MacDill Happenings

The Rays are still in the hunt for the American League East title after having swept a 2 game series from the Boston Red Sox. on Saturday, the Rays take on the Toronto Blue Jays. After the game as part of the Summer Concert Series, the B-52′s will be giving a free concert in right field. Gametime is 7:08 pm. Get to the game early and have a tailgate party! Listen to a live band and enjoy attractions at Lot 7. With a military ID, you can purchase 4 outfield tickets for half off! However, tickets have to be purchased at the box office! If you do get to the game early, then a car with 4 people or more can park for free in the Tropicana Field parking lots. Normal parking price is $15 at the Trop. The Trop is easily accessible from I-275. Inside the Trop, check out the Ray tank in centerfield. In the Left Field Street area, fans can participate in a baseball-themed game show, take their picture on a Topps baseball card, have their name inscribed onto a Louisville Slugger bat, touch and feel real game-used equipment, and broadcast play-by-play of baseball highlights. At Right Field Street kids can experience the magic of baseball in the Rays Baseball Carnival, a real working carnival that includes plinko, spin the wheel, ring-a-bat and skee ball. Or take a swing against a computer images of real Major League pitchers in a batting cage or test their arms in the speed pitch, both found in the T.G. Lee Rookie Challenge area of the Carnival. There is also kids-themed areas such as “Bats, Balls, and Brushes”, “St. Petersburg Times Pressbox” and “The Science of Baseball.” Centerfield Street has the Cuesta-Rey Cigar Bar, baseball’s first in-stadium cigar bar, as well as the Batter’s Eye Restaurant, located in the “batter’s eye” in center field. Centerfield Street also has the Ted Williams Museum and Hitters Hall-of-Fame.

For an inexpensive night out to watch the latest movies, stop by the MacDill AFB Movie Theater this Friday and Saturday. The price of a ticket and snacks will be at least 50% cheaper than out in town. This Friday at 7pm and again on Saturday at 3pm, the new action movie, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, is playing. This movie is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action violence, language, crude and sexual material, and brief drug material, and has a run time of 152 minutes. Decepticon forces return to Earth on a mission to take Sam Witwicky prisoner, after the young hero learns the truth about the ancient origins of the Transformers. Joining the mission to protect humankind is Optimus Prime, who forms an alliance with international armies for a second epic battle. On Saturday at 7pm the new action movie, Public Enemies, starring Johnny Depp is playing. This movie is rated R for gangster violence and language, and has a run time of 140 minutes. No one could stop John Dillinger and his gang. No jail could hold him. His charm and audacious jailbreaks endeared him to almost everyone — from his girlfriend Billie to an American public who had no sympathy for the banks that had plunged the country into the Depression. But while the adventures of Dillinger’ gang — thrilled many, J. Edgar Hoover made Dillinger America’s first Public Enemy Number One.

The first day of school for Hillsborough County Public Schools is 25 August! If this is your first year in the Tampa, it is probably a lot sooner than you are used to. The school year ends on 10 June 2010. The last day of the school year for high school seniors is 1 June. Everyone is probably getting ready to have some end of summer fun and maybe a trip, but remember there a few things that need to done before school. Don’t forget about the possible requirements of school physicals, shots and school records if you are enrolling in Hillsborough schools for the first time. Even if you are currently enrolled, you may still need physicals or shots! The MacDill AFB Clinic has a walk-in shot clinic everyday, so you don’t need appointment. But physicals requires an appointment at MacDill AFB. To make an appointment for the MacDill AFB Clinic, you can call 828-CARE (2273). There are plenty of enrollment options for Hillsborough schools. Your neighborhood school will be posting enrollment dates and times on the information board in front of the school. If you student has to taking a bus to school, then make sure know the times and pickup locations. Busing can be confusing! Don’t forget to plan to buy school supplies!

The 14th Annual “Back to School Bash” continues today from noon to 4pm at the Tampa Convention Center. This fun filled event provides the opportunity to enjoy interactive exhibits, live family entertainment and sample free lunch treats. More importantly, this event can start getting the kids charged up to go back to school! Remember the first day of school for Hillsborough County Public Schools is 25 August, just over 2 quick weeks away! Learn about swim safety tips. Look into tutoring programs for your children. There will be information available to learn how to plan financially for your children’s college education now! It’s never too early to plan for college! The first 100 paid tickets each day receive a free packback. Check out the free bead making! There will be a character parade. Kids will love the free face painting and the bounce house. Radio Disney will be there with free giveaways! You can receive a free bicycle helmet to get ready for the new school year. There will be a petting zoo. Tickets cost $9 for an adults. Kids 12 and under are free with a paying adult. There is a limit of 3 kids per paying adult.  The Tampa Convention Center is located in downtown Tampa along the Hillsborough River. There is plenty of parking at the Center and nearby.

Today from 9am to noon the 7th Annual FishHawk Area Networking Group Back to School Festival will take place at the FishHawk Youth Sports Complex on FishHawk Blvd. Admission is free but $10 worth of new school supplies or a $10 cash donation is requested that will be used to benefit the YMCA migrant children effort. The support raised last year helped more than 400 children. There will be more than 80 local business booths, 10 restaurants, live music, safety demonstrations and exhibits from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, free giveaways, and door prizes. For you Transformer fans, a 2010 Yellow Bumblebee Camaro will be available for a test drive! Along with other restaurants, Chick-fil-A, Lake Brandon Village, Formaggio’s Pizzeria will be providing free tasty food samples! Located within a 40 minute drive to downtown Tampa and MacDill AFB, FishHawk Ranch is a unique community with walking and biking paths throughout the neighborhood. You’ll find shops and grocery stores all around the neighborhood for your shopping convience with a wide variety of restaurants for every taste. Top rated elementary, middle and high school are nearby with a new sports park close to Randall Middle School. Hillsborough Area Rapid Transit also offers express bus service to MacDill AFB from FishHawk Ranch. MacDill AFB also provides free monthly bus passes to military and civilian

MacDill AFB is having a “Car Boot Sale” this Saturday 8 Aug from 8am to 1pm. The “Car Boot Sale” is mobile version of a neighborhood garage sale.  The sale will take place at the Surf’s Edge Club parking lot. Get ready clean out the house and make some money or find something that you need at a great price! You can drive up and unload your items and sell to a big crowd. This is much easier than preparing for a garage sale and you can expect more people checking out the sale than you would find in a neighborhood garage sale. Plus clean up is easier! You just have to load whatever you have left in the car and drive away. Hopefully, you don’t have too much leftover! This also a great opportunity to find some hidden treasure! If you have a child going off to college, then you might find a great price on a microwave or maybe some kitchen appliances or goods! Maybe you’ll find a good set of golf clubs or extra fishing gear! For this event, table rentals are $25. Call today at 840-6900 to reserve a table. There will also be food on sale including hot dogs and drinks for $1 and chips for only $.50!

For an inexpensive and entertaining night out, stop by the MacDill AFB Movie Theater this Friday and Saturday to see the latest movies. The price of admission and a snack is at least 50% off of what you would spend out in town. This Friday the romantic comedy “The Proposal” starring Sandra Bullock is playing at 7pm. This movie is rated PG-13 for sexual content, nudity and language and has a run time of 108 minutes. When high-powered book editor Margaret faces deportation to her native Canada, the quick-thinking exec declares that she’s actually engaged to her unsuspecting put-upon assistant Andrew, who she’s tormented for years. He agrees to participate in the charade, but with a few conditions of his own. The unlikely couple heads to Alaska to meet his quirky family and the always-in-control city girl finds herself in one comedic fish-out-of-water situation after another. With an impromptu wedding in the works and an immigration official on their tails, Margaret and Andrew reluctantly vow to stick to the plan despite the precarious consequences. On Saturday at 7pm, “My Sister Keeper” starring Cameron Diaz is playing. This movies is rated PG-13 for mature thematic content, disturbing images, sensuality, language and teen drinking and has a run time of 110 minuts. Sara and Brian Fitzgerald’s life with their young son and their two-year-old daughter, Kate, is forever altered when they learn that Kate has leukemia. The parents’ only hope is to conceive another child, specifically intended to save Kate’s life. For some, such genetic engineering would raise both moral and ethical questions. For the Fitzgerald’s, there is no choice but to do whatever it takes to keep Kate alive. And what it takes is Anna.

This Wednesday as part of the Summer Movie Camp at AMC Theaters, “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” will be playing. This animated version follows the continuing adventures within the Star Wars saga. It is set between Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. The film begins with a narrator explaining the state of the Clone Wars instead of an opening crawl like its predecessors. The Separatists control the majority of the hyperlanes, leaving Republic forces stranded in different parts of the Outer Rim. Jabba the Hutt’s son Rotta is kidnapped as part of a plan to make the Hutts join the Separatists. Meanwhile, a fierce battle is taking place on the crystalline planet of Christophsis between the Republic’s small clone army and the Retail Clan forces. With the help of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, the clones steadily advance on the Separatists’ forces, gaining the Republic an early victory. It doesn’t last long, though, as the droid army soon returns. In the Tamapa area, the participating AMC Theaters are the Regency 20 in Brandon, the Veterans 24 in Tampa and the Woodland Square 20 in Oldsmar. Admission is only $1! All admission and concession proceeds from the Summer Movie Camp will benefit Variety-The Children’s Charity and the Will Rogers Institute. The movie starts at 10am. This is great and inexpensive way to spend the morning with the kids. Usually, snacks take a big bite out your wallet. During the movie, the AMC KidsPack is only $3! It includes a kids’ size drink, popcorn and snack. You save $2.75 off the regular price.

During August, Dinosaur World is having Double Dino Days! If you buy a pass in August for Dinosaur World you get a free pass to use during December. 150 life size dinosaurs are displayed outdoors with explanatory signs. Children can dig for authentic fossils. The dinosaur museum has everything from dinosaur eggs to raptor claws. The “Caves” has a video theatre, subterranean picnic area, and displays. The Skeleton Garden has life sized skeletons. There is also a playground area for children. And don’t forget to stop by the Gift Shop before you leave. There is no food for sale, but you can bring a picnic and use the picnic tables. Park hours are 9am to 6pm every day except Dec and Jan when park hours are 9am to 5pm. Parking is always free. You can buy discount tickets at the MacDill AFB ITT for $8.50 for adults and $6.25 for children 3-12 years old. Admission at the gates for adults is $12.75, $9.75 for ages 3-12 and $10.75 for seniors over 60.