Miss Indiana, runner up Miss Universe and artist, Miss Jacobs and her husband, the late Lamar Jacobs, a former professional baseball player with the Minnesota Twins, were lovers of nature and nautical art, as shown in both their life collection and Miss Jacobs’ own work.

Previews will be held on site, on Sunday, June 3,  and Friday, June 8, from 12 Noon-5 p.m. at 2925 Terra Ceia Bay Blvd., unit 2505. Catalogs will be provided for your convenience in advance of the auction, as the auction will be conducted at the Grove House Grill at 2802 Terra Ceia Bay Blvd, Palmetto, Fl 34221 on Saturday, June 9, starting at 10:00 a.m.

Harris Auctions LLC

Florida

AU3858 On Site Auction and Liquidation Marketing AB2873

10% Buyer’s Premium

Call  784-3926 or visit www.harrisauctionsllc.com

Benefits Lyrics for Life, a nonprofit organization whose mission is making a  difference in the pediatric cancer fight.

 Tickets are $5

There will be shooting contests during halftime and prizes will be raffled off.

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s of Bloomingdale, located at 4330 Bell Shoals Rd. [...]]]> Friday, May 11at 7 p.m.

Benefits Lyrics for Life, a nonprofit organization whose mission is making a  difference in the pediatric cancer fight.

 Tickets are $5

There will be shooting contests during halftime and prizes will be raffled off.

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s of Bloomingdale, located at 4330 Bell Shoals Rd. in Valrico, will also host a Spirit Night onsite at the restaurant where 10% of all sales will be donated to Lyrics for Life. This is their third year sponsoring the game.

According to local government officials, the restriction is now in place until at least July 31 in response to the decision by the [...]]]> Effective immediately, tighter water restrictions are in effect throughout Hillsborough County and the Tampa Bay area, which includes limiting the number of times you can water your lawn to once a week.

According to local government officials, the restriction is now in place until at least July 31 in response to the decision by the Southwest Florida Water Management District to declare a Modified Phase II Water Shortage for the Tampa Bay area, including Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties. The restriction decision came earlier this week due to the drier-than-normal conditions following last year’s below-average rainfall that caused low water levels throughout the district’s 16-county region.

“We are now seeing critically low river flows and declining groundwater levels throughout the District, including the Alafia River, which has reached a historically low water level,” said Swiftmud spokesperson, Robin Felix.

According to Hillsborough County Water resources spokesperson Michelle Van Dyke, the tighter restrictions apply to all residents – not just customers of public utilities – and most water sources, which include private wells, ponds or lakes that are used as alternate irrigation supplies.

“The biggest change for us at this time is that the new schedule for watering established lawns and landscaping throughout Hillsborough County, including the cities of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace puts everyone on the same watering days,” Van Dyke said.

The last time Hillsborough County was on a once a week watering restriction was prior to July, 2010, as Hillsborough County came out of a four-year drought, but Van Dyke said that over all area residents have done a pretty good job in keeping up with the changes and following the schedules.

Reclaimed water customers are exempt from the water restrictions, although these customers are encouraged to use only what they need.

All watering must be done before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m.

The current schedule is:

Addresses ending in 0 or 1 – Mondays

Addresses ending in 2 or 3 – Tuesdays

Addresses ending in 4 or 5 – Wednesdays

Addresses ending in 6 or 7 – Thursdays

Addresses ending in 8 or 9, locations with no address, and locations with mixed addresses (such as office complexes and shopping centers) – Fridays

For complete information on these and other restrictions in unincorporated Hillsborough County – as well as links to information from the cities of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace, please visit www.hillsboroughcounty.org/water. Or, call the Water Conservation Team at 272-5977, ext. 43991.

Beaux Arts Gallery, located at 11252 Winthrop Main St. in Riverview, hosts monthly “Thursday Night Live!” events. According to Winthrop Town artist [...]]]> Visitors and artists mingle at Beaux Arts Gallery’s Thursday Night Live!, which are held on the last Thursday of each month. Beaux Arts Gallery is located in the Winthrop Town Center in Riverview.

Beaux Arts Gallery, located at 11252 Winthrop Main St. in Riverview, hosts monthly “Thursday Night Live!” events. According to Winthrop Town artist Bryant Martinez, “On the last Thursday of every month, we showcase wonderful art and artists in the fabulous Beaux Arts Gallery.”

Visiting artists from all over are invited to exhibit their work at the gallery. The “Thursday Night Live!” event is an opportunity for the artists to mix and mingle with other artists and art lovers.

Adrienne Herbert, Abigail Markov and Prochet Duchard are the talented and delightful artists whose work is on display during the month of May.

Herbert paints in the Old Master’s technique, which uses a common technique of underpainting. Here, the artist is able to outline and set the tone for the painting. Glazing is then applied, which allows the painter to build on the paint colors and create special effects.

Markov is best described as an experimental painter because she literally creates her own paint from common sources such as wax, resin and pigment.

Duchard is originally from Haiti. His artwork touches on religion, slavery, uprising and birth of freedom.

All of the artists were happy to show their work at Beaux Arts Gallery. Herbert said, “It’s a great place. I love Bryant (Martinez) and Debra’s (Bryant) work.” Herbert just moved to the area. Despite her recent relocation, she is making a name for herself having won third place at the Strawberry Festival Art Show in March. Herbert added, “The art show was fun. It was a very nice show.”

Duchard added, “This (Beaux Arts Gallery) is a very important place. It allows artists to show their work. This gallery is a very good idea. I find it very fantastic.”

Make sure to mark your calendar for the next “Thursday Night Live!” set for Thursday, May 24. You may be surprised and impressed with the artists that you will meet at this fantastic event.

For more information on Beaux Arts Gallery, please call 438-3844 or e-mail beauxarts11252@gmail.com.

The SouthShore Regional Library located at 15816 Beth Shields Way in Ruskin will host a fabulous exhibit of two nationally known [...]]]> Sun City Center resident and Florida Watercolor Society signature member, Janice James, hangs some of her beautiful paintings that will be on display at the SouthShore Regional Library’s exhibition now on display through June.

The SouthShore Regional Library located at 15816 Beth Shields Way in Ruskin will host a fabulous exhibit of two nationally known watercolor artists during the months of May and June. Riverview resident, Arthur Dillard and Sun City Center resident, Janice James are the featured artists.

Dillard is a nationally renowned watercolor artist known for his images of African Americans including legendary jazz and blues musicians, famous athletes as well as scenes of everyday life.

Dillard said of his work, “I want my work to tell a story, and the story is something that everyone can understand. My work expresses love, history and live. I love to paint pictures of children and their elders. Their faces tell so many stories.”

Laurie Burhop, Art Coordinator for the John Crawford Gallery at the SouthShore Regional Library said, “Arthur Dillard’s work evokes a mood when you look at his work. It’s very powerful.”

In addition to the exhibit at the SouthShore Regional Library, Dillard’s work is on display during the month of May at the John F. Germany Public Library in Tampa and at the Mayfaire by the Lake in Lakeland. When asked about the importance of exhibiting work in public spaces, Dillard said, “Most public places are accessible to everyone and many are free. I find that most people can afford to travel to these places and many are in their community.”

Dillard added, “I try to inspire children with my work, so I do many exhibits at schools and libraries. I find that many minority kids normally don’t attend art shows, but many attend libraries and by seeing someone making a living as an artist gives them hope.”

James is well known in the area for her paintings of local historic places. She was recently selected as one of the artists to have her prints and note cards on sale in the Dali Museum gift shop in St. Petersburg.

James studied at the Ringling School of Art and the University of Miami.  She worked as a commercial artist for many years. James is a signature member of the Florida Watercolor Society. This is a prestigious honor. An artist must submit pieces and if three are selected for shows, the honor is bestowed upon the artist.

James said, “I like to make my work transparent. I want it to be clear with light shining through it. I use layers of color and try to capture moisture of water in the layers of color.” James has eleven pieces in the SouthShore Regional Library show, and they feature homes, a mill, a lighthouse, barn and even a bougainvillea.

Burhop said of James’ work, “Her work makes you visual the actual place and the local landmarks. It’s one thing to recognize a place, it’s quite another to like it.”

Burhop added, “Both artists come with reputation. For the library, the quality of their work is quite exceptional.”
The SouthShore Regional Library is open Monday to Wednesday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursday 12 to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday 12:30 to 5 p.m.

For more information, please visit www.hcplc.org or call 273-3652.