Tag: Mill Stream Grange

Mill Stream Grange Supports Education

Mill Stream Grange members (back row l-r) Paula Hanley, Lisa Goucher, and Jill Sampson presented dictionaries to the two third-grade classes at Cape Cod Elementary School on March 7.  The students had fun learning about all the different ways to use the dictionary, and each spelled their name using the sign language chart.  The school is very supportive of Mill Stream’s effort and wholeheartedly welcomes us back every year. We’re honored to help support education in our area.

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!

Mill Stream Grange Delivers

Mill Stream Grangers presenting check
Mill Stream Grange members Lisa Goucher (far left) and Jill Sampson (far right)  present the Grange’s annual Christmas donation to the Mt. Vernon area Food Bank. Accepting on behalf of the food bank are Nate Kane and Carol Fuller.  

Busy Mill Stream Grange!

Mill Stream Grange member Judy Dunn (l) presents the Grange’s donation to the Mt. Vernon Area Giving Tree to Leslie Grenier, coordinator of the program which helps spread Christmas cheer to area families.  
Mill Stream Grange members (l-r) Judy Dunn, Lisa Goucher, and Jill Sampson shared Grange info, sold quilt raffle tickets, and gave away free kids’ books at the Grange’s table at the Mt. Vernon Craft Fair on Nov. 30. The quilt raffle is one of the main fundraisers for the year, and this year’s drawing will be on Dec. 6 at the regular meeting. 

Mill Stream Grange Makes Annual Donation

Mill Stream Grange made its annual Thanksgiving donation to the Mt. Vernon Area Food Bank on Nov. 16.  The makings for 50 pumpkin pies and 50 cans of cranberry sauce were delivered to the Food Bank to be used for Thanksgiving baskets for area families. Pictured are Lisa Goucher, Ceres, on the left, and Jill Sampson, Master.

Mill Stream Grange Takes Second Place

But they’re going for the blue!

Mill Stream Grange’s booth at the 2024 Farmington Fair. We are fortunate to have so many talented crafters! We received a second-place ribbon for our efforts, but we have our sights on the blue ribbon in 2025!!

Fall Work at Mill Stream Grange

 The Mill Stream Grange building and grounds committee is hard at work replacing the cedar fence in the Grange Memorial Garden. (l-r)  Paul Lavender, Allan Harville, and Ken Kokernak.The fence does double duty for hanging our Christmas lights.

Coming Soon-Another Resource!

By Walter Boomsma, MSG Communications Director

For many Granges, the fall season includes a Words for Thirds Dictionary Program. (“Words for Thirds” is the phrase coined by the Grange to represent participation in The Dictionary Project.)

Your Communications Department is working on some additional resources for Granges that are providing dictionaries to local schools. In anticipation of releasing these resources, it would be helpful to know which Granges in Maine plan on holding dictionary days during the Grange Year 2024-25.

So far, we’ve created a list based mainly on what the folks at the Dictionary Project have listed, supplemented by previous website submissions. I think (hope!) it’s incomplete. Those Granges include:

  • Chelsea Grange #215
  • East Madison Grange #228
  • Maple Grove Grange #148
  • Mill Stream Grange #574
  • Old Town Riverside Grange #273
  • Valley Grange #144

Words for Thirds was once a “signature” community service project for Granges. One of our resources is an article by The Dictionary Project’s Director, Mary French, explaining why it is still relevant today–perhaps even more than it was in the past.

It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of this program. Valley Grange has reaped many benefits from providing dictionaries in our area for nearly two decades. This will be our twentieth year! We don’t do it as a fundraiser, but it sure helps us with it!

Enthusiasm and communication are key elements. We’ll help with communication resources! You can help by letting me know about your participation. That includes what challenges you are facing, ideas you may have, etc. Right now, I’m especially interested in learning who is participating or considering it!

Simple! Fill out the form below—don’t forget to press [submit] at the bottom! Thanks for your help and support!

Name of person submitting
Email address of person submitting
What position, if any, you currently hold.