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Photo by John Eaton
Charlie Messina (left) and Jim Tutak (right) present three checks that total $891.24 to Wellsboro Area Food Pantry President Bill Yacovissi (center) who devotes his time and expertise to the Pantry’s operation. One check was for $341.24, the net proceeds of this year’s Burns Supper, another was for $50 on behalf of Gerard P. Doran, the piper (not shown) and the third was a personal donation of $500 made by Messina.

In 2011 Charlie Messina, Pat Davis, Larry Biddison, Jerry Tutak and Jim Tutak began what has become an annual tradition in Wellsboro: The Robbie Burns Supper and Poetry Slam.

The Tutak brothers had participated in several Burns Suppers in New Jersey. When Jim migrated to Wellsboro he saw the need for a major Hibernian cultural and social event, especially in the dreary month of January. The five organizers held their first Burns Supper that year with copious amounts of haggis and single-malt whiskey, not as an antidote to the haggis as some would say, but to facilitate fellowship. It was agreed that the proceeds over and above costs would be contributed to the Wellsboro Area Food Pantry.

Since then the event has been held annually on the Sunday in January nearest to the January 25 birthday of Robbie Burns, Scotland’s celebrated poet. Along with the haggis and whiskey there was a piper, Scottish music, the “Address to the Haggis” and recitations of poetry, old and new. With the exception of a suspension in 2021 and 2022 due to Covid, the event had continued to grow and is now indisputably the foremost celebration of Scottish culture in Tioga County.

For the first time since the pandemic had begun, the supper was held on January 23 of this year at Timeless Destination, a Wellsboro restaurant. The piper who generously provided his talents in exchange for a $50 donation to the Wellsboro Area Food Pantry was Gerard P. Doran of Wellsboro, who is available for weddings, funerals and bar mitzvahs. The expertly prepared haggis is from Stewart’s Scottish Butchers in Kearny, New Jersey and side dishes by Timeless Destination staff. Kathy Tutak, Jim’s wife, prepared an authentic Tipsy Laird dessert, an epic feat in itself.

A splendid time was had by all and the Wellsboro Area Food Pantry received $341.24, the net proceeds of this year’s Burns Supper plus the $50 bagpiper Gerard P. Doran was to be paid for piping in the haggis but instead requested that it be donated bringing the total to $391.24.

Plans are already underway for the next Robbie Burns Supper and Poetry Slam, which will be held on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. Save the date. For more information, contact Jim Tutak at legaltak@aol.com.

Diane Eaton
dianetn@ptd.net
(570) 724-3800