Elks Lodge Gives Annual Awards to Beverly Tannheimer, Ken Griswold

The Big Bear Lake Elks Lodge hosted their annual Media Appreciation Dinner last night, which was attended by KBHR and Channel 6, as well as Tim and Kim Sweet, past recipients of the Elks Distinguished Citizenship Award. This year’s recipient, as presented by Elks Exalted Ruler for 2008 John Neill, is Beverly Tannheimer. Having served as manager of the Senior Citizens of Big Bear Valley’s Thrift Store for the past five years, Tannheimer is also the 2008 recipient of AARP’s National Volunteer of the Year Award, and volunteers her time at the Sacred Heart Sisters Retreat Camp. In receiving the Distinguished Citizenship Award from the Elks, Tannheimer said, “Without all the incredible volunteers there would be no thrift shop and no increasing profits. It’s all about teamwork.” A commitment to team is what prompted the Elks to bestow their Elk of the Year Award to Ken Griswold, who oversees and organizes the Peddlers Market, which the Elks host three times a year (with the next event scheduled for Memorial Day weekend). As Neill tells KBHR, “Without Ken, the Elks would have had a very difficult year, because money from the Peddlers Market kept us above water—because our bingo proceeds go directly to charity.” Bingo is offered at the Elks Lodge, on Village Drive at the Village’s west end, each Friday at 7pm, and is open to the public.