Where There's Smoke....There's......Pancakes?!!!

   In most cases firemen rush to people's homes.
   But, at least once a year, I know a place where people
rush to the fire house!
   The only flames you'll find are on the grill in the
company's kitchen. The "smoke" drifts off sizzling
sausage patties and piles of buckwheat pancakes as they
cook on that grill!
   It all happens at the Unityville Fire Company, a couple
miles off Route 118 in Lycoming County.
   From the day after Thanksgiving till Sunday night the
company turns its headquarters into a sort of community
restaurant to raise money to support its operations.
   We "accidentally" found the place about 5 years ago
and have been coming back every year since!
   I love "accidents" like that!
   This is one of those "all you can eat" affairs so we brought
three of our grand kids along so little kids in Europe won't
have to starve. I never knew how my eating helped those
kids. But my parents used to say that so it must be true.
   I've probably saved a couple of thousand kids over the years!  
   I've always been amazed by the fact these folks serve on a
24-hour-basis from Friday afternoon till Sunday night.
   I think I'm also amazed by the fact the fire company
members do the cooking ...but don't burn the food!
   It's all cooked to perfection!
   And it's really great to see the servers. They're mostly all
young people. Probably the sons and daughters of the firemen
for the most part. You'll see them staring at your table while you
eat. But they're not being impolite!
   Everything is served "family style." As soon as the servers
see an empty sausage or pancake plate they rush to make sure
it's re-filled and put back on your table!
   They probably draw straws when they see our gang coming!
   Short straw gets us! We tend to keep them moving!
   This was the 53rd year for the Unityville Fire Company
Pancake and Sausage Breakfast. Just wish I would have found
out about it 40 years earlier!
    They serve about 5,000 people every year including small
groups that show up in the wee hours of the morning.
     We'll be back again. The food and the service is great, the
price is reasonable and, perhaps, I'll save a few more of those
European kids!
      Hope you find the place too and that all your NEWS is
good!