The American Legion Auxiliary was originally organized in 1919 to assist the American Legion in the effort to support veterans and their families.
But, over the years the Auxiliary has expanded and achieved an individual identity for the programs and volunteer work that they do as an organization.
The Department of Ohio hosted the Mid-Winter Conference Jan. 18 and 19 in Columbus.
Auxiliary members from the Lake County area in attendance were Willoughby Unit 214, Martha Setlock, Gina Mastronicola and Junior member, Skylar Mastronicola; Willowick-Eastlake Unit 678, Louise Cichon; and from Painesville Unit 336, Tammy Stennis, Diane Buchs, Liz Miller, Joni Santangelo, Vonnie Scott and Geri Anderson.
As the world’s largest women’s patriotic organization, the membership is active with programs in Americanism, children and youths, veterans affairs and rehabilitation, as well as community service.
The units from this area have made food baskets, collected warm clothing and blankets for homeless veterans, visited veterans confined to the hospital and supported their Posts with dinners and fund raisers.
Junior members — those younger than 18 — also participate in many of the activities with the Auxiliary and have programs of their own designed to aid veterans and their communities.
 
AMVETS Ladies host
annual fundraiser
AMVETS Post 109 Ladies Auxiliary, 7847 Lake Shore Blvd. in Mentor-on-the-Lake, will host its annual fundraiser steak dinner and Chinese auction, Saturday.
Dinner is served 5 to 7 p.m. and the auction and a DJ will follow. Tickets are $15 each or two for $25. Only 100 tickets are sold. Call Sue Makse at 440-257-4342 or the post at 440-257-9217 for tickets.
 
Burton post serves pancakes
Atwood-Mauck Post 459 of the American Legion, 14052 Goodwin St. in Burton, will host a pancake and sausage breakfast 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday and Feb. 17 and 24 at the post home. For details, call 440-343-1478.
 
VFW Junior girls host
spaghetti dinner
Junior Girls Unit of VFW Post 2595, 570 Liberty St. in Painesville, will host spaghetti dinner 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the post home.
The girls are between the ages of 5 and 16 and are the daughters, sisters, and granddaughters of men and women eligible to join the VFW. Funds raised will be used for support of the VFW National Military Services fund which includes Operation Uplink (free call days), unmet needs (for families and active duty military) and the military assistance program.
For details, call Jill Householder at 440-352-9522.
 
Perogi dinner offered
for Ash Wednesday
Palmer-Roberts American Legion Auxiliary Unit 214, 4304 Center St. in Willoughby, will host the annual perogi dinner at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the post home.
The menu will be four perogies, applesauce and salad for $6. Kielbasi will be $1 extra. The dinner is open to the public and registration will be gratefully appreciated.
For details or to register, call 440-942-7762.
 
Marines host comedy show
The Three Deuce Five Marine Foundation presents The Patriot Tour at 8 p.m. Feb. 16 at Cretan Hall, 3853 W. 168th St. in Cleveland.
The evening comedy show with headliner Luca Palanca will begin at 8 p.m. Dinner and cocktails will be served at 6 p.m. Tickets are $50 for the dinner and the show, and a cash bar will be available.
Proceeds will benefit the Marines and Sailors of the 3rd Battalion 25th Marines in Brook Park. For tickets, call 440-342-0378.
 
Rock ’n’ roll at Wickliffe Legion
American Legion Post 7, 29919 Euclid Ave. in Wickliffe, will rock ’n’ roll Feb. 16, when the Wickliffe Council of the Knights of Columbus hosts a 1950’s and 1960’s dance in the legion hall.
Tickets are $10 for singles and $15 for couples. Burgers and hot dogs will be available for purchase as well as canned beer.
Door prizes and a grand prize of a 50-inch television will be part of the fun.
For tickets or details, call 216-355-4633.
 
Spaghetti dinner, Abbey Rodeo
at Willoughby VFW
Willoughby VFW Post 1500, 38295 Pelton Road in Willoughby, will present a spaghetti dinner followed by a performance of Abbey Rodeo, beginning at 6 p.m. March 23.
The event will raise funds for “The Littlest Heroes” as well as the VFW National Children’s Home.
Tickets are $18 per person. Because of advance sales, tickets may not be available day of show.
For tickets or details, call the post home at 440-951-9233.
 
Catholic War Veterans host
reverse raffle
St. Vitus Post 1655 of the Catholic War Veterans will host a reverse raffle April 16, at the Slovenian National Home, 6409 St. Clair Ave. in Cleveland.
Only 175 main board tickets will be sold for a chance at $2,500 in total cash prizes and includes dinner and an open bar. Cost for the main board tickets are $60 with additional dinner tickets for only $20. Consolation prizes and side boards will also be available.
Call Mike Blau for tickets and details at 440-954-1426.

To submit items for this column or the online listings, send them to: The News-Herald, attn: Larece Galer, 7085 Mentor Ave., Willoughby, OH 44094, fax to 440-975-2293; or via email to lgaler@news-herald.com.

Editor's note: The phone number for information on the Fifties and Sixties Dance has been corrected.

There has been a lot of debate in the news this past week regarding the announcement that women will now be allowed to serve in combat.
I never thought I would see this happen in my lifetime and now that it has I am not certain it will be a good thing.
Let me explain.
When I was a teenager and thought I could do anything if I tried hard enough, everything was a possibility. Eighteen-year-olds usually do think that way, but as a parent, I now have a different thought process.
I am not sure that my daughter or anyone’s daughter should be assigned to the front lines.
Females have less upper body strength — how would they be able to continuously carry the necessary field gear or a wounded soldier to safety?
Not all of the military occupational specialties will be open to women, but the announcement definitely opened more doors for women, and in doing so it also causes more questions than answers.
Our society is one of males programmed to be protectors. How will this affect those who are shoulder to shoulder with a female in a fire fight? Will the males be protecting their fellow female soldiers and putting themselves at greater risk?
I realize I sound like a shrinking violet and I do not want that. I know several very capable women who could not only defend themselves but also compete toe to toe with men in the field. These women are few and far between.
How will placing women in combat affect the manpower limits that already have the services downsizing? After the announcement, I had more questions than I did answers.
I understand there is time for the services to decide which specialties to restrict and to form policy about females on the front lines but in the intervening time more answers need to be given.
Israel has had a successful draft with women conscripted for two years while men are conscripted for three, how will the new American policy affect our selective service rules?
There are at least a dozen countries that allow women on the front lines. Norway became the first NATO country to do so in 1985.
Personally I have not gotten enough answers to really form an opinion. How about you?

Fish fry time
February is here already and that means many posts and detachments in the area will be starting the Friday night tradition of fish fry dinners.
If you have not already sent in the information please do so as soon as possible so that the post dinner can be included in the annual fish fry dinner list.
Submit details to the address indicated at the bottom of this column.

Meeting times needed
Many posts in the area have not submitted the information regarding meeting times.
I would like to have the schedule of meeting by Feb. 15. Please, if you have not done so already submit the meeting times for all of the groups meeting at the post home. Include the auxiliaries, riders and junior groups.
For details, call 440-954-7256 or email LGaler@news-herald.com.

Operation CPA helps deployed forces
The Ohio Society of Certified Public Accounts is offering free tax preparation services to Ohio military families this tax season.
Through April, Ohio CPAs will prepare 2012 tax returns for military personnel who are permanent residents of Ohio and currently deployed outside of the state.
Operation CPA is a partnership with the Ohio National Guard and provides a valuable service to help ease the burden of deployment on Ohio Military families.
To find an Operation CPA volunteer in your area, call toll free at 888-959-1212 or email cpanswers@ohio-cpa.com. 

Chili cook off in Painesville
American Legion Post 336 Riders will host a chili cook-off from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the post home, 60 Chester St. in Painesville.
Cost of the tasting will be $4 a person. The event will also include a Chinese auction and a 50/50 raffle. There is no charge to enter and the judging is by popular vote of the tasters.
For those entering, please provide at least two quarts of chili per entry so everyone will get to taste.
For details, call the post home at 440-357-7711.

Four Chaplins
service in Burton
Atwood-Mauck Post 459 of the American Legion, 14052 Goodwin St. in Burton, will host a Four Chaplins Program beginning at 3 p.m. Sunday at the post home.
For details, call 440-834-1911.

Annual Auxiliary fundraiser in Mentor-on-the-Lake
AMVETS Post 109 Ladies Auxiliary, 7847 Lake Shore Blvd. in Mentor-on-the-Lake, will host its annual fundraiser steak dinner and Chinese auction Feb. 9.
Dinner is served from 5 to
7 p.m. and the auction and a DJ will follow.
Tickets are $15 each or two for $25. Only 100 tickets are sold.
Call Sue Makse at 440-257-4342 or the post at 440-257-9217 for tickets.

Burton post
serves pancakes
Atwood-Mauck Post 459 of the American Legion, 14052 Goodwin St. in Burton, will host a pancake and sausage breakfast at the post home from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 10, 17 and 24. For details, call 440-343-1478.

Junior Girls host
spaghetti dinner
Junior Girls Unit of VFW Post 2595, 570 Liberty St. in Painesville, will host a spaghetti dinner 1 to 4 p.m. Feb. 10 at the post home.
The girls are between the ages of 5 and 16 years and are the daughters, sisters, and granddaughters of men and women eligible to join the VFW. Funds raised will be used for support of the VFW National Military Services Fund which includes Operation Uplink (free call days), Unmet Needs (for families and active duty military) and the Military Assistance Program.
For details, call Jill Householder at 440-352-9522.

Wickliffe post site
of Rock n Roll dance
American Legion Post 7, 29919 Euclid Ave. in Wickliffe, will rock n roll Saturday, Feb. 16, when the Wickliffe Council of the Knights of Columbus hosts a 50’s-60’s Dance in the Legion Hall.
Tickets are $10 for singles and $15 for couples.
Burgers and hot dogs will be available for purchase as well as canned beer. Door prizes and a grand prize of a 50 inch Television will be part of the fun.
For tickets or details, call 216-355-4633.

Dinner benefits
Boulevard of Flags
A fundraiser for the Boulevard of 500 Flags will be at 6 p.m. Feb. 23 at the American Legion Hall of Post 678, 570 E. 328th St. in Willowick.
All money raised will be used to replace flag poles and worn American flags at the Boulevard.
Tickets are $20 per person or $35 per couple. The evening will include dinner, open bar, Chinese auction and side boards.
Doors open at 6 p.m. and dinner is served at 7 p.m.
Tickets are available at the American Legion post and at VFW 3863, 33641 Vine St. in Eastlake.


To submit items for this column or the online listings, send them to: The News-Herald, Attn: Larece Galer, 7085 Mentor Ave., Willoughby, OH 44094, fax to 440-975-2293; or via email to LGaler@News-Herald.com.