In Today's News

This is a great organization that needs your support!





TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

The Carrollwood News & Tribune




Center Suffers A Bad Break



By HAROLD VALENTINE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 12, 2007

FOREST HILLS - Ronna Metcalf, director of the Life Enrichment Center, and her assistant, Dell Baker, went for a drive Nov. 27 to find additional locations for the nonprofit organization's programs for adults.

"When we got in my car, Dell said 'You know, I think this is going to be a good year,' " Metcalf said. "She said, 'After all, what else could happen.' "

Immediately after, Metcalf got a call from the center's development director, Jocelyn Dickman, saying that a car just crashed into the 27-year-old building at 9704 N. Boulevard.

"I could've sworn it was the sound of glass breaking," Dickman said. "I said, 'Oh, my God, a painting fell.' "

The driver, a student at the center, lost control of her car while trying to exit the parking lot. The car hit an old fireplace on the building's southwest corner, creating an oval fracture and likely affecting the building's load-bearing capacity.

Metcalf said no charges were brought against the student.

"I know what everyone thinks," Metcalf said. "We have older adults who come here, and some old person drove into the wall that shouldn't be driving anymore. It's absolutely not the case. This was a very astute woman in her early-70s who is going for a degree at USF."

Dickman said the driver was shaken but was comforted by fellow students.

A tow truck pulled the car out of the building. Metcalf estimated the damage to the building at $15,000, but long cracks and bowing of an adjoining wall suggests the structural integrity was compromised - possibly costing several thousands more.

"We used to call it the fireplace room," Metcalf said. "But we've renamed it the wreck room."

The room, which was used for language and computer classes, is useless. Classes must be canceled, adding to what Metcalf said is an already tenuous financial situation.

The center receives grant money from the county, but this year that was cut by $8,000 to $10,000, with more cuts possible. Metcalf said if the center has to close from lack of money, it will be a shame because "people need people."

People at the center are "a wonderful informal support network because they make friends, and that gets harder and harder as you get older," Metcalf said.

She said folks utilizing the center come from throughout the county, and her mailing list exceeds 20,000.

Last year, the center was burglarized twice in one week. Before that, a leaky roof and poor air conditioning were major problems. After a newspaper article on the problems appeared, Stay Dry Roofing and Nuccio Heating & Air Conditioning donated their services to the center, Metcalf said.

"I've seen this place go through a lot of positive changes," said Bob Gibbons, a nine-year art teacher at the center. "Then, all of the sudden, 'smash!' "

The center, which offers classes in Tai Chi, art, memoir writing and foreign language, among others, holds sessions at the Forest Hills United Methodist Church and the Museum Of Science & Industry.

With such a small building to call home damaged, Metcalf said the center especially needs more locations.

Metcalf may be reached at (813) 932-0241 or through the center's Web site, www.lifeenrichmenttampa.org.

Reporter Harold Valentine can be reached at (813) 865-1526 or hvalentine@tampatrib.com.