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Annual PBA Pig Roast Offers Up Good Times, Camaraderie
By Keith Hagarty
 | | With high spirits at the seventh Annual Pig Roast for the Jackson PBA 168, officer John McBride, Detective Mitch Cowit and retired officer Rich "Spacky" Speidel join hundreds of others at the event sharing laughs and cheers. |
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For the hundreds who gathered for last Saturday's seventh annual Jackson PBA 168 Pig Roast, held in Pine Park in Lakewood, one common goal was shared by all: have a fun, relaxing time with friends and family ... and eat, eat, eat.
Whether it was active or retired police officers, Mayor Mark Seda, various township officials or dozens of youngsters running and laughing on the playground, all came with smiles on their faces for the camaraderie, games, music and food.
Coming to his fifth Jackson PBA pig roast, Officer Fred Meabe said he spent most of his time kicking back and having fun, hovering near the favorite spot of his five-year-old son, Jared's - an inflated Spiderman bouncing room. It was, he said, a fun time.
"We've been here all day. It's been fantastic," said Meabe. "Each year it's just gotten better here."
Giving the police and their loved ones a day to get away from the hustle and bustle of law enforcement for one sunny day designed for nothing more than a fun time is what the annual event is all about, according to Joe Oleksy, president of the Jackson PBA 168.
"There's a lot of families and friends out here. We're having a really good time and the weather really held out for us," he said, noting the near scare at the start of the day as dark rain clouds ominously drifted overhead, threatening to be the first ever PBA pig roast to get wet. Thankfully, the clouds lifted, the band began playing and the barbecues were fired up.
"We're just really happy to be out here," said Oleksy, who reflected on how far the event has come since it first began in 2000 at the smaller venue of Just Plain Jane on Route 528.
"It's grown. It's really grown," he said. "We have a lot more people coming here, we've expanded a lot of things, and we're even up to two pigs now."
Seeing two full-grown pigs splayed on a rotisserie, lathered with sauce and spices and completely devoured by the hungry, ravenous crowd in no time flat was quite a sight to see for Oleksy and his colleagues.
"We went through them, believe me," said Oleksy. "They cleaned them pigs out-they're gone, just all gone."
The pigs weren't the only grub that proved popular.
"We went through the clams in no time," said retired officer Rich "Spacky" Speidel. He estimated that the 1,500 clams he helped supply for the day were quickly cleaned out in the blink of an eye.
For Speidel, attending his first PBA pig roast since he retired last year, the best part of the event is seeing the joy in the
children's' faces.
"It's all about the kids," said Speidel. "Whether it's the bubble bounce, the horses,
the face-painting, the kids have a great time. They have a ball."
Seeing the veteran and retired PBA members mixing with the newest members of the police force is a welcome sight for Oleksy, who describes the police force as "tight." He said that several retirees of the force still come out to mingle.
"It's all about the brotherhood and sisterhood," he said. "That's what the PBA is really all about."
The event boasted more than 30 sponsors, including a number of local businesses.
While he expressed his deepest gratitude and appreciation to all of the supporters, vendors and businesses that donated their time and money to the event, Oleksy singled out the Jackson Kiwanis Club for their ongoing efforts in helping not only supply the pigs to be roasted, but also for making the annual party such a success.
"Without them it wouldn't have been possible, and that you can definitely quote me on," he said. "They're out here helping us every year from sunrise to sunset."
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