The Ave Herald

Christine Kelly of Emerson Park was one of many people who supported the Ave Maria Hometown Band by buying tickets in a fundraising raffle. One of her tickets was drawn New Year's Eve, and the family now gets around town in a golf cart from Golf and Electric Vehicles that was the raffle's grand prize.

The raffle was organized by town resident Mary Stuller (right), who founded the Hometown Band along with her husband, Don. What started as a single band now has four groups, although many musicians play in several: a concert band, symphonic band, big band and jazz band. Rehearsals start later in January, and although the band is based in Ave Maria, it is open to musicians of all ages who live in Collier County. Musicians can register at the band's website here.

Mrs. Stuller says her first priorities for the money raised from the raffle and from other donations are the purchase of the band's own percussion equipment and music stands, which are currently borrowed from Immokalee public schools. Anyone who missed the raffle but would still like to donate to the band either as a sponsor or an individual can do so here.

For previous Ave Herald stories on the band:

Concert band shines in first performance

Striking up the hometown band