Manchester Salmon Bake this Sunday

Several hundred people enjoyed freshly grilled fish last year at the Manchester Library’s annual Father’s Day Salmon Bake — 800 to be exact.

And this year, organizers hope to at least match that number.

That’s because the Friends of the Manchester Library (FOML), which owns the library on Main Street, uses the salmon bake to cover about one-third of its annual budget for the building.

FOML member and Salmon Bake chair Ray Pardo said that the organization is supported solely by such fundraisers and donations, and that the budget for 2009 “to operate and maintain the building, along with supporting some special programs is approximately $24,000.”

The bake is held in the parking lot of the library, and includes a meal of salmon, beans, cole slaw, bread and a drink. Cookies and books are offered for sale at the same time.

Pardo said more than 50 volunteers help with the event, and include library staff, neighbors and local elected officials. Twenty area businesses also contributed either money, services or items to the bake.

“The local merchants are really generous,” said Norma Brady, a longtime member of FOML, as the group prepared for last year’s bake, which very well could have been the 40th bake. No one knows for sure.

Brady said she no longer struggles to have enough green salad for everyone since the Airport Diner began donating its “wonderful” coleslaw to the meal years ago, and FOML president Eric Cisney added that along with food donations, the helping hands that just “show up every year” are wonderful, as well.

“None of this would happen if the group didn’t come on Thursday to set up the grill, or the wood people didn’t show up to split the wood for us, or if the Bow family didn’t come up every year from California to cook for us. That is the only reason it works,” Cisney said.

If You Go:

What: Manchester Salmon Bake

When: Sunday, 12 to 4 p.m.

Where: Manchester Library, 8067 E. Main Street

How much: Adults, $12; Children under 11, $10; includes salmon, beans, cole slaw, garlic bread and a drink.

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