From Maine, with love

Live, large lobsters, Mahi Mahi, jumbo frozen shrimp and plenty of scallops will once again be offered during Burton Middle School’s semi-annual seafood sale that benefits Odyssey of the Mind and the school’s Robotics Teams.

“These are big, juicy, 28-ounce fresh lobsters flown in from Maine,” team adviser Hoss McNutt said. “If you were to order this in a restaurant it would cost you $60 for the lobster alone. Three days before we get them, they will be floating around off he coast of Maine. They will be caught on a Tuesday, taken to the Boston Airport on Wednesday, flown to Los Angeles for a day, and then sent to Bakersfield on Friday, where I will go and pick them up.”

The fundraising event helps with their projects and takes place twice a year — just prior to Super Bowl Sunday and Memorial Day Weekend, McNutt said.

“We’re self sustaining. If we want or need something, we go out and get it,” McNutt said. “We don’t ask the school district. They are stretched enough trying to provide textbooks to everyone. We get our own replacement tools and our own supplies.”

This year, McNutt and the students are hoping members of the community are generous in their ordering.

The Odyssey of the Mind team, which recently gained local and international attention for creating a prosthetic hand for a local child, will leave May 25 to the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals in Maryland.

“The trip is paid for, but we need to raise extra funds for everything else — IMAX theater, museums, and three days of meals,” McNutt said.

Order forms are available at the school, 1155 N. Elderwood St.

On the menu are the 28-ounce live lobsters for $25, 10 ounces of frozen lobster tails for $22, super jumbo and jumbo shrimp at $24 and $20, and an assortment of salmon, swordfish and Mahi Mahi steaks stating at $6.

The order sheets, and accompanying checks, can be dropped off at the school by May 22. And, just in time for Memorial Day, the orders can be picked up from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 24, McNutt said.

Many people order plenty of seafood to have on hand for the holiday, McNutt said.

Such is the case with Janie Dignam of Burton Elementary School. She has been ordering seafood for five years and has had between 20 to 30 people attend her Memorial Day parties.

“We order every year, faithfully. It is really good. The shrimp is just delicious,” Dignam said. “It’s for such a worthwhile purpose and such a great reason to get together with friends. We always have a lobster and shrimp party with all of our friends that also order.”

-- Contact Esther Avila at 784-5000, Ext. 1047 or eavila@portervillerecorder.com.