Cellini Lodge Cancels Fair Out of Respect for WTC Tragedy

By Margaret Whitely

The rides were set-up, the sausage was just about to be put on the fire and the men and women of the New Hyde Park Cellini Lodge No.2206 were gearing up to make their delicious spaghetti dishes, their wonderful zeppoles and all their other scrumptious foods when word was received that the entire fair was canceled.

All during Tuesday, after the World Trade Center towers toppled as a result of a terrorist attacks, there was speculation as to whether or not Cellini would hold the fair. On Wednesday it was announced that the fair would be cancelled on opening night, but on Thursday it was decided that the nation, and most especially those in the area of the fair who were personally affected by the tragedy, were generally too sad to even think of attending a fair.

Instead, Cellini Lodge President Anna Mulea and directors have made a decision to donate to a charity, not yet determined at this time, in order to help in some small way to ease the great financial burden that will drastically affect the many rescue organizations that have worked long and arduous hours on recovery and cleanup.

Word has also been received that the Order Sons of Italy in America has activated the New York State Grand Lodge Disaster Relief program. Fund raising efforts from its lodges, members and citizens who want to help are encouraged to do so by donating checks made payable to the New York State Grand Lodge Foundation, Inc. earmarked "Disaster Relief" and sent to:

Disaster Relief Fund

c/o Grand Lodge Office

Order Sons of Italy in America

2101 Bellmore Avenue

Bellmore, N.Y. 11710

For further information, please call 334-0380.