Free Dental Services - Feb. 8 in TAMPA

For years, hundreds of people in Pasco camped outside Dr. Vincent J. Monticciolo's dentistry office in New Port Richey to take advantage of the one day of the year he offered free dental services. Although Monticciolo has moved his practice to Tampa, he's still hosting the free dental care event — it's just a longer hike for Pasco residents.

The event is Friday, Feb. 8 and registration begins at 7 a.m. Monticciolo Family and Sedation Dentistry is at 8327 W. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa. The volunteer team will only see the first 300 people, so people are urged to arrive early, dress for the weather and bring whatever food or supplies they need for the outdoor wait. Participants will get a free extraction, filling or cleaning.

For information, visit www.DentistryFromtheHeart.org or call the foundation office at (727) 849-2002.

FREE Jeff Corwin Lecture - USF Tampa, Thursday, November 15, 8 p.m.

Jeff Corwin, host and executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning show “The Jeff Corwin Experience,” will be sharing his animal adventures as well as the importance of wildlife conservation and sustainability with University of South Florida (USF) students, staff, and community. The heavily anticipated lecture, “Tales from the Field with Jeff Corwin,” takes place Thursday, Nov. 15, at 8 p.m. in the Marshall Student Center Ballroom on the Tampa campus.

Sponsored by the USF Student Affairs’ University Lecture Series (ULS), Corwin’s lecture will feature various live animals, potentially including a cougar, alligator, coati and Burmese python.

While Corwin is best known for his entertaining shows on Animal Planet, Discovery Channel and ABC, he is also one of the world’s leading environmental journalists. His passion for conservationism and sustainability attracts audiences from all around the globe. Also an author, his latest book is “100 Heartbeats: The Race to Save Earth’s Most Endangered Species.”

All lectures in the University Lecture Series are free to students, faculty, staff and the public. For more information about the series, the speaker, the seating and attendance policy, or parking, visit http://uls.usf.edu/. For reasonable accommodations, please contact (813) 974-1001 (FL Relay 711).

Other inquiries may be directed to Renee Svec at (813)974-5383 or svec@usf.edu or Lara Wade-Martinez at (813) 974-9060 or larawade@usf.edu.

Pasco County Area Pumpkin Patches and Fall Festivals

Fall is here, even if it doesn't feel like it outside.  Get in the seasonal spirit by visiting one of the many pumpkin patches and fall festivals gearing up around the area!

Fall Festival
Every Saturday and Sunday in October, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Horsepower for Kids, Inc.
8005 S. Racetrack Rd., Tampa, FL 33635

Admission $10/children, $8/adults. Parking $1 per car. Cash only, please.  Admission includes pony rides, hay rides, train rides, farm animals, face painting, bonfire, games, live music, hot dog and soda. Pumpkins also available for purchase.

Fall Maze
Every Saturday and Sunday thru November 4, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 
Sweetfields Farm
17250 Benes Roush Rd., Masaryktown, FL 34604
Admission 12 years and older: $8.50, 3-11 years: $4.50, 2 years and under are free.  Admission includes fall maze, hay ride, hay maze, hay play area, picnic area, duck race, spider web maze, treehouse, storyteller, craft, animal visits, and more. Bring extra money for the pumpkin launcher, face painting, pumpkin painting, food and drinks, and U-pick or gathered produce.

Fall Festival
Friday, October 12, 6-8:30 p.m.
Morton Plant Mease Outpatient Center
2102 Trinity Oaks Blvd., Trinity, FL 
Free dinner, health screenings, Ask-A-Doc, face painting, pumpkin painting, Radio Disney, and more! Preregistration required, click here to register online or call (727) 940-2875.

Scarecrow Festival
Saturday, October 13, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Downtown Dade City
Free admission, bring your own long sleeved shirt and pants and stuff a scarecrow for free, arts and crafts vendors, carnival games (bring money!), pumpkins, pony rides, and bounce houses.


Fall Festival
Saturday, October 13, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Holiday Community Fellowship Church
5144 Sunray Dr., Holiday, FL 34690
Pumpkin patch, activities, games, food, and fun!

Fall Festival of Hope Vendor and Craft Fair
Saturday, October 13, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
HERS Fitness Center
7135 State Road 54, New Port Richey, FL 34653
Free doorprizes, free Zumba class at 9:30 a.m., food, and children's crafts

Wesley Chapel Fall Festival
Saturday and Sunday, October 13-14, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
The Grove at Wesley Chapel
Oakley Blvd., Wesley Chapel, FL 33544

Arts and crafts vendors, Battle of the Wings contest, Lil Mr. and Miss Pumpkin Patch contest, pumpkin patch, hay rides, bounce houses, face painting, and more!

Family Fun Festival
Friday, October 19, 4-7 p.m.
Seal Swim School
19509 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., Lutz, FL 33548
Pumpkin painting, bounce house, arts and crafts, face painting, music, and more.

Pumpkin Patch Bash
Friday, October 19, 6-8 p.m.
Land O' Lakes Recreation Complex
3032 Collier Pkwy
Land O' Lakes, FL 34639
Come join our Pumpkin Patch Bash where we will have games, candy, hay rides and activities inside and outside. Costumes are encouraged but not required! This event is for ages 10 years old and under. Admission is $1 per person.

Pumpkin Patch and Fall Family Festival and Food Drive
First United Methodist Church of New Port Richey
5901 Indiana Ave., New Port Richey, FL 34652

Pumpkin patch open Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., October 17-27
Fall Family Festival and Food Drive
Saturday, October 20, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Swaptember - Florida Aquarium, MOSI, and Lowry Park Zoo

If you are a member of the Florida Aquarium, MOSI, or Lowry Park Zoo, this is your last week to take advantage of Swaptember!

Swaptember is the program that allows members of these three local attractions to visit the other attractions for free during the month of September - just show your membership card at the ticket office.  For example, we have an annual membership to Lowry Park Zoo.  This past weekend we went to the Florida Aquarium.  We just showed our Zoo membership cards at the Aquarium ticket counter and got free admission!

For more information and details, visit any of their websites:

http://www.flaquarium.org/annual-pass/share-program/swaptember.aspx

http://www.mosi.org/default.aspx

http://www.lowryparkzoo.com/index.html

Get Your Discounted Florida State Fair Tickets NOW!

The 2012 Florida State Fair is only 8 days away... Have you gotten your tickets yet? From now until February 8, you can purchase discounted gate admission tickets at your local Sweetbay Supermarket - adult admission for $8 (age 12 and up) and youth admission for $4 (ages 6-11). Ride armbands can be purchased for $25. For more information, for ride armband dates, and a list of participating Sweetbay Supermarkets, click here.