Grange Notes by Tim Swartz, March 14, 2017
When it’s winter–some folks are still riding bikes–and the rest of us are ready to start
As I’m writing this, of course, the biggest storm of the winter is falling….but you have to have faith!
We invited Noah Tautfest, owner of Bicycle Express in Northfield, to give us some basic tips about getting our bikes ready for riding in spring–but we found that he spent part of the day riding in the snow at Burke Mountain! So the bike he brought to demonstrate the basics was this “fat bike”, with 4″ tires–but the basics still apply.
Noah showed us the important maintenance steps he does himself–and recommends for all bikers:
Noah showed us the important maintenance steps he does himself–and recommends for all bikers:
- Cleaning: wiping the chain after riding, to get rid of grit that wears out the chain
- Lubricating: working chain lube into the links, one section at a time. Using your fingers, rolling the links helps the lubrication work its way in
- Checking the whole bike: looking at cables, brakes and gear linkages, to make sure everything is in good shape–before you are going 30 mph down a hill!
- Checking your helmet: be aware that helmets start breaking down after 3 years. Foam that is supposed to cushion your head when it hits the ground can just collapse, just when you need it most! Replacing your helmet regularly is the best insurance you can have.
- Tire pressure check: Noah reminded us that rubber can let air out, so checking and re-filling is a regular necessity. Low pressure tires like the 10-15 psi ones on his fat bike lose air more slowly–narrow, high-pressure tires like the 90-100 psi ones on a road bike lose it more quickly, but all of them have to be checked–especially if they have spent the winter hanging in the garage. Get yourself a good tire pressure gauge, and use it regularly.
Besides the pre-ride and post-ride check advice, Noah answered lots of questions from the many people who joined us for this program. They ranged from discussion of the many different types of bikes that people ride–off-road mountain and fat bikes, with and without shock-absorbing suspensions, bikes with single front chainwheels and those with front derailleurs and rear ones, road bikes, hybrid bikes and more.
Interest was also expressed in having Noah come back later in the year, perhaps allowing people to bring their bikes to be checked–are you interested? Let us know! We could do it when the weather is warmer, so we can have room outside and don’t have to worry about the floor.
Interest was also expressed in having Noah come back later in the year, perhaps allowing people to bring their bikes to be checked–are you interested? Let us know! We could do it when the weather is warmer, so we can have room outside and don’t have to worry about the floor.
March Grange Meeting: What’s Going on These Days?
New storage for Kids Trade & Play
At the Grange meeting, we got a report from Erin Barry on the ongoing success of KT&P, the popular family clothing & toy swap, plus community gathering of families which she hosts. Since starting this series in March of 2016, it has kept growing. Erin and a small cadre of volunteers sort the piles of donations, and on the second Saturday of each month, lay them out in size and age categories on the cafeteria tables downstairs at the Grange Hall. Dozens of families come to drop off even more out-grown (but clean and in good repair) children’s clothes, and to find lightly-used replacements to fit their growing brood. Kids play with toys downstairs, or run around in the open Hall upstairs. And there is often a jam session of old-timey music upstairs as well. Merry provides information about community resources for parents and kids, too. But the main benefit may be the opportunities for making friends and social contacts among families with kids–finding others with the same age kids, developmental challenges, struggles and joys. Erin charges $3.00 per family to meet costs, a pretty good deal! Tell your friends, neighbors and co-workers about this!
The Grange is supporting this community service by donating the space, and now by purchasing the “new” used shelves in the photo above, for storage of KT&P’s many plastic bins of clothes. Merry also found a painter through the Grange’s membership in Onion River Exchange, and used O.R.E. Hours donated by Liz Benjamin to get the walls in their storage corner painted. Erin’s husband Sean and I picked up the shelves and delivered them to the Hall, and I put them together. Erin is already thinking she could use more! As usual, it’s a group effort with a community payoff.
The Grange is supporting this community service by donating the space, and now by purchasing the “new” used shelves in the photo above, for storage of KT&P’s many plastic bins of clothes. Merry also found a painter through the Grange’s membership in Onion River Exchange, and used O.R.E. Hours donated by Liz Benjamin to get the walls in their storage corner painted. Erin’s husband Sean and I picked up the shelves and delivered them to the Hall, and I put them together. Erin is already thinking she could use more! As usual, it’s a group effort with a community payoff.
Farmers in Berlin–meeting at the Grange
Also at our Grange meeting, under the “Agriculture report”, Josh Fitzhugh told us about the second “potluck social” dinner of Berlin farmers, which he has organized. On Friday, March 3rd, members of farm families from 6 farms (out of about 15 in Berlin) met to share food and talk about the state of farming in the town. Josh feels it is a good opportunity for networking and building relationships among the scattered agricultural enterprises in the town where our Hall is located. They are talking about possibilities including a co-op store for farmers and craft-workers. You can get in touch with them: josh@fitzhugh.com He plans to have more of these get-togethers.
Legislative report–universal primary care plan?
Our usual reporter, Marj Power, told us the high point of the VT Legislative session, relating to this Grange’s long interest in health care: the proposal for a “Universal Primary Care” system for Vermonters–no one excluded, everyone covered. Primary care, of course, is the “first line” of medical care–the doctors/nurse practitioners/pediatricians/
Grange quilt contest coming up–wanna join in?
Our Grange Home Ec liason–also our Grange Secretary–Charles Martin–let us know about the VT State Grange contest for quilters. In our Grange, anyone can enter–we will donate a Grange membership for the winner! The contest is to make a queen-size quilt–it must be quilted, not tied, but otherwise anything goes. For the VT State contest, there are prizes–$100 for 3rd place, $200 for 2nd place and $300 for 1st place. The first place quilt will be taken to the Big E in Springfield, the huge Eastern States Exposition, and will be raffled off–to benefit the Vermont Veterans’ Home in Bennington. The other quilts will be returned to their makers.
Health Concerns: sleeping better by camping, and a new fast-food hazard
Our usual reporter on health matters, Phyllis Skinner RN told us about a study which took people with sleeping problems out camping–with good results. The theory is that taking people away from their screens–on phones, tablets, laptops, monitors and TVs–removes a source of the type of light that makes changes in our melatonin cycle, which is part of regulating our sleep rhythms. Resetting our light exposure to natural rhythms re-sets our sleep cycles. The lesson? reduce your exposure to screens well before your time to go to sleep.
Phyllis also reported on research that identifies grease-resistant coatings in fast-food meals as containing PFAs, a potential carcinogen. Cut down on fast food burgers, chicken, etc.–or unwrap them as soon as possible and get rid of the wrappings from the store.
Phyllis also reported on research that identifies grease-resistant coatings in fast-food meals as containing PFAs, a potential carcinogen. Cut down on fast food burgers, chicken, etc.–or unwrap them as soon as possible and get rid of the wrappings from the store.
High altitude parking!
We have an ongoing offer to the Green Mountain Transit Authority (GMTA) which allows them to store their fleet of buses in our parking lot, when there is a possibility of ice jams and overflowing rivers. Their depot, about a quarter-mile south on Rt. 12 is right next to the Dog River, so it can be vulnerable if the waters rise.
The weekend of Feb. 25/26 was forecast for high winds and possible heavy rains, so they decided they would rather be safe than sorry, and let me know that they would be moving the buses to our parking area up on the hill. With no rentals scheduled on Saturday evening, this worked out well. They left room for parking for the Church of Christ service on Sunday morning, as requested.
In the event, no flooding happened, but we are happy to provide this “peace of mind” for this important community transportation agency.
The weekend of Feb. 25/26 was forecast for high winds and possible heavy rains, so they decided they would rather be safe than sorry, and let me know that they would be moving the buses to our parking area up on the hill. With no rentals scheduled on Saturday evening, this worked out well. They left room for parking for the Church of Christ service on Sunday morning, as requested.
In the event, no flooding happened, but we are happy to provide this “peace of mind” for this important community transportation agency.
April = Grange Month, and April 1st = Open House at the CCG
Every year, the National Grange declares that April is the month to celebrate and publicize the whole Grange. We held our first Open House last spring, and we are holding another one on the first Saturday in April, instead of our usual Grange meeting. Like last year, we are inviting our renters to do demonstrations, staff information tables, or otherwise present their activities and interests. We are inviting local community organizations–the 4H group from Washington County, the Green Mountain Transit Authority, and more–to provide spokespeople and literature as well. Carl Etnier, who has been coming to dance at the Grange Hall for years will serve as MC again, you can also find Carl commuting by bike from Plainfield to Montpelier, and DJing on WGDR.
The Open House will run from 4:00 to 6:00 PM, followed by our usual Community Potluck dinner. Bring one of your favorite dishes to share–we’ll set up tables on the floor-protecting mats in the Hall so all can attend. Come and break bread with your friends, neighbors and people you never met before!
Once again a reminder: DUE$ are DUE for 2017. One important way to support the Grange is with official membership, which costs $30again this year. Having an active, paid-up membership keeps us in good standing with the State and National Granges, as well as providing financial strength to our own Community Grange. Send checks to:
$ecretary Charles Martin
639 Mini$ter Brook Rd.
Worce$ter, VT 05682
Remember, everyone is welcome at all our Grange meetings, but only members can vote!
$ecretary Charles Martin
639 Mini$ter Brook Rd.
Worce$ter, VT 05682
Remember, everyone is welcome at all our Grange meetings, but only members can vote!