The Lake Current - Oct. 10, 2017
Here's the latest on what's happening at our council!
Attention Council Members! Please come to our October general business meeting tomorrow (Wednesday, 10/11). We'll be serving a great dinner at 6:30 p.m., and then our brief meeting begins at 7:30 p.m.

We have many important events to discuss and plan for, especially our Annual Dinner Dance on Saturday, November 4th . ( See full story below ) And, we'll be announcing the winners of our Knight of the Year and Family of the Year awards at tomorrow's meeting, so don't miss it !
We Honor the Namesake of our Order!

Thank you to all of our members, friends, and family who marched in the Putnam County Columbus Day Parade in Mahopac on Sunday, October 1st. It was a picture-perfect day for a parade, and Putnam's Italian-American pride was on full display! Thanks also to our members who helped prepare and serve a hearty pasta luncheon at our council that afternoon for the returning marchers and our other guests.

Yesterday was officially Columbus Day. Christopher Columbus is the namesake of our Order, and the Knights of Columbus proudly celebrate this holiday. In doing so we honor his heroic efforts and also the culture and heritage of the Italian people, and their many contributions to America.

With all of the controversy ginned-up about Columbus right now, it is also a good time to set the record straight and put things in proper context. One good essay on the subject argues that the modern, negative view of Columbus "represents an unjust attack upon both our country and the civilization that made it possible. Western civilization did not originate slavery, racism, warfare, or disease — but with America as its exemplar, that civilization created the antidotes. How? By means of a set of core ideas that set Western civilization apart from all others: reason and individualism."
Read the rest here .
Our Oktoberfest was Wunderbar!

If you missed our Oktoberfest last Saturday, you missed an awesome time ! Over 175 guests enjoyed authentic German food, German beers, live German music, and lots of fun in our beer hall, lounge, and outdoor beer garden.

Starters included hot Bavarian pretzels with our homemade beer-cheese dipping sauce, potato pancakes with applesauce, and German Sliders made with beer-boiled and grilled bratwurst, served with our own special sauerkraut. Our beer selections included Spaten Ur-Märzen, Sam Adams Oktoberfest, and Franziskaner Hefeweizen. And best of all was our homemade full Wiener Schnitzel dinner with all the sides (red cabbage, mashed potatoes, green beans amandine, hunter gravy, pumpernickel rolls), with fresh apple strudel a la mode for dessert.

As usual, the music from the famous Austrian Boys Band was fantastic! We also had a blast cheering on the contestants in the traditional stein-lifting contests for men and ladies.
As you can imagine, this event required a tremendous amount of planning, prep work, setup, decorating, and cooking, to make it all work so smoothly. We had a great team of volunteers under the leadership of our event chairman and head chef, Schnitzelmeister Mike Bock (pictured here). Thank you Mike and all of our wonderful volunteers, and thanks to all of our guests who supported the event. We're doing it again next year on October 6, 2018 - so plan to be there!
Our EVENT OF THE YEAR : Annual Dinner Dance & Awards Ceremony - Nov. 4th

Live Music - Comedy Performance - Dancing - Awards Ceremony - Souvenir Journal - Raffles

Join us for our 46th Anniversary Annual Dinner Dance and Awards Ceremony ! Fine dining, LIVE MUSIC, LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, NEW CATERER , dancing, raffles, and recognition of our members who do so much to make our council so special.
 
Last year was such a great success that we are once again holding our Annual in the St. James school gymnasium so we have plenty of room to spread out, dance, and host the band and a special guest performer. This year's Annual promises to be MEMORABLE and HUGE FUN, so get in your reservation today! (RESERVATIONS ARE A MUST!)
 
We're proud to feature the musical stylings of SOULMATES ("Music from the Heart and Soul") and the comic genius of FRAN CAPO !
 
We're also thrilled to announce we have all new catering by Patrick's Pub & Grill of Mahopac, featuring premium meats carving stations and fantastic appetizers like their Blarney Rolls (corned beef & cabbage) and Irish rice balls.
 
As usual, the night will start at 7 p.m. with a cocktail hour with plenty of hot hors d’oeuvres, followed by a great catered buffet dinner, our brief awards ceremony, live entertainment and dancing, and delicious desserts & coffee. Open bar all night!

We will announce our Knight of the Year and Family of the Year shortly, but you will definitely want to turn out to show your support for our very worthy honorees!
  
------> $80 each or $150 per couple* <------
Reservations required by October 27th
(*$90 each / $175 per couple after 10/27 and at the door so make your reservations now!)
 
Contact Rob at gk@carmelknights.org to make your reservations, or just send your check to Joe Groneman, Council 6318, 10 Fair Street, Carmel NY 10512.
 
And don't forget to please see PGK Jonathan Garcia or any council officer to take out a journal ad . Journal ads help us defray the cost of the event, and give you an opportunity to congratulate our honorees and/or promote your business. Click here to download the ad form. Get in your ad copy by 10/27.
Make-A-Wish Pocketbook Bingo Fundraiser - Oct. 21


Join us for a fun-tastic evening of bingo on Saturday, October 21st, where all the prizes are high-end designer handbags. Our Ladies Auxiliary Pocketbook Bingo event is a major fundraiser for an awesome charity: Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley !
Since receiving its charter in 1986, Make-A-Wish   Hudson Valley has granted the wishes of more than 2,300 children in our region with life-threatening medical conditions. Serving the eight counties of Delaware, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester, the Chapter’s mission is to ensure that every child residing in the Hudson Valley who qualifies for Make-A-Wish services is granted his or her fondest wish. While wishes are referred and completed on an ongoing basis, an average of 110 wishes are in progress at any given time. Our fundraiser will be helping make the wishes come true for two local children!
Admission is $50 and attendance is limited to the first 100 players (age 18 or older). We expect this event to sell out quickly , so RSVP and pre-pay today, but no later than October 16th! For RSVP & payment details, click here to email, or speak with Gail Silke or Maria Barry.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; House rules read at 6:45 p.m. First game starts promptly at 7 p.m. Your payment includes your admission and all-nighters. Extra Specials and Bell Jar tickets will also be sold! Coffee, tea and cake will be served. Grilled burgers and hot dogs will be available for purchase.

...and Second Sundays Bingo Continues!

We had another fun night last Sunday with the second in our series of Sunday Night Cash Bingo events featuring a $500 jackpot, presented by our Ladies Auxiliary on the second Sunday every month this fall. We have two more to go, on November 12 and December 10. All monies raised go to local charities!

Admission is $40 and attendance is limited to the first 100 players (age 18 or older). RSVP and payment are due 5 days before each game night. For RSVP & payment details, email: ladieskofc@gmail.com .

Doors open at 5 p.m. House rules read at 5:45 p.m. First game starts promptly at 6 p.m. Your payment includes your admission and all-nighters. Extra Specials and Bell Jar tickets will also be sold! Coffee, tea and cake will be served.
Hurricane Relief Collection Drive a Success!

Thank you to everybody who responded so generously -- and quickly! -- to the recent collection drives for the victims of the hurricanes in the Gulf Coast. In only a few days we were able to collect a sizable amount of donations that were sent down to help the people who needed it the most. Thanks to President Gail Silke and the Ladies Auxiliary for another great job in helping us fulfill our mission of charitable service!









  • Passing of Ronald L. Drumheller - We are saddened to report the passing of Ronald Drumheller, father-in-law of our brother Knight Nick Fannin. Visitation will be this Wednesday (10/11) from 3-5 and 7-9 p.m. at Balsamo-Cordovano Funeral Home in Carmel. A Funeral Mass for Ronald will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday (10/12) at St. John the Evangelist Church in Mahopac. His obituary may be found here. Please keep Nick, his wife Kristen, and their family in your thoughts and prayers.

  • The Westchester-Putnam Chapter Charities of the KofC is once again "Freezin' for a Reason" -- and that reason is to raise funds for Special Olympics. Each council has been challenged to participate in this year's Polar Plunge. Support the Chapter's team by clicking here to join the team or to make a donation. Then, take a dip at noon on Saturday, November 18th, at Glen Island Park in New Rochelle. There are no minimums for donations, and everyone is invited to take the plunge (ankle-deep or fully submerged - it's up to you!). Bring the whole family for a fun time, and have them cheer you on and hand you a towel.

  • The Westchester-Putnam Chapter will also be holding a Fundraising Dinner to benefit our seminarians enrolled in St. Joseph's Seminary on Monday, November 13th, at Fr. Dunphy Council (139 N. Broadway, White Plains) starting at 6:30 p.m. Our council is supporting this event by taking a journal ad, and we are also planning on sending at least one table of brothers to the dinner. If you would like to attend, please let GK Rob or DGK Steve know A.S.A.P. For more information from the Chapter, you may also contact Chris Cohen at (914) 813-3015 or by email.

  • The 2017 Catholic Men's Conference will be held on Saturday, October 28th from 7 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. at St. Joseph's Church in Somers. This year's theme is "Being a Man of the Catholic Church." The conference includes continental breakfast and lunch. Mass will be celebrated at 8 a.m., and there will be an opportunity for Reconciliation before Mass. Speakers include Fr. John DeBellis (The Sacrament of Reconciliation), Fr. Anthony Sorgie (Being a Man of the Family, Church and Community), John BuonViaggio (A Man's Role and Responsibility in the Church), and Msgr. John Budwick (Where Do We Go From Here? - Reflections/Next Steps). For more information, please contact Richard Maiolo (914-953-4426) or Jake Lugay (845-628-5378).
Remember, a full calendar of events can always be found on our website: carmelknights.org under the Upcoming Events tab, and check out our Breaking News page. And don't forget to "like" our Facebook page for up-to-the minute announcements, photos, event listings, and items of interest.