By Mary Ellen Day, Special Writer
Friday night was a bittersweet moment at Manville High School as the new community digital sign was officially dedicated.
A crowd of more than 100 braved cold winds on the lawn to be a part of the dedication ceremony on the Brooks Boulevard front lawn of Manville High School.
With residents, alumni and current students present, the ceremony began with high school Principal Dr. James Brunn telling the crowd, “I could not ask for a better example of community. As the principal and a graduate of the class of 1977, I am extremely proud of the effort of this town and its people.”
Kimberly Clelland, school business administrator and board secretary, said, “I really feel that working together as a board, a community and the school district, we come together to celebrate the dedication of the digital sign. It really is a symbol of strength of the community and the district working together.”
When the ribbon was ready to be officially cut, an honor guard of Manville school students Grace Perun, Michael Vornlocker, Alyssa Dima, Amber Kesolitz, Alexander Gonzalez, Joseph Kronmaier and Kimberly Ulate joined the officials cutting the ribbon. Then the other side of the ribbon was cut by students from the schools.
In the crowd were MHS Class of 1969 members Patty Bugal Klementowicz, Jacquie Romanski Diehl, Gene Kruczek, Diane Reach and Denis Raczkowski. All sat wrapped in blankets to see the 21st-century digital sign welcomed.
The idea of a digital sign began as a conversation and a plan in 2011. Working to make the sign a reality were many groups, including the school board, the architect, high school students who voted on the design and the community who helped with donations.
Councilman and MHS graduate Lou Fischer was the chairman of the committee.
Seeing the project finished and the digital sign lighted, Mr. Fischer said he was “proud and relieved proud during the dedication ceremony knowing that my family and I were involved from the onset of the dream through the realization that it was accomplished and completed.
He added, “The relief part is knowing that I’m almost done with this and can start to think about moving on to something else. It’s been two years of hard work of fund raising, coordinating, planning, etc. It’s time to enjoy it, but also time to get involved with the next event.”
He said he was happy his family joined him at the ceremony.
”Being that my wife and I both graduated from Manville High School, and very soon my youngest daughter will graduate from there, it’s nice that my kids will know what hard work can accomplish just by looking at the sign and knowing they had a part in it,” he said.
Mr. Fischer said he now uses the sign to see what’s new.
”I’m always looking for the next new message, graphic, photo or announcement,” he said. “I hope the school and borough use it to maximize messaging to the residents of the town.
He added, “Just think, every home game can be announced, every play, concert or event. If used to its potential, no one in Manville will be able to say, ‘I didn’t know about it.’ Just ride past the sign.”

