MIDDLEBORO — Members of South Middleboro Grange were honored to visit with long-time grange member Sylvia Camandona earlier this month to honor her with the National Grange 75-year membership award. The members presented her with flowers and read her award recognition biography and presented her certificate from the National Grange.

Sylvia Camandona is a third-generation Grange member, preceded by her grandmother, the late Florence Chamberlain and parents, the late John and Olive McGlaughlin. Her grandmother and mother attained 65 years of membership in Nemasket Grange of Middleboro and her father attained 50 years of membership.

Camandona and her mother held offices for many years at the Nemasket Grange Hall in Middleboro Center. Camandona was elected master of Nemasket Grange and served from 1979 to 1980. She joined South Middleboro Grange in 1994 and held numerous offices. She lived on a horse farm in Middleboro and thoroughly enjoyed her horses, dogs and other farm animals. 

After she retired, she relocated to Maine and lived on a farm for several years. Some years later, she returned home to Middleboro and lived at Oak Point with her dog. She continued to support South Middleboro Grange and its activities and served on the annual agricultural fair committee and advertising committee, soliciting ads for the Grange Fair book. 

In 2018, Camandona ran for the Honorary Mayor of Middleboro contest held annually by the Friends of Middleborough Cemeteries to raise money for their ongoing cemetery restoration projects. Shechose the South Middleboro Grange as the organization she was representing during her candidacy and promoted the organization throughout her campaign. She worked hard to solicit donations and attended campaign events organized for all candidates and hosted her own event at Oak Point. She raised several thousand dollars for the charity during her campaign and was recognized by the Friends of Middleborough Cemeteries for her work. 

She has been a member of many organizations in the Town of Middleboro and clubs at Oak Point. 

Camandona received her 50-year Golden Sheaf Certificate from the National Grange and 50-year jewel at a meeting held by South Middleboro Grange. The presentation was made by Mary Jordan, Vice-President of the Massachusetts State Grange and Frank Jefferson, President of South Middleboro Grange. She has been awarded her 55-year seal, 60-year seal, 65-year seal, 70-year seal and now, the National Grange 75-year seal for three-quarters of a century of Grange membership.