The biggest complaint was the inconsistences between schools. The dress code would vary from school to school and when a child would change schools they would also have to change dress codes. The existing school dress codes will still apply.

On a national level, the amount of home sales rose in communities that were once slumping, while communites that were resistant to the slump is suffering larger declines. Pinellas, Pasco, Hillsborough and Hernando Counties, suffered a 5% yearly sales decline, which is better than the entire state as a whole. Some realtors state that homes have gotten so cheap in some neighborhoods that investors are buying and renting out homes for a profit again.

Football training starts again! Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training Camp starts on Sat. July 26, 2008 and will continue to run through Aug. 14, 2008. It’s open to the the public and it’s FREE! Morning practices start at 8:30 a.m and afternoon practices start at 2:45 p.m. Sometimes there are schedule changes so be sure to check the website before you head on out with your football and gatorade!

With the summer Florida weather as hot as it is, why not spend the day at The Ice Sports Forum in Brandon, Tampa, Florida. The Ice Sports Forum is the official training facility of the Tampa Bay Lightnings. Admission is $8.65 for ages 13 and over. The Ice Sports Forum is located at 10222 Elizabeth Place, Tampa, FL 33619. For more information call (813) 684-7825. Public skating times and days are subject to change, make sure you check the site out before putting on your jacket!

For all you train lovers out there, The Great Train Expo is this weekend. This is a traveling show that peaks the interest of all model-train lovers. The show will have trains that your wee ones can run and trains they can ride! Tickets are only $7 for adults and the children are free. The show runs Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Harborview Center, 300 Cleveland St., Clearwater, Fl.

Take a walk through some of the oldest exotic plants in the state, Sunken Gardens provides a museum with a 100 year old garden. It is the home to some of the oldest tropical plants in the area and provides guided tours through the winding paths of exotic plants, waterfalls and butterfly gardens. Sunken Gardens is located at 1825 4th St. N. St. Petersburg, FL. For more information call (727) 551-3102. Admission to these beautiful gardens is only $8.

At the Beach Theatre in St. Petersburg, Fl. The cast of Interchangeable Parts will be enacting movie scenes before the 10:00 p.m. showing of Return of the Living Dead followed by the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Price to see both movies is $8. And if you just want to dress up in your best Zombie swim wear the price for the zombie party is $5. This ‘killer’ of a time is located at 315 Corey Avenue on St. Petersburg Beach. For more information call (727) 360 6697.

More entertainment for you movie buffs! It’s the last weekend for Largo’s Flick n’ Float summer DIVE-in theater. Tonight at 7:30 p.m., the comedy Mouse Hunt will be playing on a 20×30 inflatable screen at the edge of the pool. Non largo residents admission price is $6.25 per family!! This prices includes hot dogs and sandwiches donated by Chick-Fil-A of Largo but only while they last. This excitement will take place at the Southwest Recreation Complex located at 13120 Vonn Road in Largo. For more information call (727)518-3126.

Tonight and Tommorrow are the last two nights left of the Summer Camp at the Studio@620. The cost is $1.99 for each movie or if you want to make a night of it and see all of them the price is $5.99. For a list of the movies that are showing please visit the website.

Why not take a stroll down to the St. Petersburg Peir and Aquarium and watch the sunset before you take advantage of any of these movie deals. The St. Petersburg Peir was founded in 1988 and offers an amazing not-for-profit aquarium and cummunity marine education center. Admission into The Pier Aquarium ranges from $4-5 and free to Children 6 and under. For more information please call (727)895-7437. The peir is located at 800 Second Ave. NE, St. Petersburg, Fl.

At 8:00p.m. tonight at Skippers Smokehouse in Tampa, Fl. there will be music abound. With Midnight Bowlers League, Sarge & the Aeromen, Johnny Zoom Cheerlead Squad, and Haole Kats. Ticket prices range from $7-10. Must be 21 years old or accompanied with a parent. This Roots n’ Rhythm will take place at 910 Skipper Road. For more information call 1-800-594-8499.

Wearable ART: The Exhibition. What was that? Wearable Art? This show will bring fabulous MacGyver-like objects into fashion. The show will open with a reception at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday and will remain on display through Aug.17, 2008. The center is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays. The center is are located at 1143 Michigan Blvd., Dunedin, Fl.

Have a great Weekend!!

Treasure Island resident does his pre-flight check.

This post is the first in a series of 101. They will not be in any particular order, they are just things to do, that should not be missed, in the West Central Florida area.

#1 - The Treasure Island Drum Circle

Every Sunday around 6:00 p.m at Treasure Island Beach in Pinellas County, Florida a drum circle is formed. People come from all over the area carrying their drums, tamborines and any other musical instrument they can think of, to create some of the most incredible sounds as they watch they sun go down. Not everyone in the circle knows how to drum, some come to dance, socialize or just listen to the beats with the sounds of the surf in the background. The drums continue to play until 10:00 p.m. There is a bath house and showers located near the parking lot. All you need to bring is a chair or a blanket to sit on and some kind of musical instrument to play. If your not a drummer, your should still come just for the experience, it is one I’m sure you’ll remember.

Take a minute and be judgemental about your yard. Stand out by the road and take a good, hard look with a critical eye. Find those things that stand out and fix them. The first thing you should do is clean the outside of the home, including the windows. If you don’t have a pressure washer, these can be rented out fairly cheap. Keep an eye out for any screens that need to be repaired. Keep your lawn watered and trimmed down and add some flowers, this brings color and warmth to a home. Check out your front door. Adding a door knocker or new hardware is always a great way to add to the appeal of the home. Add a fresh coat of paint, if it needs it. Your front door will be one of the first impressions that potential home buyers will notice.

After you have fixed what you feel needs to be taken care of, go back out to the road, this time bring a friend. Four eyes are better than two.