On March 28th Members of Bangor Grange #372 and Queen City Grange #30 attended the Bangor City Council Meeting where they received a Proclamation declaring April 2011 as Grange Month in the City of Bangor, Maine. It was a very special evening for those attending.
I know, I know… we have a winter storm watch scheduled for Friday. Although wouldn’t it be a spring storm since…?
Nevermind, the fact is things are going to start greening up soon… and Farmers’ Markets should be springing up as well. (Great play on words, wasn’t it!?) Don’t forget we have a page here dedicated to listing Farmers’ Markets… and it doesn’t have to be only those who are hosted at Grange Halls!
Our page is a little sparse and maybe out of date… if you are involved with a Farmers’ Market, send information (days, times, location, etc.) and we’ll add the market to our page… and if you’re looking for some fresh, homegrown, yummy, good for you stuff… check our page for a market near you!
Submitted by Steven Haycock–Photo added by Glenys Rider
New Patrons of Husbandry!
New grange members are as follows:
Front Row: Sharon Wheeler, Danville Junction; Sue Trumble, Danville Junction; Terry Michaud, Danville Junction; Sharon Kirker, Merriconeag; Gale Allen, Merriconeage; and Jennifer McCullough, White Rock.
Back Row: Robert Fitch, Mt. Etna; Duane Ryder, Cape Elizabeth; Donald Hamel, Danville Junction; Marjorie Windsor, Pleasant Valley; Tabitha King, Minot Center; Terrence Gagne, Danville Junction; Paul Standridge, Merriconeag; and David McCullough, White Rock
More than Grange members gather at Danville Junction Grange to confer the first four degrees of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry.
Granges with candidates included: Minot Center – 1, Pleasant Valley – 1, Mt. Etna – 1, Cape Elizabeth – 1, White Rock – 1, Merriconeag – 3, Danville Junction – 5, Total # of Candidates = 15
Officers for the Degrees were:
Master: Wayne Sherman – Wales
Overseer: Gregory Johnson – Wales
Lecturer: 1st & 2nd Glenys Ryder – Danville Junction
3rd & 4th Steven Haycock – Sabbathday Lake
Steward: 1st & 2nd Norma Meserve – Sabbathday Lake
3rd & 4th Roberta Meserve – Sabbathday Lake
Assistant Steward: Dana Coffin – Danville Junction
Lady Assistant Steward: Caroline Coffin – Danville Junction
Chaplain: Ken Footer: Wales
Treasurer: Wes Ryder – Danville Junction
Secretary: Linda Sherman – Wales
Gatekeeper: 1st & 2nd Steven Haycock – Sabbathday Lake
3 & 4th Norma Meserve – Sabbathday Lake
Ceres: Cynthia Maxwell – Danville Junction
Pomona: Betty Young – Danville Junction
Flora: Vicki Huff – Hollis
Pianist: Barbara Driscoll – Excelsior
A great time was had by all.
As a side note today was Maine Maple Sunday and the West Minot Grange was host to pancake breakfast by the local sugar house. They served over 1000 people!
Submitted by Ann Burns
Vicki Huff -- a Knit Wit!
Fourteen Maple Grove Grange Knit Wits and friends gathered last week at the Sebago Center Church for a two day Project Linus Weekend . Grange members had prepared flannel kits, fleece , and over twenty sewn quilt tops for participants to use . With snack donations from volunteers and lunch provided by The Umbrella Factory, Jordan’s Store, Four Season’s Variety, The Whistle Stop, Shaw’s and Hannaford of Standish, everyone proceeded to complete the work for the weekend.
The Cumberland County Project Linus coordinator,Melodie Provost and her assistant from Saco joined the group for the Friday twelve hour work session . Some community members brought donations of previously made quilts and afghans enabling Provost to take seven quilts with her by mid afternoon. New workers arrived for the evening session and by closing,another six quilts were completed and several more in various stages for finishing. As Saturday arrived, so did three new workers and three returning from the day before. With three workers taking home seven quilts needing minor finishing, satisfied organizers packed up the rest for a final counting and packaging. A total of twenty nine recipients will soon receive a “blanket hug” when disaster strikes in their life, thanks to Maple Grove Grange and their friends.
"Labors of the day"
Submitted by Steven Haycock
New Gloucester–The Grange is proud to support The Dictionary Project through its Word for Thirds program. Through the tireless efforts of the Grange’s network of more than 300,000 volunteers, America’s oldest rural and agriculture organization has presented third grade students across the nation with more than 550,000 dictionaries. And, that number continued to rise when the Sabbathday Lake Grange #365 in New Gloucester, Maine presented third grade students at Dunn School with dictionaries on March 25, 2011.
A dictionary is one of the most powerful reference tools young children will be introduced to during their schooling years. Its usefulness goes beyond just providing correct spellings, pronunciations, and definitions. It is also a companion for solving problems that arise as children develop their reading, writing, and creative thinking abilities.
“It is amazing to see the smiles on children’s faces when we presented them with dictionaries,” Norma Meserve, Sabbathday Lake Grange Master (President), said. “It gives them a sense of pride when they have a dictionary to look up words on their own. It promotes learning and helps mold their self-confidence and independence.”
The Grange, headquartered in Washington, D.C., partnered with The Dictionary Project, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, in 2002. The goal of the program is to assist third grade students to complete the school year as good writers, active readers and creative thinkers by providing them with their own personal dictionaries. The dictionaries are a gift to each student to use at school and at home for years to come. The organization has presented more than 14.7 million children with dictionaries.
We are inviting you to help us put a smile on the faces of children at Dunn School For more information, please contact Steven Haycock, Secretary of Sabbathday Lake Grange at Granger04071
aol
com (Granger04071aolcom) . To learn more about the Grange’s Words for Thirds program, please visit www.nationalgrange.org & www.mainestategrange.org or call 1-888-4-GRANGE.
Taken from The Dictionary Project March 2011 Newsletter
We recently launched our new website—complete with a fresh new look and logo—and we are thrilled to introduce you to all that it has to offer! Use our GoogleMaps feature (found under ” Projects“) to identify schools where you live still needing sponsors, then head over to our ” Supporters” tab to read about our sponsors and the inspiring work they are doing. Visit ” Resources” to find helpful suggestions for contacting schools and putting together your presentation. Finally, click on ” Get Involved” to browse our bookshelf, buy t-shirts, and—of course—donate dictionaries.
Webmaster note: If your grange is distributing dictionaries, you just have to check out this site… there are tons of resources and great information… and if you are not part of the “Words for Thirds” Program… give it some consideration! Note that dictionaries aren’t just for kids!
From the May Bulletin…
April 12th Topsham Junior Grange will be organized, come and join them and see what happens at an informational and organizational meeting. Then you can do the same in your grange! Youth and Junior Department’s Candy Bar Sales and Flower Power Sales are ongoing. They will be finishing up soon, so please help us out and get yours now! The “Adopt A Platoon” project is doing well, however we will be getting a new platoon as our current platoon is going home this month. Your Public Speaking, Sign-a-Song. Lyp Sync, and Share a Talent entries for the April Contest day should be ready for April 23 at 1:00 pm at State Grange Headquarters. If you are not entering then come and cheer on those that are. Those that place first go on to the regional competition which will be held in Maine, at Bowdoin College from July 8 to 10, this year! If you need the rules contact Sue Hackett. You can sign up on the day of the competition.
From the May Bulletin…
WM Jim Owens
Past State Chaplain Clara Fitz of New Sharon Grange passed away on March 2nd at age 99. Sister Clara was State Chaplain for twelve years and will be missed by all of us who knew her. A memorial service will be held in the spring at the New Sharon Congregational Church.
As of this date (3/16/11) Agnes Worthley of the State CWA is in Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockland as the result of having suffered a stroke. Keep Sister Agnes in your thoughts.
A degree day is also planned at Castine Grange No. 250 on Saturday, April 2, 2011. The first and second degrees will be conferred at 10:00 A.M. Following a potluck dinner the third and fourth degrees will be conferred. For more information contact Charles Brann at 667-7559 or Eugene Churchill at 469-2277.
All four degrees will be conferred at West Bath Grange No. 154 on Monday, April 4, 2011 starting at 6:00 P.M.
Submitted by Walter Boomsma with thanks to Betty VanDyke
Well known for her work as deputy and support of CWA, Dot Hutchins (from Ripley Grange/East Somerset Pomona) is recovering from hip surgery… I saw her today shortly after she’d moved from Mayo Hospital to Hibbard for Rehab. She’s not planning to stay there very long and set a goal to go home one week from today. She’d definitely appreciate a card (Dot Hutchins, Hibbard Nursing Home – Room 23, PO Box 159, Dover Foxcroft 04426) and a drop in visit!
Also, Bob Beauschene (Master of St Albansn Grange/East Somerset Pomona) passed away last Saturday. Bob and Donna have been frequent visitors and supporters of Granges throughout the area and Donna is an enthusiastic member of the CWA Committee. You can support Donna with a card at 179 Mason Corner Road, St Albans 04971. Arrangements are pending by Shorey Nichols Funeral Home.
Submitted by Desiree Atwood
Webmaster Note: This is such a great idea, it’s been “double-posted” and you’ll hear about it as news and event… what are you doing to make your public suppers more exciting?
The Wilson Grange in Wilton has had a wonderful second season of the Passport Dinner Tour and we thank you for your continued support of our efforts to take you “around the world.” The last two dinners in March and April are very special and we hope that you will make reservations today for one or both of the remaining dinners.
Dutchland of Pennsylvania is stop 14 on the Wilson Grange Passport Dinner Tour. The Grange will transport weary winter travelers to an Amish Springtime inspired dinner. The sit down dinner will be served on Friday, March 25, 2011 at 6:00 pm for $12.00 per person.
Friday, April 29 we travel toAfghanistan. A picture of life in Afghanistan through the eyes of Farid, a 16 year old exchange student from Kabul. The evening will begin with an Afghanistan inspired menu along with ethnic music and decor. After dinner Farid will present a slide show and talk about his country. All in all it will be an event that you will not want to miss. Dinner served AT 6:00 pm for $12.00 per person.
Please Call Chris Krauss 207.645.2400 for reservations.
