April 5, 2014 at 2:18 p.m.
Smelt fry supports Nativity Catholic School
Smelt fry supports Nativity Catholic School
"This is our annual smelt fry and shrimp boil, which has been going on for as long as I can remember. We've always held it one day during Lent because Catholics eat fish on Fridays," explained Knights of Columbus member Tom Trochlil.
"The Knights of Columbus organize it and then all of the money goes to benefit Nativity Catholic School."
All of the proceeds from the event go to help families pay tuition.
"They use it for tuition assistance for the families that need it and things like that," Trochlil said.
Over 100 volunteers are needed to run the event. Trochlil said it was great to see everyone - volunteers and customers alike - show up even as a snowstorm was blowing through Rhinelander.
"It's great to see the volunteers show up. Without them, we couldn't pull this off. This year, with the way the weather is, it's even more impressive how many people stepped forward to help out," Trochlil said. "But without the community showing up to enjoy the smelt and the shrimp, it wouldn't mean anything. Even this year, they're showing up to enjoy it, battling the weather. It's great to see the support. It's a good community activity."
The Knights of Columbus received support from area businesses who donated billboard time to promote the event.
"With the new digital billboards in town, folks who run those billboards have been nice enough to donate some billboard time to promote the event, so we're really thankful for that," Trochlil said.
For outsiders, news of a smelt fry may elicit some confused looks, but Trochlil said the event is a tradition that the Knights are proud to continue.
"It's goes way back to when people used to go up to Superior and that area to net the smelt themselves and they'd bring it back and volunteers would clean it - they'd spend a lot of time cleaning the smelt - and then they'd hold the fundraiser," Trochlil said.
"Now we take shortcuts and just order the smelt and they have machines that pre-clean them for you and everything, so it's a lot easier, but they wanted to keep the smelt tradition alive. A lot of people seem to enjoy it, there's always a big crowd, at least when there isn't a snowstorm going on."
For those who come to the event every year, keeping the smelt tradition alive is important.
"I love smelt. I get weird looks when I say that - well, not here, but other places - and maybe it is an acquired taste, but I think it's great, said John Martens. "I come here every year to enjoy it. They fry up some great smelt. It's for a great cause, too, to help kids who want to go to Nativity but maybe can't afford it. Not only am I eating something I love, but I'm helping kids learn. It's a win-win (situation) if I ever saw one."
Marcus Nesemann may be reached at [email protected].
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