By Mary Ellen Zangara, Special Writer
More than 150 people attended the Manville Music Organization’s spaghetti dinner Sunday afternoon at the American Legion to help raise funds to support the Manville High School marching, jazz and concert bands.
Tickets were sold in advance for the four-hour dinner, and other people just walked in.
Cindy Britt, president of the Manville Music Organization, said the money will go toward trips and accessories the group may need for competitions.
Members of the bands helped served the dinner, and MMO parents and members of the American Legion did the cooking. Parent Shealgh Carr made the spaghetti sauce. The dinner of spaghetti, meatballs, salad and dessert was coordinated by Al Tomari of the MMO and Carl Zujkowski of the American Legion.
Many of the students are members of all three of the bands.
”The kids do an amazing job both performing and assisting,” Ms. Britt said. “Our band students are excellent, and, in fact, nine of the 19 on the high honor roll were band students.”
According to Ms. Britt, during this past marching season, the band placed second in state and fourth in the nationals, both in its group size.
John Bukovecky of the American Legion has helped organizations with the dinners for the past 40 years.
”The group we have here today is really tremendous,” he said. “They were here all day yesterday cooking, and today is the finished product. I think it is very good, and the people are coming in. This is good for the Borough of Manville and the area. After the flood that we had this last year, we have to get back on our feet again.”
MHS Band Director Ken Zampella was grateful to everyone who came out.
”This is one of our biggest yielding fundraisers of the year,” he said. “It gives a chance for the kids to interact with the community. The administration has been great trying to keep as much in our budget as we can. As successful as we have been, every little bit helps, and we are glad that the community can come out and give us a hand.”
Ms. Britt said, “We would like to thank the American Legion for their generous donation of providing us with all of the materials needed for the dinner as well as use of the facility to prepare and serve the dinners. We would also like to thank Bucky (Mr. Bukovecky) for all of his help on Sunday. This is our second time working with the American Legion, and we really appreciate all of the support they have provided the Manville High School Band. They have been absolutely terrific to work with. We would like to make this an annual event for the community.”

