For winter-weary folks, a special event for Guilford residents of all ages will be held Saturday evening, April 5, at the historic Broad Brook Grange Hall at 3940 Guilford Center Road. The event is a Spring Fling, offering dancing to the music of a local band, open mic time, games of all sorts, refreshments and connecting with neighbors and friends for fun and entertainment. The event is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m., with live music until at least 8 p.m., followed by an open jam and open mic. Admission will be by donations, with the aim of covering the cost of the band, heating the Grange Hall for the evening, and other associated expenses.
The inspiration for the Spring Fling was one of the ideas that came out of Guilford community meetings in late 2013 and early 2014 hosted by local organizers in cooperation with the Vermont Council on Rural Development. These meetings collected input on specific needs and desires from local residents to enrich the present and future of this rural community that at one time was more populous than nearby Brattleboro. From the discussions, residents expressed their desire for activities to foster a sense of community, particularly at the Grange Hall.
The Spring Fling is being organized by members of a volunteer task force that is focusing on projects related to preserving the Grange Hall and reinforcing and broadening its role as a community center for all Guilford residents. Already on board for the Spring Fling is a performance by the local Butterfly Swing Band, made up of Joe LoMonaco (percussion), Lynn Lovell (upright bass), Scott Sizer (trumpet, harmonica, and vocals), Mark Anagnostopulos (guitar and vocals), and Walter Slowinski (clarinet and sax). Broad Brook Grange was established in Guilford in 1874. The Grange Hall, built in 1896, is used for a wide variety of events, and efforts are now under way to make sure that tradition can be expanded to foster and build a local sense of community. For more information about the Spring Fling, contact Michelle Frehsee (michelle@frehsee.com; 275-2555).
