Breakfast with Santa at Enterprise Grange in Richmond
Parkman Grange Christmas Party
On Saturday, December 9, 2023 Santa and Mrs Claus will be at the Parkman Grange from 1:00 -3:00 PM. They will be having their picture taken with your little one and giving out gifts. There will be six easy little crafts to make for presents to give to family or friends. Christmas cookies and cocoa with marshmallows will be served. In the spirit of Christmas and giving, this party is a gift to the community from the Grange. The Parkman Grange is located at the corner of State Hwy 150 and North Dexter Road in Parkman, Maine
Legion Scholarship Event
The American Legion Department of Maine High School Oratorical Scholarship Program will be held at Thomas College in Waterville on Saturday, February 10, 2024. Interested students can begin preparations now for the contest.
The program aims to help high school students develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of the U.S. Constitution. Other objectives of the contest are the development of leadership qualities, the ability to think and speak clearly and intelligently, and preparation for accepting and discharging civil duties as American citizens.
Applications to participate must be submitted by December 1, 2023.
The scholarship program, held by the American Legion for more than 77 years, is for those students who are looking for an academic challenge and the opportunity to win scholarship money for their education careers. Please visit their website or download the event’s brochure for more information.
Note: The Legion seeks volunteers to help with this event. Could there be a Grange Team involved? Information and the number to call is available on the website.
St George Grange Christmas Fair
A day of fun at the 43rd Annual St George Grange Christmas Fair!
Saturday, December 2, 2023
Come and enjoy lots of great food. Including fresh baked muffins, cinnamon rolls, and FREE coffee! Stop by for lunch. We will be serving soups, biscuits, hot dogs and drinks.
*CRAFTS*RAFFLES*FOOD*
9:00 am – 2:00 pm Craft Fair
4:45 p.m. Live Nativity
5:00 p.m. Public Supper, enjoy homemade food with family, friends, and neighbors. Adults $10, Kids $5, and under ten years old eat free!
St George Grange #421 is located at 32 Willey’s Corner Road in St George Maine.
LIAP Heating Assistance Program
Augusta, MAINE – The Governor’s Energy Office (GEO), Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC), Office of the Public Advocate (OPA), and Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) are partnering to encourage eligible Maine residents to apply for financial assistance with their electricity bills this winter. Starting today, DHHS is sending letters to 67,000 Maine residents eligible for the Low-Income Assistance Program (LIAP) with information on how to receive financial assistance.
The LIAP program, administered by the PUC, received a boost from $15 million to $22.5 million this year when lawmakers and the Governor provided one-time additional funding for the program from the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund. The PUC also expanded income eligibility for the program, which together with increased funding will allow it to serve 46,000 additional Maine residents this season.
The letters from DHHS are expected to arrive over the coming days. All recipients need to do is show the letter to their electric utility to automatically receive LIAP benefits. Contact information for Maine’s electric utilities is included in the letter.
“OPA thanks DHHS for streamlining the application process by providing a letter to all eligible ratepayers that they can simply show to their utility to automatically qualify for a credit on their utility bill,” said Public Advocate William Harwood.
“We encourage participants in the Department’s programs to keep an eye out for these letters,” said Ian Yaffe, Director of the DHHS Office for Family Independence. “Spending five minutes or less to present the letter to your utility can mean spending much less on your electricity bill this winter.”
DHHS encourages those who do not receive a letter and need assistance to fill out this online form to have their potential eligibility evaluated. The amount of financial support through the LIAP program is variable depending on household income, size, and other factors. Those who are enrolled in the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) do not need to apply for LIAP as they will automatically be enrolled.
Although Federal forecasts anticipate energy prices in the Northeast to be lower this winter compared to the prior two years, the region continues to be over-reliant on fossil fuels, in particular natural gas for electricity generation. Furthermore, Maine is the most home heating oil dependent state in the U.S. with over 56 percent of households relying on either heating oil or kerosene as their primary source of heating.
The GEO recently released its 2023 Winter Heating Guide to help Mainers save money on home heating and stay warm this winter. The Guide includes key information, helpful tips, and links to online resources where consumers can find heating information, options, and assistance programs.
Ag Committee Report – 2023
By Wilma Grenier, MSG Ag Director
(207) 437-2099
I have enjoyed my time as committee chairperson and want to thank the loyal members for their dedication over the past two years! Each member of the group has contributed in their special way! As I step down, I want to thank you all!
In 2023, five scholarships were awarded, and as they finish their first semester and turn in their proof of successful completion to Sharon at the office in January, they will receive their checks for $500. These students are:
- Lily Mae Jaffray from Blue Hill to study Pre-Veterinary Science.
- Emma L. Alexander from Dexter to study Forestry,
- Zachary Dean Skidgel from Newport to study Sustainable Agriculture,
- Grace Cassandra VanBuskirk from Thomaston to study Pre-Veterinary Science,
- Ashley Nicole Stubbs from Addison to study Animal & Veterinary Science.
Funds have been raised over $2,300 to replenish the fund due to the hard work of the volunteers at the Grange Store at Fryeburg Fair ($1,500), Committee volunteers at the MAITC Annual Meeting ($500), and raffles at the State Grange Session this fall. A big thank you to all the committee members who worked on these projects.
In closing, I would like to wish the new committee chair, Roberta Meserve, the very best of luck in the upcoming year! I am willing to remain on the committee if you would like, and look forward to helping with scholarships and judging at some fairs if still needed.
I know that Ag Trade Show is coming up on January 9 – 11. Sharon is working on
securing the booth. The scholarship applications go out to guidance councilors in January too. I can take on that job at the office if Roberta and Sherry wish.
Please let me know. So many thanks, everyone! As the air gets cooler, I am thinking about the holidays coming! All my best to you all and those you love!
Mill Stream Grange Supports Food Bank
Trenton Grange Announces Suppers
Trenton Grange will host free Community Pot Luck Suppers on the first Friday of the month as follows
- December 1, 2023, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- January 5, 2024, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- February 2, 2024, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- March 1, 2024, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- April 5, 2024, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
The Trenton Grange Hall is located at 1134 Bar Harbor Rd, Trenton, Maine. All are welcome! Contact Emily Muise for more details.
Open Mic at Trenton Grange
Tuesday, December 5, 2023 – 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Open Mic Event (acoustic) at the Trenton Grange Hall, 1134 Bar Harbor Road, Trenton featuring music, comedy, stories/poetry. Admission is $5 per person. Contact Emily Muise for more details.
National Grange Elects New President
NIAGARA FALLS, NY – The National Grange, the country’s oldest agricultural and rural service fraternity, has elected its 24th President – Christine “Chris” Hamp of Spokane, Washington.
A member of Tualco and Five Mile Prairie Granges in Washington, Hamp has served as Vice President of the National Grange since 2021, Program Director/Lecturer for four years before that, and has been a National Grange officer for more than a decade.
“Thank you for your trust and honor in electing me as your President,” she said. She is also a proud member of the Board of Directors of the Quilts of Valor Foundation. Hamp succeeds Betsy E. Huber, who was elected in 2015 as the first woman in the position in the Grange’s history.