Valley Grange News

This is a sample of our newsletter. You can subscribe here.

October Meeting, Date Change

Our October Meeting has been rescheduled to October 10, 2025, due to a conflict with the MSG Convention. Potluck at 6 pm, meeting at 7 pm. Grange Bees are Mary and Jim. Walter & Janice were elected delegates to the State Convention in Orono.

Sandwich Makings

A highlight of our September Meeting was the jars of PB & J that appeared as people arrived! We’ve delivered these to Bangor Savings Bank for their annual drive. You can also donate directly to any Branch before 9/30.

Dictionary Days

Members approved the purchase of dictionaries for this year’s program. We’ll be scheduling presentations and deliveries starting in mid-October. We need team members for these–it’s mostly a matter of carrying things and then helping the kids find words in their new dictionaries. Stay tuned for the schedule and consider lending a hand! Presentations are only about 45 minutes and will be held in Brownville, Dexter, Dover-Foxcroft, Guilford, and Harmony. We’re checking with Athens and the Amish School in Corinth.

Blistered Finger Knitters Knote!

We deliver hats and mittens in conjunction with Dictionary Presentations. If you have completed items, we’d appreciate receiving them by October 15, although we collect year-round. Contact any member to arrange delivery! Thanks! Keep those kneedles clicking!

Grange Gossip

Walter continues to help the Abbot Historical Society with gravestone cleaning. We have a couple of weeks left this year… Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the old village cemetery across from the Town Hall is where and when. It’s easy and fun! Supplies and instruction are included.

Mary Annis is selling raffle tickets to benefit the DUV. She will humbly admit she made the first prize Afghan.

Pat and Steve will be doing some traveling soon… we wish them a safe trip to Texas and will miss them. When they return, Pat will be busy getting ready for Craft Fairs.

The Guilford Register Magazine September Issue featured an article by Walter, “Sticker! Sticker!” It’s about some kids at an Amish Farmstand in Corinth. The October Issue will include a story about the Dover Foxcroft Kiwanis Auction.

Area Grange Events

South Sangerville Grange is holding a Bean Hole Bean Supper on October 25, 2025, from 4:30 to 6:00 pm. More information is available here.

Remember, Valley Grange is happy to publicize your event, but we have to know about it! Submit it to the MSG Website and it’ll get state-wide publicity!

Valley Grange Contacts and Resources:

(Click names to send email.)
Jim Annis, Master/President – 207 564-0820 (home)
Mary Annis, Secretary – 207 564-0820 (home)
Walter Boomsma, Program Director/Treasurer – 207 343-1842 (cell)
Janice Boomsma, Chaplain – 207 343-1496 (cell)

Valley Grange Website
Valley Grange Facebook Page

Valley Grange Hall’s GPS Address is 172 Guilford Center Road, Guilford. (Do not send mail here!) The Hall is located at the corner of Guilford Center Road and Butter Street.

Ocean View Grange Craft Sale

Ocean View Bean Supper

South Sangerville Grange Bean Hole Bean Supper

Oct 25, 2025, South Sangerville Grange will host a Bean Hole Bean Supper from 4:30 to 6:00 PM. It includes beans, hot dogs, ham, mac&cheese, potato salad, coleslaw, rolls, biscuits, and corn bread. Deserts include pies (raspberry, blueberry, apple, chocolate cream, along with ice cream. Drinks are coffee, water, and apple cider. $10 minimum donation.

South Sangerville Grange is located at 25 Grange Road in South Sangerville, Maine.

Coming Soon?

Maybe several things! One that we’re sure of is another resource page for Granges and Grangers. This time, we’ll be introducing an easy-peasy community service that’s already being offered in over 200,000 locations around the world.

The Grange has always emphasized education and literacy. One of our signature programs, Words for Thirds, is an example. Now, in addition to making dictionaries available to third graders, we’re looking at a way to make many books available to everyone through library boxes located at our Grange Halls.

While these libraries do not have to be part of the Little Free Library project, they do offer some great ideas and inspiration.

The resource page we’re building will be available soon. It will include information about several libraries located at Granges in Maine. If your Grange has one or would like, please tell us about it!

Vassalboro Grange Happenings

Vassalboro Grange is located at 351 Main Street in East Vassalboro, Maine

MEMBERSHIP DRIVE: Vassalboro Grange has been recently awarded a grant with a membership bonus! Have you thought about becoming a Grange Member?  If you join before Sept 18th, 2025, our Grange receives additional funding for each member signed up.  FMI Holly weidnerholly@gmail.com

CAPOEIRA EVENT: Saturday, Sept 13, 10 am-3 pm Demo/lesson in Brazilian martial art dance.  Fun for many ages and abilities. FMI Molly Holliman molswald@aol.com

PHILOSOPHY TABLE: Sunday, Sept 14, 5 pm-7 pm. Potluck & Discussion of a philosophy topic.  This month, featuring Eric Austin’s Town Line article “Why humans and AI might be more alike than we care to admit!” FMI Matthew matthew.freytag@maine.edu

OPEN MIC & COFFEE HOUSE: Saturday, Sept 20th, 7-9 pm Come to enjoy, and if you like, come to play/perform. FMI Kala kwistar11@gmail.com

RECURRING WEEKLY EVENTS: 

COFFEE ON THE PORCH: Tuesdays 8:30 am-10 am. It is exactly what it sounds like.  FMI Marada 207-316-5321 maradacook@gmail.com  This event will welcome a new host for the 2026 season… might that be you?  Reach out to me… if someone (or several someones) takes on this event, I will start something new for the Grange.

ZUMBA:  Now Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 5:30 pm FMI Theresa Warren warrentheresa684@gmail.com

ART BY JACKSON GREGORY: Displayed in the community room/dining hall, open concurrently with other events. FMI jackson@jacksongregory.com

DON’T BLINK!  OCTOBER EVENTS ARE COMING:

Stay tuned for cider pressing week of 9/29 and/or 10/5, Folk Band Concert 10/10, Library Fundraiser event 10/25, along with our usual assortment of community-led, neighbor-rejoining, hall tromping fun!

Vassalboro Grange Facebook Group

Fifth Degree Offered

By Steven Haycock

On Wednesday, October 8, 2025, Androscoggin Pomona will confer the Fifth Degree at Danville Junction. Grange, 15 Grange Street in Danville (Auburn).  There will be a 6 pm bring-your-own supper / social hour at 6 pm.  The meeting will begin at 7 pm.  All are welcome to attend.  If you have a candidate, please reach out beforehand to a member of the Pomona to discuss possibilities.

Valley Grange September Meeting to include PB &J

Friday, September 19, 2025
A potluck supper will take place at 6:00 pm. Our meeting follows at 7 pm

Valley Grange is located at 172 Guilford Center Road in Guilford, Maine.

No, we won’t be having sandwiches for supper. Again this year, we are supporting Bangor Savings Bank’s PB & J Drive. Since 2012, the Bangor Savings Bank Peanut Butter & Jelly Drive has collected more than 146,000 jars and donated them to local food insecurity programs. That’s nearly 2.5 million peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for children, families, and individuals. That’s the power of community!

Please bring your donations to the meeting on Friday, September 19th, or drop them off at the Hall. Note that we must receive donations by September 25th. You can also drop off donations at any Bangor Savings Branch until September 30th. Tell ’em we sent you!

Winthrop Grange Flea Market

September 13, 2025

person standing in front of brown crate
Photo by Clem Onojeghuo on Pexels.com

Winthrop Grange is having a flea market on September 13, 2025, from 8 to 2. Tables are available outside for $10 and inside for $15. Contact Kathy at 207-500-9864 if interested.

Winthrop Grange is located at 598 Old Lewiston Road in Winthrop, Maine.

Trenton Grange Bean Suppah