A Story about Mr. Steven Yanetovich by Howard Batt
Some years ago – more than fifty but less than a century – I was in the band at Clearwater High – 1953 – 1956. It was an excellent band taught and led by Mr Steven Yanetovich. He shaped more young lives than can be imagined.
Mr Yanetovich decided we would march in the Cherry Blossom Festival parade in Washington, DC. Our band had been invited, it was a great honor and we should go. There was a problem, however. Look at the picture of the band and multiply each head by some hundreds of dollars and then wonder how we can get that money together so we can travel, eat and sleep for a couple of days in order to march in the parade.
We had “tag” days during which we would harass shoppers on Cleveland Street and other places to shame them into buying a fifty cent tag that said they supported us. We had car washes and other fund raising – think of anything a mob of teenagers can do for money.
My favorite, though, was “World’s Greatest Chocolate.” It was a big bar of chocolate – like the Toblerone bars today – and it was wrapped in a slick bit of paper with the picture of our band on it. The picture that is below. Amazing – a great big chocolate bar emblazoned with “Clearwater High School “Tornadoes” Band over the picture and “World’s Greatest Chocolate” under the picture.
We sold tons of the stuff at fifty cents a bar. Each of us got cases of chocolate to sell – CASES. I don’t remember where we were going but it was a train trip with the band to some other school. Parents were along and we were selling them chocolate bars. I came through a car announcing I was almost out of chocolate and some man bought all I had left on my promise I would not try to sell anymore. Taught me persistence.
We went to the parade and it’s a very fond memory. Imagine it – a group of teens marching and playing music in the Cherry Blossom Parade.
All because we had Mr. Yanetovich. One of the finest men who ever lived – certainly in my experience!
Howard Batt posted this on FB and he graciously let me use it for our website.
