‘Grange Markets’ idea proposed in Ferrisburgh

FERRISBURGH — The Ferrisburgh selectboard at its Nov. 15 meeting was supportive of a proposed series of concerts and markets to be held in the upper story of the town’s office building and community center.
Resident Katherine Yarbrough approached the board with a suggestion for three “Grange Markets” a year — a spring Artisans’ Market, fall Antique Market and a winter Christmas Market — that would fund an ongoing “Grange Series” of arts events, including music, dances, films, readings, lectures and other performances.
In a handout to the board, Yarbrough wrote “in an age of technological connection, daily physical isolation is a problem,” and that, “We need to find opportunities to bring people together, actively build unity in our communities, and foster social development.”
Yarbrough envisions the first market on Dec. 17, and proposes to raise money by charging crafters and artisans $50 per table to set up shop. She wrote she envisions the markets as “family events,” with “refreshments and activities,” such as horse and wagon and sleigh rides and a photo booth.
Selectboard members were interested, but wanted to make sure there was an organization behind the Grange Series that could handle the funding.
Selectboard Chairwoman Loretta Lawrence said ideally a nonprofit corporation should be established to operate the series, but Yarbrough said it was unlikely she could get that done in time to run an event in December.
Selectman Jim Benoit suggested cooperating with the Grange organization, which already has nonprofit status.
“It might be an easy way of getting into what you want to do without reinventing the wheel,” Benoit said.
Yarbrough agreed to meet again with the board at its Dec. 6 meeting to update the project status and possibly receive final board approval. 

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