Lou Fischer, Manville
The new Manville Digital Sign at the High School will happen The buy a brick program, which started in January and will continue for an undetermined amount of time, has turned out to be what the high school and board of education needed.
There were three ways to help: donate directly to the sign, buy an engraved brick or attend the Spaghetti Dinner that was held on April 9 at the VFW Post 2290 Hall. Only the Spaghetti Dinner, which served over 500 dinners, has come off the table as far as the ways to donates.
The sign, which was quoted at a cost of $42,000 a year or so ago, became the task. We knew it wouldn’t be easy, but we had faith in the people of Manville, the alumni, the businesses and the local and surrounding organizations and we were correct in that assumption.
At the end of the Spaghetti Dinner, we had 100 people who either donated to the sign, bought a brick or attended the dinner, totaling $21,800.
I can honestly say that I didn’t expect that amount, and was sort of stressed out that we might fail in this attempt, but with the graciousness of the people around us, it all worked out. That amount does not include the fundraiser that the Manville Education is holding for the sign, and a few businesses and individuals that have been in contact recently, he said. As of May 1 the amount raised exceeded $24,000.
With the guarantee from the borough of $10,000 the campaign is within $10,000 (minus the expenses of the bricks) of its goal to replace the sign.
The campaign all started with a donation from Kulinski Memorials, then other local businesses like Manville Pizza, Specian Electric, LJ’S Boardwalk, Pizza & Pasta, Manville Dental Group, The Chesterhouse, Manville Credit Union, and Gatto’s Sports Bar began to chip in.
I certainly hope the people of Manville patronize these vendors for the extra pride they take in the town.
Then the local organizations chipped in, the Manville PBA, Manville American Legion Post 304, the Bound Brook Moose Lodge, the Raritan Moose Lodge and the Manville VFW Post 2290 (who not only sponsored the event but also donated to the sign).
”The balance of the funds then came from the people who like it here, live here, work here, graduated from here or became successful here, and that’s just great. It’s nice to know that when Manville needs something, Manville takes care of Manville,” Mr. Fischer said.
The original sign at 13th and Brooks Blvd was commissioned by the graduating class of 1969, and its pride in this town continues to this day. Through spokesperson and alumna Diane Reach, who communicated to the class that it should take an active role in raising money for the new sign. The class sent a check for the sign for $2,805. Thank you class of 1969!!!
Admittedly, it took me over a week to recoup from the activities, but all in all this was the fundraiser of all fundraisers (except for maybe the lights for the football field).
Special thanks go out the volunteers who worked the kitchen, Joe Nole, Lou Fischer Sr., Ron Skirkanish, Jeff Skirkanish, Debbi Gregor, Sharon Krebs, Frank amd Karen Jurewicz, Angelo Corradino, Ed Komoroski, and our chef, Mark Gregor. Our volunteer DJ for the day was Sparks Inc, featuring alumnus Bill Forke (class of ‘78).
We set out to replace the sign and I’ve heard from Dr. Johanna Ruberto that the Board of Education will start the bid process to contract for the sign, and they will also begin to examine locations around the school to place the pathway, or sidewalk of engraved bricks.
If interested, donations are still being accepted and engraved bricks can still be purchased; they start at $135 and larger sizes are available. Call Dr. Jim Brunn at the high school at (908) 231-8500 ext. 6806 or Lou Fischer at (908) 625-1997 or email at [email protected].
Lou Fischer
Manville

