Children's Christmas Party
December 11, 2022
Another successful Elks event. The Children’s Christmas Party! Lots of kids and plenty of pizzas to go around. So great to see children’s smiles on their face. Thank you to those who volunteered in making the pizzas, serving and cleaning up. Hats off to Janet Gardner and Kasey Gardner for collecting names and doing the shopping. We know it wasn’t easy! Tony Verne and John Gaffney for making delicious pizzas! Check out the pictures below!
Harvest dinner meals, Warm Hands Warm Feet and the Children’s Christmas party were all made possible by donations from our members and the community who supports this great organization. Thank you to all!!
Elks Care ~ Elks Share
Operation Warm Feet, Warm Hands
On the morning of November 29, 2022, the Watertown Elks Lodge # 496 made a donation in the form of check to CAPC to cover the expense of the purchase of boots and mittens for area children as part of the Elks Annual Operation Warm Hands, Warm Feet. All this was made possible by generous donations of our Lodge members! The area children THANKS YOU and have made us beautiful Thank You cards
Pictured from left to right: PER Dennis J Brady; Mary Jane Mathewson - Family Center Director; PER Trustee Kathy Converse; Craig Cashman - CEO; PER Trustee Cheryl Clark; Trustee Linda Knight; Trish Gay - Head Start Family Special Sr. Specialist.
Elks Youth Hoop Shoot November 26th
2022-2023 Hoop Shoot
2022-2023 Hoop Shoot
2022-2023 Hoop Shoot
PER Dennis J Brady announcing Hoop Shoot contest rules and rules of the audience.
Our Volunteers
2022-2023 Hoop Shoot
2022-2023 Hoop Shoot
Of course, the Hoop Shoot contest could never be much of a success without our volunteers!!! NOTE: You do NOT have to be an Elk to volunteer in this event.
In this picture: Mike St. Joseph, Carol Cerow, PER Anthony J Verne, Geoff Mattraw, Frank Massa and sitting is PSP Tim Kelly. PER Joan Carlo also volunteered and she's the one behind the camera!!!
To all the volunteers, THANK YOU!!
Boys Age 8-9 Group
2022-2023 Hoop Shoot
Girls Age 8-9 Group
4 boys participated. Group winner:
1st Place - Landon Blair
2nd Place - Mallet Fargo
Girls Age 8-9 Group
Boys Age 10-11 Group
Girls Age 8-9 Group
Two girls participated.
1st Place - Harper Robbins
2nd Place - Morghan LaVancha
Boys Age 10-11 Group
Boys Age 10-11 Group
Boys Age 10-11 Group
Eight boys particpated.
1st Place - Braydon Burdick
2nd Place - Lucas St. Joseph
Boys Age 12-13 Group
Boys Age 10-11 Group
Boys Age 10-11 Group
Three boys participated.
1st Place - Mason Burdick
2nd Place - Shane Millan Jr
Watertown Elks Donates to the Community - November 23, 2022
At the VFW
On Wednesday morning, November 23rd, our Lodge has something extra to be Thankful for on Thanksgiving.
At the Veterans Outreach Center
Watertown Elks Lodge # 496 regretted not being able to provide Harvest Dinner for area senior citizens due to the snowmaggedon over the weekend, but we were able to serve turkey dinner to our members, and then donate the remainder to area community.
At the Salvation Army
Thanksgiving food was donated to the VFW, the Veterans Outreach Center, the Salvation Army and to the temporary shelter for the homeless in Watertown.
At the Temporary Shelter for the Homeless
Our hearts are full knowing we have contributed to our community and knowing that the homeless will have a nice Thanksgiving meal.
The meals were delivered by Exalted Ruler Ed Massa, PER Anthony Verne and PER Dennis J Brady.
Veterans Day Luncheon 2022
On Saturday, November 12th, 2022, Veterans Day Luncheon was held today at our Watertown Elks Lodge. Opened with a brief ceremony out across the street at our Lodge’s Honorary Outer Guard (Pvt Harold Wright) at 11:00 am. It was followed by opening with Exalted Ruler’s introduction of officers and his opening speech. PER Trustee Anthony J Verne led in prayer. Esteemed Leading Knight led with the scouts in the pledge of allegiance. Fort Drum Sergeant Garnett sang the National Anthem. Our guest speaker was Lt. Col. Peter Young from Fort Drum. PER Joan Carlo led in singing God Bless America to close the luncheon. A good day today.
See more photos
Dictionary Project - Drug Awareness Program
On November 9, 2022, Drug Awareness chairperson Anthony J. Verne (Watertown Lodge # 496 trustee, PER) went to Glen Park Elementary School to distribute dictionaries and to speak with four 3rd grade classes about the Dictionary, the Elks, what Elks do, the various programs that the Elks have.
The students were engaging and happy to have the beautiful dictionaries that were given to them. This is the 13th elementary school that he has distributed dictionaries to with five more to go, all in Jefferson County.
The Dictionary Project is part of the Drug Awareness program. Drug Awareness program is one of many programs that the Elks provide (Community Activity, Veterans, Youth, Government Relations, ENF, Major Projects, etc.).
ER Volunteer Appreciation Awards
Watertown Elks Scholarship Winners
(write up from Northern New York Community Foundation)
Congratulations to Keely Cooney (left) and KaiAnna S. Navarra (right) who are the 2023 recipients of the Watertown Elks 496 Scholarship.
Keely graduated in June from Immaculate Heart Central School and will attend Jefferson Community College this fall to study education. She aspires to become a history teacher. Keely is the daughter of Erin and Brandon Cooney, Watertown, and the granddaughter of Watertown Elks Lodge #496 members Edward and Carol Brown.
KaiAnna graduated from Watertown High School in June. She will attend Syracuse University this fall to study liberal arts. She will also compete on the university’s cheer team. KaiAnna is the daughter of Sarah Navarra and the granddaughter of Watertown Elks Lodge #496 Past Exalted Ruler Joseph Navarra.
In the picture above with Scholarship Winners: (from left to right) North Central District State Vice President/PER Joan Carlo; North Central District Ritual Chairman/PER Dennis J Brady; Keeley Cooney IHC 2023 grad; Trustee/PER Ed Massa; KaiAnna S. Navarra Watertown High 2023 grad; Esquire Karen Miller; Past State President/PER Timothy E Kelly; Inner Guard Linda Lepper; Esteemed Lecturing Knight/Scholarship Chair Margaret "Peg" Bootie.
The Watertown Elks Lodge #496 Scholarship is a $500 award presented annually to a family member of an Elk in good standing from the Watertown Elks Lodge.
We (Northern New York Community Foundation) are honored to steward this scholarship on behalf of Watertown Elks Lodge #496.