Italy — The award winning Italy Gladiator Regiment Band held its annual Spaghetti Dinner scholarship fundraiser on Saturday, March 8, at the Uptown Cafe from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with establishment owner Doris Mitchell providing the venue as she does every year.

Guests were treated to spaghetti with meat sauce, salad, garlic bread, a beverage and dessert. All plates were $8.00 and just $5.00 for kids up to age five. Band members even delivered for additional donations/tips.

There was also a silent action with items ranging from wooden crosses to Italy spirit shirts and gift baskets available to bid on. Raffle items included a TV and a pair of Six Flags season tickets.

Event emcee and school board member Sal Ramirez also had help from junior band member Zac Mercer and assistant band director David Graves as all three helped auction off donated items. Mr. Graves was not shy about modeling the more feminine items such as scarfs and jewelry, in the band’s best interest of course.

Musical entertainment was provided by the band members themselves with Ty Hamilton on sax taking a turn, Hunter Morgan on trombone doing a number and Rachel Huskins playing ever so elegantly on the flute. Tanner Chambers performed a instrumental duet with Kaitlyn Fulghum and Alexis Sampley was impressive on flute, as well.

The most exciting bidding war pitted Errol Viator, whose daughter Kristen plays in the band, against newly hired school superintendent Jaime Velasco. Mr. Velasco attended the event along with his wife Lisa and their four daughters, Ecclesia, Epiphany, Jamie and Faith.

With Ramirez displaying a camouflage cooler, both bidders alternated raising the bid along with the tension in the cafe. Obviously, both men were just trying to help the cause but with the bid climbing to $250.00, Viator finally relinquished the cooler to Velasco who quickly made his way down the street and around the back of Italy’s First State Bank to draw money from the ATM machine.

Junior High band member Kyle Tindol wowed the crowd with his vocal cords while singing a country song to help wrap up yet another successful fundraising event by the band, totaling over $4,500!!! Great job everybody!

“Special thanks to all our band parents and booster officers who not only helped gather the donated items but who also helped serve the food and keep the night running smoothly. I would also like to give a very special thank you to Doris Mitchell who is always so generous when it comes to our kids. In addition, I truly appreciate our community and their ongoing support of our band members.” — Jesus Perez, band director