Tunxis Hose Pasta Supper a Celebration of Community

"We're here to support the fire department. Oh yeah, and for the food," said Christina Pellegrini, echoing the sentiments of a roomful of happily fed people Saturday night at the Tunxis Hose Fire Department's annual pasta supper.

The supper drew family, friends and loyal Unionville residents to enjoy pasta, meatballs, sauce, salad and bread — all but the bread made by the company's nearly 50 firefighters and their families over the past week.

The meatballs were made and frozen last week, Chief Brian Hunter Jr. said, and the sauce, created from an old recipe by "oldtimer" Jim Bonini, was started on Thursday. Bonini, who has served as a firefighter for 52 years, is recruited to make the sauce every year.

"He's the only one who knows how to make it," Hunter said.

The pasta — about 65 pounds of it — was started at 4 p.m. Saturday and cooked in batches in turkey smokers outside the fire station.

Christopher Krause, adviser for the Tunxis Hose Cadets, directed the young crew, many just 14 years old, in cleaning up. The department has about 10 cadets now, from 14 to 18.

Mikey Sheely, 14, has been a cadet for just a month, but firefighters joked he'd get a tip at the end of the night for his hard work at the supper.

Sheely, who wants to be a firefighter when he's older, said he was happy to be part of the supper. "It goes along with the job."

Drew Ingvertsen, also 14, has had five months as a cadet, plus lots of family tradition.

"I think the supper's a great way to bring the community together and raise money for the firehouse," he said.

Some of the money goes toward sponsoring a Relay For Life team and the Relay For Life event, as well as the Halloween Party for kids held every year at the fire station.

"All the money we make goes right back to the community," Hunter said.

Meanwhile, the tables were crowded with families enjoying the food and the chance to get out together.

"I took my wife out to dinner," Joseph Bendas said, joking.

Next to him, Al Pellegrini agreed. "It's been a nice night out with our friends and family."