Closer Look

By William Jacko

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Beth Ross dreams of building the first Urban Rest Stop in Tampa — a place where the homeless and working poor can use restrooms, take showers and launder clothes, and eventually get haircuts, conduct job searches, and access financial and mental health counseling.

Until that dream becomes a reality, Beth and her husband, Ray, will continue to help the homeless through Blanket Tampa Bay, a nonprofit they founded to feed the homeless and distribute blankets, toiletries and bicycles.

Although they did not realize it at the time, the couple’s Urban Rest Stop dream began five years ago while they were attending Oakwood Community Church in Carrollwood.

“The church had a really large donation,” Beth said. “They gave every family in the church a hundred dollars, and said, ‘Go do something good with this.’”

Since Beth Ross hates cold weather, she decided to give blankets to the homeless for warmth, padding and protection against insects. She created a Blanket Tampa Bay Facebook page, and with the church’s seed money, distributed more than 1,000 blankets the first two years. In time, the Rosses expanded their mission from blankets to hygiene products, bicycles and other items the homeless need.

Their volunteer work attracted the attention of corporate sponsors, including the New York Yankees, who donated $10,000. That donation inspired the couple to explore new ways to help the homeless, which led them to Seattle to tour the country’s first Urban Rest Stop.

When Beth speaks to groups about Blanket Tampa Bay, she tells stories of unexpected blessings, happy endings and new beginnings —stories that motivate people to act.

One of her favorite stories is about a homeless man she passed on her way to work who hadn’t moved from the same bench in several days. He repeatedly rejected Beth’s offers of help, so she asked a police officer to check on him. The officer was able to involuntarily commit the man to St. Joseph’s Hospital for medical evaluation, where he was treated for a broken hip and kidney failure.

“He was in so much pain that he couldn’t move off that bench,” Beth speculated.

She soon learned the man’s backstory. He had worked for Pinellas County Schools for more than 30 years and was entitled to a pension that he was not receiving. Social services intervened and helped him get his pension, and today he is healthy and living in an apartment.

Had Beth not intervened, the man would have likely died on the street, virtually invisible, amidst the averted eyes of hundreds of people waiting at the nearby bus stop or driving by.

“That man wasn’t a bum. He wasn’t an alcoholic. He wasn’t doing drugs or anything. All it takes is one life-changing event to be homeless,” Beth said.

On Monday nights the Rosses serve the homeless in the parking lot at St. Peter Claver Church, located at 1203 Nebraska Ave., from 7 p.m. to 8p.m.

“We serve about a 160 to 180 homeless people every week,” Beth said. “There are so many men, women and children out there who are homeless and need help. I can’t wait to build an Urban Rest Stop so the homeless have a place to clean up, use the bathroom and launder their clothes.”

To learn more about Blanket Tampa Bay, and to donate, visit BlanketTampaBay.org, or call Beth at (813) 300-9277.

Published February 27, 2019

Out of Our Hands Gallery is a new shop in downtown Dade City that showcases a variety of original, handmade work from more than a dozen accomplished artists around Florida. It features artwork that works with any budget, and includes landscapes, abstract paintings, mixed media, sculptures, ceramics, metalwork, photography, jewelry, leather and décor gifts.

“We specialize in works from fine artists around the South,” said Russ Taylor, who owns the gallery with his wife, Lee, who also teaches art at Denham Oaks Elementary in Lutz.  “In a world of mass production, we believe more people appreciate handcrafted art, similar to the farm to table movement with food, and craft breweries with beer.”

Many of the gallery’s artists are from the Dade City area, including Jayde Archbold (painter), Matthew Cicanese (photography), Amanda Dempsey (pottery) and Deborah Gillars (clay monoprint). Also exhibiting are the owners, Russ (painter) and Lee (mixed media). The gallery’s oldest artist is Frank Gabriel, an 80-year-old woodcarver from Lakeland.

The Taylors spent years exhibiting at art shows around the country, and decided to open a gallery after they bought a home in the Blanton Road area north of Dade City.

“We wanted to bring our artwork, and that of many talented artists we know, to our new community,” said Russ.

Why did the couple gave their gallery its unusual name?

“Asartists, we make things with our hands, but more importantly, everything is truly out of our hands and entirely in God’s hands,” Russ explained.

Now that their new gallery is open, the Taylors are looking to expand their offerings, including teaching and hosting adult workshops, classes and summer camps for kids.

“At 3,000 square feet, our gallery is quite large, and we’re dedicating half of this space for classes and community gatherings,” said Russ.

Out of Our Hands Gallery is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. It is

located in historic downtown Dade City, one block north of Meridian Street.

(352) 437-3204

14245 7th Street • Dade City, FL 33523-6255

outofourhandsgallery.com

Published 1/23/19

By William Jacko

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

When he was 18, Rosario Lubrano left his hometown of Naples, Italy, and moved to Piscataway, New Jersey, to seek the kind of opportunity available only in the United States.

“The future brought me here to look for work and start a new life,” Lubrano said.  “I had a friend whose family had a pizza place in New Jersey, went to work for them as a dishwasher, and stayed there from 1996 to 2005. I had never spoken English in my life, but by listening to customers, I started picking up the language, working with customers and making the pizzas, until I was running the store.  That’s where I got my passion for food and pizzerias.

Lubrano moved to Florida when he had an opportunity to open his own pizzeria in Brandon. He called his restaurant Pomodoro Pizza, which means tomato in Italian.

His pizzeria was a success, and after a few years sold his business to be closer to his home in Wesley Chapel.

Lubrano recently reopened a new Italian restaurant in Wesley Chapel, also called Pomodoro Pizza, and was soon at work again creating his own personal Jersey/Italian style of food.

“I make the dough Sicilian style from scratch every day for pizzas, calzones and pretty much everything else,” Lubrano said.  “All the sauces are made at the moment.  We don’t have anything ready to go.  When I make the sauce, I just keep it simple.  I don’t really add too many spices.  I just try to keep it tomato flavored, so when you eat the pizza, you don’t taste bunches of different spices.  You actually taste the flavor of the tomato.”

Local residents from the northeast, as well as former customers in Brandon, love Pomodoro Pizza for its familiar New Jersey-style pizza that is hard to find in Florida.

“Every day we get customers who say they haven’t tasted pizza like this since they left New York or New Jersey,” said Lubrano.

Pizza may reign supreme at Pomodoro Pizza, but its menu also includes hot and cold subs, chicken and seafood dishes, and desserts. Stromboli, mozzarella Caprice, lasagna, fettuccine Alfredo, eggplant parmigiana, shrimp scampi, and many other Italian standards can be found at Pomodoro Pizza, all made according to Lubrano’s own recipes.

“We’re known for pizza, but we also have excellent pasta dishes, and appetizers and fresh salads,” said Lubrano.

Lubrano enjoys living in the Wesley Chapel area, close to his restaurant in Seven Oaks Plaza on State Road 56.

“We love Wesley Chapel because wherever you go, everything is kept up well, the community is growing and the people are so nice,” said Lubrano, who adds that he helps to support his community by sponsoring local soccer teams. “People are really happy with our new pizzeria in Wesley Chapel — so much, they keep coming back until they’re friends.”

So grab a slice at Pomodoro Pizza, close your eyes, and transport yourself to the Garden State—if only for a meal.

(813) 328-8063

27607 State Road 56

Wesley Chapel, FL 33544

www.pomodoropizzafl.com

Published 1/16/19

By William Jacko

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

When Joe Schembri was growing up, his family did not take vacations.  Instead, they went to the ice cream shop twice a week — faithfully.

Ice cream became a passion for Schembri, and he dreamed of owning an ice cream shop himself one day. That dream became a reality this past May when he opened Ice Dreammm Shop in Lutz, which specializes in homemade, micro-batch ice cream

“I love ice cream,” Schembri said.  “It started out as family time for me, and I wanted to recreate that experience for others, but also improve upon it.  I wanted to have TV, music, the chalkboard table, and games kids play, like Chutes and Ladders, Yahtze and Dominoes. I wanted a place where kids and parents could enjoy their ice cream together in a fun, family environment.”

Schembri regularly dreams up exotic homemade ice cream creations that defy imagination, such as Peanut Butter Oreo, Chocolate Bacon Toffee and Sweet Potato Casserole. He also has everyday standards, including Creamy Vanilla, Mint to Dream and Strawberry Shortcake.  Even lactose-intolerant customers can indulge in Schembri’s line of creamy coconut-based nondairy ice cream, with three options offered daily.

To keep the menu fresh, Schembri retains his most popular flavors as staples, rotating the rest to make room for new arrivals. The flavors may change, but the quality remains.

“We make the ice cream every single day in small batches, and all the dairy we use is from local dairies, either a sweet cream dairy or a chocolate dairy—from chocolate cows,” Schembri added jokingly. “The dairy that we get is the core base of all our flavors.  Our ice cream is all natural and has no artificial food coloring.”

Ice Dreammm Shop carries 15 flavors daily that can be added to floats, sundaes, brownie sandwiches, ice cream sodas and malts, handspun milkshakes and cold brew coffee. There are also ice cream pies, with the piecrusts composed of Oreo or graham cracker, topped with a drizzle or a crumble. Brownies, waffle cones and whipped cream are also made daily.

Unsure of what to order?  Try an ice cream flight — which gives you a sample of four different flavors at once — or just skip to the shop’s bestseller, Cookies and Dream.

Schembri finds creative ways to bring out the child in adult lovers of ice cream.  To promote his line of adult-only alcoholic ice cream, he sports a T-shirt with the saying, “I make boozy ice cream. What’s your super power?”

“We have Rum Haven all the time,” he said, “and then we rotate one or two every week — this week we have Fire Ball Apple Pie. We put the Fireball Cinnamon Whisky right into the machine when we make the ice cream.  You can definitely taste it, but we’re going for the taste, not the effect.”

Ice cream is also sold by the pint and quart. Catering is available for festivals, parties and community and corporate events.  The Hemp and Coffee Exchange, a local roaster out of Zephyrhills that roasts its coffee with hemp seed, supplies the shop’s coffee.

“I try to keep my partners local so we can support each other,” Schembri said.  “When you shop local, helping a mother, a father, a family to live their dream, and by shopping there you can learn the stories behind their dreams.”

It’s not too late to order your custom ice cream pie for your holiday dinners. Ice Dreammm Shop requires a 24-hour notice for its pies, because every one is made fresh and to order.

“This is our busiest time of the year, so please place your pie orders soon,” said Schembri  “Our pies are a great addition to pumpkin pie on your dessert table.”

Published 12/19/18

Long before the Rev. Adrienne Hymes entered the priesthood, she was following her dream of becoming an actress and stand-up comedian in Los Angeles. But, when she was laid off from her six-figure public relations job, she used that layoff as an opportunity to serve the Lord in a more meaningful way.

“I was gifted with the layoff,” Hymes said.  “I was miserable, and felt that God had a more purposeful life for me that would optimally serve Him and his people. I struggled with saying, ‘Yes,’ to God because I didn’t have the courage to step away from the money.

“It was exactly what I had prayed for.  This whole priestly journey—I really didn’t do that.  I went to Los Angeles to be Oprah, and now I’m the church lady.  It’s all about acceptance.  It really comes down to accepting God’s will for your life, and what that truly means, which can be really hard.”

Hymes has since graduated from Virginia Theological Seminary, became a clinically trained chaplain, and is a priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida.  As the Missioner for Church Extension, she has been tasked by the bishop to expand the diocese’s ministry into Wesley Chapel.

“What we do as church leaders is jump into the energy that the Holy Spirit has already started,” Hymes said.  “We prayerfully listen for direction, and do our part as ministers. The Holy Spirit does the rest.  All I have to do is be present to receive all of the souls that are going to be led to us.”

The members of Wesley Chapel Episcopal currently rent a worship space from an existing church and are faithfully working to nurture their worship community to the next level.

“For many years, the diocese has felt called to nurture a new faith community in the growing, vibrant Wesley Chapel area,” Hymes said.  “We seek to be a safe place for questioning and meaning-making through Holy Scripture, the sacraments and our rich, ancient liturgy.  The gift of the Episcopal Church, in a changing world that longs to be rooted in a foundation, is that we are ever ancient, ever new.”

Hymes also sees the church as a means to rescue people from difficult times and situations in their lives.

“We are the Episcopal branch of what our presiding bishop calls the Jesus Movement,” Hymes said. “Our branch is something that people can reach for and hold onto when they need it, like in those old movies where the hero holds the branch out to the person sinking in quicksand.

“There are so many people who don’t know they’re in quicksand.  If the branch is there—present, if you will – they can reach out to it. Without the branch, eventually the quicksand overtakes them.”

Hymes would also like to emphasize the home blessings offered as an instrument of outreach and hospitality by Wesley Chapel Episcopal, a practice seldom recognized anymore.

“Most people have never seen a home being blessed, and remark how surprised they are by the sacred blessing done with such reverence,” Hymes said. “It’s important for us that we are present to the needs of our neighbors. One way that we do that is to share a liturgy in their home where we, together, affirm that God’s not only there, but is present in all aspects of their life.  We walk through every room saying prayers, while I sprinkle holy water throughout the structure.”

Wesley Chapel Episcopal offers worship services in the form of Holy Eucharist and Evening Prayer.  Christian education programming is offered at various times of the year.  Home blessings are available by appointment.

“Whoever you are, and wherever you find yourself in your journey of faith, the Episcopal Church welcomes you,” Hymes said.

3758 Maryweather Lane, Wesley Chapel 33544 • 813-418-1281 • www.wcepiscopalchurch.org.

Published 12/5/18

By William Jacko

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Dance Gear Etc., a Lutz boutique store specializing in shoes, attire and accessories for just about every technique of dance, is hosting a Holiday Open House on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 24 from 10a.m. – 5p.m.

Owner Carolyn Jackson invites you to visit her store, located at 1705 Dale Mabry Highway in Paradise Square Plaza, just before the U.S. 41 apex. Refreshments will be served, new dance fashions will be modeled and shoppers will receive generous discounts.

“We carry dancewear from basics to high fashion, for dancers of all ages for ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, acrobatics, flamenco, gymnastics, cheerleading and ballroom. We even stock sensory approved tights for children with those needs,” said Jaskson. As a special-needs mom herself, Jackson understands the need for inclusivity in the dance studio.

Trained by master fitters from Russia, Italy, Bulgaria, England and New York, Jackson has been fitting pointe shoes for more than 10 years and is exceptionally qualified as now a master fitter herself to size dancers with the correct shoe and perfect fit.

“There is probably no more important decision in ballet than the purchase of a first pointe shoe. An ill-fitted shoe can lead to injury temporarily or permanent.” said Jackson.

The pointe shoe has to fit perfectly, Jackson explains, because if the shank is broken, aka ‘a dead shoe,’ a dancer could roll her ankle also leading to shortening her career.

“I get to know the shape, style and dimensions of your foot, and how the foot works going from flat to demi-pointe to pointe,” said Jackson.

Dance Gear can also accommodate custom shoe orders for sizes wider or longer than the normal, we even can size pointe shoes for boys/men.

Jackson enjoys getting to know her customers and educating them so they understand the fitting process and the importance of a properly fitted dance shoes.

“Parents appreciate how I follow their children as they grow, mature and advance in each level of dance. This personal knowledge helps me fit their child for their next shoe or garment,” said Jackson. As a dance mom herself, she knows from personal experience how knowledge helped her children become better dancers.

Jackson believes in giving back to her community and local schools, and participates in the Youth America Grand Prix scholarship competition program when given the opportunity.

“Sometimes a dancer’s family may not be able to buy new tights or shoes for a performance,” she said.  “I have inventory that isn’t always going to sell, which I give to local schools to help a child whose family cannot afford to buy those items.”

Jackson encourages everyone to give ballet a try.

“Any adult can try ballet if they can find an appropriate class,” said Jackson. “Ballet is about flexibility, balance and being well-centered.

1705 Dale Mabry Hwy. Lutz, FL 33548 • 813-428-6989 • dancegearetc.com

Published 11/21/19

When you step into Sugarshak Designs in Dade City, Goldie — the store’s greeter and former farm dog — welcomes you with a wag of her tail and invites you to browse for that perfect gift or home decoration.

Sugarshak Designs specializes in home décor, upcycled and repurposed items, gifts, consignments, wedding and party decorations, flower arrangements, quirky signs and hats, one-of-a-kind jewelry, local honey and jelly, and handmade greeting cards.

Owner Denise Scopel creates many of the items in her store, including decorating bottles, tumblers, lampshades, mannequins and much more.

“I enjoy making and decorating things,” Scopel said.  “I look for things that I can either repurpose some way or upcycle, to make it different.  I do wreaths, flower arrangements, horseshoes. If you show me a picture, I can usually create something pretty close to what the item is.”

Scopel began exhibiting and selling her creations under a tent in the outdoor market scene, and then managed someone else’s store, before opening Sugarshak last spring. The store’s name is a tribute to Scopel’s five grandchildren, who call her “Sugar.”

“I wanted a store that wasn’t just antiques or purchased gifts.  I wanted to have local artists’ items, plus repurposed and recycled, so it’s an all-around kind of store,” said Scopel. “I keep my prices low, because I want people to find something they love and be able to afford it.”

Unique among stores specializing in home décor, Sugarshak has a Male Room, a space designed for items that interest and make appropriate gifts for men.

“We have something here for everyone,” Scopel said. “We created the Male Room because I wanted something for men to be able to look at and relate to while their wives are shopping.”

In addition to owning Sugarshak, Scopel also does planning for small weddings, and her store has a space devoted to wedding decorations.

“We have toasting glasses, cake knives, ring-bearer pillows and flower-girl baskets, fun things like socks for the bride’s fathers, tote bags for the wedding party and even little wedding signs with clever sayings,” said Scopel.

Scopel does as much or as little decorating and planning as a bride wants, and also helps with smaller events, such as baby showers and anniversary parties.

“Whatever the event, I’ll set it up and make it look pretty,” she said.

Because Scopel wants you to feel at home in her store, she provides a comfortable couch for weary shoppers and waiting spouses. The couch also gives people a handy place to lavish attention on Goldie, the store’s canine ambassador of goodwill.

“Goldie was my grandfather’s dog, and I brought her home with me about six years ago,” Scopel says. “Goldie was a farm dog who lived underneath the house, and she’s just the best dog ever — she doesn’t bark and is very friendly and laid back.”

Goldie may pass the day napping, but she loves her job at Sugarshak.

“She knows when it’s time to go to work, and lies by the back door waiting on me to leave,” Scopel said, “She’s become my mascot, and people always come in asking about Goldie.”

On your next visit to Dade City, be sure to visit Sugarshak, take a seat on the couch and be greeted by Goldie. And then take home something rustic, western, or just plain fun for that bare wall, baker’s rack or empty end table.

“There’s something here for everyone, and I’ll bet you’ll find something that you can’t leave without,” said Scopel.

(813) 526-6631. • 14247 7th St. • Dade City • www.sugarshakdesigns.com

Published 10/3/18