Votes Still Needed For Heuvelton's Marching Band, Currently Ranked In Fifth Place Bulldogs 2 Days Away From Grant

Supporters of the Heuvelton Central School Marching Band have two days left to cast their votes for the band and help them win a $25,000 grant for new uniforms and equipment.

According to the band's promotional web site www.refresheverything.com/heuveltonmarchingband, the majority of the grant, $17,520 will be used to purchase 60 new uniforms, consisting of tops that cost $170, bottoms that cost $70, helmets that cost $37 and plumes that cost $15.

Other items to be purchased, should they obtain the grant include, $1,300 for marching bells and a carrier, $750 for 75 band shirts, $700 for a 28-inch bass drum with case, $400 for a snare drum with case and carrier, $150 for three portable CD players and $4,180 for miscellaneous supplies.

According to Director Megan Wattie, the uniforms her students are wearing now are between 10 and 15 years old.

"We've been fundraising, but we need about $17,000. It would take a long time for us to raise that by ourselves," she said in an interview earlier this summer.

Superintendent Susan E. Todd has also thrown her support behind the project since the band's effort to win a grant began in June.

"I fully support the project and I'm hoping people will take the time to vote. It certainly seems like an easy way to fundraise. We're not asking people for money and we're not asking people to buy a product. We're simply asking people for a few minutes of time," she said when the band's effort was just beginning.

In June, the band finished inside the top 50 earning them another chance to chase their dream, while in July the band finished in 11th place, just one spot away from the $25,000.

"It was heartbreaking. We spent 29 days in the top 10," Mrs. Wattie said, explaining that the band had been ranked inside the top 10 for most of the month before dropping to eleventh place with two days left in the month.

Now with two days left in the month again, the band finds themselves in fifth place, with some wiggle room, but Band Boosters President Terry Young said late last week that they're not taking anything for granted.

"We came so close in July and were heartbroken when we dropped from eighth to eleventh just two days before the end of the month. We have been very fortunate to remain in the top five this month, but we're not taking it for granted. We saw in July how fast it can all be taken away," Mrs. Young said.

Voters may vote once per day on-line at www.refresheverything.com/heuveltonmarchingband. They may also vote once per day via text message by sending the code 100209 to 73774. For this method of voting, standard text messaging rates may apply.