Tag: Grange News

State Grange Session Date Change!

Please note that the dates of the 151st Maine State Grange Session are now October 17-18, 2025. The session will open at 11 am on Friday, October 17, the banquet will be Friday, and the Sixth Degree Conferral will be Saturday, October 18 at 1:45.

The Session is being held at the Black Bear Inn, 4 Godfrey Drive, Orono (Exit 193 off I-95). The hotel number is 207-866-7120. If you have already made reservations, they will be automatically changed, but you may wish to confirm this. To receive the group rate of $148.60 per night, use the code “Maine State Grange.” You may also book online at https://www.choicehotels.com/reservations/groups/RR30X5

This change was necessary due to a conflict with the UMO Homecoming Weekend.

We’ll be posting the traditional State Convention Information Page soon and adding information as it becomes available. Remember, each Subordinate and Pomona Grange should send two “official” delegates but any Grange Member may attend! Hope to see you there!

Mill Stream Grange Gets the Word Out!

Mill Stream Grange members Lisa Goucher (back row left)  and  Jill Sampson  (back row right) presented dictionaries to Carolyn Watkins’ third grade class at Mt. Vernon Elementary School on February 5th.  The students were enthusiastic about learning different ways to use the dictionaries, including the longest word, information on states, the Presidents, and the planets.  Each student was given a chance to sign their name after being shown the sign language chart. This is always the most popular part of the presentation. It was a fun learning experience for all!

Valley Grange Seeks Blanketeers!

Valley Grange is located in Guilford, Maine

On March 22, 2025, volunteers will create blankets for children in need.

Guilford–Valley Grange of Guilford is sponsoring a blanket-making event on Saturday, March 22, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. until noon, and volunteers are needed! Organizer Pat Engstrom notes, “no sewing skills are needed. If you can measure, cut a straight line with scissors, or tie a simple knot you can become a ‘blanketeer’ and help support Project Linus. We’ll show you how!”

Project Linus, a non-profit organization, provides homemade blankets to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need. Similar events in previous years have resulted in dozens of blankets being made by a diverse group of volunteers. Engstrom hopes to see the number of blankets made increase.

“We have a great time doing this, and truly just about anyone can help. We create quite a production line, and it sometimes gets quite competitive! It’s exciting to realize we’re providing love in the form of ‘blankies’ representing love, security, warmth, and comfort to kids. We consider them fabric hugs.”
While supplies will be provided, volunteers are encouraged to bring scissors, rulers, and masking tape. Light refreshments will be served.

For additional information, contact Pat Enstrom at 207 564-8290 or visit the Valley Grange Website at http://valleygrange.com. Valley Grange is located at 172 Guilford Center Road, at the corner of Butter Street.

Highland Lake Grange “protects”

Highland Lake Grange not serves their Westbrook Community, the “protect” those who protect it with “Survival Kits” for their law enforcement officers. Fifty kits containing a lot of goodies were recently delivered to the local officers.

Captain Goldberg accepts the kits from Highland Lake Master Dave Goven
That’s a lot of goodness given in appreciation and fun!

The Survival Kit for Law Enforcement Officers includes:

  • Gum -to get you out of sticky situations
  • Lifesavers – because you are one!
  • Chocolate kisses – to show you are appreciated
  • Starburst – for an extra burst of energy
  • Pencil – to keep you sharp, focused and for writing tickets
  • Kit Kat – for when you need a break
  • Snickers – to remind you to keep your humor
  • Smarties- to give you wisdom for those split minute decisions
  • Tootsie Roll – to help you roll with the punches
  • Peppermint Patty – to help you keep your cool
  • Doves – the symbol of peace, freedom and love
  • Mounds- for the mounds of courage you show
  • Candy Coins – you don’t get paid enough

“Thank you for all you do from Highland Lake Grange #87”

NOTE: This is an idea worth (shhhh!) “stealing” as a way of protecting and serving your community and its resources. Well done, HIghland Lake Grange!

Highland Lake Grange Serves

Highland Lake Grange provided a place for Westbrook City Councilor Jen Munroe to hold two community meetings to hear from residents of the district she represents (the Highland Lake Grange Hall is located in her district) and address concerns and issues.

Westbrook City Councilor Jen Monroe meets with residents
Highland Lake Grange serves as place for conversation

Chelsea Grange Gets Lift!

Chelsea Grange is located on Route 226 in Chelsea, Maine

submitted by Linda Weston

The Chelsea Grange Hall on Route 226 on February 20th got a new Stair Climber System (from MAC) installed to our second floor (and stage) from a grant awarded by Lifelong Communities/AARP/AFC! And a big THANK YOU to Grange Member Marion Bowman on all her efforts on this grant.

Pictures of the work efforts of Maine Accessibilities Corp (MAC). They did a GREAT job !!!!

We are hoping to do more community work with the increased access to this space. Lots of ideas discussed at our last meeting.

Stayed tuned for future use of the Chelsea Grange #215!

View from the top
Check out the library!
“Let each repair to his or allotted station…”

Grange Today! 2-28-2025

The Newsletter of the National Grange

Articles in this edition include:

  • Host a “Fun Day” for your Grange
  • Youth Department Updates Deadlines, Adds New Contests.
  • View from the Hill
  •  Commentary: The Definition of Rural
  • Grange Store: Grange Socks 
  • National Grange Program Updates for 2025
  • Help Shape Safety Standards for Power Tools – Apply to Join a ULSE Technical Committee
  • Grange Store: Grange Jewelry
  • Grange Member Benefit: Wyndham Hotels

Click the button below to read and/or subscribe to Grange Today!

Read THE Current Issue
Subscribe to Grange Today!

Note that all recent issues are available on the National Grange Website. To save server space, we only post the table of contents on the MSG Website.

Coming Soon! Degree Day 2025!

What a great way to end Grange Month–a celebration of membership and Grange Tradition that includes the ritual of the First Four Degrees!

This should be on the calendar of every Grange in the state as a potential activity! To keep things manageable, select someone in your Grange (usually the Master/President) to organize a “carpool” to MSG Headquarters on Sunday, April 27, 2025. Remember, the Degrees aren’t just for new members! When these days were more common, it was not unusual for a group to join whoever had the biggest vehicle for a trip to the hosting Grange and an opportunity to discover (or rediscover) what the Grange Way of Life is all about.

While a “reservation” isn’t required, it will facilitate planning if we can have some idea of how many are attending. But first we need to get the word out!

We have two posters/flyers available for you! Downloading is easy-peasy. Just click the link!

Both are also available in the Communications Section of the Program Books and Information Page.

Since it’s already close to the end of February, there’s not much planning time left! Print and distribute flyers (especially to new members) and see what you can put together!

Additional information is available from Chief Deputy Maynard Chapman. Send him an email, or call and leave a message at 207 312-5591. It wouldn’t hurt, certainly, to ask him what you can do to help!

Enterprise Grange Happenings

by Marilyn Stinson, Enterprise Grange Lecturer

Enterprise Grange is located in Richmond, Maine

Enterprise Grange meets on the third Tuesday monthly with a potluck supper at 6:00 and a meeting at 7:00. We often have guests and friends at our suppers and usually have our Family Health and Hearing reports and discussions while gathered around our tables.

Did you know that if you have hearing loss and need aids if you have an Apple iPad, you can get earbuds and listen through your phone? The background noises are minimized, and there is less discomfort for older people struggling with something new.

Cliff demonstrated his new hearing aids with their tiny antenna. What a blessing. We’ve also discussed diabetes emergencies and problems after tick bites. Guests join in the discussions. This is after we’ve eaten, so no problems with queasy stomachs during the meal.

March is MS Awareness month, and we will have a guest sharing her story of her life with the disease on March 18, 2025. We love to have other Grangers join us!

We are at 15 Alexander Reed Road in Richmond. If you use a GPS, please enter 14 Alexander Reed because 15 will direct you to an empty field about 1/4 mile away. We are in town, the street across from the fire station. For more information, ontact Marilyn Stinson at 207.737-2611 and leave a message on her landline, please.

Ocean View Grange Spreads More than Dictionaries

Ocean View Grange is located in St George (Port Clyde), Maine

When Ocean View Master Larry Bailey reported on their successful Dictionary Day, even he may not have realized the full impact. He subsequently received an email from one of the teachers with an invitation to attend a “Community Meeting” at the school hosted by the third grade. One of the items on the agenda was a “quick thank you for your dictionary donations.”

Obviously, he went!

He was happy to report, “I admit I was genuinely impressed by what I saw and felt. The energy and excitement were palpable, the kids were clearly happy to be part of the program, and the teachers handled the huge crowd perfectly. The young speakers/announcers were great, the music was certainly upbeat and well done. I was especially taken with the videos some of the students filmed. They were classics and made me laugh…especially the one number one winner. Creative is an understatement for all of them.”

School District Superintendent Mike replied, in part, “…thanks again to the entire Grange for supporting our 3rd graders and school!  The students and teachers once again did a wonderful job running the community meeting.  It’s incredible to see the work our students and staff are doing, often in partnership with community organizations like the Grange!”

These partnerships can indeed be incredible. They connect our Granges with our schools and communities in powerful ways with results that make a difference. Check out the Words for Thirds Resource Page. There’s still time to set up a Dictionary Day for a school near you during Grange Month (April), but you’ll need to get started soon. We’re here to help!