Talk of the Town: Less money means more bird this year

Let’s talk turkey, folks. Thanksgiving is almost here,

It seems that there’s good news in the air, even if not for the turkey.

Menu items for a classic Thanksgiving dinner including turkey, stuffing, cranberries, pumpkin pie and all the basic trimmings dropped 4 percent in price this year, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 24th annual informal price survey.

The price survey of classic items found on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table indicates the average cost of this year’s feast for 10 is $42.91, a $1.70 price decrease from last year’s average.

The AFBF survey shopping list includes turkey, bread stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a relish tray of carrots and celery, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, and beverages of coffee and milk, all in quantities sufficient to serve a family of 10. Whew, I’m stuffed just listing them all.

The cost of a 16-pound turkey, at $18.65 or roughly $1.16 per pound, reflects a decrease of three cents per pound, or a total of 44 cents per turkey compared to 2008.

Milk, at $2.86 per gallon, dropped 92 cents and was the largest contributor to the overall decrease in the cost of the 2009 Thanksgiving dinner. So drink up gang. Cows don’t mind. They will live to see another pasture.

It was quite an event on Nov. 13 when some of the area’s most recognized faces put on serving aprons and waited on tables at Quail Creek Resort’s Crystal Ballroom. They were the highlight of the Greater Green Valley Community Foundation’s Celebrity Waiter Dinner.

Proceeds from the fundraiser go to benefit the foundation’s programs. The GGVCF is dedicated to improving the quality of life in communities in the Green Valley area. The group focuses on older adults, health care, children, housing education, the environment and rural living. The foundation serves Green Valley, Sahuarita, Amado, Arivaca, Tubac, Tumac‡cori and the surrounding areas. The board works to reflect the goal of its mission statement “to create a unified community.”

The Celebrity Dinner was sponsored by Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold, Jim Click Automotive Team, M & I Bank, William F. Stevens Financial Advisors and David Clark, Wells Fargo Advisors.

Emcees for the event were GGVCF board members Bob Kellogg and Joey Lessa. Board President Chet Davis introduced the parade of waiters, which included: Richard Barajas, actor: Arleen Boyuls, United Community Health Center; Chet Davis, Greater Green Valley Community Foundation: Jean Davis; Animal League of Green Valley; Rosanna Gabald—n, Town of Sahuarita; Mary Jane Goodrick, Green Valley Community Food Bank; Claudette Haney, American Association of University Women; Kevin Jordan, Green Valley Sahuarita Chamber of Commerce; Chris Kang, Green Valley Assistance Services; Jim Mack, Community Preforming Arts Center; Bill McCreery, Casa de Esperanza; Tom Murphy, Rancho Sahuarita; Jim Nelson, Continental School District; Patti O’Berry, Hands of a Friend; Karen Pomroy, Equine Voices Rescue & Sanctuary; Stan Riddle, Green Valley Community Coordinating Council; Jack Robison, donor; Mitch Salyers, Rotary Club of Green Valley; Dan Shearer, Green Valley News & Sahuarita Sun; Jane Sloan, M&I Bank; Debbie Sutton, American Business Women’s Association; Beverly Trunick and Glen Mollet, Coldwell Banker Brokerage; Rachael Vilson-Stoner, Desert Diamond Casino and Jim Walker, KGVY Radio.

Jim Nelson, Continental School superintendent, was named Celebrity Waiter of the 2009.

The Celebrity Dinner, chaired by GGVCF director Marcia Salley, included a silent auction and entertainment by Tucson’s Tap Sensations and pianist Dennis Cory. Donations to the GGVCF benefit Amado Community Food Bank, Animal League of Green Valley, Arivaca Area Health Services, Arivaca Community Gardens, Arivaca Human Resources, Carivaca Estates, Casa de Esperanza, Early Childhood Center, Green Valley Assistance Services, Green Valley Community Food Bank, Hands of a Friend, Paws Patrol, United Community Health Centers, LINK, Lutheran Social Services for the Southwest and Si Senior Sports & Scholars.

Michelle Phillips, GGVCF executive director, thanked those in attendance for a wonderful evening on behalf of the board: Chet Davis, president; Bob Kellogg, vice president; Shirley Wilt, treasurer; Joyce Finkelstein, secretary; and directors: Marie Cory, Rosanna Gabald—n, Joey Lessa, Alan Murray, David Polsky, Stan Riddle, Marcia Salley, David P. Schmidt, Mikel Shilling, Marty Taylor and Edith White.

rford@gvnews.com