Things were smoking at the opera house fund-raising picnic at Henes Park July 3. The chickens were grilling, the music was hot and the people were patient while waiting in line for their half-chicken meal. The group made about $1,500 from ticket sales, a bake sale, silent auction and donations. (Two donations of $100 each were received.) Chief chicken cooker Harry Ellery was in his element, flipping hundreds of chicken halves during the day and bellowing through the smoke and grease for his assistant grillmeister Ross Wolfe. (Paul Gregoire also helped man the grills but some committee members speculated that was just so he could sample the garlic bread.)

Ellery's planning was perfection personified as there were no chickens left and some of the workers had to go without or share their meals with fellow committee members.

There was a delay in serving as one of the grills Ellery counted on was not operable, but picnic-goers were < for the most part < understanding about the long lines. Ellery says that with proper equipment there will be no lines next year and the committee plans to hold him to that promise. Entertainment was provided by Chris Lange, the Sunroom String Band and the Sweet Adelines. The different musical styles complemented each other and provided toe-tapping pleasure for those in attendance. Bake sale queens Vivian Haight and Jessica Remington manned the tent full of goodies and also strategized how to make future bake sales even more successful.

A number of other committee members worked hard during the event and their contributions as well as the donations of area businesses and those who made treats for the bake sale and all of those who attended or helped in any way are greatly appreciated.