Community Corner
Harley P. Chase VFW Post 1265 Fish Fry Fridays
We have just completed our 7th Fish Fry during Lent. Our first week we served 150 meals, last night we topped 400 dinners. The VFW post and its auxiliaries joined forces to guarantee our customers would be served superb meals. Some of our wait staff included professional waitresses volunteering their time to serve the customers, with a smile. Our kitchen staff also included members who were professional cooks in their professions. All in all we had about 20 volunteers to work each Fish Fry Friday. It takes a lot of preparation to pull off a successful event.
Our clam chowder, coleslaw, and tartar sauce were prepared using our own recipes. Our cod fish was the freshest we could find. Our deserts were all prepared by the Ladies Auxiliary; they know how to make desserts.
Each week I went among the customers to see if everything was what they expected. This actually took a long time, since I knew a lot of the customers, I had to stop and talk to each one of them. I even met knew friends because they were back to have the fish and chips again and again. Thank you to Handlebars and Betsy, who, as I heard it, took people from the bar and came over to fill a couple of tables to help out the VFW and eat our great fish & chips. Neighbors helping neighbors. We had one person handling the telephone taking in the Take Out orders, which were many.
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Thank you to all of our customers and we have heard your remarks. You have said you hate to see it end. So, we are going to continue our Fish Fry on the second Friday of each month, beginning with May 9. The area needs a good, inexpensive dinner, we have it. Where can you go to see so many local residents?
Where did the customers come from? I spoke to a group of four who traveled all the way from Deep River because they heard what a great meal we had. Several were from Colchester, who made repeated trips.
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Why do we do these events? I suppose number one has to be money. The VFW needs a new roof over the kitchen, and we want to upgrade our kitchen. Number 2 has to be getting people to know that the VFW isn’t just a place to have a drink and enjoy others company. During this time we met a lot of local people. And in reality, they are what we do things for.
We have a large beautiful hall, and we can do wonderful things in it. Our hall is available for rental, contact VFW @ 860-599-2404. We are also looking for new members, both for the Ladies and Men’s Auxiliary
To each and everyone who participated in our event either eating or working, THANK YOU!