The show goes on

The economy pinches harder, but at least one summer carnival keeps up the tradition of raising fun and funds

"If it wasn't for the carnival," she said, "we would not have the program." While the league has received its share of corporate support over the years - Coca-Cola gave it their playing fields; most recently, Under Armour provided the scoreboard - organizers have to raise money for a wealth of other expenses, from utilities to maintenance to equipment to charter fees.

This year, as last year, the rides, games and concession stands are being handled by Sherwood Amusements, which gives the Little League a percentage of its take. It's a local - based in Upper Falls - family-owned company that does about 30 carnivals a year, and it's feeling the pinch of higher fuel costs.

Last year, it cost the company about $1,000 to power up the generators that keep the rides, games and concession trucks going, and this year it will cost three times that much, said Butch Adams, Sherwood's manager.

"And that doesn't even include the diesel for all the trucks," he added, waving a tattooed arm toward the dozen or so trucks that hauled the equipment to the Little League field for the carnival. Or, he said, the increased costs of food supplies and even the stuffed toy prizes - particularly important in the games for the smallest kids, where he promises, in the best carny tradition, that every player is guaranteed a prize.

Adams said the company is dealing as best it can with this year's increased costs, and, after 30 years in the business, he still enjoys spending warm summer nights amid the bright lights and gleefully sticky atmosphere of a carnival.

"Not many people," he says, "can say that their job is to make little kids smile."

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