Patrons of Husbandry – a website dedicated to the Granges located in Maine
Public Supper at St. George Grange 32 Wileys Corner Road in St. George, ME, on Saturday, August 12, 2023, at 5 pm.
Enjoy lots of homemade food with Grange members, family, and friends. All welcome! We have public suppers on the second Saturday of each month until October.
Saturday, August 12, 2023, will be the ninth annual Minnie Welts Bridge Memorial Scholarship Supper, sponsored by Parkman Grange, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m., at the Grange Hall, State Highway 150, and North Dexter Rd. The supper, featuring smoked pork loin, baked beans, salads, and desserts, is open to the public by donation. All monies will go to the Minnie Welts Bridge Memorial Scholarship Fund. 2023 Scholarships will be awarded at the supper.
Minnie Bridge was a lifelong resident of Parkman, ME, a retired school teacher, and a life member of the Parkman Grange. In her memory, the Grange established the Minnie Welts Bridge Memorial Scholarship Fund to benefit deserving SAD 4-area students continuing their education beyond high school. The Grange annually awards one or more Scholarships of $500 each, funded through donations and the annual suppers in Minnie’s name. To date, the Grange has awarded $13,000 in scholarships to deserving SAD 4-area students. For more information, contact Sue Manchester at 277-3942.
Are you ready to give and get some love? Riverfest is just one week from today!
All you have to do is be in the Valley Grange tent at RiverFest on Saturday, July 29, 2023. Judy has volunteered to help with setting up. If you are coming for the parade (which starts at 9:30) and are willing to come a little early, your hands would be welcome! To beat the traffic, Walter plans to be there at 8:30 to unload and set up. The goal is to be set up before the parade starts.
Our tent may be “unstaffed” during the parade—unless someone would like to hang out there. We open formally at 11 am. The official schedule is posted on the Valley Grange Website. ”Working” in our tent is fun! You might get some hugs… and all you have to do is offer information about the Grange (we’ll have printed support material) and a free pin to give away. If you can sell a raffle ticket in the process, that would be awesome! While it’s not on the schedule, traditionally, the expectation is we remain “open” until 3 pm, but unless it’s busy, most start packing up around 2:30. Help with that is always welcome, although it usually goes a lot quicker than setting up!
Of course, you can just show up, but if you’d like to let Walter know what you think you’re planning, that will be helpful!
We’ll also be kicking off our annual raffle that day. Information about the raffle is now available on the website. We have five great prizes this year! We’ll be mailing tickets to all members and friends later this summer—if you’d like some now, let us know! You can also pick up extras to sell at RiverFest. Janice will be our primary ticket distributor and collector—if you need tickets, contact her by email or phone 343-1496. Another great option will be at the Valley Grange Picnic on August 15th. That info will be coming next week!
Maine Highlands Federal Credit Union called—they have a donation for us! Employees donate as part of their dress-down day, then select a cause to give the donations, and we’re it! I’ll be picking it up next week!
Many of you will remember Lilly, the Junior Granger from Connecticut we supported during her battle with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia by doing card showers and encouragement. She’s doing great! She was actually placed on the “Make-a-Wish” roster back in 2018. After making it through 25 months of chemo, double hip joint replacement, and then being on the Covid waitlist, it was great to see her wish come true this past week finally! She and her family finally got a “wish trip” to Alaska together! This is one amazing kid! It’s great to have shared in and supported her battle. What an honor! She and her Mom are now supporting the Make-a-wish Foundation. Earlier this year, they did the “Walk for Wishes.” By the way, Lilly is now 18 years old.
The Grange has a rich heritage of song, with a number of songbooks published starting in 1874. Katherine Rhoda loves to share these songs celebrating agriculture, rural life, and the pursuit of the common good. You can learn more about this music at her website.
Katherine has several performances of Vintage Grange Songs coming up this month. The first is this Sunday, July 9, 2023, at 3 PM, at the Standish Historical Society, The Old Red Church, 55 Oak Hill Road, Standish, ME. Donations to the SHS Building Fund are welcome.
Next is Friday, July 21, 2023, at 7 PM at the Effingham Historical Society, 1014 Province Lake Road, Effingham, NH. Admission is free, though donations are welcome.
Songbook images courtesy of Katherine Rhoda
The Fourth of July – also known as Independence Day or July 4th – has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941; but the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolutionary War.
On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress voted in favor of independence. 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 on Tuesday, July 4, 2023.
Reprinted with permission from a newsletter published by Senator Stacey Guerin, District 4.
July isn’t just the month for Independence Day. There are plenty of other great holidays observed around the world! July 2nd is World UFO Day, while July 3rd is Stay out of the Sun Day. In the US, July 6th is a pretty delicious day, as it’s National Fried Chicken Day! At the end of the month, we also have International Tiger Day on July 29th. And there’s even more going on in Granges around Maine!
July is National Junior Grange Month!
Music Mondays, every Monday at St. George Grange at 7 pm. Bring an instrument and play with others. Weekly until October.
July 1, 2023, Deadline for registration for Northeast Regional Youth Conference.
July 4, 2023, Pancake Breakfast at Harraseeket (Freeport) Grange, 7 am until 10 am. Contact freeportgrangegmailcom.
July 7, 2023, East Madison Grange Open Mic Night on the first Friday of every month at 7 PM. Refreshments are available, free to the public, but donations are appreciated. Contact hideandgopeepgmailcom or 207 716-6441.
July 14, 2023, MSG Bulletin Deadline — columns and posts are due.
July 14, 2023, Parkman Grange Minnie Bridge Scholarship Applications are due. For more information.
July 15-16, 2023, Northeast Regional Youth Conference in Brookfield, VT.
July 23, 2023, Maine Open Farm Day
July 29, 2023, Wayside Grange Concert, doors open at 6:30 pm, concert at 7:00 pm. FMI visit Wayside Grange Facebook Page.
July 29, 2023, Makers’ Market at Enterprise Grange, 9:30 am until 4:00 pm.
July 29, 2023, Valley Grange Outreach Booth at Guilford River Festival, 10:00 am until 3:00 pm.
Community Granges are reminded to submit information about your events for publication and listing on the Maine State Grange Website! Use the Submit Tab or send us an email!
Sagadahoc Pomona meets the last Wednesday monthly with a potluck supper at 6:00, and a meeting at 7:00. Enterprise and Merriconeag are 40 minutes apart, but we enjoy the visiting before the meetings, so it is worth the trip.
Ned Pierce filled in as Master for June, with elections bringing us quite a few changes. Our Master for 2023-2024 will be Samuel A. (Chuck) Alexander, Overseer– Marilyn Stinson, Lecturer – Sharon Kirker, Steward – Helen Stinson, Assistant Steward. – Ben Edgerly, Lady Assistant Steward – CJ Roy, Chaplain – Nancy Barton, Gatekeeper– Hope Tanguay, Treasurer – Ned Pierce, Secretary– Stephanie Alexander, Ceres – Helen Stinson, Pomona – Isabel Stinson, Flora – Sharon Kirker, Executive Committee – Stephanie Alexander for 3 years, Arnold Stinson – 2 years, Hope Tanguay – 1 Year. Some doubling of officers for Graces since we have Fifth Degree in April, and Lincoln Pomona Officers usually give us a hand at that time by filling Lecturer and Steward positions
Our Memorial Program honored two members who went to the Great Grange above, plus those who went before.
There will be no meeting in July, and plans are being made for our August meeting to be a family outing, possibly a lobster boat ride to Eagle Island State Park, for a family picnic with friends from other Pomonas. We will keep you informed because we hope you want to join us!
CWA Baking Contest was won by Helen Stinson with her chocolate chip cookies.
Public Supper at the St. George Grange 32 Wileys Corner Road in St. George, ME on Saturday, July 8, 2023 at 5 pm.
Come enjoy lots of homemade food with Grange members, family and friends. All welcome! We have public suppers the second Saturday of each month now until October.