Real costumes made by real people

Still don't have a costume for your child? Check out some homemade costumes made by local moms, dads and grandmas.

click here to see more.

Crafty Costume: Retro-Robot   Cute kid: Gavin, 4, Lexington Oaks
Created by: Lori & Corey Spurr (parents)
How long it took: 8 hours
How she did it: We bought a plastic bin and my husband cut out the holes for the head, arms, and legs with a rotary (Dremel) tool.  He also made small holes in the front of the bin for these great battery operated Christmas lights that I found at Wal-Mart (the lights just popped into the holes).  Then, I searched around Ace's Hardware for robot accessories, including reflectors, mini-LED lights, an outdoor thermometer, and flexible dryer vent tubing for the arms and legs.  I bought a cheap aluminum pot for the hat and made a strap out of some silver cording that I already had.  Under the bin, he wore gray pants, shirts, and gray gloves on his hands.  We already had the "space" shoes in our dress-up bin.
Cost: About $30

Looking for homemade Halloween costumes

Are you a crafty parent or grandparent who has made some stinkin' cute costumes for your kids for Halloween in the past? (Or, you overachiever, you...you're already done with this year's costume?)

We want to run pictures of adorable kids in their homemade costumes in an upcoming North of Tampa edition with fun facts.

Please e-mail a picture of your cute kids in their handmade costumes to: nguyen@sptimes.com with this information:
Costume name
Name of costume maker
Kid(s) name(s) and age(s)
How long it took to create
What materials you used
Cost of the materials
Neighborhood you live in

Our deadline is THIS Friday, Oct. 17. If your kid's costume is from Tarjay, that's okay! Just forward this to your crafty friends! Thanks, Phuong
The Polidoros: Tyler the cowboy and Katie the bride, in costumes sewn by their grandmother, Joan Polidoro.

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Cory Lake Isles Professional Center celebrates fall

Businesses in the Cory Lake Isles Professional Center celebrated a Fall Fusion event this past weekend by offering food, drinks and goodies to visitors. Twenty-seven businesses participated by setting up tents outside their doors or giving tours of their offices.

Kids created their own trophies at Crown Trophy; Dr. Greg Stepanski's dentist office gave out toothbrushes and floss; and the Young Chefs Academy set up cookie-decorating stations. There were also bounce houses, shaved ice and music.

A popular stop was Thompson Studios, where kids got their faces painted and then got free portraits from Bob Thompson.

Thanks to Kim Thompson, here are some favorites:

Family of Christ students create Pinwheels for Peace

Students at Family of Christ Christian School in New Tampa celebrated International Day of Peace on Sept. 21. Students designed their own pinwheels and planted them at the school's entrance as part of the worldwide call for peace.

The meaning behind the pinwheels is that the wind will spread thoughts and feelings about peace throughout the country and the world.

(Thank you teacher Jean McDermott for the pictures.)

Want to see what Wiregrass looks like?

A construction worker raises the final piece of the trademark "W" to the entrance to the Shops at Wiregrass on SR 56 and Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in Wesley Chapel on Tuesday. A media tour was given to announce the Oct. 30th opening of the shops, and to show off the 646,000-square-foot, Main street-style outdoor shopping center. It will have three anchor stores, JcPenney, Dillard's and Macy's, as well as more than 60 specialty shops and restaurants.

Construction workers build on the site where a children's play area will be.

JANEL SCHROEDER-NORTON | Times

Wildcat Midgets win 7-0

Photo credit: Gabriela Ramirez. Jamar Onfroy (#44) and VJ Williams (#2) take down the West Tampa Spartans' running back while a host of other Wildcats close in during the Midget team's 7-0 victory at Wildcat Field on Sept. 20. Read about it here: Download Wildcats092008.doc

More Wildcats action

Jake Kennedy rushed to the outside for some of his 180 yards en route to the New Tampa Wildcat's 26-14 Junior Team victory over the North Tampa Tar Heels on Saturday, Sept. 13. Photo by Gabriela Ramirez. Read more about Saturday's action here. Download Wildcats09130865.pdf

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New Tampa Wildcats undefeated in flag

Noah Biglow made a big stop, and Cooper Clarke closed in during the New Tampa Wildcats 27-4 victory over the Zephyrhills Bulldawgs on Saturday. The Wildcats remain undefeated in the Flag Division. Photo by Gabriela Ramirez. Get the details here. Download Wildcats090608.doc. 

Football season has begun

Vashaun Williams, Jr. (#2) picks up yards while Jacob Franklin (#22) provides a block in the New Tampa Wildcats Midget team overtime loss to the Lakeland Saints on Aug. 23. Photo by Gabriela Ramirez

The thermostat might say get-outa-here but the New Tampa Wildcats opened their season Saturday against the Lakeland Saints with two wins and four losses.

The wins were substantial -- 28-0 for the new flag division (ages 5 and 6, yes you read that right) and 41-0 for the 12 and 13 year-old juniors.

Read more here Download wildcat_news.pdf about the Wildcats, who now compete in the Mid Florida Football and Cheer Conference, and are up next against Land O' Lakes and Zephyrhills. The Wildcats practice and play home games at Live Oak Field, between Turner Elementary and Bartels Middle School off Bruce B. Downs.

Thank you Gregg Franklin. We hope to hear soon from soccer and baseball!

Greetings from Turner Elementary School

Ah, kindergarten. Enjoy it, it doesn't stay this simple. We get beautiful pictures from Rachel DeLuna at Turner Elementary school, and here's kindergarten teacher Mimi Talcott accepting an apple from Aidan Zelenka on the first day of school. As always, thanks!