Members of Fawn Lake's Nifty After Fifty club put together a cookbook complete with color photos, history and, of course, recipes for broccoli casserole

Date published: 8/31/2005

By CATHY DYSON

There aren't many cookbooks that appeal to men and women, chefs and nonchefs alike.

But then, not many volumes feature color photos of landscapes and local wildlife--along with historical information that goes back to the Revolutionary War--next to recipes for cheese balls and broccoli casseroles.

"Fawn Lake Cooks!" contains lots of extra elements, along with 450 recipes from residents of the community in western Spotsylvania County.

It's the latest fundraiser from the Nifty After Fifty Club, which has been pooling efforts in the interest of others.

Proceeds from the cookbook are going to the Wilderness station of the Chancellor Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department. The station is on Orange Plank Road, a few doors down from the upscale gated community.

The club has raised more than $8,000 for station equipment, training and supplies since 2003, according to resident Sheryl Bennett. She's also helped raise awareness of staffing issues at county fire and rescue stations.

For several years, Bennett has led the push for round-the-clock coverage. But she and her cohorts aren't just asking for more from an already-stretched system that includes paid staff members and volunteers.

They're also offering their services.

"They've stepped up to the plate and said, basically, 'How can we help you?'" said Kevin Dillard, a life member of the Chancellor department. "We're extremely excited about their help."

Dillard also has worked with rescue volunteers across the state, and he's been pleasantly surprised by the efforts of the Fawn Lake group.

"You tend to see this in a lot of smaller communities, but not in an area that's growing like ours," he said.

The Chancellor department has fire and rescue buildings on Harrison Road, Salem Church Road and State Route 3, and its coverage includes western Spotsylvania into Orange County.

The department is getting closer to the goal of having personnel at the buildings 24 hours a day, Dillard said.

"I think it would have been coming, but in all honesty, it would have been coming a lot slower," he said. "It's always good when you've got somebody who gives you a little nudge."

Members of the Nifty After Fifty group know all about the art of friendly nudging.

Date published: 8/31/2005