North Royalton High School band reunites with alumni for memorable performance: Talk of the Towns

NORTH ROYALTON, Ohio – The weekend of Sept. 13, the North Royalton High School Marching Band had big events on both Friday and Saturday night.Friday night, the band welcomed more than 80 Alumni Royalettes and Royalaires to perform with the band on the field at halftime alongside the current marching band. This exciting night allowed alumni to once again perform “under the lights” and alumni spanning decades were reunitedto perform.The band recognized all the advisors and instructors for the Royalettes and Royalaires over the decades, but a particularly important milestone was reached, when Royalette Advisor, Karen Colabianchi, was acknowledged for her 40th year of teaching with the Band Front. Mrs. Colabianchi, rather than watching from the sidelines, was out on the field performing right alongside the more than 80 alumni that returned for an exciting halftime performance. On Sat., Sept. 14, North Royalton hosted their annual “Festival of Bands” and welcomed 11 bands to perform for a packed stadium.There were bands featured from all around the Greater Cleveland area performing a variety of styles of music.The NRHS Marching Band premiered this year’s competition show entitled “Stronger” at the event.The night concluded with all 11 bands taking the field simultaneously, combining over 1,400 student performers to play “America the Beautiful” in a spectacular finale.This is a favorite moment for both audience members and performers alike. “This was a big weekend for us,” said the Director of Bands David Vitale.“In addition to being able to see a variety of different marching bands at our Festival of Bands, we treat our Band Fest performance as a ‘dress rehearsal’ for our upcoming contests.We are continuing to make changes, cleaning the music and the drill, and preparing the show before we put it in front of a panel of adjudicators. So, our Festival of Bands is a perfect opportunity for us. And the grand finale at the end of the night is just spectacular. We have had alumni come back and tell us that they have never been part of a finale like that, and it is one of their top memories from high school.” New park: The new Strongsville Town Center Park will open with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wed., Oct. 2. The new park, which took one year to construct, features an enclosed pavilion, playground with equipment for children with all ability levels, a splash pad, tennis, pickleball and sand volleyball courts, a half basketball court, food truck area and green space for community events. There are also new walkways and sidewalks to make the entire Town Center area more pedestrian friendly. The Oct. 2 event will include an invitation-only luncheon in the new pavilion to thank donors who contributed at least $5,000 to the construction of the new park. It is located just west of the Strongsville Recreation and Senior Center, 18100 Royalton Rd. Flu shots: The Brecksville Human Services Center will provide flu shots administered by MetroHealth for Brecksville residents. Flu shot day will be Mon., Oct. 7 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Call the Human Services Center at 440-526-2499 to make an appointment. MetroHealth will accept most insurance plans, Medicare or Medicaid and Medicare Advantage plans. There is no co-pay. If you don’t have insurance the shot is $25 cash. No change will be given. All flu vaccines that will be administered will be “quadrivalent.” Residents should bring a photo ID and insurance card (medical and pharmacy, if separate.) There will be forms to be completed before receiving your shot. One of the questions asked will be the name of your primary care physician and their telephone number. If you haven’t had the COVID vaccination shot(s) a flu shot is highly recommended. Garden club: At the Oct. 10 meeting of the Emerald Necklace Garden Club, Cherise Kent, Cleveland Botanical Garden Green Corps Coordinator, will discuss the program this organization has offered to high schoolers for 26 years. The Green Corps program introduces youth to career paths in green industries through hands-on, paid internships. It generates interest in the benefit of trees and plants, enabling participants to employ environmentally friendly practices in their communities and future careers. ENGC meets the second Thursday of every month except July and August at 9:15 a.m. at Christ the Redeemer Lutheran Church, 9201 Brecksville Rd., Brecksville. Guests are always welcome to attend meetings. Check out www.emeraldnecklacegardenclub.org and Facebook page for information on meetings, special events, club activities and interesting garden news. Haunted house: Now through Halloween, the Broadview Heights Lions Club presents Cuyahoga County’s only charity haunted house. Starting in 1980, Bloodview Haunted House has been turning your fear into charity for over 40 years raising over $5 million dollars. ​ Bloodview partners with the Legion of Terror acting troupe for actors, makeup and production. For more information, visit http://www.thelegionofterror.com/. Ticket prices range from $20 to $40. The Bloodview Haunted House is open now Fridays and Saturdays from 8 p.m. until 12 a.m.Starting Oct. 6, they will also be open on Sundays from 8 to 10 p.m.​Each weekend has a specific theme. Go to www.bloodview.org for specific themes and ticket prices. Cash and credit are accepted. Although there is no age restriction, this is an interactive horror show with potentially violent bloody images and effects. So, parental discretion is advised. Dance class: There is a great dance class for people with Parkinson’s in Brecksville. The class is on the second Saturday of the month from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the second floor of the Brecksville Human Services Center. For more information, contact instructors Fred and Dianne Discenzo at 440-526-8531. The class is free for everyone. The Human Services Center is at 2 Community Dr. The next dates are Oct. 12 and Nov. 9. Scholarship program: North Royalton High School seniors Emma Siegel, Blake Valley, and Angelina Mondi are semifinalists in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. They are three of more than 16,000 semifinalists in the 70th Annual National Merit Scholarship Program. They will have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 6,870 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. About 95% of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and approximately half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title. “This achievement by Emma, Blake, and Angelina is such an honor,” said Principal Kristin Hubbell, North Royalton High School. “Being named National Merit Semifinalists places them among the nation’s top students. These students embody the spirit of excellence that we aim to foster in all our Bears, and their success inspires our entire school community to reach for the highest standards of academic achievement.” Read more news from the Sun Star Courier here. Let the Brecksville, Broadview Heights, North Royalton and Strongsville communities know what is going on with your organization, church, school, business or family. Email me at [email protected].