February 25, 2020 • Page 15 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com Mardi Gras MEAD Fundraising Party At Mead Center Feb. 29 BY CORA VAN OLSON cora.vanolson@yankton.net Let the good times roll at the Mead Cultural Education Center’s Mardi Gras Masquerade. On Saturday, Feb. 29, from 7-11 p.m., the Mead will host its first Mardi Gras event to raise funds for the museum. Attendees are encouraged to adorn themselves in Mardi Gras shades of green, purple and gold and in Mardi Gras regalia, including masks, which, though fun, is not required, Executive Director Crystal Nelson told the Press & Dakotan. Mardi Gras means “Fat Tuesday” and is the traditional last-blast celebration before Ash Wednesday, during which Catholics would traditionally indulge in all the things that would be forbidden or given up for Lent. These days, Mardi Gras is a big party for everyone who wants to participate. The best-known Mardi Gras celebration is in New Orleans and serves as the inspiration for the Mead’s event. “It’s a masked ball,” Nelson said. “Everybody gets the chance to dress up. If they have that fancy bridesmaid’s dress they haven’t worn since the wedding 10 years ago that still fits, this would be the perfect event to bring it out.” Attendees could come in their Sunday best — or not. The attire is just an idea for people, she said. Mardi Gras-themed food and desserts created by Counterfeit Catering will be offered during the evening, including blackened shrimp cocktail, crawfish hot dip, andouille-sausage-and-sweet-pepper skewers, and bread pudding cups with rum sauce. There will also be a cash bar and silent auction. “The silent auction items will be unique,” Nelson said. “The people that are doing the baskets for us are going above and beyond what they would normally do because they are great supporters of the Mead Cultural and Education Center.” Music will be brought by Mike Hilson and Jay Gilbertson of Mike & Jay, who are already known around town for their unplugged performances. However, for the Mardi Gras event, they will bring the Austin Buescher Band, and will be plugged, amped and ready to bring the excitement of New Orleans music to their audience. “For this, we have a great bass player from Sioux City, Eddie Dunn, and a drummer from Vermillion, Darin Wadley, that play with us,” said Jay Gilbertson. “They know all these great jazz tunes, so we can start out with the cool jazz tunes, then we’ll play some blues tunes and then we’ll play some New Orleans music also.” The beat of the drums should give attendees a good feel of New Orleans music, he said. “We could do it acoustically, but it wouldn’t have the presence that a four-piece band does,” Gilbertson said. The event is a fundraiser, but in a beautiful atmosphere, complete with an authentic early 20th century marble staircase and foyer. “It’s such a beautiful building and we are still new in our location,” Nelson said. “We wanted to offer an event that may bring in a group of people that may not normally come, and for our members to reach out to friends and family and bring a group to enjoy the atmosphere. The building has the perfect ambiance to support a formal event like this, she said. “You just can’t beat the pictures you get from it,” Nelson said. “The whole event is just such fun.” ——— For tickets and information, contact the Mead Museum and Cultural Center at (605) 665-3898. Gi ing Back champions for our community Elks Care – Elks Share Elks Lodge #994 brings so much more to the Yankton area than just a building. Since 1905, the Lodge is the place where neighbors come together, families share meals and children grow up. Elks is a generous charitable foundation that each year gives millions of dollars in scholarships, invests in our local community through programs that help children grow up healthy and drug-free, working to inspire our youth, undertaking projects that address unmet needs, and by honoring the service and sacrifice of our veterans. Since October of 1905, Yankton Elks Lodge #994 has donated nearly $6 million to the Yankton community. Some of their charitable endeavors these past few years have been: helping out the Yankton School District, CASA, Baseball Association, Yankton Police Department, Veterans Home in Sioux Falls, Sack Pack Program, Pathways Homeless Shelter, Boys and Girls Club, The Heartland Humane Society and United Way. Elks Lodge #994 Receives a Beacon Grant In 2019 the Yankton Elks Lodge #994 received a Beacon Grant from Elks National. This is a five year grant that gives the Yankton Elks Lodge $2500 per year. That $2500 each year will be used to purchase winter coats, boots, snow pants, hats and gloves for underprivileged children in the Yankton elementary schools. The Yankton Elks also received a Gratitude Grant this past year and were able to give the Yankton Baseball Association $2,000 to help with the new lights on the baseball field. Elks Honoring Our Veterans “So long as there are veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them.” Just one of the many ways the Elks organization honors our veterans and our country is the annual Flag Day ceremony. Since 1907, every Elks Lodge observes Flag Day on June 14th. This was later adopted by the Congress as an official observance that continues today. Elks Drug Awareness The Elks is the largest volunteer drug awareness program in the United States. The Elks believe that in order to ensure a bright future for our country, it is essential that our children be raised in a drug-free environment. The Drug Awareness Program asks kids to think about what it means to be drug free. Through the program’s annual essay and poster contests, kids can express their feelings on rejecting peer pressure. Every year, the Elks Drug Awareness Program hands out more than seven million pieces of anti-drug literature to parents, teachers and children. This past year the Yankton Elks Lodge helped purchase a COX AUTO SUPPLY • Farm Filters • Hydraulic Hoses • Bearings & Seals 1007 Broadway, Yankton 605-665-4494 new learning collar for Max one of the Yankton Police Department’s drug dogs. Also in 2014, Officer Pat Nolz of the Yankton Police Department was the honored guest at a banquet at the Yankton Elks Lodge. Officer Nolz was presented the Enrique S. Camarena Award for exceptional service to his police force and to the Yankton community. The drug awareness program of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks presents this award annually to one deserving law enforcement officer in the United States. This award is given in recognition of, and to honor, the service and dedication of Enrique S. “Kiki” Camarena, who was an 11-year veteran agent of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency when he was kidnapped, tortured and murdered by a drug cartel in Mexico in 1985. This year will mark the 18th year the Elks have provided the children of Yankton with a 10,000 egg hunt. Volunteers spend time preparing and hiding the eggs to make ready for the hunt. The Easter Bunny is always on hand to assist the kids in this great adventure. This year’s Easter Egg hunt will be on April 11 at 1:00 pm. Thousands of dollars in prizes and candy can be found in any given egg. Ages from 1-9 are all welcome. Elks Scholarships The Elks National Foundation provides more than $4 million in college scholarships each year through its three scholarship programs. The application process and deadlines vary for each program. Contact your high school counselor for more information or the Elks Lodge #994. “We’ve Got You Covered” 605-665-8340 Open every night ‘till 9:00 p.m. The Elks is a non-political, non-sectarian and American fraternity. Proposal for membership in the order is by invitation of a member in good standing. To be accepted as a member, one must be an American citizen, believe in God, be of good moral character and be at least 21 years of age. For more information please contact the Yankton Elks Lodge #994 at 605-665-3333 or stop out at 504 W. 27th Street, Yankton. Elks Annual Easter Egg Hunt Dakota arcHErY & OutdOOr SpOrtS 2305 E. Hwy. 50 • Yankton Elks Hoop Shoot The Hoop Shoot is free to all participants and provides youth an opportunity to compete, connect and succeed. 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