Easter Fellowship

Hundreds relish tastes of the season at Gardens

Georgetown Catering of Boardman put on a lavish buffet for the celebrants.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — It was chilly at Fellows Riverside Gardens on Sunday with few flowers in bloom, but that didn’t deter people from enjoying their Easter there.

A little girl in a pink coat ran across one of the lawns that stretch out next to the flower beds and stone paths, while under the gazebo, a couple hugged.

People had come with their families, many with young children in tow, to celebrate Easter and enjoy a sunny spring afternoon.

Spring has been subdued this year by the cool conditions and the lack of blossoms. But people sat on benches anyway under the cloudless, deep-blue sky, just anticipating the promise that soon it will break through.

There were at least plenty of purple hyacinths and some yellow daffodils — as always, the faithful heralds that the earth is coming back to life.

Inside the building next to the lawns, people gathered for a lavish buffet of ham, chicken, roast beef, lamb, pasta, potatoes and even a chocolate fountain. It was put on by Georgetown Catering of Boardman.

Georgetown, which caters for the cafe at the Gardens, has been putting on the buffet for the last five years, explained George Wainio, one of the company’s four chefs.

This year, the buffet attracted more than 600 people for three seating times, he said.

Inside and out of the chill, people could still take advantage of beautiful views through the large windows that showcase Mill Creek Park.

“It’s a nice setting, and you get away from doing the dishes,” said Jim Sagewich of Girard.

“That’s right, and he’s the one who does them,” agreed Debra Stevens, also of Girard.

Across the room in the Daniel L. Rossi Auditorium, which was filled with white cloth-covered tables, four women sitting together also enjoyed the food and one another’s company.

These particular women have something special in common. Each represents a generation of one Youngstown family, said Joy Beacham, there with daughter Jasmine Beacham, mother Judy Gidney and grandmother Virginia Byrd.

It was their first year together at Riverside, said Beacham, and though she thought it was too chilly to walk through the gardens, she said, maybe they’d do that on Mother’s Day. Georgetown caters a buffet then, too.

Not far from the four women sat Pat and Dave Morrison of Canfield. The couple said they come to the buffet every year.

“It’s my one big feed of the year,” said Dave, who likes the lamb.

He acknowledged that it seemed strange this year because not much was blooming in the gardens.

“But it’s still beautiful,” said Pat.