Ernest Joseph Bertaina (Ernie) passed away on July 4, 2002, at his home with his loved ones by his side. Born in Hanford in 1928 to Barney and Rosie Bertaina, he attended kindergarten in a one-room schoolhouse (South School). He attended Jefferson Elementary, then graduated 8th grade from St.Rose Catholic school in 1943. He was a Hanford High graduate with the Class of 1947.

Ernie had so many jobs throughout his lifetime. He farmed with his family; drove a school bus for Hanford High School; worked for Bertram Motor Sales and

Roma Lodge holds its Junior Member Night at the August meeting each year. The lodge has about 60 junior members and over 25 attended the meeting. They conducted the opening and closing ceremonies and enjoyed getting a lot of back-to-school supplies. Nearly 80 members of the lodge

There are all kinds of songs and odes to summer; the joys, the fun, the pursuit of fireflies on a lovely evening, etc., etc! Nobody who lives in our desert wrote any of them! Perhaps some wrote songs or odes lamenting the lack thereof! But once again I’m writing to say that changes are coming. A sign of that is our doors open October 12! It signals the joy that our lovely falls are about to begin, and perhaps you’ll have the opportunity to play a round of golf without the danger of heat stroke. WHICH BRINGS ME TO A POINT!

Our third annual golf tournament is just over the horizon. Tee off is Monday, November 14, 2022. AND THAT MEANS

Hello from Redding:

This past weekend was a big one for our lodge. Paesano Days was held Friday, September 16th and Saturday, September 17th. Friday night was the start of our bocce tournament, and our Spaghetti Dinner. We served about 900 people. The weather was perfect and our new layout at the park worked out great. By noon Saturday we had sold out of cannoli, and shortly thereafter we were out of raffle tickets. The Bocce Tournament went well with 30 teams participating. The winners were

Spaghetti & meatballs, so Italian, but not so in Italy. This dish is truly an American development, curtesy of the Italian immigrants of the late 1800s. The meatballs existing in Italy (called polpetta), are smaller than their American cousins, and are usually eaten as a dish of their own. However, when my dad did the cooking during The Great War (now, WWI), his family recipe included meatballs and other meats in the ragu (sauce). The meatballs were golf ball sized and tossed into the sauce raw to cook.

Last month August)) we met at Luna’s with an expanded group. Also,