Thanks to the Bergs

By the time this column appears in the paper, North Forkers will have received the spring newsletter from the North Fork Landowners Association. At first glance it includes a summer social calendar pretty similar to past years. There is a full schedule of dances, church game nights, floats, hikes, bike rides, historical tours, informational/educational events as well as the big dinner nights. Almost unnoticed is one major change.

For many years – I’m think probably over 20 – Steve Berg and his wife have been the primary hosts of the Thanksgiving Dinner at Sondreson Hall. When the Bergs first hosted the then Improvement Association provided a $100 budget to buy the turkeys and ham for the meal. This quickly became inadequate as the Bergs bought tablecloths, a ton of decorations and lights and decorated the hall, inside and out.

Belatedly, the association increased the budget and for a couple of years even placed a donation jar at the hall on Thanksgiving. After a test run, the donation jar was removed and, in addition, the Bergs refused any addition to the $100 budget and bore additional costs themselves.

This is a really big event, with many logistical concerns. Often, the parking lot must be plowed, fires built early, three big turkeys cooked as well as two large hams. Afterwards, there is the cleanup after the usual 80-plus folks have eaten and enjoyed the social time.

Of course, there is a lot of help from the community volunteers. Even so, volunteers have to be sought out and organized. It is simple to obtain volunteer cooks for the turkeys and hams, but someone still has to identify them, buy the meats and deliver them to the cooks. That is only one of the many tasks the hosts coordinate.

The Thanksgiving Dinner is one of the biggest events of the year and one of the longest continuing traditions. I hope I remember accurately, but I think Ruth Sondreson started the tradition and was followed by Jon and Pat Elliot and Ross and Katie Wilson. Each of the hosted for several years and I apologize if there were other hosts that I have forgotten.

In any case, the Bergs have done this longer than anyone and certainly deserve a break. Our thanks to them and to the new hosts, Dick and Janet Leigh, who will start a new run for Thanksgiving 2019. Please folks, let them know how you can help even as we continue to count on Joe Novak for gallons of gravy, Trish Walsh for dozens of deviled eggs and Becky Haag for stuffed peppers and everyone for the tremendous side dishes and desserts.

Speaking of Joe Novak, his Subaru suffered damage from contact with a deer on the North Fork Road. Thankfully, Joe was unhurt, but sadly I don’t know about the deer.

Drive carefully, the road is good for this time of year. That means frost heaves and new potholes – and the risk of hitting wildlife.

Larry Wilson’s North Fork Views appears weekly in the Hungry Horse News.