To the Editor:

We’re asking everyone to please save your pull tabs from your soda, soups, and pet foods. Bring them to any event at Bethlehem Grange 137 at 24 Bridge St. The pull tabs are being collected for the Albany Ronald McDonald House. 

This is just one of our many Community Service Projects for the Bethlehem Grange in our community and the surrounding communities.

We’re also looking for donations of large empty clear containers, such as dog-biscuit jars, animal-cracker jars, cheese-ball jars, or large mayonnaise jars to be used as collection containers for the pull tabs. Please bring any of these to the Bethlehem Grange or call me, Carol Carpenter, at 518-438-8862, or Charles Ryan at 518-227-8954, or Vernon Starr at 518-567-4294 to arrange a drop-off time.

Our Grange is also collecting worn, frayed, discolored or tattered American flags, to be properly disposed of.  These flags can be brought to any of our events or meetings or you can call any of the three people listed above to arrange a drop-off time.

Everyone is invited to attend any of our meetings. The Grange has members from the age of 15 to 101.  We have activities for all interests and all ages, and are always open to more ideas.

The next Grange meeting is on Sunday, Oct. 6, at 3 p.m. at the Grange Hall. We will be having a potluck dinner social, starting at 3 p.m., and then the meeting, so come hungry. Please let me know if you are planning to attend our Sunday meeting. 

Our next meeting, after Oct. 6, will be Wednesday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m., with refreshments following.  Bethlehem Grange is accessible to people with handicaps.

Our Grange prepared and presented a booth at the 2019 Altamont Fair, titled “Versatile Uses of Vinegar, Natural & Organic” and won first place! The booths must all be informative, interesting, and educational, and meet many other guidelines.

We also have the Bethlehem Juniors Grange 115, for kids ages 5 to 15, with lots of fun activities and learning. The Juniors also work on crafts and a booth for the Altamont Fair. This year, they were the proud recipients of third place for their booth on the American Revolution. For more information, call Vernon Starr.

Save the date of Saturday, Oct. 12, from 4 to 7 p.m. for our delicious Homemade Roast Beef Dinner, with potatoes, vegetables, rolls, dessert, and a beverage, served family-style, all for $12, for adults and children 12 and over. Children aged 5 to 11 eat for $6, and children under 5 eat for free. Take-outs are also available. We’ll also have a basket raffle!

Our Annual Halloween Party is Sunday, Oct. 27, from 4 to 7 p.m., and open to all children ages 5 to 15.  There will be games and goodies for all.

Kids, get dressed in your best costume for this party. The Grange Hall will look like it never has before, all decorated for Halloween! Adults interested in the Grange are also invited and costumes are suggested, but not necessary. Please let Vernon Starr or me know if you are coming.

We would like to thank the community for all of its support  in making donations and purchases during our three weekends of garage sales. All of our unsold items are re-homed to community and neighboring organizations, depending on their current needs.Nothing goes into dumps, unless it is broken and not repairable.

We are currently in the process of emptying the Grange Hall to be ready for our Oct. 12 Roast Beef Dinner.

Carol Carpenter

Master/President

Bethlehem Grange