Guest Column: Get Ready for Spaghetti at Sacred Heart

By Chris Evans

It's time to get ready for spaghetti at . On Sunday, March 25, the parish marks the 40th anniversary celebration of its spaghetti dinner fundraiser. Two generations of hands and hearts have labored to prepare and serve this traditional ethnic feast, expecting in return only one kind of paycheck: to see the many mouthfuls of smiles on the faces of those they serve.

The first dinner was started by people like Rose Zammerelli, the Rev. John Hooper, and Guy and Angie Vitallero, to name a few, who have passed on over the years. People like Pat Principe, and Mel Serio, Charlie and Joanne Thomas and Carl Zammerelli were there at the beginning, and are still with us.

One local business, , has been with us since 1998, and donated or sold at their own cost all of the menu's requirements. From cases of spaghetti, tomato pastes and purees, ground beef, Italian sausage, fresh produce, eggs, cheeses, bread crumbs and spices, if it is being served at the spaghetti dinner, then Santoni's supplied it at little or no cost in support of the event.

In the early morning of each Sunday when the spaghetti dinner is held, employees from Santoni's bakery go to work on 130 loaves of Italian bread.

The full-course Italian dinner includes salad, bread, soft drinks or wine and unlimited refills on pasta. The  prices have hardly increased more than $2 from the original price of 40 years ago: less than $10 for adults, a discount for seniors, and kids 5 and under eat free.

There will be a dance floor for those so inspired by the string quartet - the house band informally known as "The Spaghetti Dinner Band," which is led by one of the first generation originators, Henry Lanciotti.

A gift basket filled with gourmet Italian goodies and hand made crafts will be raffled.

The spaghetti dinner, as a tradition, stands as a one-of-a-kind community gathering around Sacred Heart of Glyndon, It thrives on many individuals and family businesses with deep roots in the Reisterstown, Glyndon and Owings Mills corridor, many of whom give their own kind of support to the event. To name a few: Dr. Jay Toth Family Dentistry, the Mays family of Carroll Tree Service, the Carothers brothers of , Brad Reter of , Buzzy's Signs, Mike Zavoyna of MZI Services and the Montanyes of Gettier-Montanye Inc.

For all who attend, expect large amounts of family, food and fun. Expect the graciousness of open hearts and hands, from volunteers who have kept this tradition alive and thriving in the way it was intended for all, by that little circle of friends and neighbors who had the conviction to become a closer community 40 years ago. The big idea is to act upon the good you can imagine, and get ready for spaghetti at Sacred Heart Parish on Sunday, March 25, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call 410-833-1696.