Lions Club hosts Fall Harvest Barbecue

MILLERTON — The Millerton Lions Club was just about sold out of chicken a few minutes into its new Fall Harvest Barbecue, held at American Legion Post 178. It was a sign that the many events and activities scheduled last Saturday throughout Harlem Valley didn’t deter anyone from helping out the Lions Club’s cause.

“I guess it’s because we’re that good,� joked Jim MacArthur, who is with the Ancram Fire Department. Ancram has a reputation for barbecuing delicious chicken, and after assisting the Millerton Lions last year for its 60th anniversary celebration, they were asked back to cook up some of that poultry perfection. As testament to their skill behind the grill, MacArthur said that the fire department cooks over a ton of chicken a year for many different organizations.

With the menu taken care of, the Lions Club wasted no time in putting together a silent auction. Sixty-four physical donations later, the sponsorship from local businesses exceeded $2,200, Lions President Todd Clinton said proudly.

One of the donations was a pleasant surprise. Claire Herz donated a handmade quilt that received rave reviews on its craftsmanship and detail. Herz had no previous involvement with the Lions Club.

“I donated it because they do such good work in the community,� she said.

The chicken barbecue was held because the club was unable to put on the annual circus event this year. Stacey Moore, the club’s vice president, said that the barbecue was a huge success and it was “definitely something the Lions Club will do again,� even if the circus were to come back.

“We felt it was a huge success,� Moore added. “We sold about 130 chicken dinners and the auction surpassed what we had hoped for. It looked like everybody had such a great time.�

The Lions Club thanked everyone for coming out and showing their support, the merchants for donating the auction items, the Ancram Fire Department for “making the event so flawless� and the American Legion Hall for donating the space.

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