CELEBRATE 20 YEARS OF KEEL & CURLEY WINERY WITH ITS NAPA TRIP SWEEPSTAKES AND BIRTHDAY PARTY Staf Report

Keel Farms is celebrating Keel & Curley Winery’s 20th anniversary with the ‘Cheers to 20 Years’ Sweepstakes from now through Saturday, August 5.

The statewide sweepstakes consists of simply entering to win on the Keel Farms website, along with runner-up prizes found on Keel & Curley Winery bottles’ peel-away stickers.

One winner selected at random will win an all-inclusive winemaking trip for two to Napa Valley on a date of their choosing. One runner-up winner will win a VIP experience at Keel Farms for two on a mutually agreed upon date, which includes a winery tour, tasting and dinner for the winner and one guest of their choosing.

Additional prizes found on bottles in stores include either a $5 coupon for a wine bottle online at www.keelfarms.com or a free drink in the Keel Farms Tasting Room.

Keel & Curley Winery at Keel Farms is a winery dedicated to handcrafting high-quality, locally grown fruit wines. Founded in 1984, the family-owned and operated Keel & Curley Winery is located 17 miles east of Tampa in Plant City at 5202 Thonotosassa Rd. Started with just 10 gallons of blueberry wine in 2003, Keel & Curley Winery now produces over 500,000 bottles of wine annually and offers visitors lunch and dinner daily, as well as tastings, tours, events and more. The winery also produces Keel Farms Agrarian Ciders, a line of delicious hard ciders made using Florida fruits. Keel & Curley products are available online, at Keel Farms and in select grocery stores statewide.

“Our winery has grown tremendously over the past 20 years, and that’s because of support from our loyal customers,” said Keel Farms President Clay Keel. “This sweepstakes is our way of saying thank you. We have many exciting developments in the works, so we look forward to more milestones and fun giveaways in the future.”

There is no purchase required to participate in the sweepstakes. Participants can enter by filling out a form at https:// www.keelfarms.com/cheers-to-20years-sweepstakes.

The Cheers to 20 Years Sweepstakes will conclude with a celebratory Keel & Curley Winery birthday party on August 5 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Keel Farms. Parking and admission are free, and all are welcome.

Wat Mongkolratanaram Buddhist Temple Holds Sunday Markets And Buddhist Events

The Wat Mongkolratanaram Buddhist Temple, established in Tampa since 1981, offers Sunday markets, Thai culture and Buddhist services to the public.

Each Sunday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., guests are able to buy traditional Thai food from volunteers at the market. The food includes a variety of noodle soups and rolls, as well as many other delicious options. All proceeds from the events are donated to propagate Buddhist practice and teaching.

“I recommend anyone go because sometimes it’s a culture shock to people. I feel like it’s something diferent for people to experience and new foods to try,” explained Mia Ramos, a temple visitor.

Being half Thai and Cambodian, Ramos appreciates being able to connect to her culture through events at the temple. She especially enjoys New Year’s celebrations filled with food, dance performances and parades. Ramos additionally recalls how people often buy peace oferings and donate money to the temple to maintain it as a beautiful place for the monks who live on the grounds.

Visitors can also be engaged in religious practices and educational sessions that promote mental development. The temple holds meditation workshops, weekly religious service and Buddhist chanting services.

By Anna Edlund

Buddhist chanting is often performed in Thai temples through Pali, a sacred language of Buddhism. The Wat Mongkolratanaram is special, as it often includes recordings of an American monk performing Buddhist teachings in English. English-speaking visitors who seek the opportunity to participate in these sessions are able to comprehend words through this unique and inclusive method.

“Being able to understand what is being said has created a welcomed level of understanding to what is taking place that I have been missing out on for years,” stated Rich Tyson, who finds clarity at the temple.

As an English-speaker who has regularly attended Buddhist ceremonies, Tyson is used to just appreciating the rhythm of the monks’ chants and not being able to understand the language. He appreciates the inclusion that he experiences at this specific temple, especially as he attends alongside his daughter and strives to expose her to her Thai culture.

Whether or not identifying with Thai heritage, the Wat Mongkolratanaram Buddhist Temple grants partakers a space to explore Buddhism. All are welcome and encouraged to become immersed in the culture in new and enjoyable ways.

For more information, visit https:// wattampainenglish.com/.

This year Florida saw some tremendous devastation in the form of hurricanes Ian, Nicole and Fiona. Families around the state were hurting and needed help and we are proud to say we ofered as much assistance as we could - coast to coast. We spent sleepless weeks consulting and repairing roofs all over the state. As always - we are in this together and we want to thank you for your continued trust and business.