To the Editor:

The New Year of 2021 is finally here, and with the new year comes lots of hope and the desire to be rid of COVID-19 issues and finally be able to fully open our Bethlehem Grange 137 for eat-in dinners and activities again.

As we are not able to fully open our Grange, we are still very actively doing many things throughout the community. While we are still partially shut down, a couple of our members have been scraping and painting our interior. We are looking forward to being able to invite the public in to see all of our new improvements.

We will be celebrating our 147th birthday on March 17, 2021 with just our small group of members in actual attendance, and with others joining us on Zoom. Our actual birthday will also be a meeting night, starting at 6:30 p.m.

Friends and neighbors are welcome to join us at our meetings, either in person or via Zoom. To join us on Zoom, please call me, Carol Carpenter, at 518-421-1384, in advance, so that I can send you the Zoom link by email. Of course masks and social distancing are still required.

We have added a second ramp on the other front door to provide access for people with handicaps,made possible with a $500 grant from the Bethlehem Industrial Development Agency … This has been a dream of ours for several years ….

A very big thank-you to Charles Ryan for designing the ramp, and hiring a very qualified carpenter and his helper, to assist him in the building of this ramp. This ramp was ready for our November Turkey Dinner.

We are holding a Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner on Saturday, March 6, from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Dinners are $13. Please pre-order by March 3 by calling me at 518-421-1384. (Please make sure your phone number is displayed so a return call can be made back to you.)

The Grange is located at 24 Bridge St. (Route 396W) in Selkirk.

We continue to accept bottles and cans for return. The proceeds are very much needed to assist us with the cost of the maintenance of our historic Grange Hall. Bottles and cans may be dropped off in the back of the Grange Hall, by the back door, in plastic bags, please!

We’re also accepting pull tabs from soda and beer cans, pet food, canned soups, canned fish. These can also be dropped off 24/7, by the back door, in plastic bags please. The pull tabs will go to the Ronald McDonald House in Albany, to support their many programs.

We are also continuing to host a food drive. If  you or your group would like to donate any items, it would be greatly appreciated. The donated food and items will go to people who need it most — all of whom have been referred by a professional such as a social worker, health visitor, schools liaison officer, or church.

If you can deposit the items or boxes at the Bethlehem Grange 137, that would be fantastic. Please call Jackie Schrom at 518-810-6031 to arrange to drop off any items. We do not have a covered area that would be safe from the elements. She can also answer your questions by email at schrom.jackie@yahoo.com’

Our clothing shed is open 24/7! We are now finally able to accept your men’s, ladies’, and children's clothes, shoes, boots, and belts as well as linens, curtains, and stuffed animals. The shed is located in the southeast corner of our parking lot.

Of course our American Flag Collection Box is open 24/7, located in the front of our Grange Hall. We collect your old, discolored, worn or tattered American flags. We then properly destroy them, following proper flag protocol.

Bethlehem Grange 137 is proud to announce we are now a chapter for Stars 4 Our Troops. We cut the embroidered stars off the donated worn or tattered flags, individually bag them, and add our “Thank You from Bethlehem Grange 137 for your service.”

We hand these out to service people, first responders, and many more. We can always use volunteers who are willing to cut and bag these stars. We have ready-made kits available. To arrange to pick up or get a kit delivered, please call Jackie at 518-810-6031 or Charles at 518-227-8954.

Start saving your plant cuttings, rooting plants, small or large potted plants, and hanging plants you would be willing to donate. We’re always looking for the common ones, and the not-so-common ones. If anyone has a Purple Passion with the fuzzy leaves that are jagged, we would really appreciate some cuttings or rotted plants. Of course, any other plants are appreciated!

We will also be accepting donations of flower pots of all sizes, hanging planters, plant hangers, bulbs, bushes, outdoor plants, small trees, yard tools, small garden tools.  Please call me at 518-421-1384, or Charles Ryan at 518-227-8954 to arrange delivery or pick-up.

Our Craft Fair and Plant Sale is Saturday, May 22. It will we indoors and outdoors, according to COVID-19 guidelines. At this point, I’m assuming we will still be requiring masks and social distancing.

Our Annual June Garage Sale is coming up sooner than we realize. When you’re downsizing, winter or spring cleaning, or cleaning out a family member’s house, please think of  Bethlehem Grange 137 for your donations. Please remember, we have no storage space, so we can not accept any donations until after the Craft Fair and Plant Sale.  

Carol Carpenter

President

Bethlehem Grange 137