5 Things to Know Today, May 2

1. Join Brandon Times general manager Tony Del Castillo as he cooks for a cause at the Copper Bell Cafe May 2 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to raise funds for LifeCare of Brandon.

Del Castillo will whip up some garlic shrimp pasta, a classic dish of penne pasta cooked Al Dente and topped with housemade garlic butter sauce featuring locally grown tomatoes, fresh garlic, white wine and Parmesan cheese. Served with fresh bread sticks and butter, the cost will be $10, with proceeds going to LifeCare of Brandon. LifeCare is a nonprofit in Brandon that helps women facing unplanned pregnancies.

Copper Bell Cafe, 401 S. Parsons Ave., Brandon, will offer free local delivery, compliments of Take Out Butler.

For information, call 813-681-3354, fax 813-681-3353 or visit www.CopperBellCafe.com.

2. Dancin Motion School of the Arts in Bloomingdale Commons at 127  W. Bloomingdale Ave., Brandon, will host Ballroom Dancing with Shirley Cuscaden starting Monday May 2, at 7:30 p.m. The cost is $50 per couple for four weeks.  

The dance studio also will offer drop-in Zumba with Damaris class starting May 2 and running Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. The cost is $5 per class. 

For those who prefer a later class, Zumba with Damaris also will be offered Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 to 10 a.m.  

Register online at www.dancinmotionsa.com.

3.  St. Stephen Catholic Church will host Exploring the Catholic Faith Monday nights from 7 to 8:15 p.m. in the front room at Beef O'Brady's on Bell Shoals Road, Valrico. Visit  http://www.ststephencatholic.org or call 813-689-4900.

4. A birth parent/adoptive parent support group meets Mondays from 7 to 9 p.m. at the LifeCare of Brandon, 122 N. Moon Ave., Brandon. The group offers support to birth parents, adoptive parents and adoptees. Pregnant women considering adoption are also welcome. Call 813-654-0491.

 5. The FishHawk Republicans will meet May 2 at Beef O' Brady's, 4330 Bell Shoals Road, Valrico. The guest speaker will be Mike Perry, chief engineer on the Maersk Alabama during the 2009 Somali pirate hijacking. Social time begins at 6 p.m. and the meeting starts at 6:45pm.  Contact Chris Shalosky, shaloskyc@hotmail.com, 813-857-6973, for further details.