Labor Day barbecue is a neighborhood tradition in Gold Key

DINGMAN — Ron and Diane Hascup held their 21st annual Labor Day party this past Sunday and over 80 family and friends gathered at the Hascup’s for a giant pig roast. Hascup’s son Ryan, a chef at the Market Basket Restaurant in Franklin Lakes, N.J., was in charge of the feast. A 120-pound fresh pig that was covered in ice cubes and marinated in a bath tub all night long was the main part of the festivities. The sizeable swine had been carried out early in the morning to be ready for a long day of slow cooking. There was plenty of beer, soda, homemade appetizers and salads which were brought by guests to enjoy while the main course was cooking. Ron lives on in a lakefront home in Gold Key Lake and so kids and their dads were busy fishing and canoeing off his dock while the rest of guests mingled and talked. “Diane and I started this tradition the year after I inherited this home from my parents back in ’87. We just thought it would be nice to have a few friends over. Now look at it, as it has grown larger every year since. Usually my other son (Robert) is here to help, but he is also a chef and had to work this weekend,” Hascup said. He went on to say, “This is the 14th pig we have cooked in this unit. We know it’s ready to eat when the electronic thermometer inserted into the pig reaches 175 degrees. It takes a while but it is always good and the juices that remain on the pig cooking belly up seep in and make it tender and tasty.” One of the guests, five-year-old Connor Burns was busy making giant bubbles with a big wand and plenty of bubble liquid. All the other kids were chasing the bubbles as they flew out of the wand. Connor spun around and around as kids making bubbles often do. The pig reached the right temperature and was ready as Ron and Ryan slid it out of the Cocina about 6:30 p.m. Everyone lined up and made their way down the length of the banquet tables where fresh carved pig, hot chicken breasts, steaming peppered steak, plenty of homemade potato salad, macaroni salad, bread, butter, a big bowl of apple sauce and many other treats abounded to satisfy the appetite of anyone. After an assortment of lavish homemade deserts and plenty of hot coffee, the party began to wind down. Ryan and a few of his friends treated the guests to a 30-minute fireworks show as the rockets burst in the sky with a brilliance of colors of loud booms over Gold Key Lake. A good time was had by all. The only thing left to do was the cleanup after all the party goers began to leave. “Even with all the work I look forward to next year’s party and the gathering of friends and family,” Hascup said as he filled up another big plastic trash bag with used plates and cups from the guests who had already left for home.