Buckeye Boosters help band start another year
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RAYLAND -- Parents and other supporters of the Buckeye Local High School Band stepped into the kitchen Sunday to help ensure its members have everything they need to perform for their school and the community at large.
The Buckeye Local Band Boosters once again served up chicken dinners to raise money for the young musicians.
The fundraiser was to coincide with the school district’s Back to School Bash, but that outdoor event was canceled because of severe thunderstorms accurately predicted for the afternoon.
Superintendent Coy Sudvary has announced that school supplies that were to be distributed during the event will be delivered to each of the district’s five schools so they may be given to students at a date to be announced.
The Panthers Marching Band had been slated to kick off the event with the national anthem.
When heavy rain curtailed those plans, the group marched into the school’s cafeteria with their instruments, entertaining the many people who gathered there for the chicken dinner.
Charles Eddy, the band’s director, said attendees got a preview of the ensemble’s pregame performance and halftime show for the upcoming football season.
He noted the latter will feature the music of pop star Michael Jackson and a lot of dancing.
Comprised of about 40 members, the group has been practicing for about three weeks, including last week’s band camp at Bethany College.
This year’s lineup includes 12 seniors, including field commanders Megan Williams and Brianna Kovalski.
"They are a wonderful group. They have positive attitudes and are very energetic," Eddy said of the group.
The Panthers’ first game at Bellaire on Aug. 27 will usher in a busy year for the band, including a performance with other area high school bands in the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference’s Showcase of Bands on Oct. 24 in Martins Ferry.
He added that the band’s members play an active part in community events, marching in three local Christmas parades and performing for Veterans Day and Memorial Day services.
"The community always supports us, and we’re really glad to perform for them," Eddy said.
He added that he’s also thankful for the hard work of the Band Boosters, whose fundraisers include working the concession stand at the football team’s home games.
Ashley Kryzs, who is president of the Boosters and the band’s assistant director, said the group likes to include hot chicken sandwiches, macaroni and cheese and other less common entrees on the concession stand’s menu.
She said proceeds from various fundraisers held by the group help provide uniforms, instruments and accessories to the band’s members and help students from financially strapped families attend band camp.
In addition to Kryzs, the many Band Boosters working in the kitchen Sunday included Brian Young, the group’s vice president and co-treasurer, and Toni Howard, its secretary and co-treasurer.
Kryzs said there are plans to hold a spaghetti dinner and quarter auction later in the fall.
While the heavy rain curtailed plans for inflatable attractions and music from a disc jockey, a few of the groups that had planned to participate in the Back to School Bash were welcomed into nearby Meadowbrook Church of God on Sunday afternoon.
The church’s members had filled several rows of tables with free clothing and shoes in various sizes for students preparing to return to school.
Sharon Berdick, who was among many members who lent their time to the effort, said they were joined by members of the Tiltonsville Tabernacle, who brought free hot dogs, backpacks and other school supplies, and representatives of the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County, who shared information about their services.