Jan 22, 2013 — Next week, a new season of lectures, music and theater begins at the historic grange hall in Whallonsburg, near Essex in the Champlain Valley. The century-old building, once a hub for the local farming community, is seeing a rebirth as one of the area's cultural destinations.

Volunteers have spent years raising money, and sweat equity, to save the structure. The last stages of renovation are underway, and organizers are turning their attention to programming. Mary-Nell Bockman is one of the volunteers bringing the old grange back to life. She's program manager for the site, and told Todd Moe that the next goal is reinventing it as a year-round center of activity for the hamlet of Whallonsburg and the Champlain Valley.  Go to full article

Sep 06, 2011 — A benefit spaghetti dinner and dance at the Whallonsburg Grange on Saturday night (5:30) will donate all the proceeds to area families in need of help after Irene. The event is dubbed, "Good Night, Irene." Todd Moe talks with Whallonsburg Grange Hall Program Director Mary-Nell Bockman about some of the cleanup efforts in the Champlain Valley and neighbors who lost their homes in the storm's aftermath.  Go to full article

Apr 22, 2008 — This morning we begin an occasional series of reports and interviews that focus on North Country activists who are making a difference around the world. From Antarctica to Rwanda to Siberia, people from this region are helping to fight poverty, protect the environment, and support traditional cultures. This morning, Brian Mann profiles a group of organizers in Essex County, who are working to ease tensions in the Middle East, one family and one conversation at a time.  Go to full article