Michael (O’)Swiatek hands Shelley Klemens a side board tickets during the St. Mary of the Falls’ Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner Charity Fundraiser in Olmsted Falls. (Joanne Berger DuMound/special to cleveland.com)
OLMSTED FALLS, Ohio – Corned beef was the king of the night Saturday, but camaraderie was a close second.
“This is just so awesome,” Dave Thomason said. “Getting together and seeing all our old and young friends again. This is great.”
Steve Hupp slices the corned beef briskets at the St. Mary of the Falls Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner Charity Fundraiser in Olmsted Falls. (Joanne Berger DuMound/special to cleveland.com)
St. Mary of the Falls had its “annual” corned beef and cabbage dinner charity fundraiser, which returned after a three-year absence due to, yes, COVID-19. It’s an event everyone with an ounce of Irish heritage enjoys – and even those who just want to wear green, relish corned beef or love a party.
The parish’s Knights of Columbus Council 14416 sponsors this fundraiser that includes gift basket raffles, Irish dancers, music, side boards and fun. Steve and Dita Hupp Irish-stepped into the lead to bring the dinner back. Dita said this year they cooked 250 pounds of corned beef, some at their home and the rest at the parish’s school kitchen.
“It is a lot of meat,” she said while preparing the hall for the event. “But we wanted to be sure we had enough. I think we do.”
Carrots and potatoes will round out this carry-out order during the St. Mary of the Falls Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner Charity Fundraiser in Olmsted Falls. (Joanne Berger DuMound/special to cleveland.com)
Theresa Everiss is a parishioner at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Berea. She said she didn’t want to miss the event for a few reasons.
“I know Tim Sperk the cook who does dinners at our church. He’s really good,” said the 85-year-old. “I love corned beef. And I wanted to get out of the house. Who wants to sit around at home when you can be here having fun.”
Shelley Klemens purchased a ticket from the event’s sideboard. She knew right away which number to pick.
“It has to be number 50,” she said. “I was born in 1973 so I’m turning 50 this year. And I don’t mind it a bit.”
I was curious why corned beef is associated with Ireland and St. Patrick’s Day. It has quite a history. I found a few articles about it.
Dave Thomason, a St. Mary of the Falls Knights of Columbus member, skates his way through decorating duties at the St. Mary of the Falls Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner Charity Fundraiser in Olmsted Falls. Dave’s mother taught skating at the old Berea Roller Bowl. (Joanne Berger DuMound/special to cleveland.com)
One mentioned that Ireland only used cows for their strength in working in the fields, milk and other dairy byproducts. They killed them for meat only when they were too old to work or to produce milk. Beef was not a staple of the Irish, except for the wealthy. Then the British’s love of beef sent thousands of heads of cattle to Ireland for its beef production. England also coined the term ‘corned beef’ when it began using salt crystals the size of corn kernels to cure it. Ireland, however, had a much lower tax on salt so it could produce corned beef with a high grade of salt for much less the cost than others. So, that is how it began from what I found in the research. But the story continues across America. If you have time, check it out. Corned beef has quite an Irish – and Jewish – story behind it. Did you know that President Abraham Lincoln chose corned beef, cabbage and potatoes as his dinner menu for his first Inaugural Luncheon?
I am not Irish, but my coffee will be Friday. Enjoy a corned beef sandwich. I-rish you a happy St. Paddy’s Day Friday.
Frisbee fun: Ultimate Frisbee is now available to any middle school or high school girl to play free in the Cleveland area.
Justin Zrenner, a Bulldog High math teacher and ultimate Frisbee coach, received a national grant that allows any girl in grades 6 to 12 in the Cleveland area – not just Olmsted Falls – to play the sport free of charge.
With the grant, each girl will receive a free Frisbee, jersey and league fees. The league has local games in Cleveland. A girls state championship will be June 3 and 4 in Columbus. Practices are from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays at Wallace Lake in Berea and 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays at Olmsted Falls High School. Justin’s goal is to have fun, learn ultimate Frisbee and go to the girls state championship in June.
Any interested parent or player may contact Justin at JustinZrenner@gmail.com.
Baby shower: This weekend – March 18 and 19 - is the annual Parish Lenten Baby Shower at St. Mary of the Falls Church.
The women’s Monday evening prayer group sponsors the event that seeks infant and mother items that will be distributed to five local agencies. They assist young mothers and newborns in need of new or gently used items.
You may help by donating baby and toddler clothing, bath and forehead thermometers, diaper wipes, Jesus Storybook Bibles, disposable changing pads, diaper bags, diaper rash cream, diapers in sizes 3 through 6, baby bottles, pull-ups, sippy cups, hooded bath towels and gentle laundry detergent. New moms can also use some assistance. They need disposable gloves, tissues, disinfecting wipes and such personal items as shampoos, soaps, etc.
You may drop off the items, including monetary donations, before and after the 5 p.m. Saturday Mass (March 18) and the 8 and 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Masses on Sunday (March 19). The location is inside the church’s parking lot vestibule. There will be help if you need assistance.
The agencies that will receive the donations are the Cleveland Pregnancy Center, Hannah’s Home, Zelie’s Home (formerly Maggie’s Place), Laura’s Home and Family Promise of Greater Cleveland.
Sunday chili: Stop by the Fellowship Hall at Olmsted Community Church this Sunday (March 19) and taste the Chili Cookoff entries.
The doors open at noon for this friendly culinary competition. Admission is $5 per adult, with a $10 maximum cost per family. Kids are free.
Taste as many – or all – the chili samples and vote for our favorites. The proceeds of the event will benefit the Brenda Glass Multipurpose Trauma Center.
Pancakes galore: The Olmsted Falls Kiwanis Club’s Palm Sunday Pancake Breakfast is April 2.
Enjoy all-you-can-eat-pancakes, French toast, sausage and beverage from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The cost is $8 a person with children 5 and under, free. The Easter Bunny will be there ready to sit with young ones or any age. A basket raffle with some great gifts will be available to those who want to try their luck.
Tickets are at the door or from any Kiwanis member.
Egg drop: There is still time to sign up for the annual Easter Egg Drop fundraiser set.
The Easter bunny buddies from the Olmsted Falls High School Post Prom will hide Easter eggs filled with candy in your front yard from 8 to 11 p.m. April 8. That’s Holy Saturday, the night before Easter.
The cost for 50 filled eggs is $25 or 100 eggs for $50. To place your order, go to https://bit.ly/3IVWGmm. The Easter Bunny will leave a special note for your family with the eggs.
Spring play: The Olmsted Falls High School Masquers will present “High School Musical” in mid April.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. April 21 and 2 and 7:30 p.. April 22. More information will be in an upcoming column. However, tickets may be purchased online at https://bit.ly/3Jbr76T.
Information, please: To include news, tidbits, honors or activities in Olmsted Falls and Olmsted Township, contact Joanne DuMound at jdumound@yahoo.com. She is also on Twitter, @JoanneDuMound. The column’s online version at cleveland.com/olmsted has direct links for many news items.
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