By Amber Ford, For The Mountain Times
As spring rounds the corner for Mt. Hood Villages residents, so does the return of The Mt. Hood Lions Club Jim Turin Memorial Scholarship Dinner. A 20-year tradition for The Mt. Hood Villages community and Mt. Hood Lions club members, The Jim Turin Memorial Scholarship Dinner will be held Saturday, April 5th.
While all Mt. Hood Lions Club dinners and events have a specific and special benefit for the community, keeping this tradition alive is very important to members both past and present. According to current Mt. Hood Lions Club president, Dave Anderson, The Jim Turin Memorial Scholarship Dinner not only benefits upcoming graduates but also helps keep alive the memory and dedication of former Mt. Hood Lions Club member and president Jim Turin. “The dinner is named in honor of Jim Turin, a past president and 50 year member of The Mt. Hood Lions Club,” Anderson said. “Jim organized this dinner for many years until his passing. He used his family’s ‘secret’ sauce recipe. He passed away July 22nd, 2020,” Anderson added.
Although many of the dinners and meals served at The Mt. Hood Lions club are favorites of the community, this particular meal is a special favorite for many. The Jim Turin Memorial Scholarship Dinner is a spaghetti dinner which features pasta, Italian sausage, salad and Italian bread. Guests can enjoy happy hour beginning at 5:30pm with dinner being served at 6pm. With at least 20 Mt. Hood Lions Club members volunteering their time to encourage a successful and prosperous event, the recipients of this dinner are the real shining stars. The Jim Turin Memorial Scholarship dinner is held to benefit those who have applied for this scholarship through The Mt. Hood Lions Club. Applicants must be upcoming graduates of Sandy High School and have gone through the Welches schools prior to beginning their high school education.
Anderson expects to serve approximately 120 dinners for this event so those community members interested in attending are encouraged to grab their tickets in advance. Presale tickets are available for $18 and can be purchased at The Whistle Stop, Welches Mountain Building Supply Company, Coffee House 26, Clackamas County Bank and Mt. Hood Cannabis Company.