ORANGE — New memberships and donations are now more important than ever to the Orange Historical Society’s financial health, as the organization has canceled this summer’s Breakfast on the Porch fundraisers due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to member Maureen Riendeau, the cancellations will severely affect the society’s ability to care for and maintain the French Weymouth House on North Main Street, where the Historical Society’s collections of Orange artifacts are stored. The society has also postponed its weekly open house tours of the building because it would be difficult to sterilize and disinfect between tours.
The Historical Society is planning to continue its annual fuel raffle, with modifications, such as limiting the prize to cash or 100 gallons of oil. Riendeau said more information on the raffle will be made available at a later date.
Visit orangehistoricalsocietyma.org or contact Riendeau, Kathy or Frank Schiappa, Sandi Eklund, or Ingrid and Walter Pollard for information.
ORANGE — The annual banquet and installation for the St. Mary’s Women’s Club have been postponed, as has the planned day trip to St. Anne’s Shrine in Fiskedale and the Vendor’s Fair.
There is, however, a container in the St. Mary’s Church rectory for donations of new baby and toddler clothing and equipment to help local pregnancy centers. These are collected annually between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.
The rectory is open Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9 a.m. and noon. Donors are advised to leave the item(s) on the top step and ring the bell. The Rev. Shaun O’Connor will retrieve the donation(s) and visit at a distance.
Contact O’Connor or Women’s Club President Mary Carey if you need to donate at another time.
ORANGE — The Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District has announced the route graduating seniors and their parents or guardians will take for a vehicle parade in their honor on Friday.
Participants are asked to arrive at Mahar at 5:30 p.m. The parade, slated to start at 6, will take a right onto East River Street, a left onto Daniel Shays Highway, a left onto East Main Street, a left onto South Main Street, a left onto Burrill Avenue and a right onto Hayden Street. Vehicles will then stage along Hayden Street, facing north.