Local fish fries still working around pandemic
PUNXSUTAWNEY — Another sure sign that spring is on its way is that the area fish fries have started up again, as the Lenten season has begun.
The reason for fish being served on Fridays during Lent goes back to the old Roman Catholic Church.
According to the Roman Catholic Church website, “Those who are members of the Catholic faith abstain from flesh meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and the Fridays of Lent.”
The 1978 Catholic Source book says, “From the first century, the day of the crucifixion has been traditionally observed as a day of abstaining from flesh meat ... to honor Christ, who sacrificed his flesh on a Friday.
“Fish do not belong to the flesh meat category. The Latin word for meat, caro, from which we get English words like carnivore and carnivorous, applies strictly to flesh meat and has never been understood to include fish.
“Furthermore, in former times flesh meat was more expensive, eaten only occasionally and associated with feasting and rejoicing; whereas fish was cheap, eaten more often and not associated with celebrations.”
Here are some of the fish fries being held throughout the area during the Lenten season.
There may be others that we aren’t aware of.
• Church of the Resurrection in Rossiter: Casi Keller said all of the churches take turns holding the fish fry on Friday during Lent.
Keller said because of the COVID-19 restrictions they will not have a dine-in option this year.
The event will once again be held from 4 to 7 p.m. today at the Rossiter Volunteer Fire Company, 517 Central St., Rossiter.
Keller said they are
almost up to 100 preorders and typically sell as many as 400 dinners.
The cost is $10 for fried or baked filet, and they have their own hand-battered fish, pierogi or potato, vegetable and coleslaw or applesauce. Call to order at 814-938-4066.
• Punxsutawney Fraternal Order of Eagles Club Aerie No. 1231: Denny Fetterman, secretary, said they’ll be holding their fish fry from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at the Eagles Club at 238 E. Mahoning St., Punxsutawney. It will be takeout only, with no dine-in opportunity due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“We’re doing lunch and dinner every Friday during Lent, except on Good Friday, when we’ll only have it from 4 to 8 p.m. so everyone can go to church,” Fetterman said, adding that the cost is $9.95 plus 50 cents for takeout, plus tax.
He said they have fried and baked fish, with a choice of potato, vegetable, coleslaw or applesauce.
Fetterman said you can call ahead at 814-938-9976 and pick up at the back parking lot door.
He said their first week went pretty well, and they didn’t advertise because they wanted to have a soft opening.
Today, they have haluski or macaroni and cheese instead of potatoes and shrimp dinners.
• Elk Run Volunteer Fire Company/Flashover Club: Melissa McAfoos said they have fish on the menu throughout the year, but during Lent, they offer fish dinners on Friday for $10.99.
The club is located at 205 N. Findley St., Punxsutawney, the former Elks Club building.
They offer fried haddock, macaroni and cheese or baked potato, coleslaw and corn.
For lunch, they’re offering a cod sandwich with fries for $6.75.
You can call 814-618-5724 to preorder.
McAfoos said they offer dine-in from 4 to 9 p.m. and follow CDC guidelines with the spacing of the tables.
She said you can call in for carry out curbside pickup or delivery.
• Oliver Township Volunteer Fire Company: Dale Anthony said they’ve been holding the dinners for the last several years.
The fire hall is located at 184 Bodenhorn Road, Oliver Township, and will be serving fish dinner March 5 and March 19, and you can dine in or take out. They serve from 4:30 to 7 p.m.
The number to call to preorder is 814-938-3122.
Anthony said they have it all set up according to CDC guidelines.
He said the cost is $10 a meal, and they have baked or fried fish, macaroni and cheese, scalloped potatoes, vegetable or coleslaw, a dessert and a drink.
Anthony said at last week’s fish fry they served about 150 people, which has been typical over the years.
All of these groups are using their dinner sales as a fundraiser.