Columbia Lodge #1940
MAKES GOOD ON ITS TOYS FOR TOTS PROGRAM

A group of us met on December 20th at the main fire house in San Mateo at 10:00 AM, only to be told that none of the fire houses were not accepting toys in 2020 as a result of COVID-19. They are accepting gift cards to be distributed to the agency to purchase toys. They did recommend the Central County Fire Department

The Roma Lodge January article for the Il Leone normally would be filled with pictures of our annual Christmas party featuring a delicious ham and yam dinner, talent by our junior members, homemade pies for dessert made by members and a visit from Santa Claus. Each of our junior members would receive a Christmas stocking filled with candy and toys and everyone would have a great time.

Unfortunately, the year of 2020 has been anything but normal. We had a successful drive through polenta/stew dinner for over 125 of our members in November and scheduled a similar event for our annual holiday get-together. Unfortunately, just two days before the event the governor declared a shutdown for Tulare County and we had to notify over 110 members, who had RSVP to attend the event, we were forced to cancel it.

In 2020 we had also scheduled our 90th anniversary celebration for which we had a couple of local carpenters build a display case

Lou Catallo, Historian; (559) 299-2205 lcatallo@aol.com

Seeing the year 2020 in the rearview mirror is now a happy occasion; it was truly an eventful and trying period. Luckily, things are getting brighter for this new year. Our heroes today get their flu and Covid-19 shots and wear masks. For everyone that gets their shots, three to eight other people get protected, depending on where and how you live. As we begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel, pray with us that it is not an oncoming train; and, remember: we are still in the tunnel; safety precautions are still advised.

Avere una famiglia significa che hai qualcuno da amare (Having family means you have someone to love).

If you are looking for something to do, the Clovis Farmers Market

Happy New Year! 2021, I feel like none of us really got to celebrate our holidays, milestones and birthdays, I think we can be allowed to keep our ages from 2020. Hopefully, you all had a Merry Christmas, wherever you were, and however you celebrated.

Since we are still under our State Covid 19 guidelines, we are still not meeting for the foreseeable future. Just because we have access to a vaccine, it does not mean we can be lax in our lives. Please keep wearing your masks and social distancing. Wash your hands often and limit contact with people outside