MacDill Happenings

The 14th Annual Philippine Festival PhilFest is being presented by the Philippine Cultural Foundation from 3-5 April. This is the major Filipino event in the Tampa Bay area. There will be a wide variety of entertainment all weekend long. If you want to try Filipino food for the first time or haven’t had the chance to eat it in a long time, then this is the place to be. Food and drinks are going to be sold at several booths within the festival area by participating Filipino restaurants and organizations. Asian delicacies, particularly Filipino food will be served. American food will also be available. There will be live music and singers. Listen to singers sing English and Tagalog. The Philippine Performing Arts Company, Inc. and the Tallahassee Community College Dance Company will be presenting select pieces. The Philippine Cultural Foundation, Inc. and the Philippine Consular Office in Washington D.C. are bringing the Consular Office to PhilFest 2009 through “Consulate-on-Wheels” event, culminating in a Dual Citizenship Ceremony on Sunday, April 5, 2009 at 3:00 PM at the Bayanihan Arts and Events Center. All through the three-day festival, “Consulate-on-Wheels” will be stationed at the Cimafranca Library inside the Bayanihan Arts and Events Center to provide consular services to the public. The Dual Citizenship Ceremony on April 5 is an oath-taking event to re-acquire Philippine Citizenship. All natural born Filipinos who have lost their Philippine citizenship due to naturalization as a citizen of another country may file a Petition for Retention and Reacquisition of Philippine Citizenship on their behalf and that of their unmarried minor children. The PhilFest is open on Friday from 4pm to 11pm, Saturday from 10am to 11pm and Sunday from 10am to 8pm. Tickets cost $5 in advance or $6 at the gate. Children under 5 are free. PhilFest is held at the Bayanihan Arts and Events Center PhilFest Grounds located at 14301 Nine Eagles Drive, Tampa, FL 33626. This is a 10-acre open space with an outdoor auditorium where most of the entertainment will take place. Additional exhibits and shows will also take place at the Bayanihan Arts and Events Center’s Grand Sampaguita Hall.

This summer the Tampa Theatre in conjunction with USF is presenting “Let’s Make Movies” filmmaking summer camp! Register now before the camps fill up! All experience levels welcome at all sessions. The campers will be broken down into groups based on their experience levels. Each group will have its own dedicated camp counselor to guide the filmmaking process. Each filmmaker will participate in the film making process as part of a production team - from creating storyboards and scripts to shooting. All campers will particpate in post production work. All materials will be provided. Each team will end the week with a completed 3-5 minute film. Every filmmaker will receive a DVD copy of her/his film at the Let’s Make Movies Film Festival which is held on a Saturday morning a few weeks after the last week of summer camp (date and details to come.) The DVD will be mailed to those who cannot attend the film festival.

Stop Motion Animation ($165 per session)
June 8-12 9am-noon (3rd to 5th grade)
1-4pm (6th to 8th grade)
July 6-10 9am-noon (3rd to 5th grade)
1-4pm (6th to 12th grade)
Stop motion makes static objects appear to move and it is used in popular shows and films such as Gumby, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Chicken Run, Corpse Bride, and all of the Wallace And Gromit films.

Live Action ($165 per session)
June 15-19 9am-noon (3rd to 5th grade)          
1-4pm (6th to 8th grade)
July 13-17 9am-noon (3rd to 5th grade)
1-4pm (6th to 12th grade)

Each day is well planned out:
Monday and Tuesday: Hand-on training sessions for various aspects of filmmaking (how to use the digitial camera and programs, lighting, sound, on-camera acting, storytelling, creating storyboards and scripts, editing, etc.)
Tuesday and Wednesday: Break out into production teams, create storyboard and scripts for your group film projects. Begin filming when ready.
Wednesday and Thursday: Continue filmming with group. Download footage from digital camera to iMac computers. Edit with iMovie or iStopMotion programs.
Friday: Complete editing. Screen the completed films for parents during the last hour of camp. (Morning session 11am-noon; Afternoon session 3-4pm)

A talented and enthusiastic team of professional educators from The Florida Center for Instructional Technology (FCIT) located in the College of Education, University of South Florida will be teaching your child. FCIT is funded by the Florida Department of Education, Office of Educational Technology, to provide leadership, instructional materials, and support services to educational institutions with regard to the integration of technology into K-12 education.

The Friends of Plant Park are sponsoring GreenFest at Henry B. Plant Park this weekend. Started in 1997, GreenFest is an annual educational nature festival that provides the Tampa Bay area an opportunity to learn about the care and cultivation of local plants and flowers. If your new to Tampa, planning on a new garden or just trying to figure out how to improve your current garden, then stop by GreenFest to learn about gardening and see a wide range of plants and gardening supply vendors. There will be to the educational speakers to help learn about the native plant life and how to cope with the current rain conditions or lack thereof! You can also see gardening demonstrations to learn about innovative techniques. Plant Park is a beautiful and historic part of Tampa. Plant Park is located on the western bank of the Hillsborough River in downtown Tampa on the campus of the University of Tampa. This is a free event with a suggested donation of $3 for adults and children 12 and under are free. The proceeds from GreenFest are used to maintain and enhance historical Plant Park. Hours on Sunday are 10am to 4pm, rain or shine! There will be foods and beverages for sale. Here is the schedule for presentations for Sunday:
Sunday
10:30 AM Bromeliads & Tillandsias - Gyula Nemeth – Bromeliad Valley Nursery
11:30 AM BuBerflies and More! - Anne Pidgeon – Colorfield Farms
12:30 PM Made in the Shade – Monica Moran Brandies – author, Florida Gardening Books
1:30 PM Plumeria: Care, CulCvaCon & Freeze Recovery - Alan Bunch – ExoCc Plumeria
2:30 PM Loving & Dividing Daylilies – Linda Sample – Bay Area Daylily Society
Sunday
NOON Worm ComposCng - Harriet Gord-Noghani
1:00 PM Herbs for Use and Delight - LoreBa Clements
2:00 PM Secrets & Shortcuts of Master Gardeners - Virginia Overstreet
3:00 PM Rain Barrel Workshop - Lynn Barber, U of F, Hills. Co. Extension

The Bay Area Improv Theatre (BAIT) in St. Petersburg, a premier long-form improvisation troupe, will be performing on Tuesday 31 March starting at 8pm.  Their performance is cutting edge.  You never know what to expect, but it is always funny, exciting and a great crowd pleaser. Improv theatre is based on a single word suggested from the audience.  The suggest word  will be the basis for their scenes as dialogue, setting, and plot is created.   Modern improvisational comedy normally falls into two categories: shortform and longform.  Shortform improv consists of short scenes usually constructed from a predetermined game, structure, or idea and driven by an audience suggestion.  The improv comedy television series “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”  is a wonderful example of shortform.  Longform improv performers create shows in which scenes are often interrelated by story, characters, or themes. Longform shows may take the form of an existing type of theatre, for example a full-length play or Broadway-style musical.   There will be an open bar with food and drink available for purchase.  Admission is pay-what-you-can at the door.  BAIT performs at the American Stage Theater at 211 Third St. S. St. Petersburg just 2 blocks south of BayWalk and near the St. Pete waterfront.  American Stage Theater has been a part of the Tampa Bay area theater scene since 1977.  The theatre offers School Tours, classes and summer camp for children. St. Petersburg the fourth largest city in the state of Florida.  St. Petersburg is the second largest city in the Tampa Bay Area after the city of Tampa. St. Pete as it is called is located on a peninsula between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. It is connected to the mainland to the north, connected with the city of Tampa to the east by causeways and bridges across Tampa Bay, and to Bradenton in the south by the Sunshine Skyway Bridge (Interstate 275), which traverses the mouth of the bay.

The Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center will present a live version of the animated series and book series of Max and Ruby on 29 March. Showtimes are 1pm and 3pm with ticket prices starting at $9.50. The storyline of this show has who Ruby puting on a show for her grandma and recruiting her Bunny Scout friends. Max and Ruby is based on the children’s books by Rosemary Wells. Max is a determined three-year-old bunny, and his big sister, Ruby, is a smart, goal-oriented seven-year-old. The show offers an empowering message for children by showing Max and Ruby playing together and resolving their differences in ways that are respectful and supportive. TBPAC is located on the eastern bank of the Hillsborough River in downtown Tampa and easily accessible from I-275, I-4 or the Crosstown Expressway. Parking is available at several nearby lots or at the William F. Poe parking structure next to the German Library for about $4. If you can find a spot on the road on the north side of TBPAC, you can park at a metered spot. Metered spots are free during the weekends in Tampa.

The 34th Annual International Folk Fair will be open from 27-29 March at the Vinoy Waterfront Park in St. Petersburg. Presented by St. Petersburg International Folk Fair Society, Inc. (SPIFFS), this year’s fair follows the theme “Wonders of the World”. Member organizations will setup villages that will provide a look at their native land. Each organization will have costumed villagers with demonstration of native craftsmanship and ethnic food specialties for sale. If you are planning a visit overseas, this is a great way to find out about the country you will visit. Members will be on hand to answer any questions. Folk dancing and music will be performed throughout the weekend. Highlights on Friday include Colin Grant- Adams, Scottish Balladeer, and the Russian Folk Group Barynya, starring Misha Smirnov, the Russian judge from the TV program “Superstars of Dance”. Also on Friday night, there will be Country music with Jodell Country Band and Line Dancing with Arline. Saturday offers a wide range of entertainment, and will also showcase a spectacular program of Chinese Dancers and Acrobats. On Saturday at 3pm there is a Grand Opening Ceremonies with the Parade of Nations where the members of many ethnic groups will march around the park, led by colorful bands, pipers & drummers. See the German Schuplattlers Dancers, the Italian Tarantella Dancers, the Polish Gorale Ensemble, and many other ethnic groups on Saturday, including the African Urban Ballet Dundu-dole, exotic Asian dancers and musicians, and dancers from the South Seas Islands. Sunday is Hispanic Day at Folk Fair, with Latin bands and performers taking center stage.

Due to the drought which has be afflicting Florida for a number of years, there are water restrictions in place in Hillsborough County which are effective until 30 Jun 09.  The rainy season starts on 1 Jun and hopefully the rains will come.  Although there are some differences in the water policy depending if you live in Tampa, Temple Terrace, Plant City or unincorporated areas of Hillsborough County, every locale limits watering established lawns and landscaping to one day a week.  The Hillsborough County Water Department website will have the specific day that you can water your lawn depending on the last number of your address.  All irrigation must be accomplished prior to 8:00 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m. Any one zone of a property may only be watered once during the allowable day, not both in the morning and again in the evening. If you are establishing a new lawn, then you are allowed more frequent watering the first 30 days.  If you are establishing new landscaping, then you are allowed more frequent watering the first 60 days.  Make sure you know the rules and regulations on watering, otherwise you can pay a hefty fine.  Violating these restrictions could result in a fine of $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second and so on, leading up to $500 for the 5th and succeeding violations.  If you are fortunate to have access to reclaimed water, then there are no restrictions on the use reclaimed water, but you are requested to not unnecessarily use it.  Car washing is restricted to one day a week.

The Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center will present a free outdoor show “Rock School Blowout” on Saturday at 1pm. This an end of class presentation of the Rock School course taught at Patel Conservatory. These Rock School students remind us why we were born to be wild! Multiple bands perform both classic and new rock and roll tunes and show off their growing rock roots. The Rock School course has a 4:1 student teacher ratio, permitting personalized training. The Rock School gives each student the opportunity to reach their greatest potential as ensemble musicians. Students are categorized according to instrument, musical tastes and age. Then they are placed into a band. A team of professionally trained instructors guided students through weekly band sessions with the goal of performing for an audience at the end-of-session in the Rock School Blowout. No formal music training or experience is needed for participation. Blankets and stadium seats are permitted for this outdoor event, but chairs with legs are not. Food and beverage will be available for purchase. TBPAC is located on the eastern bank of the Hillsborough River in downtown Tampa and easily accessible from I-275, I-4 or the Crosstown Expressway. Parking is available at several nearby lots or at the William F. Poe parking structure next to the German Library for about $4. If you can find a spot on the road on the north side of TBPAC, you can park at a metered spot. Metered spots are free during the weekends in Tam

If you’re looking for a job right now or a teenager thinking ahead and looking for a summer job, then look to MacDill AFB for employment opportunities. There are Non-appropriated Funds jobs that are hiring right now and there will be summer job opportunities also posted on this website. One big need right now is lifeguards! There are two swimming pools on MacDill AFB. One pool is adjacent to the Bayshore Club and one is near the Base library. Most of the jobs are not full-time, but it is a great place to start looking. Anyone who is a U.S. citizen or resident can apply. Applications can be downloaded from the NAF Human Resources website. Applications can be hand delivered by current ID card holders, mailed, faxed to 828-5450 or e-mailed to 6SVS.Human.Resources@MacDill.AF.mil. There are hiring preferences for Military Spouse Preference (MSP), Transition Hiring Preference (THP) and Veteran applicants. The Human Resources Office will determine eligibility. Proof/Verification must be submitted with your application for preference consideration. Applications are kept on file for 90 days. After 90 days, they become inactive. If you wish to reapply for the same position at a later date, you may do so by submitting a new application. To update and/or extend your application beyond the 90 days, you must contact the Human Resources Office prior to the 90-day expiration. It is your responsibility to make copies of your application, forms, diploma, orders, etc. Please ensure your phone number and addresses are accurate and kept up to date, this information is used to contact you. Incomplete or unqualified applications will be returned to the applicant.

Tampa is great place to have a boat. There’s plenty of sun, plenty of free and easy access to water and plenty of great weather. However as fun as boating can be, the water can be very unforgiving. One mistake in the Bay or in the Gulf can have tragic consequences. If your new to boating, new to the Tampa area or just need a refresher course, then this Wednesday the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 79 is offering a Boating Skills and Seamanship Course. The course runs from 7:30pm to 9:30pm at the Flotilla 79 building at 5108 W Gandy Blvd in Tampa. If you take Gandy to St. Pete from Tampa, before you get onto the Gandy bridge, the Flotilla building is on the left. This program is designed to help you become a better recreational boater. You will be taught the knowledge and skills that you need to boat safely. With this knowledge, you can avoid problems and enhance your enjoyment of on-the-water activities. This class will also raise your awareness of what bad things might happen to you or others, so that they can be prevented. You learn how to determine what type of boat will best suit your requirement. They will provide an introduction to navigation. Sometimes when you take your boat out the weather and water seem nice and calm, but sometimes that calm doesn’t last all day. So you will also learn about the weather and boating. There many more subjects to learn about! The cost of the class is $60. There is no pre-registration just show up 20 minutes before the start of class to register.