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Solar Exposure

Enjoy Land O’ Lakes music jams

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NOTE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED

Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park will be the gathering place for the annual Land O’ Lakes Music Festival.

People relax and enjoy the music of four popular local bands at the annual Land O’ Lakes Music Festival. (File)

A lineup of bands is set to perform on the stage at the park, at 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce is hosting the concert, set for March 21, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. The gate opens at 3:30 p.m.

Patrons can relax on the park’s open field with lawn chairs or blankets, and enjoy food from various food trucks, while listening to Solar Exposure, Den of Thieves, JT Curtis and the Florida Scoundrels, and Stonegrey.

The venue is a great place for kids to have fun, for families and friends to socialize, and to enjoy an event that brings people together from throughout the region.

For more information, call (727) 842-7651 or (813) 909-2722. Emails also can be sent to .

Land O’ Lakes Music Festival
When: March 21 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Where: Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Land O’ Lakes
Cost: $5 admission; free parking
Details: Patrons can enjoy a lineup of musical acts while relaxing on the park’s open field.
Info: Call (727) 842-7651 or (813) 909-2722. Email .

Published March 11, 2020

Music fest returns to Land O’ Lakes

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Get ready for some sounds of music — at the fourth annual Land O’ Lakes Music Festival.

The event is set for March 23 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

The band Solar Exposure is scheduled to make a return at the fourth annual Land O’ Lakes Music Festival. Numerous bands are on the March 23 lineup. (File)

The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event. Live performances will be provided by Bearded Brothers, Stonegrey, Peace of Woodstock and Solar Exposure.

Festival-goers can bring blankets or lawn chairs to relax on the large open field and listen to bands, as they make their appearances on stage.

There also will be food trucks, adult beverages, and arts and crafts available for purchase.

Admission is free and parking is $10.

Coolers are not permitted, but pets are welcome, as long as they are on a leash.

Proceeds will benefit the Pasco County Parks Department so youth can go on camping expeditions.

Heritage Park is located at 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

For additional information, call the chamber at (813) 909-2722, or email .

Land O’ Lakes Music Festival
Where: Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Land O’ Lakes
When: March 23 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Cost: Free admission; $10 for parking
Details: There will be live musical performances throughout the event; food and merchandise will be available for purchase.
Info: Contact the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce at (813) 909-2722 or .

Published March 13, 2019

Music, food and fun mark Land O’ Lakes Music Festival

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Singer Carmen Harrell, of Orlando, performs with Marlon Boone and his band, City Groove, giving the audience a treat with her soulful voice and high energy performance. (Christine Holtzman)

Festival-goers were dancing, relaxing and generally just enjoying a day of continuous entertainment at the third annual Land O’ Lakes Music Festival, held March 24 at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park.

Some there, including April Genter, of Land O’ Lakes, were obviously having a good time — grooving to tunes performed by a band called the Actual Bank Robbers.

Four-year-old Morgan Keith, of Lutz, was having a ball — while sailing down the large bouncy slide. The little girl was also excited about Stonegrey’s appearance at the festival because she considers lead guitarist Tristan to be her ‘boyfriend.’

Singer Carmen Harrell entertained the crowd by belting out a high-octane version of Ike and Tina Turner’s Proud Mary, as Marlon Boone jammed on the saxophone.

April Genter, of Land O’Lakes, moves to a song performed by the Actual Bank Robbers at the third annual Land O’ Lakes Music Festival.

There were a lot of people there to support friends, or simply revel in a sunny Saturday afternoon, while supporting a local event.

This year’s festival was the first to utilize the new Heritage Park Stage, a venue which took years of advocacy, and a considerable number of partnerships among governments, local businesses and community volunteers to achieve.

The slate of entertainers included Stonegrey, Solar Exposure, City Groove, Fred Chandler, Actual Bank Robbers, Trigger City Trio and Sowflo.

While the live music played non-stop, festival-goers also could check out the beer and wine tent, and food trucks, do some shopping to find out more about the goods and services offered by local businesses.

Children could have fun, too, at the Kids’ Zone, sponsored by My Pediatrics, which offered balloon animals, games, a bouncy house and inflatable slide.

Admission was free to the event, which was hosted by the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce and was presented by Ierna’s Heating & Cooling. Parking was $10, with proceeds benefitting local schools.

By Christine Holtzman

B.C. Manion contributed to this report.

Published March 28, 2018

Eight-month-old Griff Miller, of Land O’Lakes, is clearly enjoying himself in the Kids’ Zone at the festival.

 

Lynn Vanmeter, of Spring Hill, shows off her ‘Crazy Hat’ just outside the Kids’ Zone. Lynn is a practice manager for My Pediatrics, sponsor of the Kids’ Zone.

 

Leslie Brown, lead singer of Solar Exposure, belts out the first tune at the festival. Solar Exposure is based in Land O’ Lakes.

 

Deon Coogle and her husband, Stephen, are having a good time while listening to the band Solar Exposure.

 

The band Actual Bank Robbers energizes the crowd with its performance of the Bruno Mars hit ‘That’s What I Like.’

Music to fill the air in Land O’ Lakes

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The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for its third Land O’ Lakes Music Festival.

(Courtesy of Terri Dusek)

The event will be held March 24 from noon to 8 p.m., at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, formerly known as the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, at 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

This year, musicians will be able to use Heritage Stage — a community stage that was completed last year, following years of advocacy, and as a result of a multitude of partnerships between governments, business partners and community volunteers.

Bands that are scheduled to perform during the festival are:

  • Solar Exposure with an eclectic mix of pop, rock and hint of country
  • Marlon Boone, Jazz/R&B saxophonist extraordinaire
  • Actual Bank Robbers’ unique indie pop rock
  • Trigger City Trio will entertain with rock & soul sprinkled with funk
  • Stonegrey jamming with arena/classic rock style
  • Sowflo, is coming from Naples, with a reggae vibe

Fred Chandler, a vocalist who also plays multiple instruments, will entertain between acts.

“It’s an entire day of music,” said Terri Dusek, event chairwoman.

She hopes that the music festival, now being held for the third time, will evolve into a major event in Central Pasco.

The idea is to provide a setting where music is the focal point, said Dusek, who has been involved with music her entire life.

“Music has been a huge part of my life,” Dusek said, noting that her sons are members of Stonegrey.

She also noted that Stonegrey, Solar Exposure and Fred Chandler are all Land O’ Lakes residents.

Dusek also noted that Ryan Walker, owner of Artist Direct, will be handling the sound for the festival.

While music takes center stage, there also will be arts and crafts vendors, a kids’ zone, and a business showcase featuring companies and organizations that want to spread the word about what they have to offer.

There will be food trucks, as well as beer and wine.

Admission is free, but parking is $10 per vehicle, which benefits local schools.

No coolers or pets are allowed.

For more information, call The Central Pasco Chamber at (813) 909-2722, or email .

Land O’ Lakes Music Festival
Where: Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.
When: March 24, noon to 8 p.m.
Cost: Free admission; parking is $10
Details: Spectators can enjoy a full day of music. There also will be arts and crafts vendors, a kids’ zone, and food and drink available for purchase. Bring lawn chairs and blankets.
Info: Call The Central Pasco Chamber at (813) 909-2722, or email .

Published March 14, 2018

Lending sinkhole victims a hand

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Penny Foote felt the need to help families — after the largest sinkhole in Pasco County history opened July 14 on Ocean Pines Drive in Land O’ Lakes.

“When I saw the two homes go in, my heart hit the floor,” Foote said. “I knew we had to do something and try to pull people together because it could’ve happened to anybody, even me.”

That same day, Foote created the Lake Padgett Families Sinkhole Relief Facebook page.

Debris and water removal of the sinkhole wrapped up on Aug. 13. The next steps for remediating the 260-foot-wide hole will be discussed by the Pasco County Commission at a later date. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

Through the group page, which now totals more than 2,200 members, Foote has coordinated the delivery of donations and supplies to displaced sinkhole families, and adjacent properties on Ocean Pines Drive and Canal Place.

Foote, who has partnered with United Way of Pasco and Pasco County Human Services, has met individually with each of the sinkhole victims, to inquire about various essentials — everything from food and clothing, to baby supplies and furniture.

Then, she posted to the Facebook page, soliciting needed items from group members and local businesses.

“Somebody comes and just brings it,” Foote said.  “The community’s just been donating tons and tons of stuff, and the families have been at my house multiple times getting everything they want.”

Besides donations, Foote also rallied numerous volunteers to assist displaced families in moving belongings from their condemned homes.

Including Land O’ Lakes residents, Footed said people from Tampa, Wesley Chapel and Odessa have all offered assistance, in some form or another.

The widespread community support, is “absolutely incredible,” she noted.

“There have been a lot of people pulling for them,” Foote said. “I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.”

Now, Foote, with the help of Tampa-based realtor Danielle Sullivan, has organized an upcoming fundraiser benefiting families affected by the sinkhole.

The Lake Padgett Estates Sinkhole Family Day Fundraiser will be held Aug. 26, from noon to 5 p.m., at the Harvester United Methodist Church, 2432 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes.

Besides numerous food trucks and local vendors, the event will feature a live band, yard sale, raffle and silent auction, and kid-friendly entertainment, such as a bounce house and face painting.

Foote hopes to raise at least $20,000. All of the proceeds will go to sinkhole victims shortly after the event.

It’s not the only sinkhole fundraiser going on this weekend.

The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Skipper’s Smokehouse for a benefit concert on Aug. 27. The show, beginning at 5 p.m., will feature performances by several local acts, including, Stonegrey, Peace of Woodstock, Solar Exposure, and 4X.

And, other fundraisers have been held the past several weeks, including events hosted by Plantation Palms Golf & Country Club, Beef O’ Brady’s of Sunlake and In The Loop Brewing.

Foote, who runs a child day care business, lives about 1.5 miles from the actual sinkhole site.

She remains heartbroken by the sinkhole victims’ personal stories in the aftermath of the catastrophic event.

“These families are still struggling today, just like they were on Day 1. It’s still very difficult and very hard for them,” Foote said.

One of those affected is 77-year-old Emily Geldbaugh.

The retiree’s home was one of seven that’s been condemned, meeting the criteria for demolition.

The loss of her house, which she has owned for 14 years, was tough to grasp.

“It was shocking, and of course, sort of painful at the same time,” Geldbaugh said. “I felt pretty sad about it.”

Since the condemnation, Geldbaugh has been staying with her son’s family while she searches for an affordable rental home.
She noted the catastrophic event could have been worse.

“I’m just glad everybody got out, because if it happened earlier I don’t think they would’ve,” she said. “(My house) could’ve fallen in, too, who knows? I’m lucky that it’s still standing.”

The efforts of Foote and others have not been lost on Geldbaugh during this difficult time.

She is “totally amazed” by the community outreach received over the past several weeks.

“There’s a lot of wonderful people out there, and a lot of them came to help me move,” Geldbaugh said. “I mean, there’s been donations and a lot of good is going to come from all that.”

She continued: “(Penny’s) a wonderful lady. I know she can’t do it alone, but she’s been real gracious, and she’s really caring about all these people and their problems, and I think that’s wonderful. You don’t have very many people in the world like that.”

Terence Doohen, another sinkhole victim, expressed similar sentiments.

The 44-year-old also is “floored” by Foote’s efforts and the amount of donations others have provided, specifically mentioning nonperishable food, bottled water and toiletries.

“In my mind, it restores the idea that there is humanity left,” Doohen said. “At the end of the day, when something like this happens, and you see good people doing thoughtful things, it really restores your perspective on humanity once again.”

He added: “It’s eye-opening, and it really is heartwarming to know that people care out there.”

Doohen, along with his wife and 10-year-old son, were displaced over two weeks ago, when the Pasco County Building Inspectors Office red-tagged their lake house property — which they had owned for about two years.

The family is currently staying at a neighbor’s home, until they find a suitable rental.

“It kind of stinks in a way because that was our little house on the lake. When we bought it a couple of years ago, we put a lot of money into it — new kitchen, new windows, everything,” Doohen explained.

Doohen said his family — along with others affected by the sinkhole — will never be able to recover the full value of their house and property.

“Once that hole opened up — even if you’re living within five houses and didn’t have the condemnation letter — the value of your property just got slapped in half,” Doohen said. “At the end of the day, everyone (affected) is going to be worse off; that’s the sad part about it.”

A month later, he still recalls witnessing the sinkhole develop as he got ready for work that Friday morning in mid-July.

“It starts out as a 20-by-20 little puddle, and then all of a sudden it just starts opening up like a big reservoir and starts chasing the house next to it, and then the one on the other side of it,” he said.

“My blood pressure started rising when it started eating at the road,” Doohen said.

Upcoming fundraisers:
Lake Padgett Estates Sinkhole Family Day Fundraiser
Where: Harvester United Methodist Church, 2432 Collier Parkway, Land O’ Lakes
When: Aug. 26, noon to 5 p.m.
Cost: Free admission
Details: Food trucks, local vendors, live music, yard sale, raffle and silent auction, kid-friendly activities.
Information: email

Build it Back Sinkhole Relief
Where: Skipper’s Smokehouse, 910 Skipper Road, Tampa
When: Aug. 27, at 5 p.m.
Cost: Admission is $10 in advance, $15 at the door
Details: Benefit concert featuring local bands Stonegrey, Peace of Woodstock, Solar Exposure, and 4X
Information: SkippersSmokehouse.com

Published August 23, 2017

Taylor Hicks to perform in Land O’ Lakes

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Before he became nationally known, Taylor Hicks spent years in relative obscurity, sharing his music at any venue where he could get a booking.

“I would play everything from small venues to clubs to honky-tonks, to roadhouses to juke joints — you name it, I was playing it,” Hicks said.

Over the years, he played concerts and club dates with widely known musicians, but he didn’t get his big break until he won Season 5 of American Idol.

Taylor Hicks said he loves performing, and it’s something he expects he will always continue to do. He will be performing on March 11 in Land O’ Lakes at the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce’s Spring Music Festival & Expo. (Photos courtesy of Taylor Hicks)
Taylor Hicks said he loves performing, and it’s something he expects he will always continue to do. He will be performing on March 11 in Land O’ Lakes at the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce’s Spring Music Festival & Expo.
(Photos courtesy of Taylor Hicks)

Hicks said he hadn’t really been planning to audition for the popular television show, now celebrating its farewell season.

He had gone to a wedding and was stranded by Hurricane Katrina, and he wound up getting a free ticket to fly anywhere in the country, he explained.

“So, I flew to Vegas on a whim,” he said. That just happened to be where American Idol was holding auditions, so Hicks decided to get in line.

That was the beginning of Hicks’ rise to national fame.

He went on to become America’s favorite.

“The season that I was on (American Idol) was their biggest season. With all of that attention, it was pretty amazing,” Hicks said.

After winning the title, doors opened for him, and he remains grateful.

“The Idol platform has set me up to be able to do a lot of different things,” he said.

Less than three weeks after winning Idol, his debut single, “Do I Make You Proud,” entered at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100, Pop 100, and Single Sales Charts.

He penned “Heart Full of Soul,” an autobiography published by Random House, and starred in the role of Teen Angel in the Broadway musical “Grease.”

Now, he also has a hand in barbecue, as co-owner of a barbecue restaurant in Birmingham.

“I keep busy,” Hicks said.

He also continues to tour, with upcoming concerts planned in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Missouri.

His Florida appearance will be at the Land O’ Lakes Spring Music Festival on March 11.

He’s looking forward to the concert, noting he enjoys a nice following from his Florida fans, who tend to travel.

Taylor Hicks’ interest in music dates back to his teenage years, when he taught himself to play the harmonica. He later learned how to play acoustic guitar and piano.
Taylor Hicks’ interest in music dates back to his teenage years, when he taught himself to play the harmonica. He later learned how to play acoustic guitar and piano.

“I love performing,” Hicks said.  “I think that’s something I’ll always do. Entertaining and making people feel music, that’s something that I just really love doing.”

Hicks is the featured performer in a new event the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce is launching, aimed at giving people an annual music festival they can enjoy, while area businesses showcase their goods and services.

The festival is a new take on the chamber’s annual business expo that has been held for two decades at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex.

This festival runs for two days, March 11 and March 12, with Hicks performing on the opening night, following Solar Exposure, the opening act. The second day of the festival features a business expo and other musical acts.

Tickets for Hicks’ concert are still available, said David Gainer, co-chairman of the event. They cost $40 for reserved seating, and $25 for lawn seating.

Food and beverage will be available for purchase, and no coolers will be allowed.

Gainer also noted that all of the slots for the business vendors for the expo on March 12 have been sold.

Hicks said he is looking forward to the Land O’ Lakes event, and he hopes he’ll see some of his loyal fans.

He said his interest in music dates back to his teenage years, when he taught himself how to play the harmonica.

At 16, he taught himself acoustic guitar and then moved on to piano later on, and then began writing songs, he said.

“I think it was a natural progression,” Hicks said.

His early experience helped prepare him for life after winning American Idol, he said.

“I think a lot of the touring as a kid kind of help me set my own experience up,” he said.

“When it happened, the transition from obscurity to notoriety was kind of an easy transition because, I’d been doing it (touring) a lot, since I was a kid,” he said.

“Experience always helps,” he added.

“I think you just kind of get in a groove with notoriety. You start understanding your place in society as a public figure. And then, you just have to reinvent yourself and stay out there, and work as much as you can,” he said.

As American Idol concludes its television run this year, Hicks said the show is exiting on a high note.

“I think it’s bittersweet, but I think the way that Idol is ending its run is a pretty classy way to do it,” Hicks said. “I think 15 years of television is quite respectable.”

Spring Music Festival & Expo
Where: Fraternal Order of Police Pasco Lodge 29 property, 21735 YMCA Camp Road, in Land O’ Lakes.
When: March 11, gates open at 6 p.m.: Taylor Hicks is the featured act, following a performance by Solar Exposure. There will be food trucks, beer and wine. Reserved seating, $40; open lawn seating, $25.
And, on March 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Business expo featuring more than 100 local businesses, numerous musical acts and fun family activities. Admission to the expo is free.
For concert tickets or more information, call (813) 909-2722, or visit CentralPascoChamber.com.

Published March 2, 2016