Danville Junction Grange will be holding an indoor/outdoor yard sale on Saturday, July 25th from 9 to 1. Danville Grange is located at 15 Grange Street (off Rts. 202/100) in Danville.
The sale will feature a cooked food table, raffles, attic treasures, RADA cutlery, plants, books, and more. Outside tables are available for rent. For more information or to rent a table, please contact Norma at meserve1965@gmail.com or 583-7211.
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!
Sagadahoc Pomona held their May meeting at Topsham Grange where Lecturer Sharon had an interesting program for her agriculture report. What do elephants and fireflies have in common? They are both “keystones” for our environment. We learned how to help reduce the light pollution that is harming our ecosystem.
Marilyn has been saying that she would rather Enterprise Grange (in Richmond) get a red or white ribbon for the exhibits they earn at the fair than a blue one, because there is no competition. Well, we also learned that Merriconeag (in Harpswell) is having secret meetings to come up with the best exhibit with the Poultry Theme that MAAF has given all Granges to use.
Ta Da!! A friendly challenge is accepted. It will be fun to see how the different Granges in our state respond to the second year of the Maine Fair Association directing our common theme.
Monmouth Fair is the first and has to be set up before June 24th, which is our meeting date. Pittston is second in July, then Windsor, Topsham, and Litchfield for the fairs in our area.
Sagadahoc will have a Memorial program and Elections on June 24th, no meeting in July, and our picnic at James Mitchell Park on the ocean in Harpswell on August 29th. See you then!
Every Monday, at 7 PM, St George Grange hosts Music Night. Enjoy live music, bring a musical instrument and play, or get up and sing. Every Saturday, 10 AM-4 PM, Kennebec Valley Grange hosts a flea market that fills two floors. Details here or call Diane Pinkham at 207 314-5135 FMI.
Elections of Officers
June 6, 2026, MSG Yard Sale at Manchester Grange, 9 AM – 1 PM. For table rental, 207 213-0371, For event info, 207 583-7211.
June 13, 2026, St George Grange Public Supper, 5 pm. FMI
It is an understatement to say that our Monday night meeting was both a great experience and, more than that, a very sad and moving Grange matter. The matter that was so moving was the Draping of the Charter for our Sister Loa Lee Blake. Our team performed a very professional Ceremony. Loa Lee was an extremely talented person. She was an accomplished musician – piano and organ player, singer, member of many clubs and orders. Loa Lee was a very active, lively lady. She is missed by many of her relatives, friends, and fellow Grangers.
The item that was so uplifting was the surprise visit from two officers from the Maine State Grange who drove all the way here from Norway, Maine, to visit us. The two visitors were Sister Christine Hebert, the Maine State Grange Chaplain, and Sister Linda Allen, Oxford Pomona Deputy. Both are members of the Norway Grange. I made a phone call to Sister Hebert, whose Grange recently held a Charter Draping ceremony, to ask about proper procedures. She was a great help. They just wanted to take the ride to see our Grange in action. They both said, after the meeting, that they were very impressed with our Grange… specifically the Grange building, the members who were there, the proper procedure for Draping the Charter, and the large number of projects we were involved in. All of us at the Grange should feel proud that we were applauded by senior Grange officers.
A few of the other items discussed were:
The damaged side door on the 1st floor will be replaced by Trip today. It is underway.
Sister Gillie moved to donate $150 to the Maine Children’s Home and House in the Woods. Both are Grange Charities, which will split the donation. The vote approved the donation.
There is a leak in the water tank piping that needs to be looked at.
The 1st floor was cleaned, and the cleaner did a very good job of it.
Five candidates from three Granges enjoyed experiencing the Four Degrees on Sunday, April 26, 2026. While we don’t have all the specific names and numbers yet, we should thank Androscoggin Pomona for making the day happen and Manchester Grange for serving as host.
Photo of candidates by David Colby Young
If we lacked quantity, we made up for it with quality. Quality not in the sense of a flawless delivery, but quality in the sense of “a good time was had by all.” It even seemed appropriate that the sun shone brightly on the backs of the harvest marchers.
I wish more people could hear the language of the degrees, it really is beautiful.
(Overheard)
With rare exception, most of those participating as officers relied on manuals or “cheat sheets.” Even those who have the language memorized are finding that the infrequency of Degree Days leads to forgetfulness. (Age has nothing to do with it, right?)
The ice cream store next to the Manchester Grange was nearly gridlocked as we experienced one of the warmest spring days this year. This led to speculation that ice cream, rather than apples, might be appropriate at the end of the Fourth Degree.
The Maine State Grange will hold its annual Yard Sale at Manchester Grange on Saturday, June 6, from 9 am to 1 pm. Along with traditional yard sale treasures, there will also be crafts, raffles, food for sale, and much more. To rent tables, call 207-213-0371. For more event information, call 207-583-7211.
Manchester Grange is located at 953 Western Avenue in Manchester, Maine.
Evening Star Grange is located at 31 Old Union Road in Washington, Maine.
On May 3, 2026, 2:00 – 3:00 pm, Evening Star Grange will host a Wild Fibers from around the World presentation by Linda Cortwright.
As the editor of Wild Fibers, Linda Cortright has traveled the world to some of the most remote regions on the planet, from the Russian Arctic to the High Himalayas. She will be giving a special presentation featuring stunning pictures and unimaginable tales, highlighting the role natural fibers play in both culture and commerce. Wild Fibers is often called the National Geographic of the fiber industry, focusing on indigenous communities and their ability to adapt in the modern world.
Suggested donation is $20. For more information, contact Mildred at 207 975-5671.