Millstream Grange is located on Town House Road in Vienna.
Mill Stream Grange Santa Party
Category: Grange News
Flashlight Candy Cane Hunt
by Walter Boomsma, MSG Communications Director
Similar to an Easter Egg hunt, how about sponsoring a Flashlight Candy Cane Hunt? All you need is a field or lot and a pile of candy canes. Invite participants to bring a flashlight and a bag or bucket to help collect the candy canes nestled throughout the field. Provide hot cocoa and cookies.
You’ll need to jump on this quickly and get the word out–don’t complicate it too much!
A couple of guides could find elf costumes… I admit I didn’t come up with this on my own. I saw a news item announcing one in New Hampshire!
Parkman Grange Christmas Party
On Saturday, December 9, 2023 Santa and Mrs Claus will be at the Parkman Grange from 1:00 -3:00 PM. They will be having their picture taken with your little one and giving out gifts. There will be six easy little crafts to make for presents to give to family or friends. Christmas cookies and cocoa with marshmallows will be served. In the spirit of Christmas and giving, this party is a gift to the community from the Grange. The Parkman Grange is located at the corner of State Hwy 150 and North Dexter Road in Parkman, Maine
Mill Stream Grange Supports Food Bank
Community Grange Bean Supper
Bake Bean Supper Friday, December 8, 2023, from 5:00-6:30. Community Grange in East Wilton will be having a Bake Bean Supper with molasses cake for dessert. $10 per adult, $5 for children under 12. Hope to see you there!
Communication Shorts 11-15-2023
By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842
Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Send us your ideas and thoughts!
November Bulletin Reminder
The November Bulletin is finished! Remember, you can always find recent issues of the Bulletin on the Program Books and Information Page.
Is It Suspicion or Caution?
We’ve had reports of members receiving a letter that appears to be from National Grange offering free life insurance from a company called “American Income Life Insurance Company.” This is a “legitimate” company, but the letter is suspect. With nearly everyone from National Grange at the National Convention, it may be difficult to confirm my suspicion, but I would be very cautious about responding to this letter. A little research shows that this insurance company receives nearly double the number of complaints as similar-sized companies.
Don’t forget to submit the details for a website post and event calendar listing!
Don’t Forget!
You may submit the names of new members so they can be recognized in Good Day! by emailing Philip Vonado or by calling (814) 404-7985.
Fox 22 Covers Valley Grange Dictionary Project
For a summary, check this link.
ODD (Officers, Deputies, Directors)
We believe all updates are completed! The correct information is listed in the online directory, the print directory (a copy will be mailed with the Bulletin), on the Bulletin, and on the Program Books and Information Page! Phew! Please let us know if you encounter any errors!
Ideas for Granges
If you read “View from the Farm” this month, Phil makes several interesting points. One is about individuals supporting CSA programs… for Granges with local farms in the area, there might be several opportunities here. Put your creative thinking hat on! Could your Grange sponsor a CSA or two? Could you offer your local farmers “advertising?”
Thought for You…
“Better keep yourself clean and bright; you are the window through which you must see the world.”
George Bernard Shaw
Do You Love the Grange?
The world wants to hear about it! Fill out the simple I Love the Grange Form… it only takes a couple of minutes! Thanks to all who have shared so far!
Online Directories Available 24-7
- The ODD Directory features all state officers, directors, and deputies with contact information.
- The Directory of Granges features all Granges in the state with a contact person. Please make sure your listing is correct!
Do You Have FOMO?
“FOMO” is, of course, a Fear Of Missing Out. One strongly recommended treatment is to subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website. We’ll send you a daily summary whenever news and columns are posted, and we won’t share your email address with anyone!
Important Stuff!
-> Do your Holiday Shopping at a Grange Holiday Craft Fair. Here’s a list of the ones we’ve heard about!
Degree Days & Information/Instruction Meetings
- January 10-12, 2025, NE Leaders Conference
- April 27, 2025, Degree Day at MSG Headquarters. (First Four Degrees)
- October 24-25, 2025 151st Maine State Grange Convention in Orono.
If your Grange is distributing dictionaries to schools or may be interested in doing so, please see this post and fill out the form!
Valley Grange Gets Mail!
We recently received thank-you notes from our third-graders in Brownville. Most include hand-drawn pictures–unfortunately, with the colored construction paper, they don’t scan well, but here are a few summarized.
“Thank you for everything. I had a lot of fun. You make me laf!”
“Thank you for the Dictionary. My favorite part was the word game.”
“Thank you for everything. You are so nuns. We love you!” [I think “nuns” was supposed to be “fun.”]
“Mr. Boomsma Thank you. I love love when we try to find the word even though I didn’t win I still tried.”
“My favorite part was the sticks.” [We talk about the staves or staffs–farmers’ tools.]
“Thank you for everything you [?] for keeping our cugrey [community?] safe.“
“Thank you for the dictionary. Now I know lots about the periodic table of the elements. You are the best.” [No, I did not make this one up. It’s in the dictionary!]
“Dear Mr. Boomsma, You are a kind man. Thank you for letting us play the dictionary game of finding the words in the dictionary. Good job. You’re working hard.”
“Thank you for the dictionary and showing us the farmers’ tools.”
“Ok the longest word is hard. I can’t read the word.” [According to the dictionary, the longest word has 1909 letters in it!]
“Thank you for showing us the dictionary and farmer tools. The dictionary was amazing! The tools were great! I hope you come back to our school!”
I think one class had a little help with this one:
If you come to our Musical Celebration of Rural Life on Friday, November 17, 2023, you’ll get a chance to read some of these for yourself!
Communication Shorts 11-1-2023
By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842
Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Send us your ideas and thoughts!
November Bulletin Reminder
Columns and Posts for the November Bulletin are due on or before November 14, 2023. Remember, you can always find recent issues of the Bulletin on the Program Books and Information Page.
Planning a Holiday Event?
Are you planning a holiday event such as a Craft Fair or Party? Don’t forget to submit the details for a website post and event calendar listing!
Honored Members
According to the most recent issue of Good Day! Magazine, we have three members who recently reached 75 years of continuous membship:
- Nancy Gowen, Highland Lake #87
- Shirley Hatch, Danville Junction #65
- Donald Proctor, Danville Junction #65
And two members who recently reached 50 years of continuous membership:
- Sally Jo Kinney, St George #421
- Elizabeth Vanidestine, Bangor #372
Honoring New Members
You may submit the names of new members so they can be recognized in Good Day! by emailing Philip Vonado or by calling (814) 404-7985.
Ideas for Granges
Here’s a link to a short Seth Godin Post. Lecturers may find it particularly useful–it’s a short activity that demonstrates “We get much further together!”
Thought for You…
“Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence.”
Erma Bombeck
Do You Love the Grange?
The world wants to hear about it! Fill out the simple I Love the Grange Form… it only takes a couple of minutes! Thanks to all who have shared so far!
Online Directories Available 24-7
- The ODD Directory features all state officers, directors, and deputies with contact information.
- The Directory of Granges features all Granges in the state with a contact person. Please make sure your listing is correct!
Do You Have FOMO?
“FOMO” is, of course, a Fear Of Missing Out. One strongly recommended treatment is to subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website. We’ll send you a daily summary whenever news and columns are posted, and we won’t share your email address with anyone!
Valley Grange and Local Schools Celebrate Dictionary Day
Guilford–A team of Valley Granger members led by Walter Boomsma is delivering over 200 dictionaries to local area schools during the next several weeks. “We have a lot to celebrate,” he noted, “despite some of the troubling news, third graders in the area will have a Dictionary Day that focuses on tools, words, and the importance of learning.”
The Grange began its “Words for Thirds” Program in 2004 by giving a dictionary to every third-grader at the then Guilford Primary School. Over the years, the program has expanded to include Piscataquis Community, SeDoMoCha, Brownville, Harmony, and Ridgeview Elementary Schools. Boomsma estimates the Grange has distributed nearly 4,000 dictionaries since. “But it’s really not about the numbers. One kid, one dictionary. The stories are many, but each one is personal. A dictionary can make a big difference in a child’s life.”
Grangers visit schools to make the gift personal and emphasize the importance of people helping each other. Jim Annis, president of the local Grange, rarely misses a presentation. “I love how excited the kids get. These dictionaries are truly empowering and the program has become a rite of passage. We’re glad we can continue the tradition.”
Boomsma noted that these sorts of links and cooperation within the community are exactly what the Grange hopes to facilitate. “We’re all about Community Service,” he said. “We’re also looking for people who share that passion, whether it’s working with the schools and children or seniors or other community organizations.” He cites the Grange’s Blistered Finger Knitters as an example. “As a result of their efforts, we distribute some knitted hats and mittens along with the dictionaries. Last year, we also did a “sock it me” drive so we could include socks. These are usually given to the school nurse for kids who need a little help staying warm.”
An added feature this year is a “Musical Celebration of Rural Living” in the form of a concert on November 17, 2023, featuring Katherine Rhoda. Program Director Boomsma notes, “Katherine will be playing some unique instruments and featuring Grange Music from over the years. It’s truly a celebration but also a fundraiser to support our programs.” Admission is $15, kids under 12 are free. Additional information is available on the Valley Grange Website (http:valleygrange.com) and Facebook Page.
The Dictionary Project is based in North Carolina, making low-cost dictionaries available to organizations like the Grange to aid third-grade teachers in their goal to see all their students leave at the end of the year as good writers, active readers, and creative thinkers. Extra dictionaries are always available for new or home-schooled students or students transferring in during the school year. Parents of home-schooled third-graders are urged to call their local school for additional information. For information about the Grange and its many opportunities, call Walter Boomsma at 343-1842 or Mary Annis at 564-0820 or visit the Valley Grange Website (http://valleygrange.com) or Facebook Page.
Webmaster’s Note: Granges that sponsor a Words for Thirds Project are encouraged to use this press release as a model or template. Additional information including a sample letter to parents is available on the Valley Grange Website. Learn more about promoting your program in the MSG Communications Handbook.