WHS Marching Band Plans Fall Fundraisers

On June 19, the Westfield Town Council unanimously gave its permission for a town-wide Marching Band (WHSMB) fundraiser to be held in September.

The first annual Shako Day will be held Saturday, Sept. 8. Donation centers will be set up in 24 locations throughout Westfield so that the community can offer its support. The band members, broken into two shifts—9 to 11 a.m. and 11 to 1 p.m.—will be easy to spot in either their WHSMB t-shirts and khakis, or full-out uniforms and shako hats. A rain date is set for Saturday, Sept. 15.

Tara Rohwetter, fundraising chairwoman of the Marching Band’s Parents Association, explained that band members will be traveling to Annapolis, Maryland to participate in the US Bands National Championships on Saturday, November 10, against approximately 30 high schools from across the country at the Navy- Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

Attendance is mandatory for the 91 students in the program and the cost of the trip is estimated at $27,000, bringing the per participant expense to $300. 

“We are trying to offset that cost so families don’t have to write that check,” Rohwetter stated.

Other upcoming band fundraisers include a car wash starting at 3 p.m. Thursday, August 23 at , Restaurant Give Back Nights throughout August, September and October, and a mum sale on September 29. Pre-orders can be arranged ahead of the sale date. 

“It’s an absolutely spectacular show with just beautiful music. We’re really excited about this,” Rohwetter said.