I’m sorry to report that our community hall suffered a break-in recently. It was ably handled by our Rental Agent, Merry Shernock, with help from other Grange community members. Here is her report:
BREAK-IN AT CCG HALL
DATE: Sometime between Sunday noon ( 7/24) and Monday (7/25) 8:00 AM.
REPORTED BY: Ken Eardsley, who came to the Hall to do Kendo. Ken called Berlin Police, and left a message with Jody Pettersen, former Rental Agent The door to the NEW ENTRANCE was open when he arrived at 0800. He found the door to the ‘Grange Closet’ in splinters, and guessed it had been kicked-in to access the attic. There was no other damage in the attic, or elsewhere in the Hall, and nothing appeared to be missing, though several drawers and cupboards were opened from the attic to the basement, and the intruders appear to have rummaged through things in a fruitless quest for valuables. Representatives of Barre Tones and Church of Christ confirm nothing was taken.
Ken advised that a Berlin PD Officer came to the Hall and checked around, and I have also called Berlin PD. I have heard nothing from them, however.
The wooden key-return box was ripped from the outside wall and is now missing. From this, several have deduced that entry was likely gained with a key in that box. No other keys appear to be missing.
DAMAGE REPAIRED: Joe Blakely, Grange member, and Lewis Neill, Montpelier Church of Christ, a long-time regular renter, cleaned up the mess. Lewis removed, planed, and sanded the undamaged door to the attic and hung it to the entry of the ‘Grange Closet.’ Joe repainted it. Lewis hung an old door of his own to close off the staircase to the attic. At the request of Alison Forrest, Grange member, Lewis reinstalled the lovely old brass knob, previously on the attic door, on the “new” door to the ‘Grange Closet’.
SECURITY RESTORED: The doors to both the OLD and the NEW Entrances were rekeyed on 08/03 by Jerry Sklon, Lockworks VT in Middlesex. Jerry also improved the way the door to the New Entrance operates. He made twenty (20) numbered keys for the new locks and I, as Rental Agent, am distributing these keys.
PLEASE NOTIFY me (rentals@capitalcitygrange.org) IF YOU MAKE COPIES FOR ANYONE
PLEASE NOTIFY me (rentals@capitalcitygrange.org) IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO GET IN NOW!
LONG-TERM SECURITY: I believe the CCG community was lucky this time. Per Carla Kervorkian, Afro-Caribbean Dance, another long-time regular renter, “This was a warning.” Next time we might not be so lucky; e.g., our floor could have been damaged, there could have been graffiti, there could have been windows and appliances damaged, the piano could have been rolled off the stage. Imagine the impacts and the long-term implications!
Therefore, the CCG Community soon will be planning for better security; e.g., new doors, new locks, new procedures. YOUR FEEDBACK IS WELCOME/NECESSARY/INVITED!
Please send your comments and suggestions to
rentals@capitalcitygrange.org, or master@capitalcitygrange.org
especially if you can help implement improvements!
In the end, however, WE ARE OUR OWN BEST SECURITY! People using the Hall at various times of the day and night (including those who come to access WIFI, or whatever, in the parking lot), people being mindful to close doors and windows, people paying attention to who is in the parking lot, people taking care with keys, people not leaving valuables on the premises, etc. plus the intermittent police patrols we have at present, are what we need to take to keep our Hall an accessible and affordable community resource now and in the future.
Merry Shernock, Rental Agent
Making our Hall even better looking
Volunteers organized by Alison Forrest are making real progress in improving the inside of the Hall. They have chosen new colors (one of them is seen on the stage-end wall), taken everything down from the walls and washed them and the trim down, and started to paint! Please be assured–all the quilts, fabrics, pictures and certificates are saved and will be reorganized and re-hung once the painting is done.
Want to help with inside painting? contact Alison to find out when the next painting day is scheduled: https://feedkidswell@hotmail.com
Want to help with outside painting, organized by Joe Blakely? Contact Joe at: https://joeblakely640@gmail.com Joe has been gradually scraping the peeling old paint from the many spots on the outside of the building, priming as he goes.
Want to help? KT&P needs someone at noon to take fibers to be recycled, or at 11:30 to help take-down. Maybe you can help with set-up on Friday, or maybe you want to sort donations? Contact Erin: birthsinnerlight@gmail.com to find out how you can get involved.
This is a great example of a community need, a willing organizer, and the space and support of the Grange coming together to provide a service. What’s your idea for what you could do with the Grange?
Projects the Friends are considering, besides continuing the painting, include:
- A new locking system (programmable locks?)
- Re-siding the north end
- Replacing the old doors at the original entrance with insulated, weather-stripped ones with windows,
- Insulating the foundation to warm up the basement
- And many more–look for planning meetings this fall!
The National Grange asks for donations for their meetings, held in November every year. Each year, items are donated by Granges from around the country, and are given to charity following the meeting. In past years it has been a “mitten tree”–this year, the donations are socks!
VT State Grange has been challenged to donate 400 pairs of socks this year, and we want to do our part! Bring in (new) socks of any kind–homemade, with toes, athletic socks, wool socks, kids’ socks, and drop them in the basket–it’s easy to find, there’s a big sign on it!
When the Hall was broken into, Merry took charge of organizing our response–and got lots of others to pitch in as well. When the Hall needs painting, Alison and her crew, and Joe Blakely as well have stepped forward.
We’ll have our next meeting on the third Saturday in September, Sept. 17th 4:30 PM, to avoid trying to compete with Labor Day.