MacDill Happenings

On Sunday, come enjoy Easter Brunch at the Bayshore Club on MacDill AFB.  The Bayshore Club is located at Bayshore Blvd and Florida Keys Ave.  The Bayshore Club is open to all ranks.  Instead of cooking at home, Mom might enjoy the day off from cooking and enjoy a delicious buffet instead.  And the kids won’t have to clean dishes afterwards!  Brunch will be served from 11am to 2pm. Reservations are required and can be made at 828-4756. The menu includes scramble eggs, bacon, sausage, and hashbrowns. If you don’t want breakfast foods, then try the roast beef carvery with au jus, baked ham with pineapple sauce, chicken breast chasseur, baked crab stuffed fish, rice pilaf, garlic mashed potatoes, corn o’brien, and season green beans. There will be an array of salads, an assortment of fresh fish, cheeses, and breads and desserts! There will be a pasta station with cook to order pasta, assortment of toppings, seasonings, sun dried tomatoes, garlic and a variety of oils.  The beverage station will have lemonade, orange juice, mimosas, coffee, hot tea and water.  The cost for members is $17.95, non-members $19.95, children 6-12 $8.95 and children 5 and younger are free. 

The Lakeland Center in the city of Lakeland is one the best venues for all kinds of entertainment in Central Florida.  Located off of I-4 between Tampa and Orlando, it is about a 45 min drive from MacDill AFB.  This Thursday night you can see the Temptations.  For more than 40 years the Temptations have part of American music.  They were a key part of the Motown sound of Barry Gordy.  Their songs are historic from “My Girl” to “Papa was a Rolling Stone”.  The lineup has changed through the years, but originally member Otis Williams is still there and the music is still has that famous Motown sound.  The show starts at 2:30pm with tickets priced from $40.  Parking will cost you $5 or $7 for a oversized car.  The Lakeland Center includes a 100,000 square feet convention center, a 2,296 seat theatre, a 10,000 seat arena, in-house catering services, a grand ballroom and on-site hotel accomodations provided by Hyatt Place Hotels.

Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department (PRC) manages more than 70,000 acres of parkland; 42 year-round recreation centers offering activities and classes for all ages; therapeutic programs; youth and adult athletics; and partnerships with community and civic organizations throughout the county. Athletic Services provides a youth basketball program for boys and girls in grades 1-10 and the Leaguerett Softball program, a slow pitch program for girls ages 5-17. It also operates an adult slow pitch softball program for more than 200 teams including an over 60 “senior” league. Athletic Services works with the recreation section in programming Track and Field meets and assists with organizing the athletic leagues for the teen program. Most youth sports leagues in the County (and neighboring cities) are independently organized separate of the recreation department but operate as non-profit associations on County (or City) property. The County provides assistance, maintenance, equipment, and education to the leagues, their boards, coaches, parents and players. Each league has its own set of by-laws and policies to govern its program (under County guidance) and they set their own fees for registration. There are ten regional parks of diverse natural character that have picnicking, boating, canoeing, swimming, hiking, nature study, bicycling, horseback riding, and camping available. The Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department provides a wide variety of recreational trails. Trails ranging from the Suncoast Trail, a paved trail than begins in Hillsborough County and extends 42 miles into in Hernando County at Hwy 98, to the more than 30 miles of off-road single track trails in Wilderness Park. Boat ramps are provided free of cost by the County. Hillsborough Blueways are paddling trails for canoes and kayaks on the rivers, creeks, bays and estuaries throughout Hillsborough County. There are year-round activities at recreation centers and playgrounds throughout Hillsborough County and are staffed with recreation specialists.

The one thing that you can count on when you own a car is that one day you will have to buy something to maintain it or to fix it. In the Tampa area, you can count on AutoZone parts stores for a military discount on almost all their products. The discount is 10% which adds up depending on what you need to buy. The other great thing about AutoZone is their customer service. I have been to several Tampa area AutoZones and have always had excellent customer service. Store personnel have always been very helpful and willing to answer any question. They have a large variety of products for car care and everything that you need to repair a car. They offer free testing of batteries and alternators. When your check engine light comes on, they can provide you a diagnosis, sell you the parts to fix it and show you where the parts go on your car. Another great help is the tool loan program they have. The tool loan program requires a deposit which you get back when you return the borrowed tools. Instead of buying expensive tools that you may not use too often, you can borrow tools and then return it!

Start celebrating St. Patrick’s Day early in Tampa by watching the annual St. Patrick’s Parade in Ybor City this Saturday at 8pm. Sponsored by the Rough Riders with the Tampa Tribune and the City of Tampa, this parade will run down 7th Ave and has more than 90 floats, krewes and bands. The 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment “Rough Riders,” Inc. was formed for the purpose of creating and perpetuating a living memorial to the unique accomplishment of President Theodore Roosevelt and the members of the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment known as the “Rough Riders”. The Rough Riders are well known for their charitable fundraising and are represented in parades throughout the Tampa area. Last year’s parade had nearly 80,000 spectators. Participants include the krewes of Gasparilla, Sant’ Yago, Neptune, Grace O’Malley, Fort Brooke, Libertalia, Agustina, Hillsborough and the Spirit of Cigar City, and many local dignitaries and celebrities. The parade runs about 2 hours, but with the expected large crowd and good weather make sure you arrive early to get a good parking spot. Parking can be hard to find if you arrive late. Ybor City is near the I-4 and I-275 intersection and just east of downtown Tampa.

The weekend movies playing at MacDill AFB movie theater are recently released movies.  On Friday at 7pm is Rambo, rated R for strong graphic bloody violence, sexual assaults, grisly images, language.  Slyvester Stallone returns as John Rambo has retreated to a simple life in a rural Thai village near the Burmese border, capturing snakes for local entertainers, and transporting roamers in his old PT boat. Following repeated pleas, Rambo helps ferry a group of Christian aid workers into war-torn Burma, where the local Karen villagers are regularly tortured and massacred by Major Tint’s sadistic soldiers. The humanitarian mission is going well, until the village is attacked and the missionaries are kidnapped, and Rambo is once again asked to transport – but this time a group of mercenaries, assembled by the missionaries’ minister on a deadly rescue mission. This time he doesn’t stay behind.   This movie is 93 minutes long.  On Saturday at 3pm Cloverfield is playing.  It is rated rated PG-13 for violence, terror, disturbing images and is 99 min long.  Five young New Yorkers throw their friend a going-away party the night that a monster the size of a skyscraper descends upon the city. Told from the point of view of their video camera, the film is a document of their attempt to survive the most surreal, horrifying event of their lives.  At 7pm on Saturday, watch Meet the Spartans.  It is rated PG-13 for crude/sexual content, language, comic violence and is 88 min long.  From the creators of Scary Movie and Date Movie comes this tongue-in-cheek parody of the sword-and-sandal epics.  Admission is $3.25 for all ages.  A medium popcorn and soft drink on costs $4.

If your teenager wants to spend an exciting week this summer, then apply for the Teen Aviation Camp at the US Air Force Academy. The Teen Aviation Camp runs from 31 May to 5 Jun at Colorado Springs. At the Camp, teens will take a Cessna flight, do a Ropes course, undergo flight simulator training, experience wilderness orienteering, tour the Academy, work on team building exercises, and meet with Cadets. This is a fun way to spend part of the summer and help your teenager decide on his or her future. This program is for eligible Youth Program users who are interested in aviation or would like to determine if the US Air Force Academy could be a future college option. This is open to eligible high school students who will be sophomores or juniors in Fall 08. All costs including transportation, lodging and meals will be paid for by the Youth Program. Participants will not travel with an adult staff from their Youth Programs. Aviation Camp staff members will be at the Colorado Springs airport to meet participants and provide transportation to the USAFA. All teens will then be introduced to the Air Force Academy through an extensive and active schedule.  For an application or more information, please contact MacDill AFB Youth Programs at 828-7956. Applications are due 26 Mar to MacDill Youth Programs.

Tampa Electric Company (TECO) is the provider of electricity in Hillsborough County.  Most interaction with TECO can be done online.  TECO service can be established by filling out an online form.  A deposit may be required.  The deposit is based on twice the average monthly bill at your new location.  Deposits for new construction are based on the square footage of the new residence.  After six months of service, the cash deposit will accrue interest annually. The interest will also apply to your account annually. The deposit may be reviewed, upon request, after six to 12 months for a possible reduction based on actual electric usage.  An Equifax credit check can be authorized in lieu of a cash deposit, if approved.  You can receive a paper bill in the mail or you can enrolled in e-Bill.  E-Bill customers receive a monthly e-mail reminder that payment is due.  E-Bill customers can view bills and payment history online. Customers can set up automatic payments – e-Bill and Automatic Bank Draft customers can schedule automatic bill payments. Some payment options let you select the pay date within a certain timeframe.  TECO can help you save energy with an online energy survery, free home energy audit, or through their ductwork program.

Water services in Hillsborough County are provided by the Hillsborough County Water Department. To establish an account call customer service at ( 813 ) 272-6680 or by stop by one of three Customer Service Centers: in Brandon at 10061 Adamo Dr., at the Brandon Crossings Shopping Center; in Tampa at 15610 Premiere Drive off Northdale Boulevard, one block west of Dale Mabry Highway; and in Ruskin at 410 30th Street SE just north of SR 674, west of I-75. Customer Service in available by phone or in at an office from Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. In order to establish residential service, a security deposit and connection fee is required at the time of application. The County will consider a ustomer’s credit report score, provided by the Water Department’s reporting agency, in lieu of a cash deposit. Single family residential customers who have established two years of service and have paid the bills consecutively on time for 12 months may have their deposit plus earned interest automatically credited to their account. Automatic Bill Payment – This allows automatic withdrawalThere are 4 methods: from your checking or savings account about 11 days after the bill date. It requires the completion of a simple enrollment for authorization of withdrawals; Rapid Pay – This is available through some banks and allows you to ay your bill directly to Water Resource Services using your personal computer, check with your bank to see if this is available to you; Pay-By-Phone – his service allows for payment using a credit card and / or voice recognition and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week through the Automated ccount Information system by calling 276-8526; and Online – view account information, make a credit card or ACH withdrawal payment, and set up automatic -mail notification of your bill, by going to http://iwr.hillsboroughcounty.org/hcwdweb. Fluoridation of the County’s water supply began in 1994. There are water restrictions due the lack of rain in Florida. Irrigation of established lawns and landscaping in Hillsborough County is allowed one day a week depending on your numbered address, but not between 8am and 6pm. New lawns can be watered any day during the first 30 days, but not between 8am and 6pm. After 30 days, new lawns can only be watered once a week.  Photo is courtesy of the city of Clearwater, FL.

Hillsborough County School District is responsible for all public education in Hillsborough County.  It is the eighth largest school district in the country.  Some people might see that as a disadvantage but it allows the district to offer an immense range of opportunities and programs for education.  The Magnet School Program is one of the programs offered to elementry, middle and high school students.  The program of study is theme based and technology driven.  Teachers in the Magnet program are specially trained in the appropirate theme and are given instruction in innovative and rigorous academic methods.  Elementary schools offer Cultural Arts and Humanities; Enironmental Studies; Foreign Language; International Studies; Math, Science, & Technology; Visual, Performing & Communication Arts; and World Studies. Middle school offers Cultural Arts & Humanities; Environmental Studies; Gifted/Talent Development Academy; Health Exploration; International Studies; Language Exploration; Law Studies; Math, Science & Technology; and Visual, Performing & Communication Arts. High school offers Architectural and Environmental Design; Engineering; Health Professsions; International Studies; International Baccalaureate; Magnet Advanced Placement Scholars; Math, Science & Technology; Urban Teaching Academy; and Visual, Performing & Communication Arts.  Although the schools may not be in your neighborhood, the school district will provide transportation to all children enrolled in the Magnet School Program. In the School Choice Program, parents can choose school outside of the neighboorhood school.  If for example, you want to have your child attend Tinker Elementary because you work on MacDill AFB, then you can apply and if approved you can drive you child back and forth from school each day.  You can choose Career and Technical Education.  The current application period runs 3 Mar to 14 Mar.  There are application periods from 5-16 May and 7-18 Jul.  Remember school starts 18 Aug for Hillsborough County School District schools!