SPECIAL STARS
Receive Honor an Athlete Coins From Clark Lodge #764, Cleveland, Ohio Clark Lodge #764 Knights of Pythias continues its support of Special Olympics by working with the Special Stars (Bowlers) presenting six Athletic Coin Awards at the Special Stars Christmas Party. The Party was held at the West Side Irish American Club in Olmsted Twp, OH on Sunday, December 4th, 2011. The “Honor an Athlete Coins” were presented after dinner. CC Charles Reiner with the assistance of Lodge Trustee Les Brandais and Chuck Kiessling, presented Awards at the Special Stars annual Christmas Party. Brother PGC Stan Wolski was the photographer. Six Special Olympics Program, “Honor an Athlete Coins” were presented to Special Stars bowlers. There were over 250 in attendance. After the awards were presented the Special Stars donated 40 pounds of Tabs to Clark Lodge for their McDonald House project; Clark Lodge presents them to the McDonald House in Cleveland, Ohio as the Lodge donates items to the McDonald house such as, tabs, toiletries, cash, etc. Thank you Special Stars for your help!

CC Charles Reiner (L back row) with the assistance of Chuck Kiessling (C back row) and Lodge
Trustee Les Brandais (R back row), presented Awards at the Special Stars annual Christmas Party

95 Years Young!
Veronica Boyer, Past Grand Chief of Nevada, celebrated her 95th birthday.
Phoebe Temple #13 threw her a big party with Woody the Clown when she turned 90, but couldn't be with her for this party thrown by her family, so instead they sent her this big card. Veronica was delighted!!
She put the card in her walker and showed it to everyone she knew. We want to thank Juanita, Veronica's daughter for the picture!

Members of Mid Island Temple and the Grand Temple of New York visited The Ronald McDonald House to distribute toys during this holiday season. Ronald McDonald house is Grand Chief Jean Scheines project for the year.
Shown in photo are L to R Gert Siegel, Arlene Bobal, Barbara Friedman, Gail Schwartz, Grand Chief Jean Scheines, Anne Gropper, Jackie Kaufman, Harriet Keller Myrna Schwartz

Stonewall-Jasper Lodge in Charleston SC once again sponsored Wheels for Santa and donated over 40 bikes plus wheeled toys and more to Channel 2 in Charleston's TOYS FOR TOTS program. The KOP drive is headed up by Clarence KuyKendall PGC and Supreme Representative.

The 2011 Chanukkah Party was held on December 21st at the Knights of Pythias Castle Hall in West Ashley. Forty-one people were in attendance. Great food and fellowship were had by all! Many toys were donated by attendees for the MUSC Children's Hospital as well. A surprise visit by SANTA (of all people, we think he got lost but was welcomed) happened early in the evening!
(YES the beard is real...Santa was played by Clarence KuyKendall who was en route to the Hope Lodge Cancer center). Tim Carle and Donna Spencer led us in song! As we sang, ate and lit the candles we prayed for peace and
harmony for ourselves, Israel and the whole world! Many thanks to Marlene Williamon and Judy Carle for their coordination of the event and food!

The Florida Grand Lodge presented awards to the winners of their Annual Poster Contest.
The awards ceremony took place at the Donna Klein Hebrew High School
left to right: PC Bob Cheskes of Boca Delray Boynton Lodge # 206, immediate past CC, three winners of Grand Lodge contest, GIG Rabbi Arthur Pedowitz as the current
chair for Florida Grand Lodge and CC Edward Granoff Winners are: Taytum Orshan (1) Noa Levhar (2) and Kelsey Beer (3) Taytum also placed 4th
in Supreme Lodge Poster Contest..

The Charleston Pythian Family sponsored a float in the Annual Christmas Parades in Charleston and North Charleston SC on December 3rd and 4th.
Pictured:TOP: Jennifer Cox, Whoville Character, Laura Lee Browm, Cindy Lou Who,
Kimber Canady, Whoville Character.
Bottom: GC. Edward Brown, Max the Dog, SOG. Sir Bruce Brown, GMA. and
CC. Jon Zelasko, Max the Dog, And PGC. Clarence Kuykendall Jr., Mayor of Whoville.

Norfolk Temple #3 presented a check for $4030.00 to the EMVS Strelitz Diabetes Institute for research. The temple has raising money for the Diabetes institute since 1995. Sara Fitchett, who was then Grand Chief,
started the project for her granddaughter who has type1 diabetes. Since then Norfolk Temple, with the help of family, friends, and other Sisters,
has raised money for the Institute.

Sara Fitchett SR (center) and Faye Faella GM present check for $4030 to Dr. Aaron Vink from the Strelitz Institute. Dr. Vink said that a cure for diabetes was just around the corner.

Members of Mid Island Lodge visited the Nassau University Hospital to present toys to the kids in the pediatric wards.
They were joined by Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano and Legislators Dennis Dunne and Joseph Belesi who are all members of the Lodge. The toys are part of the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program.

Pat Elliott PSR(right) presents the first ever "Pythian Sister of the Year" award to Joyce Dilks at the banquet during the convention in Hagerstown, Maryland. Sister Joyce has been a most dedicated and hard working member of Forest Oak Temple #18, Gathersburg, Maryland for over 28 years. She served the Grand Temple of Maryland as Grand Treasurer from 1998 to 2003 and obtained the Supreme Temple degree in Norfolk, Virginia in 2008. She has unselfishly served for many years as the Chairman of Marylands' Grand Project regardless of the cause.

Members of the Grand Lodge of New York led by Chairman Sir Lloyd Merseon, and many State and local Legislators
were present at the recent Annual Coats for Kids donation. Each year the Grand Lodge of New York donates thousands of caots to this worthy cause. Many of our residents from many parts of the state can look forward to a warm coat in the cold winter days ahead.

We have always had Pythian programs for helping those less fortunate than us through Charity which is one of our key Pythian Principles. There is urgency during the Holidays to help families even more. We have given to Food Banks and Food Pantries throughout New Jersey for many years with donations of money and food. Yesterday (Monday December 19th, 2011) the members of Jersey Shore Lodge #76/167 purchased, in conjunction with some wonderful help from the Manager of the Toms River Stop and Shop Supermarket, thirty six (36) first quality fresh refrigerated canned hams. We delivered them to the Saint Josephs Food Pantry in Toms River to be distributed to families in need for their Holiday Dinners. This proves that Pythianism is alive and well and our principles are values to be exemplified by us all. The attached photographs are of the members and wives who helped purchase and deliver the hams to the Food Pantry for the families holiday dinners. PGC Sir Leon Ben-Ezra, PGC Sir David N. Bellask, Rochelle Bellask, DGC Allen Haller, and Merri Haller. Merri also volunteers at the Food Pantry every week.
Jersey Shore Lodge would like to thank Paul Lonergan Store Manager, Lauren Duffner Assistant Store Manager and Phil the Meat Manager of the Toms River Route 37 East Stop and Shop Supermarket for all their help.

The Grand Domain of Maryland has selected Fisher House as our project for the 2011 - 2012 year. Fisher House provides free accommodations for the families of wounded warriors while they are being treated at military medical facilities. The toys, etc, were collected during the Grand Chiefs' visits to subordinate temples. Fisher House is part of the Naval Hospital at Bathesda.
Grand Master at Arms, Paul David Moss PSR. is shown with some of the toys donated.
The lady unloading the van is Grand Chief, Francis Williams PSR

Jersey Shore Lodge of Lakewood, New Jersey, conferred the Rank of the Golden Spur on PDGC Stu Levy.
Brothers from The Domains of New Jersey and New York attended the ceremony. In the picture are L to R
Sir Stu Levy, PGC Sir Joe Spindel, Jersey Shore CC Irwin Netter, and SR Sir David Belask.

Benjamin Cardozo Lodge conferred the Rank of the Golden Spur on PDGC Jeff Zerowin.
Jeff is the President of the New Jersey Charity Foundation. Shown in the picture are L to R
SR Sir Saul Rochman, Sir Marvin Diner, and Jeff Zerowin. The ceremony took place at the lodge's castle hall in Fairlawn, New Jersey

The Special Olympics of Palm Beach County Florida held their annual Appreciation Banquet on November 19, where they honored all the coaches and volunteers. At the banquet they presented a plaque to PGC Irving Margulies (L) and PDSC Norman Bergstein in appreciation of the Support that the Knights of Pythias have given throughout 2011.

The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts made a $500 donation to the U.S. Marines, "Toys for Tots" Program on Monday evening, November 21. Accepting the check,
presented by our GVC Howard Levy, are Knights: a former Marine and Navy Corpsman.

The Leathernecks is a motorcycle organization that doesn't forget their roots. All of their members are present/former US Marines and/or US Navy Corpsmen.
What started as a Hingham, MA based organization is now nation wide.

Left to right - Leathernecks President, Jack "Wing Nut" Arsenault; Grand Vice Chancellor Howard R. Levy; Leathernecks Secretary, PGC Richard B. (Doc) Albert; and Rosie Jarcmin, widow of the founder of the Leathernecks.

2011-2013 Imperial Palace Officers. From row Left to right, Butch Gantt, PIP; Jim Rutherford, Basha; Rodger Siegel, Azim; Bernard Hollander, Adool; Back row, Left to Right, Martin Koehler, Secretary, PIP; Ken Moder, Treasurer; Mike Thornton, Ikfir; Brian McGuire, Imperial Prince
 

PGC Bill Rotenberry of Patrick Henry Lodge #82 became Sir Bill Rotenberry at the Grand Banquet. In an impressive ceremony, he was presented with the Golden Spur Award. PGC Billy regularly drives a church van. He also volunteers to drive a van for the V. A. Brother Rotenberry also puts his musical talents to good use. Several times a week he goes to nursing homes and plays music for the residents.
 

Sir Sherwood Stuart receiving his certificate, as a new Golden Spur recipient, from Grand Chancellor Wes Lanham at the West Virginia Convention in Martinsburg, West Virginia
 

The New Jersey Charity Foundation made their annual donation to the Deborah Heart and Lung Hospital at a recent luncheon at the Forsgate Country Club in Monroe New Jersey. Shown in Photo are L to R Dr. Jon George of Deborah, GC Sir Leon Ben Ezra, Ellen Krivchenia, Coordinator of the Deborah Hospital Foundation, SDGC Jeff Zerowin, President of the New Jersey Pythian Charity Foundation, Tina St.John-Bialt, Deborah Hospital and Valerie Harris of Deborah.
 

Dr Steven Bolton, a 40 year member of Detroit Lodge No. 55, announced that later this year the Mercy Place Clinic, which he founded 20 years ago, will double the number of patients it treats in its five examining rooms. Dr Bolton, a surgeon at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital, founded the clinic to help the poor and indigent and now serves between 200 and 300 patients each month.

Nassau County, Long Island New York honored the Knights of Pythias recently at Eisenhower Park.
The annual recognition is done on the anniversary of the Order. Pictured are members of the Grand Lodge and the lodges on Long Island.

 

Chief Deputy Norman Pinhas was presented with the Volunteer Achievement Award at the New Jersey Annual Grand Lodge Convention. Shown in the photo are LtoR Grand Chancellor Sir Leon Ben Ezra, Norman Pinhas, Supreme Inner Guard Sir Joel Fierstein.
 

Nine Past Grand Chiefs of Texas gathered to give support to the present Grand Chief Tanya Self.

(L to R) SR Veta Kiser, PSR Virginia Kelley, PSR Wanda Stanford, PGC Jamie Carter, PSR Theola Duncan, PSR Belinda Talbot, PSR Darla Bologh, PSR Dovie Wright, PSR Betty Talbot

Crescens Lodge #33 of New Castle, IN held a banquet honoring Jesse Edward,  1st place winner of the National Poster Contest. Jesse was given a check for $1,000 from Supreme Lodge for a total of $1,600 altogether. Dave
Hensel, Poster Contest chairman of Indiana, was present along with the National Chairman Keith Stooksberry SP. Placques from Crescens Lodge were given to Jesse for his poster and to Dale Hardacre, art teacher of Winchester Community High School. Dale has been responsible for promoting the poster contest to his students and has 6 winners in the past years. Picture L-R: Keith Stooksberry SP - National Chairman; Dale Hardacre - Art teacher; Jesse Edwards - 1st Place National Poster Contest winner; Dave Hensel - Director of Youth Activities, KP of Indiana.

PACDGC Saul Rasnick, PDGC Art Cassidy, PC Syd Cohen, and PACDGC Bruce Nelson, from Rochester Jay Lodge #639 present a $1000 check to Samantha
Standing, Vice President of Development of the Jewish Home Foundation, on behalf of the Morris Smoller Social Services Fund of the Grand Lodge
of New York, Knights of Pythias.
 

Grand Chief Kathi Jamison of the State of Nevada was given the honor & privilege to present Alice Brinsko her 75 year Service Pin. Alice is a member of Phoebe Temple #13, Fallon, Nevada.

The Nomads of Avrudaka elected the following officers for the Imperial Santha at their convention in Charlotte, NC.
Sitting L-R:
Debbie Greensill Maharani - BC
Donald Baker Maharajah - OH
Standing L-R:
Linda Choate Imperial Zamorin - TX
Linda Bridges Imperial Swami - TX
Lonnie Baughman Imperial Scribe - OH
Judie Shamis Imperial Second Warder - OH
Gay Rutherford Imperial Yuvarani - BC
Helen Ann Bishop Imperial Treasurer - OH
June Cameron Imperial First Warder - Maritimes

On behalf of the Servicemen and Veterans Committee New City Orangetown Lodge #854 has donated to Castle Point V.A. Facility, in Beacon N.Y., three coffee makers to be used in three wards were veterans live permanently

Left to right are PGC Sir Michael Sukenick, PCDGC Sir Joseph Robinson, Committee Chairman Raymond Rodgers, Volunteer Services VA Hudson Valley HCS Sr. Sir Morton Hirsh.

On August 2nd Battleground Centennial Lodge No. 100, bestowed the Rank of the Golden Spur on PGC Joseph Spindel. Joe is one of the most active and involved members of the Domain of New Jersey. The ceremony was performed before a packed castle hall in Freehold, New Jersey. The team performing the ceremony was composed of all Knights of the Golden Spur. The photo shows Sir David Bellask (right) conferring the rank. The marching team included (L to R) Sir Joel Bergenfeld, Sir Bob Epstein, Sir Sheldon Gould, Sir Skip Zarra, Sir Leon Ben Ezra and the new Sir Joe Spindel. Also taking part in the rank were Sir Joel Fierstein, Sir Marvin Diner, Sir Martin Birnbaum, Sir Jay Weiner, And Robert Blum.

Sheepshead Bay Lodge #501 presented the Supreme Chancellor with a computer carry case, for use on his many trips around the order. The presentation was made at the recent Domain of New York Annual Convention in Callicoon, New York.

(L to R) PDGC Jerry Scheines, PDGC Gary Nalick, PGC Martin Fasting, SC Ed Wright, PACDGC Roy Triguero.

The Order of the Red Jacket has recently been increased by two, with the presentation of the jackets to New York Grand Chancellor Mike Sukenick and New Jersey Grand Chancellor Sir Leon Ben Ezra. These presentations started in 1999 in New York’s 2nd Pythian District and expanded to New Jersey in 2005.

New Jersey

(L to R) PGC Harvey Hamerling, PGC Harold Weinstein, GC Sir Leon Ben Ezra, PGC Sir Joseph Spindel, PGC Sir Martin Birnbaum, PDSC Sir Joel Bergenfeld, PDSC Sir Bob Epstein

New York
(L to R) PGC Marty Fasting, PGC Alan Greenberg, PGC Alan Ast, SR Sir Jordan Levy PDSC Sir Julian Martin, GC Sir Mike Sukenick, SR Sir Edward Birnbaum, SMA Sir Alan Krell, PGC Jerry Silver, PGC Roger Seigel (Front row) PDSC Sir Kenneth Danker and SR Sir Morton Hirsch

Hillsboro Pythians have held several spaghetti dinners with bingo as fund raisers for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life events. This year the group contributed over $2,000 towards finding a cure for cancer. On the weekend of the June 25-26, event over 20 Hillsboro Pythians members, their family and friends gathered at the Hillsboro Fairgrounds. Several took turns walking the track so that our team would have someone walking for the 24 hours of the event. Some made items to sell to raise more funds. The members also placed a tribute to our late Brother John Lacy, who had been an ACS Relay for Life committee member for several years as well as serving as Hillsboro’s team captain several times. Members took turns wearing John’s silver KOP jacket and hat as they walked the track. When ACS opened the weekend event the announced moment of silence was offered by ACS in John’s memory.