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MANVILLE: Seniors ‘cut the rug’ at annual prom

By Mary Ellen Zangara, Special Writer
   A prom is a big event for anyone — including the 70 Manville senior citizens who attended the annual Senior Citizen Prom on April 29. The prom was held in the Manville High School gym and sponsored by the MHS Key Club and the Manville Municipal Alliance.
   According to the Key Club co-adviser Carolyn Galafaro, “The Key Club has been doing it for three years before that it was another organization from the school. It is also good to get the students to come out and meet the people in the community. The Key Club has always been doing service in the community which benefits likes this. This year we partnered with the Manville Alliance to help make this a success.”
   The evening featured music by DJ Bill Forke and a buffet dinner from B & C Creations, a local catering company. The seniors dined on chicken franciese, ziti, meatballs marinara, sausage and peppers, rice and mixed vegetables.
   ”People said the food was really good,” said Ms. Galafaro. There was cake and coffee later in the evening.
   The seniors enjoyed dancing with the MHS students and even Sara Alfaro got to “cut the rug” with Frank Piccano as they danced to “In the Mood.” Also, there was line dancing like the Electric Slide and Macarena and the MHS students joined the seniors teaching them how to get down and boogie.
   ”It is just really an event to get them out, get them on the dance floor so they can have a good time and interact with some of the kids in the high school. It is nice and it is good for them and it is good for our students. Our students can become familiar with the people in their community who built this community, who have been living in this community their whole lives,” Ms. Galafaro said.
   Stephanie Cornelson, chairperson of the Manville Municipal Alliance, said, “It is a great tradition that the Key Club started and we are just happy to join them and be a part of it.” She and other members of the Alliance helped out.
   Senior Citizen Marge Szczepanski was very excited to attend the prom.
   ”This party for the seniors is nothing but excellent and there is nothing more to say. This is my first time here and you better believe it I will be here every time they have it. It is very well appreciated, thank you,” she said.
   Marge Guerrazzi also attended and sat with Ms. Szczepanski. “This has been the best time. I have really enjoyed myself. This is the first time here and they went all out. I am really having a great time,” she said.
   MHS Key Club member Victoria Arropabato said, “This is very good for the seniors and it lets them get out and have more fun. They see how the students are helping them. It is great, the kids love it and the seniors love it. Everyone was dancing the students and the seniors. It was a lot of fun.”
   Natalie Walkoviak, president of the Manville Senior Citizens, praised the groups for their excellent job as the senior citizens gave a round of applause.
   ”Thank you so much, we appreciate it. You did a beautiful job,” she said.