By Steven R. Mullins
Past Master
At its annual year end election, Annawon Lodge, 115 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of West Haven elected Brother Christopher Ryan Belous, 34 as the 2023 Worshipful Master. He succeeds Worshipful Brother John Garcia, who served as Master in 2022.. Belous has been a member of the Lodge since 2018.
Belous, a lifelong West Haven resident, is son of the late Emil Belous and the late Nancy Belous. He graduated West Haven High School in 2006 and continued his further education at Gateway. He has been employed at Aerospace Manufacturing for the past thirteen years.
The year 2023 marks Annawon Lodge’s 150th anniversary. Belous has been leading the efforts for a year long celebration. The Lodge was charted on March 24th.,1873 in the Village of West Haven in the Town or Orange. The Lodge’s first location was the second floor of what is now called the Altshuler Building on the corner of Campbell Avenue and Main Street.
As Worshipful Master, Belous follows in the footsteps of such notable West Haven citizens as former First Selectman (Mayor) Elmer R. Scranton and educator Harry M. Bailey.
Belous will be installed this Saturday, January 7th in an elaborate and colorful ceremony at the West Haven Masonic Temple, 263 Elm Street, West Haven at 11:00 am. The rites will include a tribute to Garcia honoring his tenure as Master. A breakfast will begin at 9:00 am. Light refreshments will be served following the ceremony.
The rites will be presided over by the Reverend & Most Worshipful Bruce Bellmore, Grand Master of Ancient free and Accepted Masons in the State of Connecticut.
In addition to Belous, other officers elected and appointed are as follows: Senior Warden: Joseph F. McVety, Junior Warden: Douglas J. Turcotte, Senior Deacon: Gerardo Nero, Junior Deacon: Jeremy Borelli, Tiler: Julio Patron, Treasurer: Gerald Calibritto, Hon. PM, Secretary: Dennis Frosolone, PM, Marshall: Michael Cotella, Historian & Trustee: John Garcia, PM, Chaplain: John Ryan, PM, Senior Stewart: Oreo Oluwo, Junior Stewart: Eliot Buenunano and Almoner: Steven R. Mullins, PM