Memorial Day weekend is coming. And that means it’s time for the Woodmen Hall auction and yard sale, sponsored by the Friends of Woodmen Hall. The yard sale starts at 10 a.m. and the auction starts at 12:30 p.m. This year the auction includes several large, generous donations. There will be some antiques and other useful items in the yard sale. And there will be some clothing and other miscellaneous items from the recently-closed Cascade Mall Sears store.

The seniors will be providing food and beverages (think Oktoberfest, spaghetti dinner, Christmas cookie sale).

Woodmen Hall is a great example of how “It takes a village,” and the village is really using the building, now that it’s warm and inviting. The Friends provide the funds so that the seniors can pay the property taxes, so that the building can be available to everyone, so that they can rent the building, so that the seniors can pay  maintenance and operating costs.

The Friends have raised funds for rewiring, insulation, painting and ADA-compliant bathrooms. They have purchased a digital projector, a hanging system for art displays and tableware for parties and receptions, and we have added curtains, lighting and a sound system to the stage.  Friends donate funds to the Seniors for projects they undertake. Sometimes they even undertake projects together: have you seen the new sign at the edge of the property that is always full of information about upcoming events?

Our BIG PROJECT this year is the construction of an ADA-compliant exit ramp from the stage level. This will be a major expense, and they expect it will have more than a single-year timeline. The ramp will make performers and others who use the stage safer and happier, and it will make our fire chief happy too.