Blue Band

WILLIAMSPORT -- The Williamsport Blue Band's annual yard sale extravaganza needs vendors and people who might want to donate items. The event will be May 30 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. near the football field. Items can be brought to the high school Tuesday, May 12, from 6:30 to 7 p.m. by the front doors or by calling Kim Baker at 240-520-6954 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. or sending an e-mail to bakerk2@hotmail.com to arrange pickup. To rent a table, call Karen Long at 301-582-3819 or send an e-mail to k.long@myactv.

The Williamsport High School Blue Band members and their families donated food collected at the winter concert Dec. 18. The Blue Band and Director Robert Stike said they wanted to thank the community for the outstanding support they received during this year's marching season and felt collecting food for the Williamsport Food Bank was a way to give back to the community. "Look for this to become an annual event," Stike said the night of the concert.

The Williamsport Band Boosters are holding a new uniform bonanza fundraiser Saturday, Nov. 22, at 5 p.m. at the Fairplay Volunteer Fire Company, 18002 Tilghmanton Road. Tickets cost $35 per couple, and include a meal, drinks, dessert, and a live band until 11 p.m. This event is open to anyone 21 years of age and older. There will be raffles, 50/50s, and tip jars. All proceeds will go toward paying off the new Blue Band uniforms. Those wishing tickets or information may contact Karen Long at 301-582-3819 or by sending e-mail to k.long@myactv.

Wednesday from 6 to 8, Wendy's and the Williamsport Blue Band Boosters invite everyone to Blue Band Night at the 1570 Wesel Blvd. restaurant. The Blue Band recently purchased new uniforms, and all money raised will be used to help pay them off. With this newspaper article, Wendy's will give the new uniform fund a portion of the bill. The Williamsport Blue Band placed first in the Oct. 4 tournament of bands at South Hagerstown High School, scoring 78.45 out of 100 points.

View and purchase photos from the Showcase of Bands View the "Showcase of bands" slideshow HAGERSTOWN -- In a matter of hours Tuesday evening, fans at School Stadium weathered a hurricane, climbed Mount Everest and journeyed through Tolkien's Middle Earth -- all through the power of music. The themed musical productions were part of this year's Showcase of Marching Bands, a noncompetitive performance featuring all seven of Washington County's high school marching bands and a combined performance of "God Bless America.

Blue Band places second at Tournament of Bands The Williamsport Blue Band placed second in the Tournament of Bands event at Martinsburg High School in Martinsburg, W.Va., on Saturday, Sept. 20. Decked out in new uniforms, the band scored 75.1 out of a possible 100 points. The next Tournament of Bands will be Saturday at North Hagerstown High School. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or through Robert Stike, band director. He can be reached at stikerob@wcboe.

WILLIAMSPORT -- Members of the Williamsport High School Blue Band will go door to door Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. collecting donations for the annual Tag Day event. Band members will wear their band T-shirts and khakis to identify themselves. In return for donations, residents will receive a hanging tag to display their support of the band. Anyone wishing to make a donation to the Tag Day event, but who won't be home Saturday, can mail a donation to Blue Band Tag Day Event, c/o Williamsport High School, 5 S. Clifton Drive, Williamsport, MD 21795.

Here are some of the things happening next week in Washington County Public Schools: Monday, Dec. 17 Antietam Academy High - SSR Reading at noon. Clear Spring High - Future Educators of America meeting, 3:30 p.m. Conococheague Elementary - Math ELO, 2:30 p.m. E. Russell Hicks Middle - Sixth-grade full band rehearsal (period 3); seventh-grade full band rehearsal (period 2); Algebra and Geometry Benchmark window through Friday; department meetings, 2:30 p.m. Emma K. Doub Elementary - PTA holiday store (students will shop during their media class time)

Pete Lancaster taught himself to play the harmonica - hands free - while commuting an hour to his accounting job in Ohio in the late 1980s. Then he taught himself to play the guitar, harmonica and a stompin' box that contained a tambourine - all at the same time. It took two weeks to learn one song, but after that it was easy, says Lancaster, who has become well-known among Hagerstown-area musicians and fans for his one-man act and for performances with local blues bands. This Friday night at the Western Maryland Blues Fest, Lancaster will show off his ability to play all three instruments at once with 2Blue Ensemble.

kristinw@herald-mail.com Tri-State blues musicians are finding that what's good for kids is good for the blues. On Sunday, Nov. 6, six blues bands will convene at the Hagerstown Elks Lodge No. 378 on Robinwood Drive. They will all perform for a common cause: a better Christmas for underprivileged kids. It is the third annual Blues for Tots benefit concert, kicking off at 2 p.m. All concertgoers must bring a donation of a new and unwrapped toy for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program.