Band needs tuba

With three tuba players and only two tubas, the music director of Cassopolis Public Schools, Beth Anderson, has a problem.

After a successful fundraiser through a website, www.donorschoose.org, that helped purchase reeds, metronomes, tuners and valve oil, Anderson gave a second fundraiser a shot. The website accepts donations for teachers in need of materials, ranging from small items such as pencils and paper to larger items, such as a tuba. The previous year’s project, successfully funded through donations of anyone who visited the site, completed the first level of fundraising for the band director and her musicians. This year’s project counts toward the second level, and Anderson said they have a little more than $3,000 to go.

“By going through the site, people can donate any amount online, even if it’s just $1,” Anderson said Tuesday. “It allows anyone anywhere to donate to our fundraiser.”

So far, the project has received only one donation from a former high school tuba player in Maryland.

“The site shows you who has donated, and they can tell why they gave,” Anderson said.

According to the website, Andy Chaffee of Belcamp, Md., said he donated “because I play the tuba and I know how important they are to the ensemble.”

Anderson said she hopes the Cassopolis and surrounding communities will take notice of this first donation and offer help.

“Our hope is to get the tuba by November for concert season,” Anderson said. “The official deadline for the fundraiser ends Dec. 22.”

According to Anderson, donations are tax-deductible and the website is nonprofit. The amount left to raise for a new tuba from Woodwind and Brasswind is $3,048.

“Any way that people can help would be great,” Anderson said. “We appreciate every bit we get, and anyone who donates more than $50 gets a thank-you note from myself and the students.”

To donate, visit www.donorschoose.org. From the homepage, click “search projects” and type in “Cassopolis” under the keyword.

Community News

Riverfront scavenger hunt celebrates Niles’ Indigenous history

Business

Downtown Niles gears up for NODE by NODEwest music festival

Dowagiac

Dowagiac purchases Walnut Street property for park project

Cass County

Cass Family Clinic hosts ribbon-cutting for new mobile health clinic

Brandywine Education

Brandywine school board appoints new member

Dowagiac HS

Hall of Fame coach Mark Nate returns to guide Dowagiac baseball program

Dowagiac HS

Dowagiac slugger blasts 4 home runs at Hartford All Stars Tournament

Buchanan

Buchanan commissioners hear plan for Stark Elementary School building

Dowagiac

Dowagiac City Council welcomes new member

Dowagiac

Decorate Dowagiac to kick off fundraising during Dowagiac Summer Festival

Crime/Court

Dowagiac man gets jail time for resisting police, drunk driving

Cassopolis

Vandalia hosts annual Underground Railroad Days

Crime/Court

Teen killed in Dowagiac shooting

Cass County

Area residents sentenced in Cass County Court

Cass County

Cass County Clerk/Register’s Office rolling out new Jury Summons system

Business

Niles KFC closes permanantly

Education

Edwardsburg school board talks US-12 access drive project

Education

Niles Education Foundation to honor graduate Karl Sharkey

News

Annual Niles Burn Run set to ride out July 27

Dowagiac

Ramona Roller Rink celebrates 97 years, raises $2,000+ toward rebuild

Crime/Court

Bodycam footage released of officer-involved shooting in Niles Township

Crime/Court

Niles man gets prison time for beating, stabbing, strangling woman

Cassopolis

Underground Railroad Days to return to Vandalia July 12-13

Cassopolis

One injured in two-vehicle Penn Township crash