Chelsea Grange is located on Route 226 in Chelsea, Maine
submitted by Linda Weston
The Chelsea Grange Hall on Route 226 on February 20th got a new Stair Climber System (from MAC) installed to our second floor (and stage) from a grant awarded by Lifelong Communities/AARP/AFC! And a big THANK YOU to Grange Member Marion Bowman on all her efforts on this grant.
Pictures of the work efforts of Maine Accessibilities Corp (MAC). They did a GREAT job !!!!
We are hoping to do more community work with the increased access to this space. Lots of ideas discussed at our last meeting.
Stayed tuned for future use of the Chelsea Grange #215!
View from the topCheck out the library!“Let each repair to his or allotted station…”
Enterprise Grange meets on the third Tuesday monthly with a potluck supper at 6:00 and a meeting at 7:00. We often have guests and friends at our suppers and usually have our Family Health and Hearing reports and discussions while gathered around our tables.
Did you know that if you have hearing loss and need aids if you have an Apple iPad, you can get earbuds and listen through your phone? The background noises are minimized, and there is less discomfort for older people struggling with something new.
Cliff demonstrated his new hearing aids with their tiny antenna. What a blessing. We’ve also discussed diabetes emergencies and problems after tick bites. Guests join in the discussions. This is after we’ve eaten, so no problems with queasy stomachs during the meal.
March is MS Awareness month, and we will have a guest sharing her story of her life with the disease on March 18, 2025. We love to have other Grangers join us!
We are at 15 Alexander Reed Road in Richmond. If you use a GPS, please enter 14 Alexander Reed because 15 will direct you to an empty field about 1/4 mile away. We are in town, the street across from the fire station. For more information, ontact Marilyn Stinson at 207.737-2611 and leave a message on her landline, please.
Ocean View Grange is located in St George (Port Clyde), Maine
When Ocean View Master Larry Bailey reported on their successful Dictionary Day, even he may not have realized the full impact. He subsequently received an email from one of the teachers with an invitation to attend a “Community Meeting” at the school hosted by the third grade. One of the items on the agenda was a “quick thank you for your dictionary donations.”
Obviously, he went!
He was happy to report, “I admit I was genuinely impressed by what I saw and felt. The energy and excitement were palpable, the kids were clearly happy to be part of the program, and the teachers handled the huge crowd perfectly. The young speakers/announcers were great, the music was certainly upbeat and well done. I was especially taken with the videos some of the students filmed. They were classics and made me laugh…especially the one number one winner. Creative is an understatement for all of them.”
School District Superintendent Mike replied, in part, “…thanks again to the entire Grange for supporting our 3rd graders and school! The students and teachers once again did a wonderful job running the community meeting. It’s incredible to see the work our students and staff are doing, often in partnership with community organizations like the Grange!”
These partnerships can indeed be incredible. They connect our Granges with our schools and communities in powerful ways with results that make a difference. Check out the Words for Thirds Resource Page. There’s still time to set up a Dictionary Day for a school near you during Grange Month (April), but you’ll need to get started soon. We’re here to help!
Mill Stream Grange members Lisa Goucher (far left) and Jill Sampson (far right) present the Grange’s annual Christmas donation to the Mt. Vernon area Food Bank. Accepting on behalf of the food bank are Nate Kane and Carol Fuller.
The picture doesn’t do it justice! It barely fit in the scanner. It came from fifth-grade students and teachers at Ridgeview Community School in Dexter. The inside was filled with signatures, hearts, and the message, “Thank you for donating warm gear for us to wear outside this winter.”
We love our kids!
And we thank our Blistered Finger Knitters for making it possible to do this in our area schools. Remember, you don’t have to be a Grange Member to help! We’ll even provide the yarn, thanks to the donations we’ve received from our supporters. Contact Mary Annis (564-0820) or Pat Engstrom (564-8290) for more information.
Our resource pages are officially available! We’d hoped to have an interview available but experienced some complications and didn’t want to wait!
There are still a few items we’re finishing up, but you’ll find plenty you can use. We have sample labels, helpful documents such as press releases and parent letters, emails you can use with teachers, and an easy way to get your customized Words for Thirds Logo.
There’s still time! Ocean View Grange in Port Clyde is planning to visit their third graders next week! Master Larry Bailey and Chaplain Terry Bomba have the distinct honor of handing out the dictionaries and seeing the kids get “wound up.”
We’re working on more resources and ideas. If you need or want something that we haven’t thought of, let me know. I’d love to help your Grange put some dictionaries and all the words in them in the hands of your local third-graders!
Highland Lake Grange No. 87 marked its 150th anniversary this month! To celebrate, eleven members enjoyed a wonderful lunch at Rustlers Steakhouse in Windham. The Grange is planning a public event for its 150th later in 2025. Details will be announced at a later date.
Mill Stream Grange member Judy Dunn (l) presents the Grange’s donation to the Mt. Vernon Area Giving Tree to Leslie Grenier, coordinator of the program which helps spread Christmas cheer to area families. Mill Stream Grange members (l-r) Judy Dunn, Lisa Goucher, and Jill Sampson shared Grange info, sold quilt raffle tickets, and gave away free kids’ books at the Grange’s table at the Mt. Vernon Craft Fair on Nov. 30. The quilt raffle is one of the main fundraisers for the year, and this year’s drawing will be on Dec. 6 at the regular meeting.
Willow Grange membership awards were presented to Katherine Hutchins (65 yrs.), Arlene Cole (80 yrs.), Diane Newcomb (60 yrs.), and Errol T. Clark (80 yrs.). (Paula Roberts photo)
In addition to presenting a Spirit of America Award to the Jefferson Historical Society on Thursday, Sept. 12, Willow Grange of Jefferson also presented membership awards totaling 356 years of service. Arlene Cole and Errol T. Clark were presented 80-year certificates, Katherine Hutchins was presented a 65-year certificate, and Diane Newcombe received a 60-year certificate. Bobby Perry, who also has 60 years of service, was unable to attend.
