Grange Notes by Tim Swartz, Grange President (with everyone’s help) January 12, 2022

In this cold new year, with another major COVID spike, we’ll meet virtually to plan ahead.

We all hoped that putting 2021 behind might mean that we could look forward to social gatherings in person, rather than on line.  As we all know, that is not looking so promising right now.  The huge increase in positive COVID tests in Vermont mirrors the national trends, which in turn are similar to other countries’ experience with the more-transmissible Omicron variant.   Initial research seems to show that infections with the Omicron strain of the virus are milder, especially for those with complete vaccinations including boosters.   We all hope that will pan out in the longer term–but the short term impacts are very concerning, especially on the capacity of our health care system.
Because of these factors, our Grange meeting will be help solely on Zoom, to avoid gathering people in one place.   Here’s the Zoom info:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82553846739?pwd=ak83MGJ5aUE0VzZnZUpTTTRCcHZmZz09
Meeting ID: 825 5384 6739
Passcode: 677053

Or:  dial in on your phone for audio:
646 876 9923 US (New York)

Meeting ID: 825 5384 6739
Passcode: 677053

As always, this Zoom info is posted on the Grange website Calendar listing for this meeting, which will be from 4:30 to 6:00 PM on Saturday, January 15th.
I’m sure you won’t be surprised that we won’t have a potluck dinner this month.   As usual, I will also remind you that the Grange (from National to State to Capital City Grange) supports and encourages vaccination for all people who are eligible–let’s all keep working together to get past the domination of COVID.

So what will we be talking about?

#1:
The most important topic will be planning to campaign for the renewal of full property tax exemption for the Grange.   As you likely remember, in 2021 our attempt to extend the full tax exemption which the Berlin Town Meeting granted in 2016 was restricted to only being able to ask for a one-year exemption, and only exemption from “Municipal” property taxes.   Town Meeting in 2021 was canceled as an in-person event, replaced by Australian ballot voting–and we got very good support, with about 80% of the votes supporting our (partial) exemption.
We appreciate the support from the voters of Berlin–and we also appreciate that when we asked for abatement of the remainder of the tax burden later in the year, the Board of Abatement granted relief from 3/4 of the tax, especially recognizing the difficult straits we were under given the pandemic’s impact on rentals.
This year, we have submitted petitions with enough signatures to make sure that our official request for full exemption is on the ballot.  What we don’t know yet is how and when the Town Meeting will take place.  If it is in-person, either on the standard date of March 1st, or delayed until later in the spring, I will be there, and will be happy to plead our cause, and to see how the floor vote comes out.
If the ballot measures are put on the Australian Ballot, rather than voted on in person, we will have no opportunity to directly address the voters.   I have submitted a “Grange Report” for the Berlin Town Report, which describes our mission, our contributions to the Berlin Town and wider community, and the “free rentals” we have been able to continue to provide for Berlin Town residents and Berlin non-profit organizations.
Whichever way the ballot item is decided, we will need to influence Berlin voters–and we will need the help of everybody who can pitch in.  We’ll be discussing how this can be done at our meeting this Saturday, hope you will join us with your ideas!
#2: 
We’ll also be talking about the current status of rentals at the Hall, as some groups are choosing to restrict gatherings due to the Omicron surge–as we have chosen to do for this meeting.
I’ll report on the contractors with whom I’ve been meeting, to get quotes for a permanent ventilation system.   The quick summary is that it is not cheap.  The Friends of the Capital City Grange is considering if this is the best way to use the limited funds we have available–there is much to consider.
#3:
I hope that we will also be able to start thinking about Resolutions to submit to the VT State Grange session.   We will do a better  job composing them if we can start early, rather than ending up at the last minute trying to write something!   In past years, our Grange has submitted resolutions about supporting single-payer health care, supporting immigrant dairy farm workers, and supporting “card check”–accepting workers’ signatures to establish union representation in a workplace.  Other Granges have proposed resolutions on an even wider range of topics–from changes in Grange rituals, to reductions in use of neonicitinoid pesticides, to changes in particular intersections….the sky is the limit!
One of the purposes of the Grange is to improve the world we live in–and learning to craft appropriate resolutions that can gain support and become part of Grange policy is one way that we get practice in practical politics.
So–bring your ideas, and we’ll start working on them!
#4:
We’ll also get a report on the progress of the FCCGH end-of-year appeal.   This annual fund-raising campaign has gotten a great response, adding to funds that can be used for projects–and especially for use as matching funds for grants to fund major improvements in the Grange Hall.  I bet you know that these have included the new bathrooms, the basement fire exit, and the major renovation of the lower level completed in 2020.   There are many more upgrades we would like to pursue.  The response to the Friends’ appeal shows the generosity of Grange members, Grange Hall users and many who have fond memories of community gatherings at the Hall.  It certainly renews our desire to keep this community Hall a vibrant and active place which is accessible and affordable for all.
Even though 2021 is over, we still welcome contributions.   You can donate anytime by using the PayPal link on the Grange website:  https://capitalcitygrange.org/donate/, or send a check to:  PO Box 192, Northfield Falls VT 05664.  Or send an email to the Friends to learn more:  fccghvt@gmail.com.

Grange Notes by Tim Swartz, Grange President (with everyone’s help) December 19, 2021

December Grange meeting Program:
Patty Manning puts us in touch with Native solstice traditions

Northfield resident Patty Manning, a Wampanoag descendant, gave a large group of attendees (in person and online, about 40 total) an introduction to Native American traditions about the solstice and the cycle of the seasons.  Patty appeared via Zoom from her family home.
Patty showed us one of the types of “Sacred Circle” symbols that illustrate the cycles of seasons and life, qualities and emotions that we encounter through the year.   The illustration above is not exactly like the one she showed us in her Zoom presentation, but it repeats the same sets of descriptions.  An online search for “Sacred Circle” or “Medicine Wheel” will show you many variations, coming from many tribal backgrounds.
As Patty described it, as we approach the Winter Solstice, we–the world, the people and all living things are passing out of the black Autumn quadrant and season, associated with the West, Adulthood, the Body and the other aspects, and are heading to the white Winter quadrant, associated with the North, Old Age, Wisdom, Night, and the Mind.
The winter is a time of turning inward, retreating from the world, hibernating, conserving energy–and also purifying ourselves in preparation for the rebirth that comes with spring.  Winter Solstice celebrations can come in many forms, including bonfires, pipe ceremonies, drumming, outdoor singing and sweat-lodges.  In the time of COVID, though, sweat lodges have been discontinued, for obvious reasons.   Indian elders recommend taking part in the other types of ceremonies, as we take care of the health of our communities by avoiding risky activities.
Asked to talk about the songs that might be sung, Patty sang one–and you can hear her whole presentation, including her song and the many questions which she answered and discussed with both online and in-person attendees, by checking out the recording which Carl Etnier made of the program.   It is posted at the Grange website Calendar event listing.  Please be patient with the first minute or so of the recording, which starts after Patty has started talking, leading to a bit of confusion.   It all straightens out quickly.
People attending were eager to know more about all aspects of the Native understandings of the annual cycles, their relationship to human activities and spirituality, and the way these practices have been passed down.
Patty explained that the tribe from which her Native roots spring, the Wampanoag, was one of the first tribes to have their cultures decimated by the invasion of Europeans into their homeland, which included all of present-day southeastern Massachusetts and Eastern Rhode Island.  It is only recently that elders have come from western tribes to renew the cultural teachings of the Wampanoag, Abenaki and other eastern tribes.  This is why Patty has learned the Lakota ceremonies and spiritual ways, and cites Lakota elders as her mentors.  She talked about how universal these beliefs and practices are among many Indian tribes–this is not a “foreign” set of beliefs.
I certainly can’t convey all of Patty’s messages, and urge you to follow the link given above, to see and hear her for yourself.  Below is a picture of Patty, on screen, and nearly 20 attendees in the Grange Hall!

Just Food Hub kicks off sales of Equal Exchange foodstuffs–and benefits the Grange!

December 4th marked the beginning of Just Food Hub delivering pre-ordered food items, mostly Equal Exchange items, at Grange meetings.   A few orders were delivered, and more items sold on the spot–see the picture below–and resulted in a check being delivered on the spot to the Grange!  We greatly appreciate Sue and John Morris and their associates who are putting their time and energy into this project.   The next delivery will be at the January Grange Meeting, which will be on the 3rd Saturday, 1/15/22 (we move the meeting from the 1st to the 3rd Saturday when a holiday like Jan. 1 coincides with the 1st Saturday).   You can order online up to about 1 week before the delivery date, online at:  https://capitalcitygrange.justfoodhub.us/.  The items on offer are all fair-trade, and produced by small farms and cooperatives.  Most are organically grown as well.   And any purchase produces a donation of 30% of their proceeds to support the Grange!    Orders will be accepted every month on a similar schedule.

Potluck dinner, beating the arrival of Omicron

We took a bit of a chance by deciding to hold an in-person potluck dinner on Dec. 4th–right around the time that it was becoming clear that the Omicron variant of COVID would soon be showing up in the US.   Using the RAFBs (Room Air Filtration Boxes–see below for more info), about 15 of us enjoyed a social get-together.  All present were vaccinated, so we felt that it was a minimal risk under the circumstances.   The usual array of tasty food was available, and so were many of the people who have joined us, including 3 that car-pooled down from the Burlington area just for the potluck, as well as people who stayed after attending the program.
Our next Grange meeting will be on the 3rd Saturday of January, 1/15/22.   We will wait to see if it makes sense to have a potluck dinner, based on VT infection rates, the effects of Omicron, etc.   If we decide it is reasonable to even have a potluck, we will again ask only vaccinated people to take part.  We continue to support the vaccination and booster campaigns, and urge that all Grange members and friends protect themselves and the rest of us by keeping up with vaccinations!

Monitoring the air quality while using our RAFBs

Now that we have 4 Room Air Filter Boxes on each floor of the Grange Hall, and that they are being used at Grange events and those of our renters, I’m pleased to report that we’ve been able to see the improvement in air quality!
We have the use of an “Air Quality Monitor”, thanks to Mike Ziegler, a long-time supporter of the Grange and a member of the board of the Friends of the Capital City Grange Hall.  Mike is an instrument maker and woodworker–long-time readers may remember that he made a mandolin from pieces of the old Grange floor. which was replaced in 2012!   Mike purchased the particle counter shown in the photo above, to check the dust levels in his home workshop.    He also–independently–constructed an RAFB for his workshop, and contacted me when he found out from the Grange Notes that we were building some, and offered to loan the Dylos Air Quality Monitor to us.
As you can see in the picture, I set it up on one of the benches in the Main Hall.   It is currently logging readings there.   It shows the count of “small particles” (the left-hand number) which are .5 microns or larger, and “large particles” (on the right) in real-time, and also records a number every minute–and it keeps doing that for about a week.
Working in the lower level of Hall on Dec. 9th, after starting the monitor there, I was able to see from the display that with 2 of the RAFBs running for about an hour, small particle counts dropped from about 1170 per cubic foot (pcf) down to about 790 pcf in that time.   By the next time I was there for Kids Trade & Play on 9/11, the count was down below 400 pcf.   All this was very encouraging!  I look forward to seeing the results for a few days of events.
We are urging all Hall users to turn on the RAFBs during events–especially if you are not sure if all participants are fully vaccinated.   With the advent of the Omicron variant of COVID, we want to do everything we can to reduce the chance of virus transmission at the Hall.

FCCGH end-of-year fundraiser continues!

The Friends of the Capital City Grange Hall are seeing more generous donations come in, in the annual end-of-year fundraising appeal.   The new exhaust fan above the Main Hall, the new doors at the original entrance, and the RAFBs were all financed by the Friends of the Capital City Grange Hall, Inc., the 501(c)(3) charitable corporation that helps the Grange to plan and run projects, raises funds for improvements, and applies for grants to help finance them.  Every year, like many other charities, the FCCGH sends out a fund-raising letter to people who have donated before.   This year’s campaign began with letters sent out in late November–and a number of checks have already come in!    If you feel left out because you haven’t gotten one, don’t worry!   You can donate anytime by using the PayPal link on the Grange website:  https://capitalcitygrange.org/donate/, or send a check to:  PO Box 192, Northfield Falls VT 05664.  Or send an email to the Friends to learn more:  fccghvt@gmail.com.
Donated funds will be used to finance projects we do ourselves, and to match grant money for large projects–like the replacement of the Grange Hall dance floor in 2012, the new bathrooms in 2015, and the insulation and wall/ceiling floor surface upgrades completed in the lower level in early 2020!  We hope you can help us get ready for our next big improvement–which we hope will be a professionally designed ventilation system to improve air quality throughout the Hall.  We’ve started getting quotes…
…and we have lots more improvements we’d like to make!  Among the items on the list:  a lift to allow people who can’t use the stairs to come down to the lower level, a complete renovation of the kitchen–we think our Hall can be an even more accessible and useful Community Hall!   If you’d like to help us financially, that would be great–just follow the link above!

Grange Notes by Tim Swartz, Grange President (with everyone’s help) November 27, 2021

December 4th meeting & program:   Patty Manning on Native American solstice rituals.   Note: new Zoom link for this hybrid meeting!

New Fiber internet connection

Consolidated Communications has connected optical fiber internet to our building, so we have fast Wi-Fi throughout the Hall, and extending outside!   I measured Wi-Fi speed at about 90 Mbps in the Hall, a huge improvement.  Hall users will need to use a password, with this new system–please log in to:

Network:  Grange Wi-Fi Guest
Password:  CapCity469

Signs are posted inside and outside the Hall with this information so that all can take advantage of this free, fast Wi-Fi!
We also have new, inexpensive VOIP phone service!    We will have to replace the dial telephone in the upstairs old entrance foyer, I’m sorry to say…not compatible with 21st century VOIP.

Chocolate, Coffee and lots of other fair-trade food!
Submit your order to the Just Food Hub for pickup on Dec. 4th!

Help the Grange, and help yourself to tasty food that will benefit small farmers all over the globe.    If you order through their special Grange link:  https://capitalcitygrange.justfoodhub.us/, not only will you be able to pick your order up at the Grange Hall on the First Saturday of each month, but they will donate 30% of their proceeds to support the Grange!  You can order until Nov. 28, for a December 4 pickup between 4-6:00 PM.  Orders will be accepted every month on a similar schedule.

It’s Potluck time again!

And we’re going to try holding a safe potluck dinner on Dec. 4th, for the first time in a while.    We welcome all vaccinated people to join us, downstairs, with our RAFBs running (see the article below!), to share whatever tasty dishes show up.   We welcome all types of food–vegetarian, meat, bread, cheese, desserts, salads, chips, salsa, beverages, whatever you feel like sharing!   We’ll stay a bit spread out, following COVID safety guidelines for gatherings, but it will be a chance to see each other and socialize a bit.

*****************************************************************
Please join us on Saturday either in person, or via Zoom to hear more about all of these developments.

New Link:  Since Grange Lecturer Carl Etnier has left Goddard College to pursue other opportunities, we’ll have a new Zoom link for our next “hybrid” Zoom and live meeting.    If I get the link before sending out these Notes, I’ll post it below…if not, I’ll send a second Grange Notes out next week–as well as updating our Grange Calendar listing for the meeting and program.

Please follow this link to join us:

Join Zoom Meeting

TBD

(no passcode needed)

To join by phone for audio:  646 558 8656

RAFBs….what are those funny boxes?

 

Since introducing the first one in the last Grange Notes, we have put together 7 more of the Room Air Filter Boxes, for a total of 8, with the help of a great crew of volunteers (see pictures below) on Nov. 14th.   Since then, and after getting feedback from a couple of rental groups about the fan noise, Kurt Giavara and I have hung 4 of the boxes facing up toward the ceiling of the Main Hall, and I hung one over the counter in the lower level kitchen.   There are 3 more downstairs, which can sit on the floor or on tables, and be moved around.
With all 4 of these RAFBs running on one floor, they can provide about the equivalent of 4 or 5 Air Changes per Hour (ACH)–without pulling in cold outside air.  This is in the range which the CDC recommends for ventilation.   The only drawback is the fan noise.   This system is our trade-off for getting through the cold winter months, when it is not reasonable to open the windows and run the Fresh Air Ventilation system.
We ask all Hall users to turn on these RAFBs during events–especially if you are not sure if all participants are fully vaccinated.  The left-hand photo shows the Fall VT Scholastic Chess tournament held in our Hall on Nov. 20, with one of the boxes hanging above–and also wearing masks, as we also require.   More chess tournament photos at:  https://vtchess.info/Results/2021_Berlin_VT_Fall_Photos.htm

Contact Tracing

       In this time of continuing high positive test rates, we are also requiring Grange Hall event organizers to keep track of who attends events, just in case someone experiences COVID symptoms or tests positive.  For events where organizers don’t have a “guest list”, we are providing clipboards with forms to fill out contact tracing information for all participants.
As a reminder of VT Dept. of Health recommendations in case of exposure to COVID, check out https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/symptoms-sickness/what-do-if-you-are-close-contact.

Vaccinations are important!

      In case it isn’t clear, the Grange (at all levels) strongly encourages everyone eligible to get fully vaccinated–including boosters when the time comes.   This continues to be proven to be the best way to defeat this virus, and reduce the risk for everyone!

Volunteer recognition!

       In the photos of our RAFB assembly line, we thank (from L to R):  John Morris, Jennifer Rangnow, Sue Morris, Bill Hulstrunk and Coriana Swartz!
If you want to learn more about how well these boxes work, use your favorite search engine to look up:  Corsi-Rosenthal boxes.

FCCGH end-of-year fundraiser begins!

The RAFBs described above were financed by the Friends of the Capital City Grange Hall, Inc., the 501(c)(3) charitable corporation that helps the Grange to plan and run projects, raises funds for improvements, and applies for grants to help finance them.  Every year, like many other charities, the FCCGH sends out a fund-raising letter to people who have donated before.   This year’s campaign began with letters sent out last week–and a few checks have already come in!    If you feel left out because you haven’t gotten one, don’t worry!   You can donate anytime by using the PayPal link on the Grange website:  https://capitalcitygrange.org/donate/.  Or send an email to the Friends to learn more:  fccghvt@gmail.com.
Donated funds will be used to finance projects we do ourselves, and to match grant money for large projects–like the replacement of the Grange Hall dance floor in 2012, the new bathrooms in 2015, and the insulation and wall/ceiling floor surface upgrades completed in March, 2020!  We hope you can help us get ready for our next big improvement–which we hope will be a professionally designed ventilation system to improve air quality throughout the Hall.

Speaking of improvements…

…alert readers may have noticed that the picture of the RAFB in the kitchen above looks a little different than their memories of the kitchen…there’s a reason for that!   We had a great crew of volunteer painters from the Unitarian Church of Montpelier choir show up on Nov. 11th to repaint the kitchen walls!   In return for being able to rehearse in our Hall while theirs was being renovated, Sue, Sarah, Anne and Nancy scraped, cleaned and painted the concrete and sheetrock wall surfaces.   It makes a big difference in the look and feel of the kitchen!

Thanksgiving at the Grange!

We are pleased to be the home, for quite a few years, of the Thanksgiving celebration for an extended family from Berlin.   They find our cafeteria provides the room they need to share a big meal and socialize.   The kitchen provides room for meal prep and space to clean up.
Because this is a Berlin family, they qualify for the free rentals we offer to Berlin residents, but they always “pass the hat”, and have given us substantial donations after every use!  We appreciate their generosity.  We also appreciate the COVID protocols they have adopted this year, requiring vaccination or a negative test before the holiday meal for all attendees.
The last photo was taken during setup this Thanksgiving!

Grange Notes by Tim Swartz, Grange President (with everyone’s help) November 3, 2021

Join us November 6 at 4:30 PM, to get the latest info

Ventilation options for renters

Option 2–Filtering–heated room air is recirculated through MERV-13 filters that can remove up to 85% of particles .3 to 1 micron in size.  Virus particles vary in size, but are typically .3 to .5 micron.   We are working on building 2 sets of 4 “Corsi-Rosenthal Boxes”, one set each for upstairs and downstairs.   You can read about them here:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corsi-Rosenthal_Box.

We will be able to pre-schedule the filter/fan system to turn on before a rental, as we do the thermostats, and to run after each rental use to clean the air, at least for renters who prefer this alternative–see below for how we collect feedback. The following image shows A prototype Corsi-Rosenthal box hung in the Main Hall:

Grange Notes by Tim Swartz, Grange President (with everyone’s help), September 30, 2021

Join us at 4:30 PM, for a Grange meeting to plan our campaign for full Berlin property tax exemption