Androscoggin Grange Christmas Craft Fair
Androscoggin Grange Hunters’ Breakfast
Fraud Watch- Deep Fakes and AI Scams
The AARP Fraud Watch Network™ Helpline (877-908-3360) has seen a spike in fake endorsement scams. Criminals will use images, edited videos, and stolen likenesses of famous celebrities to build credibility. They place these deceptive ads on social media to build quick trust with viewers. Today’s technology allows video and audio to be easily altered, making public figures appear to say things they never actually said.
Be cautious of offers or giveaways backed by famous personalities. Don’t buy a product based solely on a celebrity endorsement. If you’re unsure, look up news coverage or check official links to ensure the celebrity’s endorsement is real. Know it’s a scam if you’re being encouraged to send money in some form to claim a ‘free’ prize or special deal.
Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.
Election Day Information
Maine’s Department of the Secretary of State recently released information regarding the upcoming election on Nov. 3, 2026. The announcement provided details on voter registration and absentee balloting procedures.
Uniformed and overseas voters began receiving ballots on Sept. 19 in accordance with federal law that requires these ballots be sent at least 45 days prior to Election Day. Qualifying voters include spouses and dependents away from their Maine voting residence by reason of active duty or service of the member, and U.S. citizens currently living outside the U.S. and whose residence before leaving the U.S. was located within Maine.
Anyone who recently deployed or may otherwise qualify to receive an early ballot and didn’t request to receive one can do so here.
Maine allows same-day voter registration, meaning Mainers may register to vote and cast their ballot on Election Day. However, anyone who wishes to use the state’s online voter registration service must do so before Oct. 13. Automatic voter registration during Bureau of Motor Vehicle transactions is available through Oct. 27. After those deadlines, registrations must be made in person at the voter’s municipality.
The Department said in-person absentee voting begins in towns and cities around the state on Oct. 4. Absentee ballots to be filled out at home and sent back may also be requested by contacting local town or city clerks or via the state’s online portal. Absentee voting ends the Thursday before Election Day, which for this year is Oct. 29. For more information about this year’s elections, visit the Department of the Secretary of State’s upcoming elections page.
Suicide Prevention Month #3
Suicide prevention is not one moment or one person’s job. It lives in the relationships we build, the support we offer, and the communities we create together.
Week 3: Building Communities of Care Through Connection
- Treatment works. People who receive timely, compassionate care for suicidal thoughts or behaviors can and do heal.
- A safety plan gives people something to hold onto in their hardest moments: warning signs to watch for, coping strategies, people to call, and 988.
- Suicide prevention should be part of everyday health care, not only a crisis response. Screening, planning, and follow-ups belong in routine care.
- The days after someone leaves a hospital or emergency room are among the most difficult. Follow-up care and a call within 72 hours can change everything. Suicide prevention is possible.
- Getting care early, before a crisis escalates, is one of the most powerful things health care can do for someone who is struggling.
- Connection, planning, and follow-up care make a real difference. When these pieces work together, they save lives.
If you need to talk, the 988 Lifeline is here!
Fraud Watch- Party Invites
Fake party invitations are a newer tactic perpetrators use to capture personal details. They send digital invitations, commonly through email, inviting you to a fake gathering. Typically, the email comes from someone you know whose account has been hacked.
The message asks you to click a link to RSVP, confirm your guest information, or buy tickets. Clicking the link can download harmful software onto your device or send you to a fake website designed to steal your financial and personal information.
If you receive an unexpected invitation, contact the host directly to confirm they sent it.
Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.
Webmaster Email Delays Resolved
The webmaster@mainestategrange.org issue is resolved! It may be used again! Sorry for the inconvenience.
In an unrelated matter, fraudulent emails continue to arrive that appear to be from Master Sherry. They are not and you should not respond to them in any way. Below is an example of how to identify them. We can’t control this; we must rely on you to pay attention.
Below is the original email announcing the problem with the MSG webmaster email
In the latest version of “It’s not over until it’s over,” email to webmaster@mainestategrange.org has not been delivered or received since yesterday (9/13). We have a small but complex glitch resulting from the recent transition to a new server. We’re working on a fix, but it may take a day or two.
In the interim, use Walter’s personal email. If you sent something recently, please forward it to this address and use it to submit columns, news, and events.
This does not apply to the Maine State Grange’s Gmail address.
Sorry for the inconvenience. I hope to have this situation resolved very soon. Thanks for your patience!
Coping With Election Day Stress
By Walter Boomsma, MSG Communications Director
This is an intense election year. That’s one thing we can be sure of! The political phone calls and texts seem endless.
As the day approaches, it seems appropriate to offer some resources to help us manage through these difficult times. The resources listed below come from the JED Foundation, which has existed for 25 years and has a well-documented track record. I originally developed an interest in JED because it specializes in protecting the emotional health and preventing suicide of teens and young adults. They offer excellent programs and materials in partnership with schools, colleges, and parents. In short, I am comfortable and confident in recommending these resources.
Using mental health resources is not a sign of weakness. On the contrary, accessing tools and information indicates strength and builds it. One of the things to like about the JED Website is that it is engaging and extremely easy to navigate. Most of these resources are equally applicable and valuable to older folk!
- Election Stress: Tips to Manage Anxious Feelings About Politics
- How to Have Tough Family Conversations
- How to Use Activism as Self-Care
- How to Stop Feeling Hopeless
- How to Cope With Cyberbullying
- Check in With Yourself
- Stick to Your Boundaries
- Enter Debates With an Open Mind
- Remember the Value of Your Relationships
- Take Care of Yourself
Just because no one else can heal or do your inner work for you, doesn’t mean you can, should, or need to do it alone.
Lisa Olivera
Webmaster Email Delays
In the latest version of “It’s not over until it’s over,” email to webmaster@mainestategrange.org has not been delivered or received since yesterday (9/13). We have a small but complex glitch resulting from the recent transition to a new server. We’re working on a fix, but it may take a day or two.
In the interim, use Walter’s personal email. If you sent something recently, please forward it to this address and use it to submit columns, news, and events.
This does not apply to the Maine State Grange’s Gmail address.
Sorry for the inconvenience. I hope to have this situation resolved very soon. Thanks for your patience!
Exploring Traditions – September, 2026
Meandering Around the Grange Way of Life
By Walter Boomsma, Guest Columnist
From the Second Degree
During our Degree Day, someone commented that they wished more people could hear the words from the Degree Work. We continue to share them.
“My friends, the person who has been speaking to you is that worst of enemies to progress—Ignorance, attended by his companions, Sloth and Superstition. Give them no heed if you hope to advance.” [Assistant Steward to the candidates]
On their way to the Overseer, the Steward halts the candidates, but he is not carrying his staff. That’s significant because he is not acting as the Steward. He represents ignorance, sloth, and superstition. This significance is easily overlooked because the Steward stops them to offer good advice. You wouldn’t expect that from ignorance, so the Assistant Steward wants to make sure the candidates “get it.”
We’re going a bit deep here. Let’s look closely at the Assistant Steward’s explanation.
The focus is on ignorance. Ignorance is a noun that means a lack of knowledge, information, or understanding about a particular subject. It is not a synonym for “stupid.” When I work with kids and they say, “I don’t know,” I require them to add “yet.” I don’t know yet. To progress, we must recognize and correct our ignorance.
The word “sloth” also means laziness or a strong dislike of work and physical effort. In traditional Christian teachings, sloth is listed as one of the seven deadly sins. In common usage, it includes apathy and mental laziness. As the Assistant Steward suggests, this often accompanies ignorance. “I don’t know, and I don’t care.”
Superstition is an irrational belief or practice not based on reason, science, or facts, often connected to magic, fate, or good and bad luck. We often think of things like a broken mirror bringing bad luck, but superstition can be much more subtle. Biases can be thought of as superstitions: beliefs not based on facts or reason. Sometimes we are not even conscious of them. (That sounds a bit like ignorance! Sometimes we are ignorant of them.)
This planned interruption in the Second Degree is brief, but powerful. I almost wish the Assistant Steward would say to the candidates, “We’re going to stand here and think about this for a while.” Or maybe, “Let’s go sit down and think about this for a while.”
The interruption begins with the Steward asking where the candidates are going. The Assistant Steward doesn’t say, “We’re headed to the Overseer.” The reply is “We are traveling in search of light and knowledge.”
My friends, whither are you going?
Any degree or ritual quotations are from the forty-seventh edition of the 2023 Subordinate Grange Manual or the most recent edition of the Pomona Grange Manual. The views and opinions expressed in “Exploring Traditions” are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official doctrine and policy of the Grange. Information about the book “Exploring Traditions—Celebrating the Grange Way of Life” can be found at http://wboomsma.com, on Mr. Boomsma’s Amazon Author Page, or by contacting the author.