TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Main Street Celebration Set To Blast Off In NPR

ADVERTISEMENT

By CHERYL BENTLEY

The Suncoast News

Published: June 28, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - NEW PORT RICHEY - Main Street is ready to rock, retro style.

Music of the '60s, The Eagles and Led Zeppelin will get the festive atmosphere rolling today at the 11th annual Friendly KIAFEST Main Street Blast in the city's downtown.

"This is all about apple pie and ice cream," said Judy DeBella Thomas, executive director of Greater New Port Richey Main Street, which is staging the festival. "It's real Independence Day activities with an eye to our troops, eating hot dogs and watching fireworks."

The music begins at 5:45 p.m. on the entertainment stage at Grand Boulevard and Nebraska Avenue with the five-member party band 60's Groove out of central Pasco.

"They do the best of '60s rock 'n' roll," said Shannon Terlop, booking agent and wife of rhythm guitarist Bill Terlop. Joining him onstage are John Graziano (bass guitar), Tim Hern (lead vocals, guitar), Tom Reichenberger (drums) and Stephanie Carson (keyboard).

For more on the band, go to www.60sgroove.com.

At 7 p.m., Nashville-based 7 Bridges will cover hits by The Eagles - such as "Desperado" and "Take It Easy," "Life in the Fast Lane" and "Hotel California" - and solo material from Don Henley and Joe Walsh.

For samples of the band's music, go to www.myspace .com/7bridgesband.

At dark, what organizers call the only fireworks show in west Pasco will begin at Orange Lake.

After the booms, ooohs and aaaahs, the Led Zeppelin tribute band ZOSO, which has performed at least 1,700 shows since starting in Los Angeles in 1995, will take over the entertainment stage. Band members Matt Jernigan, Mike Morgan, Adam Sandling and Johnny Richards re-create the appearances and sounds of Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John "Bonzo" Bonham and John Paul Jones.

For more on the men and their music, go to www .zosoontour.net.

Other activities on tap include the Sunset Corvette & Classic Car Club Cruise-In, which starts at 4 p.m. on Grand Boulevard south of Missouri Avenue.

At 4:30 p.m. today, the Blast goes to the dogs and the people who love them, with Red, Woof and Blue in Cavalaire Square, one block east of Grand Boulevard between Nebraska and Missouri avenues. Activities include a Patriotic Pooch Parade, a hot dog eating contest (for two-legged gobblers only, with a $5 entry fee), pet-related vendors, canine training demonstrations, a dog/owner look-alike contest, prize drawings and a silent auction.

Proceeds will support the Suncoast Animal League (www.suncoastanimal league.com) and Pasco County Animal Services (www .petfinder.com/shelters/ pascoshelter.html). The league needs money to pay medical bills for 121 rescued Pomeranian, Yorkshire terrier and Maltese puppies. Animal Services wants to buy Kuranda pet beds, similar to cots, for its kennels.

Registration is required for the free parade and the two contests. For details, go to www.newportricheymain street.com/RedWOOFBlue .pdf.

At 5:15 p.m. on the entertainment stage, young women will be by judged on poise and good looks in the seventh annual Miss Firecracker pageant. The winner will receive a gym membership, a modeling portfolio by photographer Paula Showen and jewelry.

In honor of America's military men and women, volunteers from Operation Shoebox will collect comfort items to be sent to Iraq and Afghanistan.

New Port Richey law firm Attridge, Lucas, Green, Magee and Magazine will have a booth explaining the mission of the Fisher House at James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital in Tampa.

Fisher House provides free lodging to families of injured troops while they recuperate at the medical center.

The lawyers' booth also will give away items including an Xbox game system.

Main Street Blast additionally offers a beer garden, food vendors, arts and crafts, and children's games.

For information, go to www.newportricheymain street.com.

RADIO ICON RETURNS

Scott Shannon, who with Cleveland Wheeler ruled morning radio with the Q Morning Zoo in the 1980s, will be the entertainment stage emcee for today's Friendly KIA FEST Main Street Blast in downtown New Port Richey.

A member of the Radio Broadcasters Hall of Fame, Shannon is program director and morning co-host at WPLJ radio in New York City. He and Todd Pettengill have hosted the morning drive show since April 1, 1991.

Shannon also is the official voice of conservative host Sean Hannity's talk radio show, heard on some 400 stations across America.

Plus, Shannon is the host and program director of the satellite True Oldies Channel, syndicated by the ABC Radio Network and featuring less DJ chatter and more hits of the late '50s to the early '70s.

For details, visit www.scottshannon .com.

Reporter Cheryl Bentley can be reached at (727) 815-1069 or cbentley@suncoastnews.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT