Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Suzanne Schmidt

Staff Writer

WESLEY CHAPEL—Fitness is key to the future at Wesley Chapel Elementary School.

The school recently opened its Wildcat Student and Staff Wellness Center, a physical fitness gym packed with exercise equipment. Coach Chris Gorman said he wants to make sure students grow up to live a healthy lifestyle.

“This is important because the obesity rate is so high,” Gorman said. “Obesity is on the way to surpass smoking as the leading cause of preventable death.”

The new Wildcat wellness center has stations for teacher-led physical education and is open for teachers to use during lunch, and before and after school. The facility is part of a pilot program through the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a program that works to reduce the nationwide prevalence of childhood obesity. The American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation joined forces in May 2005 to form the Alliance.

“As a part of the program, we sent out a survey to our students and staff,” Gorman said. “The staff requested a facility to use at the school. The students selected exercises they wanted to do like strength and flexibility exercises.”

There are 27 different stations for various workouts using exercise balls, resistance bands and even a punching ball.

“The stations have dots with diagrams that tell what exercise to do and which muscle they are working,” Gorman said. “We try to create a fun place to work out. If we keep it fun, then the students will keep being excited about it.”

The facility cost a total of $1,350 for equipment, which included a treadmill, elliptical, stepper, stationary bike, three cable machines, two free weight machines and a dumbbell set for the teachers to use.

Christina Twardosz, assistant principal, said many teachers have been using the facility.

“We have found that the team camaraderie has gone up because the teachers are working out together,” Twardosz said. “This helps our teachers too because it relieves the financial burden of joining a gym.”

The Bridgewater Home Owners Association donated $1,000 to the new wellness center. The school’s parent teacher association and the school donated the rest.

Sabrina Schmitt, 11, likes the center. She said she is inspired now to continue to work out for the rest of her life.

“I like that I get to exercise during school,” Schmitt said. “It helps me both physically and mentally. I want to continue to work out because it is good for my body and it keeps me healthy.”

Gorman said exercise helps students inside the classroom, because they are more alert and pay better attention in class.

Elexis Twardosz, 11, said working out helps her do better in school.

“I think it is really good to work out,” Twardosz said. “It is a good way to get out of class and work on my muscles. It helps me to focus better.”

Principal John Abernathy said he is happy to have the facility available for his staff and his students.

“It is a great thing for the kids to recognize the importance of being physically fit,” Abernathy said. “This will set them up for years down the road to have good habits. It is important for them to have a healthy lifestyle.”

The fitness center is currently located in a portable on the school’s campus, which is something Abernathy is hoping to change in the future.

“We would like to have it in a permanent building one day,” Abernathy said. “Since it takes money that is not in our operational budget, we are hoping a business will sponsor a building. It is a great investment because from generation to generation the students and teachers will be able to use it.”

For more information, visit wces.pasco.k12.fl.us or contact Abernathy at (813) 794-0100.

By Suzanne Schmidt

Staff Writer

WESLEY CHAPEL—A local teacher chose a life of working hard to make a difference in the world rather than going the corporate route. Sean Gaudet’s work ethic paid off when he was voted Teacher of the Year at Wesley Chapel High School earlier this school year and now Teacher of the Year for all of Pasco County.

“I worked for Whole Foods for nine years,” Gaudet said. “I was working there part-time while I was going to college for education. I was on track to be a store manager where I would have been making a lot of money. It sounds so cliché but I started to think about what I wanted to do with my life. I decided I wanted to make the world a better place.”

Gaudet applied to Wesley Chapel High School as an English teacher in 1999, because that was what his degree and certification was in. Then, when the school year started and there was no drama teacher, he decided to give teaching performing arts a try.

“I didn’t know anything about drama but I thought why not,” Gaudet said. “I wanted to put on a musical because you know how hard that could be. It was not my finest work. I was working hard but I was not getting good results so I just kept telling myself next year will be better.”

After an emotional first year, Gaudet learned a lot about how to improve.

To date, his goal is to keep getting better. He expects the same from his students.

“The students I love to work with are the ones who work hard and are always trying to get better,” Gaudet said. “My job is to become obsolete by the time they graduate. As long as they just work hard, that is all I want.”

The most important lessons Gaudet wants his students to learn are accountability and responsibility, which is why he likes to assign group and partner activities. In his classes, his students create short films. The students are responsible for creating their own storyline, scripts, costumes, shooting the scenes, editing, adding a soundtrack, lighting and acting.

“In the work world, you can’t say you are going to do something and not do it,” Gaudet said. “If you do, you could get fired. These students are going to be adults in a few years and these are traits I want them to have.”

One of the things that Gaudet said helps his ability to get along with his students is his respect for them.

“I find something to like in every student,” Gaudet said. “I honestly and truly respect them. They may have a priority that I don’t like, like they might decide their friend is more important than my classroom.  I respect that decision but there are still consequences and usually the next time they make the good choice.”

Lindsay Hail, senior, said she thinks Gaudet is a great teacher. She is the president of the Thespian club at the school.

“He is really supportive and not just as far as drama goes but also outside of school,” Hail said. “He really deserves to win Teacher of the Year because of all the hard work he does.”

Tori Musco, senior, said she has learned a lot from Gaudet. She thinks his lessons will stick with her for the rest of her life.

“I have learned leadership skills, team work and confidence,” Musco said.

For more information visit www.gaudetwc.com.

By Sarah Whitman

Senior Staff Writer

For members of the Tampa Bay Reef Club, in-home saltwater fish tanks are more than a hobby. Members work to create a living, ever changing world within their tanks.

“I like how everything in the tank has a purpose,” member Pedro Carrillo said. “Saltwater tanks are special. Not everybody has them and to make them work, you have to put time into it.”

The Tampa Bay Reef Club meets monthly with 175 members coming from all over the Tampa Bay Area. Carrillo, who lives in Wesley Chapel, joined the club six years ago but has been building tanks since 1995.

“I love the colors,” he said. “We have a 150 gallon wall tank and it is the main attraction in our house. I joined the reef club to learn from all the members, so I could make my tank even better.”

Susan Ingold, present of the Tampa Bay Reef Club, spends countless hours a week working on her 300-gallon tank, but she wasn’t always an expert on marine life. She went to her first club meeting in 2006 knowing very little. She had never considered starting a tank. Seeing what others had done changed her mind.

“I went to one meeting and I’ve been hooked ever since,” she said. “I’m hooked on the beauty, the never-ending need to learn and what it’s like to watch the animals grow.”

Ingold said she enjoys being part of a club because it helps her keep up to date on the latest and best in saltwater aquarium news. Reef club meetings are often held at her home in Lutz, where she has a variety of fish and corals on display. Not all members attend every meeting, so she is able to host events. She invites everyone to bring photos and books to share.

“We talk about new techniques and we learn from each others experiences,” she said. “We have fun. That’s what we do.”

Member Tom White said the club is great for anyone captivated by life under the sea. “I’ve always been interested in anything and everything that comes from the ocean,” he said. “Even as a small child, I was fascinated.”

White began keeping tanks 30 years ago. Today, he has a 375-gallon tank built into the wall of his home in Weeki Wache.

“Tanks make it possible to watch things grow that normally you wouldn’t be able to see,” White said. “It gives you insight into what it’s like under the water.”

Behind White’s tank is a room he calls the fish room. In it, he houses equipment and two smaller tanks, one for growing plant life and the other for coral fragments, called frags by enthusiasts. In time, frags will re-grow. Club members trade them to add variety to personal tanks.

According to Ingold, properly maintaining a saltwater aquarium requires some knowledge of marine science.

“It’s a good thing to ask questions and read articles,” she said. “There is always something to learn.”

Certain fish and corals can live together. Others cannot coexist. Without proper knowledge, fish may turn on each other, or corals can die. Many people mistake corals for plants, but they are actual living marine organisms belonging to the group anthozoa. Some are soft and some a hard. Some fish are accustomed to living with specific corals, like clown fish.

“Clowns are hosts to anemoe,” Carillo said. “Everyone knows about clown fish because of Nemo.”

Ingold has more fish in her tank than coral. She is most proud of her 3-year-old Moorish Idle, Gill. He is black, white and yellow striped.

“For a fish, he has survived a long time,” she said. “I love my fish. I’m more of a fish person than a coral person but I like flowing, soft corals.”

White’s favorite fish is the Anthia, a small orange fish that swim in schools.

“It’s beautiful,” he said. “Usually, if you see a picture of corals, you see Anthia.”

New members are always welcome into the Tampa Bay Reef Club. The next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 20 at a member’s home in New Port Richey. Club fees are $25. Visit www.tampabayreefclub.org.

Pitching in to rebuild Haiti

By Kyle LoJacono

Staff Writer

ZEPHYRHILLS (change to Pasco County) — Millions of dollars have already been donated for Haitian earthquake relief. In the spirit of giving, many have given money without knowing exactly where it will go. Pasco County rotary clubs are working together to help fulfill a more specific need.

“The people in Haiti are very resourceful and can find food and water, but they need shelter now,” said Nelson Ryman, member of Zephyrhills Daybreak Rotary and survivor of the Haitian earthquake Jan. 12.

“They need protection from the rain and the sun,” Ryman continued. “They are living in tents made out of bed sheets now because it is all they have. They need roofs to sleep under and a place be protected them from the weather.”

Ryman, 70, has lived in Zephyrhills since 1969 and owned H&R Interstate Mobile Homes. He has also made numerous trips to the Haitian village of Simonette to visit an orphanage, Tytoo Gardens, which he supports. While in Haiti, he formed relationships with locals and learned a lot about the culture.

“Nelson knows housing, so when he told us that we could build a Haitian house for $3,000, we thought we can really make a difference,” said Mike Wootton, assistant governor for the four Rotary clubs in Zephyrhills and Dade City. “So the Daybreak Rotary and the lunchtime Rotary got together and had a ‘boot drive’ in downtown (Zephyrhills).”

The boot drive, held Jan. 22 and 23, was promoted as an event to raise funds to provide Haitians with shelter.

“The idea really came from Mike Mira, who is the president of the lunchtime Rotary club in Zephyrhills,” Wootton said. “He wanted to do something to help Haiti as fast as possible because he knew the longer we waited the harder it would be to get people to respond. It came together fast and between member donations and the drive.”

Wootton continued by saying Tim Mayberry, president of the Daybreak club, agreed to the drive almost immediately and had volunteers and donations as soon as he announced it to the club.

Mira said the clubs’ goal was to raise enough money to rebuild two houses.

“We passed our goal and have close to $7,000 now,” he said Jan. 28. “We wanted to look legitimate during the drive, so we got shirts and signage printed up so the people would know we were for real.”

The clubs had nearly 50 volunteers collecting money over the two-day drive.

“We were only out there for about six hours and came up with that amount of money,” Mira said. “All the money we collected will go 100 percent to the people in Haiti. That’s what we told everyone when they donated, and the people here in Zephyrhills really stepped up big.”

While $3,000 might seem far too low to build a new house, Ryman explained Haitian houses are small — usually 200-square-feet. The people spend most of their time outside during the day because of the heat, so houses do not have to be large.

The two Zephyrhills clubs have their sights set on incorporating all the local Rotary clubs in their efforts.

“Nothing is really set right now, but I’m pushing to get the Eastside Eight to get together to raise money or give some kind of relief aid to Haiti,” Mira said. “All the clubs are separate groups, so it takes a little bit of time to set things up with all eight.”

The Eastside Eight are the eight Rotary clubs in central and east Pasco County, which include the two clubs in Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills and Dade City, plus one each in Land O’ Lakes and San Antonio.

The first collaboration of the eight clubs was on the Eastside Eight Community Food Drive, which collected enough food to fill 400 baskets with food during the last holiday season for needy families.

“It would be a good thing to get everyone involved again,” Wootton said. “Hopefully we can do more things together in the future.”

The Zephyrhills clubs take on projects like the relief drive regularly, but Ryman’s connection to Haiti was the driving force in picking up the cause.

“We knew the money would get in the hands of the right people because Nelson would be going down there himself,” Wootton said. “He knows so much about housing and works closely with the people down there, so he knew what would be the best way to help the people in Haiti…Nelson is truly a great person in the community and this effort just shows that.”

How to help local Rotary clubs

• Rotary Club of Land O’ Lakes, (813) 918-3027, ">
• Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Sunrise, (813) 907-7990
• Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel, (813) 973-2392
• Rotary Club of Zephyrhills Daybreak, P.O. Box 1797 Zephyrhills, FL 33539
• Rotary Club of Zephyrhills P.O. Box 1234 Zephyrhills, FL 33539,
• Rotary Club of Dade City Sunrise, (352) 797-0638
• Rotary Club of Dade City-Downtown,

Theology scholar inspires students

By Sarah Whitman

Senior Staff Writer

LUTZ — For Dr. Paul Enns, director of Life University at Exciting Idlewild Baptist Church, studying the Bible is a passion.

The bookshelves in his office are packed with theology texts, some of which he wrote. Enns, who received his doctorate from Dallas Theological Seminary and began teaching at Idlewild 14 years ago, believes all Christians can benefit from looking deeper into scripture. He named Idlewild’s continuing education ministry Life University because, he says, God’s word changes lives.

“A lot of times people go to church on Sunday and then that’s all they get, but really, as Christians, we all need more,” Enns said.

Currently, 750 men and women attend enrichment courses at Life University. They don’t receive credits or certificates. The reward is knowledge. Topics range from marriage and parenting to discipleship and missions. Longtime church members, deacons and pastors teach the classes, which are open to all not just Idlewild members.

This semester, Enns is teaching a class titled, How to Study the Bible. It’s a subject he’s dedicated countless hours to while teaching in the United States and Germany. His book, “The Moody Handbook of Theology” is well known in the Southern Baptist community.

Lolita Barnett and her husband, Mike, are currently enrolled in Dr. Enns’ class. The couple describes the teacher as a passionate speaker with a brilliant mind. Both have taken several of his classes.

“I’ve learned so much and this class, it’s going to be good,” Lolita said. “I’m learning how to read a chapter, learn from it and turn that into personal growth.”

Mike doesn’t mind dedicating free time to the study.

“Like anything, to learn you have to apply yourself,” he said. “Dr. Enns encourages you to read and re-read a verse, because each time you read it the Holy Spirit will teach you something different.”

Jodi Montgomery, women’s ministry coordinator at Idlewild, was inspired by Enns to teach at Life University. She leads courses geared specifically to women, including studies on strong women of the Bible. She is currently teaching a Beth Moore study.

Montgomery believes women should rely on God’s word when making life decisions.

“It’s important to study the Bible for yourself, to get into the word and learn what messages are there,” she said. “There’s a lot we can learn from the stories of old.”

Kim Griffin has studied with Montgomery and enjoyed the small group setting of a Life University classroom.

“I like being able to learn from the other ladies,” Griffin said. “We can bounce ideas off one another.”

Griffin has taken several classes. Her favorite was, Effective Parenting in a Defective World.

“It’s helpful, especially if you’re raising younger children,” Griffin said.

Enns considers the Bible a reference tool.

“People need to be taught how to raise children properly,” he said. “We approach everything from a Biblical perspective and we minister to people where they’re at. We have classes to address most issues. We have classes on relationships, finances, even how to handle anger.”

Since studying with Enns, Mike Barnett has noticed a change in his way of thinking.

“I look at everything differently,” he said. “I look at the world and I am more analytical. I think about what I’ve learned. I think more about what’s going on around me and what it means Biblically.”

Anyone interested in attending Life University can pick up a course catalog from the church. Though class sessions are divided by semester, many classes remain open throughout. The only fee is for the cost of materials, which can range from $5 to $30.

Course books include texts by Enns and studies by popular Christian authors.

Enns is always studying and writing. He spends most his time at the computer, preparing materials to pass onto students. His desire to teach is innate.

“I tell people you know how some guys like to golf, my golf is sitting and writing in a room surrounded by books,” Enns said. “It’s not work to me.”

Students appreciate his enthusiasm and say Enns is the reason Life University has succeeded.

“As long as he keeps teaching, I’ll keep taking classes,” Mark Barnett said. “What I’ve learned has actually changed my life.”

If You Go

• What: Life University
• Where: Exciting Idlewild Baptist Church
• When: Classes weekly, times vary
• Contact: (813) 264-8758

By Sarah Whitman

Senior Staff WriterHelping others comes naturally to members at Zephyrhills Wesleyan Church. So, when the church’s senior pastor, D an David, started a ministry specifically for community service, members jumped at the chance to make a difference.

“We sat down as a church and said, what do we need to do,” David said. “That’s when we started Lend-a-hand, as a way to be of service to others.

The Lend-a-Hand ministry meets at 6 p.m. Wednesday nights at the church, 38924 Central Ave. Participants work on projects like clean-ups in the community, visiting the elderly, baking meals for the needy and volunteering for local non-profits. Many times the acts are done anonymously. For instance, when ladies bake cookies to take to the fire department or local school offices, they drop the goodies off without a note.

“We aren’t looking for recognition,” Lois Hackney, church treasurer, said. “We’re Christians. It’s what we’re suppose to do.”

Hackney attends every Lend-a-Hand event and is most involved with the church’s Angel Food Ministry, a source of food to low-income families in need. Families and individuals can order groceries from a monthly menu at a low discounted price. Church members receive, sort and then distribute the goods.

“It’s very important to reach out to people outside the church,” Hackney said.  “Angel Food is good because people who can’t afford food are able to feed their families.”

Hackney said not all projects have to be big. Sometimes, people at Lend-a-hand spend a Wednesday night writing out cards to send, or stuffing envelopes to get the word out about an important upcoming event.

“Sometimes we collect coupons, then sort them out so people at the church can use them,” Hackney said.

Wesleyan member Adelaide Blume believes simple acts of kindness can change a person’s outlook on life.

“Kindess is what our faith is about,” Blume said. “We reach out to others to let them know they are important and they matter, to us and to the Lord.”

Blume has volunteered for Angel Food and many other efforts, including as an assistant at the Hernando-Pasco Hospice thrift stores. Her favorite thing to do is to work with people one-on-one, whether by visiting homes or striking up a conversation during service hours.

“It’s an opportunity to get to know other people and for me to share my life with them,” she said. “It fulfills a need within myself.”

Jim Green gets emotional when he talks about Lend-a-hand.

“There are so many people hurting in our community today,” he said. “To know that you’ve been able to help them is unbelievable.”

Green has attended Wesleyan for five years and helps out whenever he can.

“If people see us spreading love in the community, that’s a good thing,” he said.

Lend-a-hand volunteers try to make giving a part of their daily lives. Blume remembers to thank community workers for doing their part to make Zephyrhills great.

“Our policeman and teachers don’t get paid enough and they don’t receive enough recognition,” she said. “Baking some cookies and taking a plate to them is a way to show we care.”

David agrees.

“Something as simple as making a phone call to say hello and offer encouragement is important,” he said.

Since starting Lend-a-hand last September, David has seen church members step up to help in more ways than he imagined. Between eight and 30 people attend meetings each week, making it easy to spread a message of hope throughout Zephyrhills and surrounding areas.

“I tell my congregation, don’t just sit in church, get out and do something,” he said. “If you live in a community, you’re a part of it.”

For information or to get involved with Lend-a-Hand, call (813) 782-7510.

By Suzanne Schmidt

Staff Writer

LAND O’ LAKES—A local teacher made such an impact that even after his passing, he is still affecting students.

George Bastable was an English teacher at Charles S. Rushe Middle School and previously taught at Pine View Middle School. He passed last summer on July 4, leaving a legacy of reading and learning behind.

As a way to honor his memory, the student council, members of the Lead Literacy Team at Sunlake and the student council at Charles S. Rushe Middle School will have a book drive between now and Feb. 12.

The schools need donations of gently used or new school appropriate fiction and non-fiction books for elementary, middle or high school aged children. Books will be collected at both schools main office. The goal is to collect 2,800 books by the end of the drive.

Dave Estabrook, principal of Rushe, said he worked with Bastable for the last 8 years.

“He had such an appreciation of reading that he shared with others,” Estabrook said. “I feel having a book drive in his name is a great way to continue to promote the legacy of reading he left behind.”

Amy Ramos, English teacher at Sunlake, said the plan was always to have the book drive, but then the team decided to make it a memorial to Bastable because of all the great work he did.

“It is something they can do to pay tribute to him,” Ramos said. “We thought the book drive as a memorial for him was the perfect fit since his philosophy was put the right book in the right hands.”

One student who he made a big impact on was Jaeda Fennel, 17, a junior at Sunlake. She had Bastable as her 8th grade English teacher at Pine View Middle School. She was so inspired by Bastable that when she found out there was a book drive for him she decided to bring in 30 books.

“He was my favorite teacher,” Fennel said. “He was the first English teacher I had that made English interesting. He made me enjoy reading. He was really funny and no class was ever the same.”

Fennel said she will continue to read for the rest of her life and it is all thanks to Bastable.

“I like reading because it takes me to another world or place,” Fennel said. “I chose the books I donated because they are all books that I want to pass on. I want to share what I have read with others”

Bastable had a large collection of books in his classroom so the books collected will be going into classroom libraries throughout Sunlake and Charles S. Rushe Middle School. Melodie Oleson, media specialist at the school, said the drive helps the teachers get a break.

“As a rule the teachers are responsible for filling their libraries,” Oleston said. “The books are always paid for by the teacher. We thought this would be a good project for the team since we think literacy is everyone’s responsibility.”

Ramos said once all the books are collected the teachers will get to shop for the books they think will be good for their students. She said the goal is to get at least 1,500 books, which is one per student at the Sunlake and 1,300 books for Rushe.

“They will get to build their classroom library with their students in mind for free,” Ramos said. “He had 11 bookshelves in his classroom because this was his passion. This is a great way for the community to step up and continue his work.”

The books collected will be stamped so when future students pick up the book they will know it where it came from.

“We want books that will be read for pleasure,” Ramos said. “We are looking for books that are not normally assigned for reading.”

Since Bastable was a teacher to many of the students in the high school, Ramos said many of the sports teams and organizations have become involved in the drive including the basketball team.

“The basketball team will have a game against Wesley Chapel Feb. 2 where they will take a book for the drive instead of admission,” Oleson said. “All the children who turn in books will have the chance to win prizes like tickets for the next school play and giving sweatshirts and t-shirts from school organizations.”

For more information or to donate books, call 813-346-1023 or visit the school’s Web site at slhs.pasco.k12.fl.us.

George Bastable’s Favorite Books:

• Shane by Jack Schaefer
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher
• Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick
• Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
• The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton
• The Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy
• The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay
• The Hot Rock by Donald E. Westlake
• The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
• The Giver by Lois Lowry
• The Water is Wide by Pat Conroy
• Lord of the Flies by William Goldman
• The Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread by Don Robertson