Degree Days and Major Events
- October 30-31, 2026, Maine State Grange Annual Meeting in Orono.
The Maine State Grange Office is located at 36 Anthony Avenue, Suite 102, Augusta, ME 04330. The email address is mainestategrange@gmail.com.
Celebrating Independence Day
The Fourth of July – also known as Independence Day or July 4th – has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941; yet the tradition of Independence Day celebrations dates back to the 18th century and the American Revolutionary War.
On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress voted in favor of independence from Britain. 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, would eventually end when British forces surrendered in Yorktown, Virginia. Yet the Declaration and America’s victory 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 today, 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 year’s Independence Day will be celebrated on Saturday, July 4, 2026, marking the nation’s 250th birthday. Known as the semiquincentennial, this historic milestone commemorates two and a half centuries since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
Communities across the country will observe the anniversary with special ceremonies, educational programs, parades, concerts and other events honoring America’s history. The occasion also offers an opportunity to reflect on the nation’s founding ideals, recognize the generations who have worked to preserve and expand its freedoms and consider how Americans can carry those ideals forward for the next 250 years.
Big E Work Days- Help Needed
Secretary’s Corner – July 2026
By Sharon Morton, MSG Secretary
Insurance Information as received from local Granges.
Lakeside Grange #63, Gail Butterfield, Secretary
Hartford Casualty Insurance Company
One Hartford Plaza, Hartford CT 06155
Insurance Agent is Brown & Brown Ins., PHS; was received without address or phone number
Highland Lake Grange #87, David Gowen, President
Agent: Matthew Ellis
Cross Insurance – Augusta
116 Community Drive, Augusta ME 0-4330-8009
622-5000 matthew.ellis@crossagency.com
Waterford Grange #479 Linda Allen, Secretary
Infinger
2 Main Street, Norway ME
JENCAP Specialty Ins. Service
Worcester, MA
508-755-6210
Infinger
800-734-3247
Valley Grange #144, Walter Boomsma, Program Director
Agent: Varney Agency, Inc.
32 Oak Street, Bangor ME 04401
207-947-8637
Coverage is provided by Ohio Security Insurance Company
Coverage is General Liability, based in part on number of members
Danville Junction Grange Yard Sale
Danville Junction Grange will be holding an indoor/outdoor yard sale on Saturday, July 25th from 9 to 1. Danville Grange is located at 15 Grange Street (off Rts. 202/100) in Danville.
The sale will feature a cooked food table, raffles, attic treasures, RADA cutlery, plants, books, and more. Outside tables are available for rent. For more information or to rent a table, please contact Norma at meserve1965@gmail.com or 583-7211.
Communication Shorts 07-15-2026
By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842
Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Please send us your ideas and thoughts!
The Maine State Grange Office is located at 36 Anthony Avenue, Suite 102, Augusta, ME 04330.
mainestategrange@gmail.com. For website matters, email webmaster@mainestategrange.org.
July Bulletin CHANGE
The deadline for the July Bulletin is July 14, 2026. Recent issues of the Bulletin are available on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.
Manchester Grange Website CHANGE
Manchester Grange recently complemented its Facebook Page with a website.
Monroe Grange Store CHANGE
REMINDER: The Monroe Grange Store recently announced that it has been advised by National Grange that, effective August 26, 2026, the Uses License will not be renewed. This means Monroe Classic will no longer be able to operate a Grange Store or sell products containing the Grange name or logo.
What’s Going On?
Don’t forget to submit your special events and programs for our event calendar! We want people to know the Grange is thriving! Surely, there are lots of things happening in Maine, especially in the summer. We also love photos and reports of events that have happened.
To Ponder…
“The sense of danger must not disappear:
The way is certainly both short and steep,
However gradual it looks from here;
Look if you like, but you will have to leap.”W. H. Auden
An Idea for Your Grange
How about setting up a lemonade stand?
Subscribe!
Remember, we don’t share your email address with anyone, and you get a weekly summary of what’s been posted. Subscribe here! Share that link with your members and Grange friends!
Online Directories Available 24-7 ROSTER REMINDER
Thanks to those who help us keep these directories current by letting us know of changes!
- The Directory of Granges features all Granges in the state with a contact person. Please make sure your listing is correct! Visitors to the site frequently consult these directories.
- The ODD Directory features all state officers, directors, and deputies, along with their contact information. Updated January 16, 2026.
Grange Today! 6-26-2026
Articles in this edition include:
- Young Historians Bring the Granger Movement to Life at National History Day
- Happy Junior Grange Month!
- Grange Store: Junior Grange Pins
- National Grange Receives Commendation
- A New Detection Tool Could Narrow the Rural-Urban Cancer Divide
- Seeking Advocacy Wins
- Opportunities at the 160th Annual National Grange Convention
- View from the Hill
- Opinion: Data Centers and Rural America – Progress at What Price?
- Alzheimer’s & Dementia Research Made Accessible – For All
- 250th Celebration Quilt
- Recipes from the Heartland
- Grange Member Benefit: Choice Hotels
Click the button below to read and/or subscribe to Grange Today!
Note that all recent issues are available on the National Grange Website. To save server space, we only post the table of contents on the MSG Website.
Fraud Watch- Moving Scams
Summer is peak moving season, and who you hire matters. Criminals often advertise low prices and provide unusually cheap estimates—sometimes without even seeing your belongings.
Once hired, they may demand a cash deposit or full payment up front, raise the price at the last minute, or hold your belongings hostage until you pay more. In some cases, they never show up at all.
To help avoid scams and find a reputable mover, get written estimates from multiple companies and research each one carefully. Check reviews and verify credentials before hiring. With so much to manage during a move, choosing the right moving company is one detail worth sweating.
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!
Fraud Watch- Protect Loved Ones
Criminals often impersonate major brands with large audiences—and Amazon is one of them.
The impact of elder financial abuse is significant. While it can involve trusted individuals like caregivers or family members, scams by strangers are also a major threat. In 2024 alone, the Federal Trade Commission estimated that criminals stole as much as $81.5 billion from adults age 60 and over. With World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15, it’s a reminder that small steps can help prevent financial exploitation.
Encourage older adults in your life to add a trusted contact to their financial accounts. This person can’t make transactions but can be alerted to suspicious activity or if the account holder can’t be reached.
Freezing credit can help prevent unauthorized accounts from being opened in their name. You can also reduce exposure to phone-based scams by setting up robocall and text blockers through mobile carriers or trusted apps. Small actions like these can make a big difference in protecting financial well-being.
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!
Communication Shorts 06-15-2026
By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842
Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Please send us your ideas and thoughts!
The Maine State Grange Office is located at 36 Anthony Avenue, Suite 102, Augusta, ME 04330.
mainestategrange@gmail.com. For website matters, email webmaster@mainestategrange.org.
June Bulletin
The June Bulletin is available for download and distribution. Recent issues of the Bulletin are available on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.
Valley Grange Resolution
Valley Grange is planning to submit a Resolution Supporting Consistency Between Citizen Initiative Petitions and Ballot Questions. If other Granges would like to consider supporting it, a copy is available on the Valley Grange Website. Remember, resolutions are due August 1, 2026.
Fair Season
It’s fair season! For more information about Maine’s Agricultural Fairs, visit the association’s website.
Monroe Grange Store
FYI: The Monroe Grange Store recently announced that it has been advised by National Grange that, effective August 26, 2026, the Uses License will not be renewed. This means Monroe Classic will no longer be able to operate a Grange Store or sell products containing the Grange name or logo.
What’s Going On?
Don’t forget to submit your special events and programs for our event calendar! We want people to know the Grange is thriving! Surely, there are lots of things happening in Maine, especially in the summer. We also love photos and reports of events that have happened. What’s your meeting magic?
To Ponder…
You can’t go into a bank with a mask on and expect to be treated as a valued customer.
Seth Godin
An Idea for Your Grange
We recently published contact information for a Speaker’s Bureau on the topic of elder abuse. Speakers’ bureaus and other civic organizations in your area are often sources of good programs. Many have a broad appeal and can help develop the public’s interest in your Grange.
Subscribe!
Remember, we don’t share your email address with anyone, and you get a weekly summary of what’s been posted. Subscribe here! Share that link with your members and Grange friends!
Online Directories Available 24-7 ROSTER REMINDER
Thanks to those who help us keep these directories current by letting us know of changes!
- The Directory of Granges features all Granges in the state with a contact person. Please make sure your listing is correct! Visitors to the site frequently consult these directories.
- The ODD Directory features all state officers, directors, and deputies, along with their contact information. Updated January 16, 2026.
This Granger is Tri-ing
Granger Vicki Huff Takes on Challenge
Vicki Huff, Master of Hollis Grange, is participating for the first time in the annual Tri for a Cure Triathlon, in a commitment to her own health and recovery. Vicki explains her motivation in this short video.
Maine Cancer Foundation (MCF) leads this statewide effort to reduce the impact of cancer in Maine, investing in the most promising and effective programs that:
- Improve access to care for all Maine people;
- Advance cancer prevention
- Increase screening and early detection
The triathlon consists of three parts. Vicki has teamed up with her sister Veronica. Veronica will handle the swimming and biking portions, while Vicki handles the walking and running portions. The name of their team is VForce.
This year’s event happens on Sunday, July 12, 2026. Tri for a Cure has become the largest triathlon in the state of Maine, providing a gorgeous race course along the shores of Cape Elizabeth and South Portland.
“The Tri” certainly has many impacts on everyone who is somehow touched by it. We asked Vicki to comment on how the Grange might be affected and how the Grange might have an effect.
The Triathlon has a great fundraising approach with several components. First, participants are required to raise a minimum of $500 each to be eligible. The Maine Cancer Foundation (MCF) recruits sponsors for the event itself, so all of the money raised goes directly to the cause.
While the VForce Team has raised the minimum. Additional donations are certainly in order! Use the link below to show your support. 100% of funds raised stay in Maine to support cancer prevention, screening, and improved patient outcomes. The money you help us raise will make a difference in the lives of your neighbors and communities around Maine. Now, more than ever, cancer patients need our help!