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.
In what could be considered a comedy of errors, yesterday’s post regarding Saco Grange’s One Day Clothing Giveaway was released the incorrect date! The correct date is August 30, 2026.
The original post and event calendar have been fixed! We’re sorry for any confusion.
Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.
A new surge of tech support scams is threatening consumers. Criminals use scary warning pop-up messages, or cold calls pretending to be a major software company to gain access to your device.
Many modern tech support alerts closely resemble real system warnings, making them difficult to detect at first glance. Vulnerable targets include standalone home computers, tablets used for online banking, and personal laptops used in busy public Wi-Fi areas.
If your screen freezes or a strange alert pops up, pause before reacting. Reflect on what you might have heard (or read) about scams that start out like this. To clear the warnings, you may have to shut down your device to get rid of them.
To help stay safe, keep your operating system and antivirus software up to date. If you are concerned that your device may be compromised, get it checked out at a repair shop you trust.
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.
Don’t forget! August 14 is the deadline for the Bulletin! Recent issues of the Bulletin are available on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.
Monroe Grange Store–National Grange Statement
The National Grange decided not to renew its licensing Agreement with Monroe Classic, Inc. upon its expiration on August 26, 2026. Monroe Classic, Inc. has since requested that we “cancel our license agreement now and not after expiration” as we proposed. This request has been accepted. Therefore, effective immediately, Monroe Classic, Inc. cannot represent that it is a licensed or authorized vendor of Grange merchandise. As before, any Grange may work with any vendor of their choosing (including Monroe Classic, Inc.) to create merchandise with Grange trademarks, names, logos, or other protected marks. If your vendor requires a letter of authorization to use our trademark, please contact the Communications Department.
Deadlines
Roster information is due NOW- actually, it’s overdue. Resolutions are due August 15, 2026.
Words for Thirds – Book Exchange Boxes
Are you getting ready for this year’s distribution? Are your BEBs and Little Free Libraries stocked for fall? It may be the end of summer, but it’s the beginning of the school year and learning.
“The tans will fade but the memories will last forever.”
Anonymous
An Idea for Your Grange
If you follow the Grange Fiscal Year and practice, this is a good time to dedicate a meeting to reviewing your accomplishments and planning your future.
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 with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.
Scammers often use fear and intimidation to convince people of their scheme. In jury duty scams, criminals call or message posing as court officials, US marshals, or sheriff’s deputies. They falsely claim that you missed a jury summons and threaten you with immediate arrest unless you pay right away.
To heighten the panic, criminals often spoof caller ID screens to display a local courthouse or police department number. They aggressively demand that you stay on the phone while you purchase gift cards, send a wire transfer, or deposit money into a cryptocurrency account. In other instances, they may ask for your Social Security number under the guise of checking records.
Real courts will never contact you out of the blue to demand immediate payment or sensitive information over the phone, nor do they threaten jail time for a missed jury summons. Official court business regarding jury service is managed exclusively through the mail. If you receive a suspicious call, hang up immediately and verify the claim by calling your local courthouse directly.
Learn how to spot and avoid scams with AARP Fraud Watch Network™. Suspect a scam? Call our free helpline at 877-908-3360 and talk to one of our fraud specialists about what to do next.
Need a scam prevention speaker for your group? Click the link to fill out our online form or send an email to me@aarp.org.
East Madison Grange is located at 15 Grange Road in East Madison
The East Madison Food Project giveaway day will be Friday, July 31st, from 10 am-11:30 am at the East Madison Grange. 1 box per family. Come early as supplies are limited. Doors open at 10 am. All are welcome!
