Thanks to Kathy Ward (Winthrop Grange) and Tracey Alsop (East Madison Grange) for using the new Grange event submission form! This form was designed to make everyone’s life a lot simpler and capture all the information! We use that information to create a simple advertisement for your event.
This ad (post) reaches a wide audience through search criteria and regular site visitors. Site visitors can also easily share the post on social media and by email using the buttons at the bottom of the post.
The MSG Event Calendar includes a short summary of the event that links to the post.
The Maine State Grange Communications Department (of one) focuses on the Granges in Maine, proving that the Grange is alive and thriving in Maine! Submit your news and events today!
Maine State Grange President Sherry Harriman recently announced that National Grange Pomona Barbara Foster will represent the National Grange at the Maine State Grange’s 152nd Annual Convention held in October. This is Barabara’s second visit.
Barbara Foster of Pennsboro, West Virginia, was elected as National Grange Pomona at the 157th Annual National Grange Convention in 2023. Barbara is the only daughter of Earlene & Jim Foster, former West Virginia State Grange President and National Grange Chaplain. She has three brothers. She was born in Tennessee, but grew up an “Air Force military brat” living in Delaware, South Carolina, Taiwan, and Japan before Jim retired and bought a farm in West Virginia, where they have lived for 49 years.
Barbara joined the Grange in 1985, and is a member of Oxford Community Grange #526 and Central State Pomona Grange. She has held several offices at the community, Pomona, and State levels. The Fosters were Grange Family of the Year in 2003.
Barbara is retired as a full-time teacher after 32 years, and a total of 44 years in education. She taught home economics and elementary students with learning disabilities. She is the former President (20+ years) of the West Virginia Professional Educators’ Association and works with the Doddridge County Community Education Outreach.
In addition to her other involvement, Barbara is a retired member of the Pennsboro Volunteer Fire Department Ladies’ Auxiliary, and a member of the Pt. Pleasant Baptist Church, the Order of the Eastern Star, and the South Side Baptist Church, where she is the assistant treasurer. She enjoys sewing & quilting and reading, and lives with her two dogs. Max & Ellie, and three cats. Strips, Frisky, & Runt.
Manchester Grange is now accepting vendor applications for the fall craft fair!
Saturday, October 24, 2026 8 am to 2 pm
Vendor tables available (8’ x 2.5’) First floor: $25 each or 2 for $45 Second floor: $20 each or 2 for $35
Dealer set-up: Friday, October 23rd 4-6 pm Saturday, October 24th 7-8 am
Reservations are made on a first-come, first-served basis. To reserve a table, contact email Paige Tobie or call (617) 800-4564. Include name, brief description of goods, requested floor, and number of tables. Reservations are secured when contract and payment have been received. Contract available electronically at https://tinyurl.com/grangecraftfair2026. Payment accepted by checks payable to Manchester Grange #172, cash, or Venmo.
Saco Grange is located at 168 North Street in Saco, Maine.
August 22, 2026, Drive for Backpacks at Saco Grange #53 at 10 am. Collecting school supplies for children starting school. Various kids’ games and fun. Donations accepted. FMI: Contact Kathy at Treasuresacogrange53@gmail.com.
September 14, 2026 every Monday. Quilt Club meets at Saco Grange #53, 10 am to 2 pm. Join a fun group learning new techniques for quilting for various charities. $5 donation is appreciated. Call 207 831-5784, or email sacogrange53@gmail.com for more information.
September 26, 2026, Trading Card Show at Saco Grange #53, 168 North st, 9 am-2 pm. Sports, Pokémon, Magic & more. Contact sacogrange53@gmail.com ONLY to sign up for tables, or call 207-831-5784
October 10, 2026, Public Bean Supper at Saco Grange #53 from 4 pm to 6 pm. $10 pp. On the menu are homemade kidney and pea beans, brown bread, red & brown hot dogs, American chop suey, coleslaw, biscuits, pies, and hot and cold beverages. Don’t have time to stop? We do take out! FMI: call 207 831-5784 or sacogrange53@gmail.com.
October 11, 2026, Broomstick Making Class at Saco Grange #53 from 1 pm to 3 pm $40 pp, $10 deposit to reserve a spot. Make a broomstick to start the holidays. Contact sacogrange53@gmail.com or 207-831-5784 to reserve your spot. Please wear a witch hat and have some fun. Accepting donations for Caring Unlimited.
October 17, 2026, Harvest Fair at Saco Grange #53 from 9 am to 2 pm. Start your holiday shopping early with local crafter gifts & seasonal decor. Contact treasuresacogrange53@gmail.com ONLY. Beware of scammers when signing up for tables. Collecting items for Thanksgiving baskets for veterans.
November 7, 2026, Public Bean Supper at Saco Grange #53 from 4 pm to 6 pm. $10 pp. On the menu are homemade kidney and pea beans, brown bread, red & brown hot dogs, American chop suey, coleslaw, biscuits, pies, and hot and cold beverages. Don’t have time to stop? We do take out! FMI call 207 831-5784 or sacogrange53@gmail.com.
November 14, 2026, Fall Fair at Saco Grange #53 from 9 am to 2 pm. Join in the festivities, discovering handmade gifts from local crafters and seasonal decor. Contact treasuresacogrange53@gmail.com ONLY. Beware of scammers when signing up for tables. Collecting items for Thanksgiving baskets for veterans.
November 15, 2026, Fall Fair at Saco Grange #53 from 9 am to 2 pm. Join in the festivities, discovering handmade gifts from local crafters and seasonal decor. Contact treasuresacogrange53@gmail.com ONLY. Beware of scammers when signing up for tables. Collecting items for Thanksgiving baskets for veterans.
December 12, 2026, Christmas Fair at Saco Grange #53 from 9 am to 2 pm. Join in the festivities, discovering handmade gifts from local crafters and seasonal decor. Contact treasuresacogrange53@gmail.com ONLY. Beware of scammers when signing up for tables. Collecting gifts for Adopt a Senior.
December 12, 2026, Girls’ Night In at Saco Grange #53 at 5 pm. Come shop with a handful of amazing local vendors! No need to stress about cleaning your house—just gather your girlfriends and join us. Support a great cause: Toys for Tots Fundraiser – please bring an unwrapped toy to donate. Enjoy light refreshments and enter to win door prizes! Contact treasuresacogrange53@gmail.com FMI.
March 27, 2027, Easter Egg Hunt & Raffles at Saco Grange #53 starting at 10 am. Free, all ages. Have your picture taken with the Easter Bunny. Many Raffle items to raise funds for Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital. Do not need to be present for raffles to win. Rain or shine. FMI: call 207 831-5784 or treasuresacogrange53@gmail.com
May 22, 2027, Outdoor Plant Sale at Saco Grange #53 from 9 am until 11 am. Come buy local plants to support the greenhouses at Sweetser. FMI: call 207 831-5784 or sacogrange53@gmail.com.
Members of the St. George Grange came up with the whimsical idea of having 17 local artists paint some of their vintage wooden chairs and chose Zero to School as the recipient of this CHAIR-ITY fundraiser auction. These ONE-OF-A-KIND works of art represent both the talent and generosity of these artists.
Check out the amazing chairs and the auction, and learn more about Zero to School! Bidding closes on July 19, 2026 at 8:00 p.m.
Vicki Huff, Master of Hollis Grange, is participating for the first time in the annual Tri for a Cure Triathlon, in a commitment to her own health and recovery. Vicki explains her motivation in this short video.
Maine Cancer Foundation (MCF) leads this statewide effort to reduce the impact of cancer in Maine, investing in the most promising and effective programs that:
Improve access to care for all Maine people;
Advance cancer prevention
Increase screening and early detection
The triathlon consists of three parts. Vicki has teamed up with her sister Veronica. Veronica will handle the swimming and biking portions, while Vicki handles the walking and running portions. The name of their team is VForce.
This year’s event happens on Sunday, July 12, 2026. Tri for a Cure has become the largest triathlon in the state of Maine, providing a gorgeous race course along the shores of Cape Elizabeth and South Portland.
“The Tri” certainly has many impacts on everyone who is somehow touched by it. We asked Vicki to comment on how the Grange might be affected and how the Grange might have an effect.
The Triathlon has a great fundraising approach with several components. First, participants are required to raise a minimum of $500 each to be eligible. The Maine Cancer Foundation (MCF) recruits sponsors for the event itself, so all of the money raised goes directly to the cause.
While the VForce Team has raised the minimum. Additional donations are certainly in order! Use the link below to show your support. 100% of funds raised stay in Maine to support cancer prevention, screening, and improved patient outcomes. The money you help us raise will make a difference in the lives of your neighbors and communities around Maine. Now, more than ever, cancer patients need our help!
Note the “S” and “G” on the new porch railings, placed as a reminder that the building was originally the Starling Grange.
If you’ve been following the story, you know that a lot has been happening with the former Starling Grange Hall in Fayette, Maine. Thanks to a group of volunteer friends, Starling Hall is shining again! Among those friends, Maine Cabin Masters has completed several important restoration projects, including a new entrance, restored exterior, and even a handcrafted cedar flagpole from right here in Fayette.
The hall looks amazing, and continues to host many events, meetings, and fundraisers in this beautiful, revitalized space. The Friends of Starling Hall is organized to preserve, restore, and improve the historical integrity of the renovations of Starling Hall, Fayette’s former Grange building. The Hall was used for the community over 90 times during the year. This includes Select Board meetings, Quilting Club, All Age Friendly, Parks and Rec meetings, Pond Association meetings and FOSH events. Tune in Monday, June 15, 2026, at 9:00 pm on the Magnolia channel to watch the episode documenting the Starling Hall Projects.
The Friends of Starling Hall are now working on grant applications to secure funding for an elevator to the second floor and a rural fire suppression system for the entire building. Jon Beekman reports that the Cabin Masters Program will explore the second floor, which he believes Grangers will find exciting. “It has really been untouched for 100 years and is really magnificent. The tapestry curtain on the stage has phone numbers advertising businesses in Livermore Falls with three and four-digit telephone numbers!”
It’s a sure bet that a lot of Grangers around the state would love to have some friends like Starling Hall does!
Maine Legislative Sentiments are highly regarded, formal recognitions used by the Maine Legislature to honor significant individual, civic, or organizational accomplishments. These sentiments act as official, bipartisan commendations, often presented on the floor to highlight milestones, such as 30 years of educational leadership or exceptional community service, marking them as sincere expressions of appreciation. Often, these sentiments receive unanimous support, reflecting a moment of unity in a sometimes divided political landscape.
For those Granges who celebrate Community Citizens, consider contacting your local Senator or Representative and asking if they might sponsor a Legislative Sentiment for your honoree. Sometimes they will even attend your event to present it–if you invite them!
It’s knitting, crocheting, and quilting season at Valley Grange in Guilford! Mary Annis, Joyce Flanders, Pat Engstrom, and Janice Boomsma had fun sorting recent donations at our March Meeting, including a large bag from Linda Kain.
These handcrafted products are distributed through many different local outlets. Hats and mittens go to our local schools, including Piscataquis Elementary, SeDoMoCha, Brownville Elementary, Ridgeview Elementary, and Harmony Elementary. Lap robes are available to local nursing homes, and we supply the Hospice Program’s Operation Gratitude for Veterans.
Help is always needed and welcomed! If you are interested, contact Mary Annis (564-0820) or Pat Engstrom (564-8290).
At the State Grange conference awards night on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, Maine State Grange Master Sherri Harriman (r) presented The National Grange “2025 Diamond Grange in Action” award to Mill Stream Grange Master Jill Sampson, who accepted on behalf of Mill Stream, one of two Granges in Maine recognized for achieving the title.
