Shawnee’s annual Spaghetti Day is Thursday, Oct. 22. Sponsored by the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary, times are from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Salvation Army gym.
Adult tickets are $6 and children under 12 eat for $3. Donations are tax deductible.
I asked Pam Robinson, who is president of the local Salvation Army Advisory board of directors, to provide some information and background on this annual event, since it is so important. This is what she wrote.
The annual Spaghetti Day is an outstanding event for the Shawnee community during the month of October. Started in 1986, it has become a major fund raiser for this Auxiliary of 59 active members and 56 contributing members. All Auxiliary members are considered to be on the Spaghetti Day Committee which is chaired this year by Marta Land and Pam Robinson with Nancy Bodard as chief advisor. In their first year, the Auxiliary hoped to raise $500 at the event, but sales were so good they ran out of homemade sauce and had to go out and buy more. By the end of the day they had cleared $3,000. Each year the event raises more funds and attracts more people.
Spaghetti Day is only the finale of a week’s worth of preparation! There is also much legwork that occurs weeks prior to the actual event. Planning for it begins in early August when letters are prepared seeking funds from donors. These requests will often bring in $8,000-10,000. Members of the planning committee also ask for donations of all food items and eating utensils needed for the day. It is a rare year that any items are purchased by the Auxiliary as donations are plentiful. Auxiliary members make desserts. In 2008, the Auxiliary netted a little more than $20,000.
About 8-10 days prior to Spaghetti Day, frozen hamburger meat is delivered to The Salvation Army. (In 2008, 600 pounds was delivered.) This delivery marks the beginning of sauce preparation. During this time, the cooking crew is busy mixing the spices that go into the sauce so when cooking days actually arrive, all they have to do is place the ingredients into the roasters. Cooking does begin early in the week because some of the sauce is packaged into quart size containers to sell.
The day prior to Spaghetti Day, the “Holy Tearers” get together to tear lettuce for the salad. This has proven to be a great job for new members as most of the “Tearers” are veteran members with much wisdom to share.
By the time Spaghetti Day rolls around, sauce is cooked, salad is ready, garlic bread is heated, and the “Noodlers” are hard at work cooking the pasta. The “Noodlers” consist mostly of Auxiliary members’ spouses; however, the head “Noodler” recruits additional help as needed. Bob Weaver is serving as the 2009 head Noodler, a position held by George Webster for many years prior. All men who help with Spaghetti Day are given a red apron with their name imprinted on it. For each additional year they assist, a star is placed on the apron. Aprons are presented at the annual Christmas banquet.
By 10:30 a.m., all stations are ready for the 1,400 or so people who will come for this delicious lunch or dinner. Again around 3:30 p.m., preparations begin for the evening meal. Most people stay and eat with friends and acquaintances, but they also have the option of getting a meal to go. The “to go” line typically prepares 250-300 meals.
A highlight of the meal is the wonderful desserts that are prepared by Auxiliary members who are each asked to bring enough dessert for 40 people. One of the best jobs is cutting the cakes and pies for serving. Invariably, there is a pan with extra yummy icing to eat! — and there always seems to be plenty of volunteers for cleaning the empty pans!
This particular event brings together about 80 Auxiliary members and spouses. Several members of the Advisory Board will get in on the act as well. By the end of the day, we all welcome the sight of our easy chairs!
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This is another reminder about Gov. Brad Henry’s coming to Shawnee next month to address a joint gathering at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center.
The governor’s appearance here is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 10, and the luncheon event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The three noon day civic clubs, Rotary, Kiwanis and Lions, along with the Greater Shawnee Area Chamber of Commerce, are jointly hosting his appearance.
Civic club members planning on attending should make reservations with their respective civic clubs. Chamber members and others should contact the Chamber of Commerce, 405-273-6092, to make reservations.
Seating will be limited, so civic club members and others planning to attend must make reservations by Monday, Nov. 2.
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Shawnee’s Trick or Treat night is only two weeks away. It has been set for Saturday night, Oct. 31. Police Chief Russell Frantz says it will be from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., same as last year.
That is considered Halloween night. However, occasionally, in previous years, Trick or Treat has been set for a different evening.
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Once again, the Salvation Army will begin taking applications for families needing Christmas assistance in Pottawatomie County the weeks beginning Monday, Oct. 26, Monday, Nov. 2, and Monday, Nov. 9. Applications will be taken through Nov. 11, (that is Veterans Day) Monday through Friday only.
Maj. Mike Barnhouse, of the local Salvation Army, said those needing assistance must appear in person at the Salvation Army office, 200 E. Ninth Street in Shawnee. Applicants will need identification for each family member and proof of income, he said.
There will be no mail notification this year, Barnhouse emphasized. Individuals applying after this time period will be helped during the Christmas season as resources become available, he said.
Also, the major extends an invitation for persons who want to participate with the annual kettle drive. Those wishing to volunteer may contact the Red Kettle Drive coordinator, Kendi Cox, 275-2243.
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Oklahoma’s statewide muzzleloader deer season is nearing, The archery season began Oct. 1, and continues through Jan. 15. The 2009 youth deer gun season opened Friday and continues through Sunday (tomorrow).
The deer muzzleloader season is for a nine-day run beginning a week from today, Oct. 24, and continuing through Sunday, Nov. 1.
During youth deer gun season, (today and tomorrow) hunters under 18 years of age can harvest one antlered and one antlerless deer and, while deer taken by youth hunters during the youth deer gun season are included in the hunter’s combined season limit, they do not count as part of the regular deer gun season limit. All youth participating in the youth deer gun season are required to be accompanied by an adult 18 years old or older. The adult cannot gun hunt, but may archery hunt while accompanying the youth hunter. For license requirements, consult the current “Oklahoma Hunting Guide” or log on to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s Web site at wildlifedepartment.com.
The modern gun season opens Nov. 21 and runs for 16 days through Sunday, Dec. 6.
“Scouting and preparing is the best way to improve your odds at harvesting deer with a muzzleloader,” said Jerry Shaw, big game biologist for the Wildlife Department.
During muzzleloader season, hunters can harvest a buck and two antlerless deer (as long as one comes from zone 2), and most of the state is open to antlerless hunting every day during the season. Resident muzzleloader hunters must possess an appropriate hunting license and, if their license was purchased prior to July 1, a fishing and hunting legacy permit. Additionally, they must possess a deer license for each deer harvested. If a hunter harvests two antlerless deer, at least one of those antlerless deer must be taken in antlerless zone 2, 7 or 8 (consult page 21 of the current “Oklahoma Hunting Guide for a map of antlerless zones). Nonresident muzzleloader hunters must also carry a nonresident deer muzzleloader license for each deer harvested. However, nonresidents are exempt from the purchase of a hunting license while hunting deer.
For specific information regarding which areas are open to muzzleloader season, licenses, bag limits, blaze orange clothing requirements or legal firearms, consult the current “Oklahoma Hunting Guide” or log onto wildlifedepartment.com.
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If you have ideas or something of interest for this column, call 214-3922 or e-mail michael.mccormick@news-star.com. Include name and phone number for contact purposes.
SHAWNEE, Okla. —
