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PB&Js Under The Trees

Tribune photo by SCOTT ISKOWITZ

Tammy Johnson, has lunch with her son Jace,8, Wednesday at Lake Magdalene Elementary School. Lake Magdalene's PTA and dad's club raised money to create an outdoor dining area for teachers,students, and parents can eat together outdoors.

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By COURTNEY CAIRNS PASTOR

cpastor@tampatrib.com

Published: March 11, 2009

LAKE MAGDALENE - Last year, if Tammy Johnson wanted to eat lunch with her son at school, they had to crowd together on a bench or brave the noisy cafeteria.

This year, she and 8-year-old Jace have their choice of tables on a patio under the trees.

"It's a very inviting place," Tammy Johnson said. "I love it."

Families, teachers and classes are enjoying a new outdoor cafe this year at Lake Magdalene Elementary. The Parent-Teacher Association and Dad's Club raised the money, and local businesses donated time and supplies.

The PTA wanted to make the spot more child-friendly and encourage more people to eat outside, said Cindy Stuart, who has three children at Lake Magdalene and oversaw the project.

Fifth-graders lunching there recently said the new patio was a big improvement over the old area.

"It used to be benches with roots coming up on the sidewalk," said 11-year-old Aubrey Barcelo.

Landscaping was limited. "It was all dirt," said Clayton Callison, 11. "There weren't any tables. There were just rectangle benches."

The benches had warped, and tree roots had torn up the pavers on the sidewalk. Stuart said redesigning the area seemed like a good investment in the school, because it would give parents something concrete to show for their donations.

Fundraisers, such as a read-a-thon and sales of entertainment coupon books, helped the PTA collect $8,000 for the project.

"It will be nice to show it off and tell people this is what your money bought," Stuart said at a ribbon-cutting last week.

The Dad's Club contributed $3,000 from its annual golf tournament to buy five tables and chairs. The tournament, coming up on May 3, has paid for trees and video equipment for the school morning show in previous years, said President John Chapman.

Businesses helped stretch the dollars with donations and discounts. Steve Tuliano of Brick Paving Systems in Lutz donated half the cost of the pavers. Gainforth Landscape Installation Services and Swan Sprinkler Systems helped with landscaping, irrigation and lighting. Mohsen Mohammadi, a father at the school who is an engineer, designed a layout for the area.

Landscape Architect Brian Schatz donated his time to create a landscape plan. Schatz said he chose plants, such as Xanadu philodendron and walking iris, that would not grow tall, be safe for children and hardy under the shade of oak trees.

The landscaping fills in a square below four oaks and will get mulched with the fallen leaves. Pavers surround the trees, providing a patio for the tables. More plants enclose the area. Teachers and principals reward students for good behavior or attendance with lunches or snacks outside. Classes can gather there. Parents meet their children for lunch.

Even the students enjoy time away from the cafeteria.

"You can hardly hear," Clayton said.

Reporter Courtney Cairns Pastor can be reached at (813) 865-1503.

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