A beautiful fall day was the backdrop for Stryker’s annual Band Tailgate Party in the parking lot of Styker High School. The smell of grilled hamburgers, hot dogs and sausage wafted through the air, tempting an enthusiastic crowd to join in and partake of the food, which also included potato salad, baked beans, chips, and root beer floats.
The event was part of two fundraisers that the Band Boosters hold each year. Band Booster member Shari Grandey was manning the ticket table and added that they were in the process of selling tickets for their reverse raffle event to be held in November. They were also raffling off some buckeye candies and delicious gourmet caramel-chocolate candy apples from Lucetta’s Legacy.
Band director Dustin Maroon is in charge of both the high school and junior high bands which include grades 5-12, in addition to teaching some music classes in the elementary school. He also teaches the high school’s guitar and piano classes.
He said that funds from both events are used toward band uniforms and instruments, and also to take the band on an educational trip once every four years. Usually the trip is overnight to a larger city, and band related.
As the high school band prepared to perform, he added that the band had recently performed at the Williams County fair. The band then did a great job playing several numbers for an appreciative crowd as cheerleaders performed routines to the music. The junior high band performed shortly afterward.
Mr. Maroon said that “it’s nice to have strong support from the boosters and the community.”