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HOLIDAY PARTY / POT LUCK DINNER
MEETING SUMMARY:
Meeting Date: December 12, 2009.
Meeting Site: Bergen Highlands United Methodist Church, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.
Official Attendance: 25.
Meeting Program: Holiday Party / Pot Luck Dinner.
Notes:
Meeting Memories:
Newsletter Account:
The following account is reprinted with permission from THE STARSHIP EXPRESS Copyright 2010 Philip J De Parto:
The club's annual Holiday Party / Pot Luck Dinner was held on Saturday, December 12, 2009 at the Bergen Highlands United Methodist Church in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. With the exception of an unforeseen problem with the Church's heating system, things went pretty well.
This was the club's first time at the Church since the kitchen was remodeled. The large kitchen of the facility was an major factor in our decision to hold the meeting in this venue. Even more important was the single floor layout of the building, which meant that tables did not have to be carried up and down steps as in our usual site, the Saddle River Valley Cultural Center.
Early arrivals included Kathy Holusha (who was assigned the task of keeping an eye on the kitchen and making sure that no one set themselves on fire or blew the place up), Bernie Doyle (who ran out for some needed supplies at the last minute), George Galuschak (who also stayed late to help with the cleanup), Philip De Parto, John Radli, Roy Greenberg, Charles Garofalo, Robert Yeager, Peter Barboto, and Irene Staats.
There was a nice variety of food, but not so much that there was a lot of waste. Dave vun Kannon is this year's winner of the horn-of-plenty award.
Main dishes included a huge turkey with gravy and trimmings from Dave, London Broil (Pamela Webber), and meatballs (Chuck), fried chicken (Irene and also Taras Wolansky) and turkey and ham heroes (Susan and Thomas Duchak).
Side dishes included a bacon potato casserole by Ingrid, string bean casserole by Phil, acorn squash (Patricia Nash), pasta salad (Bonnie Freeman), green salad (Kathy), samosas (Anu and Milind Padki), pasta with vegetables (Roy), a vegetable platter (Bernie), home made bread (both Richard Herr and Dave), teriyaki rice and white rice (Phil) and a mini Indian buffet by Bob (vegetable briyani, raitha, hot pickle-onion sauce, and corn chips)
We were well stocked with desserts. George contributed an ice cream cake, James, Karen and Grace La Barre brought cookies and cheese cake, Greg Roman brought blueberry pie, Peter brought a rice chocolate cake, John R contributed cookies, and John Upton brought his celebrated cinnamon rolls.
Just about the only downer was the lack of heat. This was not much of a problem for most of the evening. The early goers were kept busy and warm with the set up and when everyone had arrived for dinner body heat kept things reasonable, but as people began leaving the temperature became more of a concern. This was certainly a factor in the movie, DR SYN: THE SCARECROW OF ROMNEY MARSH, being a bust.
It was a real treat to see the long absent La Barres. Grace was a real charmer. It was also good to meet a few new faces. Thanks to clean up crew Pat Nash, Pamela Webber, George G and everyone who helped with the set up, clean up, and other matters.