Drum and Bugle Corps

(newsday.com)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) A nonprofit group that sponsors a championship drum and bugle corps wants a judge to reverse a state decision that shut down its multimillion-dollar bingo hall.

The state Racing and Wagering board decided last month to suspend the bingo operations of the Syracuse Brigadiers because of alleged state charitable-gaming law violations.

In a petition to state Supreme Court, the Brigadiers claim Racing and Wagering rules are vague and sometimes invented out of thin air.

The group said it received licenses from the city of Syracuse for 12 straight years without objection from the state, which only recently decided adult drum and bugle corps were ineligible to conduct bingo.

The group also claimed it attempted to comply with state gaming mandates, and that once the state moved to take away its bingo licenses, it was not afforded the opportunity to mount a proper legal defense.

The petition contends the Racing and Wagering Board’s action “was designed to deny the Brigadiers their rights and cause the total demise of the Syracuse Brigadiers Drum and Bugle Corps, rather than to actually seek compliance.”

State board spokeswoman Stacy Clifford said she could not comment until the board’s staff reviewed the court papers.

State Supreme Court Justice Edward D. Carni scheduled a hearing Feb. 3 to consider the Brigadiers’ request.

“If we can’t get an injunction on the (Feb.) 3rd, I don’t know what we’re going to do,” said Joe Geswaldo, chief financial officer for the Brigadiers.

The drum and bugle corps’ two affiliates _ Brigadier Alumni and Brigadier Boosters _ have grown into one of the biggest nonprofit bingo operations in the state.

Bingo and other charitable games of chance generated gross receipts as high as $4.4 million in 2003. Net earnings peaked at $1.6 million, and the Brigadiers’ 130-member unit won three straight national championships.

The Brigadiers admit they made mistakes but none that were deliberate, or that enriched anyone connected with the group.

LINK: Syracuse Brigadiers

(townonline.com)

The Crusaders Senior Drum and Bugle Corps are having their annual open house on Sunday, Feb. 27, from 3 to 5 p.m. at their new home, the Malden VFW Post #639, 36 Crystal St., Malden. Check out our Web site at www.crusaderseniorcorps.org for more information.

The Crusaders Senior Drum and Bugle Corps is a non-profit organization looking for new members over the age of 21. We have openings in all sections. We invite anyone wishing to become a participant in our family to drop in and see what we have to offer.

LINK: Crusaders

(www.news-leader.com)

Several area politicians and members of the NAACP simultaneously snipped the ribbon into shreds. The crowd cheered.

Then the Hillcrest Highlanders Drum and Bugle Corps beat out a cadence and led the march on to the Central High School auditorium, where a program of music, prayers and speeches followed.

Homer Boyd, who once attended Springfield’s segregated Lincoln School, hung back and collected ribbon segments, for keepsakes.

(www.thefreeman.com)

Thousands of devotees and a number of Sinulog dancers flocked to the pier to meet the Sto. Niño image as hundreds of balloons were released and the drum and bugle corps played.