Dolly Sinatra Lodge #2400

In preparation to writing this article I reread the last column I wrote for IL LEONE, with our collected hopes that the Lodge would reopen in October 2020. Didn’t happen! Not close! Now finally, with the advent of vaccinations and precautions, I think we can breathe a little easier, and try to pick up where we left off. Our President Joe LaPorta and I recently had lunch, and he told me of the wonderful plans, and you’ll be happy to hear them! Getting to this point wasn’t easy Joe said, as he had to wade through a myriad of issues and regulations from the State of California, the city of Palm Springs and liquor board. All with their own directives and issues. Joe further regaled me with stories of keeping our Lodge maintenance up, and stories of encounters with those that wanted to make the grounds and Lodge their new home!

The doors are set to swing open this coming October 13th 2021, and there to herald your arrival will be Joe and Lori, at the front desk, checking your name of the list, Renee and her kitchen crew masterfully preparing dinner, and our ever charismatic Frank Di Salvo strumming a few chords on his guitar and greeting all! Saw Lori Harvey the other evening and she said she has her list of names out to start calling you for reservations and a cheerful word.

In other words we’re all enthusiastic to start a new season of our Lodge. We have a fantastic Lodge, amazing entertainers and a wonderful crew of volunteers putting the evening together. So invite a friend to come, to join the Lodge and become regular participants. They’ll be winers for the esperience.

Frank Di Salvo will be singing and entertaining on our opening day, on the following Wednesdays Michael DiAngelo will be dancing and singing, and the next week we’ll have singing (and telling mostly corny jokes) Larry Capeloto, will all be back entertaining and amusing us! Additionally so many magnificent guest entertainers will be occasionally joining the evening festivities. Too numerous to list but all welcome and fun. And Norm will be there to keep us appraised of Roses performances. We are indeed very lucky to have everyone back and giving their all!!

Our second annual Golf Tournament is coming! The tournament will be played Monday, Novembe15th, at Indian Ridge Golf Resort in Palm Springs 92264 starting with registration at 7am using the “shotgun 4 man best ball” format. Cost is $150 members, $175 non-member which includes green fees, cart and Italian Buffet. The buffet at $42.00 per person is also open to anyone not playing in the tournament, who wants to be a part of the festivities, and is a whole lot of FUN! So everyone get aboard this great time, and call Joe LaPorta at 760.219.9171 or email joeydoor@dc.rr.com for information and registration. WE HAD GUESTS FROM OTHER LODGES AT OUR INAUGRAL TOURNAMENT AND THEY HAD A BLAST AND WE WELCOME THEM AND OTHER LODGES TO PARTICIPATE! And from proceeds at that tournament we were able to donate $5,000 to the Western Foundation Sons of Italy!! Tee hole name sponsorship placards for this exciting event are $100 per hole and available through Joe per above info. See you there and have a BLAST!!!

Saw George Ciampa at a birthday party celebrating his 96th birthday with his vibrant wife Dottie at Picaso’s Lounge the other night, where Michael DiAngelo and company were entertaining, and George is still looking forward to his Honoree of the Year awards dinner, postponed last year. George simply put is an amazing man who has given so much to our country. Much more about George in coming issues. That celebration will be at our Annual Ball in March or April.

In the last year, since the pandemic started, and we were closed, we still awarded 3 scholarships to very deserving students, and made our annual Christmas donation to the Barbara Sinatra Toys for Tots program. In other words we were able to make our annual charitable donations with your help and continued membership as we’re not only open for fun.

Much more news on the golf tournament and all the wonders and fun, as we begin our 43rd year of our Lodge. Hoping we see you there as we’ve missed you all. It’s been a very long year, but we’re back!!

“I want you to say a prayer to the Il Leone Editor Andy Pampuro. He is ailing and needs a prayer from all of you. Andy, his wife Louise and caregiver Sylvia are all fighting with him. Please send a prayer and a loving thought their way.”