Adopt-a-Soldier Founder, Council Set the Stage for Pasta Dinner Fundraiser

Offering a sneak peek of a Dec. 16 pasta dinner that will benefit the , the program's founder detailed his organization's efforts and Borough Council members shared their thoughts on cooking at Tuesday night's council meeting.

Mayor Joe Tedeschi and American Legion Commander Albee Palmieri are teaming up to serve a to raise funds for the Fair Lawn-based Adopt-a-Soldier program, which since 2003 has helped hundreds of "adoptees" and their units. Currently, the program is supporting over 150 units, including the 101st Airborne Division, a dozen EOD units in Afghanistan and the 2nd Marine Regiment.

In his presentation Tuesday, Krutchkoff—who recently returned from a good-will mission to Afghanistan—had the goal of summing up seven and a half years of work in "10 minutes or less," as he put it. In Afghanistan, he said, the pressures of war last "24 hours a day, seven days a week."

Originally, Krutchkoff's organization started with 25-30 supporters, the size of a small platoon, but he said that he wouldn't have named the group a platoon if he knew it was going to grow so large.

"We adopted just about every unit we came in contact with," Krutchkoff said.

Money raised from the dinner, Krutchkoff said, will be used to buy soldiers portable exercise equipment, because they don't have access to gyms.

"They lift ammo cans and sand bags, that's how they stay in shape," Krutchkoff said.

The dinner will take place at the American Legion, 17-08 River Road, from 6-8 p.m. Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $8 for senior citizens and $6 for children under 12 years of age.

Tedeschi said that, "We assure you will eat well." Tedeschi and Palmieri—the chefs for the fundraiser dinner—both think they can cook better than each other, the mayor said.

"We're not going to have a contest, but there is going to be a contest," Tedeschi said.

Councilmember Jeanne Baratta said she didn't want to get in the middle of a cooking competition between Tedeschi and Palmieri, but that she would be willing to provide dessert for the evening. Deputy Mayor Steve Weinstein said, "I won't be cooking, that'll save everybody."

Last year, "all [Tedeschi and Palmieri] did was let me wash the dishes," Councilman Ed Trawinski said.

Deputy Mayor Lisa Swain called Krutchkoff's presentation "so educational."

"To hear [about Afghanistan] straight from somebody who has been there, it's so special," Swain said.

Ticket requests can be mailed to the Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon, c/o Mayor Joseph Tedeschi, Borough of Fair Lawn, 8-01 Fair Lawn Avenue, Fair Lawn, New Jersey 07410. Please be sure to include your name, address, number of tickets and a phone number where you can be reached. Checks should be made payable to Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon, Inc.

Requests received prior to this Friday will be mailed to you. Requests received after Friday will be held for you at the door. Additional information can be obtained by calling the mayor's office at 201-794-5344.