Lancaster Elks Starting New Antlers Program    The Lancaster Elks Lodge #1625 is starting a new youth program called the Antlers. It is for all youth, both male and female, from the age of 12 to 20. When formed, meetings will be held at the Lancaster Elks lodge at 240 E. Ave K. Fifteen youth are needed to establish the program. The program will consist of fun, fellowship and community service. While being an enjoyable program for our youth, it will also help to teach them to be patriotic and upstanding citizens of our community. Applications are available at the Elks Lodge. All youth from 12 to 21 are invited to join. For further information you can call Bill Brehm, Advisor at (661) 7242-0529 or the Elks Lodge at (661) 942-1625

Saturday, December 5, 2009, children from Lancaster and Palmdale came to the New Vista Middle School to compete in their respective age groups of 8-9, 10-11, and 12 to 13. These children gave it their all.

The Lodge had 25 Volunteers (pictured below) to help put this great contest on. Members of Girl Scout Troop and Brownie Troop assisted with Opening ceremonies (pictured Right)

   The Lodge members and volunteers put together a GREAT indoor "Haunted House" for our local sub-teenagers. A lot of hours were put into this making, as well as having to take it all down. This was created in our Lodge room, as it has been done in many past years.

   We had over 200 children go through "our" Haunted House. Also, over approximately 300 adults came as escorts for the kids. The Emblem Club #76 ladies and other volunteers had games for the kids to play and gave out prizes for their endeavors. Other volunteers cooked and gave out over 300 hamburgers and hot dogs, along with punch. Parents and all the kids had a wonderful and enjoyable two hours.

Thanks to all our Volunteers. Who says that Elks don't Care ~ Don't Share? Well they do !!!

   Since the beginning of the Annual Invitational Junior Youth Olympics Track Meet in 1948, the event has continued to be one of the most popular sponsored, hosted, and operated by the members of Elks Lodge #1625 in the Antelope Valley. This year was no different.
   On May 9th, 2009, Elks Lodge 1625 hosted the 61st Annual Junior Youth Olympics at Quartz Hill High School athletic field. This year eight separate middle schools competed in today’s events. This has given the middle school 7th and 8th grade boys and girls a chance over past years to compete in inter-mural track and in-field events. The track events included the 4X400 Meter relay, 1600 Meter Run, 200 Meter Dash, 400 Meter Dash, 800 Meter Dash, 100 Meter Dash, and the 4X400 Relay. The in-field events included the Long Jump, High Jump and Shot Putt. Records continued to be broken from previous years.
   This event today was put on by 54 Elk volunteers and friends who traveled approximately 1,433 miles and devoted approximately 340 hours of their time. The day’s event started out with the flag ceremony conducted by the Emblem Club #76 ladies, our own US Naval Sea Cadets, and PVT Michael “Mike” Grubbs, USMC, from 29 Palms, CA who raised and lowered our flag.
   Eight middle schools from throughout the Antelope Valley competed this year with approximately 348 competitors taking part. 8th grade Vanessa Lopez from Endeavor Middle School broke all past school records in the 800 meter run with a running score of 2:34.31.We are very proud of these youngsters and their accomplishments.

The following schools were awarded medals based on the achievements of their students:
Hillview Middle School-13 Gold, 17 Silver, 14 Bronze, Total 44
Cole Middle School - 10 Gold, 6 Silver, 7 Bronze, Total 23
Joe Walker - 8 Gold, 5 Silver, 8 Bronze, Total 21
Del Sur Middle School- 5 Gold, 7 Silver, 6 Bronze, Total 18
Endeavor Middle School - 2 Gold, Total 2
Desert Christian Middle School - 1 Gold, 2 Silver, 3 Bronze, Total 6
Parkview Middle School - 1 Gold, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze, Total 4
Sacred Heart School - 1 Silver, Total 1