Busy Bee Band Keeps Real Busy

(Times-West Virginia)  Busy is certainly an appropriate word for the activities of the East Fairmont High School Busy Bee Band last Saturday.

The local ban was the honor band at the United Fund Parade in Pittsburgh Saturday.  They had the lead spot in the parade and they also played for the torch lighting ceremony.

"We played 45 minutes in Gateway Center," Earl McConnell, band director, said.

The group met and visited with E.B. Spears,  president of U.S. Steel and campaign chairman for the United Fund of Allegheny County.

"Mr. Spears told us he thought we were great," McConnell said.  He added that the band was shown performing on two Pittsburgh television stations Saturday night.

From Pittsburgh, the band intended to go to the Monroeville Mall for dinner and some shopping, McConnell said, but they were invited to participate in two band spectaculars.

The group decided to participate in a band spectacular at Wilkinsburg, Pa.  "This is the oldest band spectacular in the United States," McConnell said.  "This is our 18th year."

"Our band was invited on the strength of our performance at the United Fund parade," he added.  "They told us they would make room in the schedule for us to perform."

He said that they were already invited back next year.  The only bands ever invited from this area have been the ones from Morgantown and Weirton.

The Busy Bee band performed the same numbers at the Marion County Courthouse last night following the United Fun parade as they did at the parade in Pittsburgh.