Grange Notes by Tim Swartz, Grange President (with everyone’s help), January 31, 2019
Grange sign–before, during and after The snow-plowing by SR Services during the snowstorm on Jan. 19 & 20 was great–but as usual, the snow had to go somewhere! The top picture below this caption show the pile that was in front of our sign next to the driveway, just after I hung up the Grange Meeting sign on Monday 1/21. As you can see, not much was very visible! This included very limited sightlines when looking for northbound traffic coming from the left as you leave the driveway.
So I sent out a survey & invitation to help remove snow. Did you get this survey? Let me know if you did!
Many thanks to Kurt Giavara, who shoveled down the outer edge without waiting for company! And to Carl Etnier–the one person who answered the survey, and came to help me on Friday morning, the 25th. Picture #2 shows the pile after Kurt’s hard work; picture #3 shows Carl on the remaining pile after he and I continued the plane that Kurt established. Pictures #3 and 4 show the fire exit, before and after Carl and I shoveled that out.
Grange Hall–cleaned in the cold and snow on the Martin Luther King “Day of Service”, Monday, Jan. 21st, a total of 13 Grange volunteers pitched in to spiff up the Hall. The pictures below capture some moments, featuring most of the volunteers and the work they did:
From the top: Stan Carlson folds up curtains (to be laundered, by Merry), Stephen Wright replaces a cleaned lamp globe (he didn’t break any of them!), Tossy Garrett cleans light diffusers, with Henry & Calvin supervising, Jody Pettersen cleans the refrigerator, Merry Shernock cleans and organizes the Dance closet, and shows off the blinds in the upstairs bathroom–white once more! At the bottom, Stan, Tim Swartz and Carl Etnier roll up the 2nd-to last of the 6 floor mats which got cleaned. Not shown: Calvin & Henry cleaning the walls of the upstairs bathroom! Sean and his sons Owen & Andy cleaning the mats, and kitchen cabinets! Liz Benjamin cleaning more light diffusers in the kitchen! Merry cleaning the stage and the piano! Carl cleaning the foyers!…and the feast we had for lunch, provided by various volunteers who came, plus mac & cheese dropped off by Elizabeth Templeton. All of this took place the day after the nearly 2 feet of snow, with outside temperatures in the single digits at most. As you can imagine, it was not a good day to open and clean the windows and screens–so we’ll be back when the weather is warmer to get to those. See my previous Grange Notes for “before” photos to truly appreciate the cleaning we did. Thanks to one and all!
Grange meeting on Groundhog Day
We’ll meet again on Saturday, Feb. 2nd.
As noted in the subject line for this email, this is halfway between
the Winter Solstice, with the shortest day of the year, on about Dec.
21, and the Spring Equinox on about Mar. 21st. I know I’m glad for some
morning light sooner after I get up, and some extra daylight in the
afternoons. I look forward to seeing Grange members and friends at 4:15 PM on Saturday for our monthly business meeting. Anyone is welcome, no password–consider yourself invited!
Our meeting will feature an on-screen financial report from Treasurer Merry Shernock,
who will use the Quickbooks Online service to show us how the last year
has gone. She’ll use the projector recently donated to the Grange to
put her screen image on the Grange’s projection screen for all to see.
In 2018, we were able to invest some money in the Grange Hall, had
increased use of the Hall by many local families and organizations. We
also had some increased costs which accompany that increased use. The
balance of expenses and income will be discussed, along with how well
we are fulfilling our commitment to host events for Berlin residents at
no charge, in return for the freedom from property tax we were voted in
2016. We will have to get that renewed in 2021, which is coming closer!
We’ll
also hear about the developing relationship we have with the VT Youth
Theater, which is renting our Hall for rehearsals on a regular basis.
We have been working with them to provide storage space and other
modifications, based on a commitment to long-term usage plans. Having
this relationship with a theater company should enhance the case the
Friends of the Capital City Grange Hall will be making for another grant
from the Arts Council.
We will also be talking about the general issue of storage space, and
how to balance the needs of existing and future tenants for storage of
items needed for their Grange Hall use. Once again, this is the result
of pressures from success–increased usage of our Hall for its purpose of community service for family and community organizational events.
Our meting will also include the reports on agricultural issues (it’s Farm Show right now!), VT Legislative issues, Health Concerns, and the Grange Hall report. The latter will include upcoming construction of at least 18 acoustic panels, to try out reductions in the “reverb” that can make listening to speakers and each other difficult, as well as causing problems for the dance callers at contra dances. The generous donations the Friends have raised in their 2018 year-end campaign will finance these improvements, as well as building up the grant-matching capital for our hoped-for basement improvements.
Our meeting will be followed by the Monthly Community Potluck Dinner, which last month attracted over 30 people. Join us about 6:00 for this enjoyable and tasty chance to socialize as we share food. Bring something you’ve cooked fresh, or something you’ve reheated from the freezer (we have a microwave, stoves and ovens in the kitchen to help), or a pizza or bread or a gallon of cider you have picked up on your way to the meeting or the potluck–we look forward to seeing you!