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JerseyDigger29

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  • Location
    Wildwood, NJ
  • Interests
    Writer, Composer/arranger

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  1. Hey, Fran. I heard your comment about the difference in the reception in Wildwood this year compared to last as I was trudging up to the stands from far, far away on Park Boulevard. Glad you didn't need to use your megaphone this year. Seriously, those of us in Wildwood are so glad to see you all come to our famous little burg. I personally wish we could have shows at Maxwell Field every week. But I guess even that would get boring, there are many other great drum corps towns out there. (They just don't have our boardwalk). I heard one very enthusiastic comment from someone in the stands after the last exhibition that bears repeating over and over. You know the exhibition I'm talking about... You had to have seen it. It was the one that had the entire audience hyperventilating and clutching their chests to try and control their heartbeats. You know, the exhibition with the so-called "old" guys in it... "The Cabs Alumni was worth the entire price of admission all by themselves!" Way to go, guys. I have never seen such a fantastic performance so early in the season in my life. If this is how you perform at the first show, you should "destroy the house" at the last one. God, I wish, I wish, I wish my knees would cooperate so I could get my horn back out there on the field. Thom
  2. Hello out there again to all our corps buddies from your friends in Wildwood. I just wanted to let everyone know that there will be a fresh new breeze blowing through the stands at historic Maxwell Field when the Caballeros once again bring their party to the beach on June 18th. If you thought the reception you might have experienced from the city the last two years left a whole lot to be desired, take heart. There's a new drum corps sheriff in town and he's a big, big fan. On May 10th, former Mayor Ernie Troiano and a brand new, unified, team of partners made a clean sweep in the municipal election, soundly defeating all other contenders, including the last mayor and commissioners. Ernie - the top vote-getter in this election - was unanimously selected to once again serve as mayor by his two team mates, Pete Byron and Anthony Leonetti. Also, because of a winning referendum on the ballot this year, the next election will be moved from May to November in order to save the city some money. Which means, my friends, that Ernie, Pete and Tony will get to serve in office for at least four - AND ONE-HALF YEARS. Count 'em! So, be assured, folks, your friendly drum corps buddies in the Wildwoods are all set to give you a big welcome back to our little island once again. Come on down, sit a spell, and enjoy. I understand there's a whole bunch of really cool corps joining the Cabs this year. Jeez, somebody hold me down... Thom Fontannaz
  3. Looking forward to seeing y'all tomorrow at historic Maxwell Field. A fond advance welcome to our southern brothers and sisters from the Carolinas. This will be their first visit to our legendary little resort - "the Wildwoods, NJ: The true birthplace of Rock and Roll and the Doo Wop Capital of the World." (Not to mention the "Drum Corps Capital of New Jersey"). Bet y'all "southerns" didn't know that the Wildwoods is actually about 25 miles or so BELOW the Mason Dixon Line, so that makes us one of you. Y'all enjoy now!!! Thom
  4. Just wanted everyone to know that there is a brand new restaurant in town - just opened today! And it's only two blocks or so to Maxwell Field. Russo's famous restaurant at Park Boulevard and Davis Avenue was sold and torn down last year. It has now been reborn as the ICE HOUSE Restaurant and "rooftop" open-air bar. I just drove by and saw the first customers eating and drinking their hearts out on the rooftop. Looks like a cool place. (Get it? Ice House. Cool place.) Anyway, this is only the third open-air rooftop bar/restaurant in the Wildwoods. The other two are Flip Flopz in NW and the Deck at Holly Beach at Pacific and Oak avenues. Don't want to detract from all the partying at Kellys, but this guy at the Ice House put a lot of time and money into a new business at a time when many people can't. Check it out, if you can. Take care -Thom
  5. Soooooo glad you're all coming. But don't forget guys, we got you all beat! Mayor Ernie, Andy Vaden and myself are here alllll the time. Darn, we miss you guys when you're not in the Wildwoods..... Thom
  6. I can't wait!!!! It's been a long, cold, wet, winter and I miss my Drum Corps. You should all know that the Cabs Alumni came to Wildwood High School and Maxwell Field for one of their camp weekends in April, and just between you guys and me, these guys are one really honkin' corps. My God, I thought the walls of my dear old alma mater were going to collapse. Loved it!! If the Cabs Alumni are this good, I can't wait to see all the other corps, too. My heart needs a little exercise. Thom
  7. Happy birthday, Smitty. It was mine, too. It seems some great people were born on this day, huh. You, me, Cheryl Ladd.... Who? have a happy one - Thom
  8. Jim - I agree. As you can tell from my corps photography, I prefer candid action shots of the performers, as close as I can get. I want to see the expressions on their faces. I want to experience the blood, sweat, and tears they put into a show. As well as all the love and joy. This kind of corps photography is a lot more pleasing to me than the standard drill shots from the stands. Although, all us older guys have to admit we were all raised on those great Moe Knox photos of classic drills and formations. I particularly loved Garfield's Peace Sign, Blue Rock's Baby Elephant, Casper's sunburst, Santa Clara's Bottle Dance, and Phantom's "Rockford File." Oh, and I bought my share of Moe's senior corps photos, too. Maybe I should have been a photographer back in the 60's and 70's when photography actually sold. Take care - Thom
  9. Can't tell the horn's size by the picture so much, but it looks a little like a standard cornet. Is this horn's introduction intended to add more voices, or tones, to the standard wind ensemble (with drums, of course)? Or is it just someone's attempt to sell a new horn they invented? Personally, I always thought drum corps could do some amazing things with herald trumpets, too. With or without the valves. Thom
  10. Hey guys, I finally have my photos ready from the Wildwood show last Saturday night. Just in time to whet your appetite for this coming weekend, I hope. Sorry it took so long but editing 122 pictures for uploading takes a while. Hope you like them. Pictures were taken from field level. Rather than post 122 pictures here, I've loaded them onto my photography website for easy viewing. Just click on "galleries," "2008 Drum and Bugle Corps," and then on "Cabs Beach Party." There are 3 pages of photos and unfortunately they don't scroll between pages. When pics start to repeat, close the current page and choose new pages. Again, hope you like them. BTW, I got a very special photo of the Caballeros Competing Corps' "Chief Roadie." I liked the pic so much I added it to the Front Page of this week's Wildwoods Reporter for the entire world to see. If someone out there can reach little Erik, let him know he's now an international star on the Wildwoods newspaper. Hope he likes the photo. Here's the shot of Erik: www.TheWildwoodsReporter.com And here's the show pictures: www.DigitalDazzlePhotography.ifp3.com Thanks, Thom Fontannaz
  11. Thanks, Rich. See you at the Cab Alumni camp in Wildwood in April. I'll also be at the Cab competing corps camp, of course. That's in May, I believe. BTW - Big news this year for the Caballero DCA show in June. Senior corps competition is finally returning to the grass of Maxwell Field, according to Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano. By showtime, the field will be completely reborn since the last time we were all there. It has the new larger stadium bleachers - WITH AN ACTUAL PRESS BOX, for all those judge weanies last year who thought twice about sitting on a hi-lifter. And the brand new Wildwood Community Center behind the field will be complete. Also, some of you may not know the story about the new grass on Maxwell Field: The grass was produced by a turf farm in South Jersey and was originally destined for Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisc. But the mayor made a call to them just before the shows last year and "convinced 'em" that Wildwood was desperate and needed it first. So, of course, Wildwood - and Drum Corps - got the great grass. Green Bay got theirs later. Don't know about the official lineup yet, but I understand it will be pretty cool. Could we finally be seeing a "Bush" in Wildwood? And not that George "W" clown either! (Just my opinion). Thanks, Thom
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