Grange News by Tim Swartz, Grange President (with everyone’s help) February 24, 2023
Feb. 4th program–VT Public Assets
Before we look ahead at the March events, just a reminder of the program which our Lecturer, Carl Etnier presented as part of our February meeting.
Stephanie Yu, recently appointed as the second Executive Director of the Vermont Public Assets Institute, gave us (in person and on-line) an interesting overview of the data which the PAI has collected about the quality of life of Vermonters, how it has changed during the pandemic, and how we are recovering. She also answered questions and discussed policy implications of the data, based on PAI’s values of using the powers of government to improve the well-being of ordinary citizens, especially the most vulnerable.
Because this wide-ranging program covered a lot of ground, and I don’t want to make this email a mile long by trying to summarize it, I strongly recommend that you view the Zoom recording of it, available by clicking on this link, and using this password: W6t.*@mQ (copy and paste it when asked).
Please let me know if this works for you! And stay tuned for our next Community Program, on April 1st (no fooling)!
- Patty Giavara, Chair of the Friends of the Capital City Grange Hall will report on progress on an application for a grant to help us get the Grange Hall’s exterior professionally scraped, primed and painted. The FCCGH did get invited to submit a full grant application–but if we get it, we must get the work done this year. She’ll report on grant-writing progress, contractors, and other info.
- We recommend that in-person attendees arrive early, so that they can inspect the new lift! I’ll include some pictures of the installation process below. Of course, our plan is that everyone who comes to our Lift Celebration on March 5th will get to see it in action!
- Speaking of the Celebration, see more info and a picture of the flyer/poster put together by Patty below!
After the meeting: it’s potluck time!
From 6:00 to about 7:00, we’ll have our monthly Community Potluck Dinner, where we socialize over tasty dishes contributed by Grange members and other good cooks. Generally we chew over the ideas we’ve discussed in the meeting and program, as well as good food. We hope you will join us for the dinner, whether you make it to the meeting or not! Please bring whatever you cook or can scrounge up that can be shared–beverages, cheese ‘n’ crackers, desserts, main dishes, soups, side dishes, salads…we all need to eat, so why not share good food in good company?
Celebrate with us!
- We’ll have a ceremonial “ribbon cutting” soon after the 2:00 opening, and some “first rides” by some of the people who have served the Grange for decades, and who will find it easier to get to the Stage and Lower Level with this lift.
- We are making good progress getting some “invited guests” lined up to join our celebration, including Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, Michele Bailey from the VT Arts Council, the 2 State Reps from the Berlin/Northfield district, at least one State Senator, and others!
- We will have exhibits from some of the organizations which use our Hall as their “home base” and other community groups, many of whom have presented programs for us in the past. It’s a great chance to learn more about what goes on in the Hall, and in our surrounding communities. We’re calling this part the “Info Fair”; see below for the long list of “exhibitors”.
- Refreshments are being organized by expert baker Alison Forrest, who will be serving fresh-baked cookies, plus coffee and tea in the Lower Level. Would you like to help her serve, and give her a break? Get in touch with her at: feedkidswell@gmail.com.
- In a Grange Hall where the biggest events are contra dances, we will provide “community dancing” with live music by the VT Fiddle Orchestra and calling by Luke Donforth, who knows how to help people of all ages and experience levels to have a good time!
- Mike Stridsberg, who organizes the VT Scholastic Chess tournaments at the Hall twice a year, will set up chess-boards and other games in the Lower Level for those who want a break from dancing, or just like to play games!
Info fair participants:
Berlin Emergency Management (Fire & Fast Squad)
Berlin Historical Society
Capital City Grange
Capstone Community Action
Central Vermont Community Harvest
Cub Scout Pack #777: bringing a craft project!
Efficiency Vermont: bringing free “Energy Savings Kits” to give away–LEDs and more!
Just Food Hub: selling fair-trade food products to benefit non-profit organizations, including the Grange–and providing some free samples!
Kellogg-Hubbard Library
Kids Trade & Play
MadDog Chapter, Trout Unlimited
Montpelier Church of Christ
UVM Extension Service & 4H
VT AFL-CIO
VT Center for Independent Living
Lift Installation photos!
Below are several shots of the installation:
1. The crated lift came on a trailer, pulled by one of the trucks from Accessibility Systems, the Williston-based distributor/installer. It’s backed up to the ramp entrance, which is convenient for people and deliveries!
2. Parts and pieces have been brought in and stored in front of the stage.
3. The “mast” which houses the lift machinery and the track that guides the lift has been lowered down to the lower level floor.
4. By the end of the first day, the lift “car” has been attached to the mast (which is now very solidly bolted to the wall of the hoistway), and is stopped at the stage floor level. One of the technicians is making connections and adjustments.
5. Stan is standing in the lift, behind the gate which is at the Stage level.
6. The fire door is installed as the Lower Level access to the lift. A similar door is also installed at the main floor level, in the ADA entrance foyer.
Next steps: With sheetrock completed around the doors, gate and walls, painting & light installation are happening. We are waiting for the installers to do final adjustments before getting the elevator inspection done!
Town of Berlin votes March 7
tell all your Berlin friends!
This year, we are finally able to ask for the exemption to last 5 more years, so we want to get out the votes in support. The ad pictured above is appearing for two weeks in a row in the “World” newspaper, which is widely distributed (for free) in the Central VT area, and is the best way to reach people in print. This ad, which the World’s advertising people worked up along with Patty Giavara says it all!
If you are a Berlin resident, or if you know anyone in Berlin, or meet someone from the Town of Berlin before March 7, please pass on our request for support. We keep the rents affordable by being an all volunteer organization, and by getting exemption from what would otherwise be about $7,000 in property taxes.
Please help us spread the word to Vote Yes on Article 3 on the Town Ballot on March 7!
More construction–and your chance to help!
Where do you come in? Some time next week, the closet walls will be sheet-rocked and taped, and will be ready to be painted. We could use some help painting the sheetrocked walls, and also the trim! We’ll provide paint, rollers, brushes and brush-spinner, if you can do some good-quality painting. Exact timing TBD–we have to work around the rental schedule. Contact Tim: swartztim15@gmail.com if you want to be part of this project!
Reminder: time to renew your Grange membership!
PO Box 234
Northfield Falls VT 05664