EVENTS: Food, Fun, and Friends meet at the community cookout in Palermo

Palermo Community Garden. (contributed photo)

The fun begins at 4 p.m., on Saturday, August 3, at 26 Veterans Way, in Palermo, as people gather for a celebration of summer in the Palermo Community Garden behind the gray mobile home. There is plenty of parking. The scent of fruitwood barbeque emanates from the Grape Arbor, where the tents and tables welcome guests with cooling beverages and home-cooked pulled pork, turkey, cornbread, cowboy beans, tempting desserts, and more. Tickets are only $10 for adults and $5 for youth 6-12. Little kids are free. Grace O’Brien will have tickets available at the gate. This will happen rain or shine, and takeouts are available. At 6 p.m., the firepit will be lit and folks can gather around it to hear Anthony Semenovich play his guitar and sing.

Meanwhile, Ann Bako and Nancy Thomas will be selling raffle tickets to those who have not already purchased them. Thanks to numerous sponsors and donors, there are dozens of prizes, including an Echo string trimmer donated by The Home Depot. Gardening tools, gift certificates, fishing rods, and more will be given away, and winners do not need to be present. Just put your name and phone number on the blue tickets and you’re in it to win it. Tickets are 6 for $5.

This cookout is a fundraiser for the Palermo Community Center, which hosts the Palermo Food Pantry, sponsors the Community Garden, and the Great ThunderChicken Teaching Drum. Drum practices are held at 7 p.m., on Tuesday evenings at the Community Center and all are welcome to join in the experience. The Community Garden helps to provide free, organic fruits, vegetables, and herbs to the Food Pantry and others in need. If you run out of dill for your pickling projects, be sure to grab some from the garden. Fresh garlic and berries are also in season. Call Connie Bellet at 993-2294 for information, volunteer opportunities, and cookout or raffle tickets. We are looking forward to seeing you!