Seersucker suit? Pressed. Panama hat? Steamed and blocked. White shoe polish? Check. OK, Betsteristas, let's rock and roll. It's summertime, gang. Starting this weekend, you can wear those crisp white suits, those frilly white dresses and those darling little open toe sandals.

Don't listen to what Patty Hearst said in "Serial Mom." No, it's not proper to wear white before Memorial Day and after Labor Day. Really. Rules are rules. Start flouting fashion, and next thing you know, people will wear Xtratufs to weddings and consider a clean pair of blue jeans formal attire.

Oops. Too late.

Depending on the weather, we'll be wearing either matching orange rain coats and bib overalls or our old Sally Ann pair of paisley-print shorts — or something in between. If you see people walking around in shorts, longjohns, rubber boots and a PFD, do not be alarmed. Do not cower in fear: those are only kayakers cruisin' the art galleries waiting for the day breeze to slack down. Those old coots in hip waders that smell like rotting salmon eggs? Fishermen between tides. Move down wind and nobody will get hurt.

Ready, steady, go. Summer's here. Let's get cracking with some of these Best Bets:

BEST THE REASON FOR THE SEASON BET: Keep the "memorial" in the weekend by honoring America's war dead on Monday. The VFW and American Legion hold memorial ceremonies starting at 10 a.m. at the Hickerson Memorial Cemetery in Homer and heading up the road to Ninilchik. Not into military pomp? Think of the fallen in your own private way, and hope for the day when the world heeds the words of Isaiah — the Old Testament prophet as well as Homer's dear departed Brother Asaiah Bates — and studies war no more.

BEST DANG BASEBALL TEAM SINCE THE RED SOX: The Homer High Mariner boys baseball team takes on a bunch of OK teams and one good one — hey, only one team beat the Mariners — starting today at 5 p.m. with the region tournament at the Homer High School field. The action continues through Saturday.

BEST SORE SHOULDERS BET: Book your masseuse appointment early, because come next week every kayaker in town will be looking for a tune up after the Kachemak Kayak Festival. The event starts at 7 tonight with an orientation at Stas Restaurant and continues till the shoulders blow out. Check out the schedule and sign up for events at the Homer Chamber of Commerce.

BEST TREES FOR THE FOREST BET: If you haven't picked up a tree at any of the like three gazillion sales a few weeks ago, here's one last chance to get something to green out your garden. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, FFA holds a plant, tree and shrub sale at Homer High School.

BEST FAMILY FUN BET: Anchor Point over Memorial Day weekend once had a rep for being a get down and party place. Anchorage scofflaws and Valley miscreants would come to AP and pretty much trash up the town. Not any more. For the second year, the focus is on family fun — safe, responsible recreation. Family Fun Festival 2005 starts with a cookout at the Slidehole Day Use Area, and continues through Monday with food, games and music at Chapman School. There's also an All U Can Eat pancake breakfast from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Anchor Point Senior Center.

BEST COMING ABOUT BET: Get out the spotting scopes and suntan lotion, pull up a chair on the beach at Land's End, and get ready to watch the start of the Homer Yacht Club's racing season. Homer's flotilla of sailboats heads out into the bay at 11 a.m. Saturday, although it takes 'em a while to get sails trimmed and ready to race. Too calm on Saturday? The race will be rescheduled for Sunday.