THE ALEPPO TEMPLE (AAONMS)
SHRINE ORIENTAL BAND NEWS FOR THE YEAR 2010
The above is the official logo of the Aleppo Temple (AAONMS) Oriental Band.
Following our Winter/Holiday recess, we resumed practise on January 14, 2010.
On January 22, 2010, we were informed that the BLACK CAMEL had visited the MARKOS residence and had taken our fellow
BANDSMAN, NICHOLAS A. MARKOS, to the Eternal Oriental Band. Nick's feisty and jovial spirit as well as his dedication
will be missed as will he. We wish the MARKOS FAMILY the best.
ALEPPO 2010 POTENTATE - JEFFREY ARNOLD
Though saddened by the loss of NICHOLAS MARKOS, on JANUARY 23, 2010 we participated at the ANNUAL ALEPPO INSTALLATION CEREMONIAL which was held in Wilmington, Massachusetts.
We had a good turn out at the event and put in another exemplary and satisfying performance for all in attendance.
We congratulate the new officers of ALEPPO and we are looking forward to working with them.
During our winter break we did some maintenance to our float, our uniforms, and our instruments in anticipation
of the parading season.
On March 16, 2010, we were saddened to hear that the BLACK CAMEL had visited the BROWNE oasis and had taken ELEANOR BROWNE, wife of ROBERT (BOB) BROWNE, to the Eternal Oriental Band. For several years ELLIE had not been feeling well and BOB had been on sabbatical caring for her. ELLIE was a joy to know and she will be missed by those who knew here. On the bright side, we were hopeful that BOB would now be able to rejoin and actively participate with the BAND.
On April 15, 2010, we were pleased and delighted to have ROBERT BROWNE rejoin the BAND. His absence from the percussion section for several years did nothing to diminish his skills or his knowledge of our routines - once a BANDSMAN, ALWAYS A BANDSMAN!
ROBERT BROWNE
On April 16, 2010, a small contingent of the BAND participated in a ROCK'N ROLL night at ALEPPO. These theme nights are part of an increased Shrine enrollment effort and we were happy to participate and give everyone an idea of what we do.
On April 18, 2010, we participated in the Arlington, Massachusetts PATRIOT'S DAY PARADE. Several conflicts made for a small turnout, again, but it was a balanced turnout and that is really the key to our performances because anytime we do get a balanced BAND we do put on a good performance. We had a great time in Arlington and hope that everyone enjoyed us.
On April 29, 2010, we conducted our ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING and found everything to be in order. Looking forward, it was determined that we will not be attending the TORONTO IMPERIAL and logistics and conflicts for the NORTHEAST FIELD DAYS make the likelihood of our attendance there problematic, though the matter is still under consideration.
On May 10, 2010, several members of the BAND attended a Memorial Service for ELEANOR BROWNE.
On May 20, 2010, MAURICE KIPNIS returned to practise after a brief sabbatical due to family and work related matters.
On May 30, 2010, we participated in the SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS Memorial Day Parade. We had a large turnout of
participants and the crowd was large and enthusiastic. We literally had them dancing in the streets and that is a
good sign for us because that is a good indication that we are back in form and providing an entertaining performance.
The Parade also marked the return to parading with us for ROBERT BROWNE and MAURICE KIPNIS. Somerville is always a long parade
and the weather was a bit sunny and on the warm side - fortunately, every time we stopped, we found ourselves under some much welcomed
and appreciated shade. We hope that everyone enjoyed our performance and we think that was the case.
On May 31, 2010, we participated in the WILMINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS Memorial Day Parade and we had an even larger turnout of performers
than the day before (even Steve Cappers came down from MAINE to join us) and we sounded great. We clearly are doing something right and people seem to be
noticing - not only crowds but prospective new candidates for the BAND and that has us a bit excited. WILMINGTON is our home
town and we take considerable pleasure in being able to give something back to the community that puts up with us all year long.
We also are happy to be a part of the Memorial Day festivities with the Town in order to honor those that the Holiday is
designed to do so for.
We participated in an ALEPPO CEREMONIAL on June 5, 2010 in WILMINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS. Another large turnout of members led to another
great performance. Additionally several new Initiates indicated some interest in the BAND and one person who was already a member of
ALEPPO who had seen us perform previously finally realized his wish to become a member of the BAND. We welcome JONATHAN LAPOMARDO to our ranks.
JON comes to us with some musical skill, but we have promised to remedy that singular flaw in his being somehow. JON has expressed an
interest in playing the musette and we suspect that the experience of doing so might be enough, in itself, to provide the remedy.
In addition to JON'S signing up, we were also visited by ERIC HOLT'S son, DR. JONATHAN ANDREW HOLT, from Nashville, Tennessee and ASIYA SHRINERS. We made every
effort to make him feel at home and to provide him with sufficient information to assist him, as a Medical Doctor, to assess the impact
of the BAND on his father's well-being. We also scrambled a bit to try and find a uniform for him to join us in our performance but,
unfortunately, were not able to do so because uniforms are becoming scarce with the new additions to the BAND - next time we will try to
be better prepared. Finally, for the PARADE IN REVIEW that is done during each Ceremonial, we were able to convince ALEPPO PAST POTENTATE
STEVEN ERIKSEN to abandon his unit and parade with us as a gong player. We have been after STEVE'S wife to become part of our harem
ever since STEVE'S Potentate's Ball where she put on a dance routine to our music that would make her the envy of any Oriental Band.
Well, it now seems that STEVE himself also has some Oriental Band skills so we will be seeing what we can do to get the dynamic ERIKSEN
duo to come over to our Unit - all enjoyed STEVE'S peformance and all enjoyed the BAND'S performance for the day.
ERIC HOLT (L) AND HIS SON, DR. JONATHAN ANDREW HOLT (AT THE JUNE 5, 2010 CEREMONIAL)
JON LAPOMARDO attended his first rehearsal with us on June 10, 2010 and by the time he returned the following week he was already playing
the musette!
At our June 17, 2010 rehearsal we were also joined by a grandson of one of our current members who has expressed a desire to join the BAND
upon his initiation into ALEPPO at the September 25, 2010 Ceremonial. In the meantime he has also expressed an interest
to practice with us and we have indicated to him that was great. He is a percussionist and he has training in that area.
At his first meeting with us he was already picking up some of the beats and he promises to be a valuable member of our percussion
section - we are all looking forward to his
official joining of the BAND.
At the JUNE QUARTERLY MEETING of THE GRAND LODGE OF MASSACHUSETTS MASONS it was announced that ROBERT L. GOODWIN, a BAND MEMBER, has been
nominated as a GRAND REPRESENTATIVE TO BRAZIL for THE GRAND LODGE OF MASSACHUSETTS. Congratulations are extended to BOB.
On June 21, 2010, several members of the BAND attended the THIRD (MASSACHUSETTS) MASONIC DISTRICT LODGE OF INSTRUCTION in ARLINGTON,
MASSACHUSETTS where our fellow BAND MEMBER, ROBERT JOHNSTON, received THE JOSEPH WARREN DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL. A large contingent
of MASSACHUSETTS GRAND LODGE OFFICERS were in attendance including THE GRAND MASTER OF MASSACHUSETTS who presided over the event.
BOB is a very accomplished MASON and the tribute added to the many other accolades that he has received in his 60 years with the
Fraternity. Our congratulations are extended to BOB on this august occasion.
MASSACHUSETTS GRAND MASTER, ROGER W. PAGEAU, (L) AND ROBERT JOHNSTON
On June 24, 2010, we were joined by a nephew of BAND MEMBER, JACK ZIMMERMAN, at our regular rehearsal. WAYNE FREEDMAN, a former CLOWN
with Aleppo and a current Chaplain for Aleppo, decided to join the BAND and we were delighted to welcome him to our ranks. We are all
looking forward to WAYNE'S participation with us.
On JUNE 26, 2010, we did an early JULY 4th PARADE in BRAINTREE, MASSACHUSETTS. Though we had another excellent turnout for the event
and performed in our usual exemplary fashion which had people dancing in the streets and coming up to us inquiring about our music, all
did not go well. SOOOO many things were wrong about this parade that it is difficult to know where to start - so let's try to start at the
beginning. Over the past few years parking concerns have resulted in a portion of our performers so desiring it being driven to parades
by bus. Generally the buses are commercial type vehicles which usually are quite comfortable. For more local events school buses are
used with their more cramped child-friendly type seats. BRAINTREE is not exactly a local type of parade and many were surprised and
disappointed to see the use of school buses for transportation to there but we all survived that, more or less (one bus had a driver
who could compete in any demolition derby and probably win). So the day started off badly and just went downhill from there. We
arrived in BRAINTREE expecting to find our pre-parade refreshments - only to be told that they had not arrived - things were getting
worse by the minute. We then located our float in a cramped school parking lot and the prospect of having to take it down a steep ramp
with a bump that could have qualified for separate naming as a mini-mountain and which probably would have either disconnected our
float from
the truck hauling it or would have scraped the bottom off of it. The alternative was to wait for everyone to clear out so that
a precarious
turn could be done - we ultimately opted for this option and that came with ramifications that just made things even more worse.
Ultimately the food showed up and that alleviated some of our concerns because it really was a very hot and humid day and things like
water were really more of a necessity than not. So we enjoyed the refreshments and waited anD waitED aND waITED AND WAITED. It seems that,
even though the parade was to start at a certain time, no one remembered to tell us that we were in the third division of the parade - so,
we didn't even start moving until something like an hour after the parade started and things just continued to get worse. During our wait,
we
noted that, this being a political year in Massachusetts, many of the politicians were out in force and that always makes for a long and
slow parade - so things continued declining. We finally were able to move and found ourselves at essentially the rear of our UNIT which
is very unusual
for us because some of the marching units or parties enjoy marching to our music and its beat and actually find it difficult to march to
any other beat generated by any other group within Aleppo. On the plus side, it meant that we did not have to perform essentially
non-stop
and were actually able to have some moments of rest during the parade. So the parade started and things looked good in the beginning - the
crowd was enthusiastic and the BAND performed well but as we moved on we noted that the crowd was really very sporadic and sparse
and the route was
simply terrible because it did nothing to draw the crowd out and there were lengthy areas where there simply was no one along the side
lines! What poor planning on the host's part! But then what can one expect from anyone who would dare celebrate July 4th on June 26th!
It is simply unpatriotic to do it that way and there is no excuse for that - July 4th is July 4th and it is as simple as that - celebrate
it a day or two earlier or later if you must - but only if you must! We can only wonder when Braintree celebrates XMAS and NEW YEAR!
So we moved along the parade route and turned on a side street to end
the parade - only to be told that we were not supposed to make that turn because the street would ultimately become too narrow for us to
maneuver in! Well, it would have been nice if someone had been directing traffic so that things like this would not have happened -
especially since there were people parading behind us as well and the prospect of turning around was negligible. This year Aleppo has
a new
Head of Units who normally is responsible for such things but somehow our driver either did not get the message or understand it - so we
moved forward and wasted about a half hour trying to get to where we were supposed to get. We eventually arrived at the end of
the parade area and found several
people who were essentially clueless and useless as to where the returning buses were located. Eventually a member told
us where to look and we followed his advice and found the buses in a parking lot a good quarter mile away which required our crossing a
busy major road to get to - so we all took our lives in our hands and crossed the street (in today's world a bunch of people dressed in
Middle Eastern outfits presents an interesting prospect for some!) and finally got to our buses and made the return trip. All-in-all,
everyone, including some senior members, felt that this was one of the worst parades we have ever done - it was poorly organized and
even more poorly executed. We nonetheless, performed well and believe that everyone did enjoy our efforts for the day.
On August 12, 2010, the BAND unanimously voted CHARLES (CHARLIE) F. RIVERS, COLONEL EMERITUS of the ALEPPO UNIFORMED UNITS,
as an HONORARY MEMBER of the BAND. Welcome aboard CHARLIE - rehearsals are THURSDAYS at 6:30PM! CHARLIE has had a distinguished
career at ALEPPO and we do hope to see him every now and then participating in some of our events.
On August 14, 2010, a good turnout of BAND MEMBERS and FAMILY and FRIENDS travelled to MAINE to enjoy our annual clambake.
This year saw us changing the venue for the event and it also marked the first year that we were without NICK MARKOS
- whose spirit was with us nonetheless. Everyone enjoyed the new venue, the food, and the friendship and camaraderie of
the day. A special note of thanks should be given to our Secretary, JOHN KELLEY, for putting this event together this year
- WELL DONE, JOHN - NICK (who traditionally previously put this event together) would have been proud of you!
On August 19, 2010, those MEMBERS of the BAND desiring to do so, received new BAND jerseys. It had been a few years since we last
had new jerseys and we were all happy to spruce up our appearances. For some it was a long overdue happening; for others it
was an enhancement or addition to their wardrobe; and, yet for others, being new MEMBERS since the last time we got jerseys,
it was an opportunity to acquire what is undoubtedly one of the most coveted possessions for any ALEPPO SHRINER.
At our September 2, 2010 rehearsal, we were joined by JEFF MOORES, President of the Northeast Shrine Oriental Band Association
(NESOBA), who updated us on events that took place at the IMPERIAL SESSION in TORONTO and also gave us an idea of plans that
are pending for the NESOBA competition in HALIFAX. JEFF also stayed for our rehearsal and, though he declined to participate
with us (a decision which he will undoubtedy regret for the rest of his life), he was duly impressed with our performance.
JONATHAN LAPOMARDO
(DRESSED FOR HIS FIRST PARADE)
We participated in a LABOR DAY PARADE on September 6, 2010 in MARLBORO, MASSACHUSETTS. WOW - what a parade! Everyone was there and the
weather was ideal. This being an election year in the State, all the gubernatorial (including the current Governor) candidates and
any number of other political candidates were also there and that made for a long and slow Parade but, nonetheless, an enjoyable one.
The crowd stood five to ten people deep all along the route and cheered us on. Even though we were in one of the last divisions of the
Parade and did not step off until almost two hours after the beginning of the PARADE, it still was a great PARADE - Marlboro is always
that way. AND to make it even better, our favorite dancing lady was there this year as well! Additionally it was the first PARADE
PERFORMANCE for JONATHAN LAPOMARDO and, as expected, he performed remarkably well - good going JON!
IN ADDITION TO JON LAPOMARDO, SOME OF THE OTHER BAND MEMBERS AT THE MARLBORO PARADE WERE AS FOLLOWS:
THE BAND ON ITS FLOAT IN MARLBORO - September 6, 2010
BOB HALEY (DIRECTOR)
BOB BROWNE
ARTHUR FINK
BOB GOODWIN
JIM HARVEY
RON HENDERSON
ERIC HOLT
PHIL KEANE
JOHN KELLEY
RICK LEMERISE, SR.
FRED POULIOT
AL RICHARDS
TOM SHORT
RUSSELL STOUFFER
JACK ZIMMERMAN
For a variety of reasons, we did not be attend the NORTHEAST SHRINE ASSOCIATION FIELD DAYS in
HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA this year. Our absence should have made for some opportunities for some other regional BANDS who chose
to compete in the NORTHEAST ASSOCIATION OF SHRINE ORIENTAL BANDS Competition and we wished all who did so, the best. NEXT YEAR
these events will be held in HYANNIS, MASSACHUSETTS and will be hosted by ALEPPO. CAPE COD is a great place to be any time
of the year and we encourage everyone entitled to consider attending the festivities then.
CHARLES (CHARLIE) F. RIVERS
There was an ALEPPO CEREMONIAL on September 25,
2010 in WILMINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS which we participated in. We had a good turnout of members, despite some last minute emergencies
which cropped up for a few. We performed well and everyone appreciated our efforts. Of particular note for this event was that we
were able to convince our newest HONORARY MEMBER, CHARLES (CHARLIE) F. RIVERS to participate with us as a gong player in the PARADE and REVIEW.
CHARLIE did an exemplary job and we are now considering revoking his HONORARY status and making him a full time MEMBER. Everyone who
saw CHARLIE perform was impressed and so were we - STEVE ERIKSEN, take due notice and beware!
THE ICONIC SYMBOL OF THE TOPSFIELD FAIR
We participated in the OPENING PARADE for the TOPSFIELD FAIR on October 2, 2010. The TOPSFIELD FAIR is billed as AMERICA'S OLDEST FAIR
having been started in 1818. A great early fall day with ideal temperatures and weather
and a larger than usual enthusiastic crowd with a good turnout of BAND Members should have produced another great perfomance by us - but
someone threw in a bagpipe player, who marched close to us and interferred
with our performance. The FAIR always welcomes us with open arms and we enjoy doing it and conflicts had kept us away for a few years so we
were excited to be back at this event. And all seemed to be going well. Despite the fact that we were unable to use our float for the parade
we were, nonetheless, able to get a good number of Members willing to march the route and prove that we can still walk and perform at the same
time and all would have gone well except for some bad horn reeds which simply did not want to cooperate and the infamous bagpipe player who
threw our beats and concentration out of "kilter" (pun intended). Transportation from our rendezvous spot to the beginning of the Parade
always is problematic for us for this Parade and this year was no exception as we were driven by horse drawn carriage, on a hay ride,
to the start of the
Parade. The fact of the matter is that this transportation was better than some we have experienced in the past and everyone actually
enjoyed it. However, we would prefer that our transportation not be left to the last minute and we do hope to return to TOPSFIELD next year
for this Parade. The Parade was plaqued with politicians (as usual) - but there was a different tone about it as some of them dressed down to try to
convince the crowd that they were also just ordinary people. The TOPSFIELD FAIR is a 4H Agricultural type of FAIR and seeing some of the
politicians
in jeans and plaid shirts was refreshingly different to see though blatantly obvious in its purpose and attempt. Also, of particular note
was the presence of the ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE. It
has always been our position to recognize and acknowledge talent when we see it and these people had it and a presence which was incredible
to see and they put on a performance that was impeccable. They get our nomination for BEST IN PARADE and PERFORMANCE this year.
Our performance
was good despite everything however it clearly was one of our rare off days but we hope that everyone enjoyed it nonetheless - next year we
will make every effort to do better. After the Parade several of our members stayed to enjoy the FAIR. The abundance of local food items,
agricultural exhibits, rides, performances (including racing pigs and racing ducks), and games made for an enjoyable time for those who
did so. We would recommend the TOPSFIELD
FAIR to anyone - it is an enjoyable and fun time for all ages and it is well organized and presented and we look forward to returning next
year. Below are just a few of the many things that one can see at the FAIR.
A FLAG WHICH SPEAKS TO ALL THE FOOD AVAIALABLE AT THE FAIR
PRIZE WINNING VEGETABLES
DUCK RACES
PIG RACES
ELEPHANTS
CAMELS
ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE
ORIENTAL BANDSMAN
ROD PARKER
ORIENTAL BANDSMEN
BOB HALEY (DIRECTOR - LEFT) AND ARRON BUDNITZ
On OCTOBER 9, 2010, we celebrated our one year anniversary of having transitioned to the current website. We believe that the move
has been a successful one and hope that all are enjoying the site.
October 10, 2010 aka 10-10-10, a glorious day for weddings and Columbus Day Parades. We can't discuss how any of
the numerous weddings that occurred on the day went but we do wish all the newlyweds the best. We, on the other hand, participated in
the EAST BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS COLUMBUS DAY PARADE - and what a parade it was. EAST BOSTON has a large population claiming ITALIAN
HERITAGE and they take Columbus Day very seriously. The crowds are always large and enthusiastic and the Italian Flag waving and food
that abounds and their aromas easily can carry one back to any number of Italian Regions whether it be the pizza, pasta, meats, or whatever.
Participating in the East Boston Columbus Day Parade is an enjoyable trip to ITALY in itself. Even though the East Boston Parade is one
of the longer parades that we do, we always have fun doing it because the crowd is as enthusiastic as it is and it is also most appreciative
of our efforts. We, again, had a very good turnout of MEMBERS and were, once again, able to convince CHARLIE RIVERS to play the gong. This
time it was the LARGE GONG and CHARLIE took to it like a professional. We are seriously considering revoking CHARLIE'S "HONORARY" STATUS
and making him a full time regular MEMBER of the BAND. So far CHARLIE has agreed to don a special GONG PLAYING uniform for us in the future
and we are in the process of getting one for him - it should be something to see in the future. As has been the case throughout the Parading
Season this year, the Politicians were out in force and two of them, realizing the exalted importance of the BAND actually made their way
over to the BAND float area before the PARADE started to partake of our wisdom. We commend INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR, TIM CAHILL,
and DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE
FOR STATE TREASURER, STEVE GROSSMAN, on their wisdom, good tastes, and judgment, though we were a bit disappointed that Candidate Grossman
declined an offer to join the BAND for the day - can't imagine why - what can be more prestigious or important! The weather was fabulous,
the PARADE was flawless, and our performance was spectacular (reassuring us that TOPSFIELD really was not the norm for us). As has been the
case
throughout the Parading Season, we had the crowd dancing along the sidelines - if we ever are able to harness the energy and recruit some
of these people, we will undoubtedly have the largest ever ORIENTAL BAND on the planet and a HAREM that would rival that of anyone! East
Boston
was the official end of the Parading Season for us and was a great way to conclude a very good year for us as we finished the year on a
high note which we believe was pleasing to the East Boston audience as well. We will be performing in
FALMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS in DECEMBER and hope to have an appropriate uniform for CHARLIE RIVERS by then - come out and see us perform and
partake of the excitement that we exude - it is a great way to get into the Holiday spirit. Some scenes from the East Boston Parade appear
below:
JOHN KELLEY - FINDING TIME TO RELAX BEFORE THE EAST BOSTON PARADE
(JOHN ALSO RECOGNIZING THE UTILITY OF HIS DRUM!)
INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR - TIM CAHILL
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR TREASURER - STEVE GROSSMAN
CHARLIE RIVERS
THE LEMERISE FAMILY - BOB (L), RICK, SR. (C), RICK, JR. (R)
On December 4, 2010 a large number of Members of the BAND, Spouses, Significant Others, and Friends gathered in FALMOUTH,
MASSACHUSETTS for the BAND'S annual and
traditional HOLIDAY PARTY which everyone enjoyed. As a result of a number of last minute personal matters, several Members
were unable to attend and they were missed. In addition, recent news from two our Members did put a bit of a damper on the
festivities. BAND MEMBER, LESTER OSHRY, our ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, has not been feeling well for a while and has made valiant
efforts throughout the year to attend as many of our rehearsals and functions as possible, however, his placement on our
sick list will be limiting his participation in the future and he was unable to attend the Party. By the same token, BAND
MEMBER, ROBERT BROWNE, has also been
placed on our sick list and he was unable to attend the Party as well. It was a joy to have BOB back for most of last year
though the circumstances that brought that
about (loss of his wife) made it a bittersweet moment which is becoming somewhat more bitter by his current situation.
Both LESTER and BOB were missed at the Party, but our thoughts and best wishes were with them.
Following the Party, we
did the FALMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS HOLIDAY PARADE on December 5, 2010. Weather usually is a factor with this Parade and
there have been years when we have frozen through it and others where we have even been snowed out - so we dress accordingly
for this one. Though the weather was relatively mild for the Parade this year, foreboding clouds prevailed during the day
blocking out the warming
rays of the sun and the chill was exacerbated by some winds which made it cold and humid enough to make playing the
horns a real challenge. Nonetheless, we prevailed over that and put on a good performance for the crowd who were large
in number and enthusiastic. As with many of our performances this past year, we had people literally dancing in the
streets to our music and that was nice to see. At the end of the Parade several locals also passed by and thanked us for our
participation and expressed appreciation for our performance and that was a nice way to end the year and to conclude
our 59th year. Next year is a special year for us as we will be celebrating our sixtieth (60th) year.
On December 23, 2010 a good turnout of Members attended a reception sponsored by the POTENTATE of ALEPPO. These receptions have become
an annual event over the past few years and we all appreciate the opportunity to get together in this fashion and all enjoyed
the event.
We hope that everyone who came out to see us this year enjoyed our performances and will come out again next year to see us again.
Come out and see
us perform at all of next year's events, we believe you will find it to be an enjoyable and rewarding experience!
We believe that we have been successfully counted in the 2010 DECENNIAL US CENSUS and are confident that the world is a much
better place because of that!
In general, things went well for the BAND this year and are continuing to do so - we experienced some of the best turnouts
for performances that
we have seen in years and our Membership is holding its own and even growing and it is growing with some relatively young new
Members which provides a promising prospect for the future as well. We are doing something right and the results are showing.
On January 3, 2011, the BAND was informed that the BLACK CAMEL visited ROBERT BROWNE on DECEMBER 30, 2010 and took him to the ETERNAL
ORIENTAL BAND. BOB was a well liked individual in our BAND and an extremely talented drummer. Both his spirit and his talent will be
missed by us. We thank the BROWNE FAMILY for sharing ELEANOR (ELLIE, BOB'S WIFE, who passed away on March 16, 2010 - see above) and BOB
with us - they were both a joy to be with.
ROBERT BROWNE
We will be returning to practise on January 6, 2011 in order to prepare for the ANNUAL INSTALLATION OF ALEPPO OFFICERS
CEREMONIAL which
will be held on January 29, 2011 in WILMINGTON, MASSACHUSETS.
Our parade schedule for next year continues to develop and any changes will be posted.
ADDITIONAL NEWS WILL BE PROVIDED WHEN RECEIVED. CHECK BACK FREQUENTLY FOR UPDATES.
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ALEPPO 2010 POTENTATE - JEFFREY ARNOLD
Though saddened by the loss of NICHOLAS MARKOS, on JANUARY 23, 2010 we participated at the ANNUAL ALEPPO INSTALLATION CEREMONIAL which was held in Wilmington, Massachusetts.
We had a good turn out at the event and put in another exemplary and satisfying performance for all in attendance.
We congratulate the new officers of ALEPPO and we are looking forward to working with them.
During our winter break we did some maintenance to our float, our uniforms, and our instruments in anticipation
of the parading season.
On March 16, 2010, we were saddened to hear that the BLACK CAMEL had visited the BROWNE oasis and had taken ELEANOR BROWNE, wife of ROBERT (BOB) BROWNE, to the Eternal Oriental Band. For several years ELLIE had not been feeling well and BOB had been on sabbatical caring for her. ELLIE was a joy to know and she will be missed by those who knew here. On the bright side, we were hopeful that BOB would now be able to rejoin and actively participate with the BAND.
On April 15, 2010, we were pleased and delighted to have ROBERT BROWNE rejoin the BAND. His absence from the percussion section for several years did nothing to diminish his skills or his knowledge of our routines - once a BANDSMAN, ALWAYS A BANDSMAN!
ROBERT BROWNE
On April 16, 2010, a small contingent of the BAND participated in a ROCK'N ROLL night at ALEPPO. These theme nights are part of an increased Shrine enrollment effort and we were happy to participate and give everyone an idea of what we do.
On April 18, 2010, we participated in the Arlington, Massachusetts PATRIOT'S DAY PARADE. Several conflicts made for a small turnout, again, but it was a balanced turnout and that is really the key to our performances because anytime we do get a balanced BAND we do put on a good performance. We had a great time in Arlington and hope that everyone enjoyed us.
On April 29, 2010, we conducted our ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING and found everything to be in order. Looking forward, it was determined that we will not be attending the TORONTO IMPERIAL and logistics and conflicts for the NORTHEAST FIELD DAYS make the likelihood of our attendance there problematic, though the matter is still under consideration.
On May 10, 2010, several members of the BAND attended a Memorial Service for ELEANOR BROWNE.
On May 20, 2010, MAURICE KIPNIS returned to practise after a brief sabbatical due to family and work related matters.
On May 30, 2010, we participated in the SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS Memorial Day Parade. We had a large turnout of
participants and the crowd was large and enthusiastic. We literally had them dancing in the streets and that is a
good sign for us because that is a good indication that we are back in form and providing an entertaining performance.
The Parade also marked the return to parading with us for ROBERT BROWNE and MAURICE KIPNIS. Somerville is always a long parade
and the weather was a bit sunny and on the warm side - fortunately, every time we stopped, we found ourselves under some much welcomed
and appreciated shade. We hope that everyone enjoyed our performance and we think that was the case.
On May 31, 2010, we participated in the WILMINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS Memorial Day Parade and we had an even larger turnout of performers
than the day before (even Steve Cappers came down from MAINE to join us) and we sounded great. We clearly are doing something right and people seem to be
noticing - not only crowds but prospective new candidates for the BAND and that has us a bit excited. WILMINGTON is our home
town and we take considerable pleasure in being able to give something back to the community that puts up with us all year long.
We also are happy to be a part of the Memorial Day festivities with the Town in order to honor those that the Holiday is
designed to do so for.
We participated in an ALEPPO CEREMONIAL on June 5, 2010 in WILMINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS. Another large turnout of members led to another
great performance. Additionally several new Initiates indicated some interest in the BAND and one person who was already a member of
ALEPPO who had seen us perform previously finally realized his wish to become a member of the BAND. We welcome JONATHAN LAPOMARDO to our ranks.
JON comes to us with some musical skill, but we have promised to remedy that singular flaw in his being somehow. JON has expressed an
interest in playing the musette and we suspect that the experience of doing so might be enough, in itself, to provide the remedy.
In addition to JON'S signing up, we were also visited by ERIC HOLT'S son, DR. JONATHAN ANDREW HOLT, from Nashville, Tennessee and ASIYA SHRINERS. We made every
effort to make him feel at home and to provide him with sufficient information to assist him, as a Medical Doctor, to assess the impact
of the BAND on his father's well-being. We also scrambled a bit to try and find a uniform for him to join us in our performance but,
unfortunately, were not able to do so because uniforms are becoming scarce with the new additions to the BAND - next time we will try to
be better prepared. Finally, for the PARADE IN REVIEW that is done during each Ceremonial, we were able to convince ALEPPO PAST POTENTATE
STEVEN ERIKSEN to abandon his unit and parade with us as a gong player. We have been after STEVE'S wife to become part of our harem
ever since STEVE'S Potentate's Ball where she put on a dance routine to our music that would make her the envy of any Oriental Band.
Well, it now seems that STEVE himself also has some Oriental Band skills so we will be seeing what we can do to get the dynamic ERIKSEN
duo to come over to our Unit - all enjoyed STEVE'S peformance and all enjoyed the BAND'S performance for the day.
ERIC HOLT (L) AND HIS SON, DR. JONATHAN ANDREW HOLT (AT THE JUNE 5, 2010 CEREMONIAL)
JON LAPOMARDO attended his first rehearsal with us on June 10, 2010 and by the time he returned the following week he was already playing
the musette!
At our June 17, 2010 rehearsal we were also joined by a grandson of one of our current members who has expressed a desire to join the BAND
upon his initiation into ALEPPO at the September 25, 2010 Ceremonial. In the meantime he has also expressed an interest
to practice with us and we have indicated to him that was great. He is a percussionist and he has training in that area.
At his first meeting with us he was already picking up some of the beats and he promises to be a valuable member of our percussion
section - we are all looking forward to his
official joining of the BAND.
At the JUNE QUARTERLY MEETING of THE GRAND LODGE OF MASSACHUSETTS MASONS it was announced that ROBERT L. GOODWIN, a BAND MEMBER, has been
nominated as a GRAND REPRESENTATIVE TO BRAZIL for THE GRAND LODGE OF MASSACHUSETTS. Congratulations are extended to BOB.
On June 21, 2010, several members of the BAND attended the THIRD (MASSACHUSETTS) MASONIC DISTRICT LODGE OF INSTRUCTION in ARLINGTON,
MASSACHUSETTS where our fellow BAND MEMBER, ROBERT JOHNSTON, received THE JOSEPH WARREN DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL. A large contingent
of MASSACHUSETTS GRAND LODGE OFFICERS were in attendance including THE GRAND MASTER OF MASSACHUSETTS who presided over the event.
BOB is a very accomplished MASON and the tribute added to the many other accolades that he has received in his 60 years with the
Fraternity. Our congratulations are extended to BOB on this august occasion.
MASSACHUSETTS GRAND MASTER, ROGER W. PAGEAU, (L) AND ROBERT JOHNSTON
On June 24, 2010, we were joined by a nephew of BAND MEMBER, JACK ZIMMERMAN, at our regular rehearsal. WAYNE FREEDMAN, a former CLOWN
with Aleppo and a current Chaplain for Aleppo, decided to join the BAND and we were delighted to welcome him to our ranks. We are all
looking forward to WAYNE'S participation with us.
On JUNE 26, 2010, we did an early JULY 4th PARADE in BRAINTREE, MASSACHUSETTS. Though we had another excellent turnout for the event
and performed in our usual exemplary fashion which had people dancing in the streets and coming up to us inquiring about our music, all
did not go well. SOOOO many things were wrong about this parade that it is difficult to know where to start - so let's try to start at the
beginning. Over the past few years parking concerns have resulted in a portion of our performers so desiring it being driven to parades
by bus. Generally the buses are commercial type vehicles which usually are quite comfortable. For more local events school buses are
used with their more cramped child-friendly type seats. BRAINTREE is not exactly a local type of parade and many were surprised and
disappointed to see the use of school buses for transportation to there but we all survived that, more or less (one bus had a driver
who could compete in any demolition derby and probably win). So the day started off badly and just went downhill from there. We
arrived in BRAINTREE expecting to find our pre-parade refreshments - only to be told that they had not arrived - things were getting
worse by the minute. We then located our float in a cramped school parking lot and the prospect of having to take it down a steep ramp
with a bump that could have qualified for separate naming as a mini-mountain and which probably would have either disconnected our
float from
the truck hauling it or would have scraped the bottom off of it. The alternative was to wait for everyone to clear out so that
a precarious
turn could be done - we ultimately opted for this option and that came with ramifications that just made things even more worse.
Ultimately the food showed up and that alleviated some of our concerns because it really was a very hot and humid day and things like
water were really more of a necessity than not. So we enjoyed the refreshments and waited anD waitED aND waITED AND WAITED. It seems that,
even though the parade was to start at a certain time, no one remembered to tell us that we were in the third division of the parade - so,
we didn't even start moving until something like an hour after the parade started and things just continued to get worse. During our wait,
we
noted that, this being a political year in Massachusetts, many of the politicians were out in force and that always makes for a long and
slow parade - so things continued declining. We finally were able to move and found ourselves at essentially the rear of our UNIT which
is very unusual
for us because some of the marching units or parties enjoy marching to our music and its beat and actually find it difficult to march to
any other beat generated by any other group within Aleppo. On the plus side, it meant that we did not have to perform essentially
non-stop
and were actually able to have some moments of rest during the parade. So the parade started and things looked good in the beginning - the
crowd was enthusiastic and the BAND performed well but as we moved on we noted that the crowd was really very sporadic and sparse
and the route was
simply terrible because it did nothing to draw the crowd out and there were lengthy areas where there simply was no one along the side
lines! What poor planning on the host's part! But then what can one expect from anyone who would dare celebrate July 4th on June 26th!
It is simply unpatriotic to do it that way and there is no excuse for that - July 4th is July 4th and it is as simple as that - celebrate
it a day or two earlier or later if you must - but only if you must! We can only wonder when Braintree celebrates XMAS and NEW YEAR!
So we moved along the parade route and turned on a side street to end
the parade - only to be told that we were not supposed to make that turn because the street would ultimately become too narrow for us to
maneuver in! Well, it would have been nice if someone had been directing traffic so that things like this would not have happened -
especially since there were people parading behind us as well and the prospect of turning around was negligible. This year Aleppo has
a new
Head of Units who normally is responsible for such things but somehow our driver either did not get the message or understand it - so we
moved forward and wasted about a half hour trying to get to where we were supposed to get. We eventually arrived at the end of
the parade area and found several
people who were essentially clueless and useless as to where the returning buses were located. Eventually a member told
us where to look and we followed his advice and found the buses in a parking lot a good quarter mile away which required our crossing a
busy major road to get to - so we all took our lives in our hands and crossed the street (in today's world a bunch of people dressed in
Middle Eastern outfits presents an interesting prospect for some!) and finally got to our buses and made the return trip. All-in-all,
everyone, including some senior members, felt that this was one of the worst parades we have ever done - it was poorly organized and
even more poorly executed. We nonetheless, performed well and believe that everyone did enjoy our efforts for the day.
On August 12, 2010, the BAND unanimously voted CHARLES (CHARLIE) F. RIVERS, COLONEL EMERITUS of the ALEPPO UNIFORMED UNITS,
as an HONORARY MEMBER of the BAND. Welcome aboard CHARLIE - rehearsals are THURSDAYS at 6:30PM! CHARLIE has had a distinguished
career at ALEPPO and we do hope to see him every now and then participating in some of our events.
On August 14, 2010, a good turnout of BAND MEMBERS and FAMILY and FRIENDS travelled to MAINE to enjoy our annual clambake.
This year saw us changing the venue for the event and it also marked the first year that we were without NICK MARKOS
- whose spirit was with us nonetheless. Everyone enjoyed the new venue, the food, and the friendship and camaraderie of
the day. A special note of thanks should be given to our Secretary, JOHN KELLEY, for putting this event together this year
- WELL DONE, JOHN - NICK (who traditionally previously put this event together) would have been proud of you!
On August 19, 2010, those MEMBERS of the BAND desiring to do so, received new BAND jerseys. It had been a few years since we last
had new jerseys and we were all happy to spruce up our appearances. For some it was a long overdue happening; for others it
was an enhancement or addition to their wardrobe; and, yet for others, being new MEMBERS since the last time we got jerseys,
it was an opportunity to acquire what is undoubtedly one of the most coveted possessions for any ALEPPO SHRINER.
At our September 2, 2010 rehearsal, we were joined by JEFF MOORES, President of the Northeast Shrine Oriental Band Association
(NESOBA), who updated us on events that took place at the IMPERIAL SESSION in TORONTO and also gave us an idea of plans that
are pending for the NESOBA competition in HALIFAX. JEFF also stayed for our rehearsal and, though he declined to participate
with us (a decision which he will undoubtedy regret for the rest of his life), he was duly impressed with our performance.
JONATHAN LAPOMARDO
(DRESSED FOR HIS FIRST PARADE)
We participated in a LABOR DAY PARADE on September 6, 2010 in MARLBORO, MASSACHUSETTS. WOW - what a parade! Everyone was there and the
weather was ideal. This being an election year in the State, all the gubernatorial (including the current Governor) candidates and
any number of other political candidates were also there and that made for a long and slow Parade but, nonetheless, an enjoyable one.
The crowd stood five to ten people deep all along the route and cheered us on. Even though we were in one of the last divisions of the
Parade and did not step off until almost two hours after the beginning of the PARADE, it still was a great PARADE - Marlboro is always
that way. AND to make it even better, our favorite dancing lady was there this year as well! Additionally it was the first PARADE
PERFORMANCE for JONATHAN LAPOMARDO and, as expected, he performed remarkably well - good going JON!
IN ADDITION TO JON LAPOMARDO, SOME OF THE OTHER BAND MEMBERS AT THE MARLBORO PARADE WERE AS FOLLOWS:
THE BAND ON ITS FLOAT IN MARLBORO - September 6, 2010
BOB HALEY (DIRECTOR)
BOB BROWNE
ARTHUR FINK
BOB GOODWIN
JIM HARVEY
RON HENDERSON
ERIC HOLT
PHIL KEANE
JOHN KELLEY
RICK LEMERISE, SR.
FRED POULIOT
AL RICHARDS
TOM SHORT
RUSSELL STOUFFER
JACK ZIMMERMAN
For a variety of reasons, we did not be attend the NORTHEAST SHRINE ASSOCIATION FIELD DAYS in
HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA this year. Our absence should have made for some opportunities for some other regional BANDS who chose
to compete in the NORTHEAST ASSOCIATION OF SHRINE ORIENTAL BANDS Competition and we wished all who did so, the best. NEXT YEAR
these events will be held in HYANNIS, MASSACHUSETTS and will be hosted by ALEPPO. CAPE COD is a great place to be any time
of the year and we encourage everyone entitled to consider attending the festivities then.
CHARLES (CHARLIE) F. RIVERS
There was an ALEPPO CEREMONIAL on September 25,
2010 in WILMINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS which we participated in. We had a good turnout of members, despite some last minute emergencies
which cropped up for a few. We performed well and everyone appreciated our efforts. Of particular note for this event was that we
were able to convince our newest HONORARY MEMBER, CHARLES (CHARLIE) F. RIVERS to participate with us as a gong player in the PARADE and REVIEW.
CHARLIE did an exemplary job and we are now considering revoking his HONORARY status and making him a full time MEMBER. Everyone who
saw CHARLIE perform was impressed and so were we - STEVE ERIKSEN, take due notice and beware!
THE ICONIC SYMBOL OF THE TOPSFIELD FAIR
We participated in the OPENING PARADE for the TOPSFIELD FAIR on October 2, 2010. The TOPSFIELD FAIR is billed as AMERICA'S OLDEST FAIR
having been started in 1818. A great early fall day with ideal temperatures and weather
and a larger than usual enthusiastic crowd with a good turnout of BAND Members should have produced another great perfomance by us - but
someone threw in a bagpipe player, who marched close to us and interferred
with our performance. The FAIR always welcomes us with open arms and we enjoy doing it and conflicts had kept us away for a few years so we
were excited to be back at this event. And all seemed to be going well. Despite the fact that we were unable to use our float for the parade
we were, nonetheless, able to get a good number of Members willing to march the route and prove that we can still walk and perform at the same
time and all would have gone well except for some bad horn reeds which simply did not want to cooperate and the infamous bagpipe player who
threw our beats and concentration out of "kilter" (pun intended). Transportation from our rendezvous spot to the beginning of the Parade
always is problematic for us for this Parade and this year was no exception as we were driven by horse drawn carriage, on a hay ride,
to the start of the
Parade. The fact of the matter is that this transportation was better than some we have experienced in the past and everyone actually
enjoyed it. However, we would prefer that our transportation not be left to the last minute and we do hope to return to TOPSFIELD next year
for this Parade. The Parade was plaqued with politicians (as usual) - but there was a different tone about it as some of them dressed down to try to
convince the crowd that they were also just ordinary people. The TOPSFIELD FAIR is a 4H Agricultural type of FAIR and seeing some of the
politicians
in jeans and plaid shirts was refreshingly different to see though blatantly obvious in its purpose and attempt. Also, of particular note
was the presence of the ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE. It
has always been our position to recognize and acknowledge talent when we see it and these people had it and a presence which was incredible
to see and they put on a performance that was impeccable. They get our nomination for BEST IN PARADE and PERFORMANCE this year.
Our performance
was good despite everything however it clearly was one of our rare off days but we hope that everyone enjoyed it nonetheless - next year we
will make every effort to do better. After the Parade several of our members stayed to enjoy the FAIR. The abundance of local food items,
agricultural exhibits, rides, performances (including racing pigs and racing ducks), and games made for an enjoyable time for those who
did so. We would recommend the TOPSFIELD
FAIR to anyone - it is an enjoyable and fun time for all ages and it is well organized and presented and we look forward to returning next
year. Below are just a few of the many things that one can see at the FAIR.
A FLAG WHICH SPEAKS TO ALL THE FOOD AVAIALABLE AT THE FAIR
PRIZE WINNING VEGETABLES
DUCK RACES
PIG RACES
ELEPHANTS
CAMELS
ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE
ORIENTAL BANDSMAN
ROD PARKER
ORIENTAL BANDSMEN
BOB HALEY (DIRECTOR - LEFT) AND ARRON BUDNITZ
On OCTOBER 9, 2010, we celebrated our one year anniversary of having transitioned to the current website. We believe that the move
has been a successful one and hope that all are enjoying the site.
October 10, 2010 aka 10-10-10, a glorious day for weddings and Columbus Day Parades. We can't discuss how any of
the numerous weddings that occurred on the day went but we do wish all the newlyweds the best. We, on the other hand, participated in
the EAST BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS COLUMBUS DAY PARADE - and what a parade it was. EAST BOSTON has a large population claiming ITALIAN
HERITAGE and they take Columbus Day very seriously. The crowds are always large and enthusiastic and the Italian Flag waving and food
that abounds and their aromas easily can carry one back to any number of Italian Regions whether it be the pizza, pasta, meats, or whatever.
Participating in the East Boston Columbus Day Parade is an enjoyable trip to ITALY in itself. Even though the East Boston Parade is one
of the longer parades that we do, we always have fun doing it because the crowd is as enthusiastic as it is and it is also most appreciative
of our efforts. We, again, had a very good turnout of MEMBERS and were, once again, able to convince CHARLIE RIVERS to play the gong. This
time it was the LARGE GONG and CHARLIE took to it like a professional. We are seriously considering revoking CHARLIE'S "HONORARY" STATUS
and making him a full time regular MEMBER of the BAND. So far CHARLIE has agreed to don a special GONG PLAYING uniform for us in the future
and we are in the process of getting one for him - it should be something to see in the future. As has been the case throughout the Parading
Season this year, the Politicians were out in force and two of them, realizing the exalted importance of the BAND actually made their way
over to the BAND float area before the PARADE started to partake of our wisdom. We commend INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR, TIM CAHILL,
and DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE
FOR STATE TREASURER, STEVE GROSSMAN, on their wisdom, good tastes, and judgment, though we were a bit disappointed that Candidate Grossman
declined an offer to join the BAND for the day - can't imagine why - what can be more prestigious or important! The weather was fabulous,
the PARADE was flawless, and our performance was spectacular (reassuring us that TOPSFIELD really was not the norm for us). As has been the
case
throughout the Parading Season, we had the crowd dancing along the sidelines - if we ever are able to harness the energy and recruit some
of these people, we will undoubtedly have the largest ever ORIENTAL BAND on the planet and a HAREM that would rival that of anyone! East
Boston
was the official end of the Parading Season for us and was a great way to conclude a very good year for us as we finished the year on a
high note which we believe was pleasing to the East Boston audience as well. We will be performing in
FALMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS in DECEMBER and hope to have an appropriate uniform for CHARLIE RIVERS by then - come out and see us perform and
partake of the excitement that we exude - it is a great way to get into the Holiday spirit. Some scenes from the East Boston Parade appear
below:
JOHN KELLEY - FINDING TIME TO RELAX BEFORE THE EAST BOSTON PARADE
(JOHN ALSO RECOGNIZING THE UTILITY OF HIS DRUM!)
INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR - TIM CAHILL
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR TREASURER - STEVE GROSSMAN
CHARLIE RIVERS
THE LEMERISE FAMILY - BOB (L), RICK, SR. (C), RICK, JR. (R)
On December 4, 2010 a large number of Members of the BAND, Spouses, Significant Others, and Friends gathered in FALMOUTH,
MASSACHUSETTS for the BAND'S annual and
traditional HOLIDAY PARTY which everyone enjoyed. As a result of a number of last minute personal matters, several Members
were unable to attend and they were missed. In addition, recent news from two our Members did put a bit of a damper on the
festivities. BAND MEMBER, LESTER OSHRY, our ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, has not been feeling well for a while and has made valiant
efforts throughout the year to attend as many of our rehearsals and functions as possible, however, his placement on our
sick list will be limiting his participation in the future and he was unable to attend the Party. By the same token, BAND
MEMBER, ROBERT BROWNE, has also been
placed on our sick list and he was unable to attend the Party as well. It was a joy to have BOB back for most of last year
though the circumstances that brought that
about (loss of his wife) made it a bittersweet moment which is becoming somewhat more bitter by his current situation.
Both LESTER and BOB were missed at the Party, but our thoughts and best wishes were with them.
Following the Party, we
did the FALMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS HOLIDAY PARADE on December 5, 2010. Weather usually is a factor with this Parade and
there have been years when we have frozen through it and others where we have even been snowed out - so we dress accordingly
for this one. Though the weather was relatively mild for the Parade this year, foreboding clouds prevailed during the day
blocking out the warming
rays of the sun and the chill was exacerbated by some winds which made it cold and humid enough to make playing the
horns a real challenge. Nonetheless, we prevailed over that and put on a good performance for the crowd who were large
in number and enthusiastic. As with many of our performances this past year, we had people literally dancing in the
streets to our music and that was nice to see. At the end of the Parade several locals also passed by and thanked us for our
participation and expressed appreciation for our performance and that was a nice way to end the year and to conclude
our 59th year. Next year is a special year for us as we will be celebrating our sixtieth (60th) year.
On December 23, 2010 a good turnout of Members attended a reception sponsored by the POTENTATE of ALEPPO. These receptions have become
an annual event over the past few years and we all appreciate the opportunity to get together in this fashion and all enjoyed
the event.
We hope that everyone who came out to see us this year enjoyed our performances and will come out again next year to see us again.
Come out and see
us perform at all of next year's events, we believe you will find it to be an enjoyable and rewarding experience!
We believe that we have been successfully counted in the 2010 DECENNIAL US CENSUS and are confident that the world is a much
better place because of that!
In general, things went well for the BAND this year and are continuing to do so - we experienced some of the best turnouts
for performances that
we have seen in years and our Membership is holding its own and even growing and it is growing with some relatively young new
Members which provides a promising prospect for the future as well. We are doing something right and the results are showing.
On January 3, 2011, the BAND was informed that the BLACK CAMEL visited ROBERT BROWNE on DECEMBER 30, 2010 and took him to the ETERNAL
ORIENTAL BAND. BOB was a well liked individual in our BAND and an extremely talented drummer. Both his spirit and his talent will be
missed by us. We thank the BROWNE FAMILY for sharing ELEANOR (ELLIE, BOB'S WIFE, who passed away on March 16, 2010 - see above) and BOB
with us - they were both a joy to be with.
ROBERT BROWNE
We will be returning to practise on January 6, 2011 in order to prepare for the ANNUAL INSTALLATION OF ALEPPO OFFICERS
CEREMONIAL which
will be held on January 29, 2011 in WILMINGTON, MASSACHUSETS.
Our parade schedule for next year continues to develop and any changes will be posted.
ADDITIONAL NEWS WILL BE PROVIDED WHEN RECEIVED. CHECK BACK FREQUENTLY FOR UPDATES.
The song which accompanies this PAGE is called AVINU SHALOM. WEBSHEIK(c) humbly respects all rights to the song and no effort is made hereby to circumvent those rights by including the song herein.
ROBERT BROWNE
On April 16, 2010, a small contingent of the BAND participated in a ROCK'N ROLL night at ALEPPO. These theme nights are part of an increased Shrine enrollment effort and we were happy to participate and give everyone an idea of what we do.On April 18, 2010, we participated in the Arlington, Massachusetts PATRIOT'S DAY PARADE. Several conflicts made for a small turnout, again, but it was a balanced turnout and that is really the key to our performances because anytime we do get a balanced BAND we do put on a good performance. We had a great time in Arlington and hope that everyone enjoyed us.
On April 29, 2010, we conducted our ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING and found everything to be in order. Looking forward, it was determined that we will not be attending the TORONTO IMPERIAL and logistics and conflicts for the NORTHEAST FIELD DAYS make the likelihood of our attendance there problematic, though the matter is still under consideration.
On May 10, 2010, several members of the BAND attended a Memorial Service for ELEANOR BROWNE.
On May 20, 2010, MAURICE KIPNIS returned to practise after a brief sabbatical due to family and work related matters.
On May 30, 2010, we participated in the SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS Memorial Day Parade. We had a large turnout of participants and the crowd was large and enthusiastic. We literally had them dancing in the streets and that is a good sign for us because that is a good indication that we are back in form and providing an entertaining performance. The Parade also marked the return to parading with us for ROBERT BROWNE and MAURICE KIPNIS. Somerville is always a long parade and the weather was a bit sunny and on the warm side - fortunately, every time we stopped, we found ourselves under some much welcomed and appreciated shade. We hope that everyone enjoyed our performance and we think that was the case.
On May 31, 2010, we participated in the WILMINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS Memorial Day Parade and we had an even larger turnout of performers than the day before (even Steve Cappers came down from MAINE to join us) and we sounded great. We clearly are doing something right and people seem to be noticing - not only crowds but prospective new candidates for the BAND and that has us a bit excited. WILMINGTON is our home town and we take considerable pleasure in being able to give something back to the community that puts up with us all year long. We also are happy to be a part of the Memorial Day festivities with the Town in order to honor those that the Holiday is designed to do so for.
We participated in an ALEPPO CEREMONIAL on June 5, 2010 in WILMINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS. Another large turnout of members led to another great performance. Additionally several new Initiates indicated some interest in the BAND and one person who was already a member of ALEPPO who had seen us perform previously finally realized his wish to become a member of the BAND. We welcome JONATHAN LAPOMARDO to our ranks. JON comes to us with some musical skill, but we have promised to remedy that singular flaw in his being somehow. JON has expressed an interest in playing the musette and we suspect that the experience of doing so might be enough, in itself, to provide the remedy. In addition to JON'S signing up, we were also visited by ERIC HOLT'S son, DR. JONATHAN ANDREW HOLT, from Nashville, Tennessee and ASIYA SHRINERS. We made every effort to make him feel at home and to provide him with sufficient information to assist him, as a Medical Doctor, to assess the impact of the BAND on his father's well-being. We also scrambled a bit to try and find a uniform for him to join us in our performance but, unfortunately, were not able to do so because uniforms are becoming scarce with the new additions to the BAND - next time we will try to be better prepared. Finally, for the PARADE IN REVIEW that is done during each Ceremonial, we were able to convince ALEPPO PAST POTENTATE STEVEN ERIKSEN to abandon his unit and parade with us as a gong player. We have been after STEVE'S wife to become part of our harem ever since STEVE'S Potentate's Ball where she put on a dance routine to our music that would make her the envy of any Oriental Band. Well, it now seems that STEVE himself also has some Oriental Band skills so we will be seeing what we can do to get the dynamic ERIKSEN duo to come over to our Unit - all enjoyed STEVE'S peformance and all enjoyed the BAND'S performance for the day.
ERIC HOLT (L) AND HIS SON, DR. JONATHAN ANDREW HOLT (AT THE JUNE 5, 2010 CEREMONIAL)
JON LAPOMARDO attended his first rehearsal with us on June 10, 2010 and by the time he returned the following week he was already playing the musette!At our June 17, 2010 rehearsal we were also joined by a grandson of one of our current members who has expressed a desire to join the BAND upon his initiation into ALEPPO at the September 25, 2010 Ceremonial. In the meantime he has also expressed an interest to practice with us and we have indicated to him that was great. He is a percussionist and he has training in that area. At his first meeting with us he was already picking up some of the beats and he promises to be a valuable member of our percussion section - we are all looking forward to his official joining of the BAND.
At the JUNE QUARTERLY MEETING of THE GRAND LODGE OF MASSACHUSETTS MASONS it was announced that ROBERT L. GOODWIN, a BAND MEMBER, has been nominated as a GRAND REPRESENTATIVE TO BRAZIL for THE GRAND LODGE OF MASSACHUSETTS. Congratulations are extended to BOB.
On June 21, 2010, several members of the BAND attended the THIRD (MASSACHUSETTS) MASONIC DISTRICT LODGE OF INSTRUCTION in ARLINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS where our fellow BAND MEMBER, ROBERT JOHNSTON, received THE JOSEPH WARREN DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL. A large contingent of MASSACHUSETTS GRAND LODGE OFFICERS were in attendance including THE GRAND MASTER OF MASSACHUSETTS who presided over the event. BOB is a very accomplished MASON and the tribute added to the many other accolades that he has received in his 60 years with the Fraternity. Our congratulations are extended to BOB on this august occasion.
MASSACHUSETTS GRAND MASTER, ROGER W. PAGEAU, (L) AND ROBERT JOHNSTON
On June 24, 2010, we were joined by a nephew of BAND MEMBER, JACK ZIMMERMAN, at our regular rehearsal. WAYNE FREEDMAN, a former CLOWN with Aleppo and a current Chaplain for Aleppo, decided to join the BAND and we were delighted to welcome him to our ranks. We are all looking forward to WAYNE'S participation with us.On JUNE 26, 2010, we did an early JULY 4th PARADE in BRAINTREE, MASSACHUSETTS. Though we had another excellent turnout for the event and performed in our usual exemplary fashion which had people dancing in the streets and coming up to us inquiring about our music, all did not go well. SOOOO many things were wrong about this parade that it is difficult to know where to start - so let's try to start at the beginning. Over the past few years parking concerns have resulted in a portion of our performers so desiring it being driven to parades by bus. Generally the buses are commercial type vehicles which usually are quite comfortable. For more local events school buses are used with their more cramped child-friendly type seats. BRAINTREE is not exactly a local type of parade and many were surprised and disappointed to see the use of school buses for transportation to there but we all survived that, more or less (one bus had a driver who could compete in any demolition derby and probably win). So the day started off badly and just went downhill from there. We arrived in BRAINTREE expecting to find our pre-parade refreshments - only to be told that they had not arrived - things were getting worse by the minute. We then located our float in a cramped school parking lot and the prospect of having to take it down a steep ramp with a bump that could have qualified for separate naming as a mini-mountain and which probably would have either disconnected our float from the truck hauling it or would have scraped the bottom off of it. The alternative was to wait for everyone to clear out so that a precarious turn could be done - we ultimately opted for this option and that came with ramifications that just made things even more worse. Ultimately the food showed up and that alleviated some of our concerns because it really was a very hot and humid day and things like water were really more of a necessity than not. So we enjoyed the refreshments and waited anD waitED aND waITED AND WAITED. It seems that, even though the parade was to start at a certain time, no one remembered to tell us that we were in the third division of the parade - so, we didn't even start moving until something like an hour after the parade started and things just continued to get worse. During our wait, we noted that, this being a political year in Massachusetts, many of the politicians were out in force and that always makes for a long and slow parade - so things continued declining. We finally were able to move and found ourselves at essentially the rear of our UNIT which is very unusual for us because some of the marching units or parties enjoy marching to our music and its beat and actually find it difficult to march to any other beat generated by any other group within Aleppo. On the plus side, it meant that we did not have to perform essentially non-stop and were actually able to have some moments of rest during the parade. So the parade started and things looked good in the beginning - the crowd was enthusiastic and the BAND performed well but as we moved on we noted that the crowd was really very sporadic and sparse and the route was simply terrible because it did nothing to draw the crowd out and there were lengthy areas where there simply was no one along the side lines! What poor planning on the host's part! But then what can one expect from anyone who would dare celebrate July 4th on June 26th! It is simply unpatriotic to do it that way and there is no excuse for that - July 4th is July 4th and it is as simple as that - celebrate it a day or two earlier or later if you must - but only if you must! We can only wonder when Braintree celebrates XMAS and NEW YEAR! So we moved along the parade route and turned on a side street to end the parade - only to be told that we were not supposed to make that turn because the street would ultimately become too narrow for us to maneuver in! Well, it would have been nice if someone had been directing traffic so that things like this would not have happened - especially since there were people parading behind us as well and the prospect of turning around was negligible. This year Aleppo has a new Head of Units who normally is responsible for such things but somehow our driver either did not get the message or understand it - so we moved forward and wasted about a half hour trying to get to where we were supposed to get. We eventually arrived at the end of the parade area and found several people who were essentially clueless and useless as to where the returning buses were located. Eventually a member told us where to look and we followed his advice and found the buses in a parking lot a good quarter mile away which required our crossing a busy major road to get to - so we all took our lives in our hands and crossed the street (in today's world a bunch of people dressed in Middle Eastern outfits presents an interesting prospect for some!) and finally got to our buses and made the return trip. All-in-all, everyone, including some senior members, felt that this was one of the worst parades we have ever done - it was poorly organized and even more poorly executed. We nonetheless, performed well and believe that everyone did enjoy our efforts for the day.
On August 12, 2010, the BAND unanimously voted CHARLES (CHARLIE) F. RIVERS, COLONEL EMERITUS of the ALEPPO UNIFORMED UNITS, as an HONORARY MEMBER of the BAND. Welcome aboard CHARLIE - rehearsals are THURSDAYS at 6:30PM! CHARLIE has had a distinguished career at ALEPPO and we do hope to see him every now and then participating in some of our events.
On August 14, 2010, a good turnout of BAND MEMBERS and FAMILY and FRIENDS travelled to MAINE to enjoy our annual clambake. This year saw us changing the venue for the event and it also marked the first year that we were without NICK MARKOS - whose spirit was with us nonetheless. Everyone enjoyed the new venue, the food, and the friendship and camaraderie of the day. A special note of thanks should be given to our Secretary, JOHN KELLEY, for putting this event together this year - WELL DONE, JOHN - NICK (who traditionally previously put this event together) would have been proud of you!
On August 19, 2010, those MEMBERS of the BAND desiring to do so, received new BAND jerseys. It had been a few years since we last had new jerseys and we were all happy to spruce up our appearances. For some it was a long overdue happening; for others it was an enhancement or addition to their wardrobe; and, yet for others, being new MEMBERS since the last time we got jerseys, it was an opportunity to acquire what is undoubtedly one of the most coveted possessions for any ALEPPO SHRINER.
At our September 2, 2010 rehearsal, we were joined by JEFF MOORES, President of the Northeast Shrine Oriental Band Association (NESOBA), who updated us on events that took place at the IMPERIAL SESSION in TORONTO and also gave us an idea of plans that are pending for the NESOBA competition in HALIFAX. JEFF also stayed for our rehearsal and, though he declined to participate with us (a decision which he will undoubtedy regret for the rest of his life), he was duly impressed with our performance.
JONATHAN LAPOMARDO
(DRESSED FOR HIS FIRST PARADE)
We participated in a LABOR DAY PARADE on September 6, 2010 in MARLBORO, MASSACHUSETTS. WOW - what a parade! Everyone was there and the
weather was ideal. This being an election year in the State, all the gubernatorial (including the current Governor) candidates and
any number of other political candidates were also there and that made for a long and slow Parade but, nonetheless, an enjoyable one.
The crowd stood five to ten people deep all along the route and cheered us on. Even though we were in one of the last divisions of the
Parade and did not step off until almost two hours after the beginning of the PARADE, it still was a great PARADE - Marlboro is always
that way. AND to make it even better, our favorite dancing lady was there this year as well! Additionally it was the first PARADE
PERFORMANCE for JONATHAN LAPOMARDO and, as expected, he performed remarkably well - good going JON!
IN ADDITION TO JON LAPOMARDO, SOME OF THE OTHER BAND MEMBERS AT THE MARLBORO PARADE WERE AS FOLLOWS:
THE BAND ON ITS FLOAT IN MARLBORO - September 6, 2010
BOB HALEY (DIRECTOR)
BOB BROWNE
ARTHUR FINK
BOB GOODWIN
JIM HARVEY
RON HENDERSON
ERIC HOLT
PHIL KEANE
JOHN KELLEY
RICK LEMERISE, SR.
FRED POULIOT
AL RICHARDS
TOM SHORT
RUSSELL STOUFFER
JACK ZIMMERMAN
For a variety of reasons, we did not be attend the NORTHEAST SHRINE ASSOCIATION FIELD DAYS in HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA this year. Our absence should have made for some opportunities for some other regional BANDS who chose to compete in the NORTHEAST ASSOCIATION OF SHRINE ORIENTAL BANDS Competition and we wished all who did so, the best. NEXT YEAR these events will be held in HYANNIS, MASSACHUSETTS and will be hosted by ALEPPO. CAPE COD is a great place to be any time of the year and we encourage everyone entitled to consider attending the festivities then.
CHARLES (CHARLIE) F. RIVERS
There was an ALEPPO CEREMONIAL on September 25, 2010 in WILMINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS which we participated in. We had a good turnout of members, despite some last minute emergencies which cropped up for a few. We performed well and everyone appreciated our efforts. Of particular note for this event was that we were able to convince our newest HONORARY MEMBER, CHARLES (CHARLIE) F. RIVERS to participate with us as a gong player in the PARADE and REVIEW. CHARLIE did an exemplary job and we are now considering revoking his HONORARY status and making him a full time MEMBER. Everyone who saw CHARLIE perform was impressed and so were we - STEVE ERIKSEN, take due notice and beware!THE ICONIC SYMBOL OF THE TOPSFIELD FAIR
We participated in the OPENING PARADE for the TOPSFIELD FAIR on October 2, 2010. The TOPSFIELD FAIR is billed as AMERICA'S OLDEST FAIR having been started in 1818. A great early fall day with ideal temperatures and weather and a larger than usual enthusiastic crowd with a good turnout of BAND Members should have produced another great perfomance by us - but someone threw in a bagpipe player, who marched close to us and interferred with our performance. The FAIR always welcomes us with open arms and we enjoy doing it and conflicts had kept us away for a few years so we were excited to be back at this event. And all seemed to be going well. Despite the fact that we were unable to use our float for the parade we were, nonetheless, able to get a good number of Members willing to march the route and prove that we can still walk and perform at the same time and all would have gone well except for some bad horn reeds which simply did not want to cooperate and the infamous bagpipe player who threw our beats and concentration out of "kilter" (pun intended). Transportation from our rendezvous spot to the beginning of the Parade always is problematic for us for this Parade and this year was no exception as we were driven by horse drawn carriage, on a hay ride, to the start of the Parade. The fact of the matter is that this transportation was better than some we have experienced in the past and everyone actually enjoyed it. However, we would prefer that our transportation not be left to the last minute and we do hope to return to TOPSFIELD next year for this Parade. The Parade was plaqued with politicians (as usual) - but there was a different tone about it as some of them dressed down to try to convince the crowd that they were also just ordinary people. The TOPSFIELD FAIR is a 4H Agricultural type of FAIR and seeing some of the politicians in jeans and plaid shirts was refreshingly different to see though blatantly obvious in its purpose and attempt. Also, of particular note was the presence of the ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE. It has always been our position to recognize and acknowledge talent when we see it and these people had it and a presence which was incredible to see and they put on a performance that was impeccable. They get our nomination for BEST IN PARADE and PERFORMANCE this year. Our performance was good despite everything however it clearly was one of our rare off days but we hope that everyone enjoyed it nonetheless - next year we will make every effort to do better. After the Parade several of our members stayed to enjoy the FAIR. The abundance of local food items, agricultural exhibits, rides, performances (including racing pigs and racing ducks), and games made for an enjoyable time for those who did so. We would recommend the TOPSFIELD FAIR to anyone - it is an enjoyable and fun time for all ages and it is well organized and presented and we look forward to returning next year. Below are just a few of the many things that one can see at the FAIR.A FLAG WHICH SPEAKS TO ALL THE FOOD AVAIALABLE AT THE FAIR
PRIZE WINNING VEGETABLES
DUCK RACES
PIG RACES
ELEPHANTS
CAMELS
ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE
ORIENTAL BANDSMAN
ROD PARKER
ORIENTAL BANDSMEN
BOB HALEY (DIRECTOR - LEFT) AND ARRON BUDNITZ
On OCTOBER 9, 2010, we celebrated our one year anniversary of having transitioned to the current website. We believe that the move has been a successful one and hope that all are enjoying the site.
October 10, 2010 aka 10-10-10, a glorious day for weddings and Columbus Day Parades. We can't discuss how any of the numerous weddings that occurred on the day went but we do wish all the newlyweds the best. We, on the other hand, participated in the EAST BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS COLUMBUS DAY PARADE - and what a parade it was. EAST BOSTON has a large population claiming ITALIAN HERITAGE and they take Columbus Day very seriously. The crowds are always large and enthusiastic and the Italian Flag waving and food that abounds and their aromas easily can carry one back to any number of Italian Regions whether it be the pizza, pasta, meats, or whatever. Participating in the East Boston Columbus Day Parade is an enjoyable trip to ITALY in itself. Even though the East Boston Parade is one of the longer parades that we do, we always have fun doing it because the crowd is as enthusiastic as it is and it is also most appreciative of our efforts. We, again, had a very good turnout of MEMBERS and were, once again, able to convince CHARLIE RIVERS to play the gong. This time it was the LARGE GONG and CHARLIE took to it like a professional. We are seriously considering revoking CHARLIE'S "HONORARY" STATUS and making him a full time regular MEMBER of the BAND. So far CHARLIE has agreed to don a special GONG PLAYING uniform for us in the future and we are in the process of getting one for him - it should be something to see in the future. As has been the case throughout the Parading Season this year, the Politicians were out in force and two of them, realizing the exalted importance of the BAND actually made their way over to the BAND float area before the PARADE started to partake of our wisdom. We commend INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR, TIM CAHILL, and DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR STATE TREASURER, STEVE GROSSMAN, on their wisdom, good tastes, and judgment, though we were a bit disappointed that Candidate Grossman declined an offer to join the BAND for the day - can't imagine why - what can be more prestigious or important! The weather was fabulous, the PARADE was flawless, and our performance was spectacular (reassuring us that TOPSFIELD really was not the norm for us). As has been the case throughout the Parading Season, we had the crowd dancing along the sidelines - if we ever are able to harness the energy and recruit some of these people, we will undoubtedly have the largest ever ORIENTAL BAND on the planet and a HAREM that would rival that of anyone! East Boston was the official end of the Parading Season for us and was a great way to conclude a very good year for us as we finished the year on a high note which we believe was pleasing to the East Boston audience as well. We will be performing in FALMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS in DECEMBER and hope to have an appropriate uniform for CHARLIE RIVERS by then - come out and see us perform and partake of the excitement that we exude - it is a great way to get into the Holiday spirit. Some scenes from the East Boston Parade appear below:
JOHN KELLEY - FINDING TIME TO RELAX BEFORE THE EAST BOSTON PARADE
(JOHN ALSO RECOGNIZING THE UTILITY OF HIS DRUM!)
INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR - TIM CAHILL
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR TREASURER - STEVE GROSSMAN
CHARLIE RIVERS
THE LEMERISE FAMILY - BOB (L), RICK, SR. (C), RICK, JR. (R)
On December 4, 2010 a large number of Members of the BAND, Spouses, Significant Others, and Friends gathered in FALMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS for the BAND'S annual and traditional HOLIDAY PARTY which everyone enjoyed. As a result of a number of last minute personal matters, several Members were unable to attend and they were missed. In addition, recent news from two our Members did put a bit of a damper on the festivities. BAND MEMBER, LESTER OSHRY, our ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, has not been feeling well for a while and has made valiant efforts throughout the year to attend as many of our rehearsals and functions as possible, however, his placement on our sick list will be limiting his participation in the future and he was unable to attend the Party. By the same token, BAND MEMBER, ROBERT BROWNE, has also been placed on our sick list and he was unable to attend the Party as well. It was a joy to have BOB back for most of last year though the circumstances that brought that about (loss of his wife) made it a bittersweet moment which is becoming somewhat more bitter by his current situation. Both LESTER and BOB were missed at the Party, but our thoughts and best wishes were with them.
Following the Party, we did the FALMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS HOLIDAY PARADE on December 5, 2010. Weather usually is a factor with this Parade and there have been years when we have frozen through it and others where we have even been snowed out - so we dress accordingly for this one. Though the weather was relatively mild for the Parade this year, foreboding clouds prevailed during the day blocking out the warming rays of the sun and the chill was exacerbated by some winds which made it cold and humid enough to make playing the horns a real challenge. Nonetheless, we prevailed over that and put on a good performance for the crowd who were large in number and enthusiastic. As with many of our performances this past year, we had people literally dancing in the streets to our music and that was nice to see. At the end of the Parade several locals also passed by and thanked us for our participation and expressed appreciation for our performance and that was a nice way to end the year and to conclude our 59th year. Next year is a special year for us as we will be celebrating our sixtieth (60th) year.
On December 23, 2010 a good turnout of Members attended a reception sponsored by the POTENTATE of ALEPPO. These receptions have become an annual event over the past few years and we all appreciate the opportunity to get together in this fashion and all enjoyed the event.
We hope that everyone who came out to see us this year enjoyed our performances and will come out again next year to see us again.
Come out and see us perform at all of next year's events, we believe you will find it to be an enjoyable and rewarding experience!
We believe that we have been successfully counted in the 2010 DECENNIAL US CENSUS and are confident that the world is a much better place because of that!
In general, things went well for the BAND this year and are continuing to do so - we experienced some of the best turnouts for performances that we have seen in years and our Membership is holding its own and even growing and it is growing with some relatively young new Members which provides a promising prospect for the future as well. We are doing something right and the results are showing.
On January 3, 2011, the BAND was informed that the BLACK CAMEL visited ROBERT BROWNE on DECEMBER 30, 2010 and took him to the ETERNAL ORIENTAL BAND. BOB was a well liked individual in our BAND and an extremely talented drummer. Both his spirit and his talent will be missed by us. We thank the BROWNE FAMILY for sharing ELEANOR (ELLIE, BOB'S WIFE, who passed away on March 16, 2010 - see above) and BOB with us - they were both a joy to be with.
ROBERT BROWNE
We will be returning to practise on January 6, 2011 in order to prepare for the ANNUAL INSTALLATION OF ALEPPO OFFICERS CEREMONIAL which will be held on January 29, 2011 in WILMINGTON, MASSACHUSETS.
Our parade schedule for next year continues to develop and any changes will be posted.
ADDITIONAL NEWS WILL BE PROVIDED WHEN RECEIVED. CHECK BACK FREQUENTLY FOR UPDATES.
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