STUDENTS PREPARE FOR LENT — Culinary arts students at the Jefferson County Joint Vocational School will participate in its annual Lenten fish frys beginning Friday. Dinners, sandwiches and side dishes will be offered. Orders will be taken between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Those helping to prepare the food include, clockwise from left, Trinity Larrick, Olivia Johnson, Kaiden Cook, Colton Cain, Zuriana Forde, Gabe Crawford, Khloe Sears and Ben Sedgmer. -- Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — Lent. It is the season in which Christians throughout the world take part in a variety of rituals and practices which lasts for 40 days. It is a way for them to spiritually prepare to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday.

This year, Lent will begin on Wednesday and conclude the day before Easter, April 19.

For Catholics, fasting is a common practice — especially abstaining from eating any meat on Fridays.

Enter the alternative … fish.

For those honoring the Lenten season, several local organizations, fire departments, American Legions and area churches will be offering a variety of choices other than meat.

READY TO FRY FISH — The Steubenville American Legion Post 33 Auxiliary Unit is preparing to once again hold its Friday Fish Frys throughout the Lenten season. Assisting in the effort are, from left, Dallas Connor, first vice president, helper Lenny Frattini and member Tracey VanKirk. -- Contributed

Friday Fish Frys are back. Volunteers have begun to prepare selling an array of menu items at a fairly inexpensive cost.

According to the website Christian.net, Lent is a tradition of eating fish on Fridays, as it has a historical and symbolic significance.

“Fish serves as a tangible reminder of these symbolic associations, inviting believers to reflect on the spiritual dimensions of their dietary choices and the deeper meanings of sustenance and sacrifice,” the site explains.

A sample from across the area inlcudes the Mingo Knights of Columbus, which held its first fish fry on Friday.

According to Shawn Zarych, Grand Knight of Mingo Knights of Columbus Council 4361, their plan is to hold the event every Friday through April 11.

Zarych noted there will not be any sales held on Wednesday, as the world recognizes the day as being Ash Wednesday. Nor will there be a fish fry on April 18, in recognition of Good Friday.

When asked what is being offered on the menu this year, Zarych explained the options will consist of a variety of dinners, with each costing $15.

Dinners will be served with french fries or hushpuppies, coleslaw and a roll. Dinners being featured include a fried fish dinner, fried shrimp dinner or a combo dinner of fish and shrimp.

To purchase fish Ala carte, a fried fish sandwich will be $8, fried shrimp, $10; 1 pound of fish, $20 or a half-pound fish boat for $10.

Sides include haluski, mac and cheese, pierogies, french fries and hushpuppies, for $5 each. Coleslaw and dessert will cost $2 each.

Zarych said dine-in or carryout will be available between the hours of 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Orders can be called in ahead of time by calling (740) 535-8037. Payments can be made in the form of cash, checks or credit/debit cards. Checks can be made payable to Columbian Club.

The Knight’s hall is located at 117 Legion Drive in Mingo Junction. The money raised through the weekly fish frys will be used to help operate the building, Zarych noted.

He added a separate fundraising event will be held during the fish frys, as Council 4361 members will be selling tickets for the state charity campaign Super Cash Bonanza, with the winner to be drawn on May 17.

Tickets sold during the campaign will go toward the local charities the council supports, including the Josh Merriman Foundation, Cynthia Rose Foundation, Catholic Central Senior Awards, Jefferson County JVS and for special needs in Toronto City Schools. Tickets are $5.

For information on Friday fish frys, visit Mingo Knights of Columbus Hall on Facebook.

The Steubenville American Legion Post 33 Auxiliary Unit is holding its Friday Fish Frys from noon to 6 p.m. through Lent.

Auxiliary President Cindy Longwell explained all of the proceeds raised will be used to benefit veterans residing in local nursing homes during the group’s annual Christmas party.

Dinners will include a choice of sandwich, chunks or shrimp, along with french fries and coleslaw.

A fish sandwich will be $8, a six-piece fish chunks, $8 or a fish dinner, $12. A six-piece shrimp dinner is $14, a shrimp basket, $9, french fries, $3, french fries with cheese, $3.50, coleslaw, $2 and a six-piece hushpuppies, $3.

Longwell stated customers can either dine-in or carry out their meals. To place an order, call (740) 282-9851. The legion is located at 808 N. Fifth St. in Steubenville.

Donna Stephenson, secretary for the Beech Bottom Volunteer Fire Department, stated the department will hold its first fish fry on Wednesday. She noted the Ash Wednesday hours will be from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Meals can be carried out or patrons can dine in.

The department will hold its remaining fish frys every Friday between the hours of 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., with the final event taking place April 18. There are no exceptions as to the dates it will remain open, including Good Friday.

Stephenson commented that only cash payments can be accepted at this time. To place an order, call (304) 394-5726. The fire department is located at 13 Third St. in Beech Bottom.

Dan Crowe is the pastor at Irondale Christ Community Church on Grant Street in Irondale. He has served in the capacity for 18 years.

He explained the church will hold a fish fry from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Friday. Another fish fry is planned for the Friday before Easter on April 18.

Last year, the church served a menu which consisted of fish, macaroni and cheese, hushpuppies, green beans, coleslaw, dessert and a drink.

Crowe explained church members were still meeting to discuss this year’s menu, but he believes it will “pretty-much stay the same.”

Crowe said there is no specific cost to purchase a meal, although donations are welcome and appreciated. All of the proceeds raised will go toward the general fund of the church and be used to assist in the paying of its bills. Dine-in and carryout options will be available.

“People love to come for the fellowship and to connect with one another,” Crowe said of the patrons who attend the fundraiser.

He noted everyone is friendly and welcoming, adding the public is welcome to attend.

Deb Gilchrist, Legion representative for the Brilliant American Legion Post 573, explained the organization held its first fish fry on Feb. 21, with the event being sponsored by the Ladies Auxiliary.

Officials will continue to offer the event every Friday through April 18, with items being sold from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Patrons are invited to dine in or carry out their food. Limited local delivery will be available.

This year’s menu will consist of dinners for $15, baskets for $12 and sandwiches for $7.

Dinners include a two-piece Coleman’s fish dinner, a two-piece haddock fish dinner, a four-piece chicken tender dinner, a five-piece shrimp dinner, a six-piece fish nugget dinner or a five-piece wing ding dinner.

All dinners come with french fries, coleslaw and bread, Gilchrist said.

Basket options are the same as the dinners with the exclusion of the coleslaw and bread. Another side can be substituted in place of the french fries, according to the menu.

Sandwiches offered are a Coleman’s fish or a haddock sandwich.

Sides include: French fries, hot cheeseballs or mild cheeseballs for $3 each; hushpuppies, onion rings or mozzerella sticks for $4 each; and coleslaw for $2.

The post, located at 210 Market St. in Brilliant, can be reached at (740) 598-3515.

“This is a great fundraiser for us,” she stated. “This enables us to do a lot of things for the community.” She presented the example of annually awarding two scholarships to high school seniors planning to further their education.

The Brilliant American Legion also supports many youth organizations, including its youth baseball league, supports Buckeye Local sports and gives to several local veterans activities, Gilcrhist stated.

The menu can be found online on the post’s Facebook page, Gilchrist noted.

The Jefferson County Joint Vocational School’s Crestview Inn restaurant will once again offer its Lenten specials on Fridays through Easter.

Instructor Glenn Zalenski explained the first fish fry will take place Friday.

This is the fourth year the program has participated in the fish frys. Customers will have the option of dining in or carrying out their orders between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Fridays.

Among the menu items will be tuna fish, tuna melt sandwiches and fish fillets.

Sides featured include pierogies, french fries, onion rings, hushpuppies, coleslaw and salad or soup. Dinners include fish or popcorn shrimp, with pricing varying between $6 and $12. For information or to place an order, call (740) 264-5545, Ext. 602.

According to Betty Fiedorczyk, chairperson for the Holy Family Guild, Sacred Heart of Mary Church in Weirton has been offering its annual Lenten dinners for more than 20 years.

The church holds its fish frys from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays, as opposed to Fridays, she explained, with the meals being picked up inside the church cafeteria, which is located at 200 Preston Ave.

Fiedorczyk stated the first sale will begin Wednesday and will continue to run for the next six consecutive Wednesdays, up through the week prior to Holy Week.

There will not be dine-in service, as all foods will be carryout only, Fiedorczyk stated.

Those interested in placing an order can come to the church as a walk-in, call the church at (304) 723-1648 or download the church app to place their order.

On the menu will be a fish dinner for $16 or a shrimp dinner for $17, each served with either french fries, haluski or mac and cheese, and a coleslaw.

There will be baked or fried fish available for $10 or shrimp for $11.

Side dishes include mac and cheese, haluski and french fries for $5 each; coleslaw for $2, homemade potato pierogies for $1 each, desserts and homemade bread.