Color Guard

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.

View the slideshow HAGERSTOWN -- High school band calls to mind a group of students in uniform marching and entertaining during halftime at football games. But football games are just a small fraction of the high school band equation. Besides the games and autumn outdoor band competitions, many students commit to a spring season of indoor band. North Hagerstown High School on Saturday hosted an indoor percussion and guard competition, with 22 schools from across the Tri-State area participating.

FROSTBURG, Md. - Six Washington County students were awarded scholarships to study at Frostburg State University. · Rebecca Ardinger, a 2008 graduate of Clear Spring High School and member of the National Honor Society, was awarded the University Scholarship. Ardinger, daughter of Sarah and John Ardinger, participated in her high school's band, was on the varsity soccer, varsity indoor and outdoor track teams, is an assistant coach for Clear Spring soccer club and volunteers at St. Paul's Vacation Bible School.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. -- Kyle Purnell knew very little about The Cadets Drum Corps before Thursday. But just eight hours after meeting the internationally acclaimed performers, the 17-year-old was considering joining their ranks. "I really enjoyed the fact that I was asked to audition for the Cadets," Kyle said with a look of disbelief on his face. Only a half-hour remained before The Cadets' joint performance with area students when Kyle was asked to play a trumpet solo during "On a Hymnsong of Philip Bliss.

The following South Hagerstown High School students received scholarships from the South High Alumni Association:Kaitlyn Nicole Spangler - Kaitlyn will graduate with a 3.83 grade-point average and plans to continue her studies at Towson University in the nursing program and eventually pursue a doctorate.She is a member of the National Honor Society at South High and is captain of the cheerleading squad and softball team. In addition, Kaitlyn is a member of the Link Crew, color guard, band and Student Government Association, and serves as an office aide.

By JENNYLYNN BROWN Staff Writer WILLIAMSPORT - Question: When do two pieces of paper with notes all over them bring people together? Answer: When the people are alumni of the Williamsport High School Blue Band and homecoming is right around the corner. The Williamsport High School Alumni Band will practice Friday for its performance in the Homecoming Parade on Saturday. Organizer Rodney W. Nave is counting on a full bandwagon. "We're looking for people who play, anyone who comprised the band front color guards, majorettes - anyone involved in the Big Blue band in any capacity," Nave said.

FUNKSTOWN - Princesses, soldiers, ghouls and superheroes of all kinds took to the streets Thursday night for Funkstown's annual Halloween parade. Linda Grimm and her grandson, Tucker Drill, claimed their spots on Baltimore Street a half-hour before the parade started. Grimm's husband, Jeff, used to march in the parade when he played in the South Hagerstown High School marching band. The family from Hagerstown planned to eat dinner while they watched the parade, Jeff Grimm said.

DEC. 5, 1932-JAN. 14, 2009 FANNETTSBURG, Pa. - Donald T. "Bud" McAllen, 76, of 9945 Wineman Road, died Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009, at Chambersburg (Pa.) Hospital. Born Dec. 5, 1932, in Willow Hill, Pa., he was the son of the late Donald M. and Sadie LaRue McAllen. He was employed as an electrician by Letterkenny Army Depot for 37 1/2 years. He was a veteran of the Korean War, serving in the U.S. Army. He was a member of Lower Path Valley Presbyterian Church in Fannettsburg, where he served as a trustee and on the Board of Session.

Stadium project is a 'must do' To the editor: I am writing in support of a new sports stadium for our community. I feel that this project is a "must do" for Hagerstown. The loss of our baseball team will only demonstrate to the outside world that Hagerstown is a second-rate community. We need this project to be able to market ourselves to businesses looking for a viable place to settle. The recent feasibility study showed that this project is doable. Similar communities with new stadiums have all been successful, i.e. Salisbury and Frederick, Maryland; Ashville, North Carolina; Erie, Pennsylvania; and many more.

For 65 years, the Boonsboro High School Marching Band has provided music for the community, from home football games to the Mummers Parade. And for almost as long, band members have met for two weeks every summer to begin training for the upcoming band competition season. Marching bands have come a long way in the past two or three decades. On the high school level, there are now band competitions every Saturday. Each band performs a field show - marching around a football field and making different forms while playing music.