Elks News

SAPD Lt. Jason Wetherby Honored by the Elks.

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St. Albans Police Dept. Lt. Jason Wetherby received the Enrique Camarena Award on Friday from the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks in St. Albans.  Camarena, an officer with the Drug Enforcement Agency, was killed in the line of duty in 1985. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to drug awareness and prevention.
Wetherby, who previously served as the school resource officer at Bellows Free Academy and the St. Albans Town Educational Center, currently leads the department’s patrol division alongside Lt. Paul Talley.
Born and raised in Franklin County, Wetherby also works with the department’s K-9 unit. In 2019, Wetherby and his canine partner, Wyatt, received the Timothy J. Bovat Civic Involvement Award from the Chamber of Commerce.
In 2018, Wetherby and Josh Cate of Northwestern Counseling & Support Services were recognized by Team Two, a statewide organization supporting collaboration between mental health and law enforcement agencies, for the quality of the work they have done together.
In addition to his work as a police officer, Wetherby serves as President of Martha’s Community Kitchen, a non-profit operating the only soup kitchen in Franklin County.


From left are Jim Kirkwood from the Springfield Elks Lodge, Sandy Bracey of the St. Albans Elks Lodge, Lt. Jason Wetherby, SAPD Interim Chief Maurice Lamothe, and U.S. DEA Agent Kevin Black.

News item provided by the St. Albans Messenger.

Springfield Elks Lodge 1560 Newest Members

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 Springfield Elks Lodge continues to grow even during the Covid 19 era.  The Lodge has been open for the past three months since Governor Scott allowed them to be open.  The Lodge has listened to the Governors instructions on social distancing and like the town of Springfield, they have not had one case of the virus.
 
     On September 14th the Lodge held their 2nd initiation class of the Elk year with five new members being initiated.   Them being, Brett Novak, Jeff Heath, Scott Devine, Krista Sherburne and Richard Lucius.  In August the Lodge initiated (12) new members.  That being said, Springfield’s Elks Lodge won the 2019/2020 trophy for the most gained members during the past year against the other eleven Vt. Elks Lodges.  
 
Shown L to r; At the recent Springfield Elks initiation are, Richard Lucius, sponsor Jeff Laskevich for Brett Novak, also Scott Devine, Exalted Ruler Ed Knoras, Jeff Heath and Krista Shurburne.
 
News item submitted by Michael Gunn.

Barre Elks Lodge utilized Beacon grant to purchase school supplies

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Barre Elks Lodge utilized $3200 of it’s supersized Beacon grant from ENF to purchase school supplies for students of nine area schools.  Over 2500 students from Spaulding High School, Union Elementary, St. Monica-St. Michael’s, Williamstown Elementary School, Orange Center School, Washington Village School, Waits River Valley School, Barre Town Elementary and Barre City Elementary school received supplies.  Supplies included pencils, composition notebooks, rules, markers, folders, kleenex, hula hoops, binoculars, stress balls, basketballs, soccer balls, construction paper, backpacks, dry erase boards, books, bingo dabbers, play dough and many other items.

More than thirty teachers attended a happy hour at the Lodge to pick up their supplies and network.  
 
 
 
Kristin Calcagni, right, from the Barre Elks Lodge, helps Waits River Valley School teachers Katie Evans, left, and Crystal Emerson with donated school supplies Friday during a distribution event for teachers in Barre.

Barre Elks names Elk of the Year

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Barre Elks Lodge held their annual Member Appreciation/Awards night in July.  Past Exalted Ruler, Barb Watters presented awards for the 2019-2020 fiscal year, which ended March 31.

Elizabeth “Betsy” Stanford was named the 2019-2020 Elk of the Year.  Betsy was honored for her commitment to the Lodge and Order, through volunteerism and support.   Betsy is the Lodge Scholarship Chair, has been a proofreader for the Lodge Bulletin, volunteers countless hours in the kitchen/main hall and supports nearly all Lodge activities and functions.  


News item submitted by Barb Watters.

Lodge Initiation 7.27.2020

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 Springfield Elks Lodge 1560 held their 1st initiation for the year with a record twelve new members, biggest class in many years. 
 
Shown are frt L to R; Vanessa Perry, Wendy Messer, Sandra Murray, Exalted Ruler Ed Knoras, Melissa Greenwood, Lauta Laskevich and Patti Duling. Back: Gregory & Michael Messer, Alexander Richardson, Timothy Taft, Hayden Scott and Patricia McLeod.  
 
News items submitted by Michael Gunn.

SPRINGFIELD ELKS LODGE 1560 FLAG DAY-HONORS EAGLE SCOUTS

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 Springfield Elks Lodge 1560 held their annual Flag Day ceremony on June 14th with (16) Boy & Cub Scouts in attendents with parents and Elk members.   PER Vicki Siliski and the Scouts presented the flags as she spoke about each flags history.
 
     Each year all Elks Lodges in the USA are required to hold a Flag Day ceremony at which time some Scouts are honored.  This year, the Elks presented two new Eagle Scouts with their Elks certificates.  They were Thomas Czwakiel son of Scoutmaster Bruce & Lisa Czwakiel and Liam Mallan the son of Neil & Sherri Mallan.   Both are members of Scout Troop 252 in Springfield. Thomas earned his rank on Nov. 20, 2019 and Liam earned his on Feb. 19, 2020.  Thomas has been actively involved in Troop 252 for four years and has held positions of Senior Patrol leader, Scribe and Webmaster. Thomas’ Eagle Scout project was restoring/replacing the four Eureka Road historic signs on Eureka road.  Thomas plans to complete high school in a couple years and continue on to college to study computer science.  Liam has been involved in Troop 252 for six years and has held leadership positions of Senior Patrol Leader, Order of the Arrow representative.  Liam’s Eagle Scout project was building soccer benches and replacing the old signs at the Saxton’s River Recreation Area.   Liam plans to complete high school and then continue on to college to study Geology with a minor in Volcanology.
 
 
Eagle Scout Thomas Czwakiel with his Scoutmaster/Dad Bruce and Exalted Ruler Ed Knoras. 
 
 
Eagle Scout Liam Mallan with Dad/Mom Neil & Sherri Mallan, Scoutmaster Bruce Czwakiel and Exalted Ruler Ed Knoras.   
 
News items submitted by Michael Gunn