With a clever and creative idea, the Portage Parks and Recreation Foundation hosted Portage's first ever Roast to benefit the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk. For those who aren't familiar with such a term, it's not short for a hog roast or any thing of the kind. In fact, a human is the recipient of the fire -- at least in a metaphorical sense. On Saturday night, October 23, 2010, State Senator Karen Tallian along with City Councilman Brendan Clancy and a few other Portage notables made a laugh over Mayor Olga Velazquez as she was sitting in the hot seat -- with "hot pants", which were actually fire-protective pants from the Portage Fire Dept. It all went down at the Portage Yacht Club with about 80 people in attendance enjoying cocktails and hors d'oeuvres before the roast -- and comedy tour began.
"I know roasts can get pretty down and dirty, but I think the fact that we are here together to support a wonderful park system and our Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk that it's all in good fun," commented Mayor Olga Velazquez.
It was all in good fun, but it was also down and dirty. Ranging from political jokes to personal stories from Velazquez' past, the roast council wasted no time in getting the audience to burst out in laughing. Even though a traditional roast would only provide slights and hurled insults at the roastee, many times over the roasters commented on what a truly great mayor Velazquez is for the town of Portage.
"Just day to day operations of being mayor you're presented with challenges of people who want to take some low shots at you," said Velazquez. "I think those that are going to be roasting me are a little bit kind." In fact, they were so kind that at the end of the day a birthday cake was wheeled out in celebration of Velazquez' birthday.
"I hope to do it again next year," said Senator Karen Tallian. "And, I don't plan on sitting in the hot seat."
To see more photos from this hilarious night, click here! And to see a video, click here!