Bowling alley owners Jeff and Cathy Romano wanted to celebrate the day with a focus on getting kids excited about the sport. Next month, they hope to partner with the school to relaunch a youth bowling league after the league lay dormant for two decades.

When they bought the bowling alley 18 years ago, it had already been closed for two years. The Romanos said they had to make major changes to the bowling community. Since then, they have wanted to bring the high school league back.

“The youth are our future” Said Jeff. “It’s all for the children.”

For kids who don’t want to or can’t play other sports, it’s a great option, Jeff said. It’s athletic, social and, as an indoor sport, it can be played year-round.

Ru Konzratenok, 9, of Lake Placid has Martha Watts paint her face like Raphael from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. (Enterprise photo – Aaron Marbone)

Each game requires walking half a mile, and bowling uses 134 muscles in the body.

Although Romano’s is a bar, the couple says it’s more of a family-friendly recreation center. They hope to expand it in the fall. The youth league is for bowlers ages 5 to 18 and meets Sept. 7 or 8 at noon.

Jeff is a board member of the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America and said they have plans this year to promote bowling nationally – including at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The bowling alley also starts a “Date in the evening” Pairs league on Wednesdays, starting August 28th, 6:30 p.m.