Category: Exciting Granges

Limited Time Offer! Get Your Four Degrees!

Well, at least the first four! If you’ve joined the Grange through the “Obligation Ceremony,” you’ve missed the best part! The Four Degrees will be offered at Mill Stream Grange on Saturday, October 15, 2020, starting at 9:00 a.m. Mill Stream Grange is located just about 20 miles northwest of Augusta–convenient for many Granges. Plus, you’ll likely experience some great leaf peeping during the drive! For planning purposes, please call Judy Dunn at 207 293-2330 and tell her you’re coming! This will be a great opportunity to experience the rich heritage of the “lessons of the Grange.”

And if you already are “degreed,” you can still attend! Mill Stream Grange has eight new members who are degree candidates. That’s exciting and worth being part of, even as an observer. But you can’t just observe. In addition to being reminded of your experience, you can be part of the altar circle, a wonderful representation of the fraternal nature of the Grange. Many would agree that “opportunities like this do not come very often.” Don’t miss this one!

But Wait, There’s More!

The folks at Mill Stream are showing their energy and enthusiasm by offering an Installation of Officers the same day at 1:00 p.m. Even re-elected officers are supposed to be installed but don’t do this because you are required. It’s a great reminder of the duties and opportunities officership offer.

So maybe charter or borrow a van and come as a group for one or both of these opportunities! A light lunch will be served for those staying for the day–one reason you need to call is to help establish a lunch count.

Years ago, there were times when Granges would come together for an entire weekend, “camping out” at the hall. A few hours on a Saturday may not be quite that intense, but it will be fun and beneficial. Mill Stream Grange is a very active Grange. (Eight new members is quite an achievement in itself!) Maybe you can learn their secrets.

“I would say my biggest and best benefit is the extended family I have found in the Grange. Where else can you go and have so many brothers and sisters? I have met so many people in my Grange travels, and they are all family.“

Vicki Huff, Hollis Grange #132

Parkman Grange Santa Project

The Parkman Grange is again administering the Santa Project for all kids, newborns to high school seniors living in the MSAD#4 area. This includes Abbot, Cambridge, Guilford, Parkman, Sangerville, and Wellington.  This program provides warm winter coats, boots, and a toy or two for local kids whose families could use a little help this Christmas.  Paper applications are available at each town office or anytime from the bulletin board on the Grange porch, located at the corner of State Hwy 150 and North Dexter Road.  The application deadline is November 11, 2022.  Distribution will be on December 18, 2022.

If you would like to help out with a donation, checks can be made out to Parkman Grange, memo line: Santa Project.  Send to Parkman Grange, PO BOX 114, Guilford, ME 04443.  Donation jars and Angel trees will be set out in November.  This is a big project, and community support makes it possible. Thank you.  For more info, call Sue Manchester at 277-3942.  

Family Game Night, St George Grange #421

October 4, 2022 6 pm –9 pm

A free night of family fun! Games will be provided, or bring one to share! Light refreshments will be available for sale. Come to the St George Grange Grange Hall at 32 Wiley’s Corner Road, St George ME. For more information, Contact Holly Welch 207 890-3514.

Valley Grange Collects!

Valley Grange is located in Guilford, Maine

At our September Meeting, we created some piles–PB&J for the Bangor Savings Bank Drive, Lap Afghans for the Veterans’ Operation Gratitude Program, and raffle tickets! We also added 350 knitted hats from Blistered Finger Knitter Roberta in New Jersey. Do knitting needles ever wear out?

An order of dictionaries for our annual “Words for Thirds Dictionary Day Project will be placed soon. Since starting the program in 2004, we’ve provided nearly 3,000 dictionaries to students throughout the area. If COVID cooperates, we hope to do more “in-person” presentations this year.

We forgot to put the hats in the picture!

Raffle tickets are on sale and available from any member, or call Janice Boomsma at 343-1496. We’ll be drawing the winners at our November meeting and look forward to handing out $250 in prizes! Community support is needed and appreciated!

Our schedule for the rest of the year:

  • Friday, October 21, 2022, we’ll have a potluck supper at 6 pm and a meeting at 7 pm. This is usually the meeting at which we prepare for dictionary days by labeling the books, assembling the hats and mittens from our Blistered Finger Knitters for distribution, and resisting our second annual “Sock it to Us” efforts. The program was so successful last year we may be “good to go” this year! Jim and Mary are Grange Bees* for this meeting.
  • Friday, November 18, 2022, will include the usual potluck supper at 6 pm and program at 7 pm and include drawing our raffle winners. Walter and Janice are Grange Bees for this meeting.
  • Friday, December 2, 2022, is our Fellowship Breakfast for Supper–you can come in your jammies! This is always a fun night… we start at 6 pm by enjoying some breakfast specialties such as homemade muffins, breakfast casseroles, “Walter’s French Toast,” and assorted treats and surprises. It’s all about food, fellowship, and family… you won’t want to miss it!

Get those dates on your calendar and plan to join us for any or all of these gatherings! We plan to keep our hall open through the winter and appreciate all who help and support us in some way.

Unfortunately, another Grange in our area is closing–St. Albans now joins Garland Grange as “closed.” Valley Grange would certainly welcome members from these two Granges with open arms. If you were a member of St. Albans or Garland Grange and would like to join us, contact secretary Mary Annis (564-0820), and she’ll make it happen!

*Grange Bees are the unofficial hosts for a meeting who make sure the heat’s on, the hall is ready, and we have everything we need. If you’d like a turn, we’ll not only show you how we have a checklist!

Some October Events

Are you submitting your events to the MSG website calendar?

  • October 1, 2022, Winthrop Grange Estate Sale and Lite Luncheon, 9 am – 2 pm at Winthrop Grange.
  • October 1, 2022 Irish Dance and Ceilidh at Ocean View Grange in Port Clyde. Contact Larry at 207 372-8075 for more information.
  • October 5, 2022, MSG Ag Luncheon and Banquet Reservations are due.
  • October 6, 2022, Piscataquis Pomona Grange meets at Valley Grange at 7 pm. FMI contact Pomona Master Bill Bemis at 924-4123.
  • October 8, 2022, Drive-up, take-out Turkey Supper at Highland Lake Grange.
  • October 8, 2022, Flea Market at Ocean View Grange in Port Clyde. Contact Maryann at 207 372-8629 for more information.
  • October 14, 2022, MSG Bulletin Deadline — columns and posts are due.
  • October 15, 2022, Degree Day (9 am) and Officer Installation (1 pm) at Mill Stream Grange. For more information and to R.S.V.P. with the number attending, please call Judy Dunn at 293-2330.
  • Photo, coloring, and art lecturer’s contest entries are due at State Session. Contact MSG Lecturer for more information.
  • October 20-21, 2022, Maine State Grange Annual Convention at the Auburn Masonic Hall. Complete information is available here!
    • October 20, 2022, Look for the Stars Banquet at 6 pm
    • October 21, 2022, Ag Luncheon at 12 noon
  • October 29 Jonesboro Grange Spooktacular 9 am – 2 pm at Jonesboro Grange.

Jonesboro Grange 5k=+10k!

Cancer Crush 2022 5k Raises over $10,000 to Help Crush Cancer

On Tuesday, September 20, Jonesboro Grange President John Cox Jr. and Jonesboro Grange Lecturer Andrew Cox traveled to the Beth C Wright Cancer Resource Center and Sarah’s House of Maine to present the funds raised at the 2022 Crush Cancer 5k held back in June. The Crush Cancer 5k is a Jonesboro Grange community service project. 

After race expenses such as portapotties, shirts, and race timing software, a total of $10,526.94 was raised at the 2022 Crush Cancer 5k on a back road that leads to the ocean in Down East, Maine! Funds raised were split between the two non-profits. 

Many thanks to all the incredible volunteers, sponsors, and participants who helped make this possible. Without YOU, we could not put on this event to help others! Jonesboro Grange #357 has put on the race the past two years. 

The Crush Cancer 5k was created by Rebekah Hodgson and Andrew Cox, after John, their father, was diagnosed with cancer. It was a way for both Rebekah and Andrew to channel negative emotions from watching their father battle cancer into a beautiful event that would raise funds to help others in Eastern Maine who are facing a cancer diagnosis. 

Jonesboro Grange #357 is already planning the 3rd Annual Crush Cancer 5k to be held in June 2023! 

Victor Grange September News

Victor Grange is located in Fairfield Center Maine

The latest Victor Grange newsletter leads with a photo of their nice “new” shiny floors! This was truly a community effort!

They are now looking into starting exercise classes… maybe as a result of moving all that furniture out and back in!

“We have about 80 chairs from the original Grange 1880’s purchase We’ve gotten organized, and now you can help out by buying them, some even come with a great sample of DNA from the past, (no kidding) $10.00 each and the money will go towards the building fund. We still have many projects to do, however, every little bit counts.”

The “Fairfield Senior Circle” celebrated its twentieth anniversary on August 19th… lunch, ice cream cake, member certificates…

Check out the complete newsletter for photos, a list of events, contact information and much more!

Mill Stream Grange Degree Day/Officer Installation

Saturday, October 15, 2022

Mill Stream Grange in Vienna will hold a Degree Day and Officer Installation on Saturday, October 15, 2022. The Four Degrees will be conferred in the morning, starting at 9:00 am. Installation of Officers will begin at 1:00 pm in the afternoon. A light lunch will be served following the Degrees. For more information and to R.S.V.P. with the number attending, please call Judy Dunn at 293-2330.

Winthrop Grange Estate Sale and Lite Luncheon

October 1, 2022, 8 am – 2 pm

Save the date for our fundraiser! On October 1, 2022, from 8 am-2 pm, The Winthrop Grange will host an indoor Estate Sale and Lite Luncheon. The Grange was the lucky recipient of an estate clean-out that will help us raise funds for future projects and community activities.

In addition to the sale inside, The Grange will serve the following food options- clam chowder, tomato basil soup, hot dogs, and grilled cheese sticks.  Homemade apple crisp and cookies will also be available for purchase as well. 

Make sure to stop by and visit us, have some lunch and maybe take a few things home with you. We are located at 601 Old Lewiston Road, just down the road from Charlie’s Chevrolet and Rt. 202.  For more information, please feel free to reach out to Kathy at 207 500 9864  or email gwamme@gmail.com.