Vallejo Lodge

Memorable…Heartwarming….Amazing….and those are only a few of the adjectives that pertain to the Scholarship Presentation Dinner held on Sunday, June 4, 2023. The evening opened with a Welcome given by Virgilio President Ray Bini. Pledge of Allegiance lead by VP Tony Intintoli. Invocation offered by Past State President John Costa. Past scholarship recipients Melody and Violet Sparks sung an incredible a cappella rendition of the National Anthem. Assisting in serving the spaghetti & meatball dinner were two additional past scholarship recipients Crissy Bini and Cody Tarantino.

This year’s recipients included: Kelly Harms from Benicia High school receiving the Virgilio and Beatrice Portinari scholarship and was handed her certificate by Ray & Pamela Bini. Ava I. Nichols from Dixon’s Chesterton Academy received the Veronica Tarantino Memorial Scholarship, which was presented by Rosemarie Tarantino and Family, and she also received the Virgilio Lodge Scholarship. The Gianna & Harry Manfredi Memorial Scholarship went to Devin A. Nichols from Chesterton Academy and was presented by the CEO of Medic Ambulance, Helen Pierson. Angelina Maria Ocasio from Benicia High School received the Henry Tredway Memorial Scholarship donated by Robert Dapiran. The Josephine Agosta Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Alyssa Schafer and presented by Susan Cahan & Family. Grand Lodge Scholarship recipients included Kyle Ghisletta from St. Vincent De Paul High School in Petaluma, who received the Virgilio Scholarship Honoring the Veterans of Solano County, but was not able to join us for the presentation dinner. Recipient of the Beatrice Portinari Scholarship Honoring Adeline Nettleton was Lee Ann Tommasi, from Sonoma Valley High School with IP President of Beatrice handing her the framed certificate. President Ray Bini, assisted by Master of Ceremonies Mike Brigandi, introduced each student, announced their planned course of study and where they had chosen to attend college.

Closing remarks offered by the final president of Beatrice Portinari Lodge, Pamela Bini. Lee Sparks, a Virgilio Trustee, provided numerous photos to celebrate and record the evening’s festivities. A thank you to the Scholarship Committee: Fred Asche, Tony Intintoli, Evelyn Fox, Rick Branch and Pamela & Ray Bini.

Convention News pertaining to our Lodge…..At the Tuesday night meeting held on July 11th, a champagne toast to Pamela Bini, one of the newly elected State Trustees North. We appreciate her dedication to OSDIA and know she will do an outstanding job. Another highlight was the awarding of the Janet Cappello Award to Karen & Mike Carroll. For many years our lodges had the privilege of having them as our deputies. Congratulations to all the newly elected State Officers.

Stai bene e goditi ogni giorno!