METUCHEN – Members of Mount Zion Lodge 135 are heavily involved in the community, from participating in the annual Metuchen Country Fair and chili cookoff to making donations to community organizations.
More recently, members presented a $500 check to members of the Metuchen Policemen’s Benevolent Association (PBA) Local 60 – Sgt. Ken Bauer and Detective Joe Keane – at the lodge on Dec. 19.
Bauer said the donation is significant not only to the police department and PBA, but to the community as well. He said he has always heard great things around the borough about the involvement of the masons in the community.
Raymond Fortuna, junior warden of Mount Zion Lodge 135 Free and Accepted Masons, said for the first time the lodge members provided a homemade authentic smoked barbecue brisket slow cooked for 16 hours at the Metuchen Country Fair in October. All the proceeds go toward a local organization or charity, and the members chose the Metuchen PBA.
“Recently our lodge was a sponsor for the Metuchen Winterfest parade and tree lighting. Unfortunately due to weather the parade was canceled,” he said. “However, the tree lighting was rescheduled to Dec. 6, which we participated in an did a ‘chili for charity’ and raised $200 for the Fuccile Foundation, a local Metuchen charity.”
The Mount Zion Lodge 135 is located a 135 Middlesex Ave. in Metuchen.