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By Laura Drinan
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Nine years ago, Tony Centore and his fellow Council on Aging (COA) member, Tom Sweeney, sat in the newly constructed Medfield COA on Ice Hill Road. They chatted about the space, noting the beauty of the high ceilings, welcoming paint color, and abundance of natural light.
It wasn’t long before they formulated the idea to host a Chowder Fest for the community.
“We decided to try it and we had no idea how many people were going to come,” said Tony, who has been organizing the event with the Council on Aging director, Roberta Lynch, and Lions Club each year since. “We only had two gallons of chowder and we didn’t make it past noontime. People really liked it.”
Since its 2008 origins, Tony has enlisted the help of his friends and peers at the Lions Club and has worked with many local restaurants to bring seafood soup from seven nearby eateries. Since the genesis of Chowder Fest, it has also become a contest, with those in attendance casting votes for their favorite one. The winner receives a certificate that acknowledges their having served the best chowder.
The chowder-fueled afternoon also serves to benefit the Council on Aging, as all of the proceeds are donated to the Friends of Seniors, Inc., with much of it helping to enrich The Center’s exercise programs.
Although Tony has seen massive success in bringing the community together for chowder since he conceptualized the event, he’ll be handing the ladle over to two of his fellow Lions for next year’s Chowder Fest: Marjorie Cappucci and Liz Sandeman.
“Next year is the tenth annual, so we’re really looking forward to it. It’ll be fun. I don’t know what I’m in for, though,” said Marjorie, laughing as she spooned chowder into a cup for one of the attendees. It was her first year volunteering at Chowder Fest, but as she watched the community gather and taste the variety of chowders, ideas for next year’s event were already churning.
Although Liz didn’t have many ideas yet for next year’s Chowder Fest, she’s confident it will go well.
“It’ll be successful – as it always is,” she said, “thanks to the support of the community.”
