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Teens can beat summer blahs

TASCO will provide a way-cool playground Thursday for students in grades 7-12

By CASEY CORA
Published June 28, 2006

For a host of area teens, the summer doldrums will get a shot in the arm during the annual Beach Bash on Thursday at Treasure Island.

Kim Brasher, supervisor of special events for St. Petersburg's Teen Arts, Sports and Cultural Opportunities, or TASCO, said the party is being held on the larger Treasure Island beach to accommodate the 1,300 expected participants.

TASCO is operated by the city's recreation department. The group offers educational, athletic and entertainment programs for youth development.

The beach bash is open to students in seventh through 12th grades and will begin at 10 a.m. at Treasure Island Municipal Beach.

The event will be packed with activities including tie-dyed T-shirt making, water jousting, bungee bouncing, volleyball and basketball.

Live music and other water sports also will be offered, Brasher said.

There's even a rock climbing wall set up right on the beach.

"It's a big party," Brasher said of the event, which is in its 10th year. "This is a good event focused on a positive youth development for teens and adults."

The free event is being sponsored for the first time by the Breakfast Optimist Club of St. Petersburg.

Club secretary Lee Warnock said the group donated $3,000 for the beach bash.

"The city's been really good to us, so any time we can help get involved in one of their causes, we will," Warnock said.

The festivities will come to a close at 4 p.m.

Treasure Island Municipal Beach is at 11260 Gulf Blvd.

Casey Cora can be reached at 727 893-8730 or ccora@sptimes.com.

[Last modified June 28, 2006, 08:10:42]