by Walter Boomsma, MSG Communications Director
It pains me to say, “I hope you’re getting used to this…” but it’s become a regular attempt at scamming Grangers. If you receive an email like this, do not reply! Just delete it!
Email Scam
From the Deacon’s Bench
By Clay Collins, Guest Columnist
207 837-0564
Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:34-35
My friends and fellow Grangers, happy spring and happy Easter! As I write this today, I am looking out the window at the snow. Just sitting here watching the snow come down makes me think about all the things going on in the world.
All of the homeless people, the high cost of groceries, and the cost of gas and heating oil. We might not be able to do much about these things, but there is one thing that we, as a human race, can do to make it more bearable, and that is remember what Jesus said. “Love one another as He loves us!”
Many of you already do this, and I commend you for it. For the few that are stand-offish, take it slowly. When you meet someone, say, “Hello”, and strike up a conversation. Before you know it, you have a new friend. It might not be easy to start with, but do it long enough, it will become second nature. Think about it.
Until the next time, remember, “Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.”
Benediction: “Gracious Father, thank you for giving us your Son, Jesus, for whom we would never have learned how to love one another as He loves us. Amen.”
Thought for the month:
“May your right hand always be stretched out in friendship, and never in want.” [Irish Blessing]
While Chaplain Christine is burdened with technology challenges, she has invited Past MSG Chaplain Clay to share some spiritual thoughts with our Grange Flock.
Parkman Grange Mothers’ Day Tea
Submitted by Susan Manchester, Master
The Parkman Grange is pleased to announce that their 24th annual Mother’s Day Tea will be held on Saturday, May 9, 2026, from 10 am to noon. This has become a spring tradition bringing together friends and family after a long winter.
This year, the guest of honor is Katie Landry; she and her husband have 9 children. This popular event includes live entertainment, sing-alongs, lots of door prizes, tea sandwiches and desserts, tea and coffee, and a 50/50 raffle. The local scout troop will be servers.
The Grange is keeping the admission price at $5; children under 5 are free. Reservations are required and can be made by calling Sue Manchester, 207-717-6248. The Parkman Grange is located on the corner of State Hwy 150 and North Dexter Road.
Degree Day Reminder!
The Androscoggin Pomona Grange Degree Day at Manchester Grange is fast approaching! If you have candidates attending, please let Norma Meserve know!
Also, remember that candidates should bring a completed application.
Manchester Grange is located at 953 Western Avenue in Manchester, Maine
Seeds of Service Community Recognition Dinner
Webmaster’s Note: This event is taking place in Manson, CA! Since it was submitted to the Maine State Grange website, we’re posting it for two reasons. First, to show our support, and second, as a great example of community connection! Special thanks to Debbie Conwell of Manson Grange #796!
The Grange continues to stand as a testament to the enduring values of service, character, and community.
As part of this commitment, our Grange will be hosting a “Seeds of Service” Community Recognition Dinner to honor distinguished members, community partners, and those who have contributed to the success of our recent renovation and program growth.
Over the past year, our efforts have included both facility improvements and expanded community engagement through events such as educational programs, social gatherings, and local partnerships.
While this event is by invitation only, it reflects the broader mission of the Grange—to foster strong, connected communities through service and shared purpose.
Fifth Degree Day Change
By Marilyn Stinson
207 380-3901
Sagadahoc Pomona will NOT be doing the Fifth Degree at Enterprise in Richmond on April 29, 2026.
There will be a regular meeting, and other Grangers are welcome. We will be able to do the New Alternative Welcome Ceremony.
Potluck supper at 6:00, meeting at 7:00.
Grange Heirloom – April 2026
Grange Heirlooms are snippets from the lessons of the Grange as taught in the Rituals and Declaration of Purposes.
Use the icons below to share this Grange Heirloom on social media and help others understand what the Grange stands for! If this heirloom has a particular meaning for you, click the “leave a comment” link at the left and share your comment with us!
For additional information and resources regarding the Heirloom Program, visit the Heirloom Resource Page on the Maine State Grange Website.
Valley Grange Seeks Blanketeers
Volunteers will create blankets for children in need
Valley Grange of Guilford is sponsoring a blanket-making event on Saturday, May 2, 2026, 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 handmade blankets to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need. Last year’s event resulted in more than 100 blankets being completed. Since the need isn’t decreasing, Engstrom hopes to see the number of blankets made increase again this year.
“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’ that represent security, warmth, and comfort for 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 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.
Fraud Watch- Product Recall Scams
The AARP Fraud Watch Network™ Helpline (877-908-3360) has seen a spike in “recall scams.” In these schemes, perpetrators send a message claiming that a product you purchased has been recalled because of a safety issue.
The message looks official and urgent, often appearing to come from a trusted retailer like Amazon, Costco, or Walmart. It may include language such as, “To ensure your safety and process your full refund without delay, please sign in to your account through the official website and review your order below.” The link provided, however, is fake and designed to steal your personal information.
If you receive a message like this, don’t click. Instead, go directly to the company’s official website or app and check your account there. You can also confirm real recall information through the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission at cpsc.gov/Recalls.
Most legitimate recalls advise consumers to stop using the product rather than asking them to take immediate action.
Fraud affects every generation, and AARP Fraud Watch Network is helping people fight back—one community at a time. By learning together and sharing information, we can better protect one another.
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.
Share this news!
The Grange: More Than a Place
By Walter Boomsma, MSG Communications Director
This article was published in the April 2026 Issue of the Guilford Register.
© 2026, Walter Boomsma
One of my greatest pleasures in life is attempting to explain the origins and purpose of this organization called “the Grange” to excited third graders as part of our “Words for Thirds” program. I start by attempting to determine what they already know about the Grange, and I’ll always remember the young girl who waved her hand enthusiastically and announced, “I was born there.”
It took a little thinking to realize she’d heard me say “LaGrange” – one of the small, rural communities here in Maine. Her answer was certainly amusing, but it was also insightful and telling. Like the organization she was learning about, she was proud of her roots and heritage. She announced her connection and kinship to LaGrange just as enthusiastically as I announce my connection to the Grange.
For those unfamiliar with it, the Grange, officially known as the Patrons of Husbandry, was founded in 1867 to revitalize American agriculture and foster a sense of belonging among rural families following the Civil War. By establishing local Granges, the organization provided a vital social hub that offered educational lectures, cooperative buying power to lower costs, and a rare space for men, women, and youth to participate equally. This focus on mutual aid and collective improvement transformed isolated farmsteads into tight-knit networks, cementing the Grange as a cornerstone of rural social life and civic engagement for over a century.
A sense of connection often attracts people to small-town rural America. But even small towns are experiencing a “social disconnect” as things like regional school systems and social media change the traditional model of community. We now have cell phones, tablets, and computers to stay “connected” with people – in many cases, people we rarely see and certainly can’t touch.
But beneath all the communicating, we still want to see people – to touch and be touched – and to feel a part of something. People will claim their families are going “in a million different directions” but not really consider why. Some of it must be the search for connections and a sense of belonging. At the Grange, families find unity, shared purpose, and a sense of community regardless of geographic boundaries. Being from “LaGrange” is not enough. Being from “the Grange” offers more.
The Grange, with its fundamental principles and practices, is one place where the entire family can not only be together but also feel connected to other like-minded people and families. The Grange’s rich heritage as an organization with shared values and missions remains relevant today. One hundred years ago, it was about farmers coming together and overcoming rural isolation. Today, it is about a larger and redefined community, but it is still about coming together and overcoming isolation.
In a study, psychologists McMillan and Chavis identified the four elements required for a “sense of community:” 1) membership, 2) influence, 3) fulfillment of needs, and 4) shared emotional connection. An in-depth study isn’t required to see how an active Grange contributes to those elements and builds a sense of community. From potluck suppers to community service projects, Grange members and friends feel a sense of kinship and demonstrate a cooperative spirit.
There are several crucial factors that distinguish the Grange from other civic and community organizations. The family orientation is one notable difference. Grange families find occasions when they don’t go in a million directions. Another is the diversity of programming and interests. The Grange offers social, economic, and educational benefits to all. You can’t be born there, but you can belong.