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Wednesday, March 06, 2002

By Jonathan Barnes

The Clairton Croatian Fraternal Union appears from the outside to be just a nondescript bar. But on certain days of the year, the place is a center of social activity for Slavs and non-Slavs alike.

Of course, food is always involved on those days.

	Ruth Zofchak, wearing white sweater, is greeted by Eva Rabagia and her husband, Nick, of Westover, W.Va., as Zofchak collects admission at the door for a spaghetti dinner at the St. George Lodge 248 of the Croatian Fraternal Union of America. Marlene Fordian, left, of Clairton waits to buy a ticket from Zofchak, who is secretary-treasurer of the club. (Robin Rombach, Post-Gazette)

Club secretary-treasurer Ruth Zofchak was at her post at a small table to the left of the front door about a week back for the club's annual spaghetti dinner. She greeted the visitors with a warm smile.

"Hi! How're you doing?" she said, taking their admission fees. "Thank you, enjoy. Eat as much as you want."

"Lamb orders taken here for Palm Sunday," read a sign on the wall behind her.

A tradition at the club, pre-ordered dinners of barbecued lamb are served at the club on Palm Sunday -- harking back to the Croatian tradition of lamb roasts, and of course, to the Christian tradition.

While many visitors who stopped for a plate of spaghetti and meatballs were senior citizens, many were families with children and grandchildren.

Contrary to the trend of a declining popularity of ethnic clubs, St. George Lodge 248 of the Croatian Fraternal Union of America has long been known for its hospitality and has doubled its membership during the past 20 years, increasing to 1,172 members.

"Our generation is rediscovering their roots," said President Ed Pazo, 38. "People want to know where they're from."

Part of the club's attraction for many members is the youth program. The club sponsors a ski trip weekend to Hidden Valley Ski Resort in February, during which there are races and Croatian music. Between 400 and 500 usually attend.

Clairton CFU's basketball teams have had a history of whomping the competition, as one corner of the club shows, with trophies weighing heavy on a set of shelves.

Among other popular events the club sponsors are a golf outing in June, a softball tournament and a picnic in August and a Christmas Party.

During the spaghetti dinner, babes and bubbas stopped in to eat and catch up with old friends. About 150 people attended. The place was abuzz as people filed in after church, greeting their friends and seating themselves at tables with checkered tablecloths. Volunteers brought out steaming plates of spaghetti and homemade meatballs. Filling out the meal was salad, bread, drink and cake -- and all of it for $5.

Eva Rabagia, of Westover, W.Va., came with her husband, Nick, for the dinner, as they always do. "We're members down in West Virginia. We try to sponsor everybody," she said.

But spaghetti, not pierogi or haluska?

"We came up with the spaghetti idea because we wanted to raise money for the children's sports program," Zofchak said. "When the kids go to tournaments, we pay for everything."

Jonathan Barnes is a free-lance writer.