There’s a very special light that shines forth from within the heart of the Frederick Allen Elks Lodge on Beekman Street. Sherry Anderson. Anderson anchors the core of the Lodge’s ‘Welcome Center’ — the club’s bar. A quiet powerhouse with an engaging smile, easy laugh, and spine of steel, Anderson sees and hears it all, serving a favorite drink while bearing witness to the “ebb & flow” of patrons lives, as they sit, reflect, and share at her counter.

Serving, listening, hosting … these run deep in Anderson’s DNA, to be sure. Her parents, Eddie & Jeanne (Ellis) Walczak, were owners of the legendary Golden Grill on Phila Street — a favored and frequented gathering place for Saratogians and visitors, alike, for 37 years. Family-owned restaurants offer a unique and challenging environment to grow up in, and Anderson learned early how to navigate people, balancing customer service with customer care, while figuring out how to maintain personal boundaries. She is a Pro.

Oh, another thing about Ms. Anderson — don’t mess with her kids! This woman defines “Grandmother” as a verb and that resonates throughout Anderson’s world and her focus. The joy and spark the young people bring to her (and the Lodge!) is as beautiful and warming as, well, being in their Mauma’s presence.

We all look for “the light” in our corner of the world, each of us trying to find our way through the day-to-day craziness. Sherry Anderson is one of those grounding “lights” … and with her helming the club bar at the Lodge — our Saratoga community knows the home fires will be kept “burning'“ … so we can find our back to each other and ourselves. Thank you for the “light” and the love, Sherry. ❤️

Frederick Allen Elks Lodge #609:
www.FrederickAllenLodge.org