Moon Band and Orchestra Serve Up Pounds of Pasta

It took 200 pounds of spaghetti, about 10 pounds of Parmesan cheese and nearly 100 high school band members. 

The Moon High School Band and Orchestra hosted its annual spaghetti dinner Sunday afternoon, filling the new high school cafeteria with students, families and community members. 

"It's 3 p.m. on a Sunday, and this room is filled with high school kids," said Nicholas Barthen, director of bands at "What more could you ask for?"

The event, now in its fourth year, helps fund band trips and miscellaneous expenses, including the marching band's August band camp at Washington & Jefferson College, said Christine Homol, president of the Moon Band Parent Organization.

"Everything goes back to the band," Homol said. "It helps buy drinks and snacks. At band camp when its hot outside it helps buy Gatorade."

More than 150 students in the high school take part in the district's marching band and orchestra. Many of them volunteered to work at the weekend fundraiser, Barthen said. In the past, proceeds from the spaghetti dinner have helped the Moon Band Parent Organization purchase a trailer for the band to haul instruments and equipment to performances. 

"It's supplemental stuff," Barthen said. "Stuff the school doesn't pick up for us. The kids really take ownership of this fundraiser."

Color guard members Alyssa Lee and Alyssa Marich volunteered to work at the desserts table. Lee said band members' parents play a big part in making the event come together. 

"They've been a lot of help," she said. "I feel like the number of parents volunteering has really increased."  

Marich said a steady trickle of guests on Sunday kept student volunteers busy throughout the day. 

"We've had a lot of people here this afternoon," Marich said. "It's been a really busy day. And [the fundraiser]  makes us a ton of money"