ROME TOWNSHIP— They must really like Lawrence County.

A Massillon couple spent last week doing what they have done for a half century— serving up sandwiches and lemonade at the Lawrence County Junior Fair.

This year makes the 50th year that John Rose and his wife, who prefers to be called Mama, have set up their Mama Rosa’s food booth at the fairgrounds.

“I like the fair, I like it,” she said. “I like everyone. I know a lot of people and I look forward to seeing them. They come here to see us and buy a sandwich.”

If their schedule has remained the same throughout these 50 years, so has their menu: Italian and Polish sausages, served with saut/ed onions and peppers, along with hot dogs and lemonade, lots of lemonade.

“We’ve sold it all our life,” she said.

Mama Rose is only sorry that other things have not remained as constant.

“It’s ridiculous how expensive everything has gotten,” she said.

Fifty years is a long time to run a business and as they have gotten older, their summer schedule has gotten a bit shorter. After all, she is 76 and he celebrates his 75th birthday today. The Roses will set up camp at only three county fairs this year.

They will go next to the Gallia County Fair and then on to Point Pleasant, W.Va.