It was a night for Robert “Bob” Hartington to say “Thank You” to members of the Tri-City Elks who made his year as Exalted Ruler one filled with super and special successes and memories.

It was Tri-City’s Annual Members Appreciation/Awards Night, replete with a bountiful buffet prepared and cooked by Elks volunteers that was moved from Rossi Park inside Lodge 14’s ground level function room because of Saturday’s hot and humid weather.

Upwards of 100 Elks enjoyed hamburgers, cheeseburgers, sausage and peppers, baked beans, potato-egg salad, tossed salad, baked macaroni and cheese, just-picked butter and sugar sweet corn from neighboring Morris Farms and vanilla and strawberry ice cream. Bob Caramante’s pumped in music stopped as Hartington walked to the microphone.

After a brief welcome and one of the night’s many thank yous, Hartington introduced Warwick Mayor Joseph J. Solomon – an active and long-time member of Lodge 14 – who surprised an attentive audience with a special presentation.

“I’m proud to be an Elk,” Solomon began. “Elks Care…Elks Share…therefore, I’m honored to announce that on behalf of my son State Rep. Joseph J. Solomon Jr., I have an envelope that contains a State of Rhode Island State Legislative Grant for $2,000.”

The nearly-full dining area was immediately filled with applause and after Hartington opened the envelope he turned to Solomon and mused: “Mayor, my name’s misspelled.”

The valuable grant will be used for Lodge 14’s on-going “Back Pack Program” for school children and each pack is filled donated items of food for weekend meals for the student and his or her family.

Solomon, who noted his son had a previously-schedule engagement also made several other “special presentations” one to Lori Eaton, Officer of the Year and John Sabalewski, Elk of the Year.

Eaton, the mayor noted, “does everything and anything here at Lodge 14 and the state level. As Bob (Hartington) said earlier, Lori and her husband Mark Eaton provided tremendous guidance that made his term as Exalted Ruler a super success and enjoyable term from start to finish.”

Lori Eaton wears many hats for the Tri-City and State Association of Elks. She was honored as a Trustee at Lodge 14 and State Association; she’s both Lodge 14 Veterans Committee chair and Vice Chair for the State Elks.

As someone suggested after Lori Eaton received her award and special citation from Mayor Solomon: “Lori Eaton goes above and beyond for this Lodge; we’d be lost without her talents and commitment to Elkdom in general.

Likewise, Sabalewski was honored as Elk of the Year for what Hartington wanted known were “his many major outstanding contributions that have enhance the inside look of our lodge and he did so without any fanfare or notoriety.”

Mark Eaton, who like his wife wears many hats at the local lodge and state levels and is First Vice President of the RI Elks and chairs the Major Projects Committee among other high ranking posts, was honored with the prestigious Grand Lodge Exalter Ruler’s Award that also went to Tri-City’s current leader Deborah Mangina.

Hartington, meanwhile, presented 16 “Thank You” awards for “outstanding contributions to our lodge” that made his year as Exalted Ruler a time in his life that “I’ll never – ever – forget.”

He then called Carol DeLory, Lodge 14’s correspondent for the Elks National Magazine, to the microphone to receive and award and announced “tonight would not be complete without a special remembrance for our late and beloved brother Albert “Cookie” DeLory – Carol’s loving husband – who did so much to make our lodge what it is today. He is sorely missed by all, yet is name and contributions here will live forever.”

The list of annual award winners also included: Kristine St. Pierre, Deborah Guertin, William Hall, Marianne Beirne, David Knight, Debra Petrisce, Dick Warner, Nick Rossi, Ann Licciardi, Donna Warner and Rob Caramante.