The Lake Current - November 2018
Welcome to the November edition of our council newsletter! Here's a quick (but important!) meeting reminder before we get into the news:

  • Our regular monthly business meeting is this Wednesday, November 14th, starting at 7:30 p.m. We'll be serving dinner for only $5 starting around 6:30 p.m. There are many activities to plan for and important business news to share with the membership, so all members should attend!
Our 2018 Annual Was A Night to Remember!

Over 125 members, Ladies Auxiliary, and guests made our Council's 47th Anniversary Annual Dinner Dance and Awards Ceremony a night to remember!

By day we transformed the St. James gym with elegant table settings surrounded by decorations that included even more night-time cityscapes and mood lighting than last year. By night we danced and sang along with fantastic music from Kim and John Crecco -- Soulmates -- well past midnight. (Good thing we got that extra hour from moving the clock back!) We created more memories (or just goofed around) in the photo booth, and we had one of the best souvenir journals in many years thanks to the generosity of our supporters.
And after a great dinner from Sauro's Town Square Cafe (and our in-house filet mignon carving station), our awards ceremony recognized some of the many dedicated and hard working volunteers who make our Council such a special place.

 Joe Groneman received the Knight of the Year Award for his decades of service as Treasurer to the Council and our Home Corporation. The Crecco Family was recognized as Family of the Year. Service awards were presented to Anthony Falco, Denis Hanrahan, John Hanrahan, and Ricky O'Connor . Past Grand Knight Rob Firriolo and Past President Gail Silke were honored for their service to the Council and Ladies Auxiliary, respectively. The Ladies Auxiliary also presented awards to some special people who have made outstanding contributions to their efforts.
In what has become a Council tradition when honoring an outgoing Grand Knight, we take up a collection to purchase wheelchairs from the American Wheelchair Mission , which partners with the Knights of Columbus to provide wheelchairs to people in need. Since 2003, the Knights of Columbus has funded the delivery of tens of thousands of wheelchairs around the world, and right here at home. Thousands of veterans and their families across the United States in need of wheelchairs have received new mobility.

This year, thanks to the generosity of our members, we were able to purchase ten wheelchairs in honor of PGK Rob Firriolo. Rob expressed his deep gratitude to all who donated toward the effort and gave the gift of mobility to someone in need, and also thanked Co-chairmen Dennis O'Connor and Bill Richmond for once again leading the collection effort.
GK Steve Gheduzzi extends his thanks and appreciation to all of our hard-working volunteers who made the night such a success, and thanks to all of our guests who turned out in force to have some fun and support our honorees.

See you all again next year!
Fourth Degree News

MEETING NOTICE
The next meeting of the Fourth Degree Sir Knights will be Thursday, November 15th at 7:30 p.m. at our Council. All Sir Knights should attend!
Want to Win $25,000? Last Call for C&B Raffles!
Please turn in any remaining C&B raffle stubs with payment to Worthy Grand Knight Steve no later than Saturday, November 24th ! This is your last chance to get in the raffle for the $25,000 grand prize , while raising funds for important statewide charities and your Council!
Lots of Christmas Festivities at Our Council!

  • Crèche Setup
  • Wreath Sales
  • Family Fun
  • Kid's Christmas Party
  • Parade of Lights
  • Council Tree Lighting
  • Adults' Christmas Party

There are multiple events over several days, so read it all!
 Saturday, November 24th

We will be setting up the Nativity Scene at St. James -- including the newly reconstructed stable -- on Saturday, November 24th . We will need the usual tools and supplies (ladders, socket set / wrenches, staple guns, Tyvek for the roof, hay bales, baling wire, etc.). After we're done with the setup, we'll head back to the council to decorate it for Christmas. Instead of the usual lunch, this year the church is providing us with a light breakfast. Meet outside the rectory at 9 a.m. and dress for the cold weather!

Saturday, December 1st

Come down to the council on Saturday, December 1st , where we will be hosting Christmas festivities all day long !   Start bright and early in the morning to buy beautiful, handmade Christmas wreaths in a great assortment of ribbons and decorations. These are sold by a local Boy Scouts of America troop to fund their youth programs. For only $20, they are an amazing bargain. Supplies are limited , so get there early to get yours while they last! (Best to get in your pre-order with PGK Rob Firriolo.) Look for the scouts in the front of our building starting at 9 a.m., and be advised they usually sell-out by mid-afternoon.
 
There will be a host of activities around town that day, including breakfast with Santa, story reading, craft fairs, hay rides with Santa, and the chowder tasting at Cornerstone Park. Click here for the full schedule from the Hamlet of Carmel Civic Association. At the Council, we'll be building our float for the Parade of Lights.
Then, we continue with a great recent tradition where the Council provides a free children's Christmas party with dinner starting at 4:00 p.m . Adults will enjoy a pot-luck dinner, so please bring a dish for the community table . Santa will be attending, so please bring a gift (value $20) for each child you bring, for Santa to distribute. RSVP to Anthony Falco at anthonyfalco17@gmail.com  or (914) 907-4802.

Starting at 5:45 p.m., we will make our way over to the Paladin Center (former Guideposts) parking lot to line up for the Parade of Lights (steps off at 6:30), with our very own children's float.
All brother Knights, Ladies Auxiliary, family members and friends of the council are welcome to march behind our banner and with our float, and hand out thousands of the wildly popular glow necklaces to kids along the way.
 
The evening proceeds with caroling and the lighting of the trees along Lake Gleneida from 7:30 to 7:45. After that, come get warm back at our Lounge and enjoy a refreshing beverage.

JOIN US -- THE MORE, THE MERRIER!
Tuesday, December 4th

Once again we will join with KofC councils across America to "Light up for Christ" and light our council Christmas tree to signify the true light of the world.

Meet at our council at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, December 4th for light refreshments, caroling, and the tree lighting. Bring the family and your best singing voice!
Friday, December 14th

Yet another annual holiday tradition continues with our adult Christmas Party for members of our Council and Ladies Auxiliary on Friday, December 14th at 7 p.m. , jointly hosted with Mother Cabrini Assembly. We'll have a complimentary, informal, but very tasty hot buffet dinner with a cash bar. (We hear that, due to popular demand, our Worthy Grand Knight will be making his famous deep fried turkeys again!)

All we ask is that each person bring a gift for the less fortunate in our community, to brighten their Christmas season by helping them put good meals on the table for their families.

This year we are once again collecting donations for the St. James the Apostle Church Food Pantry. The pantry is well stocked with canned goods and other non-perishables, but what they need is supermarket gift cards so families can buy perishable items like milk, meats, and frozen foods, which the pantry cannot stock. So, please bring $10, $20 or $25 ShopRite or Tops gift cards to our party, and we will present them to St. James on behalf of the Knights and our families.

At last year's Christmas party, we collected $1,430 in gift cards for the parish food pantry. Let's try to beat that record this year!
Sunday Cash Bingo on 11/18 to Benefit Veterans' & Military Service Charities

Join us for another great afternoon of Sunday Cash Bingo presented by our Ladies Auxiliary on November 18th! All monies raised will go to support the Putnam County Vet2Vet Program and United for the Troops ! Please bring a toiletry article to donate for the troops.

Open to any Putnam County veteran of any era, the Joseph P. Dwyer Veterans Outreach ("Vet2Vet") Program of Putnam County connects veterans who have experienced and overcome post-service social and emotional challenges including PTSD, traumatic brain injury, substance abuse, and other illnesses. It is their goal to utilize that unique relationship from one vet to another to help foster a relationship and direct the veteran to any services he or she may need. The program provides veterans, current active military personnel, children, adolescents, groups, couples, and families with the opportunity to come together in support of each other. This gives them the chance to listen and benefit from each other's experiences with service-related issues through social activities and support groups.

UnitedForTheTroops.org was created by friends and families of our troops serving overseas. Their purpose is to make life while at war a little better for our brave men and women serving military by collecting food, money, and goods that the military does not provide them. Some of the items include cookies, DVDs, CDs, snacks, t-shirts, and other food items. Through speaking with the troops, the military provides them with the essentials for day-to-day life, and many of them miss the extra amenities that they receive while at home. Their goal is to show them that we are proud of them and appreciate all of their efforts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other areas of conflict around the world.

As always, our bingo features big cash payouts and a $500 jackpot ! Admission is only $30. Doors open at 1 p.m., first game at 2 p.m. Attendance is limited to the first 100 players. Complimentary coffee and cake. Bell jar tickets will be sold.

For RSVP & payment details, speak with President Maria Barry or email: ladieskofc@gmail.com .
Annual Penny Social - Sunday, Dec. 2nd

Our Ladies Auxiliary is hosting their fantastic annual Penny Social on Sunday, December 2nd.

Doors open at 1 p.m. and calling begins at 2 p.m. There will be raffles for an assortment of gift baskets, a grand prize raffle, and a 50/50.

Refreshments available. All are welcome!







  • Creche Waterproofing - Saturday, Nov. 17: Last year we built the new creche for St. James but were unable to get it stained and waterproofed in time for the setup. So we're meeting this Saturday at 9:00 a.m. behind Doherty Hall to get the job done. Volunteers are needed to take the creche sections out of storage, stain them, and protect them from the weather while they dry. We'll be setting up the manger the following Saturday, November 24th.

  • Bartenders Needed! Our Home Corporation is once again putting out the call to members who may be interested in tending bar in our lounge. Please speak with Rich Keating or Anthony Falco for more information.

  • Book Your Spring Hall Rentals Now! As in past years, our Home Corporation will try to give preference to members in booking for First Holy Communion and Confirmation parties in the spring. Please make your reservation as soon as the church announces the scheduled dates.

Remember, a full calendar of events can always be found on our website: carmelknights.org under the Upcoming Events tab. And don't forget to "like" our Facebook page for up-to-the minute announcements, photos, event listings, and items of interest.