Around the Jurisdiction

Above: Scottish Rite Masons from the Valley of Bridgeport teamed up with Pyramid Shriners and marched in a Memorial Day Parade held in Trumbull, Connecticut.

Brothers Vinny Cerroni, 32°; Ian Berkowitz, 32°; and Fred Pizzuto, 32°, of the Valley of The Hudson attended a Joint Reunion of the Valleys of The Merrimack and Salem in Newburyport, MA on June 5, 2021 to complete their gold passports. They are pictured here with the cast of the 18th Degree, conferred by the Emmanuel Chapter of Rose Croix, Valley of Salem, MA.

The Valley of Northern New Jersey Rose Croix prepares for the taping of their Paschal Lamb event which was simulcast to members and their families via Zoom.

Deputy Jeff Simonton, 33°, dubs and creates a 32˚ Mason in Bangor, Maine for the Virtual 32° Celebration.

Matthew Glattly, 32°, poses with his father, Sovereign Grand Commander, David A. Glattly, 33°, and Robert Monacelli, 33°, Grand Master of New Jersey, after receiving his 32nd degree at the New Jersey statewide reunion in May.

The Valleys of Delaware held a luncheon for their 33rd degree candidates and invited guests. Pictured (l to r) are MW Jeffrey D. Haass Sr., 32°, Grand Master; Evan R. Moody, 32°; John Foreaker, 32°; Ill. Herb Atkinson, 33°, Deputy for Delaware; Fred Palmer, 32°; Travis Simpkins, 32°, Valley of Boston; Ill. William Shaw, 33°; RW Stephen Tucker, 32°; and James Brady 32°.

New MSAs John Oleszkiewicz and Fred Yates are congratulated at Vermont Council of Deliberation. Pictured (l to r) are Barry Duquette, 32°, Deputy’s Representative; Ill. Don Duquette, 33°, Deputy for Vermont; John Oleszkiewicz, 32°, MSA; Fred Yates, 32°, MSA; Ill. William Basso II, 33°, Active for Vermont; and Ill. Graham Trudo, 33°, MSA, Chairman of the MSA Committee.

The Easter Bunny was available for pictures at America St. John’s Lodge No. 8 during their Easter family pancake breakfast. Scottish Rite Masons from the Valley of Bridgeport were in attendance to help with the event.

Scottish Rite Masons from the Valley of Bridgeport helped Brothers from America St. John's Lodge No. 8 during their Easter family pancake breakfast, making balloon twisting crafts and preparing over 200 candy-filled Easter eggs for the children to find.

The Valley of Chicago was pleased to host their Annual Meetings of Van Rensselaer Lodge of Perfection, Chicago Council Princes of Jerusalem, Gourgas Chapter of Rose Croix, Oriental Consistory, and the Scottish Rite Cathedral Association of Chicago on May 20.

Valley of Michigan-Southwestern Region Reunion Honoree, Brother Jim White, 33° (center), poses with the cast of the 21st degree.

At the Indiana COD in June, three Brothers received the Sovereign Grand Commander’s Medal for Distinguished Service, and six others received the Indiana COD Medal of Honor. Congrats to these worthy men. They are (l to r): William L. Doctor, 33°; Delmar J. Proctor, 33°; Carl L. Whitman, 33°; Paul W. Burns, 33°; Ronald L. Buskirk, 33°; Jerry O. Deeter, 33°; Steven J. Dooley, 33°; Noel L. Sell, 33°; and Rick A. Cory, 33°.

Commander Glattly and Monica attend the grand opening of the new location of the Cleveland Children’s Dyslexia Center.

On Friday April 16, 2021, the Valley of Buffalo welcomed 32 new members, 18 of whom were able to receive the 32nd degree that day.

The Valley of Northern New Jersey held a pandemic-safe Thursday Night at the Rite watch party. Front row (l to r): John Nause, 32°; Wade Collins, 32°; Ruben Fleitas, 32°; Anthony Medved, 32°. Back row (l to r): Justin Marchese, 32°; Charles Booth, 32°; Jashawn Anderson, 32°; Avery Seawright, 32°; Isaiah Smith 32°. Not pictured: Tom Murphy, 32°, photographer.

The “Spring Into Swing” event was a huge success for the Dyslexia Education Training Center of Toledo, OH. In addition to the funds raised by ticket sales and raffles, the Scottish Rite Valley of Toledo contributed a check for $5,000. Presenting the check are Trent T. Dominique, 33°, Deputy’s Representative for the Valley of Toledo; Jeremy Z. Sharninghouse, 33°, Executive Secretary, Valley of Toledo; and several 32° members who were present for the May 2 fundraiser.

At the Valley of Bangor’s Spring Reunion, Deputy Jeff Simonton, 33°; Active Alan Heath, 33°; Active A. James Ross, 33°; and Deputy’s Representative Randy Adams, 33°, MSA, presented longtime Valley Secretary Guy Chapman, 33°, with the Sovereign Grand Commander’s Medal for Distinguished Service. Guy has been very influential in growing the Bangor Dyslexia Center endowment, maintaining relations with Masonic and community organizations, and running the operations of Valley of Bangor.

Brother Eric Falkner, 32°, speaks at the District 12 banquet about the impact that the Valley of Milwaukee has had on his son through their sponsorship of the “Go Baby Go” program (see the May 2021 issue of The Northern Light, for more information).

Brother Charles Briggs, 33°, of the Valley of Bangor (left) was pleased to receive the Sovereign Grand Commander’s Medal for Distinguished Service on June 4, presented by Deputy Jeffry Simonton, 33°.

Members of New Hampshire and their families held a cast party to celebrate the success of their 30th degree Thursday Night at the Rite performance.

The Valley of Michigan held a Rite on the Road event at Cadillac-Clam Lake Lodge No. 331 and welcomed eight new members to the Scottish Rite.

The Valley of Michigan—Southeastern Region produced an Easter Eve virtual service for their members.

The Valley of Cincinnati welcomed 70 new members during their Spring Reunion.

The Valley of Milwaukee gathers food and clothing donations for local charity groups. Pictured (l to r) are Amanda Carlson; Napoleon Janczak, 32°, TPM; Donald Carlson, 32°, CIC; and James Stoebe, 32°, MSA.

Congrats to Brothers from the Valley of Dayton who received their black Scottish Rite caps. To qualify for the black cap, they must see all 29 degrees and be the first-line signers on a petition. They are (l to r): Richard A. Heiby, 32°; Alan W. Risner, 32°; Jay R. Johnston, 32°; Charles R. Gamble, 32°; and Jordan Ashley, 32°.

Rhode Island held their Council of Deliberation in June. Pictured (l to r) are: ME Robert Fish, 32°, MSA, Grand High Priest, RAM; Ill. Dennis W. Pothier, 33°, Active for RI; MW Robert B. Ellston, 32°, Grand Master; Ill. David A. Glattly, 33°, SGC; Ill. John K. Takian, 33°, Emeritus for RI; Ill. Elmer H. Palmer, 33°, Emeritus for RI; Ill. Steven E. Smith, 33°, Deputy for RI; Ill. Robert F. Ogg, 33°, Active for RI; Dad Michael K. Lawson, 32°, DeMolay Executive Officer for RI; MP Robert Ray Maddix, 32°, Grand Master of the Grand Council for RI.

Tom Jeffers, 33°, CIC of the Valley of Coudersport presents an Abbott Scholarship check to Ryan Clouser, son of Brother Chad Clouser, 32°.

At the Valley of Boston’s Consistory banquet, Sovereign Grand Commander, Ill. David A. Glattly, 33°, presented outgoing Commander in Chief, Ill. Eugene A. “Cappy” Capobianco, 33°, with the Sovereign Grand Commander’s Medal for Distinguished Service. Cappy has been influential in initiating more than 700 new Scottish Rite members during his term. He also led the Valley’s efforts to distribute thousands of pieces of PPE to members and Masonic facilities during the pandemic.

On May 17, the Valley of Scranton staged the 25th degree, Master of Achievement, live. Brothers traveled from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Ohio, and Illinois to see this infrequently performed degree.