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Neighbors: Popular LifeBio Class Gains More Grads

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By BARBARA ROUTEN

Tribune correspondent

Published: November 5, 2008

SUN CITY CENTER - The LifeBio memoir-writing class at Sun Towers Retirement Community will graduate another 10 students Monday.

It is the seventh group taught by 96-year-old volunteer Vi Gura of Sun City Center.

"They all want to tell their story," Gura said, "they just don't know where to begin. ... When they come back with their books, I'm as proud as a peacock. That's my reward."

Beth Sanders, the founder of LifeBio, a company that helps people remember and write their life stories, visited the class at Sun Towers Aug. 12.

The group is the most successful LifeBio class in the country, Sanders said. Although groups in other locales may teach 10 or 20 people once or twice a year, the group is vibrant, having graduated 60 people in its year-and-a-half existence.

Also, the group is "a LifeBio-certified community," Sanders said. That classification gives the group access to more resource materials than does a basic LifeBio course.

Gura, who was a teacher through her career, said she taught everything, particularly history and literature to junior high school students. Now she combines those two subjects in teaching adults how to record their life stories.

She was 95 when she wrote her own.

"I wanted to go through the process in order to teach this class," Gura said, "and one son wanted details of my life."

She said it was a labor of love that took six months and was finished in time for Christmas 2007.

The sessions are free and include LifeBio resources and a light lunch, compliments of Arlin Drummond, activities director of Sun Towers.

"The beauty of ordinary people's lives is that they're truly extraordinary," Sanders said. "LifeBio is about building relationships, not just writing stories." Classmates get to know each other and become friends as they share their stories and move beyond common, superficial conversation.

Sun City Center resident Rosie Clifton is a graduate of the program. Clifton said her 90-year-old mother, Wilma Strouse of Speedway, Ind., had talked about writing some memories but wanted to put it off "until she was older."

When Strouse came for an extended visit earlier this year, Clifton convinced her that now was the time. Strouse went through the series at Sun Towers, and Clifton said, "She absolutely loved the classes!"

Clifton and her mom worked together evenings on homework. Strouse wrote stories about individual people and experiences in her life in longhand. Clifton later typed them and arranged them in order.

"She was very excited to be able to hand out her remembrances at her 90th birthday party this past June," Clifton said. "I can't thank Vi and Arlin enough for giving my mom this wonderful opportunity."

For information about writing one's life story, visit www.LifeBio.com.

Veterans Day Tribute

TAMPA - Members of the Veterans Council of Hillsborough County, in conjunction with the Hillsborough County high schools' JROTC's Pass in Review program, invite the public to a free Veterans Day tribute at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Veterans Memorial Museum and Park, 3602 U.S. 301 N.

Parade formations and drill demonstrations will be performed by members of the JROTC. All organizations - including Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines - are invited to participate. Annual awards will be presented, such as the Edwin Porterfield Award and the Keeping the American Patriotic Spirit Alive Award.

For details, call Dave Braun, program director, at (813) 310-8513. For information about the museum, call (813) 744-5505 or visit www.veteransparkhc.org.

Cruise-In Caters To Car Enthusiasts

APOLLO BEACH - The Roamin' Oldies Car Club will have its regular, monthly cruise-in from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Cherry's Bar and Grill, 6186 U.S. 41 N.

Everyone is welcome to view or display collectible and antique cars and trucks. There is no cost for participants or spectators. Popular vote determines the winner of the Cruiser of the Month trophy.

October's winner was Zephyrhills residents Bob and Darlene Hoffman's fuchsia 1937 Ford Tudor.

"The Hoffmans drive their slant-back sedan every chance they get," said Paul Courter, club publicity coordinator, "so it was no big deal to drive 50 miles to the Apollo Beach cruise-in on a fine October evening. The trophy ... was an unexpected reward."

For details about the cruise-in, call Chet Grochowski, (813) 842-1511.

Weavers To Meet

The Sun City Center Weavers will meet at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 12 in the Sandpiper Room, 945 North Course Lane.

After a business meeting, Jim Brownell will present a program on "Production Weaving and Fibers."

Members Fran Gustafson and Eloise Lewis will provide dessert and drinks, and attendees should bring a bag lunch to eat at the conclusion of Brownell's program.

Dragon Judo Tourney Winners

RIVERVIEW - Eleven students from the T-N-T Academy of Judo, 12628 Bramfield Drive, competed in the Imperial Dragon Tournament Sept. 20 in Lakeland.

Head coach and sensei Scott Ferry and assistant coaches Carlos LaSSalle and Kurt Huertas were pleased that 10 of them placed in their events: LaSSalle's 7-year-old son, Cameron, the academy's youngest competitor, won second place; Cameron's sister, Kiana, won third place; Emily Naylor, second place; Hugh Hickman, second place; Logan Barrett, second place; Gregory Zappia, second place; Sara Subko, second place; Jason Huertas, first place; Ferry's son, Tylor, first place; and Tom Barnhardt, third place.

"Nick Gates, in his very first judo competition, fought very bravely against a very seasoned international competitor from Colombia," said Christine Ferry of the academy.

Ferry's wife, Christine, and daughter, Tiffany; LaSSalle's daughter Kayla; Deanna Huertas and Nick Cullen served as technical officials at the tournament.

The team held its first fundraising car wash at Courtesy Toyota in Brandon Sept. 27 and will hold three more events this year to help the athletes earn fees for national competitions. For sponsorship information, call Christine Ferry, (813) 333-3534. For details about the academy, visit www.tntacademyof judo.com.

Speaking From The Grave

RUSKIN - "Speaking from the Grave: What your ancestors' probate files can tell you" will be the subject of professional genealogist Sharon Tate Moody's talk at a meeting of the South Bay Genealogical Society at noon Nov. 18 at the SouthShore Regional Library, 15816 Beth Shields Way.

Reservations must be made by Nov. 12. For membership information or reservations, call Rose Huggard, (813) 633-0868.

Fair Trade Pours Cup Of Justice

RUSKIN - The St. Anne Council of Catholic Women met for a salad supper Oct. 14 at the parish.

The meeting topic, "A Cup of Justice," was presented by , coordinator for the Fair Trade program of Catholic Relief Services in the Diocese of Orlando.

Fair Trade works to provide living wages for workers in underprivileged countries, especially for those producing coffee, chocolate and hand-crafted items.

The council will meet again at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday in the St. Anne Parish Center, 106 11th Ave. N.E.. Participants will hold a memorial service for deceased members.

For information, call the church office, (813) 645-1714. For details about St. Anne, visit www.saintanneruskin .org.

Holiday Bazaar

The Sun City Center Community Association's Crafts & Things club will host a holiday bazaar from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday in the walkway of the Atrium Building, 945 North Course Lane.

The fall and Christmas decor and gift items for sale have been made by members of the club. Proceeds will benefit local charities.

For details, call Louise Lascola, (813) 633-2886.

YMCA Challenges Local Businesses

RIVERVIEW - The Brandon-area YMCAs invite local businesses to participate in a team-building event - the 2008 Corporate Challenge: Survivor! from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at Camp Cristina, 9840 Balm-Riverview Roadand

The event will raise money for YMCA's Building Strong Kids Campaign.

The campaign "helps make YMCA participation possible for children and families in the Brandon area regardless of their financial circumstances," said Sarah Vincent, district marketing director, in a recent e-mail.

Five teams of six to 10 members are registered.

"We still have room for five teams to reach our goal of ten," said Bryan Beckham, program director at Camp Cristina. "The more, the merrier!"

The team entry fee of $500 includes the day's activities, a light breakfast, lunch and a bandana.

For information, call Beckham, (813) 677-8400.

Post-Election Meeting

The SouthShore Democratic Club will hold a post-election meeting at 1 p.m. Nov. 12 in the Banquet Room of the Kings Point North Clubhouse, 1900 Clubhouse Drive.

For information, call Nate Bell, (813) 642-8013.

Local Authors At Book Signing

BRANDON - Evelyn Evans of Sun City Center will be one of six authors who will sign their books from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Brandon Barnes & Noble, 122 Brandon Town Center Drive.

Evans's book, "Make Retirement the Best Years of Your Life," will be featured.

Other authors at the signing will be Debora M. Coty of Seffner with her book, "The Distant Shore" (and her newest release, "365 Daily Whispers of Wisdom for Busy Women"); Sophia McMorris of Brandon, with "Shattered But Not Broken"; Lee Ours Jr. of Tampa, "Hospital on Wheels - World War II MASH"; Mia Montgomery of Orlando, author of "It's My Business Why I Am Still Single"; and Jeffery Freeman of Palm Harbor, "Wrong Enemy, Wrong War."

For information, call the store, (813) 661-9883.

Chorus Rehearsing

Women who enjoy singing are invited to rehearse with the South Shore Sound Chorus, a chapter of the Sweet Adelines International barbershop singers, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 1239 W. Del Webb Blvd.

The group will have a holiday show at 3 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Sun City Center United Methodist Church.

For details, call Terry Cox, public relations chairwoman, at (813) 786-9418, or visit www.southshoresound.org.

Send news and photos of community interest to Barbara Routen at The Tampa Tribune, 505 W. Robertson St., Brandon FL 33511, e-mail neighbors@tampabay .rr.com or call (813) 657-4531

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