Osprey Observer 2019-02 Brandon by Osprey Observer

Two Sections, 36 Pages of Community News

Brandon/Winthrop

19 C E L E B R A T I N G

February 2019 Volume 14, Issue 2 Ph: 657-2418 1 7

Y E A R S

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P U B L I S H I N G

Victorian Grace Tea Room Continues To Serve High Tea & More With New Owners

By Kathy L. Collins

The Victorian Grace Tea Room’s magical experience is available at several settings on Saturdays and Sundays as well as at special events.

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You can experience the elegance of a traditional high tea at Victorian Grace Tea Room conveniently located at 616 N. Parsons Ave. in Brandon. This lovely little establishment is owned and operated by Katlyn and Megan Amieva along with General Manager Kat Hermida-Perez. All three are long-time friends who love the tradition of high tea. Katlyn and Megan purchased and opened Victorian Grace Tea Room in November. It was originally opened as a tea room in the 2000s. It was set to suddenly close. Katlyn and Kat happened to be there when it was announced. "This was our favorite tea room. We thought it was such a shame that it was closing," said Katlyn. Now, they have lovingly opened the Victorian Grace Tea Room so that others who also love high tea, can enjoy the experience close to home. High tea is offered on Saturdays at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and on Sundays at 12 Noon and 2 p.m. The 12 Noon time is also the Children's Tea. In addition, Victorian Grace Tea Room offers special

events such as pajama parties on select Friday evenings. They also offer Princess themed teas once a month. February will feature Cinderella, March will feature Rapunzel and April will feature Tianna. Reservations are requested and can be made online at https://tableagent.com. High tea is a fourcourse meal. You get a choice of soup and then three courses are served vertically on a three tiered tray. The bottom tray consists of savory choices like salmon crostini with dill or cucumber sandwiches. The middle tray holds scones and cream while the top tray features rotating desserts. Teas are paired with the food that is served. Guests can select from two offerings and you get unlimited servings of one selection. "All of our food is made in-house from locally sourced vendors. We are big on sustainability and try not to waste. That is why we request reservations," explained Hermida-Perez. Victorian Grace Tea Room is the perfect place for an intimate bridal or baby shower or any special occasion. High tea, in and of itself is a special occasion, and Victorian Grace Tea Room is the perfect place to experience it. Price for High Tea is $29 per person for adults and $17.80 for the Children's Tea on Sunday. Prices are inclusive of sales tax. For information, visit www.victoriagracetearoom.com and like them on Facebook.

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Feed The Bay Meets The Needs Of Many With One Day Food Collection Event

By Amanda Boston

Feed the Bay welcomes children to participate alongside a parent.

Since its inception in 2006, Feed the Bay has collected nearly two million pounds of food for pantries of local food banks and community agencies. The multi-church effort provides a practical way for area churches to demonstrate God's love by serving as the Hands and Feet of Jesus. Feed the Bay will be held on Sunday, March 31 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. You can help fill the gap by replenishing pantries as a volunteer or shopper. Feed the Bay partners with Publix Super Markets which offer shoppers a convenient grocery list with the requested food items. After the shopper purchases the food, volunteers are onsite to collect the food and load it onto trailers. For the past nine years, Michelle (Flip) Filipowicz has looked forward to volunteering with Feed the Bay. She serves as a store coordinator at one of the Publix locations where she checks in the volunteers and acts as a liaison between church volunteers and store managers. “We start the day in prayer and with an empty truck, but as one body of Christians, not several area churches,” explained Flip. “At the end of the day, we thank the Lord for the food and the hands that helped to fill the truck.” Last year, Feed the Bay garnered 124,254 pounds of food from 15 Publix locations. The one-day community-wide effort included 31 church campuses and 12 community agencies, totaling 704 volunteers. Every year, Janine Skipper also vol-

unteers as a store coordinator and truck driver at one of the Publix collection locations. She reminisced about last year’s turnout despite the stormy weather. "This past year we had a tornado touch down out in the Bay at the height of Feed the Bay,” said Skipper. “Even with the impending weather, the volunteers and parishioners came out in droves, and we had a full truck. Even through the storms—the wind and the rain, God’s people showed up and gave from their hearts.“ Volunteers are not only needed to load trucks at the Publix Super Markets but are necessary to drive the trailers as well as unload and sort the food at the local agencies. For those who wish to volunteer, you must be at least 14 years old, but children are welcome to participate alongside a parent. To volunteer or see a list of participating Publix Super Markets, churches and agencies, visit www.feedthebay.org. If you are unable to participate during the event but still want to contribute, gift cards from any supermarket may be dropped off at the Bay Life Church office. For questions, contact Melanie Langston from Bay Life Church at mlangston@baylife.org.

In This Issue STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL .....................PG 4 THOMAS THE TANK VISIT ..................PG 9 DISNEY ON ICE .................................PG 11 BUSCH GARDENS 60TH YEAR ..........PG 15 VISIT THE STRAZ...............................PG 21 EYE ON BUSINESS .....................PGS 25‐26 SPORTS CONNECTION......................PG 28 CHALKLINES .....................................PG 32