Grange Notes by Tim Swartz, April 25, 2016
Join the crew at our Spring Cleaning on Saturday, prep for the farmers of Berlin and our Open House!
Gathering of the cleaners for April 30th
I’ve started to get commitments from veterans and newbies for our Spring Cleaning event, 2:30 to 5:00 on Saturday April 30. Reminder–our goal is to get spring-cleaning done on the Hall, in preparation for our Open House on May 7th.
New Grange member Joe Blakely, it turns out, runs “Blakely’s Window Service”–and he will be there to help us get our windows clean the right way. Others who have worked on previous Grange projects are also on board–but we would love to see some more new faces! Besides the bragging rights you will accumulate, you’ll find that working with other volunteers is friendly and fun–that’s why most of us have worked to keep the Grange Hall going. We’re a pretty congenial group, and we’d enjoy having you join us.
We will bring a couple of vacuums, rags, window-cleaning supplies, and gloves–please bring more supplies if you can, and join us! Please let me know if you can come–it’s very encouraging to know that we can expect a bunch of help.
If you’d like to stay for the dance in the evening, we can offer a shower and a couple of beds for napping at Merry’s and my house in Northfield Falls, too!
We’re scheduling this cleanup event to follow a VT State Grange event at our Hall, so we are starting later than before–let me know if this is A) wonderful, B) terrible or C) in between for future years.
If you’d like to stay for the dance in the evening, we can offer a shower and a couple of beds for napping at Merry’s and my house in Northfield Falls, too!
We’re scheduling this cleanup event to follow a VT State Grange event at our Hall, so we are starting later than before–let me know if this is A) wonderful, B) terrible or C) in between for future years.
More pictures from previous spring-cleanings to inspire you! (notice that the old windows in these pictures have been replaced–it’s a lot easier now!)
Berlin farmers meet and eat on Friday evening
We’re pleased to have our first special “Berlin” event happening, following up on our commitment to offer the Grange Hall for community events. Josh Fitzhugh, who farms on West Hill in Berlin, is sponsoring a potluck dinner meeting for farmers in Berlin, especially in Riverton and the Rt. 12/Dog River valley. This will start at 5:30 on Friday, April 29th. If you want to join them, please contact Josh@fitzhugh.com, to let him have some idea how many to expect!
As you can see….
We are less than two weeks away from our “meet the Grange” event, when we want to show off to people from Berlin and the rest of the region. We are moving into a new era–thanks to the tax exemption we have received from Berlin, we can change from worrying about survival to working to expand our mission. This Open House is a chance to celebrate the diversity of events that already take place, and to invite people to imagine what else could happen in our Grange and in the Hall.
We are less than two weeks away from our “meet the Grange” event, when we want to show off to people from Berlin and the rest of the region. We are moving into a new era–thanks to the tax exemption we have received from Berlin, we can change from worrying about survival to working to expand our mission. This Open House is a chance to celebrate the diversity of events that already take place, and to invite people to imagine what else could happen in our Grange and in the Hall.
So here is the plan thus far:
3:00: Open House begins–we will have “info tables” from various users and committees, including (we’re pretty sure):
3:00: Open House begins–we will have “info tables” from various users and committees, including (we’re pretty sure):
- Wholeshare
- 4H, which is interested in working with the Grange
- Acoustics committee studying possible improvements for the Hall
- “DIY Weddings”, to show the possibilities for use of our venue for economical, fun weddings, receptions, etc.
- The Friends of the Winooski River–we are looking for other Grange members and friends to join Merry and me at their “Onion River Race & Ramble on June 5th.
- There will be some pizza to sample, made by a Montpelier Farmers’ Market vendor whose wedding happened at the Hall recently!
- Kids Trade ‘n’ Play, normally happening on 2nd Saturdays will have a play area, and a display of the kids’ clothing and toys for families to check out–and take something home!
Starting at 3:30: Our “talent show” will begin. MC for the event will be Carl Etnier, a long-time contra-dancer, and also a radio host on WGDR. Performers either confirmed or still being confirmed include:
- West African Drumming and dancing with Jesse Rosenfield
- Musicians from the Northeast Heritage Music Festival
- Afro-Caribbean dancing
- Barretones–barbershop quartet singing–a new member of the rental family!
- Morris dancing with swords–a Sworded Affair!
- Taiko Drumming
- Sing-a-long led by Merry, Liz & Cybill
If you are part of a Grange activity, and would like to be part of the show, get in touch with Merry soon! (see the top of the email for contact info)
And we are looking for help: setting up, starting at 2:00 (contact me or Merry)
cutting carrots (donated by Pete’s Greens) and other cooking work–time t.b.d.–contact Alison: https://feedkidswell@hotmail.
We’ll finish up with a potluck dinner, anchored by:
Homemade Mac ‘n’ Cheese
Baked Beans
A huge salad
Plus of course the delicious dishes brought by all of the readers who we hope will join us!
Our goal will be to welcome people who have never been here before–or maybe have not been back for years. We hope that many of the current happy users of the Hall will join us to welcome them!
And we are looking for help: setting up, starting at 2:00 (contact me or Merry)
cutting carrots (donated by Pete’s Greens) and other cooking work–time t.b.d.–contact Alison: https://feedkidswell@hotmail.
We’ll finish up with a potluck dinner, anchored by:
Homemade Mac ‘n’ Cheese
Baked Beans
A huge salad
Plus of course the delicious dishes brought by all of the readers who we hope will join us!
Our goal will be to welcome people who have never been here before–or maybe have not been back for years. We hope that many of the current happy users of the Hall will join us to welcome them!