BRISTOL -- So you think putting together a show of drum and bugle corps from across the country gets easier after you've been doing it for a while?
Anthony Mederos says it isn't so, especially finding a place to sleep for the bands.
Mederos, the veteran cochairman of the Bristol Fourth of July Band Committee, says, "It's quite a task.... It's a big undertaking but we get it done."
The show, one of the biggest July 4th events, attracts an estimated 3,000 fans and produces a profit of $3,000 to $4,000.
Working with his younger brother and cochairman, Gerry Mederos, he hasn't had much trouble attracting top Drum Corps International bands to Bristol, but finding them housing is another matter.
"Since the Station nightclub fire a couple of years ago, fire regulations have tightened around the state," Mederos said, "and that includes the area schools, where these drum corps are housed."
"We have to apply for variances and get approvals from school departments," he continued. "Then we have to get letters of recommendation and a safety plan from local fire departments. Once you have these in place, you have to apply to the state fire marshal's office for variances. Then you must appear before the state fire marshal's appeal board."
And once all the approvals are in, Mederos said, a fire safety official (usually a firefighter) has to be on the premises while the kids are sleeping.
This year, there will be bands at Mt. Hope High School, the Andrews School, Roger Williams University, Gaudet Middle School in Middletown, Middletown High School, Portsmouth Middle School and Kickemuit Middle School in Warren.
"I can't say enough about school officials here in the East Bay area," said Mederos.
The 16th annual summer music preview will be Sunday at 7 p.m. at Mt. Hope's Dietz Field. Tickets are available this week at the nightly band concerts in front of Colt School or at Gil's Television and Appliances. The show will go on, rain or shine.
This year's bands are the Crossmen and the Cadets, both from Allentown, Pa.; Spirit of Jacksonville (Ala.) State University; Magic of Orlando (Fla.); Jersey Surf of Belin, N.J.; East Coast Jazz of Malden, Mass., and Carolina Crown of Fort Mill, S.C.
The pre-show festivities will include the national anthem by horn soloist Ritchee Price, a music teacher in Portsmouth. After the competition, the Cadets and members of the Magic of Orlando horn line will play "America the Beautiful" and "O Canada." The show will end with fireworks.
All the bands will also march in the parade, except for Jersey Surf.
ARTICLE TOOLS: 
