An all you could eat spaghetti dinner drew more than 200 people who enjoyed more than 50 pounds of pasta at Masonic Lodge #291 at a special Cruise Nite event.
The June 6 “All You Can Eat Spaghetti Dinner!” was the first time some people had ever visited the historic lodge.
“There’s been a lot of people coming in,” said Troyce Reynolds, who admitted to being somewhat surprised about the turnout.
“I think it has something to do with Cruise Nite,” said Reynolds. “People are out, they’re walking around, they’re hearing about this and coming down,” to the Lodge, located at the corner of East Main and North 7th Street.
For a $10 donation those attending ate, socialized and tried their luck at a Silent Auction and separate raffle.
“It’s going really well, better than we expected!” said Mason Dave Beaver of the dinner, the first such public event held Beaver said he could remember ever being staged.
The event was many faceted with the doors being open not only to show off the home base of the local organization that celebrated its 125th anniversary last year but also to drive home that the venue is perfect for various events and is available for rent. The Lodge is one of the few facilities in the city with a permanent theatrical stage.
The Lodge, which split the proceeds with various youth groups that sold tickets, will use its own portion of the proceeds to improve the facility, specifically to purchase a commercial refrigerator. The addition will help the facility come one step closer to its kitchen being considered commercial grade.
Lodge members also want to continue to support various nonprofits that not only benefit the community but also provide publicity for the organization that, in turn, attracts new members.
Known as Freemasonry, the organization is based on the belief that each man has a responsibility to help make the world a better place while being devoted to his family, faith, country, and fraternity. Masons value and promote ethics, personal growth, tolerance, education, diversity, philanthropy, family, and community.
The latter was especially evident at the June 6 dinner: “I’ve gone by this building for years,” said one woman who declined to give her name, “but if someone at Cruise Nite hadn’t told me about this dinner I probably never would have come in!”
For more information about the organization or building rental opportunities, call Dave Beaver at 805-535-8028.
