Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/18939
Grab a Fork, It’s Time for the World’s Largest Spaghetti Dinner by BETH SOLZSMON-CARPENTER If you’re from the Fayetteville area, chances are, you’ve not only heard about the infamous World’s Largest Spaghetti Dinner and Greek Pastry Sale, but you’re most likely a repeat customer. For those of you that are newer to the city, it’s a tradition that you will surely want to be a part of. The World’s Largest Spaghetti Dinner and Greek Pastry Sale started back in 1958 by the late Pete Parrous as a way to make money for the Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church. The dinner is held the third Wednesday each November, with this marking the 52nd year that the event has been held. With more than 12,500 dinners being served, this is no small task, so more than 100 Greek families join together to put on the massive dinner. The spaghetti is made with a secret sauce that was created by Parrous that’s been handed down four generations and only brought out for this yearly event. Plates consist of generous portions of mouth-watering spaghetti, parmesan cheese and a dinner roll. Alexandra “Sandy” Dais, who volunteers for the event, says that the dinners freeze really well. “Just put the whole box in a ziplock and put in your freezer,” she said, adding, “Chances are, it won’t last to the freezer.” In addition to the spaghetti, a popular highlight of the dinner is the vast variety of pastries, breads and cakes that are available for purchase. The church’s Ladies Philoptochos Society sell baklava (phyllo dough fi lled COMMUNITY NEWS with honey, walnuts and pistachios), Kourabiedes (almond shortbread- like cookies), koulourakia (lightly-sweetened butter cookies) and fi nikia (honey-dipped walnut cookies. These items may be purchased individually or by the box. Proceeds from the dinner help support several of the church’s charities like: International Orthodox Christian Charities, Salvation Army, Friends of the Children (of the Cape Fear Valley Health System), Highland’s Chapter of the American Red Cross, Cumberland County Autism Society, Panagia Prousiotissa Montastary and Easter Seals. Over the years, the dinner has supported church expansions as well as other charities, both local and national. This year’s dinner will be held from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 17 in the Hellenic Center at the Orthodox Church, located at 614 Oakridge Ave. in Fayetteville. Tickets are just $6 each and can be purchased in advance or at the door. Plates are available on a take-out basis only. For a list of local businesses that have tickets, to get information about special large-delivery options or for general questions, call the church offi ce at 910-484- 2010. Estate. COMMENTS? 484-6200 ext. 222 or editor@upandcomingweekly.com. Airport Passenger Numbers Up Fourth Straight Year COMMUNITY NEWS Fayetteville Regional Airport’s passenger traffi c numbers are up by double digits in percentage for the fourth straight calendar year. Numbers show an increase of 13.6 percent and are based on fi gures through the end of September. According to records, 379,675 passengers traveled through the airport as of Sept. 30. The 2009 total was 459,473 for 12 months. With 191,364 enplanements through Sept. 30, Fayetteville Regional anticipates a record year in that category, not seen since 1987. Enplanements are passengers leaving the Airport. Fayetteville Regional’s streak of double digit increases in ridership dates back to 2007. “We continue to see double digit increases in passenger traffi c,” Airport Director Bradley Whited said. “As of June 15, 2010, American Eagle Airlines began offering two round trip fl ights to its Dallas hub and the passenger loads have been very positive.” American Eagle’s service to Dallas has brought 16,372 passengers to the airport. Whited said US Airways and Delta’s growth are helping fuel a record year at Fayetteville Regional Airport. “At the same time, US Airways and Delta are experiencing increases in passenger traffi c on nine daily connections to each of their hubs in Charlotte and Atlanta, respectfully,” Whited said. For more information about Fayetteville Regional Airport, log onto www. fl yfay.com. Native American Month Celebrated at UNC-P November is Native American Heritage Month. Activities planned at UNC Pembroke during the month include: • Nov. 9 – Sample native foods and fellowship at 7 p.m. at the University Center Annex. • Nov. 11 – Native American Resource Center in Old Main, Exhibit Opening featuring Hatty Miller (Lumbee) and Alisha Locklear (Lumbee) at 7 p.m. 8 UCW NOVEMBER 3-9, 2010 • Nov. 18 – UNC Wilmington historian Dr. David LaVere will give a presentation titled “North Carolina Indians Before the English” at 7 p.m. in the Main Reading Room of the Mary Livermore Library. • Nov. 18 – 6 - 8 p.m., University Center Annex, Round Dance sponsored by Native American Student Organization and the Lumbee Tribe’s Boys and Girls Club. • Nov. 18 – 7 p.m., University Center Lounge, Screening of the movie Smoke Signals. • Nov. 29 – 7:30 p.m., Givens Performing Arts Center, Distinguished Speaker Series, Adam Beach (Ojibwa), actor Adam Beach is a Canadian-born actor whose illustrious career continues to traverse screens both small and large. He will next be seen heavily recurring in Big Love, now in its fourth season on HBO. After receiving a Golden Globe nomination for his role as Charles Eastman in the HBO fi lm adaptation of Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee, Beach got a role on Law & Order: SVU as Ice-T’s partner, Chester Lake. A member of the Ojibwa Nation, Beach’s work is strongly rooted in his Native heritage, bringing a unique and diverse perspective to his craft. His commitment to his spiritual development through traditional grass dancing enhances his work. Beach may today be best known for his portrayal of Victor Joseph in Smoke Signals, which won the Filmmaker’s Trophy Award and the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival. His fi rst brush with fame occurred in his follow up, starring opposite Nicolas Cage in John Woo‘s Windtalkers, the story of the Navajo Code Talkers, who used their language as a secret code during World War II. In the CBS mini-series Comanche Moon, Beach played Blue Duck opposite a star-studded cast, including Val Kilmer and Steve Zahn. On the big screen, he received critical acclaim for his powerful starring turn as Ira Hayes, in Flags of our Fathers, directed by Clint Eastwood and produced by Stephen Spielberg. WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Beth Solzsmon-Carpenter, Contributing Writer, is a realtor with ERA Strother Real