| FEBRUARY 2, 2024 -- Feb. 1: Trip to Hillstown Grange (617 Hills Street, East Hartford), for Free Seed Giveaway event, 6:00 – 7:30 PM, refreshments and entertainment
Feb. 2: Meeting & Program: “How Agriculture Impacts Me Every Day”; Agricultural Committee program; George Russell, Chair
Feb. 4: Honoring Our Veteran of the Month (Barkhamsted Senior Center; 109 West River Road, Barkhamsted, 6:00 PM)
Feb. 18: “Maker Sunday”, 12 noon, a new event co-chaired by Dawn Anstett and Melissa Sweeney providing an opportunity for members and guests to meet at the Grange Hall and make homemade items.
Feb. 20: 12 noon luncheon at Barkhamsted Senior Center to honor retired First Selectman Don and Linda Stein for his service to our community and Grange
Riverton Grange members have been very busy with a number of both fun and impactful activities. We held our January 5th meeting and voted to start a new initiative called “Maker Sunday” proposed by Sister Dawn Anstett. On the 3rd Sunday of each month, members and guests will meet at the Riverton Grange hall to work on making homemade items. All are welcome to attend.
Also on January 5th, Riverton Grange virtually celebrated its 116th Anniversary as a chartered Grange with a program hosted by President Dave Roberts, with tremendous support from Terri Fassio. Dave traced the history of Riverton Grange from 1908 and a pig donation by Charter Overseer Leon Coe to help start a building fund, to our flourishing Grange of today. Dave highlighted that the first meeting of the Grange on January 3rd, 1908, was a stormy night and only 36 charter members attended due to icy roads, including his great Grandfather, Carlton S. Roberts, who served as Steward, and his great Grandmother, Dora W. Roberts, who served as Secretary. At this first meeting, our organizer State Grange Deputy J. H. Putnam, said “I believe that they have the making of a fine Grange”.
Dave highlighted numerous Grange projects over the years, including the 1923 Riverton Grange Cookbook. Following the presentation, members shared highlights of their Grange memories over the years (including the Great Flood of 1955) and shared who was their Grange mentors. Special guest Joan C. Smith, Chair of the National Grange Foundation and member of Potomac Grange No. 1, joined the celebration and thanked all Riverton Grange members for continually evolving to meet the needs of their community.
Secretary Judy Doyle created a graphic of current Riverton Grange projects over the past 12 months. Members then wished Secretary Judy and guest Pat Tarca special birthday wishes for their milestone birthdays!
On January 6th, seven members of Riverton Grange journeyed to Hillstown Grange for their awesome pancake breakfast. A fun time was had by all and it is great to see Grangers supporting Grangers!
Our January Veteran of the Month (29th) ceremony was canceled due to a snowstorm, so our next Veteran of the Month ceremony will be held on February 4th at 6:00 PM. This event is primarily indoors, refreshments are served, and it is open to the public, so come experience one of these awesome events honoring our veterans.
Finally, Riverton Grange continues to work with both the Riverton and Barkhamsted Lions Clubs on Project Amazon under the leadership of Secretary Judy Doyle to distribute items to over a dozen separate non-profits in our area including Pleasant Valley Food Bank, Barkhamsted Senior Center, Riverton Vol. Fire Department, Barkhamsted Elementary School, and Waste Not Want Not.
|
