Al Angelo III sneaked me into the event. (BTW, there will be an Al Angelo IV very, very soon.)
Angelo is a name that has been present here since the 1940s. The family’s commercial real estate business is well known.
The price of admission was to bring some clothing for Share, an organization that provides services to the homeless.
Al is actually one of the nicest, most respectful guys I’ve met in Vancouver. And despite the windy, rainy weather on this day, there was a great turnout.
On Wednesday evening, I ended up at Main Event East, where a “Be a Santa to a Senior” gathering was taking place. It was organized by Dianna Kretzschmar. This lady has way too many fingers in way too many pots. But they’re all good causes, so why not, right?
Dianna is the admissions and marketing director at Prestige Care and Rehabilitation in Camas.
Another strong turnout for this event. Good people doing good things.
Everyone was asked to bring something for a senior. Blankets and books were loaded into a sled.
The conversation was joyous and political. (Sometimes these two words mix.)
Speaking of pots, on Friday, I was part of a group of folks who were cooking a little Italian fare for a good cause. And I needed a large pot.
Let me explain.
Several months ago, I was asked if I’d be the labor behind an auctioned-off dinner to benefit The Children’s Center. The center is dedicated to serving the community by providing quality mental health services to children and families.
Now, there are lots of ways to go when one cooks a dinner, but I, of course, went Italian. More specifically, I went with Festa dei sette pesci, or Feast of the Seven Fishes. It is part of a traditional Italian-American Christmas Eve celebration.
Eating seafood on Christmas Eve dates from the Roman Catholic tradition of abstinence. Older Roman Catholics will remember when eating meat on Fridays was forbidden. So most of us ate fish.
It is thought the meatless Christmas Eve celebration is connected to that.
But why the number seven?
Well there are many theories on that.
• Seven is the most-repeated number in the Bible. More than 700 times.
• On the seventh day, it is said, God rested after completing the work he was doing.
• The number represents the seven sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church.
• Seven also could represent the seven hills that surround Rome.
In the end, there is no debate that it represents a pretty good meal.
It’s not unusual for chefs to cook seven fishes (any seafood is acceptable) in a variety of different ways.
But for me, I like to make a seafood cioppino with a little homemade garlic bread on the side.
It was great fun for me this week to play a small part in such a wonderful community that seeks to help all those in need.
