Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.
QR codes have become a convenient part of our daily lives, from viewing restaurant menus to paying for parking meters. However, scammers are increasingly taking advantage of this technology to steal your personal information and money through a tactic known as “squishing.” By physically pasting fraudulent stickers over legitimate ones, or sending fake codes via email or text, criminals can redirect you to malicious websites meant to mimic trusted businesses.
In public settings, you might unknowingly scan a tampered code on a flyer or parking meter, sending your payment directly into a scammer’s account.
Protecting yourself requires extra caution. When scanning a physical QR code, ensure it’s not a sticker layered over the original. When in doubt, avoid the QR code entirely, and use your phone’s web browser and type in the official web address yourself. Additionally, keeping your devices’ operating systems updated and using antivirus protection can offer an important second line of defense.
Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.
As rising summer temperatures cause energy demands to increase, criminals exploit fears of losing power and air conditioning by posing as local utility companies.
Scammers place threatening phone calls, phishing emails, or urgent text messages aimed at convincing consumers to supply personal data or to click on unverified links to resolve a past-due balance. Oftentimes these schemes are accompanied by a push to receive instant payment through unconventional payment methods like gift cards, or cryptocurrency.
If you receive an unexpected threat to terminate your service, take an active pause and contact the utility company’s customer service department using the number from your physical bill or the company’s website (don’t search – go directly to the site) to check your account status. Chances are it’s a scam.
Microsoft users have probably heard that the desktop program Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 13, 2026. Actually, it would be more accurate to state clearly that it will no longer work. Any files created with the program will no longer open. This creates serious challenges for many.
National Grange addressed this to some extent in the July 10 issue of Grange Today! If you have been using Microsoft Publisher, you may want to read Phil Vonada’s article.
There’s a strong consensus that Canva is a good replacement, and the free version may suffice. I have also found that with some additional learning, other programs in Microsoft Office such as Word and PowerPoint can be adapted.
But this also raises the larger question of how volunteers can easily produce event flyers at no cost. I’ve not vetted all of the options that follow, but they do seem worthy of exploration. Bear in mind, free options have limitations. The goal of offering them is to encourage users to upgrade to a paid version.
Canva: The free version is viable. I used it for a while, but found it necessary to upgrade. One downside is that its popularity means you’ll see similarities among flyers created by other organizations.
Venngage: Looks similar to Canva, but you’re limited to working online. The upside is that online-based apps can offer more features.
Flyerwiz is now Designwiz: Claims to offer the first mobile app for flyer creation.
Pktochart: Claims to offer “drag and drop” editing.
DesignCap: Emphasizes simplicity. Basic use doesn’t require creating an account.
Technology is advancing by leaps and bounds — it’s easy to get caught in the trap of trying to keep up. Years ago, it was estimated that most users used only about 20% of a program’s (now called an app, although there is a difference) capabilities. I would hazard a guess that number is even lower today. When “shopping” for an app, keep in mind that you may not need most of what’s offered, unless you’re going to become a digital creator.
A simple flyer containing all the relevant information beats a glitzy one that doesn’t. I’m always impressed by social media ads that omit the location of the store or restaurant.
For the non-digital crowd, one option is to find a digital creator to create a flyer in exchange for promotion. (A credit on the flyer with the creator’s contact information.) While it requires some advance event planning, another option is a contest for kids.
If you’ve found a good resource for creating flyers, let me know so we can share it with other Granges. We’re Grangers. We help each other!
For heavy users, the Microsoft Support Publisher Guide will help with preparing for its discontinuance.
Reprinted with permission from an e-newsletter published by Maine Senator Stacey Guerin.
The Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) announced that the Maine Coastal Cleanup is returning for 2026 in conjunction with the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup effort.
According to DMR, the September event marks the largest volunteer effort in the state. In 2025, the multi-week event drew 1,287 volunteers who cleaned thousands of pounds of trash and debris from almost 95 miles of coastline.
This year’s campaign is scheduled Sept. 5-19; and volunteers are being sought from Surry to Portland. For more information about volunteering, or to register your own cleanup effort as a cleanup coordinator, visit DMR’s event website.
Participation could be a great fall community service project for Grangers and Junior Grangers. Volunteers support this effort by adopting a location and soliciting others to join them in cleaning up the trash from their location of choice and help to keep our coast and ocean trash free!
Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.
With fuel pumps and ATM’s as frequent targets, a surge of skimming devices is threatening consumers. Criminals attach sophisticated skimmers directly over legitimate card slots or splice them into internal wiring to secretly record your financial data.
Many modern skimming devices closely resemble real hardware, making them difficult to detect at first glance. Vulnerable targets include standalone ATM’s, unattended retail checkout lines, and card terminals located in busy tourist areas.
The next time you fill your tank or use a card terminal, inspect the machine closely for loose, bent, crooked, or scratched components. Pull firmly on the card slot or wiggle the keypad before inserting your card. If anything feels loose or altered, do not use it and notify an employee immediately. To help stay safe, choose tap-to-pay options or digital wallets over physical insertion. Use credit cards for stronger fraud protections.
Manchester Grange recently unveiled a Little Free Library® as a result of what might be described as a family project. Member Paige Tobie is determined to make the Manchester Grange more visible and relevant to their community. She notes that the hall’s location is an ideal location, adjacent to the elementary school playground, a Fielder’s Choice ice cream stand, and on a busy highway. She credits her husband, Forrest, with being the brains behind the project, adapting some online plans to make it bigger than normal models to provide more books for the community since Manchester does not have a public library. Daughters Olive and Margo helped with the painting, though they were disappointed with the choice of a “boring” color.
Keeping the Grange identity meant using a photo of an old Grange sign inside the building and attaching it to the library. The library is officially registered with the Little Free Library organization (Charter #226621) with the location mapped on the LFL site.
In addition to its global location, a brand-new Manchester Grange Website offers a “venue and community space to bring people together.” The site is clean, efficient, and easy to navigate. Family memberships are available!
But wait! There are more reasons to find your way to the Manchester Grange Hall. Recently added picnic tables are readily available and, on the first and third Mondays of the month, a coffee open house welcomes visitors from 8 am – 10 am. (Hint: bring books for the Little Free Library!) You can get summertime reading materials, coffee, and a warm welcome that will help you discover the value of community and the Grange.
Paige enjoys the “work.”Forest, Designer and Chief CarpenterGreat place to sit and readStop by! Bring Books!The color may be boring, but Olive and Margo aren’t!
Reprinted from an enewsletter by Maine Senator Stacey Guerin, District 4.
The Fourth of July – also known as Independence Day or July 4th – has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941; yet the tradition of Independence Day celebrations dates back to the 18th century and the American Revolutionary War.
On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress voted in favor of independence from Britain. Two days later, delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson.
The Declaration of Independence allowed Congress to seek alliances with foreign countries, and the fledgling U.S. formed its most important alliance early in 1778 with France. Without France’s support, America might well have lost the Revolutionary War.
The war waged by the American colonies against Britain, which began more than a year earlier in April 1775 at Lexington and Concord near Boston, would eventually end when British forces surrendered in Yorktown, Virginia. Yet the Declaration and America’s victory had far-reaching effects around the globe as other nations saw a small novel nation win its freedom from the greatest military force of its time.
From 1776 to today, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence with festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues.
This year’s Independence Day will be celebrated on Saturday, July 4, 2026, marking the nation’s 250th birthday. Known as the semiquincentennial, this historic milestone commemorates two and a half centuries since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
Communities across the country will observe the anniversary with special ceremonies, educational programs, parades, concerts and other events honoring America’s history. The occasion also offers an opportunity to reflect on the nation’s founding ideals, recognize the generations who have worked to preserve and expand its freedoms and consider how Americans can carry those ideals forward for the next 250 years.
The July Bulletin is complete and will be mailed soon. Recent issues of the Bulletin are available on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.
Roster information is due NOW. Resolutions are due August 1, 2026.
What’s Going On?
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 things happening in Maine, especially in the summer. We also love photos and reports of events that have happened.
To Ponder…
“The sense of danger must not disappear: The way is certainly both short and steep, However gradual it looks from here; Look if you like, but you will have to leap.”
W. H. Auden
An Idea for Your Grange
How about setting up a lemonade stand?
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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.
Summer is peak moving season, and who you hire matters. Criminals often advertise low prices and provide unusually cheap estimates—sometimes without even seeing your belongings.
Once hired, they may demand a cash deposit or full payment up front, raise the price at the last minute, or hold your belongings hostage until you pay more. In some cases, they never show up at all.
To help avoid scams and find a reputable mover, get written estimates from multiple companies and research each one carefully. Check reviews and verify credentials before hiring. With so much to manage during a move, choosing the right moving company is one detail worth sweating.
Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.
Criminals often impersonate major brands with large audiences—and Amazon is one of them.
The impact of elder financial abuse is significant. While it can involve trusted individuals like caregivers or family members, scams by strangers are also a major threat. In 2024 alone, the Federal Trade Commission estimated that criminals stole as much as $81.5 billion from adults age 60 and over. With World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15, it’s a reminder that small steps can help prevent financial exploitation.
Encourage older adults in your life to add a trusted contact to their financial accounts. This person can’t make transactions but can be alerted to suspicious activity or if the account holder can’t be reached.
Freezing credit can help prevent unauthorized accounts from being opened in their name. You can also reduce exposure to phone-based scams by setting up robocall and text blockers through mobile carriers or trusted apps. Small actions like these can make a big difference in protecting financial well-being.
