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Photos by Dale Smith.
The New Smyrna Beach High School fight song resonated throughout the City Commission chambers Tuesday night as band members paid tribute to the city police department and city officials for their efforts in purchasing new band uniforms this year.
Editor's note: The following story was submitted by contributing writer Dale Smith:
NEW SMYRNA BEACH – The city police department usually doesn’t like to be in the limelight, being made up of civil servants and all, but Tuesday night the spotlight was on them and in particular, Police Chief Ron Pagano.
His 53-member force was honored by the New Smyrna Beach High School Marching Band with a rousing rendition of the school’s fight song.
This was the band’s way of thanking the police department for helping them obtain new uniforms this year. The police department was one of many organizations and individuals who helped raise the $36,000 needed to buy the uniforms.
Band director Brian Sullivan marched the 'Cudas members to the front where the smartly dressed and disciplined musicians struck up the fight song, ending with a standing ovation from commissioners and audience members.
Sullivan said the school was thankful for the help from the police department, saying the band members' old uniforms were worn out from the last 14 years of marching.
NSBNEWS.net video by Sera Frederick. The New Smyrna Beach Cudas marching band looked sharper than ever during the home opener f the Cudas' 2010 football season at the NSB Sports Complex, and with good reason, thanks to shiny new uniforms. The 55-member Cudas marching band looked and sounded real sharp, especially at halftime of the football game, with 12 color guards led by senior drum major Kaitlin Hearn.
FAST FACTS
- The NSB Marching Band receives only $100 a year from Volusia County to run its program.The band program has an operating budget of approximately $30,000 a year.
- New band uniforms cost $36,000 and were paid for through the generous sponsorships of many organizations and individuals.
- The Barracuda Band Program will present its holiday concert 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 15. Admission is $5.
About the contributing writer:
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Dale Smith is a resident of New Smyrna Beach, who has reported on local news in Volusia County since October 2009. His writing background includes a mix of journalism and public relations in several community newspapers and a p.r. firm in northern Virginia. He attended Barton Academy in Barton, Vt., and the Cambridge (Mass.) School of Broadcasting for radio & TV broadcasting.