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Friday, May 11, 2001 Slice of wildlife: Breakfast Rotary taps top citizenBy AUTUMN C. GIUSTI | News-Journal Staff Writer DELAND — From blackened gator tail to fried rattlesnake, a lot of the foods at this year's Wild Game Feast had one thing in common. "Most of it tastes like chicken," said Sheilah Sepe of DeLeon Springs, who came to sample wild game while home from college. About 900 adventurous eaters sampled these and other exotic foods Thursday at the Albert D. Downs Wild Game Feast at the Tommy Lawrence Arena. While diners helped themselves to old feast favorites like swamp cabbage, four varieties of venison dishes and smoked "pulling pig," they had the chance to taste buffalo — a new addition to this year's menu of meats. For dessert — heaping spoonfuls of "St. Johns River bottom" (chocolate cookies and pudding) and slices of sour orange pie. "That's the thing about your rednecks hanging around eating weird food," said Michael Smith of Daytona Beach, who has feasted at the event for years. "It's very family oriented and it's just a good atmosphere." A 10-year tradition of the DeLand Breakfast Rotary Club, the feast raises money for the House Next Door, which counsels troubled families who can't afford therapy. The Rotary donates its remaining proceeds to other such groups in the community. In return, House Next Door members volunteer at the feast, refilling the food trays and making sure no one leaves hungry. Bob Sullivan of DeLeon Springs got his fill of game ear ly on. The DeLand Noon Rotarian spent the evening catching up with old friends and enjoying the company of his wife and Sepe, his stepdaughter. "This is America," he said. "This is what it's all about. It's a fun way to raise money for the less fortunate people in our community." This year's feast had a special meaning for Ann Rogers Fox-Grell. After 24 years, she stepped down from her post as executive director of the House Next Door this year and will officially retire from the organization in June. But the evening took on even more meaning when the Rotary presented her with the West Volusia Citizen of the Year award. "This event to me is just the best example of what we're all about in this community — our fellowship and our friendship," said Fox-Grell, still glowing moments after receiving the award. And it's an award former Rotary president Steve Blais thought was well-deserved. "Ann and the House Next Door program have done more for the under-served people in this community over a longer period of time than any other agency," he said. "At a time many years ago when it could have fallen on its face, she made it continue through her hard work, diligence and commitment. This is just our club's way of saying thank you for all she's done." The one thing that was missing from this year's feast was its founder, Albert D. Downs, who died just two weeks after last year's event following a battle with stomach cancer. In 2000, the Rotarians named the event after the ailing Downs and paid tribute to him when he attended his final feast. This year, fellow Rotarians and friends toasted him in his absence. Smith, a friend of Downs, remembered the late Rotarian before the toast. "Al was a good guy, and he really believed in what he was doing." HICI Special Report — Food(s) for Thought: Animal? Vegetable? Mineral? |
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