Primary school hosts annual carnival of fun

The primary school was a hub of activity as parents, teachers and students enjoyed the annual spring carnival. Alice Wolf left Joanne Budnick in charge at their yard sale and joined Trish Lefever to welcome folks at the door and distribute packages of tickets for games and crafts to the students when they arrived. I stopped to chat with coaches Frank Piernikowski and Greg Young at the table with Hawks trophies and shirts on display. Frank played for the Hawks in the late 1980s while Greg played for the Palmyra Pals. With camera in hand I was off and running and caught up with Sue Carr as she made sure all the games were fully staffed and ready to go when the energetic children rushed in to play. Sue admitted this was her third and final year chairing the PTA’s biggest fundraiser. Mary Beth Salmonsen had her table set up in front of the stage where she sold tickets for the Chinese auction that had fabulous gifts donated by local merchants. I chatted with Bobbie McNeill as she placed tickets in the Chinese auction packages, her favorite part of the carnival. This was Sue Fox’s seventh year working the carnival, but said it also her last as it’s her son’s last year at the primary school. Jennifer Perry, who named her son “Finnegan,” took a break for a picture even though she had kids lined up to play her game. Trish Marziano was camera shy but told me she is known as the “prize lady” as this is her third year handling distribution of all the prizes set out on the stage. Intermediate school student Hannah Lavin, who spent many years playing games at the carnival, was on duty distributing prizes and demonstrated a few for me.
David Allegretto enjoyed the carnival with his 4-year-old son, Andrew, while his 7-year-old daughter, Lainie, was off playing games, 10-year-old Jordan was working at the carnival and mom, Kendra, was getting ready for lunch in the kitchen. David was surprised when he noticed me taking notes in shorthand and said his mom also took shorthand that is a lost art these days. When I snapped David’s picture with Jeff Shirk they joked about being two busy investment brokers in town. Lots of little girls were crowded around the jewelry table in the middle of the room making bracelets and necklaces with bright colored beads. Terri Ney was in charge here and stopped to check out the name bracelets Julia Wilson and Giovanna “Joey” Dattilo were making while proud dad, Mike Dattilo, stood behind and watched. Melissa Wilson took a break from running bumper ball to check on her daughter while Lynne Cates sat down and made jewelry with her daughters, Dana and Tara. Heather Mastroni ran the fish toss game while her mom, Joan Simon, from Collegeville, Pa., entertained her children, Luke and Lee. Trish Lefever left her post at the door to enjoy the carnival with her 2-year-old granddaughter, Taylor, while I chatted with mom, Tracy Lefever, who told me husband, Travis, was home with their 8-week-old son, Troy. Notice everyone’s first name begins with “T.” By the time I reached the kitchen Marianne McLaughlin, Kendra Allegretto and Peggy Baker had everything set up for lunch with just a few donuts left from the morning rush. Marianne said they got the hot dogs from Frank Unger at Hamburger Construction Company, pizza from Three Brothers, pretzels from Philly Twist and donuts from Dot’s Bakery. Peggy missed her usual post decorating cookies the past two carnivals, but they omitted it this year.
Kim Counsellor, who I have known since she was a little girl, had the advantage when she said hello, but told me her name immediately since I hadn’t seen her since she was in high school. Kim brought me up to date on her life and introduced me to her children, Ashley and Gunnar. Greta Gilhooley, Lisa Mack and Juliann Baker staffed another popular stand where children gathered to create sand art filling usually shaped bottles with bright colored sand. Val Oliva had large pockets in her apron to stuff the tickets she collected at her tic-tac-toe-three-in-a-row game, but David Allegretto called Val the “Tic-Tac-Toe Terminator.” Bonnie Quigley, who taught me Irish dancing, brought her 4-year-old granddaughter, Brynna, to the carnival along with her daughter and son-in-law, Janice (OCHS 1992) and Rob, and her daughter, Carrie, who recalled when I took her picture the first time she gave blood years ago. I caught up with Kathy Taylor and Joanne Walls checking out the beaded named bracelets and I tried to persuade them to sit down and make one for themselves. Jennifer Bowman was at the second stop on her busy day with daughters, Katie and Kelsea. Their first activity was the End-to-End Family Bike ride followed by the carnival. Next stop was lunch with the characters in “Beauty and The Beast” and to see the high school production. After spending the day with the kids, Jennifer was going to top off the evening at Janice Mott’s Ladies Only Full Moon Party, leaving husband, Charlie, home with his daughters. Carnival co-chairs told me Bill Nickles makes a new game for the carnival each year and this year created “Plinko” from the Price is Right that was hand painted by Sue Forrest.
With all her children too old for the carnival, Kathy Lavin accompanied her brother, Ed Wisham, and his children, Marion, Anna and Ellie whose twin brother, Eddie was at the doctor’s with his mom. Kathy recalled being in the first kindergarten class when the primary school opened its doors back in the sixties. I stopped to chat with Kristina and Bob Doliszny while then enjoyed the carnival fun with their kids, 3-year-old twins, Katherine and Lauren, first grader Michael and kindergartner Evan. Sandy Pindale was dropping her Chinese auction tickets in the containers when she told me this is her favorite part of the carnival. Mary Grill arrived with daughter, Abby Brennan, having just gotten back from spending the night at a sleepover at the Franklin Institute with the Girl Scouts. When Jay Gillian walked in with his youngest son, Noah, I kidded him about not having enough fun rides at Wonderland so Noah had to come to the carnival. Brenda Moiso joked about missing one year selling tickets at the door and she lost her job. As I took one last look around the carnival I wasn’t quite sure who was having more fun the children or the adults all smiles and laughing and having delightful time playing together.
 

Trish Lefever and Alice Wolf welcome Sierra Granger, Eziah Granger, Damir Wilson and Charlie Wiggins to the primary school carnival.

Hawks coaches Frank Piernikowski and Greg Young pose for picture at carnival with team members Donovan Graham, Tom and Frank Piernikowski and Blake Gorski.
 

 Mike Dattilo, Cathy Finnegan and Melissa Wilson check on name bracelets being made by Giovanna (Joey) Dattilo, Julia Wilson and Terri Ney.
 

 Mary Beth Salmonsen, Sue Fox, Sue Carr and Jennifer Perry take a break from working at the carnival to pose for a picture with Patrick Carr and Zack and Austin Fox.
 

 Bailey Blumenstock, Heather Mastroni and Joan Simon take a break from playing games with Luke and Lee Mastroni.
 

Jeff Shirk, David Allegretto and Lynne Cates enjoy the carnival with Devon Grisbaum, Jordan Andrew and Lainie Allegretto, Dana and Tara Cates and Mary Ney.
 

 Marianne McLaughlin, Kendra Allegretto and Peggy Baker take a break from serving lunch to pose for a picture with Melody Young, Christina McLaughlin, Francie Piernikowski and Reed Baker.
 

Julianne Baker, Greta Gilhooley and Lisa Mack help Madison and Chloe Mack fill bottles with sand art.