UPFRONT
England Family
Music Garden
John and Beth England welcomed
guests to the unveiling of the England
Family Music Garden on the east side
of Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater that
they underwrote. The new performance
space, created under the direction of Suzan
Decker Ross of Decker Ross Interiors,
is part of the overall Ruth Eckerd Hall
experience and provides a comfortable
area for patrons to enjoy live music. The
private evening included a performance
by the Mad Beach Band.
38 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
The Sjouwerman Adoption Center will allow the Humane Society of
Pinellas to double its treatment capacity.
Assistance to Animals Expands
Humane Society of Pinellas, the largest no kill shelter
in Pinellas County, is more than doubling its capacity
to medically treat and adopt animals of need in the
community. In addition, important programs like the Pet
Food Pantry and Senior Pet Connection will expand to provide
much needed pet food and supplies for the pets of seniors
and veterans in need. The expanded and improved facility
in Clearwater, named the Sjouwerman Adoption Center, is
made possible by Rebecca and Stu Sjouwerman.
Chefs Lee Aquino and Kevin Bell
Savor St. Pete
Chef Lee Aquino of Birchwood
& Vine, and Chef Kevin Bell,
executive chef of Tryst, tied as
the winners of the Savor St. Pete
Food and Wine Festival’s 2021 Chef
Culinary Competition. The onstage
chefs’ competition was part of the
inaugural two-day festival of arts,
eats and musical beats for foodies,
wine lovers and craft beer aficionados,
which was held in St. Petersburg’s
North Straub Park.
Chefs Thomas and Cindy Bassano, owners of
Bassano Cheesecake in Safety Harbor, add this
Best Dessert award from Dessert First to their
trophy case, which also includes Best Cheesecake
in Tampa Bay Magazine’s Best of Tampa Bay.
Bassano Cheesecake
Finishes First
Sampling tasty sweets, sipping drinks
and bidding on auction items is how
the annual Dessert First benefit for the
Girl Scouts of West Central Florida began.
Guests voted for their choice of best dessert
made with Girl Scout cookies with the
winner revealed during a scrumptious
dinner with live entertainment. The winner
was a Thin Mints-inspired cheesecake by
Chefs Cindy and Thomas Bassano, owners
of Bassano Cheesecake in Safety Harbor.
The born and raised New Yorkers make
delicious handmade batches of awardwinning
desserts thanks in part to Great
Aunt Clara’s recipes of yesteryear. Proceeds
from the event help the Girl Scouts of West
Central Florida provide critical support for
membership, camp experiences, essential
supplies and programs. 9
GRAM
John and Beth
England have made
a significant impact
on arts and education
initiatives throughout
Pinellas County.
RENDERING
TED MAGUIRE
GRAM