A final affair at Narrowsburg

By KIMBERLY M. WEYANDT

NARROWSBURG, NY — It was all fun and games at the last carnival day at the Narrowsburg building of the Sullivan West district on Monday, June 20. Carnival day, a tradition that goes back to a time before the merger and formation of Sullivan West, gives the students a chance to have some fun and celebrate the end of another successful school year.

Games of chance lined the borders of the blacktopped section of the playground and an inflatable trampoline paralleled them, creating an exciting and energetic backdrop for the event.

Teachers, aides, school board members and parents took their places behind the bean bag tosses, Frisbee throws and dice-fueled races to hand out stuffed monkeys, sunglasses, bags, necklaces and hats available in a rainbow of colors.

Cheryl Weber, a retired staff member from Sullivan West and Narrowsburg sat behind the games of chance decked out in yellow from head to toe, as she encouraged the students not to be discouraged when they don’t win on their first try.

“Get right back in line and try again,” Weber said.

The smell of popcorn wafted through the air, coming from the freshly popped kernels that filled the bags held by almost every little hand.

On what used to be referred to as “the big playground” a hanging inner tube became a challenge as students lined up to try to throw a football through the hole in its middle.

A pack of laughing girls, holding hands and sharing smiles raced down to where Lisa Lander stood with a radio and a box of water balloons.

“It’s water balloon hot potato,” Lander said with a smile as the children formed a circle. Passing the dark purple balloon around, the students were torn between their desire to win and their desire to get caught with the balloon and get wet. When the music stopped whoever was caught with the balloon got wet as Lander popped it over his head. The water was a sought after refreshment in the heat of the hot afternoon day.

This would be the last carnival celebration that would be celebrated at the Narrowsburg building as it closed at the end of this school year.