Tag: Community

Maine Traffic Fatalities Down!

Early figures indicate that traffic fatalities have dropped dramatically in Maine since the start of the year. Compared to this time last year, 12 people have died because of accidents compared to 32 at the same time last year.

Reprinted with permission from an e-newsletter published Maine Senate Stacey Guerin, District 4

According to Lauren Stewart, director of the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety (BHS), 2022 was one of the deadliest years on record when 177 people were killed across the state, including 20 people who were either pedestrians or bicyclists. It was the highest year since 2007 when 183 people died that year.

Stewart said last year’s figure continued a trend that began during the pandemic, especially involving those who speed or drive recklessly. The increase in Maine follows a national trend that saw half of all states experience an increase in fatalities in 2022, according to the December 2022 estimate by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Traffic deaths in the U.S. have been rising steadily since the summer of 2020.

Stewart said contributing factors in the fatal crashes in Maine continue to be unsafe and illegal speeds, reckless driving, alcohol and drug impaired driving and non-use of safety restraints, the latter of which she said was probably the greatest factor.

What can drivers do? BHS offers a few tips to avoid being in a serious crash, including:

  • Be courteous and cautious, and slow down;
  • Practice defensive driving – staying engaged means being alert;
  • Buckle up – being partially ejected almost always leads to serious injury or death;
  • Plan ahead – especially if you plan to get impaired;
  • Say something – If you see something, call 911. It can save a life.

TIP: Could this be the basis for a Family Health and Hearing Report?

Parkman Grange Announces Spring Programs

Parkman Grange is located in Parkman, Maine

The Parkman Grange will be starting their spring program with their 9th annual Daddy Daughter Dance on Saturday, April 15, 2023, from 6-8 PM. Young ladies are invited to come with their Daddy or an important adult in their life. DJ Steve Boddy will be spinning tunes and having dance contests, games, and giving away prizes. Keepsake photos will be taken to remember the evening. Light refreshments will be served. The cost is $5.00 per person and tickets will be available at the door.

The Mother’s Day Tea will be on Saturday, May 13, 2023, 10 AM to noon. The Guest of Honor this year is Kylee Coburn. She is always friendly and helpful to everyone who enters the town office. She also organized the very successful Parkman Bicentennial Celebration last year. The cost is $5.00 per person. Reservations are required for this very popular event and can be made by calling Sue at 207 277-3942.

 Minnie Bridge Scholarship applications are now available at the Parkman Town Office.  This $500 scholarship is for second-year higher education students in the SAD 4 area. The deadline is July 14, 2023.

The Parkman Grange is located at the corner of State Hwy 150 and North Dexter Road. For more information about the Grange and its programs, please call Sue Manchester at 207 277-3942

Enterprise Grange Seeks Volunteers

Saturday, March 18, 2023 — 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Calderwood Engineering has done a structural Inspection of the Grange Hall on Alexander Reed Road, and determined we need cellar work done for supports, etc., We also need to clean the attic for electrical work to be done. After paying for the posts, lumber, and wiring, we can’t afford the labor to do the moving work, and there are very few of us to get the labor done as quickly as we need.

A Work Bee will be held at the hall on Saturday, March 18, 2023 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. We are hoping for help at any time during that time period. We can’t pay, but we can feed a crew and have games and crafts for kids whose parents are helping. Two of us have “Safe Gathering” background checks and experience helping kids have fun.

Grange is the original equal opportunity organization with women and teens being able to vote and hold an office since our founding over 150 years ago. Women also share in the labor of the Grange just as men share with cooking and cleaning.

Coming events include Awards Day for Community Citizens of Dresden and Richmond, the ART FEST by the Kennebec, Red Cross Blood Drive, Historical Talks, displays celebrating Richmond’s Bicentennial monthly until September, and Music Jams through the summer months.

Please help as you are able. FMI call 207-380-3369 or 207-380-3901.

Visit the Enterprise Grange Facebook Page

Slam the Scam Day

Courtesy of the Social Security Administration

March 9, 2023

On National Slam the Scam Day and throughout the year, we give you the tools to recognize Social Security-related scams and stop scammers from stealing your money and personal information. Share scam information with your loved ones. Slam the Scam!

Recognize the four basic signs of a scam:

  1. Scammers pretend to be from a familiar organization or agency, like the Social Security Administration. They may email attachments with official-looking logos, seals, signatures, or pictures of employee credentials.
  2. Scammers mention a problem or a prize. They may say your Social Security number was involved in a crime or ask for personal information to process a benefit increase.
  3. Scammers pressure you to act immediately. They may threaten you with arrest or legal action.
  4. Scammers tell you to pay using a gift card, prepaid debit card, cryptocurrency, wire or money transfer, or by mailing cash. They may also tell you to transfer your money to a “safe” account.

Ignore scammers and report criminal behavior. Report Social Security-related scams to the SSA Office of the Inspector General (OIG).

Jonesboro Grange Honors Local Citizens

Check out the front page article in the Machias Valley News Observer!

Firefighter Phil Roberts, East Machias teacher Morgan Swan, and Jonesboro Grange President John Cox Jr. were honored with state and national awards. Photo by Cindy Rossi.

Teacher of the Year, Part Two

For those Granges who participated in nominating an “MSG Teacher of the Year,” here’s another opportunity. Nominations are now being accepted for the 2023 County Teachers of the Year. One of those county teachers of the year will be selected as the 2024 Maine Teacher of the Year.

Teachers may be nominated by students, parents, teaching colleagues, school administrators, or anyone from the community who wants to honor an outstanding educator. (Self-nominations and nominations by family members are not accepted). The deadline for nominations is 5:00 pm on Thursday, February 2, 2023.

It’s been another challenging school year for educators. Here’s a way to honor a teacher who inspires students and deserves recognition.

More Information about qualifications
Nominate a TEacher From Your County

Quick Tip–Life Skills Series

Cool Idea

How about conducting a “Life Skills Class?” The class could focus on what it takes to properly and easily balance a checkbook, write checks and reconcile any errors found. These are skills that sound simple to some, but not everyone knows how to do them.

This could actually be a series of classes including writing a resume/cover letter, practice interviews, container gardening, budgeting, simple mending, cooking, car care, de-cluttering, and household repairs.

Consider what skills you and your fellow Grangers could use some help with and start a life skills class of your own! Brushing up on life skills like these can really simplify your life and the lives of your fellow Grangers.

Happy Fourth of July!

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 2nd, 1776, the Second Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and 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 and ended at Yorktown, Virginia in 1781 when British forces surrendered, 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 the present day, 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 article is reprinted with permission from an e-newsletter published by Paul Davis, State Senator for District 4.

The Twelve Days of…

By Marilyn Stinson, Enterprise Grange

As the Community Service Coordinator for Enterprise Grange #48, I’m challenging ALL Granges, Grangers, and Friends to consider their local food pantries for the 12 Days of Christmas which starts on Christmas Day, using the song as a guideline. Let’s see what innovative items people can come up with. Let’s fill Community Service Reports with pictures of what they came up with.

For a previous year, the reasoning was:

Day 1. Pear Tree = can of pears.

Day 2. Turtle Doves = ??? turtles are in the sea and so is tuna, so Chicken of the Sea Tuna.

Day 3. French Hens = French cut green beans. (add a can of mushroom soup for a casserole)

Day 4. Calling Birds = oatmeal or dry cereal to call them with?? Birds like uncooked cereals.

Day 5, Five Gold Rings = rings of canned pineapple. Or spaghetti-O’s.

Day 6, Geese-a-laying = I had hens laying eggs so I shared. This year, I’ll use cans of corn to feed the geese.

Day 7, Swans a-swimming = chicken soup (swans taste like chicken??).

Day 8, Maids a-milking = cans of milk (put with the corn for corn chowder). Or the boxed regular milk.

Day 9, Ladies Dancing = Swiss Miss hot chocolate mix would be Swiss ladies dancing, I think.

Day 10, Lords-a-leaping is another challenge. I used baby wipes because once you open the package, the rest leap out at you. Tissues would do that, too. Maybe corn to pop??

Day 11, Pipers Piping = elbow macaroni looks like little elbow pipes and food pantries sometimes ask for pasta.

Day 12, Drummers Drumming = dry spaghetti for drumsticks, or frozen chicken drumsticks. Or isn’t there a snack cracker that is drumsticks?

(Donations of can openers would also be an extra item.)

The Twelve Days of Christmas start with Christmas Day and end with the eve of Epiphany on January 5th. The Twelve Days of Christmas dates back to English origins in the sixteenth century although the music is reputed to be French. The first publication date for The Twelve Days of Christmas (The 12 Days of Christmas) was 1780.