FOOD AND FUN ON THE 4TH

The weather rebuffed us. But the talented chefs at CVOA proved a strong enough draw to lure Carrabassett residents to the food booth to sample baked beans and pulled pork at the town 4^th of July celebration.

"I heard about the pulled pork all the way out in the parking lot," said CVOA member Joe Lessard, who showed up on a walker to claim his sandwich.

This is the first year CVOA has run the food booth at the 4^th of July festivities -- and it was a challenging one. There were sprinkles and steady rains throughout the day, which kept he crowds home.

"We didn't do bad considering it was the worst weather and least attendance anyone can remember," said CVOA President Pete Weston. Weston figures the outdoor club cleared about $400 selling BBQ chicken, hamburgers and hot dogs, sausages, beans, pulled pork, fresh corn and ice cream treats. Many of the recipes came from CVOA's cookbook, Potluck in Paradise.

The club uses the money to underwrite a variety of community service projects -- such as building picnic tables for local hiking trails and stocking a fish pond -- and to maintain and operate its shooting range off Rte. 27 north of the Sugarloaf Access Road.

The booth has previously been run by the snowmobile club. When that group decided to step aside, CVOA was asked to run the concession. Pete said CVOA will be managing the booth again next July -- with a new assortment of food offerings.

"I like to offer something different than the standard fare," he said.

The event was organized by CVOA Social Secretary Cynthia Pernice, who pulled together an enthusiastic group of volunteer chefs, money counters and "runners" to serve up the many offerings. The booth even offered homemade special sauces and mustards to jazz up the standard burgers and dogs.

"The beans were a sell-out and people loved the pulled pork," said Cynthia. Both those recipes were pulled from the CVOA cookbook.

Cynthia thanked Bill and Jackie Munzer of the snowmobile club for the guidance in helping her get organized. She also thanked John at the Trantens' meat department for supplying great meats at a good price, Jordan's Lumber for loaning us a hot dog steamer and the Anti-Gravity Center for the use of their tables. The grills, crock pots, electric fry pans and other essentials were all donated by CVOA members.

Cynthia sends special thanks to the volunteers who staffed the booth from noon until 8 pm: Pete & Judy Weston, Linda & Paul Trueworthy, Kathy & Dan Gagne, JJ & John Clements, Jan & Vince Kremin, Jeanne Pernice, Nancy Perry, Pat DeLoughrey, Ginger Sweetman, Neal Trask, John McCatherin and Barbara Kovach.