Hot Dogs

NORWOOD, N.J. - Gregory Papalexis, whose Sabrett hot dogs have become a part of the New York City experience, has died. He was 86. Papalexis was president, CEO and chairman of Englewood-based Marathon Enterprises, a supplier of hot dogs, buns, onion sauce and other products, and the owner of the Sabrett trademark. He died Friday in Rockleigh, N.J., according to the Barrett Funeral Home in Tenafly, N.J., which is handling arrangements. Sabrett hot dogs are sold nationwide.

Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd and Gary Carter are the worst hot dogs in the major leagues, according to a survey conducted by the Toronto Globe and Mail. The newspaper polled 26 players - one from each team - and asked them to pick the best and worst in each league in several categories. Among the winners in the other categories were: DIRTIEST. Toronto's George Bell in the American League and Pete Rose in the National League. WORST MANAGER. Dick Williams of the Seattle Mariners ("He treats people like they're not people," one player said)

What better way to celebrate the day before the biggest cookout day of the year, than to, well, have a cookout? That's exactly what organizers of the fourth annual All-American Barbecue at Miles Park in Whitemarsh did for the children enrolled in the Parks and Recreation Summer Playground program. Although turnout was down because of holiday travel, more than 60 children ages 6 to 12 enjoyed hot dogs, played kickball and sported patriotic garb. "We thought of it as a way to tie into the Fourth of July with something special and a little different from the actual day they'll spend with family," said assistant director David Stewart, who, true to the mood of the day, was clad in an American-flag shirt.

It was a hot-dog-delicious, good day for Rita Schaeffer and two of her children, who enjoyed free gourmet beef franks yesterday during the Independence Picnic, which kicked off the Fourth of July weekend. Schaeffer, 43, and her children, ages 11 and 14, are living at the Salvation Army Eliza Shirley House, a shelter in North Philadelphia. Besides the free hot dogs, quality time with her family was on her mind. "We're just having fun and learning things while we're doing it," Schaeffer said.

Mothers and fathers came. So did daughters and sons. Aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews were there, too. They all came to take part in Lawnside Family Day. Under a spotted-blue afternoon sky, residents and family members ate barbecue, fried turkey and more than 2,000 hot dogs. Later, they listened to jazz and watched fireworks. Lawnside Family Day, held on June 24 this year, is a grand fair for this borough of nearly 3,000. It is also much more: The annual event, which dates back more than 40 years, is a borough reunion.

Mayor Rendell helps give out hot dogs to children outside the Greater Philadelphia Food Bank on behalf of Hatfield Quality Meats on its "Hot Dog Day. " The company yesterday donated 50,000 hot dogs to the food bank in the 300 block of West Berks Street.

FOR A TOWN WITH A dairy-slathered steak sandwich as its main food icon, a town whose name signifies "cream cheese" to many Americans, Philadelphia certainly has more than its share of vegan surprises. Now, I'm not talking about the "surprise" that all-veggie foods can be decadently delicious, but rather those dishes that show up where you wouldn't necessarily expect them. Case in point: While walking down South Street recently, I saw a sidewalk sign advertising a new joint devoted to creatively topped hot dogs.

Murray Handwerker, 89, who helped grow Nathan's Famous from his father's Coney Island hot dog stand into a national franchise, died Saturday at his home in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. His son, Bill, said his father had suffered from dementia. Mr. Handwerker's father, Nathan, opened the Coney Island stand in 1916, four years after emigrating from Poland. Murray was born five years later and spent so much time in the restaurant he said he came to regard the frankfurter bun boxes as his playpen.

CHICAGO - The nation's two largest hot-dog makers took their legal beefs yesterday to federal court, where a judge will determine whether Oscar Mayer or Ball Park franks broke false-advertising laws in their efforts to become top dog. As the bench trial got under way, U.S. District Judge Morton Denlow cast his eyes across the Chicago courtroom, where half a dozen attorneys were at opposing tables, and said, "Let the wiener wars begin. " The battle pits Chicago-area companies Sara Lee Corp., which makes Ball Park franks, against Kraft Foods Inc., which makes Oscar Mayer, in a case that could clarify how far companies can go when boasting that their product is better than a competitor's.

On the long-established theory that everything is bigger in Texas, the AL champion Rangers have come up with the majors' largest hot dog. Called the "Boomstick" it's 24 inches long, weighs a pound, and costs a Texas-size $26. Actually, the mondo-dog is called the "Boomstick" only in the stands, where the real fans sit. In the luxury boxes, the name is a tame "Champion Dog. " No word on what it'll cost in the tony restaurant named...

Anyone doubting our evolutionary tie to other apes should check out that Philadelphia festival of food and fun known as Wing Bowl. The annual event has some striking parallels to behavior outlined in the article "Chimpanzee Hunting Behavior and Human Evolution," which appeared in the magazine American Scientist. Chimpanzees sometimes "go on hunting binges, in which they kill a large number of monkeys and other animals over a period of several days or weeks," the article states. The hunting is done mostly by males, though there are a few female hunters and the party is joined by many other females in estrus (heat)

Elliott Hirsh wasn't thinking of food back in 1990 when he bought Levis , a nearly century-old hot dog shop near Sixth and South Streets. Instead of the signature "combo" that paired a mustard-slathered hot dog and a fish cake on one roll, Hirsh coveted Levis' liquid asset: the formula for Champ Cherry, a soda that several generations of Philadelphians were weaned on. Hirsh was a beverage manufacturer known regionally for his Elliott's Amazing...

I ADMIT THAT I am not all in yet with the 76ers, but I'm thisclose. It won't take much to pull me on to the bandwagon. That's why tonight's home opener against the Detroit Pistons is one of the biggest in years. I think the best way to describe most Sixers fans is aggressively skeptical but willing to be convinced. They're just looking for a sign, a positive step forward from this franchise that will give them a reason to give it a fair shake. The Sixers are the last team in this lockout-shortened season to have a home opener.

EAGLES FANS FEEL betrayed, disappointed, angry (just empty the thesaurus) about this 7-8 season. Fans want payback. Some fans want the hide of Andy Reid. But all fans want a better draft, smarter playcalling, better clock management. They, too, want the players actually put in the right position, rather than someone just talking about it. Through the discontent of having a final home game that means nothing, Eagles fans still will show up on Sunday and be seen and heard.

Curious George, the young pit bull found starving on a Delaware County road, will be spending the holidays in his new home. On Tuesday, the pooch was presented to his new owners, Aimee and Eric Tysarczyk of Bryn Mawr, before a horde of photographers and reporters who captured every doggy smooch on camera. George took the event in stride, even showing off some new tricks for the crowd. The Montgomery County couple had been looking to adopt a dog when they spotted George's photo and story on the Delaware County SPCA website.

Curious George, the young pit bull found starving on a Delaware County road, will be spending the holidays in his new home. On Tuesday, the pooch was presented to his new owners, Aimee and Eric Tysarczyk of Bryn Mawr, before a horde of photographers and reporters who captured every doggy smooch on camera. George took the event in stride, even showing off some new tricks for the crowd. The Montgomery County couple had been looking to adopt a dog when they spotted George's photo and story on the Delaware County SPCA website.

NORWOOD, N.J. - Gregory Papalexis, whose Sabrett hot dogs have become a part of the New York City experience, has died. He was 86. Papalexis was president, CEO and chairman of Englewood-based Marathon Enterprises, a supplier of hot dogs, buns, onion sauce and other products, and the owner of the Sabrett trademark. He died Friday in Rockleigh, N.J., according to the Barrett Funeral Home in Tenafly, N.J., which is handling arrangements. Sabrett hot dogs are sold nationwide.

DO YOU KNOW what's in that hot dog you're about to pop into your mouth? Virginia Knauer did, and through her efforts in a lifetime of work in consumer protection, she made that hot dog - and a lot of other products - much healthier for you. It wasn't always easy. President Richard Nixon had to go to bat for her when she rankled the hot-dog industry, and a few others, with her insistence on a lower fat percentage in the all-American staple. She was Nixon's special assistant for consumer affairs, and when she angered the hot-dog manufacturers, and even ran up against the Department of Agriculture, Nixon stood by her. "Stick to your guns, Virginia," he said.

CHICAGO - The nation's two largest hot-dog makers took their legal beefs yesterday to federal court, where a judge will determine whether Oscar Mayer or Ball Park franks broke false-advertising laws in their efforts to become top dog. As the bench trial got under way, U.S. District Judge Morton Denlow cast his eyes across the Chicago courtroom, where half a dozen attorneys were at opposing tables, and said, "Let the wiener wars begin. " The battle pits Chicago-area companies Sara Lee Corp., which makes Ball Park franks, against Kraft Foods Inc., which makes Oscar Mayer, in a case that could clarify how far companies can go when boasting that their product is better than a competitor's.