Neasa Waaler and Ian Hockley were among those who decided to join St John’s Episcopal Church members for the 57th Annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper at on March 7.

Guests of all ages dined on pancakes, country-style sausage, and applesauce in the undercroft of the Sandy Hook church. Approximately 60 dinners were served this year before a water problem caused an early close to the yearly event.

Dozens of people had to be turned away after 6 pm, said St John’s member Cheryl Moulthrop, because the volunteers did not have water to work with any longer.

“We were disappointed we had to turn people away, but we didn’t have a choice,” she said Wednesday morning.

St John’s Warden Bruce Moulthrop said he received “some 11th hour help” from Blue Colony Diner this week. The Church Hill Road eatery donated creamers to the church when it was learned that organizers were having trouble finding them for the pancake supper. 

Due to a shortage of volunteers this year, there wasn’t time to do the homemade corned beef hash that has long been part of the meal. “There was some disappointment over that, too,” said Mrs Moulthrop, “but it was still a great meal.”

Jake, Aidan and Teagan, the children dining with Ms Waaler and Mr Hockley, certainly looked like they were enjoying their dinner. Everyone else in the worship hall of the church also looked very pleased with their meal that evening.