Saturday Spring Fling to benefit Post Prom

Two local bands with strong followings will provide nonstop dance music from 8 a.m. to midnight

By John Tredrea
   This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Hopewell Valley Central High School Post Prom party and organizers are counting on a good turnout at a Saturday fundraiser to help ensure the success of the Post Prom this year.
   The Post Prom party, held immediately following the senior prom, was established to give teens a safe way to continue their good time on the night of their senior prom without alcohol or drugs.
   A fundraiser for the Post Prom, the annual Spring Fling dance is set for Saturday night at the banquet hall of the Pennington Fire Company on Broemel Place, which runs east off Route 31 to Green Street. The event is sponsored by the high school’s PTO (Parent Teacher Organization).
   Two local bands with strong followings will provide nonstop dance music from 8 a.m. to midnight at this year’s Spring Fling. The bands, the DADZ and Lofash, span several generations with direct ties to Central High School.
   The DADZ have a total of eight children who have graduated from Central High School since 1995. The group’s drummer, John Knobl, is a HoVal grad. All members of Lofash are HoVal grads. One of that group’s members, Mike Tusay, now teaches physics at the high school.
   Snacks, soda and bottled water will be served and adults are welcome to BYOB to the Spring Fling. Admission at the door is $15 per adult and $25 per couple. Checks should be payable to the HVCHS PTO.
   Members of the DADZ started playing music together in 1999. They’ve played at Princeton University reunions and parades, corporate events, private parties and bars. The DADZ will play their seventh Pennington Memorial Day concert this year.
   "The songs we play are a mix of new and old rock ‘n’ roll, blues, mostly covers, some originals and nearly all dance songs," said Tom Timperman, the DADZ’s bassist and soundman.
   The other members of the DADZ are Ron Balerno on keyboard, John Velit on guitar, Jon Baum on guitar, Maria Burke-Slover on percussion and Mary Baum on keyboard and flute.
   Lofash plays regularly at Wildflowers on Route 31, where it always draws a big crowd, and other clubs in the area.
   The group includes John Jacob, Chuck Pisano and Austin Roud on guitars, Julian Ross on bass and Mr. Tusay on percussion as well as guitar. They play a wide range of rock music and often delve into other areas, such as country — Johnny Cash’s "Ring of Fire," for example.
   Messrs. Jacob, Roud and Tusay graduated from Central High School in 1997, Mr. Ross in 2000 and Mr. Pisano in 2002.