Sharon’s Corner (written by Darlene R. with contributions from various people):

Then Darlene and Sharon went to Maxwell’s to work on the Community Garden where Darlene helped shovel dirt into the sustainable 3-tiered beds and Sharon helped prepare plantings and gave great massages!

People converged from everywhere, especially the Garden City Garden Club and Maxwell’s, to help plant after Stacy K. from the Garden Club and her family worked on preparing the land donated by Maxwell’s.

(This was the culmination of weeks of planning by Stacy, Sharon, Cheryl P. of the Garden Club, and Laura G., owner of Maxwell’s.) Donations from individuals and businesses (over $2000 and climbing) have really made everything possible (including muscle ointment from Dr. Hobbs!?!). And people (including Barson’s Nursery) have continued to donate and plant plants. The winning entry to name the garden was

“Gardenville” by an as-of-yet unknown submitter! Educational classes are being planned at Maxwell’s to teach cooking and canning incorporating produce from the garden.

Sharon has received interest and support from St. Sen. Glenn Anderson and St. Rep. Richard LeBlanc. She has also contacted Meijer Stores to become a partner, and Cheryl has contacted Home Depot. In Cheryl’s June 2 e-mail, she writes: “Just got off the phone with Frametail…They were wonderful! I explained that we were short some screws & stakes. Gardenville is a non-profit community garden and we are all about eco-friendly materials…We spent over ½ our budget on their Split Waterfall Tri-level beds and we think they look awesome…I asked if they would consider offering us a discount. I was told they had a 10% coupon on their Facebook page. So, we talked & I mentioned we were looking at the Solar Lights to really set off the beds. Well…they are sending us 16 SOLAR LIGHTS for our garden beds at NO CHARGE….FREE!!!! They would have cost us $199.00! This is great! The solar lights should arrive within the next week or so.”

So, our community garden, Gardenville, is starting to take shape…come to the Garden City Garden Walk July 16 to enjoy all of our work with the Garden Club and Maxwell’s in this great community effort.

And last, but not least, Sharon donated seeds to the Hands of Light in Action (HOLIA) non-profit out of Canton that has provided a great deal of disaster relief to Haiti. Nancy Malone wrote, “Hands of Light in Action sends out an enormous heartfelt THANK YOU for your donation of so many seeds!!! I have attached a picture of their garden—thanks to you! I apologize for delay of this letter. The delay was because 1) I wanted to include our Haiti End of Year summary, 2) HOLIA is truly a grassroots organization with just a few volunteers handling on the ground volunteers, donations, organization and fundraising with no administrative payroll, and lastly, 3) Every time I began writing this letter, the support from all of you was so overwhelming that I honestly could not find the words to express how very grateful nor how much your donations have meant to HOLIA, to me, and to Haiti. I would just well up with tears and my heart felt that it would burst with gratitude. I still find myself unable to find the right words to do justice to the magnitude of your donations.… Your donations CHANGED LIVES in Haiti and deeply touched all HOLIA volunteers!” She also wrote, after going back to Haiti in February, “…Camp Hope was so excited to show me their garden! It really is a sight to see! We are going back in June to teach 500 children from 4 villages --basketball, soccer and volleyball. It is going to be NUTS! Hope you all are doing well! Hugs, Nancy” The group has provided assistance and supplies in the medical, educational, and construction areas.

As Sharon has always said, “You never know where little acts of kindness can make a difference in other people’s lives!!

Election - Nominations for one 3-year Executive Board position, most recently held by Hanny Lear, will be accepted at the May 9 meeting; the election will be conducted at the June 13 meeting.

Best Wishes - To Ruth S. who has decided she is going to live to the age of 101!! Gail and Ron T., we are thinking of you and wishing you well. And it was so good to hear Betty H.’s voice; it has been too long! It sounds like Sue E., Janie L., and Pramila S. are coming along well in their recuperations from surgery.

Thank You - Sharon S. took 1 box of cards from our Grange, a 5-gallon pail of pop tabs from Mary Demming’s Cake Shoppe, a bag of Campbell soup labels from the Strebbing family, art supplies for the School for the Deaf from Maxwell's, and art supplies from our Grange for the day’s art projects to the State Grange Department Conference. The Grange also donated 3 boxes of cards to the Garden City American Legion Women’s Auxiliary Post #396 for their boxing party. We have given a total over the months of 150 pillows, scarves, personal items and homemade cards to the Post. Over 130 boxes were packed to send to the troops last month! Thanks, everyone, for your donations. A huge thanks also goes to all of our members, friends, and supporters for the assistance with “Gardenville,” our new community garden…what a great thing can happen when we all work together!!!

Volunteers Needed:

-To work at the Westland Farmer’s Market the first Tuesday of the month (Grange fundraiser); see info under ‘Sharon’s Corner.’

-To look for sponsors and provide help when needed for our “Fall Quilt Show 2011 (more info in ‘Future Activities’ section).

-Leora S. is working on the Goodfellow dolls for this year and will be asking you to help.

-To help organize: Collections of pill bottles, art supplies, cards, personal items for other groups; Recycle Program to promote and educate others on cleaning up and protecting the planet; Helping People in Need with coordinating donations; and group Social Outings.

-To make needed items from donations of fabric and yarn, such as lap robes and adult bibs.

-To make items to sell, such as place mats, *greeting cards, etc. for upcoming events.

-Garden City American Legion Post #396 Women’s Auxiliary members are continuing to collect donations of small toiletries, non-perishable food items, socks, small entertainment items (decks of cards, CDs, etc.) for the “Desert Angel” project. The operative word is ‘small,’ nothing large!

-Donations of the following items (contact a Grange officer for specifics):

-Winter accessories, quilts, school supplies for School for the Deaf and other schools.

-Personal care, baby items, paper products, clothing for First Step.

-Blankets are needed by: March 2011 update: VA has requested more 45” x 45” lap quilts, privacy bags, and slippers; local Police and Fire Departments, nursing homes, and Angel Wings needs 16” x 16” baby blankets.

-Animal items for The Humane Society. (Update: blankets, toys, coats, donations needed).

-Soup labels, can tabs, box tops, aluminum pie plates, pill and spice bottles (used to make baby rattles and needed by Angel Wings), lids, clean popsicle sticks.

UPCOMING DATES:

A. Specific Events: MAY UPDATE!! Starting in May, the times and locations for the Grange meetings and F.U.N. Activity Days will change. The Activity Days will take place on the 2^nd and 3^rd Mondays of the month at Maxwell’s from 9-11:30am; on the 4^th Monday of the month, Activity Day will take place at the Bailey Center from 10-noon (This fulfills a community commitment to teach and educate the public). Also, in order to accommodate some members, we will try alternating Grange meeting times (still on the 2^nd Monday) with one month’s meeting occurring in the morning at Maxwell’s from 10-10:30am, and the next month’s meeting occurring in the evening at Maxwell’s from 6-6:30pm. This sounds confusing, but you can see the actual listings below for specific dates, times, and locations so do not get stressed!? These changes have been made for easier access to facilities, for community budgeting reasons, and per the request of some of our members.

Westland Farmers’ Market - The Westland Farmers’ Market organizers have asked the Grange to participate every first Tuesday of the month, starting June 7. We can sell items we make or plants from 8am-3pm in the City Hall parking lot. Call Sharon to coordinate. This will be the only fundraiser this year.

Fibromyalgia Meeting - June 9 at Merriman Road Baptist Church at 1pm. Call Ruthann at (734) 981-219.

Mayors’ Green Fair - June 10 in Ann Arbor. Downtown Main Street will be open to pedestrians for free entertainment, food, and over 120 exhibits with environmental information, hands-on activities for youth, Clean Energy Expo, Green Commute Options, BikeFest, WasteKnot Business Partners, walking tours, and more.

Junior Grange Meeting - June 11 from 1-3pm at Maxwell’s in Garden City.

Spring/Summer Grange Meetings - Michel M. will be planning a program for each meeting that will include an easy 10-minute *Tai Chi program, just some easy movements of arms and legs and bending and stretching and stuff, just to keep limber but not break a sweat J .. Please be on time; if you are late, please be courteous and enter quietly. Everyone is welcome.

June 13 evening - Maxwell’s Art and Treasures from 6-6:30pm. Election will take place for Executive Board position.

July - No meeting.

The second Monday of the month, our activities, if you do not already have something on which to work, will center around a special theme. The third and fourth Mondays of the month will be UFI - bring any UnFinished Item on which to work. Call Sharon S. after 7pm by the night before if you are planning on coming and for any supplies you may need on any of the class days. At this time, members will not have to make a donation; donations will be $5 per person per week for non-members at the Bailey Center. So, if you or any friends or neighbors are looking for something fun to do in a very friendly atmosphere, please join us on one of these days. This is open to anyone in the community. Great things happen here!

June 13 (Maxwell’s) - You can work on your own project, or on items for community donations, or on Grange projects. The Grange will provide all necessary supplies for the ‘modpodging flower pots’ project.

Leora S. would also like to make woven placemats for the Fall State Convention contests. You will need to cut lengths of fabric and iron them and also bring bias tape.

June 20 (Maxwell’s) & 27 (Bailey) - UFI; same as above.

July 11 (Maxwell’s) - you can work on your own project, or on items for community donations, or on Grange projects; Grange meeting.

July 18 (Maxwell’s) & 25 (No meeting) - UFI; same as above.

Remember, you can do or finish other things if you do not wish to work on what we offer. If you have any questions or special items on which to work, please bring them.

Car Show Fundraiser at Maxwell’s - After rain and wind caused a cancellation of this event in May, it was rescheduled for June 25. The Garden City American Legion Riders will be having a ride there, and the Muscle Metal Cars will be conducting a benefit to help kids with automotive class funding. The Grange may be helping with this also.

Junior Grange Meeting - July 9 from 1-3pm at Maxwell’s in Garden City.

Fibromyalgia Meeting - July 14 at Merriman Road Baptist Church at 1pm. Call Ruthann at (734) 981-2519.

B. Ongoing Activities:

Junior Grange (general info) - Meetings will be held at Maxwell's Art and Treasures on the second

Saturday of each month from 1:00p.m.-3:00 p.m.

Local Farmers’ Markets - May Update: It is that time of year again; look for your local markets to start opening.

-Canton at Preservation Park, 500 N. Ridge Road, on Sundays, May 15 - October 16, 10am-2:00pm (closed July 3). Garden plastic can be recycled June 5, July 10, August 7, Sept. 4 and Oct. 2.

-Detroit Eastern Market off Gratiot on Saturdays.

-Farmington in the Sundquist Pavilion in the park at Grand River and Grove on Saturdays from 9am-2pm through November 19.

-Garden City at Northeast corner of Ford Rd./Middlebelt on Wednesdays through October 26 at 11:00 am.

-Livonia at Wilson Barn on Saturdays 8am-3pm from June 18-October 8.

-Plymouth in The Gathering at Kellogg Park on Saturdays 7:30am-12:30pm through October 29 (closed July 9 and September 10).

-Redford at the Marquee on Beech Daly south of 5 Mile on Sundays, June 19-October 23 from 10am-3pm.

-Royal Oak in the Civic Center at 11 Mile and Troy St. on Saturdays (year round).

-Wayne at the State Wayne Theater on Michigan on Wednesdays from 3-7pm starting June 25.

people of all ages, art, sale items, and talent? Maxwell’s Arts and Treasures is fast becoming the “in” place (our own Ann Arbor in Garden City!?!?). Once a month, Maxwell’s opens up their place at 32416 Industrial Rd., one block North of Ford Rd. at Hubbard Rd. in Garden City, to showcase local (and non-local) talent of all sorts. The events are scheduled for the following Saturdays of the month: June 18, July 16, August 13, September 17, October 15, November 12, and December 10. June Update!!: Doors open at 6pm; a very good buffet dinner is offered at 7pm for $5, and the entertainment starts at 8pm with an admission price of $5. Do not miss the fun. Due to the crowds, you may reserve a table up to the Friday before the event for $10 and your pre-purchase of individual tickets.

Munsell Farm (general info) - Take I-96 to Exit 133 (after Howell exit), cross back over highway on bridge, bare right and then turn left on Burkhart Rd., turn right on Mason Rd.…look for the big chicken on the right!?!? This is a working farm with award-winning animals. Go to their website at munsellfarms.com for more information. May Update: The Greenhouse will be open until June 15; the Pumpkin Stand is scheduled for September 15 - October 31; the Pumpkin Pull (entries are in 5 classes of tractors, including antique tractors), along with Pumpkin Carving and the Straw Maze, are slated for October 1; and the Holiday Market will last from November 26 - December 31.

Craft & Needle Arts’ Classes (In addition to the Monday morning F.U.N. Club):

-Sharon S. teaches ceramics Thursday mornings from 9-11am at the Friendship Center.

-Every Thursday night from 6-8:30pm at the Friendship Center on Newburgh Rd., Sharon is teaching Beginning and Advanced Quilting; cost is $5. There will be no charge for those doing social quilting and more…we have a good time!

Sharon and Gail T.’s class hours at Maxwell's Art and Treasures, 32416 Industrial Rd. (one block north of Ford Rd.) at Hubbard St. in Garden City are:

-Crochet on Monday evenings from 6-8pm with Sharon for $15/night.

-Knitting on Wednesday evenings from 6-8pm with Gail for $25/night.

-Sewing on Saturday afternoons from 1-4pm with Sharon for $15/afternoon.

-Quilting on Sundays from 11am-1pm with Sharon for $15/day.

Go to Maxwell’s website at maxwellsartandtreasures.com or call Sharon for more details. Please RSVP.

Maxwell’s is open to the public Thursday-Saturday from 10am-6pm and Sunday from 11am-4pm. You cancome and browse or stay and make something, like wind chimes or stepping stones, for a very reasonable cost. Every Wednesday evening at 6pm, Maxwell’s is the home to an art club for teens and young adults, 13-20 years old, called Planet Art. They “learn about careers and opportunities in art, work on community service projects, and share their passion for art with others.” Look up classes (such as stained glass, water color, pottery, ceramics, still-life drawing, relief print-making, yoga, jewelry, etc.) and one-day workshop schedules at maxwellsartandtreasures.com.

Fibromyalgia Group (general info) - The Metro Fibromyalgia & CFS Support Group meets the 2^nd and 4^th Thursday of every month from 1- 3pm at the Merriman Baptist Church, south of Ford Rd. The group has speakers, a newsletter, and a lending library. There is no fee; donations only (see specific meeting info below). President Ruthann Bruce can be reached at (734) 981-2519 or visit their website at metrofibrogroup.com for more information.

The 4^th Thursday of the month meeting is the open table talk meeting. It provides an opportunity for you to share your story, telling or listening to others explain exactly what is going on in your life with your pain.

You will be surprised at how others do understand you. Members have expressed that they were happy that they did share their story, feeling a much needed connection. So please join us. We do know and understand.

Click on www.med.umich.edu/painresearch/ study/current.htm to access The Chronic Pain & Fatigue Research Center, University of Michigan. Also, Esther McCormick is offering 15-minute ear acupressure sessions in Livonia. If people are interested in classes or treatments, they should check her website: www.corehealthinstitute.com or they can just call her at (734) 383-3545.

REPORT ON RECENT DOINGS:

Plymouth Green Street Fair - Michel M. dropped off Deaf Awareness Info at the Lunasa booth where Darlene R. and Barb R. handed out info on the Grange and Maxwell’s. Laura G., owner of Maxwell’s and new Grange member, along with her helpers, also spent time at the fair selling art objects from Maxwell’s and advertising the business. This year’s fair was the biggest and best of the past five years with lots of good

ideas and products…beautiful forged plates made out of pop cans and functional outdoor mats made from recycled tires by Cass Community Outreach.

Fibromyalgia Annual Luncheon - Our local supporter, the Fibro Group, celebrated their anniversary and were awarded for the “Outstanding Awareness Program in Michigan”…way to go!

As always, setting up and taking down the quilt show take all of us working together. So please give her a hand. Now that we have location and dates settled, we all need to work on the organizing and planning that is necessary every year, especially in soliciting quilts, sponsors, vendors, raffle items, prizes, and goodie bag inserts. Call Leora and ask what you can do, for even a few minutes. This is a “Call to Order” to do what you can. June Update: The church has a gym, kitchen, and 2 classrooms. This year’s Quilt Show will only a story attached to them will be a great addition. Flyers, posters, and media publicity will be the immediate focus. We will need good quality fat quarters. Leora has 3 door prizes, and we need more.

National Grange Convention Photo Contest - Get your camera ready…the National Grange will be sponsoring a photo contest with 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd prizes; more details to follow. Sharon S. says to look at the National Grange website. There will be some cash prizes. Call direct as some of the deadlines can be as early as August.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:

Lunasa - The Grange is helping with a new idea by bringing the community and local farmers together!

Lunasa, an Ann Arbor-based local online farmers’ market with a twice-a-month, year-round, indoor pickup, brings the farmer to our households by computer and has expanded to the western Wayne County suburbs by offering pickups the first and third Mondays of the month at Douglas Foods/Maxwell's Art and Treasures warehouse in Garden City. The next online ordering is June 2-3, and the pick-up market day in Garden City is Monday, June 6 from 4-7pm. The following dates are June 15-17 for ordering and June 20 for pick-up.

People become members and place their orders online. They then visit the market to pick up their goods.

One-time guests are welcome. You can ask questions and get to know our local farmers and their products.

There will be fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy, etc. and more depending on the season. This is a win-win situation in that by purchasing local Michigan farm goods and services, you support Michigan, eat healthy, and save money and energy by avoiding long-distance transportation costs.

Owners, Dawn Thompson and Jane Pacheco, visit each farm, kitchen and facility: “We want your shopping experience to be the best, so we'll spend our time finding great Michigan products for you to enjoy, traveling around to inspect farms and production sites to ensure quality practices, and responding to your needs. The more feedback we receive, the better we can serve you, so please email us with new locally-made products you know about, or notify us if we've run out of something. If you want a particular item and can't find it, we'd like to know about that too! To learn more visit Lunasa's website at www.lunasa.us, or read a review about the business at michiganmama.tumblr.com.

The Douglas Foods/Maxwell's Art and Treasures warehouse has been owned and operated by the husband/wife team of Doug and Laura George for more than 30 years, supplying automotive factories with ready-to-eat meals. With the decrease in auto factories over the past several years, the Georges are finding creative ways to give back to the community. In addition to opening up their doors to local teens, they offer the local Plymouth-Westland Grange a place to meet, local artists a place to create, are partnering with the Garden City Garden Club to create a community garden, and managing an estate sale shop that features a very successful open mic night once a month. “Seeing the value Lunasa brings to the community, we quickly embraced the concept,” said Doug George.

The following people can be contacted as needed:

Sharon Strebbing, President and Treasurer (734) 722-4857; sstrebbing@Yahoo.com

Gail Truesdell, Overseer and Secretary 261-9085

Barb Reddy, Pomona and Membership 502-5607

Jeff Goodfellow, Steward and Dictionary Program Chair 673-4033

Youth/Juniors Call Sharon S. or Gail T.

Michel Marsh, Lecturer and Programs & Deaf Awareness 728-7280

Leora Smith, (Flora) Agriculture 398-5190

Darlene Reeser, Executive Board Member and Info & Newsletter 421-3079;

rdareese@Yahoo.com

Tina Wing, Executive Board Member and Chaplain 338-2226

Frank Eves, Executive Board Member and Asst. Steward 626-0169

Hanny Lear, Executive Board Member 721-3478

Mike Strebbing, Executive Board Member 420-0545

State Grange website (January Update): www.michiganstategrange.org

National Grange website www.nationalgrange.org