mello5099

DCA competition returned to Toms River, NJ on a beautiful Saturday night last weekend as the Bushwackers and the Toms River High School East Raider Brigade co-hosted the Jersey Shore Invitational. The day included a clinic that was well-attended by a big group of talented young performers, and then a large and enthusiastic audience was treated to an exciting drumcorps competition along with exhibitions by the Raider Brigade and Inbhear Mar, a marching band from Ireland. The Bushwackers would like to say “thanks” to each of you who attended the clinic and/or the show. We hope you had a great time, and we hope we will see you again next year. The Bushwackers also wish to thank the team of people from Bushwackers and Toms River High School East who worked hard to insure that things would be smooth and successful. And, a special “thank-you” goes to the Bush alumni who came to help us run the show and/or support the performers from the stands. Of course, you can’t have a good drumcorps competition without a good drumcorps competition. Congrats and thanks to those of you in uniform who traveled to Toms River to give that audience a great show of mid-August quality drumcorps. Even “Mother Nature” pitched in. Maybe she was making up for that show at the same site several years ago when she dumped on some of us (I think my old uniform is still wet from that night). The return of DCA competition to Toms River was certainly a success, and plans for a 2010 show are already being discussed…..thanks to a bunch of really awesome performers, volunteers, and fans. Thanks! Jeff Schrimmer

I was in my 40's when I was marching in the mello line at Bushwackers. I probably shouldn't have stopped marching, because I got fat. Marching can certainly help keep you young. Being 40 can be more of a reason to march than a reason not to march. Every DCA corps has people of all ages. You will be made to feel welcome no matter where you go. You can bet that everybody who has responded here wants you to join their favorite corps. I hope you decide to join my favorite corps! Jeff Schrimmer

Hey...putting up a plug on Facebook would be awesome. Thanks! And, you absolutely need to go north and catch a show at "East" at some point.....and have a bit of a high school reunion. I know nothing of the "inner workings" of DCA schedule stuff, but it sounds like it would be pretty cool if we could figure out a way to put your old high school onto the 2010 CV tour schedule. Best wishes to you and your corps. Truth be told, you do still have family in NJ. We are all in this thing together. Jeff Schrimmer

July 27.....almost August. I love August! And, I'm really looking forward to the show on the 15th.......hoping to see a lot of old friends! Jeff

Congrats to the percussion team and congrats to the Bushwackers. I can't wait until the Open House and first rehearsal of Bush2009 on November 30! And, on a side note: I'm proud to say that I knew Tim Greene back when everybody called him Timmy. Jeff

Awesome! I've gone up another shirt size since I last bought Bush stuff. I could try to lose weight, but for now, I'm going with bigger shirts. This is great news! Jeff

I'm planning to be there a little earlier this time. I'll probably still have to get there late, but not as late as last time. Jerome: it will be great to see you there! To anybody who didn't make it to the first one: please come down for some low stress high enjoyment playing and hanging out. Jeff Schrimmer

I'm really excited. We've got Key Poulan writing for brass. We've got Bob Cizmarik and Mike Nevin writing for percussion. We've got John Vega and Rich Kim writing for color guard. We've got Steve Rinda writing the drill. And, there will be others involved in the designing and writing, of course. WoooooHooooooo!!!!! (sorry about the "woohoo" thing, but I'm really looking forward seeing and hearing what we'll be creating this summer). Jeff Schrimmer

The Bushwackers are delighted to announce that Scott Marshman will expand his role and become Visual Coordinator for the Bushwackers. The corps is also delighted to announce that John Vega and Rich Kim have been named co-caption heads of the Bushwacker Colorguard. 2009 will be the 16th season that Scott Marshman has spent with the Bushwackers since he first became a Bushwacker during the Bushwackers’ first year of existence in 1982. As a marcher, instructor, writer, and caption head, Scott’s list of admirers grew along with his skills and talents. If you marched with him or for him, you wanted to do it again and again. With Scott’s leadership, writing, and his loyal following, the Bushwackers Colorguard earned the title of Best Color Guard in DCA in 2006 and 2007. In addition to the Bushwackers, Scott Marshman’s marching credits include the legendary Conquest Winter Guard, Spirit of Atlanta, and Royal Brigade among others. Scott has also done amazing writing and teaching with several marching bands, drum corps, and winter guards (most notably the Alter Ego Winter Guard), but the Harrison native whose father was a member of our sponsoring American Legion Post has been a Bushwacker for most of his life and certainly bleeds Bushwacker “magenta and blue”. As visual coordinator, the “big picture” skills that helped Scott build champion color guards will have even more of an impact on the entire corps than in the past. In order to help make that happen, two long-time Bushwacker writers and instructors, John Vega and Rich Kim, will be taking on the roles of color guard co-caption heads. This will be the 8th year with the Bushwackers organization for co-caption head John Vega. John began marching with the Bushwackers in 1997 in the colorguard and returned in 2003 to be one of the guard designers. Since his return in 2003 the guard has consistently placed among the top in their class, most recently being awarded 2006-2007 DCA Best Colorguard and 2008 Best Showmanship Awards. John Vega started his marching career with Alter Ego Winterguard of West New York, NJ competing in the Independent A Class where the group earned their very first WGI Bronze Medal in 1998 following a move up to the Independent Open Class. After 5 successful seasons with Alter Ego, he spent the next 6 years performing with three of the most successful Independent World Guards in the country: Emerald Marquis of Wakefield, MA; St. Ann's of Neponset, MA; And Blessed Sacrament World Guard of Cambridge MA, winning another bronze medal with St. Ann's in 2002 and two more bronze medals with Blessed Sacrament in 2005 and 2007 where he also served as one the guard captains. John's teaching career has led him to teach various high school bands and indoor colorguards in NJ, and he now serves as the Show Coordinator/Designer for Alter Ego's Independent A guard. Co-caption head Rich Kim will be spending his 5th year teaching and writing for the Bushwackers Colorguard. Rich attended The Boston Conservatory for dance and theatre and later received his BFA in Visual Art from Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University with a double major in painting and sculpture. He continued his education at Massachusetts College of Art where he received his MSAE in Art Education. Currently, Rich is a high school art teacher at Walpole, Massachusetts and is the director of the King Philip HS Colorguard and the WHS Dance Company. Rich’s performing credits include St. Ann’s World and Blessed Sacrament World Guards, and Rich’s teaching credits include King Philip, Blessed Sacrament World, Sacred Heart World, several high schools, and of course: the Bushwackers. As always, please visit http://www.bushwackers.org for more information about the Bushwackers.

The Bushwackers are pleased to announce that Steve Rinda will be returning as Visual Designer for the 2009 season. Steve Rinda joined the Bushwackers in 1997. While younger than most of the people around him, the fine mellophone player stood out immediately as a talented marcher. And, Steve had the ability to see things from within the line that most people would have to go “up top” to see. Steve did not march in 1998, but he returned a year later and marched from 1999 – 2002, becoming a member of the visual staff along the way. Steve was named visual caption head in 2005, and he took on the role of visual designer in 2006. He is a gifted designer, and his deep understanding of the nature, history, and mission of the Bushwackers made him the perfect choice for us. The Bushwackers are thrilled that Steve Rinda will continue to be our visual designer in 2009! In addition to designing for the Bushwackers, Steve also writes drill for marching bands in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Steve teaches American Government at Perkiomen Valley H.S. and marching band at Daniel Boone H.S. in the suburban Philadelphia region. When he is not busy, he spends time with his lovely wife Becca and his two sons Steven and Gabe. As always, please visit http://www.bushwackers.org for more news and information about the Bushwackers.

I'm lucky enough to have gotten to watch Chris' progression from young and talented Bushwacker rookie to where he is at this point in his marching arts career. During some of Bush's toughest years, Chris was our true leader. While this sounds a bit corny, I'm picturing George Washington standing up in that boat in that "crossing the Delaware" painting. Except, if Chris was the guy standing up in the painting, the rowers would probably all be smiling. In every drum corps, there are people who make the others feel glad they are there. They walk up to you and engage you in converstion and are genuinely interested in your well-being. Chris is one of those people. Welcome home, Chris. It's nice to have you back (where you belong). Jeff Schrimmer

G instruments can play, too? Cool!!! My Kanstul has been in its case for more than 5 years. Aside from the time when I stubbed my left pinky toe on it a few years ago (and broke the toe), it hasn't done anything but take up space in my apartment for years. On the other hand, I haven't played a horn that is tuned in F since my days with the University of Rhode Island marching band in the early 80's. This is gonna be fun! Jeff Schrimmer

One week left until the first brass master class. I'm really excited. The last 2 weekends have seemed kind of empty, and it makes me feel good to think that there will be drum corps going on in Ridgefield Park next weekend. It should be a great day. Jeff Schrimmer

Here are directions to the Bushwacker Scranton rehearsal site down the hill from Steamtown (The Southside Sports Complex): • Take I-80 West into Pennsylvania • Take the I-380 exit- number 293- toward Scranton • Merge onto I-380 North • As I-380 ends, merge onto I-81 South via the exit- on the left- toward Wilkes-Barre • Take the Central Scranton Expressway exit- number 185 • Merge onto Central Scranton Expressway • Take the Cedar Avenue ramp • Turn RIGHT onto Cedar Avenue • Turn SHARP LEFT onto Mattes Avenue • Mattes Avenue becomes Hickory Street • Hickory Street becomes Broadway Street • After crossing the railroad tracks, the practice site will be on your left. Jeff Schrimmer

Hahahaha......maybe I should change my sig. I thought long and hard about replying with a political joke, and then I decided......nah..... I don't want to throw this thread off target. Anyway, the Bushwackers are really excited to be rehearsing at a site that feels like home. I'll post directions later in the week. Jeff