AVON — The Avon Optimist Club celebrated its 50th anniversary last November and members are now preparing for their annual fish fry, scheduled for June 17-19.
”We have some new members, who it will be their first fish fry,” said Paul Grant, club president and chairman of the fish fry. “We also have some old timers, who have done many. If the weather cooperates, we think it will be a great event this year.”
Meals will be served from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day in front of the Wal-Mart store on U.S. 36 in Avon.
Though organizers are not exactly sure how many years they’ve hosted the fry, the tradition is something that’s important to them.
”It’s a gathering place for the locals,” Grant said. “People enjoy sitting under the tent, eating their meal and visiting. It’s also a great place for families to come and enjoy sitting under the tent and some great food.”
The food includes several main dishes, along with side options such as French fries, baked beans, potato salad, and cole slaw.
”We serve only a first quality product,” Grant said. “We even test it by giving out samples. We serve premium cod in four-ounce fillets, not the squares. It comes pre-breaded and we deep fry it.”
In addition, they also serve fried tenderloins, hot dogs, and chili dogs. For desert, they will have assorted pies and “other goodies.”
Grant said they couldn’t be happier with the location.
”It gives us great exposure,” he said. “There’s a lot of traffic.”
Grant said the Avon Optimists have been chartered since 1959 and began as an extension of the Speedway chapter. The fish fry will account for most of the 2010-11 budget for the group, he added.
”It’s just about all (of the budget),” said Grant, who has been a member since 1974. “We used to sell Christmas trees, but then someone came up with the idea of a fish fry. We started out doing it in the Monty’s parking lot. My first fry was in 1975. Though nobody is sure when we started, I would say it was in the late ‘60s or early ‘70s.”
The Avon Optimists work to support several youth and community activities throughout the year.
Though the event is in Avon, Grant said that he would like to encourage everyone in the county and the west side of Indianapolis to attend.
The fish fry will also have entertainment, including the Avon Aerial Orioles who will perform at 7 p.m. June 18.
ryan.palencer@flyergroup.com
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