CAROL SHETLER/The Luminary Fish, side dishes and desserts awaited this group of diners from near and far at the Lairdsville Fire Hall on June 22. Enjoying the fare were (front left-right) Alice Mykocitch, Lois Kipp, Jennie Evans, and (Row 2) Lena Carichner, Larry Kipp and Robert Evans.

LAIRDSVILLE This is not your usual fish story and as there were several witnesses, every word is true. We often hear of die-hard fishermen who own a boat, the latest tackle and even ‘fish finders.’ They travel to Canada, Florida, or nearby lakes to catch the big one. This account however, is not about the seizing, but the eating.

When Hughesville’s Lena Carichner mentioned her brother, a relative and friends were coming to the area for the fish supper at Lairdsville on June 22, a closer look was needed in chronicling all the traveling involved to gather his friends.

As a refresher and back story, since 1964, Lena moved to Hughesville spending 35 years as the high school librarian. She, her brother Larry Kipp and siblings are natives of New Albany and graduates of Wyalusing High School.

Similar to Lena’s leaving the Bradford County area, so had her brother. Larry went on to graduate from Bloomsburg University with one of his classmates being Hughesville’s Lee Hall. “I’ve lived lots of places, teaching and coaching wrestling,” Larry said. Recently, Lena traveled to see her brother’s induction into the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Over the years, Larry visited his sister and more recently visits involved fix up jobs around the house. Afterwards, Lena takes the couple out to eat. “My brother likes to keep busy,” Lena said.

One of those times happened to coincide with the fish supper at the Lairdsville fire hall. Since then, visits are scheduled to co-ordinate with the buffet style haddock meal, this was the third time.

And so, wherever he and wife Lois went, Larry bragged about the meals. So much so that on this trip, the couple who currently reside in Montrose, drove to Binghamton to pick up his sister-in-law Alice Mykocitch. The threesome then drove to Philadelphia to gather and include friends, Jennie and Robert “Bob” Evans, before traveling to Hughesville.

“The fish supper is really good,” Larry said, and when the Philly friends were asked for comment, both said, “Delicious.”

With an obvious sense of humor, Larry quipped, “The coffee at my friend Bob Evans’ house is better than at the well-known restaurant.” All laughed at the identical names.

Evans spent his career in data processing and as a substitute teacher at Penn Salem High School. Jennie Evans was in the employ of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital as a contract manager. Lois Kipp retired as a nurse in Philadelphia.

The fire hall offers fish prepared two ways with the beer batter style earning the most votes from the travelers. As the group conversed, others were heard to say it was their first time to the meal. And yes, this group will reurn.