Southern Allegheny Valley Emergency Services may have found a new permanent home for its annual fish fry.
The combined Aspinwall and Sharpsburg volunteer fire departments, led by Chief Mike Daniher, moved this year’s Good Friday fundraising operation to Camp Guyasuta in Sharpsburg and offered a dine-in option for the first time in recent memory.
It was previously at the Sharpsburg fire station and had only takeout meals.
Daniher, a ranger at the camp, said the move made a lot of sense.
“Less setup and less tear down made it a whole lot easier,” the chief said. “Everybody’s happy.”
The camp has a full-size kitchen. Firefighters at previous fish frys would have move trucks from station bays and wheel in fryers and other equipment to cook and serve food.
Daniher also credited his wife, Kim, camp director and fish fry committee chair, for making the April 18 fundraiser a big success.
About 35 volunteers, including firefighters and business members, helped at various stations. SAVES also had a boot drive and 50/50 raffle.
Organizers estimated about 800 fish fillets were served, as well as 400 orders of shrimp.
The kitchen was a major upgrade for volunteer Tony Karpinski, who has been frying for the Sharpsburg department for years.
“I like it here,” Karpinski said. “It’s roomier. I like these gas fryers as opposed to the electric (we had at the station).”
Several attendees, like Holly Schmitt from Baldwi,n found the camp hall easily accessible for her and her family. Schmitt brought her husband, Ralph, and her parents, Rick and Kim Orbin of Whitaker.
“We’ve just been trying to eat at a different fish fry every Friday night just to support local churches and fire halls,” Schmitt said. “This is our first time (in Sharpsburg). It’s very good. Good food, good service (and) really like the Camp Guyasuta here.
“I think it was really convenient to get in here. From the parking lot, it’s fairly level to come in and nice seating. You’re not sitting on top of other people. There’s room.”
Kim Orbin said accessibility is always a concern for her when going out to eat.
“With using a cane, you tend to become focused on how you can get in and how you can get out,” Orbin said. “This is the easiest one we’ve seen as far as accessibility. I was watching people that have real (mobility) problems and they were coming in fine.”
Orbin also said the food was outstanding, particularly the pierogies and fries. The family plans to come back next year.
Daniher said funds raised will be used for equipment purchases and other capital projects. The goal was to clear $5,000.