A Great Greek Dinner
Ann Vernon
Who doesn’t love Greek food? Especially when it is all homemade and based on authentic recipes that have been handed down through generations of the Pachis and Kartsonis families. We are talking the real thing here! There was a spirited bidding war at the Oracle Schools Foundation Spring Fling to see who would eat at the Kartsonises’ Greek “Traverna.” The hosts, Steve and Nan Kartsonis and Gus and Karen Pachis, apparently have a reputation for hosting a great dinner, which indeed they did.
Guests arrived at the Taverna, which had the Greek flag flying. They were seated at a table decorated with olive branches and candlelight. According to one guest, everything about this dinner was fantastic, especially the first course, which was Saganaki (flaming cheese) accompanied by shots of ouzo. Next, the hosts served a Greek salad with pita bread and tzatziki, a tapas entrée of pastitio, tiropitas, and spanakopita, followed by Greek potatoes and veggies. A delicious baklava was served for dessert. Wine pairings and ouzo shots were served by waiters Gus and Steve. Opa! Who could ask for anything more? Certainly not the guests who raved about the entire meal. And if that wasn’t enough, each couple received a gift box of baklava, chocolate chip cookies, and biscotti—and to-go boxes if they couldn’t finish their dinners.
Events such as these are a significant cornerstone of the Oracle Schools Foundation auction, which raises money to help all children in the district succeed. A huge thank you to the hosts for donating their time and talent for this memorable event. If you would like to host a dinner to auction at the 2023 auction, which will be held on March 11, we would love to accept your donation. Theme dinners are very popular, and you don’t even have to leave the neighborhood! Please contact me at [email protected] if you can contribute in any way to our fundraiser.
Save the Date
Ann Vernon
The 2022 Oracle Schools Foundation Spring Fling auction was a smashing success! There was record attendance, and the nearly 200 guests were eager to eat, drink, and try to outbid their friends and neighbors in order to score great offerings: gift certificates for massages, dining at local restaurants, and opera and theater tickets with a downtown hotel stay. There were also certificates for made-to-order pies, cupcakes, cheesecakes, appetizers, and soups of the month, in addition to piano lessons, an interior design consultation, hikes, clothing alterations, and much more.
Attendees also waited in line to sign up for popular fixed price items, such as theme dinners (Spanish, Italian, Jewish), lessons (bridge, Mah Jongg), learning to make outstanding pizza, or how to create fused glass or mosaic pieces. The house parties with local talented musicians and munchies were very much in demand, as was the night putting contest and a stargazing party.
Last but not least, the live auction was very spirited! There was a bidding war for the Greek dinner, and those in attendance also took bidding to heart to buy a week at a vacation home in Maine or at a timeshare in Orlando. Lucky bidders got a two-night stay at a local dude ranch or at a new Mt. Lemmon hotel.
Thanks to so many generous donors and auction attendees who spent money, we were able to raise more than $40,000 to help ensure that every Oracle student has unlimited opportunity to succeed. We hope to keep up the good work, so mark your calendars for Saturday, March 11, 2023, at SaddleBrooke TWO. If you can help us by donating your time or talent, we want your contributions! Do you like to bake, sew, entertain, or do crafts? Then offer to hold a class, host an event, bake made-to-order desserts or other goodies, or offer services such as pet sitting or transportation to the airport. We also welcome gift cards to local restaurants or businesses, so if you are eating out or shopping, consider buying a gift card and turning it over to us to bundle with others. Please consider supporting this worthy cause—what can be more important than quality education for children? You can reach me at [email protected] or 520-405-2622.