Nokesville Spaghetti Dinner Helps to Fund Community Parade

Friends Uniting Nokesville’s 4^th Annual Spaghetti Dinner was a success in which they raised $1,195.36 for the Nokesville Christmas Parade.

The Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser, held at the Nokesville Fire Department on Marsteller Road Saturday evening, attracted upwards of 70 attendees. There, people enjoyed pasta at $10 a plate and had the option of bidding on silent auction items.

“We always come,” said Nokesville resident Bobbi McIntyre. “We like to support Friends Uniting Nokesville, lighting the Christmas tree (and other events)."

Across the table from her, Debby Stansel agreed. She explained that she supports these events out of a sense of pride for the Nokesville community, which is unique among suburbs in Prince William County.

“We love Nokesville. We want to keep it as it is,” Stansel said, explaining that she does not want developers to change its small town, rural nature. “We’ll just keep eating our spaghetti, and having our parades.”

Christie Richards of Bristow brought her three children to the spaghetti dinner. She said she wanted to better get to know the community she was looking to possibly move into.

Additionally, her son Max saw fire trucks, and told her how much he wanted to attend.

“We saw the signs, and he loves the fireman and the parade,” Richards said.

Scott Jacobs, one of the candidates for Brentsville Supervisor, worked in the kitchen preparing plates of spaghetti. A member of the Nokesville Business Association (NBA), Jacobs explained that for the past few years, NBA has teamed up with Friends Uniting Nokesville to hold this parade.

“There are no venders. It’s all a great thing for the community and the families,” he said.

Rival Republican candidate Jeanine Lawson also attended the event, accompanied by one of her closest friends from Nokesville.

“I love Nokesville and I want to support Nokesville,” she said, adding “I like spaghetti too.”

Writer/editor Gail Williams of the NBA, who volunteered in the kitchen during the event, said that the turnout was a little smaller than last year, but good considering they did not advertise it until a few days before the event.

Additionally, they may hold a second event in autumn to raise more money for the event.

Barbara Bowling, owner of Nokesville Print and Copy and member of the NBA, declared the event a success

in a recent email and thanked all the volunteers and sponsors who made it possible.