THE VOICE OF THE EAST VALLEY SINCE 1891 AND WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR LOCAL REPORTING
THE SUNDAY
Chandler duo lights fireworks for 87 shows
Tribune
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East Mesa Edition
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Marijuana dispensary celebrates 3rd PAGE 19 Sunday, June 26, 2016
Strike up the band for 118 years
COMMUNITY | 14 Retired dentist turns skills into jewelry hobby
OPINION.....................17 BUSINESS....................19 SPORTS........................21 FAITH...........................29 CLASSIFIED ................31
(Ethan Fichtner/Special to the Tribune) Director Larry Baedke conducts the Mesa City Band during its final performance of last year's season at the Venture Out RV Resort in Mesa. The band has a special July 4 concert as part of the city of Mesa's annual celebration.
OUTDOORS | 25 Boyce Thompson Arboretum takes a close look at dragonflies
MUSIC | 23 Cage the Elephant is satisfied writing the songs band members love
Patriotic tradition runs deep for Mesa City Band COVER STORY BY SHELLEY RIDENOUR TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
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118-year-old Mesa tradition continues on July 4 when the Mesa City Band takes the stage at the Mesa Convention Center. The Mesa City Band is the oldest city band in Arizona, and a lot of its members have spent a lot of time making music. “Some people get to 90 years old before they quit,” Gilbert resident Lois Splendoria said. “I’ll play as long as I can stand up.” The band was founded in 1898 to provide special music for a community event. It was pressed into service off and on until 1918.
There is no mention of the band then until 1939. It appears the band resumed in the 1940s and disbanded during World War II. A performance occurred in July 1946, either on Independence Day or Pioneer Day—no one can recall with certainty, band member John Hamblin said. He was a 16-year-old Mesa High School student that day. In 1967, the ensemble performed as the Tri-City Band. It went by several other names over the decades, including the Mesa Brass Band, the Mesa Cornet Band, the Mesa Community Band and the “Band Boys.” The name was changed back to the Mesa City Band in the early 1980s. See
MESA CITY BAND on page 4
EV athletes have Rio dreams at U.S. Trials–Page 3 Families sacrifice for Olympics hopes–Page 8