Fireworks scheduled for Friday night
By Mary Ellen Zangara, Special Writer
The annual Manville Youth Athletic League carnival opened Tuesday night at Gerber Field on Duke’s Parkway. The carnival brings excitement, good food and fun into town for the week.
The carnival will be held from 6-11 p.m. through Saturday. The MYAL has been in existence for about 50 years and the carnival is one of their main fundraisers going back between 30 and 40 years.
”This is what we need to do to make our money,” said MYAL President John Bentz.
The group had its facilities hit by the flood during Tropical Storm Irene and has renovated its kitchen. MYAL has also bought 60 new football helmets to adhere to rules trying to prevent concussions.
”That’s what it is about. We are here for the kids,” Mr. Bentz said.
Sign up for football and cheerleading will be taken at the carnival all week.
”This year we are doing free registration for football, due to our numbers last year,” said Mr. Bentz. “We didn’t have the numbers so, to try to get the kids back, we are doing free registration.”
All of the volunteers are the parents of players and cheerleaders; it is part of their work bond responsibility to work one night at the carnival.
The pay-one-price nights on Thursday and Saturday will give carnival goers a wristband to go on all the rides all night for just $20. There are 10 different rides for both kids and adults.
There are 12 games ranging from the basketball hoop shoot, merchandise wheels to the water race game to challenge your ability and luck. Price ranges from 50 cents to $2 for the games and $2.50 to $6 for food.
Music will be provided tonight, Thursday, by Sparks DJ Bill Forke.
According to Mr. Bentz, fireworks will be Friday night about 9:30-10 with a rain date of Saturday night.
Food that is made to order includes hamburgers, hot dogs, cheesesteaks, sausage and peppers sandwiches, piergois and the famous pizza fritz. The beer tent is open and there is a nightly 50/50 raffle. Mr. Bentz thanked Manville Pizzeria and Bobby Gatto from Gatto’s Sport Café for the donations of the dough and rolls for MYAL.
Mr. Bentz invites everyone to come down to the carnival this week to have some fun and help support the MYAL.
”There is food, games and rides,” he said. “Come out and support the youth of Manville in cheerleading, football and baseball. The weather is going to be great, so come out and support us. Come down and have a good time.”

