Grange Notes by Tim Swartz, Grange President (with everyone’s help) March 31, 2026

April 4th Grange Meeting &
Lisa Masé program!

Next Saturday, from 4:30 to 5:00, we’ll have a short Grange meeting to deal with a few issues.

• Chair purchasing decision:  Grange members will be voting on spending about $4,000 for 100 new folding chairs with padded seats and backs, as recommended by the Chair Committee and the Executive Committee.
• May 3rd–First Degree:  We’ll hear about arrangements for performing this “degree” of Grange membership, on Sunday May 3, starting at 3:30 PM, with a Grange potluck to follow!
• Chili Cooking Contest in June:  we’ll hear from Cecile & Marty about plans for judges and prizes.  We hope you are starting to practice your recipes!
• After the meeting, at 5 PM, we are looking forward to hearing from Lisa Masé, a Central Vermont-based nutritionist.  In a newsletter she sends out, she says that she’ll be talking about the “enteric nervous system (ENS)” and its relation to our brain.   This is an example of her integration of current research with traditional understanding.   The ENS is embedded in the walls of our digestive tract, and is affected by the conditions of the microbiome, the vast quantity of bacteria, protozoa, fungi and viruses that live more or less happily in our guts.  Lisa will give us more information about how fiber-rich whole foods improve not only digestions, but also support mood regulation, resilience to stress, and overall vitality.  You can find out more about Lisa on her website.
•  Armed with the knowledge Lisa shares with us, we’ll be ready for the usual tasty Community Potluck starting at 6:00.  We hope you will join us for all of these events!  There are Zoom links for both the meeting and program on the Grange’s website Calendar listings for April 4.

Bob Dylan fans and Bob Dylan Wannabes were thick on the ground at the Grange!

A very full house gathered on Saturday evening, March 28, to see and hear the challengers for the title of Best Wannabe.   Nine different people took to the stage as contestants, all with diverse presentations of the legendary folk/rock/songwriter and performer on instruments from keyboard to banjo to guitar.   In the end, there were 3 prizes awarded, but the real winner was the People’s Health and Wellness Clinic in Barre!   The concert raised about $1,700 to support this free clinic, which welcomes every person who comes in, whether or not they have insurance or any other means of payment.  The message about the need for the clinic, and how much donations mean was clear in the announcements made by PHWC director Daniel Barlow, main impresario for the event Browywn Fryer, and emcee Dan Jones.
On this evening of the day that many performers and attendees spent time at “No Kings” protests, there were quite a few political opinions expressed, as well, to great applause.
The 3 judges (Andy Pitt, Daniel Hecht and Zach Nugent) selected:  Merry Trudeau (3rd), Aaron Adler (2nd), and Jim Thompson (1st) as the winners.   We’re already talking about repeating this event next year, so start working on your playing, singing and persona in honor of Bobby D. for next March!  The Grange is proud to partner with PHWC to host this event.  If you can add to the fundraiser total, check out their website to donate online.
Below is a picture with most of the contestants onstage at the end, singing Blowing in the Wind, along with the crowd.

Do you love the Grange Hall?
Pick one from this list of tasks:

• Changing the water filter:  every 6 months.
• Changing the furnace air filter:  every 3 months, only in the heating season.
• Changing the 2 Iso-Air pre-filters:  every 3 months.
• Changing the Lower Level Dehumidifier filter:  once a year.
• Changing the ERV air filters:  about every 2 months–we’ll be monitoring it.