Eureka Lodge #1274

Eureka Lodge #1274 held our second drive-up chicken and polenta fundraising dinner on May 8th at the Elks Club parking lot. One hundred and seventy tickets were sold.

Thank you to the kitchen crew members: John Salizzoni, Donna & Dave Olivieri, John Senestraro.Nick Giannini, Ralph & Nancy Giannini, Betty & Gene Senestraro, Erling Dellabalma, Pam Newby, and Eddie Morgan.

And the driveway crew of Alisa Luzzi, Julie Stagnoli, Bonnie DuMond, and Adena Bohn.

Special thanks to the Elks Lodge for their convection ovens. Dave reports that it cooked 400 chicken thighs in 25 minutes!

We lost two of our former members in 2021: Leda Rossi and Bob Laffranchi. Though not very active in recent years Leda joined the Eureka Lodge in 1984.

She cheerfully took part in all of our dinner fundraisers and other events. Her renowned pasta sauce earned her the nickname “Mrs. Spaghetti” at the daycare she operated. She is survived by two daughters, four grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Bob Laffranchi and his wife, Carol, founded the Loleta Cheese Factory. He joined our Lodge in1996. He was always very generous with his donations of cheese to Lodge raffles and events. His daughter Nicole received our Paul and Irene Pinochi Scholarship in 1994. Nicole used the scholarship to attend Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles and while there founded the university’s student Italian-American club.

This year’s OSDIA convention will be held by zoom on June 26th. So, if you would like to watch, listen in, or want to make a comment contact our Lodge President John Salizzoni at 498- 0774.

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!