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A Picnic and a Pig
ON THE INSIDE The latest happenings in our area Page 2
July 7, 2016
Two local churches will host summer festivals by Tucker Hottes STAFF WRITER
As the temperature rises, so do tents around the Triboro area. Queen of the Apostles parish in Avoca will hold its fifth annual all-you-can-eat pig roast on Sunday, July 17, and Nativity of Our Lord parish in Duryea will host its annual three-day picnic Friday, July 8, 6-11 p.m. (with music by Group Du Jour); Saturday, July 9, 5-11:30 p.m. (music by The Sperazza Band); and Sunday, July 10, 4-10 p.m. (music by Hometown Boyz). Nativity’s three days of food and festivity take place on the grounds of the former Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, 529 Stephenson St. “The picnic is more than 50 years old; it’s a combination of three separate events parishes had in the past,” said volunteer David Tighe. “This is our sixth picnic as Nativity of Our Lord parish. But the recipes and ideas and work go back much, much farther.” As the old events merged, the picnic expanded into the large event it is today. “It was always a large picnic and just sort of developed with more manpower and support into what we have this year,” Tighe said. “Each parish had a large picnic, and they closed or merged, and I think it’s better because it represents our whole community better than any individual event did.” This year’s event features new stands for all ages: plush and doll stands for children, and anyone with a green thumb will want to check out the new plant stand. New food options include a dish with the intriguing name of “volcano fries.” “We’re introducing volcano fries in addition to regular fries and our usual favorites like chicken tenders and chicken wings,” Tighe said. “And of course you can still get the old favorites: pierogi, haluski, kielbasa, and of course don’t forget the potato pancakes. Adding new food to old favorites helps make it something for everybody.” An indoor flea market (with an early bird
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Rev. John Polednak and parishioners of Nativity of Our Lord Parish in Duryea gather to discuss plans for their upcoming parish picnic. From left, front row: Grace Petro, Denise Decker, Beverly Dulny, Judy Lambert, Melissa Meckalavage and Ann Frances Kurzweil. Second row: Jonathan Pietrowski, David Tighe, Polednak, Bob Kundrat, Tom Lambert and Alan Hoover.
preview on Thursday, July 7), cash raffles and basket raffles help round out things, along with a round of cash bingo with a celebrity bingo caller: local DJ Shadoe Steele. With so much happening, it seems there would be an army of volunteers behind the scenes, but Tighe said the parish is happy to see anyone willing to lend a hand. “You’d be surprised, we can always use more help,” he said. “Anyone is welcome, even young people looking for service hours for high schools or organizations. There’s always something to do.” In Avoca, Queen of the Apostles will hold a different sort of gathering. Queen of the Apostles pig roast chairman Jim “Jimbo” McMahon said the parish moved from a more traditional multi-day picnic to the roast that drew more than 400 people last year. “Prior to the pig roast, we had an annual church picnic for three days, and we weren’t getting enough help with everything: setting up, taking things down, cooking, and it wasn’t
really profitable for the three days,” he said. After discussing other options with members of the parish, McMahon said the idea of the pig roast seemed like a good fit — and proved community members were eager to support Queen of the Apostles parish’s new venture. “We made more in four hours than we did in a three-day picnic,” he said. The event will be held on the grounds of the parish hall in the former St. Mary’s School, Hawthorne and Spring streets. Admission is $20 for the all-you-can-eat event ($10 for children 6 to 12 and kids 5 and younger will be admitted free). All proceeds from the event go to the parish general fund. In addition to donated food and basket raffles, the pig roast will feature entertainment by Old Town Boys from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Takeouts also will be available. “Our auditorium is air conditioned and, if it’s anything like last year, it was 95 degrees outside,” McMahon said.