May 14, 2014 – Plumsteadville Grange

• Monthly Meeting – 7:30 p.m. at the Grange Hall
• Program to be announced

June 4, 2014 – Bucks County Pomona Grange

• Monthly Meeting – 7:30 p.m. at the Grange Hall
• Program to be announced
  

June 11, 2014 – Plumsteadville Grange

• Monthly Meeting – 7:30 p.m. at the Grange Hall

Program
– Madison Occhoco, will describe her experiences during her year as Middletown Grange Fair Queen. Sydney Ochoco will present “Strawberry Fields Forever” her entry in the 4-H demonstration contest during A-Day.

Help Needed for Grange Dinner

The Grange will be catering the following private dinners – please volunteer to help prepare, serve and clean up. Pies are also needed – contact Annette Crooke 610-470-6602 if you can help or provide a pie or two.

• May 10 – Pt. Pleasant Baptist Church

These dinners help raise fund for our Grange programs. Your help and support are needed and much appreciated!

Keystone Grange Fair – June 27-28

“Keystone Grange #2 in Trappe would like to invite everyone to their 42nd annual fair. This year’s fair will be held at the Montgomery County 4H Center on Route 113 in Creamery.  The dates will be Friday June 27 from 3 pm til dusk and Saturday June 28 from 9 am till dusk.  Friday will feature a pet show, a pageant to select the Grange Fair Queen, bar-be-que from Bigg Dutts and many more activities.  Saturday will feature opening ceremonies at 11 am, music, children’s activities, commercial exhibitors, antique tractors, plenty of food and various groups from 4H showcasing their talents.  Please stop by the Keystone Grange booth and say hello from Plumsteadville Grange! For additional information call Keystone Grange at 484-948-6916, by email at [email protected].  They also have a Facebook page and website www.keystonegrange2.org.”

From the Desk of Marguerite Quinn

State Representative, 143rd Legislative District

LIHEAP Help Extended

Many of us are doing all we can to forget about the winter we endured in Bucks County, but the reality is for many of our friends and neighbors, the costs of this winter will hurt pocketbooks for the rest of the year. To help ease this burden, Governor Corbett announced an extension of LIHEAP benefits. Now Pennsylvanians struggling to pay home heating bills will have extra time, through April 18, to apply for financial help through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The federally-funded program was slated to end April 4.

“Pennsylvania has had a difficult winter, and programs like LIHEAP have helped our most vulnerable households to endure the cold temperatures,” Corbett said. “By providing this extension, our Department of Public Welfare is able to give individuals additional time to apply for home heating assistance so they can keep warm for the remainder of the season.”

Since the beginning of the LIHEAP season on Nov. 4, the department has processed approximately 357,000 applications for cash assistance to help low-income households pay for home heating fuel. It has also granted more than 107,000 crisis grants, which assist with heating emergencies such as a furnace failure or unexpected fuel shortages.

Cash grants are based on household income, family size, type of heating fuel and region. In addition to proof of income and household size, applicants must provide a recent bill or a statement from their fuel dealer verifying their customer status and the type of fuel used.

Individuals can apply for a LIHEAP grant online at www.compass.state.pa.us or in person at the Bucks County assistance office, located at 1214 Veterans Highway in Bristol. You may also call the Bucks County office at 215-781-3300, or the statewide toll-free hotline at 1-866-857-7095 with questions about the program.

For more information about LIHEAP, visit www.dpw.state.pa.us

Mark Your Calendars

Shredding Event – I am hosting a free paper shredding event to give all residents of the 143rd Legislative District the opportunity to safely destroy personal paperwork. The event, which will feature an on-site industrial paper shredder, will take place on Saturday, May 3, from 9-11 a.m., in the parking lot of the Plumsteadville Volunteer Fire Company, 5064 Stump Road in Plumsteadville. You will have a chance to shred a maximum of two file boxes full of paper, and watch your documents be shredded on site.

“Golden” Anniversary Tea – I would like to honor couples living in the 143rd District who have been married for 50 years or more by inviting them to a “Golden Anniversary Tea” later this year. If you, or a couple you know are interested in participating in this special recognition, please call my district office at 215-489-2126 to register. You will be asked to provide the names of the anniversary couple, address, phone number and date of marriage. A personal invitation will be sent via mail to those who register.

Plumsteadville Grange Minutes – March

The minutes for the March 12, 2013 meeting as recorded by Donel Moss (Acing secretary) are included in their entirety. Plumsteadville Grange #1738 met Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Present: Men – 6,     Women – 5. Total – 11

OPENING: The Grange opening ceremony was led by Overseer Don Steeley, followed by the roll call of officers and committee members. Minutes of the previous meeting of February 11, 2014 were mailed (emailed) with the monthly newsletter.

PROGRAM: The subject of the program was “BC PA Strong Networking”, a form of Time Banking. The presentation was made by Dr. Julie Fagan. Geared to both individuals and organizations, time can be entered when a service is performed and time can be withdrawn when a service is required. The network becomes a way of trading time.

STANDING COMMITTEES REPORTS:

Deaf Activities: The Fish Fry held on March 7 served 54 meals and made approximately $300.00.

Farm Market: The first farm market will be held on May 31, 2014.

SPECIAL COMMITTEES:

Ray Gross Memorial: It was decided that the display case as a memorial to Raymond Gross would also be a memorial for Harold Steely.

Pomona, National & State Reports: The Secretary reported all reports have been filed.

Treasury Report: Income for the period was $4519.55 and expenses were $4032.77. It was noted that the cost of snow plowing this year was more than doubled from last year.

NEW BUSINESS:

State Grange has released a Quilt Raffle. Tickets are available from Karen Moss.

Plumstead Township is looking for volunteers to serve on the new Plumsteadville Village Committee. Interest was shown at the meeting to having the Grange offer to serve. Don Moss will follow-up.

The meeting closed with the traditional Grange closing ceremony.

Respectfully submitted, Acting Secretary, Don Moss

Plumsteadville Grange Minutes –April

The minutes for the April 2014 meeting of the Plumsteadville Grange as recorded by Karen Moss, secretary, are included in their entirety. Plumsteadville Grange #1738 met Wednesday, April 9th t 7:30 pm.

Present Men – 7, Women – 11, Total – 18.

OPENING: The Grange opening ceremony was led by Master Jim Diamond, followed by the roll call of officers and committee members. Minutes of the previous meeting of March 2014 were not mailed/ emailed with the monthly newsletter and will be presented in next month’s newsletter for approval.

ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS: Present were Master Jim Diamond, Overseer Don Steeley, Lecturer Darlene Quiring, Chaplain Tony Townsand, Treasurer Jim Lomax, Secretary Karen Moss, Greeter Katie Graham, Ceres Ruth Steeley, Pomona Toni Kellers, Flora Jane Birk, Musician Betty Diamond.

GUESTS: Members of the Steeley family, Jim & Joyce Stauffer and Mary & Charlie Mann.

PROPOSALS FOR MEMBERSHIP: Kevin Kinney

PROGRAM: The charter was draped in memory of Harold Steeley, followed by shared memories of his friendship.

REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES:

Deaf Activities/Fish Fry: Reported by Jim Lomax that the last Fish Fry for the spring season will be held this coming Friday, April 11^th. The previous Fish Fry had 85 guests and to date the Fish Frys have raised $400 for our Deaf Activities fund.

Farm Market: The Farm Market will open May 31^st. A clean up date will be announced. Meg Lomax is trying to coordinate the Dairy Princess crowning with the opening. In August there will be an exhibit and activities presented by the Bee Keepers Association.

Quilters: Reported that since 2004 they have raised $7,556.

Building and Maintenance & Grounds: Brandon Byrne has raked and leveled the area between the Grange building and barn to restore it after winter damage.

There was a shortage of parking reported at the last Fish Fry. It was suggested that volunteers for this event and our other dinners park behind the barn to free more spaces for our guests.

The sewer grinder (in the barn parking lot) has been installed, backfilled and marked with caution signs. This was installed under the direction of Bucks County Water Authority to correct the problem of excess water flowing into the storm sewers and prevent backup of waterand sewage into the apartments and Grange.

Agriculture: Honey bees have been sighted gathering nectar. Trauger’s has sweet corn started in the green house and 100 pounds of peas planted outside.

REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES:

Ray Gross Memorial: Don Moss has presented plans for the display cabinet and it is planned     that it will be ready for dedication at the November meeting.

Ellen Crooke Scholarship Fund: Has received an addition $1,180 in donations in memory of Harold Steeley.

COMMUNICATIONS: Received a thank you from Ruth Steeley.

TREASURER’S REPORT: For the period 3/1/2014 through 3/31/2014 we had income of $3,978 and expenses of $4,557 with our biggest expenses for the month being for snow removal and building maintenance.

NEW BUSINESS: Limiting the number of programs presented during the year was discussed, found acceptable to those present, but it will be left to the Lecturer to make the final decision on the number of programs and dates.

Meg Lomax reported that the Food Shed Alliance is considering presenting workshops on Food Preservation at the Grange during Farm Market hours in September. Jim Diamond will repeat his Sauerkraut workshop in October. Cabbage will be available – bring your own crock.

During the month of March there has been a display at the Doylestown Branch of the Library about our Plumsteadville Grange. It was designed by Meg Lomax and Betsy Wertz, assembled by the quilters. Meg Lomax reported that it was well received.

The same display will be used on May 31^st at an all-day event celebrating the opening of Hanusey Community Park in Plumstead Township. The park entrance is off Route 611 on Gordon Road. The event will open at 10 am, continue all day with the movie “Frozen” being shown, under the stars at 8pm. The park includes sports fields, basketball courts, tot lot, pavilion, walking trails and an indoor community center. Here’s a sneak peek…

MEMBERS SICK OR IN DISTRESS: Lillian Shull is having a heart operation at Doylestown Hospital this coming Friday.

Respectfully submitted, Karen Moss, Secretary.

Did You Know?

Plant Merchants Must Be Licensed this Growing Season Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture George Greig has announced that as part of PDA’s work to safeguard PA’s plants against pests and diseases, all plant growers and merchants must be certified and licensed. Consumers can use the PaPlants portal to find a nearby nursery or plant dealer and producers and businesses can use it to manage their certifications.

PA Hardwood Forests According to Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture George Greig, the USDA Forest Service estimates that Pennsylvania’s nation-leading hardwood forests cover nearly 16.8 million acres with 114 billion board-feet of standing saw timber. They contribute to healthier ecosystems, provide recreation and clean the air while remaining the world’s highest-quality supply of hardwoods.

Schedule for 2014 All-American Dairy Show

The 51^st All-American Dairy Show is Sept. 13-18 at the PA Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg. The show features 23 shows in six days, including four full days dedicated to youth activities and nearly 2,800 animals from more than 1,200 exhibitors from across North America. The 11th annual Premier National Junior Events run in conjunction with the show from Sept. 13-16.

PA Fruit Production According to Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture George Greig, “PA ranks in the top six nationally for five major fruit varieties – apples, grapes, peaches, pears and tart cherries. In 2012, total production on more than 40,000 acres was valued at more than $180 million.”

Dog Wardens Checking for License, Rabies Compliance. According to Pennsylvania Department off Agriculture, PA’s dog wardens are canvassing homes throughout PA to ensure that all dogs owners have current licenses and rabies vaccinations for their dogs. All dogs three months or older must be licensed by Jan. 1 of each year. Licenses may be purchased through county treasurers, at issuing agents or online

Members Sick or in Distress

Do not under estimate the power of prayer. Please keep the following Plumsteadville Grange members and Grange friends in your prayers.

• Lillian Shull
• Anne Bailey

Your Vote Counts

PA Primary election day is Tuesday May 20

2014 Quilt Raffle

Quilt raffle tickets are available at all Grange events – $2 each or three for $5 – who wouldn’t want to win this beauty!

Sales have been brisk so far – let’s keep the momentum going.

 

 

Use of the Grange Hall

:
If you know of a group needing a meeting place, or to inquire about hall rental for an event, contact Meg Lomax at Meg Lomax at 215-766-9801 or [email protected]