National lunch week celebrates lunch ladies

The smell of fresh baked rolls wafts out from the Bonita Springs Elementary school kitchen.

The sounds of clanging pots and dishes echo throughout the cafeteria as kids file in.

One by one, pushing and waiting anxiously for their lunch.

It’s 11:20 a.m. and the lunch ladies are stirring the macaroni and cheese for the last time before “their kids” start filling up their lunch trays.

The lunch ladies begin working to prepare the day’s meal at 5 a.m. but can’t help re-checking their menus, making sure the milk cooler is stocked, and that there are plenty of rolls to go around.

This week the women along with other Food Service workers in the Lee County school district will celebrate their time in the cafeteria with the children by raffling off a Spongebob Squarepants piñata as part of National School Lunch week, Oct. 9-13.

“It’s a week to show them that we appreciate what they do and it places an emphasis on nutrition and the efforts that go into making that happen,” said Kay Johnson, the Lee County school district’s dietician.

It’s the job of the lunch ladies to pull it all together and get it out in time for more than 350 students to enjoy.

Bonita Springs Elementary kitchen manager Margaret Gabriel has clocked more than 18 years’ worth of hours in the food service industry. But it’s her time in the cafeteria with her co-workers and her students that she looks forward to every day.

“I have the best job in the world,” Gabriel said. “We feed the future.”

That’s exactly what the national school lunch week was created to do when Harry Truman established the program in 1946 in response to malnourished recruits entering the military.

“There were a number of people that were going into the service that weren’t passing the physical,” said Wayne Nagy, Lee County’s director of Food and Nutrition Services department. “He wanted kids that were nourished correctly and were healthier.”

Estella Chairez is one of the lunch ladies at Bonita elementary who is cooking the meals for the next two weeks based on a rotating schedule that includes cashier duties and dish washing.

“I like the line the most because of the kids. I like to cook. I do it at home too,” said Chairez, who has been on the job for two months.

The menu for each day is provided by the school district and is based on strict United States Department of Agriculture nutrition guidelines. Most meals are delivered in pouches ready to heat and serve.

“You can’t just serve them anything,” said Lupe Huerta, who has been with Bonita Elementary for six years. “A lot of these kids get their best meal in my kitchen.”

The women, especially Norma Montemayor, who works as a cashier, see the kitchen as an extension of their homes.

“I have a lot of patience and anything I can do for the kids, I will,” said Montemayor, who sometimes helps decorate the cafeteria to make it more “home-y.”

As kids grab rolls, salad and a hearty helping of macaroni and cheese, the lunch ladies greet each one by first name, and seeing their tummies full makes their long day worth it.

“We are the largest county-wide restaurant chain in Lee County but in here for me this is home,” Gabriel said. “This job keeps me busy but you see little minds come in and leave fullwith delicious food and it’s a great feeling.”

Oy with the poodles already!

Priscilla, a 9-year-old apricot poodle, sits daintily on her owner as fellow poodles run around barking and sniffing.

She isn’t the type of poodle that rough-houses with others. Rowdiness might ruin her hair or, worse yet, it might remove her little red bows and ruin her freshly cut nails.

But don’t mistake Priscilla for an anti-social pooch.

She is still a lady and a lady never misses a function especially the annual meeting of the Gulf Coast Poodle Club of Florida, Inc. She’s been a member for three years.

The group got together recently to elect officers and board members who will plan activities for the club including dinners, educational programs and possibly walks in the park.

“We like to take our dogs everywhere because that’s the best part of having poodles,” said Debbie Foley, who was for the third time elected president of the club.

During the meetings, the poodles are allowed to roam free as their owners “talk poodles” and chomp on “people food.”

“Poodles don’t get chocolate, not even chocolate (colored) poodles,” said Suzan Fritze, of Bonita Springs, to her 4-year-old poodle, Ponzi, as she ate the brownies provided at the meeting.

His full name is Ponzi Schemer because “his mom” used to be a certified fraud examiner. Now the chocolate- colored poodle takes commands from Fritze and she swears he can understand them.

“A good poodle lies down while I’m eating,” she says in a huff as Ponzi lunges for her tasty snack. “I know Ponzi likes people food but not now. You sit.”

All the owners in the poodle club talk to their “smart” mutts as they were people and that’s the way they like it.

“It’s tough to be pretty,” said Fritze to a show poodle named Tammy that is sitting next to her with her owner Lisa Coto.

Coto admires her dog Tammy, a 16-month-old poodle, as she stands with class as if on display.

But when other poodles come to take a look at what seems to be getting all of their owners’ attentions, the biggest star of the night shivers in embarrassment.

Tammy runs under Coto as if seeking refuge.

“She hasn’t been socialized yet. We are doing the training now so when she joins the circuit Sunday she is ready,” said Coto, who spends up to eight hours tying up Tammy’s hair and wrapping it in tissue paper to prevent breakage.

The other owners take notice of the classy show gal preparing for her big day in the limelight. Most don’t mind the odd hair ties and pink tissue paper.

It’s all part of owning a poodle.

“It’s a labor of love,” says Rebecca Freas, Priscilla’s owner, as her own dog stands at attention as if she too were on display. “You just got to love poodles.”

Singles golf comes to Bonita, Estero

The American Singles Golf Association is opening a chapter for those interested in playing golf with other singles and possibly finding that special someone out on the greens.

The group is hosting their first informational cocktail meeting for singles throughout Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero and Fort Myers who are serious about golf but don’t want to play with married couples.

“A lot of people tell me that they are always playing golf with married couples and they feel like the third wheel,” said Sandy Morse, who is the interim president selected by the national association to set up the local chapter.

“We are in golf heaven here and we want to give singles the option to meet other singles and play golf together.”

The group aims to establish a board that will plan activities such as a game of golf with local chapters or other interests members may have.

“The primary reason (to join) is that you enjoy playing the sport of golf just for the enjoyment and want people to play golf with,” said Morse, who has already planned an Oct. 28 game with the Fort Lauderdale chapter.

“The socialization that comes along with playing with married people is different than if the players are single.”

Singles golfers must be over 21-years-old and are invited to bring guests to the meeting and ideas for places they would like to play golf and have other activities.

“This is a comfortable way to meet somebody and out there you get to see the good and the bad of a person. You meet them without pressure like at a bar,” Morse said.

“We have all the ingredients here for golf. Weather. Courses. Singles. It’s perfect for this chapter.”

Football rivalry doesn't ends with new chamber chairman

Doug Congress started his year as the new chairman of the board for the Bonita Springs Chamber of Commerce by poking fun at himself and outgoing chairwoman Diane Lepola.

The two have spent the last year at odds over a college football game in which Lepola’s Louisiana State University Tigers pounced Congress’ University of Florida Gators.

“Last year Diane was hosting an event and I brought along my 2-inch TV set so I could watch the game and everyone was crowding around my table,” said Congress, the vice president and co-owner of Congress Jewelers. “She was trying to put on a show and I just couldn’t miss the game. But her team won anyway.”

And to honor that moment Lepola’s husband, Skip, presented her with a framed picture of the LSU stadium to remind Congress that his wife was still on top even as outgoing chairman of the board.

“They like to laugh at my expense and I’m okay with that. That’s what this group is about,” said Congress, who spoke in depth about his goals during this year’s annual luncheon.

The luncheon proved informational for the members as the new 2006-2007 year was off to a start. Congress vowed to continue in the footsteps of his predecessors by applying to keep the chamber’s accreditation status.

“Only five percent of the chambers in the United States are accredited and we are one of those. In Lee and Collier county there are 18 chambers and we are the only accredited ones,” Congress said. “That’s something we need to keep up and luckily we have someone working on it.”

Keeping his members busy won’t be hard for Congress who has plans to increase membership, maintain an 85 percent member retention rate and increase chamber awareness among the community. He also plans to redo the chamber’s website.

“We have a lot to accomplish but we are moving in the right direction,” said Congress, who chose this year’s slogan of “Take it to the Limit” based on an Eagles song he said he had on his iPod. “We have a good vision and the entire membership contributes and that’s why we are so successful.”

The past year’s success’ were also shared at the luncheon with Lepola presenting Bob Di Pesa with the Ambassador of the Year award and Judi Gietzen with the Recruiter of the Year award.

“I feel honored but the task is something I really believe in and the chamber is something that every business should be a part of,” said Gietzen, who has been a member since 2001.

As a final duty as outgoing chairwoman Lepola had the opportunity to present the first Pat Lord Award of Volunteerism and Service Stewardship. The award was named after the longtime member who served on every board at the chamber but passed away this year from cancer.

The award went to News-Press sales manager Vince Modarelli who got quite emotional at hearing his name and was touched that he would be picked to receive an award named after Lord.

“This is Pat’s award. She was the one who said that I should get plugged in and get involved,” Modarelli to the more than 200 chamber members in attendance. “This means more to me than you will ever know. Pat is the reason I stand here.”

During the luncheon Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott talked about volunteerism and its role in any organization.

There was also an introduction of new chamber team members and WINK-TV news anchor Chris Cifatte served as the master of ceremonies.

But the luncheon wouldn’t have been complete without Congress poking one final stab at Lepola and her Tigers.
“LSU goes against the Gators (soon) and we will beat her,” said Congress after the luncheon. “She will have to remember the Gators. But it’s all in good fun.”

It's fast, It's furious, it's fun: It's Zumba!!!

Zumba can be described as exciting, vibrant and exhausting, but only one word sums up this latest fitness dance craze: feisty.

The movements are jolting, dynamic, bold and in their own way invigorating like most Latin dances like salsa, reggaeton and merenge.

And that’s what brought the Bonita Springs YMCA to offer the class as part of it’s expanding group exercise and aerobics program.

“We wanted to add something that would be different because a lot of people want different things and it’s hard to find them for everyone,” said Cindy Roorda, the aerobics director for the Bonita Springs and Naples YMCA. “This is something that all ages and abilities can do and the good thing is that no matter what they are all smiling during the class.”

During an average Zumba class, there is no time for participants to get frustrated over not being able to follow the steps or even more than two minutes to rest.

The name “Zumba” comes from a Colombian word meaning to move fast and have fun.

“I keep them moving and always doing something so that they get the most out of it,” said Luz Marina Gil, the new instructor who moved from Miami to teach the class twice a week at the ‘Y.’ “It’s a mix of all types of music from different places and that keeps it interesting for everyone.”

In technical terms, Zumba is a fusion of international music that creates an effective exercise program but to the average participate it’s just plain fun.

“I love it! I love to dance and that’s why I took the class and it’s aggressive,” said Jeoff Gratton, 62, of Naples. He has only taken the class once but plans to return for more. “Everybody should try it and if you get tired just move to the music.”

The workout focuses on using the hips as a point of reference for all the moves that include moving from side to side, forward and back and up and down.

“Fun is what it’s all about and the music draws them in. It’s like a party environment,” said Gil, of Naples, who taught a few classes at the ‘Y’ to gauge member interest and saw demand soar. “I remind everybody to focus on the basics and have fun even if they can’t keep up.”

Nancy Maldonado, 22, signed up for the class because it was a different way to get involved with exercise.

“I usually go dancing on the weekends but I thought this would be a good way to exercise in a different way,” said Maldonado, of Bonita Springs. “I’ll be back. ... I think I got my workout for the day. Anything that makes you sweat this much is good.”

Sweating is just an added bonus in the classes, which use a combination of fast and slow movements to get people in shape.
“I try to incorporate flamenco from Spain, mambo, salsa and even if people aren’t used to dancing salsa, they can do it here,” said Gil, who started dancing at age two in the Dominican Republic and is a certified Zumba instructor.

The YMCA will be capping the classes at 30 participants and will charge a $15 monthly fee for members who will be allowed to take two classes a week.

“It’s good because it works out the muscles in the body and it’s really a workout,” said Gil, who encourages students to enjoy themselves no matter what. “You just have to keep moving. This is one of those classes where you don’t notice you are working out because it’s so much fun.”

Symphony visits Bonita Elementary

Alex Larsen sat in front of fifth graders at Bonita Springs Elementary and left them in awe with a 38-pound instrument most kids had never seen before.

Although he has been playing classical tunes on his double bass viola for 20 years, it took one short tune to gives kids goose bumps and have them asking for an encore.

“I played the theme from Jaws and that’s always a popular one,” said Larsen, who speaks to kids across Lee County as part of an outreach program for the Southwest Florida Symphony. “We try to inform kids about music at this age because it might peak their interest as they go into middle school.”

But peaking their interest during the mini-concert at the school was especially easy for Alan Evans, a trumpet player in Larsen’s group.

“Music is a fun way to bring people together even if they can’t speak the same language,” Evans told students during his presentation on the trumpet and its influence in music.

He also wowed the audience with the “Sesame Street” tune and typical sound effects created by the trumpet for cartoons.

“I use my lips to create vibrations that is what you hear as music,” said Evans while holding a garden hose to illustrate what a trumpet would look like stretched out.

The fifth graders had an opportunity to ask questions about music, the instruments and how sound is created.

“Even if they aren’t picking up an instrument, even a deeper appreciation for music is worth it ... anything else would be wrong,” said Larsen who works with the schools through a coordinator. “Kids are susceptible to music at this age and we have to do what we can because it adds to them.”