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Mound House hosts first music event

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The Music at the Mound event sold out.
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Attendees moved inside, or sat out under the balcony, when it rained. Musician Sheena Brook moved her operation inside.
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Mound House volunteer Ceel Spuhler, Education Coordinator Dexter Norris, volunteer Cindy Richardson and Director Alison Giesen celebrated a successful event — despite the weather.
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Tom Gambino with Momentum Brewhouse pours a taste of the Bonita Springs brewery's wheat beer.
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Jewban's Deli Dále sold Cuban and Jewish-style sandwiches to Music on the Mound attendees.

A rain shower forced the music inside, but islanders know how to cope with unpredictable weather.

The Mound House held its inaugural “Music on the Mound” event Saturday, a fun community event featuring island musician Sheena Brook, beer tastings from Momentum Brewhouse, and food from Jewban’s Deli Dle. The event sold out with 150 tickets.

Proceeds from the tickets and part of the food sales will go to developing a children’s camp at the Mound House in the future and providing scholarships for the students who want to attend.

Brook was supposed to perform outside, but as a steady rain fell, the operation was moved inside. Attendees moved their chairs to the windows or opted to sit against the Mound House and listen to the music while admiring the beautiful view of Estero Bay.

“What a beautiful turnout for the first one, and a beautiful cause,” Brook said. “It was well-received. It felt like a family with me playing in the middle of the room.”

The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel (Lee County Visitors and Convention Bureau), also attended the event to promote one of its signature events, the Island Hopper Songwriter’s Festival. Brook was a past participant of the two-week long music festival that takes place in Fort Myers, Sanibel and Fort Myers Beach.

Mound House Director Alison Giesen said the event was a great success, even with the rain. She thanked all her staff and volunteers who helped make the event a reality.

“Everyone seemed totally happy,” she said. “It was great to see the neighborhood and our community residents here together.”

Giesen is planning to have more Music on the Mound events in the future. Hosting events like this was a result of ideas from the Mound House strategic planning session, and a way for the historic site to both become more self-sustaining as well as serve the community.