Muc Rosta Ochtu Bliantuil (8th Annual Pig Roast)

The 8^th annual Pig Roast has come and gone and we are at this point all recovering. Try as it might the week of rain could not put a damper on the day. Having attended previous Pig Roasts I was blissfully ignorant of the work involved in setting up this great day. This year, for the first time I saw just what it takes to put this day together. So what’s involved in putting this day together? Ordering a mountain of supplies, building a sophisticated box to roast our porky friends (three in all). Cooking and serving countless burgers, hot dogs and 18 turkeys, trays of Italian sausage, salads and a partridge in pear tree. Not to mention organizing a small army of helpers that work together to make sure food and games go off without a hitch.

I saw folks turn up at 6:00am and work through the day and I saw them smile the entire time. I saw folks work in the kitchen, stand over grills and at carving stations for hours on end. Whether cooking, carving or serving, folks did it and laughed while they did it. I saw them turn up the day after to clean up the grounds and put everything back in its place. I can’t mention names because there are too many and to leave out one would be wrong. But as you go through the photos you’ll see them and when you see them in person slap them on the back and say thanks.

Why did they do this? I don’t know. Maybe to see the smiles on the kids getting ice cream or to see the thrill of a child winning a medal for the three legged race, maybe to see friends and family sit, laugh and eat at the Friendly Sons… their Friendly Sons. Or maybe because they are part of the Friendly Sons and they just want to give back. Whatever the reason I for one am grateful.

To Mac and John… Congrats on a Great Pig Roast.

Some photos are just too good to pass up.

Check out the photos

More photos by Mike Callaghan and Joe Mulvanerton

Memorial Day Parade

It was a beautiful day for a parade as our proud veterans led the way along the route through Lawrence Harbor. And directly behind the veterans were the FSOS Pipes and Drums. As the parade wound its way from Memorial School to its end by the Lawrence Harbor Firehouse we were greeted by the cheers and applause of the grateful onlookers. The video below has captured some nice footage of the band doing what they do best, giving the parade watchers something to cheer for. On a separate note... things are a little tight in the Bohanan household these days. You can see just how tight by checking out the parade photos and video. Dennis drove his car behind us. Next year he hopes to drive the other half of the car... once its finished. All in all a fun day, made all the more entertaining by the game of “Find the Yellow Bus” at the end of the parade.

Roast Wagle

Roast Wagle was the order of the evening and a great evening it was too. It was just as promised... just like Christmas in May with little Wagle on the side. Music was a great mix of 50's, 60's and Irish with dancing. Charlie Donnelly, our roast master for the evening, led us in the roasting and toasting. John was honored for his years of dedication to the FSOS and Barbara was honored for putting up with him and the FSOS. On a fashion note, this evening Mr. Redden, wearing pants tonight, did notice that both John and Barbara got the black and white memo... "a well coordinated couple". With Mike and Mark behind the bar and Phil serving up martinis of every size and color it was no wonder that nobody wanted to go home. As the evening wore on and the music heated up folks headed outside to the night air. Kenny Brown had the night sky ablaze with a camp fire while Steve Hansult (the iceman) stood guard with a bucket of ice. We can safely say that not a blade of grass was injured in the making of this evening.

Check out the photos and Jacks new take on the Gin and Tonic.
John and Barbara,
Much Thanks from a very grateful FSOS Familiy

There are 7715 Reasons to be Proud of the FSOS Bike Riders

Hey all you fellow psycohists (I mean cyclists). Great job on the MS bike ride. Just to let everybody know, we raised $7715 for this great cause. I think we literally had a ball, and it was a flipping good time. Just kidding Gary, and just so everyone knows Gary is doing fine. Our four iron men (two day 170 milers) report a great ride of eighty-six miles on Saturday. Unfortunately they hit a major rain wind storm with fifty degree temperatures on Sunday. Despite all of that they were still able to complete half of Sunday's ride. Great job you guys. We were thinking about you on Saturday at the Celtic Cottage.

 To all of our Riders and Sponsors,

Please accept my Gratitude and Thanks on behalf of the MS Society.

Don Bruchez

Mothers Day Pancake Breakfast Update

Pancake Charlie’s Crew was up to the task this past Mothers Day. Over 100 guests showed up for the 27th anniversary of this culinary delight. Of course it couldn’t fail; we had our secret mixture of ingredients blended by Alan Purcell and Jack Meehan. We had those masters of the heat, Bobby Quinn and Dennis Sullivan who manned the grill and produced perfect pancakes all morning. Kevin Morgan kept everybody in order and still managed to serve up the sausages and corned beef hash. The answers to the questions on everybody’s minds… “No, he didn’t eat all the hash”, “Yes, he tried”, “Yes, he left with a doggy sack”.

Walt Farrell was serious about his squeeze this morning. Fresh made coffee and fresh squeezed orange juice was the order of the day. Frank Lynch traded his beer tap for a syrup ladle. I heard it took two days to peel the sticky ladle out of his hand when all was said and done.

Thanks to Patrick and Top Hat Catering for his perfect eggs to order. Very special thanks to his mother Kathy (who do you think taught him how to make perfect eggs). Nobody got by the door without paying though we did refund mothers if the baby was on their own formula.

Truly a Great Day

Pancake Charlie

Photos

The McCarthys Are Everywhere

This shot of Tim McCarthy and his date relaxing on a beach at the South Pole was sent in by Mark McCarthy.

Hey... I'm just the messenger!

May Anniversaries

30 Years with the FSOS

Ray Costello

25 Years with the FSOS

Michael Cavallo

15 Years with the FSOS

Peter Cassidy

5 Years with the FSOS

Scott Fitzgerald
Patrick O'Dwyer

Past Anniversaries

Shuffleboard finishes on a high.

On April 5th the FSOS had its annual shuffleboard playoffs and dinner. Thanks go out to all participants for their kind donations to the food pantry. We were able to collect over 150 various items for the old bridge food bank. Thanks also goes out to Jim Sullivan for doing such a great job running this event year after year. Thanks goes out to all others who helped make this such a successful event.

Article by Don Bruchez
Photos by Lorraine Schuld

Irish Bull

This came in from Mike Callaghan and well, it's a chuckle!

Craic-e-oke Night Big Hit

A great night was had last Saturday as Karoke night came to the FSOS. It was a packed house with folks lining up for the microphone. And boy could they sing. This was not a shy crowd with songs from Beatles, Goo Goo Dolls, The Dead and the list goes on. And just in case you think, "Oh no, I couldn't do that", believe me, you could. When someone got up that was, shall we say, struggling a little to hold a note.... the crowd cheered all the more. It was just the greatest atmosphere ever. Though yours truely was still too chicken to get up to the mike, I take my hat off to those that did. May 29, Karoke night will be back at the club, we'll save a seat for ye.