It’s a party!

The Deer Lagoon Grange members invite the community to come to the “Grange Appreciation Night,” 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov.18 at Deer Lagoon Grange Hall on Bayview Road in Langley.

Grange members are eager to celebrate a very good year. They would like to invite everyone to join them for an evening of music, food and fun featuring the “Swing Again Jazz Band.”

The event is free and open to the public.

The impetus for the celebration comes from the wonderful past year Grange members had with participation in local community events.

Some of their recent successes include the Grange’s presence at the 2006 Island County Fair. Members were in charge of the fruit and vegetables sections of the fair this past summer.

The Deer Lagoon Grange also had its first Grange display at the fair this year and were grateful for the many hours of participation at the display by members.

The Grange is also proud of its participation in the “Words For Thirds” national program. Grange members have been distributing dictionaries to all third-graders from South Whidbey to Coupeville. This year about 300 dictionaries were handed out personally by members Bob Jimenez and Dorothy McCann.

Deer Lagoon Grange has also opened a computer lab to the public at the hall. Anyone is welcome to come to the Grange between 3 and 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The computers are available for Internet access. There are also members on hand to help guide computer users online.

The Deer Lagoon Grange Hall is available to the public for rental. Many community members have taken advantage of the hall using it for weekly dance classes, weddings, rummage sales and holiday parties.

The National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry is the nation’s oldest national agricultural organization, with grassroots units established in 3,600 local communities in 37 states. Its 300,000 members provide service to agriculture and rural areas on a wide variety of issues, including economic development, education, family endeavors, and legislation designed to maintain a strong and viable rural America.

Granges formed in the years following the Civil War to unite private citizens in improving the economic and social position of the nation’s farm population. Over the past 137 years, it has evolved to include non-farm rural families and communities

The Deer Lagoon Grange Hall in Langley had its 100-year birthday in 2004 and is cited as an historical landmark by the South Whidbey Historical Society.

Deer Lagoon Grange Master Chuck Prochaska said, “We just want to show our appreciation to members and the community for all they do. That’s what this celebration is all about.”

Deer Lagoon Grange Hall is located on 5142 Bayview Road, Langley. For more information about the Deer Lagoon Grange and events call 321-5747.

Patricia Duff can be reached at 221-5300 or www.pduff@southwhidbeyrecord.com.