Newport Elks Lodge # 2155 Local Hoop Shoot winners from Dec. 6, 2014

Posted on December 14, 2014

Newport Elks Lodge # 2155 held a Local Hoop Shoot contest Dec. 6, 2014 at NCUHS. The 6 first place winners from each age group will now go on to the District contest January 10th at the NCUHS and they will be competing against winners from Burlington, St. Albans and St. Johnsbury. The 6 winners from that contest then go on to the State contest in Barre, Vt on the January 24, 2015

8-9 year old winners.. Left to right: Boys – Logan Poirier third place, Carlos Martinez second place, Graydon McCormick first place; Girls – Madison Bowman first place, Hailey Delabruere, second place and Julie Tanguay third place. Back row: Tom Maloney ER Newport # 2155 and Steve Edgerley Local Hoop Shoot chair

10-11 year old winners.. Left to right: Boys – Robert Bowman third place, Jorden Driver, second place, Caleb Syayg, first place: Girls – Tia Marie Martinez, first place, Destiny Sorrell, second place and Kaylee Emerson, third place, Back row: Tom Maloney ER Newport Lodge # 2155 and Steve Edgerley , local lodge chairman

12-13 year old winners Left to Right: Girls – Erika Tuller, third place, Ebony Cota, second place, Robin Nelson, first place: Boys – David Gratton, first place, Logan Richardson, second place, Ryan Young, third place. Back row: Tom Maloney , ER Newport Lodge # 2155 and Steve Edgerley Local lodge chairman

All photos by Steve Edgerley

Barre Elks Lodge in conjunction with Montpelier Elks Lodge recently held a benefit Calcutta

Posted on December 10, 2014December 10, 2014

Barre Elks Lodge in conjunction with Montpelier Elks Lodge recently held a benefit Calcutta to assist Wil Hallstrom in completing his Eagle Scout project and obtaining his Eagle rank before his 18th birthday. Wil has been working diligently to replace the current WWII memorial in Northfield Falls with a 4 x 10 foot granite monument.

The Calcutta raised $2,825. This money will be used to purchase the granite slab from Rock of Ages and have all names etched by B & B Memorials.

Congratulations to Wil for taking on such an important community project and allowing both Barre and Montpelier Elks Lodges to play a small part in the project.

Respectfully Submitted,

Kristin Calcagni

From L to R: Tammi Holden, Stacy Holden, Wil Hallstrom, Laura Ranker, Herb Carelton, Nathan Ranker, Herbie Carelton, Evan Hallstrom, Joe Hatch, Beverlee Hutchins, Tim Hutchins

House Chambers, Vermont State Capital, Montpelier Vermont

Posted on December 5, 2014

December 2nd, 2014

Location. House Chambers, Vermont State Capital, Montpelier Vermont

Depicted: Sgt. Eric Albright, Vt. State Police, 2014 National Enrique Camarena award recipient. Henry Farnum, PER, Drug Awareness Chariman, Brattleboro (VT) Lodge # 1499. Camarena Winners Trophy, & Camarena Bronze Bust.

Purpose: 24th, Annual Red Ribbon Holiday Tree Dedication ceremony, conducted in the House of Representatives Chambers of Vt. State Capital.

On Dec. 2nd 2014 Sgt. Eric Albright, Vt State Police, the 2014 recipient of the Elks National Camarena award (depicted), and Henry Farnum, Lodge Drug Awareness Chairman, Brattleboro, VT Lodge #1499 were invited to speak at the State of Vt. Capital honoring the 24th, annual Red Ribbon Tree dedication.

Barre Elks Lodge holds it’s 2014 Glitz & Glam Gala

Posted on December 1, 2014

Barre Elks Lodge recently held it’s 2014 Glitz & Glam Gala. The Gala offered more than 250 women in our community the opportunity to attend a glamorous event while supporting local charities. Over 150 local and national businesses and individuals donated items or services for the events Silent Auction. This years Silent Auction raised $5000. Proceeds raised will benefit Vermont Elks Charities and local charities in the Central Vermont Community.

Beltrami & Co. Photography photographed the ladies red carpet style. Entertainment was provided by RPM Entertainment. Do or Dye Salon painted nails for the attendees, Rebecca Hislop provided shoulder massages and Lookin Laugh Photo Booth provided ladies with fun photos to take home.

Last years inaugural event raised over $3000. This money was donated to Silver Towers Camp for Exceptional People, Project Independence, Central Vermont Humane Society, the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Barre Youth Sports Field Hockey program, Circle Shelter for Battered Women, Red Cross blood drives and monthly Senior Citizens dinners held at the Lodge.

Respectfully Submitted,

Kristin Calcagni

Event planning committee. Standing from L to R: Kristin Calcagni, Maureen Lawson, Terry Paine, Rhonda Boyce, Kathy Lessard. Seated from L to R: Michele Campo and Donna Bartolucci. Missing from photo: Sandra Calcagni

Attendees

SPRINGFIELD ELKS LODGE #1560 GIVES DICTIONARIES TO THIRD GRADERS

Posted on November 21, 2014

For the past nine years, Springfield Elks Lodge #1560 has been giving all third graders in Springfield’s elementary schools the Elks Dictionary. Michael Tennis, Youth Chairman for the Elks presented (91) dictionaries to Union Street School recently. Over the nine year period they have given out 826 dictionaries.

With their classmates behind them, l to r with their dictionaries are Molly Tennis, Taylor Claflin, Luke Dockum, Camdyn Curtis and Michael Tennis, Elks Chairman

St. Albans Elks Lodge #1566 receives recognition from Vermont Special Olympics

Posted on November 19, 2014November 19, 2014

The Vermont Special Olympics held their annual Awards Banquet on November 8, 2014. Among the Awards presented was a special recognition to the St. Albans Elks Lodge #1566. In presenting the award, Chris Langevin, the Sports Manager for Special Olympics of Vermont, said the following:

“The Saint Albans Elks Lodge is one of the most generous organizations we know. Every year, they donate, cook, and serve lunches for hundreds of the School Unified Bocce and Track event at Collins Perley in St. Albans. Without their support our athletes would go hungry. We couldn’t be happier to have them as part of our community.”

Accepting the Award for the St. Albans Elks Lodge was the Event Chairman and PER Joe Montcalm.

Pictures l-r: Michelle Gates, Vice President of Development for Special Olympics Vermont,Event Chairman and PER, Joe Montcalm, and Chris Langevin the Sports Manager for Special Olympics Vermont

Bennington Lodge recently presented two awards to long time members.

Posted on November 14, 2014

Bennington Lodge recently presented two awards to long time members.

John H. Redding received the Elks Distinguished Citizenship award for devoting over 20 years of volunteering every Monday at Bingo. The primary beneficiary of funds raised at Bingo is Silver Towers Camp.

Bennington Lodge also presented an Elks National Foundation Honorary Founder Certificate to Gary Lewis. This award is presented to members who have donated $1000 to further ENF’s missions and ideals. Gary and his wife, Katherine, are both dedicated members of Bennington Lodge #567 and are very active with Veterans Service Programs. The Lewis family is truly an Elks family; his father, son and daughter in-law are also members of the Lodge.

From L to R: Granville “Chip” Paine, DDGER North, John H. Redding, Chad Schmidt, DDGER South and Charles Boyle, PER.

From L to R: Granville “Chip” Paine, DDGER North, Gary Lewis, Chad Schmidt, DDGER South

and Charles Boyle, Bennington Lodge ENF Chair

New ADA compliant playground is opened at the Silver Towers Camp

Posted on November 5, 2014

Members of the thirteen Vermont Elks Lodges and the Vermont Elks Association gathered at Silver Towers Camp for Exceptional People in August to open the new ADA compliant playground.

Bennington Lodge #567 is responsible for maintaining the grounds of Silver Towers Camp. In 2010, they recognized that the current pressure treated wood structure would need to be replaced. Lori Pinsonneault, from Bennington Lodge was elected Vermont Elks Association President in 2012 (first female President!) and replacement of the wood structure became her major fundraising project. What started as a swing set project quickly became a playground project.

Lori and her suite of officers visited all thirteen Lodges in Vermont and sold ducks (hundreds of them) at each visit. Ducks were also sold at the Vermont Elks Association Mid-year convention, State President Homecoming, the Vermont State convention and Elks National convention. Most winners returned their winnings back to the project.

Donations poured in from businesses as well; Bennington’s Catamount Rotary, CB Telethon Fund (in memory of Scott Moffitt, a camper at Silver Towers), Wounded Warriors in Action Foundation to name a few. Each Lodge donated back funds that were raised from yearbook sales for Vermont State convention. 2013-2014 VEA President Keith Palmer also donated a large sum of money raised from his visits to all of the Vermont Elks Lodges. Private donations, proceeds from t-shirt sales and other donations brought the fund to almost $39,000.

Of that money, $29,000 was spent on two high backed swings, four seat swings and a wheelchair accessible ramp swing. The remaining funds will be used to develop a path around the playground, purchase outdoor musical instruments and place climbing rocks near the playground.

The Silver Towers Camp for People with Disabilities is the chief charitable project of the Vermont Elks Association, which has owned and operated Silver Towers since 1958. It is among the first of its kind in the United States, and still remains one of the very few. An overnight retreat for those with mental and physical challenges, the camp demands more focused attention than others, and thus have a high ratio of counselors to campers to accommodate the special needs of the campers.

Respectfully Submitted by Kristin Calcagni

Photos by Kristin Calcagni

Camper Michael Colucci tries out the wheelchair accessible ramp swing with help from his counselor Andre Nobrega.

Ribbon Cutting

Past State President Lori Pinsonneault enjoys swinging with help from Vice President Fred Dusablon.

Vermont Elks Holds State Soccer Shoot Finals in St. Albans.

Posted on October 22, 2014October 25, 2014

Congratulations to all the local soccer shoot winners who participated in this shoot and to all the Vermont State winners. Now, the 1st Place Winners will go on to compete in the Region 1 Soccer Shoot in Augusta Maine on the 7th, 8th and 9th of November.

I would like to thank Exalted Ruler Mark Hogaboom and all the St Albans Elks Lodge members that helped host this shoot, from setting up and tearing down to cooking and serving such a wonderful meal at the lodge after the event. A special thanks to Collins Perley Sports Center for the use of their beautiful facilities and to Vermont Elks State President Carl Colburn and all the Elk members from throughout the state that assisted in making this shoot a success. Lastly, but not least, I want to thank my family for not only the help they have given me since I started as chairman, but for all of their unwavering support. Again congratulations to all and we will see you in Augusta.

Chris Hall
Vermont State Elks Association
Soccer Shoot Chairman

The 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place winners are as follows:

Girls 8 years old and under
1^st Place –         Audrey Rupp                                        Windsor Lodge
2^nd Place          Linsey Miles                                         Springfield Lodge
3^rd Place            Molly McCall                                       Montpelier Lodge
Boys 8 years old and under
1^st Place            Sam Peckinpaugh                                  Windsor Lodge
2^nd Place           Brody Cassidy                                        St. Albans Lodge
3^rd Place            Ryan Dunn                                            Brattleboro Lodge
Girls 10 years old and under
1^st Place             Maya Marshall                                      St. Albans Lodge
2^nd Place            Arayln Connolly                                    Windsor Lodge
3^rd Place            Anika Turcott                                         Montpelier Lodge
Boys 10 years and under
1^st Place             Eben Mosher                                          Springfield Lodge
2^nd Place            Graiden Hawkins                                    Barre Lodge
3^rd Place            Charlie Thompson                                   St. Albans Lodge
Girls 12 years old and under
1^st Place            Michelle Townsend                                  Windsor Lodge
2^nd Place           McKenna Marquis                                    Newport Lodge
3^rd Place           Morgan Shoram                                         St. Albans Lodge
Boys 12 years old and under
1^st Place            Everett Mosher                                       Springfield Lodge
2^nd Place           Sam Rudman                                          Burlington Lodge
3^rd Place           Owen Fournier                                        Newport Lodge
Girls 14 years old and under
1^st Place              Ashley Parker                                       Bellows Falls Lodge
2^nd Place             Emily Willis                                         Newport Lodge
3^rd Place             Jenna Hallstram                                     Barre Lodge
Boys 14 years old and under
1^st Place              Will Kuyper                                           Springfield Lodge
2^nd Place             Colin Bryant                                         Newport Lodge
3^rd Place              Nathan Gravel                                      Barre Lodge

Pictured with Vt. Elks State President Carl Colburn are the 1st place winners who will be going to Augusta, Maine for the Region 1 Soccer Shoot: l-r Maya Marshall – St. Albans, Michelle Townsent – Windsor, Audrey Rupp – Windsor, Ashley Parker – Bellows Falls, Will Kuyper – Burlington. Not present for the picture were Sam Peckinpaugh – Windsor, Eben Mosher – Springfield and Everett Mosher – Springfield.

ALL THE COMPETITORS

8 & under

10 & under

12 & under

14 & under

8 & under

10 & under

12 & under

14 & under

Some pictures from the days event:

L-r – BFA St. Albans Seniors helping with the event: Elizabeth Hall and Dianne Benedicto

THANKS

Small Goal Practice

Grid Practice

Chris Hall – Vermont Soccer Director, Cal Colburn – Vt. Elks State Association President –

Mark W. Hojaboom – Exalted Ruler, St. Albans Lodge #1566

l-r “Chip” Paine – DDGER North and Carl Colburn – Vt. Elks State Association President

Barre Elks Lodge hosts their annual Soccer Shoot

Posted on October 13, 2014

Barre Elks Lodge hosted their annual Soccer Shoot at Farwell Field in Barre. Over twenty children ages seven to thirteen participated in either the five goal or grid goal contest depending on age.

In the five goal contest, a series of five goals, decreasing in size from 48 inches to 17 inches are used. The age groups that used these goals were divided into two categories, U-8 contains all ages seven years old and younger, and U-10 group contains ages eight and nine. The contest is open to boys and girls who shoot separately. The U-8 contestants kicked from 15 feet from the face of the goal, while the U-10 contestants kicked from 18 feet from the goal.

The Grid Goal Contest consists of a full-size goal sectioned off so points can be scored when the ball is kicked into certain sections. The age groups that used this goal are U-12, which contain the ages ten and eleven, and U-14, which contain ages twelve and thirteen. The contest is open to both boys and girls and they shoot separately.

Julia Ormsby, Cameron Gilwee, Whitney Renaud, Sarah Wedding and Jessica Scott of the Spaulding High School Girls Varsity Soccer team volunteered with registration, practice, and scoring.

First place winners will represent Barre Lodge at the Vermont Elks State Soccer Shoot on October 19 in St. Albans.

Results:

Girls U-10
1st Place: Julia Hallstrom
2nd Place: Rayna LongGirls

U-12
1st Place: Madeline Benoit
2nd Place: Raven Premont
3rd Place: Sabrina Metcalf

Girls U-14

1st Place: Jenna Hallstrom

2nd Place: Megan Brier

3rd Place: Abigail Benoit

Boys U-8

1st Place: Ryan Metzler

Boys U-10

1st Place: Graiden Hawkens

2nd Place: Noah Long

3rd Place: Angelito Bates

Boys U-12

1st Place: Levi Van Osdall

2nd Place: Camden Boucher

3rd Place: Noah Partridge

Boys U-14

1st Place: Nathan Gravel

The Participants

Spaulding High School Girls Varsity Soccer Volunteers: L to R: Julia Ormsby, Cameron Gilwee, Whitney Renaud, Sarah Wedding, Jessica Scott

First, second and third place winners: Front row L to R: Madeline Benoit, Raven Premont, Sabrina Metcalf, Ryan Metzler, Noah Long, Rayna Long, Julia Hallstrom, Angelito Bates. Second Row L to R: Levi Van Osdall, Noah Partridge, Camden Boucher, Nathan Gravel, Jenna Hallstrom, Megan Brier, Abigail Benoit, Graiden Hawkins.