ONEIDA COUNTY’S WEEKLY NEWS Week of July 25, 2021 The Seven-Day 24/7 for Emergency Service EGGANSEPTIC & ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES OVER 50 YEARS OF SERVICE 1-800-527-6040 315-339-1847 Including the Sunday Sentinel 7439 Townline Rd, Rome ROME, N.Y. SUNDAY EVENING ROMESENTINEL.COM AMONG HIS HONORS — Turner Washington is a fi nalist for the Bowerman Award, (Photo courtesy of Arizona State Uni- CARRYING versity) THE ALL THE RIGHT NOTES — Drum Major Madison Short leads a recent rehearsal of the Rome Free Academy Marching Band in the school parking TORCH lot. (Photo submitted) New RFA marching band director aspires to lead the program in hitting higher notes by Cara Dolan Berry and a passion to be part of Staff writer something special are all The bright, boastful, welcome. Roman-esque orange and Russell has only been black uniforms, the searing director of the RFA March- shrill of the trumpets, the ing Band program for a lilting flutter of the flutes, few weeks, yet seemed the deep-diving verve of right at home in the RFA the drums. Band Room, quintessen- Roaring out onto RFA tially cluttered with black Stadium Field like an army, music stands, tubas and adding to the energy of trombones, French horns stands full with students and flutes, drum sticks and and family and friends, the dozens of empty chairs, aroma of French fries and waiting to be filled with hot dogs and popcorn, the student members this fall. FATHER AND SON — Olympian (and Rome Free Academy graduate) Anthony Washington, right, poses with son, Turner Washington, in this recent photo. This is where he and col- The younger Washington has established himself as one of the premier discus and shot put throwers in the nation — following in the footsteps of his leg- swish of pom poms and league, Lindsay Mogle, endary discus-throwing father. (Photo courtesy Anthony Washington) the back flips of cheerlead- ers, the crash of pads and who has directed the Color the guttural groans of the Guard for RFA Marching players and the game … Band since 2011 – the pro- all as the sunset fades to gram’s inaugural compe- Son of Rome native and three-time Olympian, dusk and the “Friday night tition year – work to plan lights” rise to illuminate the weekly Monday night Anthony Washington, continues legacy the Black Knights and that summer rehearsals – and bulwark of dance and song plot a reprise of the RFA B y Cara Dolan Berry throwers in the country, the sky is Rome.” and synchronicity. Diverse Marching Band’s 2018 state and dynamic and strong. championship. STAFF WRITER truly the limit …” Washington recalls that every- 2018 New York State … Said Evan Oscherwitz in his ar- thing in Rome was within walking The Marching Band pro- “As I wrote on these pages a Champions. The sights ticle of Jan. 26, 2021, for SPORTS360 distance. “If your parents didn’t gram at RFA is comprised while back, my first impression and sounds of fall and high AZ … of Turner Washington. Can- pick you up from school or prac- of students in grades 7 of him was that of a man amongst school football, set to mu- yon del Oro High School, Tuscon, tice, you just walked home,” said through 12 who, together, boys. Even in his high school years, sic. The Rome City School AZ. Class of 2017. Washington. form the Marching Band, he carried himself with a quiet con- District Marching Band. the Color Guard and the fidence that fore- Anthony and Turner Washington. Washington “walked home” from If you are not already Drum Corps. Mogle boasts told bigger things Father and son. The apple didn’t fall Fort Stanwix Elementary School, Elder playing in the game or that it is the largest com- to come.” far from the tree. And the tree grew before Junior High School, then Washington cheering on the sideline, petitive group at RFA, as up – in Rome, New York. Rome Free Academy. … Said Joe Sil- encourages are you not curious about well as the largest co-ed kowski, long-time son Anthony Washington was born in Every bit as much an artist as an joining them on the field group. The Marching Band, Sports Editor of Son hopes to Montana, the youngest of four chil- athlete, he remembered well his and fusing with marching as a whole, with approxi- the Rome Senti- join Olympic dren. His father served in the U.S. photography teacher and his art members 100 strong to mately 100 student mem- nel, of the man he team Air Force and the family moved teacher, Claude Merrill. heralding the second half bers, performs at half-time called “the most from Montana to Rome when he while mesmerizing local for RFA football home Education “I thought they were both awe- imposing athlete” was stationed at Griffiss Air Force some,” said Washington. high school football fans games in the fall, and stag- he met during his is very Base. Washington was barely three es the popular Winterguard important But his favorite class was Social with a unity of motion and career in his final years old. So, Rome is the only music? program, where the Color column, which hometown he has ever known. Studies. Guard does an annual in- “We welcome you to appeared in the Jan. 28, 2020, edi- “(My teacher) was tough,” re- door dance performance to Upon agreeing to do the interview an inclusive, exciting tion, just days before his retirement called Washington. “He had a tough pre-recorded theme music. for this story, Washington laughed and robust community of after 31 years with the Sentinel … guy look - he could just give you The group then performs as he recollected he and his broth- performing artists,” says of Anthony Washington, Rome Free that look and you’d say - I really that program in tiered ers sitting on the front stoop of Stephen “Steve” Russell, Academy, Rome, NY. Class of 1985. gotta go after this.” state competition, separate the family’s residence in Rome af- Rome City School Dis- from the annual Marching “If his high school accolades in- ter walking home from school and And Washington recalls “really trict’s new marching band Band competition, where dicate anything, it is that, with no reading The Daily Sentinel. going after” Social Studies. director, to any student ris- 12 to 25 other Winterguard distractions, he is bad news for the ing to grades 7 through 12 “It’s great to hear it still exists,” “I busted my a**,” said Washing- groups may be participat- competition. Equipped with confi- who has toyed with trying said Washington, who then mused ton, “and had an A in his class.” ing. dence … and a desire to maintain about subscribing to the digital edi- marching band, RFA’s larg- his rightful place as one of the best tion. “It would be nice to read about ■ CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 est student group, where ■ CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 tin ears and two left feet Published by: The Rome Sentinel Company Inside Sentinel on the web: RomeSentinel.com • Email: [email protected] • 315–337–4000 Gardening ............................2 Winston Pet Personals .......3 PrimeTime ........................6-7 Classifieds .....................14-15 Jervis Public Library...........2 Mini Page .............................4 Boonville Fair .................9-11 TV Tomorrow ...............14-15 Rounding Third ...................3 Abby & Puzzles ...................5 Comics ...............................13 Sports .................................16 Rt. 233, Westmoreland • 315–853–1024 U-PICK BLUEBERRIES • FRESH CUT FLOWERS • ICED BLUEBERRY COOKIES • LOCAL PRODUCE / OPEN DAILY 8AM-6PM PAGE 2 / Sunday, July 25, 2021, ROME, N.Y., romesentinel.com ➤ Gardening in Central New York Check out the latest books at Jervis Jervis Public Library, 613 N. 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