MacDill Happenings

If you want to have an inexpensive outing this weekend, then you might considering going to the movies at MacDill AFB this weekend.  Prices have gone up a little bit, $4 for adults and $2 for children, but it is still up to 50% off the price of movies off base!  Plus a medium popcorn and drink is only $6.  Although there is no refills available for popcorn, you can refill the soft drinks for free.  This Friday at 7pm, “Sex in the City” with all the original television cast, is playing and is rated R for strong sexual content, graphic nudity, and language with a run time of 145 min.  The movie is about the continuing adventures of Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda as they live their lives in Manhattan four years after the series ended.  On Saturday at 7pm, “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” is playing and is rated PG for battle action and violence with a run time of 144 min. “Prince Caspian” finds the Pevensie siblings pulled back into the land of Narnia, where a thousand years have passed since they left. The children are once again enlisted to join the colorful creatures of Narnia in combating an evil villain who prevents the rightful Prince from ruling the land.

Stop by the USF Botanical Gardens this Saturday from 10am to 4pm and Sunday from 10am to 3pm for the Tropical Plant Fair. Admission is $4. There will be plant vendors with hundreds of tropical & exotic plants. On Sunday enter the Pepper Beauty Contest. Bring in a Decorated Pepper for the Beauty Contest and get in free on Sunday. Prizes for winners! There will be lectures on growing tropicals in your backyards every half hour throughout the day on Sunday. The mission of the Botanical Gardens at University of South Florida is to foster appreciation, understanding, and stewardship of our natural and cultural botanical heritage through living plant collections, displays, education, and research. Stroll the Gardens’ natural areas and explore collections and displays that include: orchids, begonias, mallows, bromeliads, gingers, ferns, aroids, fruit trees, palms, cycads, carnivorous plants, butterfly garden, herb and scent gardens, and much more. The Gardens maintain a living collection of over 3,000 taxa of plants and natural habitats that emphasize the rich botanical diversity of our area. Through out the Gardens, visitors will find many animal and insect species, from gopher tortoises to butterflies to over 60 species of birds.

The first day of school for all Hillsborough County Schools is 18 Aug.  If you are new to the public school system, there are some requirements you need to be aware of because it may take some time to get all the information together or make doctor’s appointments:

Entering from Out-of-State:
1. The grade placement of any grade two – twelve student transferring from out of state shall be determined by the principal (or designee) of the receiving school.
2. The student shall have academic credit that is acceptable under the rules of the school board.
3. The student shall provide all of the following:
* official documentation that the parent(s) or guardian(s) was(were) a legal resident(s) of the state in which the child was previously enrolled in school;
* official school records which show attendance, academic information, and grade placement;
* evidence of residence;
* evidence of immunization;
* evidence of date of birth;
* evidence of medical examination completed within the last twelve months.
4. Students in grades two – five must meet age requirements for public schools within the state from which the student is transferring.
Entering from Home Education:
Students seeking initial placement from a home education program or private school shall be screened by the local school to determine the most appropriate grade placement.
Entering from a Private School:
Any student who transfers into the district from a private school and whose credits can be verified shall meet all provisions of the district’s Pupil Progression Plan and the state of Florida requirements appropriate for that grade.

Immunization Information:
Kindergarten
5 doses DPT (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus)
4 doses Polio
2 doses MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
Hepatitis B series
2 doses Varicella (Chickenpox) or have had the disease
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th grade students
5 doses DPT (diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus)
4 doses Polio vaccine
2 doses MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
Hepatitis B series
1 dose Varicella (chicken pox) vaccine or date of disease as verified by parent or physician
7th through 12th grade students
5 doses DPT (diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus)
4 doses Polio vaccine
2 doses MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
Hepatitis B series
1 dose Td (tetanus, diphtheria) or 1 dose Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis)
*** Students entering the seventh grade must also have 1 dose Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine or have had the disease.

The Summer Concert Series at FishHawk Ranch Park Square starts this Friday at 7pm with the Tremors featuring The Earthquake Horns.  The Tremors featuring The Earthquake Horns is one of Florida’s permier bands playing today.  The nine members of the band are seasoned professionals who have played with huge variety of artists from The Dixie Chicks to Ray Charles to Harry Conick Jr to The Commodores.  Their music style runs from Top 40 Dance to Classic Rock, Rhythm and Blues to Soul to Country.  You will want to get up on your feet and start dancing as soon as they start playing.  FishHawk Ranch is a large beautiful subdivision in Lithia, about 40 min away from MacDill AFB, full of trees, walking paths and friendly people.

Although there are no new Harry Potter movies until November, if you need a fix of Harry Potter, then come out to the John Germany Public Library in downtown Tampa and listen to the Wizard Rock Extravaganza. The national tour by four wizard rock (or wrock, to its magical and muggle fans) bands runs from 6 pm to 9pm.  Inspired by the characters and story lines from J.K. Rowling’s intricate fantasy world, this concert will be fun for all ages. The genre has its own name (wizard rock) and fashion standards, checkered scarves and neck ties copy the Hogwarts school uniform.  Concerts are typical held in libraries, bookstores, church basements or rock clubs.   This free concert features the Remus Lupins, Draco and the Malfoys, the Whomping Willows and Justin Finch Fletchley and the Sugar Quills.  There is plenty of parking near the library.

If you’re new to Florida and want to learn the in’s and out’s of fishing in Florida, then stop by Skipper’s Smokehouse in Tampa on Tuesday to learn from an expert.  Fred Everson, author of “Fish the Flats” will be teaching a class on flats fishing, proper boat equipment, wading, fishing tools and more.  The class starts at 7pm and ends at 10pm.  The cost of the class is $25 and includes a copy of his book.  And when go to Skipper’s check out the great food! The menu focuses on Florida cuisine with tastes of the Caribbean and Louisiana. Food is prepared to order: grilled, fried [in peanut oil] steamed, smoked, or sautéed. Over the years, Skippers has been honored as: Best Outdoor Restaurant, Best Grouper Sandwich, Best Alligator, Hottest Wings in Tampa, Best Key Lime Pie and Best Place to Meet People.

Plan for your summer fun now and get ready to go deep sea fishing on 13 July at Sunday from 5:30am to 6pm sponsored by the MacDill AFB MWR. The cost is $75 per person and includes a ride from the MacDill AFb Marina Activity Room. Meet at 5:15 am and depart at 5:30 am sharp. Fishing will be aboard the “Miss Virginia” based in Port Richey. The boat has an enclosed cabin with seats and tables. Breakfast and lunch are available at a reasonable cost, as well as, beer, soda, and snacks. Fishing rods, license, tackle, and bait for each fisherman are supplied, although you are welcome to bring your own. If you prefer to fish with live bait, it must be purchased that morning before departure. You may bring a small cooler (no larger than 48 quarts), but glass containers are not allowed. Register and pay at the FamCamp office by the Marina NLT noon on Wed, 9 July.

On Saturday night, come out and watch the 1st place Tampa Bay Rays play the Kansas City Royals.  Fresh off a 3 game sweep of the Boston Red Sox and with the best record in baseball, the Rays are an exciting team to watch and Tropicana Field has been packed with fans!  Game time is 7:10pm in St. Pete.  If you have 4 or more people in your car, you can park for free at the stadium.  Remember to buy your tickets early, because if you buy tickets within 5 hours of start time you have to pay an extra $2 per ticket.  Right handed pitcher, Andy Sonnanstine who is 9-3, is scheduled to pitch on Saturday. The first 10,000 fans at the game receive a special Rays Army cap.  After game as part of the Rays Summer Concert Series, Loverboy will be playing. In 1980 Loverboy debuted with their self-titled album. They quickly became one of America’s and MTV’s most popular rock bands. From 1980 through 1987 Loverboy garnered four multi-Platinum albums and numerous international Gold albums. Their top hit singles include “Working For The Weekend,” “Turn Me Loose,” “The Kid is Hot Tonite” “Lovin’ Every Minute Of It” and “Queen of the Broken Hearts.”

If you’re looking for something to do after an exciting 4th of July, then look no further than the MacDill AFB movie theater.  Although there won’t be a movie playing on the 4th, on Saturday the 5th of July, there will be two movies playing.   At 3pm, “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” will be playing. This movie is rate PG for battle action and violence and has a run time of 144 minutes. “Prince Caspian” finds the Pevensie siblings pulled back into the land of Narnia, where a thousand years have passed since they left. The children are once again enlisted to join the colorful creatures of Narnia in combating an evil villain who prevents the rightful Prince from ruling the land.  At 7pm, “The Strangers” will be showing. This movie is rated R for violence, terror, and language with a run time of 85 minutes. A terrifying suspense thriller about a couple whose remote getaway becomes a place of terror when masked strangers invade. The confrontation forces Kristen and James to go far beyond what they thought themselves capable of if they hope to survive. Admission is $3.25 for all ages. The price of a medium popcorn and drink is only $6.

If you live in or near Pinellas County, then there is a great selection of fireworks displays to watch this Friday!  Fourth of July at The Pier in Downtown St. Pete celebrates with live entertainment, face and body painting, comedic appearances, a fireworks display and more from 2pm to 10 pm.  The fireworks start at 9 pm at Spa Beach. City of Gulfport’s Fourth of July Celebration features children’s games, contests, car, truck and motorcycle show, children’s pageant, parade, live entertainment, food, fireworks display and more starting at 8 am.  The parade begins at 6 pm on Beach Boulevard. Fireworks blast off at 9 pm. Fourth of July and Largo Centennial Celebration features activities, concessions, live music, fireworks and more starting at 6 pm at Largo Central Park. Fireworks begin at about 8 or 8:30 pm.  Tarpon Springs Fireworks celebrate Independence Day with a patriotic party and fireworks from 11 am to 3 pm.  The fireworks begin at sunset at Fred Howard Park. The party is at Craig Park.  Safety Harbor Festival and Fireworks features live music, food, fireworks and more from 5pm to 9 pm. Fireworks begin at 9 pm at Safety Harbor Marina Park. Clearwater Celebrates America! features fireworks, food, concerts and more starting at 4 pm. Fireworks begin at 9:30 pm at Coachman Park.