Central District

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Written by Susan Slater

On Dec. 13, Dottie Sollmann, Zephyrhills Lodge volunteer and widow of a member, hosted the annual Special Citizens Christmas party. Throughout the year, the lodge raised funds with 50/50 raffles at fish fries and other events, and members made donations as well. Party guests were from local adult day care centers, facilities and autistic schools. Lunch included hamburgers, french fries and punch, with ice cream and cookies for dessert. Member Barry Oliver donated his time to play Christmas songs. Santa (Steve Ipson) gave everyone a stocking filled with goodies as well as stuffed animals, which were donated by the lodge Veterans Committee.

Volunteers pictured are Corrine Turner (nonmember), Barbara Conklin, Ceil Muloon (spouse of an Elk), Marge Brooks, Beth Ipson, Valary Roberts (Antlers member), Donna Penrod, Dottie Sollmann (widow of an Elk) and Barbara Wilson. Also pictured is the dining hall filled with guests.

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Written by Carmen Rivera

On Dec. 20, Orlando Lodge provided a young family in need with a holiday gift. Salome Piedrahita received five Publix Supermarket gift cards totaling $125. In addition, she received $100 cash to buy presents for her 12-year-old twin siblings, Nicholas and Maria. Salome is a 24-year-old full-time college student at the University of Central Florida. She works full-time and is raising her siblings after both parents died of cancer. Although family members wanted the smaller children to move to New York, she promised their mother that she would not separate the family. Salome shows them value, takes them to church, encourages them to study hard and even finds time to volunteer at the lodge. 

Pictured are Mike McClay, Exalted Ruler; Salome Piedrahita; and Diane Politi, Secretary. Also pictured are Nicholas Delarosa, Salome Piedrahita and Maria Delarosa.

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Written by Susan Slater

On May 19, Zephyrhills Lodge presented the Zephyrhills High School yearbook staff with a $500 check in The Bull Pen media room. The donation will pay for eight students to attend a three-day seminar in Orlando, Florida, where they will learn all the ins and outs of creating a yearbook, including publishing and marketing their product. The students participating are Ava Stephens, Dylan Fleshood, Benjamin Will, Ashley Ford, JT Dobbins, Ariana Cotto, Thanh Tran and Kaiden Lee.

Pictured are Thomas Fernandez, teacher; Ann McDonald, Chaplain; Ava Stephens and Dylan Fleshood, students; and Marie Vesta, Exalted Ruler.

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Written by Carmen Rivera

Field Service Officer David Grassi had been with the Orange County Sheriff's Office nearly 19 years, serving residents and visitors. He started in 2003 as a 911 operator. In 2008, he became a field service officer, civilian employees who direct traffic and look for parking violations as well as respond to non-emergency, non-in-progress calls such as burglary, theft and stolen vehicle calls. On Dec. 11, 2021, while working off-duty monitoring a lane closure on I-4 eastbound near the Kaley Street exit early in the morning, FSO Grassi’s marked patrol vehicle was struck by another driver, and he was transported to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. FSO Grassi died in the line of duty. His widow, Nancy, is also a member of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office family; she has been an emergency communications specialist in the Communications Center since 2007. Orlando Elks Lodge #1079 presented Mrs. Grassi with a donation of $1,000 to help her financially.

Pictured May 12 are OCSO Master Deputy Carmen Rivera, lodge trustee, and Nancy Grassi.

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Written by Susan Slater

On April 7, Zephyrhills Elks Lodge #2731 donated $1,500 to the Zephyrhills YMCA. All donations to the YMCA are used for scholarships for children in need for summer camp and swimming lessons and safety. The YMCA serves the community and brings people together with youth programs and community health programs.

Pictured are Alex Delgado, Zephyrhills YMCA operations manager, and Marie Vesta, Exalted Ruler.