The Newberg Graphic
| Breakfast serves up fun and vittles | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 marks third highest attendance for the fire department’s annual fund-raising phenomenon | ||||
Blue skies and warm weather marked the return Sunday of the Newberg Fire Department's annual pancake breakfast, drawing a sizable crowd of area residents. "The weather was definitely in our favor," said Fire Chief Al Blodgett. "It went very well - one of the smoothest of these that we've put on." Attendance was pegged at 1,763 diners, making this year's breakfast the third-largest in the event's history, Blodgett said. 2005 remains the record-holder, with 1,870 in attendance. Among the citizens in attendance were Dave and Stacy Meshishnek, with their children Cheyenne, 8, and Justin, 6. "We try to come each year," Dave Meshishnek said. "These guys have perfected pancake making." With the sunny weather and a full breakfast, he was looking forward to a busy day: "I'm going to be putting up some fence." For the firefighters and honorary members of the Volunteer Firefighters Association, the turnout also meant a hectic time in the kitchen while the event was in full swing. "We ran out of almost everything," said Matt Simek, a Newberg filmmaker and lobbyist. "I got here about 8 a.m. to help out and the line was out the door and around the corner." As an honorary member, Simek has assisted at the event in the past, but this year marked his first turn in the kitchen. The breakfast is a fund-raiser for the fire department's Toy and Joy program, which provides Christmas presents to needy children in the community. The event usually nets $4,000 to $5,000, but it will take some time to determine this year's total, Blodgett said. "We still need to get the bills from all our vendors," he added. "It may be a month before we have a final total." | ||||
