If the normal weekly activities did not drag the warmth lovers out into the park, such as sports, crafts, card games, health activities, or tours, then the current ones certainly had.
Our second open-mike karaoke was a huge success arranged by our resident karaoker Nancy Warren. Nancy is the spark plug that gets this going. Altogether, more than 70 people left their inhibitions at home and filled the two-hour session with song, to the delight of all. This solidifies the karaoke nights into our calendar in February and may become a regular event. Stay tuned, or was that in tune?
The first turkey shoot and hot dog lunch of the year was, as usual, a big success. Winners were Jim Howe, Ontario, 134; Don Goyette, Massachusetts, 114; Mike Bilak, West Virginia, 106; Pauline Thibault, New Hampshire, 105; and Ray Henderson, Ontario, 98. It sounds more like reading a vacation road map with all the territory covered than where our players hailed from.
The hot dog lunch, with Dave Lalonde and Don Temple grilling and a gaggle of volunteers inside, served 182 dogs (actually, it was people) with condiments of chili, sauerkraut, onions and the regular stuff, served with chips and a soda for $1.50, or two dogs for $2. What a deal.
The annual chili supper, as Chef “Boy r Phil” says, becomes a two-day pot extravaganza, with a 32-gallon pot in the kitchen and another pot the next day. The recipe is fairly simple: meat, beans, veggies, tomatoes, and anything else that cannot walk in the door.
Volunteers donate all the makings under the chef’s supervision. Meat is browned and everything is dumped in.
It is an all-day process, but never boring with Phil’s sense of humor stoking the fires and the Saturday open jam entertaining the chefs.
Approximately 122 people scoffed it down and many took a baggy home, but not in paper bags. Phil has worn his apron well at this function for 18 years and promises to bring a surprise into the mix for next year.
The annual pie auction again was a huge success for sugar lovers. Well, some were sugar-free, but the list is mouth watering anyway. We hit an all-time record with 45 pies baked and donated. The hall had that bakery smell when we arrived for coffee hour.
We had cream pies: lemon meringue, coconut, peanut, candy bar, rhubarb, kumquat, banana split, strawberry cheesecake, cherry cheesecake and pecan. We also had fruit pies; apple, Dutch apple, pear, lemon, key lime, cranberry raisin, pumpkin, chocolate; and of course berry pies: strawberry French glaze, strawberry, mixed berry and blackberry.
Yum, Yum. I am assured that was a no-calorie day.
On another topic, prepping for the second annual Goofy Golf Tournament started for the team at the end of December and really started heating up as January progressed. The format has now expanded to 18 holes, covering every street in the park.
Signups are way ahead of last year at this time, and will beat this by about 15 percent on game day. Volunteers have also stepped up to guarantee an 18-hole track.
Boy, are activities heating up. By the time the magic northern migration begins, we will be ready to head home for a rest, that is if the snow has melted.
By Ian Marwick
Published Feb. 5, 2014
