By Mary Ellen Zangara, Special Writer
With the crowds of hungry diners being served at the Manville First Aid and Rescue Squad Auxiliary’s annual allyou-can-eat filet mignon dinners, things can get hectic … maybe even a bit circus-like.
So for this year’s dinner set for 6 p.m. March 21 at the Veterans of Foreign Wars on Washington Avenue co-chairwomen Betty Cowen and Sandy Scrape decided that instead of having a disc jockey for the event, they’d have a circus theme. Auxiliary members serving dinners will don colorful wigs, noses and face paint, and “Mr. Clown” (entertainer Mike Rivera of New York City) will provide entertainment for the evening. Ms. Scrape noted the members are enjoying the parts they’re planning for the dinner.
”It (the filet mignon dinner) seems to draw a big crowd,” Ms. Scrape said. “We all enjoy doing it.”
”This is a great opportunity for food lovers since there is no limit as far as quantity,” said Ms. Cowen. The menu includes sliced filet mignon, steak fries, salad, desserts and beverages.
Tickets for the dinner are $35 each and can be purchased by calling 908-725-3694 or 908-722-3865. Limited tickets will be available for sale at the door.
”Profits from this event is geared, as from other fundraisers, for the Rescue Squad to purchase new equipment as well as update current equipment, enabling the volunteer EMS members to answer emergency calls with proficiency,” Ms. Cowen said.
The auxiliary helped raise funds used to purchase an “Incident Command Unit,” which can be used by the squad to coordinate rescue efforts by multiple emergency responders. In addition to the filet mignon dinner, the auxiliary holds two flea market/craft shows each year and the “Foodfest of Manville.”
Both the Manville First Aid and Rescue Squad and the auxiliary are looking for more members to join them. If you would like to become a member of either, call the squad building at 908-725-0903 or contact Ms. Cowen, auxiliary president, at 908-725-3694.
But be sure to help the squad by attending this year’s circus-themed dinner, which organizers said was planned “to be more fun and bring more life to it (the dinner),” according to Thelma Bartus, the auxiliary’s publicity chairwoman.
”Come on and join us for the circus fun and have a blast,” she said. “Put your nose on and blow your horns.”
