St. Gabriel's benefits from annual carnival
BY ERIN O. STATTEL
Correspondent

CHRIS KELLY staff Susan Nestor of Hazlet helps Caroline Moore, 4, of the Morganville section of Marlboro, play a game at the St. Gabriel's Church Carnival.

MARLBORO - St. Gabriel's Church held its 10th annual carnival from July 19-22 at the Roman Catholic church on Route 79.

"God blessed us because the weather was perfect," said Deacon Stephen Sansevere.

While the carnival marked its 10th year in existence, it had a new face as chairperson. Headed up by Marlboro resident Rocco DiTaranto, this year's carnival held up against some questionable weather.

"Considering there was rain in the forecast, I think there was a good amount of people," DiTar-anto said.

DiTaranto is a regular at St. Gabriel's and when he was asked to head the planning of the annual carnival, he said he felt like it was his turn to give back a little.

The carnival had free admission and food services were donated by companies such as Premio Sausages, Philadelphia Cheesesteak and Carlo's Pizza of Union Hill Road. Parishioners also volunteered food and their time, working various booths and games.

"The Knights of Columbus, Altar Rosary and the Catholic Youth Organ-ization (CYO) really help out with this carnival," DiTaranto said.

At the CYO booth, children of all ages could get their faces painted by one of the many young people manning the booth.

"We get to talk to all the kids and parents about the different things at the church," explained CYO member Nicole Renkel, 14.

"Their role is really to go out and promote the good of the church," said Peg Renkel, Nicole's mother. "It's more than being good parishioners. It's about trying to be good people within the community."

Renkel recounted how the church's youth had recently taken part in a project that simulated how homeless people sleep, as they spent a night in cardboard boxes.

"They really learned what it felt like to have no home for a night and this helps them relate to how hard homelessness is," Renkel explained.

Renkel also praised Marie Masiello, the youth minister at St. Gabriel's.

"She should get all the credit for the wonderful things the kids do. She is with them 24/7," Renkel said.

The carnival drew in the sounds of independent bands such as The Backbeat, a band that calls itself "melodic" and "catchy," performing original music and covers of other rock and roll material.

Parishioners browsing through the carnival were glad to see such an encouraging turnout.

"When people come out to the carnival, they are supporting the parish," said Debbie Borden of Marlboro. "It's great for us. It's good to see so much growth with all of the support."

Marlboro police Capt. Bruce Hall echoed Borden's sentiments.

"People from all segments of the community are able to come," Hall said. "It's nice to see people enjoying themselves."

Money raised from the carnival will go into a general fund or toward a special project, Sansevere explained. In the past, profits from the carnival have helped raise the Parish Center and fund programs benefiting the community. The church is now looking to build a storage shed next to the rectory on Route 79, permits pending.

"We must have prayed correctly because our carnival turned out magnificently," the deacon said.