Barbara Lawlor, Nederland. When present and former mountain residents heard that Jeff Muskatt was bringing back some of Neapolitan’s original favorite dishes, tickets for the dinners sold out before some people had a chance to email their reservation.

Neo’s Fundraiser for the Fitness Center was a hands-down, thumbs-up success and Nederland Community Center Coordinator Dawn Baumhover says that because of popular demand there will be a repeat feast at the end of the summer.

Ever since Neo’s closed a few years ago, locals have missed Muskatt’s garlic biscuits, his Front Range famous calzones and chicken Marsala. With Muskatt as the fundraiser cook, the NCC couldn’t go wrong.

Baumhover says the event was scheduled to help raise money to maintain and repair aging fitness equipment and if necessary to replace the popular machines that get worn out.

“We have a clunky elliptical that I have threatened to get rid of but members say they would rather have a loud elliptical than not at all.” The Fitness Place has three ellipticals, all in demand at certain times.

Replacing a belt in the treadmill can be pricy because all of the equipment has to be club-grade quality. Baumhover says people don’t realize that Nederland has no recreation department or district and that the Fitness Place is operated within the Community Center budget. “Which means the funds are shared with all the other Center’s municipal activities. There is no budget for replacement and our resources are limited. We are working on prioritizing our needs. Our members expect and deserve equipment that functions properly.”

One of the bikes is from the original Peak Health Club, dating back 20 years ago.

Both Friday’s and Saturday’s dinners ran smoothly, but Muskatt realized towards the end of the evenings, that “I am not as young as I used to be,” as he sautéed and baked and boiled and toasted the cheese on the entrees.

After the first sitting on Saturday night, Muskatt took a bow as he was applauded by the sated diners.

He had five support volunteers in the kitchen and five waitstaff each night, as well as wine servers and receptionists.

As diners slurped up their spaghetti and savored the Marsala sauce, they agreed that the Neo’s flavors brought back sensory memories of a past culinary era in Nederland, and they looked forward to another dinner from Muskatt and his crew.

Baumhover says she is grateful for the support shown by the community and grateful for the happy welcome shown to the gang from Neo’s.