Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Sarah Whitman

Senior Staff Writer

LAND O’ LAKES — The children gather around to listen to a story. Moms sit back and relax as storyteller Maureen Shewmaker reads with enthusiasm. It is 10 a.m. on Wednesday and this is the Moms & Tots group at Land O’ Lakes Community Center.

The group is sponsored by Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran Church and welcomes moms with children 5-years-old and younger. Each week, the meeting has a different theme. This week, it’s listening.

“I love story time because Christian really likes it,” mom Jennifer Bien said. “He sits still and listens. It’s amazing.”

Christian is a 4-year-old who loves to run and play. During story time, he sits quietly and anticipates the turn of the page. Of course, he did just get his wiggles out during music time.

“He likes the music too,” Bien said with a smile. “This (is) our first time here. A friend recommended it. We’ll definitely come back.”

Friend Kris Miley, mom to 5-year-old Ryan and 1-year-old Aidan, has been coming to the group since 2008. The group meets from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays for 8 weeks at a time twice a year. The current session runs through March 24.

“This group is great because they have music, story time, crafts and snacks,” Miley said.

Moments later; she joins in doing the hokey pokey. Mary Mosakowski, a certified early childhood teacher and mother of two, leads the group. She sings, “Put your backside in and shake it all about,” provoking giggles throughout the room.

When the music stops, it is time to get creative.

“Okay, since today’s theme is listening, our craft is going to be coloring paper wind chimes,” Mosakowski explains. “Come pick out which one you want to color and take it over to a table.”

The children rush over with their moms close behind. They use markers to color the paper cutouts. Moms help out where needed, but encourage the little ones to just have fun.

“This is an opportunity for his creativity to shine,” said Natalia Carmona, mom to 3-year-old Kevin. “He gets to interact with other kids his age and it’s a great way for him to overcome his shyness.”

Across the room, Sheila Vega helps her 3-year-old twin girls Rosangely and Giannely pick out marker colors. It is the family’s fourth time at the group. The twins love spending time together.

“It’s wonderful because they’re learning to listen and follow instructions,” Vega said.

After crafts are done and put away, it is time for the popular game of Simon Says. The moms play too, touching their nose, then their toes. The tots laugh when they mess up.

“I didn’t say Simon says,” Mosakowski repeats as 2-year-old Louis Aden Capeilupo stands giggling with his hands on his head.

His mom, Erika, corrects him and follows it with a hug.

“I like coming to this group because he can socialize with other kids,” she said. “Him and I also get to have some one-on-one time.”

Simon Says ends when Mosakowski announces its time for snack. The tots cheer, looking to see if the nearby table full of treats has been uncovered. The day’s snack is bananas and animal crackers.

“They love snack time,” Vega said, following her exited daughters to a table.

While the children eat, John Huebner, pastor at Shepherd of the Lakes, has a mom’s corner. He shares a message on parenting and gives the women time to share their thoughts on the week.

Meanwhile, Shewmaker and Mosakowski keep an eye on the kids. Both have little ones in the group.  Shewmaker’s daughter Jessica is 4. Mosakowski’s daughter Grace is just 2.

“It’s important for mothers to have a place to get together and spend time with their kids,” Mosakowski said.

To register for Moms & Tots, call (813) 401-9135. There is no fee to attend.

Ranger is a 5-year-old Boston Terrier, and is a service dog that helps his owner because of her heart condition. Without Ranger, she would have no freedom.  He has given his owner her independence back, and is her 9-year-old son’s best friend. Ranger’s proud owner is Hollie Topash of Wesley Chapel.

Donny Heart is a 2-1/2 year-old rescue cat. He is special because of the unusual marking of a heart on his back leg. Donny can give you a “high five” when you ask, and if he’s in a good mood, he’ll give you a “ten.” He is very popular around people. Donny Heart’s proud owner is Isabella Sassano of Land O’ Lakes.

By Suzanne Schmidt

Staff Writer

LAND O’ LAKES — Shouts of encouragement were everywhere during the 6^th Annual House Day at The Academy at the Lakes.

The event brings all the classes together from the youngest in kindergarten to the seniors in high school to do relays, play dodge ball, tug of war and a variety of other field day activities. John Pitcairn, middle division director, said the students learn bonding and leadership skills.

“The idea is to foster community spirit and to establish bonds across all grade levels,” Pitcairn said. “We want kids to have the feeling that the entire school is their school.”

He said the day is also about having some good old-fashioned fun.

“It is another way to inject another element of joy in our journey,” Pitcairn said. “It is one way for us to celebrate together.”

Buck Kramer, fourth-grader, said he likes the competition of the day.

“It is challenging and fun,” Kramer said. “Our house won the competition the last two years in a row and we are hoping to do it again this year. I also really like it when the older kids encourage me to because it gives me courage to do things I wouldn’t have done before.”

Colleen Lopez, eighth-grader, was a middle division team captain at the event. She said she enjoys the house day whether her team wins or not.

“I like how all the houses are working together,” Lopez said. “This makes the little kids day, to be with the bigger kids. They look up to the older kids. They get to hear encouragement and learn teamwork.”

Students in the school are in houses with each house represented by a different bird including kestrel, nighthawk, osprey and peregrine. Each house competed against each other during the field day. During the house day, older students were cheering on the younger students in the same houses.

“It is a mix of competitions where some are for grades in close proximity and some are across all age groups,” Pitcairn said. “The day started with a parade of all the houses similar to the Olympics.”

Building relationships within the entire student community is an important part of the school according to Pitcairn.

“We pair each student with another student in the school,” Pitcairn said. “When a kindergartener first comes to the school they are paired with a fifth-grader and they stay together until the older student graduates. Then the fifth-grader is paired with a younger child so students always have another student they are paired with.”

The school has events for the paired up students to interact throughout the year with intramural sports tournaments in soccer, basketball, volleyball and academic activities like buddy reading days and the academic cup.

“The older kids act as mentors,” Pitcairn said. “They are role models for the younger kids. It helps to break down barriers. It also provides leadership opportunities for the kids at all different grade levels.”

John Gans, junior, helped many of the younger students in his house at the event. He said he thinks it is a great excuse to dress up and have some fun.

“It is tons of fun to cheer on the little kids,” Gans said. “They look up to us. It is good to bond with the kids and mentor them.”

Shirley Leung, senior, was also working to encourage the younger students. She said she was excited to get more bonus points for her team for having good spirit.

“I think it is a great way for the little kids and the older kids to bond,” Leung said. “We are all on separate campuses so we don’t get to see each other a lot. It is a lot of fun.”

Parents get to come out and enjoy the fun as well. Carla Fairchild, parent to Brett, 11, and Natalie, 6, said she loves coming out to watch the field day activities.

“I love it because it brings the whole school together,” Fairchild said. “All the grades get to interact with each other. I think it teaches the children how to work together.”

For more information, visit academyatthelakes.org.

Officials report gang activity in Pasco

By Suzanne Schmidt

Staff Writer

PASCO—Even though Pasco does not have a big city atmosphere, it does not mean we do not have big city problems like gangs.

Contrary to popular belief, there is no definitive way to identify gang members, according to Sergeant Mike Jones of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office.

“There is no way to identify gang members,” Jones said. “The first way to identify gang activity is if graffiti pops up.”

Some of the symbols commonly used by gangs when spray painting, or tagging, includes a five or six pointed star and pitchforks.

If people in the area notice graffiti, Lieutenant Chuck Balderstone, supervisor of the vice and narcotics unit, said the most important thing to do is to call the Sheriff’s office immediately.

“The graffiti may be an indicator of if there is a gang,” Balderstone said. “It takes detectives who are trained to observe the different types of graffiti in order to discern where it came from and what it has to say.”

Even though it is an indicator for gangs, not all graffiti is gang related.

“Just because kids are hanging out listening to hip hop music and have baggy pants does not mean they are in a gang,” Jones said. “There has to be criminal activity in order for it to be classified as a gang. Just because there are three or four kids out doesn’t mean they are a gang.”

When there is graffiti, Jones said it is important to let the Sheriff’s office decode the meaning.

“We have gone to all kinds of training,” Jones said. “We learn to identify symbols and we learn to read them. It is kind of like a newspaper of the street. A lot of the time we can identify who is doing it. Anytime we leave up the graffiti, it gives the gang power and entitlement which is why we have to identify it and remove it right away.”

According to the Florida Statute 874 a criminal gang means a formal or informal ongoing organization, association, or group that has as one of its primary activities the commission of criminal or delinquent acts, and that consists of three or more persons who have a common name or common identifying signs, colors, or symbols, including, but not limited to, terrorist organizations and hate groups.

In order to be considered a gang, the group has to have documented proof of at least two things from the list found at myflorida.com in the 2009 Florida Statutes under Chapter 874. In the same way, in order to be considered a gang associate the person needs to have at least one thing documented and proven from the list.

“The gangs engage in criminal activity like anything that will improve their status in the gang like theft and burglary,” Jones said. “This is their business, that is what they do for a living.”

Balderstone said the gangs also deal drugs as a way to make money.

By Sarah Whitman

Senior Staff Writer

WESLEY CHAPEL —Thousands of miles from Florida in Vancouver British Columbia, Wesley Chapel resident Caydee Denney takes to the ice to compete as an Olympic pairs figure skater. Back in her hometown, 11-year-old Nina McDaniel and 8-year-old Ashley Crawford watch Caydee’s every jump and turn, dreaming of one day following in her footsteps.

McDaniel and Crawford are competitive figure skaters living in Wesley Chapel. They train at the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon, the nearest rink to east Pasco County. For the two girls, life is never as sweet as when they’re on the ice.

“I wake up at 5:45 in the morning and I’m on the ice by 6:30,” McDaniel said. “I train three days a week before school.  It’s a lot of hard work but it’s fun and exciting.”

McDaniel began skating when she was just 3-years-old. She began competing at age four and currently trains with coach Tommy Brannen at ISF. Brannen skated competitively as a youth and was a professional skater for 17 years with Disney On Ice. He teaches girls to set goals and work hard to achieve the impossible.

“To be a good figure skater takes determination and commitment,” Brannen said. “Every skater dreams of growing up and becoming an Olympic champion. As skaters grow, they have to assess what level they are at and decide what direction they want to take. They have to be focused to succeed.”

Brannen choreographs all his students competition programs. McDaniel took home 1^st place wins at the ISI 50^th Anniversary Championships held in Orlando last May, performing to music from “The Addam’s Family” and “Sleeping Beauty”. She competed in the freestyle, compulsory and spotlight categories.

“The most difficult parts are getting through the program artistically and the jumps,” McDaniel said.

Crawford, a second-grader, is new to skating but already dreams of taking the ice to win the gold. She skates with coach Terry Lynn Zellner, a colleague of Brannen’s at ISF, and practices after school.

“My goal is to ice skate for a long time and try to get in the Olympics one day,” Crawford said.

The weekend of February 20, Crawford and McDaniel will compete at the RDV Sports Complex District Competition in Orlando. Crawford will skate a Hannah Montana themed program, which features spins, crossovers and fun choreography by Zellner.

“I like to compete,” Crawford said. “It’s fun to do new tricks and do shows.”

Ashley’s mom, Cindy, also skates and will even compete in Orlando.

“I skated when I was a kid and always wanted to take lessons,” Cindy said. “When I saw Ashley on the ice, I knew I wanted to be out there too. I know I’m not going to be an Olympian one day but I try and push myself to see how well I can do.”

The mother and daughter sometimes skate together. Ashley said she is proud of her mom.

“It’s real fun to skate with her around the ice,” she said. “I like that she’s there too.”

The Crawfords are unique in the local skating world. Most ISF parents are supporters not skaters. They spend countless hours a week driving to and from the rink so their children can have time on the ice. They sit on the sidelines with water, juice and snacks ready to go.

Nina’s mom, Carmen McDaniel, spends entire weekends with Nina at competitions.

“It’s a big commitment as a parent and it can be tiring but I love watching her skate,” she said. “When she’s out there she has the big smile on her face and I can tell how much she likes it. I’m really proud of her.”

Carmen praises coaches at ISF for working with students to help them achieve individual goals. She said the rink is a great place to skate.

“Tommy Brannen is a wonderful coach,” she said. “He is not too strict but he isn’t to easy either. He works with Nina to help her improve, so she can keep skating at a higher level.”

Nina doesn’t mind doing her program again and again until she masters every move.

“Tommy’s a good coach because he teaches us it’s important to practice,” McDaniel said. “That’s how you get better.”

McDaniel looks up to Olympic champions Sasha Cohen and Oksanu Bayul, who she says move beautifully on the ice.

“I love to watch other people skate,” she said. “I like to watch my friends skate at competitions and cheer them on.”

All the skaters at ISF are cheering for Olympian Caydee Denney. Though they don’t know her personally, she is a role model to all the girls. McDaniel and Crawford know it is important to dream.

“I want to compete through high school and then I want to be a performer in Disney on Ice,” McDaniel said. “I want to be Belle in ‘Beauty and the Beast.’ Sometimes after I see the show, I imagine myself skating to the different songs and being in the show.”

Crawford is a fan of Disney but she is more interested in the competitive side of figure skating.

“I want to be in the Olympics and I want to win 1^st place,” she said. “I want to skate for my whole life.”

It’s likely Caydee Denney had a similar dream not to long ago.

For information on skating lessons at the Ice Sports Forum, 10222 Elizabeth Place in Brandon, call (813) 684-7825.