MHS band parents prepare for annual fundraising dinner
Bravo, Meatball Maestra Jennifer Ellison, bravo.
The Morgantown High School band mom mixes it up daily (in a good way) with her 15-year-old twin daughters, Kaitlyn and Haley, who both attend the school on Wilson Avenue and are members of its Red and Blue Marching Band.
Kaitlyn is a percussionist.
Haley plays trombone.
And Jennifer on Monday was mixing up the meatballs for today’s spaghetti dinner, a major fundraiser for the band.
“Lot of meatballs,” Mom said. “But we’ll get it done.”
Since the 1970s, generations of band parents have been getting it done for the dinner — traditionally mixing and rolling the 2,100 meatballs while preparing the 100 pounds (or better) of pasta required for the whole deal.
“The girls love the band,” Ellison said. “I’m just happy to help.”
She wasn’t the only one. With the coordination of a halftime show, Ellison and the other conductors of the dinner had a precision assembly line going in the school kitchen.
Meatballs were mixed, arranged on trays and put into the oven.
In 12 minutes’ time, one tray was done and popped out — whereupon it was immediately replaced by another.
Pasta went in the water and the sauce stirred.
Said sauce on this day was the province of Nancy Sheets, who presided over the blend with a large kitchen implement that looked like a cross between a rake and spatula.
“I guess I want to keep stirring this all the time, right?” she asked.
Saxophone music stirs in her house all the time.
She played the instrument back in her high school band days, and so do her daughter and son, Megan and Andrew.
Megan is a freshman in the Red and White band, and Andrew is working his way through the ranks with the marching band at South Middle.
“Band all the way,” their mom said, while the sauce simmered smooth under the kitchen lights.
There are many ways you can enjoy today’s dinner, which will be from 4-7 p.m.
The cost is $9 for adults, with children under 12 eating for $5.
Dine-in at the cafeteria or enjoy the drive-through, takeout service along Prairie Street and Edgewood Street.
The band, meanwhile, earned its marching bona fides over the years in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City and the New Year’s Day Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif.
