As always, we extend a grateful welcome to our guests, Ted Beebe, State Membership, and Lois Evankow, Flora of East Central, and Lecturer for Lyme Grange. Ted always provides interesting and helpful information for us, and Lois’s lecturers programs are greatly enjoyed and appreciated. 

Congratulations to Chris Bourque on his appointment to State Agricultural Committee Chair. Chris has extensive knowledge of agriculture and will be a great asset to the Committee.

We were pleased to hear from Chris that Colchester is still being considered for the farm to table food hub for the eastern Ct area. Also an exciting proposal has been presented to our school district to have an agriculture education curriculum in grades K through 12. A farm garden has also been proposed and will be reviewed soon.  

We continue with our community service activities, with cooking at Harrington Court, providing contributions to local food banks, and Bingo at Apple Rehabilitation. We are currently gathering food items for Easter Baskets for our Veterans Project in Jewett City.  This is in conjunction with The American Legion Ladies Auxiliary and community donations. We hope to have a complete Easter dinner basket for every Veteran in residence at the facility and have them delivered before the Easter Holiday.

One of our talented members, Eva O’Connell submitted a beautifully made quilt square block for the National Grange quilt that will be greatly appreciated. Also, just a reminder to all you crafty members out there, items are needed to be submitted in May.

Please don’t forget to let all the travelers you know to contact Cathy Russi, our CWA representative about a fabulous trip to the Panama Canal, Costa Rica and Aruba for March 2016.

We would like to extend our condolences to the family of long time Colchester Grange member Joann Riddell. Joann was a contributing member of our Grange, holding several offices, and she will be greatly missed.

The weather reporters are telling us Spring is out there somewhere, so let’s hope it appears soon!