WILTON — Grange members in East Wilton are preparing for their monthly Passport Dinner Tour, a themed meal.

This month diners won’t be transported to a foreign country but will be treated to favorite dishes of famous opera singers in honor of “Phantom of the Opera.” The meal begins at 6 p.m. on Friday, New Year’s Eve, at the Wilson Grange Hall on Main Street.

Research didn’t reveal one for Maine’s own Madame Lillian Nordica so grangers have attributed a salad to her, the Nordica salad, said member Chris Krauss.

Diners are welcome to dress in their finest or in costume, and ballroom dancing led by Susan Atwood will take place upstairs in the meeting hall, she said. Some plan to come for dinner then go to private home parties to celebrate New Year’s.

Started last year, Grange members use locally grown foods in dishes from various countries and decorate the hall to transport diners there, she said. The dinners were started to help fix up the Grange hall.

The Grange, destined for official closing by the state organization, was revived when community members realized they didn’t want to lose it, Krause said. Their efforts have paid off $2,000 in debt and had money for operating expenses. Their membership grew also to a total of 24.

After borrowing $5,000 from the state Grange, they have refurbished the kitchen, painted, installed new lighting and worked to improve the floor and furniture.

“The hall looks great,” she said.

The improvements lend to renting it for birthday parties, showers and public events.

Fundraising isn’t the only effort members work on. 

For the second year, every third-grader in Wilton will receive a dictionary of their own after the New Year holiday as a gift from the Grange.

Members planted a garden called “Give Peas a Chance.” Their efforts resulted in 85 bags of fresh produce donated to the Wilton ecumenical food bank this summer, she said.

They plan to do a community cleanup in the spring and other things to help the small community along, she said.

A second phase of fundraising is a raffle that includes a top prize of two nights in Boston and two tickets to the Boston Flower Show provided by Farmington Travel, she said. Tickets are $5 and the drawing takes place during the Feb. 25 meal appropriately entitled, Luck of the Irish.

“The meals are fun evenings, something to do while contributing to a great cause,” she said.

Reservations are required as the hall seats 90 and usually fills up. Krauss prepares a seating chart mixing people with similar interests. A number of business cards are passed around, she said. The meals are held every four weeks from October to April.

Past meals have included a Transylvania theme in October, the fire and ice of Iceland in early December that was complete with ice sculptures on the dessert table.

Upcoming meals include the Dutch of Pennsylvania on March 25 and Africa  Sierra Leone on April 29.

The meal costs $12. Reservations are available by calling 645-2400 or e-mailing [email protected]

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