…when you run out of Fish!
By Linda Elissalde
Bay Vue United Methodist Church thanks everyone who helped to make their first post-Ike Fish Fry a grand success. So many wonderful community folk responded that the cooks actually ran out of fish. Treasurer Sara Kruft and Trustee James Dinkins were sent out to find more. Even then, some folks had to be turned away. (We surely hope they return next year.)

Linda C. Elissalde was chosen to serve as Fish Fry Chairperson. She stated, “This was the easiest event I have ever chaired. That was because of the fabulous Committee Leaders, Members and Volunteers. They worked as a team, AND they made everything fun!”

Thanks for publicity goes to Kellye Badon, Destiny Martin, Shelly Vinzantia, George Strong, Sherry Morgan, Trish Smith, Marcel Elissalde and Gary Huebel. Kudos go to our CrystalBeachlocalnews.com and THE BEACH TRITON. Merchants were very kind to let us place flyers in their establishments.

Carolyn Akers and Margo Johnson provided the tickets. Fran Griffin, Terry Malloy, Esther Sarabia, and Sara Kruft arose early on Saturday mornings to sell tickets at The Big Store. Thanks, Gulf Coast Market for allowing us to use space.

Danny Akers mowed the grass, and Charles Mosley rid us of those pesky mosquitos. Moody Fredenburg and Danny Akers did our shopping. Head chief Moody and his band of Merry Men fried up some of the best fish that ever crossed lips. His helpers included Tom Kruft, Dan Akers, Timmy Billiot, Gary Huebel, Charles Moseley, and Bob Morgan. Folk wanted the recipe for Moody’s “secret” seasoning. Chuck Williamson donated the propane used for all that frying.

Carolyn Akers, Committee Chairperson Extraordinaire, actually headed or helped with several groups. Carolyn, Cat Holtzclaw, Marsha Fredenburg and Margo Johnson worked together like a professional chorus line to fill up the plates. They were better than Henry Ford’s Assembly Line. Linda Peek stood at the ready to hand piled up dishes to inside guests as well as outside waitresses and waiters.

Speaking of outside, thanks go to Chairperson Sherry Morgan. She organized everything so well that the drive through take-out worked as well as those wonderful drive-in restaurants of our youth. Wayne Taylor served as point man to show guests the correct places for their cars.

Just the smell of those divine homemade desserts should have given a sugar high to all the participants. What delicious aromas were presided over by Chairwomen Rita Moseley and Mary Raney. Of course, there would have been no such goodies without Linda Peek, Sara Kruft, Terry Malloy, Cat Holtzclaw, Edith Smith, Trish Smith, Fran Griffin, Dixie Rohan, Jan Evans, Rita Moseley, Mary Raney, Janet Leigh Davis, Linda Calvey, George Strong, Barbara Perry and Betty Williamson. They provided prize winning desserts.

Esther Sarabia, George Strong, Gail Abbey, Trish Smith, Edith Smith, James Dinkins, Linda Calvey, Betty Williamson, Marcel Elissalde and Becky Stafford volunteered where ever they were needed. This group was so talented they moved swiftly and smoothly from job to job.

Quite a few people gave generous donations to help with this endeavor. Jan and Dean Evans, Sara and Tom Kruft, Sandi Covington, Chuck and Betty Williamson, Margo Johnson and others added to the Fish Fry sum. All of this helped provide a hefty profit for Bay Vue UMC.

The Fish Fry closed at 2:00 PM. Everyone helped to clean up, take down, put away and set up for Sunday. What a grand day for all! Build a good Fish Fry, and they will come. We invite everyone to come back again in 2016.

(This article published 6/22/2015)