Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By B.C. Manion

 

Emma Skantze is not your typical philanthropist.

For one thing, she’s just 11 years old.

The New Tampa girl began raising money for Metropolitan Ministries three years ago by organizing an annual benefit concert at Family of Christ Church at 16190 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.

She recalls how it all began.

“One day, I remember watching a TV show and there was this natural disaster and there were these people, I think it was professional singers and performers, and they were raising money for the people who had been damaged and needed new housing and stuff,” she said.

“We started talking about how everybody could do small things to make a difference,” recalled Stephanie Skantze, Emma’s mother.

“First, I figured we could do a bake sale.” Emma recalled. “My mom said, ‘Think of something that you’re really good at.’

“At that point, I was really good at piano. I decided to do a benefit concert. I named it ‘The Helping Hands,’ ” Emma said.

The event is a grassroots effort, Stephanie Skantze said, involving the help of young musicians, two piano teachers and Family of Christ Church.

The first year, Emma and other piano students of Paula Konicek performed and some of Emma’s friends sang, too.

The concert raised $350, which was matched by Emma’s family.

The second year, the concert included Konicek’s piano students, as well as piano students under the tutelage of teacher Mary Wendelken. Some of Emma’s friends sang at that concert, too.

That second concert took in $500 at the door, which Emma’s family matched. Verizon – where Emma’s dad, Johan works – matched their $500 contribution, bringing the grand total to $1,500.

This past year, a total of 21 performers, ranging from second-grade to college, were on the concert’s program.

“I had also been practicing violin, so I also did that,” the 11-year-old said.

Heather Tomasello’s daughter, Catie, was one of the performers. The 8-year-old performed two songs, including one she composed.

Tomasello said the concert gives performers a chance to exhibit their creative talents, while at the same time doing good for the greater community.

The third concert took in $750, matched by Emma’s family and by Verizon – adding up to a total of $2,250.

“People who come are usually interested in seeing a specific performer,” Stephanie Skantze said.

Organizing the concert requires a lot of work, Emma’s mom said, her eyes brimming with tears as she talked about her daughter’s commitment.

A concert date must be determined, a venue secured and performers lined up. Other details include making and distributing fliers and invitations, sending out emails, making telephone calls and so on.

“You’ve got a really long to-do list that you rework every year,” Stephanie Skantze said. “You learn a little bit every year. Emma has already started her planning for next year.” her mom said.

Emma said she wanted to help Metropolitan Ministries because it is an organization that helps people with true needs. It provides presents for poor families and offers temporary shelter for the homeless, she said.

The Terrace Community Middle School sixth-grader said she enjoys helping others. She thinks others involved with the concert enjoy helping, too.

Metropolitan Ministries is grateful for her efforts, said Angie Pattison, manager of community donations for the charitable organization.

“We are inspired by her. Her generosity and initiative is just incredible, especially in someone her age.

“This past holiday, we served over 25,000 families. Her gifts were part of that and made that possible.

“We’re just so honored that she chose to benefit our families,” Pattison said.

By B.C. Manion

James Langston Jr. remembers the joy that reading brought him as a young boy, and he wants to spread that feeling to young children everywhere.

He’s hoping his book, “Maximus the Musical Elephant,” will make children smile and make them eager to read more books.

And he hopes in the not-too-distant future he can publish another book that will entertain them as they learn.

He still recalls the delight he felt when he read “Green Eggs and Ham” and other Dr. Seuss books. He’s been interested in poetry ever since.

In his book, “Maximus the Musical Elephant,” Maximus gets a peanut stuck in his trunk, and it is not until the peanut is freed that he learns that his trunk is actually a wonderful musical instrument.

Upon the discovery, the elephant cannot contain his joy and soon begins entertaining everyone at the zoo. His act becomes wildly popular, driving up ticket sales, which in turn, creates the need to expand the zoo.

The book, illustrated by Rebecca Riffey, is a self-published work produced by Tate Publishing & Enterprises.

Langston, who lives in Wesley Chapel, said he decided to go that route because he had a deep desire to share his work, and he believes it will find an audience.

“You have to invest in yourself and you have to believe in yourself. The same energy that you put into other things, you have to put into making your dreams come true,’’ he said.

The 37-year-old said he visited India, where he saw the power of elephants, and while there learned that they represent good luck.

He decided to write a story about elephants, and he came up with the idea to transform the elephant’s trunk into a musical instrument. As he wrote the story, he was inspired by the great jazz musician, Louis Armstrong.

It took him about four months to write the story, constantly tweaking it and reading versions of it aloud to others. He said he finally had to stop himself from making additional changes because he knows no matter what he writes, there will always be room for improvement. Authors have to step away at some point, if they ever want to finish a work, he said.

He said the story he wanted to tell is that “you never know what you’ll discover, until you try.”

In this case, “Maximus didn’t know he could play music.”

“Every one of us has something that we’re supposed to do. We have a God-given talent. We search for what that talent is, and if you’re lucky enough to find it in this lifetime, you have to build upon it and work at it.”

He said he finds inspiration everywhere.

“When we actually slow down, we can hear the birds singing. We can see the silver lining of the clouds. We can see the leaves actually fall to the ground. You can see the flowers bloom. You can see life, if you slow down, take a look.

“Life is full of so many mysteries and things that we don’t see because we are so busy looking at what we can see and what we have to overcome.”

Langston is married, and he and his wife, Vanessa, have four children: Miya, Keana, Alex and Shay.

Although he has only published one book, Langston has written scores of others. He thinks it is his calling is to write and share stories, and he believes they may one day be the source for movies or songs or other adaptations.

For now, he’s simply savoring the start of a new chapter in his life.

He’s accomplished one of his dreams: He is a published author.

 

Glance box

/James Langston Jr. is available to do readings or book signings and can be reached at . His book sells for $9.99 and can be purchased online at http://www.tatepublishing.com. It is available in paperback and online versions.

 

 

 

 

By B.C. Manion

 

If you’re in the market for a soft-serve ice cream cone, a slab of fudge, some old-fashioned candy or a bit of nostalgia there’s a new shop in Lutz that may be right up your alley.

It’s not the most visible place, but owner Brian Vindick believes that once people learn about his specialty store they’ll drop by to check it out.

Once they taste his soft-serve, he’s confident they’ll be back for more. Or, perhaps they’ll be more interested in his specialty sodas, nostalgic candy, or frozen slush drinks.

Maybe they’ll just get a kick out of listening to Vindick wax poetic about his favorite places in the world – Philadelphia, South Jersey and the Delaware Valley.

The vast majority of the items he sells come from the Delaware Valley, with the exception of some of the sodas and old-fashioned candy.

If you’re curious about anything he sells, just ask; Vindick can tell you the history of each item.

In great detail. With enthusiasm.

“I eat and breathe the Delaware Valley. I love where I’m from,” said Vindick, who works as a restaurant consultant and has been dreaming of opening his shop for years.

“Everything in here has a story,” Vindick said.

“Sometimes you get customers who say, ‘Look, I don’t care, just give me an ice cream and let me get out of here.’ ’’

But for those who want to know more, Vindick is ready and willing to fill them in.

For instance, the shop offers Bayard’s fudge, made by a candy company that dates back nearly 100 years.

It sells Sifer’s Valomilk cups, a nostalgic candy produced by a family in Merriam, Kan., now in its fifth generation of candy makers.

The shop stocks A-Treat Sodas, a favorite of Pennsylvanians since 1918. That beverage maker still uses the raw ingredients it has used since the beginning.

The shop also sells Dr. Pepper, but not the kind you can get at just any supermarket. The brand he sells is called Dublin Dr. Pepper because it’s made from the original Dr. Pepper formula, which was bottled with Imperial cane sugar.

Vindick also sells Boost, a concentrated blend of citrus fruit syrup, created by a politician named Ben Faunce in 1913.

Vindick believes his unique items will appeal to various demographics – snowbirds who winter down south, transplants from the Philadelphia metropolitan market and people who like nostalgic candy and ice cream.

“I chose Lutz for the exact reason that I’m in between everything. I’m in between Carrollwood, New Tampa, Land O’ Lakes and northern Tampa, such as USF (University of South Florida) and the more urban areas.”

He’s confident his business will do well.

“Once people know I’m here, I’m ok,” he said.

He also noted there are lots of potential customers who pass by him every day, as commuters make their way down US 41 to get to work and back.

He hopes he can get some of those passing motorists to take a slight turn and drop by to see him at 127 Flagship Drive in Lutz.

To learn more about Philly Cream of Tampa, call (813) 949-5200.

 

By B.C. Manion

 

You might say that Andy Walton saw a sign, when he and his wife were finalizing their plans for their new shop in Land O’ Lakes.

It offered a clear message: Ice Cream & Coffee.

He found the sign in Orlando, and it sealed the decision to offer both ice cream and coffee at Walton’s Ice Cream & Coffee, at 6757 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

“I’m a coffee fan, and I wanted to incorporate coffee. Holly (his wife) was not so much on the coffee,” he said.

But then he found the sign, and the couple decided to let it guide their way. Last month, they opened a shop aimed at satisfying the cravings of those in search of sweets or caffeine.

“I’ve been in marketing for years and years. We moved to Land O’ Lakes close to five years ago. If we wanted to do a quick low-dollar fun thing, there was nothing. It’s a very underserved market.”

Originally, the couple looked at a location at Wilderness Lakes, but after crunching the numbers, they knew that wouldn’t work.

So, they found another spot – in Wisteria Plaza – that better suited their budget and sits in the middle of the area they want to serve.

“The idea is to provide a nice ice cream/coffee shop experience for Land O’ Lakes, Florida. There’s really nothing else up here,” he said, adding it’s at least 15 minutes away to get to a shop with similar offerings.

He realizes that ice cream is an impulse buy and typically requires a lot of foot traffic to be successful, but he believes that he’s close enough to residential communities to attract the trade he needs.

He’s also hoping that the shop will become a good spot for people who want to enjoy a good cup of coffee and use the Wi-Fi.

The shop has a clean, contemporary look with an obvious decorator’s touch. Holly, an interior decorator and real estate agent, designed the shop.

Her aim was to make it “a comfortable place to hang out,” she said.

The shop serves Buddy Brew Coffee and Hershey’s Ice Cream.

Buddy Brew is a Tampa coffee roaster, which roasts coffee the day it is ordered and delivers it the next day.

Items on the menu include shakes, malts, floats, sundaes, cones, tea, coffee, cocoa and cold drinks. There are also specialty items known as Tropi-Kool Smoothies and Blenjavas.

Walton is using his background in sales and marketing to get the word out about his shop. He’s using social media and personal networking to help build his clientele.

Engaging the customer is key, said Walton, who already has begun making connections with local charities, schools and sporting organizations on fundraising efforts.

“People come here. They support the business. The business is here for the people, so they don’t have to drive to a chain that’s 20 minutes away to get a nice cup of coffee or a milkshake. They can do it right here.

“But also, through supporting us, they’re supporting local organizations like sports and charities,” Walton said.

In addition to coffee and ice cream, the shop also sells cookies, brownies and biscotti. It also is looking to expand its menu to include simple breakfast and lunch items.

Although the shop just opened in November, Walton is confident about its chances and is already thinking ahead.

“My business plan says in five years, I’ve got three locations,” he said. He expects the additional locations to be in areas similar to the one he’s in, which have high growth, but no ice cream and coffee shop.

The couple wants to build a successful business for their children, Andrew, 6 and Cortney Spagnuolo, 18, said Holly Walton.

They like the idea of using their talents and energy to directly benefit their family.

“We just wanted to have our own thing and not have to worry about working for anyone else anymore,” Holly Walton said.

“If I can take all of this stuff that I’ve learned in the last 10 years of my life and use it just for marketing an ice cream shop, it has to succeed,” Andy Walton said.

For more information about store hours and menu items, go to www.getyourfreezeon.com or call (813) 996-3436.

 

 

 

By B.C. Manion

 

Maybe you’ve resolved to clear out the clutter, or you’ve inherited a cache of stuff you want to unload.

If you’re looking to sell old coins, silver, platinum, broken or used jewelry, watches, sports memorabilia, Tiffany glass, advertising memorabilia, war items, fine art, dolls, trains, old comic books and other collectibles, you may want to check out THR & Associates, a company that travels around the country seeking to buy such items.

The company recently set up temporary shop at the Residence Inn Tampa Suncoast at 2010 Northpointe Parkway in Lutz, ready to buy items that people unearth or no longer want from their homes or businesses.

“Usually, we’re at a city for five or six days,” said Ronald Lee, a field manager for THR & Associates.

The company travels all over North America and to foreign countries as well, in search of collectible items.

It’s sort of like the Antiques Roadshow, only the company doesn’t have appraisers. It has buyers who consult with a team of experts to determine whether or not the item you’re offering is one they want to buy.

“We have a research department. If we don’t know much about a particular item, we take pictures of it and send it to our research department. We have around 12 different researchers. They’re experts in different fields,” he said.

Some things that wouldn’t seem to have value, do, Lee said. Other things obviously have some value, but the seller doesn’t have a clue about how much they are worth.

The buyers will tell would-be sellers if their item has a market and what they’re willing to pay, Lee said.

“We’re looking for your mismatched earrings, your broken herringbone necklaces, old class rings, old pocket watches, war memorabilia, guitars, violins – just about anything of value,” he said.

Perhaps you have some vintage jewelry, some costume jewelry, a Tiffany lamp or some sports memorabilia. Those are all items you may be able to convert into cash, Lee said.

The company has unearthed some cool stuff that was sitting in a closet or an attic, in an old trunk or a dresser drawer.

“A few weeks ago we bought a 16^th century Guido Reni painting,” said Steven Garner, a buyer for THR & Associates. They paid the seller $85,000.

That particular seller actually seeks out THR & Associates after he’s found something of value at estate sales or storage unit sales, Gardner said.

Some items that THR & Associates has purchased include Johnny Cash’s bed, which garnered $30,000; an Abraham Lincoln document that commanded $29,000; and a letter from George Washington that was purchased for $30,000.

The company also bought a 1960 Les Paul guitar, Gardner said, recounting the story of its purchase.

“It was made as a prototype and was never supposed to leave the factory,” Gardner said.

But around 1975, it turned up at a pawnshop where a customer bought it for $300.

About 30 years later, the owner sold it to THR & Associates for $100,000.

If you have some items that you think are of some value, but you’re not sure what they are worth, it’s probably a good idea to do a little research on the Internet to get a general idea, Gardner said.

In some cases, the serial numbers on items can provide a clue to their value and condition is always an important consideration, he said.

In some cases, a seller may want to invest in improving the condition of an item – but it’s wise to tread carefully because sometimes an effort to improve the condition can actually reduce an item’s value.

THR & Associates will purchase an item in any condition because it has the resources to prepare it for resale, he said.

If someone just wants an idea of an item’s potential value, they can drop by when THR & Associates is hosting a show.

“There’s absolutely no pressure. The dollar figure that we’re going to tell you is the dollar figure we are willing to pay you right now. I’m not twisting anyone’s arm. It’s completely up to you,” Gardner said.

Lee said the company has a positive effect on a community’s local economy.

“We kind of consider ourselves a stimulus package for local areas. We come in and we spend money in local businesses. We come in to hotels. We can write $250,000 worth of checks in any given town,” Lee said.

They come across highly sought after items on occasion, but not often.

“What we see the most of is someone cleaning out their jewelry box, things that they don’t use any more, things that have been sitting there for years. Or, an old coin set,” Lee said.

The company is in the market for dimes, quarters, half-dollars and dollars that are 1964 and older because their silver content is 90 percent. It also purchases Kennedy half-dollars, between the years of 1965 and 1969, which have 40 percent silver content.

The value of coins varies, based on the condition and rarity of the coin.

“We’ve got a network of people that are looking for certain coins. It really is going to be item specific,” Lee said.

While old jewelry, coins and silverware are the most common items that are brought to the sales, it never hurts to find out if there’s a market for an item, Gardner said.

“In all honesty, if you think it may have value, it’s best to bring it in and let us take a look at it.”

To find out about upcoming shows, visit thrassociates.com.

 

 

Maria Zoller’s opera dreams

By Kyle LoJacono

When Maria Zoller sings opera today she does so with strength, passion and confidence beyond her 13 years of age.

The Lutz resident and eighth-grader at Imagine School at Land O’ Lakes said performing is like no other feeling in the world. Her dream is to captivate the world with her voice.

Singing with such self-assurance is something that seemed impossible to her parents a few short years ago.

Susan and Wald Zoller adopted Maria when she was 3 from an orphanage in Transylvania, Romania. Maria was given up by her very young mother at just three months of age.

“The orphanage that she came from was actually featured on a documentary,” Susan said. “It’s one of the poorest and neglected facilities in the world.”

When Maria first came to America she could barely walk or talk because of the traumatic experiences she suffered while in the orphanage.

“Everything in America was so strange and frightening to her,” Susan said. “She never knew what a book, or animals or love was until she came to her new home in America. Maria would lie on the floor and stare into space for long periods of time just trying to process her new world. … Would our little girl ever be happy and learn how to smile?”

Susan said it troubled her and Wald as they were still getting over the loss of their son Ryan, who died at age 17 in a car accident caused by a drunk teenage driver just a few years before they adopted Maria.

Things began to change for Maria as her parents started to introduce her to music. She became more outgoing and engaged with other people.

When Maria was 5 she heard Celine Dion sing “My Heart Will Go On,” which became the first song she learned.

“She asked me to repeat it, but she did not understand that I could not nor did she know this was my personal song about my son Ryan,” Susan said. “This was the first song that she ever learned to sing, and she won many solo vocal competitions performing this song. It was amazing to me, and I felt that it was a sign from my beloved son Ryan because nobody knew this was my special song after he passed.”

Maria never really learned how to sing any American children’s songs. She went from singing mostly classical music to opera at the age of 7.

The first opera she saw was “Phantom of the Opera,” which sparked her passion for the art form. Maria began taking lessons at Mary Jo’s Performing Arts Academy in Northdale and sang in school and church choirs.

“It’s truly hard to describe the many heartwarming emotions that we experience when we see and hear Maria sing in a professional stage performance,” Susan said. “It’s that of pure joy, pride and love, but I have to admit I still get a little stage fright praying that she will hit all of those high notes. But she always does, and it’s a beautiful sound and a wonderful feeling.”

Maria started working with the Matinee Opera Players, formerly Tampa Opera, where she practices and performs side-by-side with singers usually more than three times her age.

Maria and the group rehearse for about three hours every Saturday at various churches in the area. At one of the practices a few months ago the prodigy was discovered by 91-year-old opera maestro Mario Laurenti.

The thought of being watched by the renowned maestro did not intimidate Maria.

“I was so excited about this opportunity, and I truly believed that it was my destiny to audition for the world-renowned maestro,” Maria said. “After the audition, I was so delighted to hear that he liked what he heard and that he believed that I had great potential.”

Laurenti offered to give Maria private lessons, making her the youngest student he has ever accepted. He told his new student being an opera singer “takes a lot of practice, patience, passion and commitment,” but added she has the ability to succeed.

Maria now spends most of her free time getting lessons from Laurenti and practicing with the Matinee Opera Players.

“I really have to work hard with tremendous dedication and determination to make my dreams of becoming an opera star come true,” Maria said. “I know that my maestro believes in me and with my parents’ continued support that it’s really up to me to make it happen.”

Hear Maria sing

Anyone interested in hearing Maria sing with the players can reserve a seat for a free concert on Sunday, Jan. 29 at 2 p.m. at the Pinellas Park Performing Arts Center, 4951 78th Ave. N. in Pinellas Park. E-mail to register.

By Kyle LoJacono

Lutz residents Carol and Frank Morsani continued their routine of making contributions to make the Tampa Bay area a better place with a $20 million gift to the University of South Florida (USF).

The huge donation is the largest in the university’s history and will go toward building a new medical school that will bear the couple’s name.

“I don’t think our community as a whole recognizes the impact that this institution has on our region, state and nation,” Frank said.

Frank, 80, said he and his wife earned their money through car dealerships and have spent the last two decades using that success to better the region.

“We just love the whole Tampa Bay area and want to make it a better place for everyone,” Carol said.

It is the second large gift the Morsanis have made to the university following a $17 million contribution in 2004 to help fund health innovations at USF Health.

Frank said he hopes the latest donation will get the rest of the community into the “giving spirit” and help the school raise the $60 million needed to complete the new facility. The construction is set to begin in late 2012.

USF College of Medicine Dean Stephen Klasko said the goal of the new medical school is to train new doctors with the latest techniques and equipment.

“We’re going to have students learning from patients and patients learning from students,” Klasko said.

Frank said he doesn’t want people to think any more of his family because they have the ability to make such donations.

“We’re just doing what we’re supposed to do on a daily basis,” Frank said. “We don’t feel we’re doing anything special. That’s not the piece of cloth we’re cut from.”

The Morsanis have lived in Lutz for more than 20 years and have, as Frank said, done such things on “a daily basis.” Their first big gift came in 1996 when they contributed $5 million to the Straz Center. Because of the donation, the center renamed its large theater the Carol Morsani Hall.

The couple has also given large amounts of money to Gulfside Regional Hospice in Dade City.

“Those people with the hospice are great and give needed support to families struggling with their health,” Carol said. “They are nonprofits, so they can use all the help they can get.”

Frank encourages others to give whatever they can to any worthy cause they find in their community.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re donating $10 or $10 million,” Frank said. “It’s the act of supporting your community that’s meaningful and priceless.”