Reprinted from an e-newsletter by Senator Stacey Guerin, District 4.
State Treasurer Joe Perry has announced over $396 million in unclaimed property is being held by the Office of the Treasurer. This money belongs to Mainers and is waiting to be claimed.
The Unclaimed Property Fund includes money and other financial assets that are considered lost or abandoned when an owner can’t be located after a specified period of inactivity. Mainers are owed totals ranging from $10 to thousands of dollars.
Each year, tens of millions of dollars go unclaimed by Maine residents. These financial assets are turned over by thousands of national and local businesses and organizations. The Treasurer’s Office holds these assets, free of charge, until claimed by the owner or heir.
By Walter Boomsma, MSG Communications Director 207 343-1842
Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Please send us your ideas and thoughts!
The Maine State Grange Office is located at 36 Anthony Avenue, Suite 102, Augusta, ME 04330. mainestategrange@gmail.com.
March Bulletin
The March Bulletin is now available! Recent issues of the Bulletin are available on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.
Grangers Helping Grangers
As you help us by submitting your news and events, the energy grows! Grange members are contacting other members with questions and suggestions. That’s one of the objectives we have for the MSG website. “We’re Grangers. We help each other.”
Seeking Someone?
Do you, your child, or your grandchild have some knowledge of WordPress? (For those unfamiliar, WordPress is an open-source content management system (CMS) that allows users to create, manage, and customize websites without needing advanced coding knowledge. The Maine State Grange Website uses it.) If so, let’s connect and explore some opportunities. I could use a few hours of volunteer help occasionally.
Rapid Resource
We’re always seeking resources of potential interest to Grangers and Friends that are not necessarily specific to the Grange. These will be short and easy to digest. As an example, the first concerns finding and tracking scholarships. You can help! Let me know what you think and, by all means, submit ideas and suggestions.
What’s Going On?
Last call for Grange Month Events!
Don’t forget to submit your special events and programs for our event calendar! We want people to know the Grange is thriving! Surely, there are lots of Grange things happening in Maine.
To Ponder…
“You help people when they need help, not when you are ready to help them.”
James Clear
An Idea for Your Grange
How about a clothing swap offering children’s clothing, work attire, sports wear, seasonal wear, and gently worn shoes? Offer participants a sustainable way to repurpose their clothing within the community.
Subscribe!
Remember, we don’t share your email address with anyone, and you get a weekly summary of what’s been posted. Subscribe here! Share that link with your members and Grange friends!
Online Directories Available 24-7
Thanks to those who help us keep these directories current by letting us know of changes!
The Directory of Granges features all Granges in the state with a contact person. Please make sure your listing is correct! Visitors to the site frequently consult these directories.
The ODD Directory features all state officers, directors, and deputies, along with their contact information. Updated January 16, 2026.
Reprinted from an enewsletter by Senator Stacey Guerin, Senate District 4.
The Maine Maple Producers Association has announced the 43rd annual Maine Maple Sunday weekend. Set for March 21-22, sugar houses across the state will offer events, games, activities, sugarbush tours, music and much more.
Over 100 sugar houses, farms and orchards are participating in this year’s Maple Sunday weekend at locations across the state. This is a great way to celebrate our Maine maple producers while enjoying a sweet treat!
Some locations will be open for activities on both Saturday and Sunday while others will only be open one day so be sure to double check with each sugarhouse before heading out! For a list of participating locations, visit the Maine Maple Producers Association website.
Some thoughts based on a recent post by Seth Godin.
How do you view fundraising on behalf of your Grange?
In a recent post, Seth Godin challenges us to wonder why we often use the word “donation” and how that might affect the value of what’s “given.”
That’s worthy of thought. Too often, fundraisers approach with an almost apologetic tone. But the best fundraising provides an opportunity. We can readily see this with public suppers. We’re offering our supporters an opportunity to have a great meal at an affordable price. Supporting the Grange is at least secondary, if it’s even a factor.
The approach focuses on what the donor gets, not what the fundraiser receives. It might be a subtle shift. If you’ve ever sold a raffle ticket to someone who wasn’t interested in winning, you’ve seen it in action.
By the way, the same thinking applies to recruiting members.
By Walter Boomsma, MSG Communications Director 207 343-1842
Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Please send us your ideas and thoughts!
The Maine State Grange Office is located at 36 Anthony Avenue, Suite 102, Augusta, ME 04330. mainestategrange@gmail.com.
March Bulletin
The deadline for the March Printed Bulletin is March 14. Recent issues of the Bulletin are available on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.
Seeking Someone
Do you, your child, or your grandchild have some knowledge of WordPress? (For those unfamiliar, WordPress is an open-source content management system (CMS) that allows users to create, manage, and customize websites without needing advanced coding knowledge. The Maine State Grange Website uses it.) If so, let’s connect and explore some opportunities. I could use a few hours of volunteer help occasionally.
Journals of Proceedings
The 2024 Journal of Proceedings has been received and posted, a summary of State Session held in 2024. Note these are large files with many pages and photos.
Rapid Resource
We’re always seeking resources of potential interest to Grangers and Friends that are not necessarily specific to the Grange. These will be short and easy to digest. As an example, the first concerns finding and tracking scholarships. You can help! Let me know what you think and, by all means, submit ideas and suggestions.
What’s Going On?
St Patrick’s Day and Grange Month programs and events needed now!
Don’t forget to submit your special events and programs for our event calendar! We want people to know the Grange is thriving! Surely, there are lots of Grange things happening in Maine.
To Ponder…
“No idea is so antiquated that it was not once modern. No idea is so modern that it will not someday be antiquated.”
attributed to Ellen Glasgow
An Idea for Your Grange
It’s a marriage made in heaven! There’s a consensus that food is an important component of events. How do you make that work for you?
Subscribe!
Remember, we don’t share your email address with anyone, and you get a weekly summary of what’s been posted. Subscribe here! Share that link with your members and Grange friends!
Online Directories Available 24-7
Thanks to those who help us keep these directories current by letting us know of changes!
The Directory of Granges features all Granges in the state with a contact person. Please make sure your listing is correct! Visitors to the site frequently consult these directories.
The ODD Directory features all state officers, directors, and deputies, along with their contact information. Updated January 16, 2026.
I wonder if I’ll ever cease to be amazed by the number of scams being run on the Internet and Social Media. I can’t resist sharing this one because it might actually be considered funny.
So “Commander Kirkland” has reached out to “whom it may concern” with what might initially appear troubling news. He informs us “...you and your organization, that the Federal Law Enforcement agencies of the United States of America in conjunction with Interpol, the World Security Council and the United Nations Amnesty International Program, are announcing a series of arrests and investigations concerning various Religious and Social organizations using a psychological torture, and brainwashing technique known as a ‘forgiveness tatoo’.
I’m reminded a bit of the old joke “You know it’s not going to be a good day when you find the Sixty Minute News Team waiting for you at the office.”
By the way, “forgiveness tattoos”(spelled correctly) are a real item readily found on the Internet. I don’t pretend to fully understand their value, but as far as I can see, they aren’t about brainwashing or torture.
“What is the scam?” you ask. I don’t know, I didn’t fall for it. But I suspect the first step was to get me to reply to the email. It’s interesting that a Federal Law Enforcement Commander is using a Gmail address. I’ll admit, I almost did reply out of curiosity.
You can fool some of the people some of the time and all of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.
Attributed to Abraham Lincoln.
The updated version is
You can fool enough people some of the time to make a decent living.
Unknown
Just don’t be one of those people. And, perhaps more importantly, don’t let these attempts get you down. Think of them as an opportunity to demonstrate how smart you are. Just slow down and think! Wouldn’t you think a high-ranking federal law enforcement official would (among other things):
know how to spell the “tattoos” he is investigating
have an email address associated with his agency (and identify it)
No worries. Now, if you see the CNN News Team standing in front of the Grange Hall…
Here’s a discouraging word! As technology advances (including AI), everyone benefits — including the bad guys!
Stay vigilant with the messages you receive.
As the bad guys discover new technology, spam emails and text messages are on the increase. Think twice before hitting “unsubscribe.” Unless the email is from a legitimate organization (think commonly known names and national companies), do NOT “unsubscribe” by clicking the link in the email. If you “unsubscribe,” not only will most spammers not honor it, but they will also have confirmation that your email address is working. That makes it very saleable to other spammers. Using the “unsubscribe” link may actually increase the amount of spam emails you receive.
The best way to handle spam email is to use that handy-dandy delete button and not let it bother you. Don’t waste your time and energy!
By Walter Boomsma, MSG Communications Director 207 343-1842
Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Please send us your ideas and thoughts!
The Maine State Grange Office is located at 36 Anthony Avenue, Suite 102, Augusta, ME 04330. mainestategrange@gmail.com.
February Bulletin
The February Bulletin is now available for download. Recent issues of the Bulletin are available on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.
Seeking Someone
Do you, your child, or your grandchild have some knowledge of WordPress? (For those unfamiliar, WordPress is an open-source content management system (CMS) that allows users to create, manage, and customize websites without needing advanced coding knowledge. The Maine State Grange Website uses it.) If so, let’s connect and explore some opportunities. I could use a few hours of volunteer help occasionally.
Rapid Resource
We’re always seeking resources of potential interest to Grangers and Friends that are not necessarily specific to the Grange. These will be short and easy to digest. As an example, the first concerns finding and tracking scholarships. You can help! Let me know what you think and, by all means, submit ideas and suggestions.
National Grange Notes
Remember, applications for National Grange Rural Life Initiative Grants are due by February 28, 2026. (You must submit through the online portal.)
Your Grange Presence
If your Grange has an active website or social media presence, please make sure to let us know! We maintain a list on the site and publicize them as a source of more information.
To ponder…
“I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.”
attributed to Abraham LIncoln
An Idea for Your Grange
I recently stumbled upon an organization offering a free “How to Write an Obituary” workshop. It might sound unusual at first, but offering some legacy-planning information could be a valuable service. Hospice workers, funeral directors, financial planners, etc., could be included.
What’s Going On?
St Patrick’s Day and Grange Month programs and events needed now!
Don’t forget to submit your special events and programs for our event calendar! We want people to know the Grange is thriving! Surely, there are lots of Grange things happening in Maine.
Subscribe!
Remember, we don’t share your email address with anyone, and you get a weekly summary of what’s been posted. Subscribe here! Share that link with your members and Grange friends!
Online Directories Available 24-7
Thanks to those who help us keep these directories current by letting us know of changes!
The Directory of Granges features all Granges in the state with a contact person. Please make sure your listing is correct! Visitors to the site frequently consult these directories.
The ODD Directory features all state officers, directors, and deputies, along with their contact information. Updated January 16, 2026.
A recent issue of the California State Grange included flyers for several programs offered across the state. There were plenty of pancake breakfasts and suppers. A few of the different events are:
Class in pressure canning
Toddler story time
Food and Karaoke
Homestead series
Sweetheart Dance
Grange Community Market
Masterpieces and Munchies (a series of fun, painting, and snacking)
Square Dance
Almond Festival (Remember, it’s California)
Fruit Tree Sale
Cowboy Poetry and Music Show
Zucchini Grand Prix (growing contest) and Harvest Festival
Amateur Radio Club
Sobriety Support Group
Mana and Munchies (includes a number of activities)
Monthly Flea Market
Grange Game Night
Many of these are not one-time events. Consistency matters.
Farmers and animals need the same basic care in very cold weather. These reminders are for farmers of all experience levels and for those who support them.
Stay dry and dress in warm layers; keep skin covered.
Take regular breaks to warm up when working outside.
Check on farming friends and neighbors. Severe weather can add tasks and disrupt normal routines.
Signs of frostbite: red or painful skin; white or grayish-yellow patches; skin that feels hard, waxy, or numb.
Signs of hypothermia: shivering, extreme fatigue, confusion, trouble using hands, or slurred speech. If hypothermia is suspected, check body temperature and seek medical help immediately if it is below 95°F.
Reduce Stress and Plan Ahead
Pace yourself and plan ahead to reduce stress for both people and animals.
Make sure drinking water is unfrozen when animals need it; provide a safe alternative if repairs take time.
Focus first on essential tasks, such as animal care. Less-urgent work can wait until after the storm.
