Spring Hill Orchid Show

For a few years in a row, Orchid Lovers Club of Spring Hill has rented our Suncoast SNPJ Lodge 778 hall on County Line Road for their annual Orchid Show in March. I've heard about the event but never visited - and I'm glad I changed that today!

2011 Spring Hill Orchid Show at the Spring Hill Hall

One of the things that surprised me every time I walked into familiar Hall, ready for another event, was - how different it looked. Like I've never been there before.

Orchid Show at the Spring Hill Hall

At the entrance I met one of the happy visitors, Charles Leavitt, with a breathtaking orchid with lavender blooms - and asked him if I could take a picture of his prized new possession and and him for this post (photo below).

Charles Leavitt and his new orchid

And then I took many photos of the beautiful orchid blooms in the most amazing colors and color combinations. Some of the best ones you can see below.

Orchids in pretty colors

The most unusual orchid I've ever seen

The most eye-catching color combination at the Spring Hill Orchid Show

Simple beauty of an orchid flower

Spring Hill Orchid Show

Orchids at the Orchid Show

Pretty in pink - orchids at the Spring Hill Hall

Orchid Lovers Orchid Show

Bi-colored orchids

Elegant orchid flowers

All in all, 2011 Spring Hill Orchid Show was well worth visiting and I'm sure I'll go see it again. See more orchid photos by clicking on the link below:

Blooming Orchid Plants at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


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2011 Florida SNPJ Days in Spring Hill

I am still working on all the (photo and video) materials from this year's Florida SNPJ Days, hosted by Suncoast SNPJ Lodge 778 in Spring Hill. But to give you a little taste of what was going on at our hall, here's a photo and a video.
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Photo above by Rose Zaletel - Friday Jam Session at the Spring Hill Hall: Kathy Paulenich (button box), Larry Zaletel (button box), John Gurl (drums), Pete November (button box) and Tony (button box)
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Video above - Sunday jamming with Alex Meixner
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Election of the officers

There's a regular monthly meeting (and the last one until fall) scheduled at the Suncoast SNPJ Lodge 778 in Spring Hill, Florida - for May 4, 2011 at 11 AM.

There will be nomination, election and installation of new officers at this meeting. Catherine Feil is running for the position of the President/Treasurer and Nezka Novak for the position of the Vice President/Treasurer.

Please attend if you can.

First annual Craft Show

SUNCOAST DANCE AND PARTY CENTER

SNPJ Lodge 778

 13383 County Line Road

 Spring Hill, Florida 34609

Contact:         Daria                         

Telephone:     (727) 753-9631

Date:               April 9, 2011

CRAFT SHOW ON APRIL 9, 2011

All vendors, craft artisans and public - invited to participate in the first annual craft show on April 9, 2011. Bring your creative talents and colorful art treasures for all to see and buy!  

Dates:             Saturday, April 9, 2011— Craft Show

Times:             April 9, 2011— 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Location:        (SNPJ) Suncoast Dance & Party Center

                        13383 County Line Road, Spring Hill, Florida

Table claim:   Friday, April 8, 2011 – 10:00 AM – 2 PM (first come first served)

Table setup:   Saturday, April 9, 2011 – 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Booth Fee:      Inside the hall— $10.00 per table

                        Outside — $8.00 per table

                        CASH OR CHECKS ONLY.

                        CHECKS PAYABLE TO:  SNPJ

Contacts:        Daria (727) 753-9631

                        Catherine (989) 768-0031 on Saturday’s only.

Food and soft drinks available on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Proceeds will benefit the SNPJ Scholarship Fund.

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Related articles

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Saturday dance with Frank Moravcek from Cleveland, Ohio

Suncoast SNPJ Lodge 778 - Slovene-American Club in Spring Hill hosted its traditional February dance with Frank Moravcek from Cleveland, Ohio, this Saturday, February 26, 2011.

Photo above: Linda Hochevar and Frank Moravcek

The music was good, the hall was full and people seem to have fun. Yet another event is 'under the roof' while the 2010/2011 season of events with Spring Hill SNPJ Lodge is fast approaching its end. Only one more weekend to go - with the biggest event of the year 2011.

If you were at the Spring Hill Hall on Saturday night, you might see yourself dancing in the video below and in case you weren't, you might recognize some people who were enjoying themselves.
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One more video - Saturday night jam session. Enjoy!
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Alex Meixner Band instead of Polka Quads

Image by sunflower19020 via FlickrAbout a week ago Polka Quads (they were supposed to play at the Spring Hill Hall on Saturday and Sunday - March 5 and 6) had to cancel their participation in Suncoast SNPJ Lodge 778 biggest event of the year - Florida SNPJ Days 2011. Here's what John Salov, the band leader of Polka Quads sent to me in an email:

Daria:


It breaks my heart to cancel but all 3 0f my guys (2 because of work and 1 guys daughter is playing softball in Kentucky) could not make it. These things just came up and I shed tears over it. You people have been good to the Quads and I apologize from the bottom of my heart.


Please pass this info on to anybody who asks.


Again I am sorry but I can't come there without my best band.


I hope this clears up any rumors that you have heard.


John Salov - Polka Quads

Therefore, our three day weekend - Florida SNPJ Days 2011 on March 4 - 6 will now go as follows:

• Friday, March 4, 20011: All day jam session with Pete November from Ohio from 1 to 6 pm. Admission $5, for jammers who bring in instruments and participate in one of the jam sessions admission is FREE. All instruments welcome. To play as a group, sign up by calling Daria at: (727) 753-9631. As always, polka and waltz dancers (and your family and friends) are more than welcome as well!
• Saturday, March 5, 2011: Alex Meixner Band from 6 to 10 pm. Admission $10.
• Sunday, March 6, 2011: Alex Meixner Band from 2 to 6 pm. Admission $10.

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As always, food and cash bar will be available. For any further information and reservations call Daria (phone number above).

For those of you who don't know Alex Meixner or have never heard him play before, he is a Grammy nominated musician and producer - and here's the description of his music performance I found on his website:

Alex Meixner carries on a Family Tradition of music brought to the USA by his Austrian great grandfather. Building upon this foundation and extensive performances/ touring with his father in The Al Meixner Trio for many years, Alex has developed a fresh musical voice that has made him one of the most exciting performers on the American polka scene. 

Alex’s high energy performances of everything from old time polkas and waltzes to more jazz and pop influenced repertoire has won over audiences throughout North America and continues to attract new fans. Equally at home with traditional and contemporary styles, performances on about a dozen instruments (including the 12 foot long Swiss Alphorn and trademark Meixner Button Box sound) and vocals in English, German, Slovenian, Croatian, Czech and more- the band’s reputation continues to grow.


From dynamic polkas and waltzes to Gypsy folk songs to Rocktoberfest parodies, Swing, Latin and Country dance music- the dizzying array of music is perfect for everything from World Music Concerts and family friendly folk festivals to a frenetic non-stop dance party.

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And if you want to find out more still, here's the video (no video, sorry!) of Alex Meixner, playing Schwadamo Polka.
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Actually, Alex has such a unique way of playing accordion that I decided to add another video just so you can see him performing live. Besides accordion he also plays several other instruments, all with equal passion. Of course, to really experience his music, the best way would be to come to Spring Hill first weekend in March and check him out for yourself - and meet Alex Meixner in person.
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Before finishing my morning cup of hot chocolate soy milk and wrapping this post up - I'd like to thank in advance to everyone who volunteered to help me with all the tasks for Friday, March 4 jam session, to all of you who helped me promoting Suncoast SNPJ Lodge 778 events since last Thanksgiving, and all of you who are planning on coming to our events. I appreciate you all more than words can say!
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Related articles

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New Year's Dance with Bob Turcola

Last Sunday, on January 2, 2011, SNPJ Lodge 778 in Spring Hill hosted the New Year's Dance with Bob Turcola for the second time in a row. The five-piece band sounded great and so did the jammers who took the stage twice. The attendance was decent and everyone had fun. Here are some photos I took at this first successful event of the season at the Slovenian-American Club's Spring Hill Hall.

Bob Turcola with his band

Bob Turcola on piano accordion

Happy dancers

... and more happy dancers

... and musicians' wives, the most important members of the band

Spring Festival in Spring Hill

If you live somewhere up north and you're still debating whether to come to Spring Hill, Florida some time soon or not, look out your window and then look at the two photos below, taken in my neighbors' front yard two days ago. What would you rather have: Spring Festival in Spring Hill - or snow and cold?
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Photo: Linda

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Photo: Linda

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To find out more about our upcoming events, click on the link below:
Spring Festival in Spring Hill

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Linda Hochevar

Linda Hochevar is a beautiful lady with a life-long passion for polka music. Also and excellent dancer, she plays button box accordion playfully and with ease. To anyone who observes Linda Hochevar playing, button box looks like a lot of fun.
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Video above: Linda Hochevar playing at the jam session at SNPJ Spring Hill hall on January 24, 2010 with: Frank Moravcik, Walt Harfmann, Kurt Harfmann, Pat, Tony Klaus, Marty Raab, Don Caton and ...

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Linda Hochevar has learned how to dance polka in the kitchen of her home - like most children of Slovenian heritage in United States - and soon started learning how to play some instruments under the influence of her Slovenian father and polka musician.

Everything else about her musical background Linda tells us in the video below, taken on January 24, 2010 at SNPJ Spring Hill hall.

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Video above: Linda Hochevar talking about her musical background and beginnings

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Linda has had her button box group, called Magic Buttons for fifteen years and they are performing around the county.
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Photo above: Linda Hochevar with her button box accordion in Spring Hill, FL on January 24, 2010

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Waltz of Love

I've been waiting for an opportunity to take a video of someone playing the Waltz of Love since last Thanksgiving.

Finally, this Saturday (January 23, 2009) Frank Moravcik with his group of musicians granted my wish and here's the result to enjoy - for everyone who loves one of the most romantic Cleveland-Style songs of all times - that received the title of

"2009 Greatest All-Time Hit Song" 

(2 elected)

at the XXII Polkas International Award Show in Cleveland, Ohio.

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Video above: Waltz of Love performed at SNPJ Spring Hill Hall on January 23, 2010 by: Frank Moravcik (accordion), Pete Oberson (guitar), Kurt Harfmann (drums) and Bill Rochon (accordion)

To watch/rate/comment on this video on youtube, click on the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4WSWyurGNQ
(new window opens)

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The song was originally written in 1965 by a young accordionist Stan Blout who was playing with Joe White Orchestra.

Stan Blout wrote Jacqueline Waltz and another one that didn't have a name. The band played both of these tunes at engagements.

Lyrics have been added to the unnamed waltz for an appearance on TV's popular Polka Varieties show. They were written by Jack Tankovich, saxophone player and vocalist. The song soon caught on as the "Waltz of Love" and Joe White Orchestra released a 45 rpm recording of it.

Joe White turned his band over to Stan Blout in 1966. In 1969 The Stan Blout Orchestra released Polka Sounds of the 70s album, featuring the Waltz of Love. It soon became a waltz standard and has been recorded and played over and over again for the past four decades.

Lyrics: Waltz of Love

We danced the Waltz of Love through the night,

I kissed your lips and held you tight.

I asked you to marry me, forever one to be.

We danced the Waltz of Love and I know,

my love for you can only grow.

Take my lips, take my heart,

promise me we'll never part

as we dance the Waltz of Love.

Waltz of Love

Composer: Stan Blout

Lyricist: Jack Tankovich

Hit Recording:

• Stan Blout Orchestra
• Album: Polka Sounds of the 70s
• Label: Delta International
• Year: 1969
• Stan Blout, accordion
• Jack Tankovich, saxophone
• Dennis Marold, bass
• Lou Pavlik, drums
• Al Markic, guitar
• Frank Piccirillo, piano
• Key of G, D
• Time: 2:44

Other recordings:

• Joe White Orchestra
• Bob Kravos and the Boys in the Band
• Hank Haller Orchestra
• Joe Novak
• Verne Meisner

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Spring Hill hall

Spring Hill hall Suncoast Dance & Party Center on 13383 County Line is available to rent for:

• Weddings
• Picnics
• Meetings
• Banquets
• Shows
• Dances
• Anniversary parties
• Mini conventions
• Expos
• and other events for up to 350 people

For a limited time this Spring Hill hall is running a

BABY SHOWER SPECIAL

For additional info about renting the hall for your baby shower at a discounted price - or with any other questions

contact Jim at: 352-238-4095

SNPJ's Spring Hill hall has an ideal location, easy access from US 19 or Suncoast Parkway - and plenty of parking space.

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