By Mary-Justine Lanyon
Twenty-three years ago, the marching band at Rim of the World High School got spiffy new uniforms. Today the marching band members are still wearing those same uniforms.
Between the care the students have taken with the uniforms and the efforts of the band parents, the uniforms have served the band well. But it is time for them to get new ones.
Kari Stebbing, the music director at Rim High, said she has had a student collapse every year in the heat while wearing the wool uniform. The proposed new uniforms are a blend of materials that will breathe better and be more comfortable for the students to wear.
To help offset the cost of the new uniforms – estimated at $20,000 – the marching band held a spaghetti dinner on May 3 at the Lake Arrowhead Community Presbyterian Church.
Stebbing thanked parent volunteers Valerie Watson, Devina Horvath and Cathy Porter “who were crucial to us putting on this event and being successful,” she said. “They are all proud mamas of Rim High band kids.”
Jaden Martinez wore a prototype of the new uniform at the dinner.
Watson was responsible for the spaghetti, which was delicious. The dinner also included salad and garlic bread. It was followed by chocolate flan cake, donated by the Lake Arrowhead Resort. Throughout the dinner, band members kept their guests’ cups filled with water, lemonade and iced tea.
There were five tables with silent auction items. As the close of the auction drew near, guests circulated around the tables, keeping close watch on their bids.
At the end of the evening, a total of $4,194 had been raised. Ken Camarella and Chyrl Russell of the Arrowhead Arts Association were at the dinner and announce that AAA will match that amount.
“Our goal was to raise $7,000,” Stebbing said. They exceeded that and, with the money allocated for the uniforms by the school district, they have enough to purchase the new uniforms.
Band member Jared Martinez was sporting a prototype of the new uniform. “He is a proud member of the band and its new look,” Stebbing said.
As the guests finished their meals, the band members – who had disappeared to get into their uniforms – marched into the hall while playing “It Don’t Mean a Thing,” which drum major Brenden Watson had rearranged for their instrumentation. That was followed by “Hey Baby” and “Seven Nation Army.” Stebbing said the two latter songs are their pep songs for football games.
“I think the event was very successful and I am extremely proud of the students and all of their hard work,” Stebbing said. “And the response from the community has been incredible.”
Additional donations to the uniform fund are welcome, she noted, as she will have to purchase new uniforms every year for new band members in a variety of sizes.
Donations may be made through the website, https://karib50.wixsite.com/rim-high-band/we-need-your-help (or bit.ly/44pKPQ), or by mailing a check made payable to Rim High School with Band ASB on the memo line to ASB: Joy Bunkers, Attn: Band ASB, P.O. Box 430, Lake Arrowhead, CA 92352.
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