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Guests at the Glendale Elks Lodge at their 100th birthday bash are San Marino residents Cheryl Andersen and husband Aron, a member of Pasadena Elks Lodge #672. He is also district leader of the San Gabriel Valley District. (Courtesy photo / January 4, 2013) |
The Glendale Elks Lodge #1289 just celebrated the 100th anniversary of their founding and Pasadena has a lot to do with it. When Glendale's original lodge was destroyed by fire set by an arsonist in 1986, members of Pasadena Elks Lodge #672 stepped in to help. They offered the use of their Pasadena facilities by Glendale Elks for four years. The Metropolitan and San Gabriel districts provided support from sister lodges. But Pasadena Lodge's hospitality allowed the membership of Glendale to continue to perform their commitments to the community.
On Friday (Dec. 28) Glendale Elks pulled out all the stops for their themed “Celebrating 100 Years of Service” dinner party. About 250 members and guests in their best finery filled the Glendale Lodge hall on Colorado. They were welcomed by Exalted Ruler Richard Adams and Event Chairman Hugh Scanlon, recently retired from his office as president of the California-Hawaii Elks Assn.
Wife Dale Scanlon and daughter Shannon Scanlon accompanied Hugh as he escorted Elk VIPs into the lodge. They were Elks National President Thomas S. Brazier and the current California-Hawaii Assn. President Art Echternacht. Locally, he's a member of Santa Ana Elks Lodge #794. Brazier and Echternacht were later introduced to Tournament of Roses officials at the Rose Parade on Jan 1.
The party's piece de resistance, however, was the banquet of bacon-wrapped filets and lobster medallions cooked up by Executive Chef and Glendale Elks member Jerry Salthouse. The chef is known for serving President Reagan, Princess Grace and Prince Rainier of Monaco and members of the Pasadena Senior Center. That's right, for 15 years Chef Salthouse has volunteered as executive chef at the center. He dresses the part, donning his towering chef's hat that indicates his title of certified executive chef.
At the Pasadena Senior Center, local seniors feast on Salthouse-prepared holiday lunches. The midday meals often include 400 to 600 fans of gourmet eating. For St. Patrick's Day, for instance, the chef will make slow-cooked corned beef and cabbage. Thanksgiving is turkey dressed to the nines.
Chef Salthouse also pays a visit each month for the center's birthday lunch and prepares a feast enjoyed by birthday seniors and their center friends.
Dessert is created from the chef's favorite cake recipe. The 78-year-old Salthouse, a Pasadena resident, is fond of the Pasadena Senior Center members and guests who dine on his meals. He calls them “my seniors.”
At the Glendale Elks party, Salthouse assistant Vince Sultanian was chief lighter of the flame on 30 Baked Alaska cakes. The cakes took several days to prepare. The dessert was the “icing on the cake” for a dinner fit for a king, or in Elks-speak, a Grand Exalted Ruler.
A short program introduced Garry Ackerman as “Elk of the Year.” Randy Wolff was given the same honor in 2008 and was also the 1998 “Elk of the Year” of the Pasadena Lodge. Later, Wolff demitted to Glendale.
San Marino residents attending the party were Aron and Cheryl Andersen. Aron is district leader of the San Gabriel Valley District as well as a member of Pasadena Elks Lodge #672.
As if this party wasn't enough, at $37.50 per person the same festivities, food, champagne and good humor were repeated on New Year's Eve. That one was to accommodate the overflow crowd. The Elks take care of their own, no matter city they serve. Go Elks!
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RUTH SOWBY may be reached at ruthasowby@gmail.com.
On Friday (Dec. 28) Glendale Elks pulled out all the stops for their themed “Celebrating 100 Years of Service” dinner party. About 250 members and guests in their best finery filled the Glendale Lodge hall on Colorado. They were welcomed by Exalted Ruler Richard Adams and Event Chairman Hugh Scanlon, recently retired from his office as president of the California-Hawaii Elks Assn.
Wife Dale Scanlon and daughter Shannon Scanlon accompanied Hugh as he escorted Elk VIPs into the lodge. They were Elks National President Thomas S. Brazier and the current California-Hawaii Assn. President Art Echternacht. Locally, he's a member of Santa Ana Elks Lodge #794. Brazier and Echternacht were later introduced to Tournament of Roses officials at the Rose Parade on Jan 1.
The party's piece de resistance, however, was the banquet of bacon-wrapped filets and lobster medallions cooked up by Executive Chef and Glendale Elks member Jerry Salthouse. The chef is known for serving President Reagan, Princess Grace and Prince Rainier of Monaco and members of the Pasadena Senior Center. That's right, for 15 years Chef Salthouse has volunteered as executive chef at the center. He dresses the part, donning his towering chef's hat that indicates his title of certified executive chef.
At the Pasadena Senior Center, local seniors feast on Salthouse-prepared holiday lunches. The midday meals often include 400 to 600 fans of gourmet eating. For St. Patrick's Day, for instance, the chef will make slow-cooked corned beef and cabbage. Thanksgiving is turkey dressed to the nines.
Chef Salthouse also pays a visit each month for the center's birthday lunch and prepares a feast enjoyed by birthday seniors and their center friends.
Dessert is created from the chef's favorite cake recipe. The 78-year-old Salthouse, a Pasadena resident, is fond of the Pasadena Senior Center members and guests who dine on his meals. He calls them “my seniors.”
At the Glendale Elks party, Salthouse assistant Vince Sultanian was chief lighter of the flame on 30 Baked Alaska cakes. The cakes took several days to prepare. The dessert was the “icing on the cake” for a dinner fit for a king, or in Elks-speak, a Grand Exalted Ruler.
A short program introduced Garry Ackerman as “Elk of the Year.” Randy Wolff was given the same honor in 2008 and was also the 1998 “Elk of the Year” of the Pasadena Lodge. Later, Wolff demitted to Glendale.
San Marino residents attending the party were Aron and Cheryl Andersen. Aron is district leader of the San Gabriel Valley District as well as a member of Pasadena Elks Lodge #672.
As if this party wasn't enough, at $37.50 per person the same festivities, food, champagne and good humor were repeated on New Year's Eve. That one was to accommodate the overflow crowd. The Elks take care of their own, no matter city they serve. Go Elks!
--
RUTH SOWBY may be reached at ruthasowby@gmail.com.
