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Community Corner

Two Volunteers Celebrate 40 Years of Helping at the St. Patrick's Carnival

For 40 years, people have come to the St. Patrick’s Carnival, held each May, to see George Genovese, a Bedford native and the unofficial Sausage-and-Pepper King, manning the grill each night in the food tent. 

“People come to get a good wedge ... and to see me!” the 86-year-old said recently. 

They also come to see Anne Cook, who started the carnival as a parent at St. Patrick’s School four decades ago and has volunteered her time organizing and staffing the fair each year ever since. 

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Cook’s original vision was simply to give local kids something fun to do in the spring. “The first year, we made $3,000,” she said. “Since then, it’s grown like topsy.”

Indeed, George and Anne are just two of the thousands of reasons people come from far and wide to support the St. Patrick’s Carnival, which celebrates 40 years next week. It will be held on the grounds of St. Patrick’s School in Bedford, NY, May 13-18 and is a fundraiser for educational and charitable ministries of the St. Patrick’s parish.

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The carnival brings favorite rides for all ages, including the fun house, bumper cars, carousel, and the rip cord, among others. It also signals the start of spring with cotton candy, funnel cakes and George’s famous sausage and pepper wedges. A popular annual car raffle this year features the choice of a Ford F-150, a Ford Fusion Sedan or $25,000 cash going to the winner.

“We always felt that this should be a community event,” said Cook. “We get people from all areas and walks of life to come to the carnival and work at the carnival. It’s all about people getting to know each other.” While the rides are provided by Stewart’s Amusements, many of the game booths, the food tent and other areas are staffed entirely by volunteers, who look forward to helping out each year at this fun event, and interacting with the community. 

“I love to see the younger people get involved,” said Cook, whose daughter was in the third grade for the first carnival and is now in her 50s. “Those of us who started the carnival are in our 70s and 80s!”

“We do have many younger families involved in making the St. Patrick’s Carnival a success,” said Jim Alloy, who co-chairs a small but dedicated carnival committee with his wife, Bonnie. “But as we celebrate 40 years of fun, we wanted to also celebrate the amazing service of two very special people who helped create the St. Patrick’s Carnival and keep returning to help year after year. George and Anne have made it the amazing community event it is now and hopefully will be for many years to come.”

Visit the St. Patrick’s Carnival 

Tues May 13 6:30 to 10 pm

Wed May 14 6:30 to 10 pm

Thurs May 15 6:30 to 10 pm

Fri May 16 6:30 to 11 pm

Sat May 17 1 to 10:30 pm

Sun May 18 1 to 5 pm

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