Youth Report – February 2022

By Sherry Harriman, MSG Master
207 490-1029

As you have heard, the Northeast Regional Combined Leaders, Lecturers and Youth Conference scheduled for March to be hosted in Maine was canceled due to Covid concerns.  This conference was to include the Regional Youth Contests (Grange Baseball, Public Speaking – [Prepared Speech; Impromptu Speech; Grange Commercial; Youth Ambassador/Young Patron Prepared Speech], Sign-A-Song, and Grange Ritual Contest [Code Reading]).  Youth Contests are open to all Grange members: Youth 14-21; Young Adults 22-35; and Youth Alumni 36+.   See NG Youth Program Book, which has been posted to our website for complete information, details, and rules. Regional Conferences are open to anyone who would like to attend, at your own expense. 

At a recent zoom meeting of the Northeast Connection (State Masters/Presidents &  Overseers/VPs), we discussed the regional contests and how we can make that happen.  The discussion included the possibility of a one-day in-person and/or zoom event.  It was decided to have a zoom meeting with the NE Presidents and NE Youth Directors to make a decision and plan an event.  As an alternative option, participants from our region have been invited to participate at another region as a possibility.  

Before we start the discussion I would like to know if anyone is interested in participating or attending?    I would like a response within the month at:  SHarriman@twc.com or my home phone.   

Is there interest in participating in the contests?

  • The 2022 Northeastern Conference has been cancelled by the host state Maine. In order to allow members in this region the opportunity to still partake in a regional conference they are being invited to attend the Eastern Regional Conference in Delaware. Youth and Junior Grange members who are competing in the different regional contests will be judged according to their region. Best of show winners from the Eastern and Northeast region will be allowed to move on to National Convention.
  • The Mid-Atlantic (DE, PA, NJ, WV, MD, DC) and Southeast (NC, SC, VA, TN, FL) regions have now combined to one regional conference that will now be referred to as the Eastern Conference.  This regional conference will now be held the third weekend of June, June 17-19, 2022 in Delaware.  (Details will be provided when available.)

I will keep you informed of the plans. 

UMaine Extension Maple Resource Page

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This article is reprinted with permission from an e-newsletter published UMaine Extension

The UMaine Extension Maple Team has been hard at work updating our Maple Syrup Production Resource website. The site is loaded with resources about,

  • Backyard Sugaring
  • Maple Quality Control
  • Maple Business and Financial Opportunities
  • Labor and Management 
  • And info about the Maple Grading School

The Maple Business Resources section is packed with resources including financial technical support groups who can sit down with you to work on aspects of your business and financial management. There are also lists of various types of low-interest loans, cost-share programs, grant opportunities, and tax reduction programs specific to the Maple Industry.

Farmers’ Market Seeking Vendors

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This article is reprinted with permission from the University of Maine Updates for Maine Agricultural Producers

The Damariscotta Farmers Market is now accepting new vendors to add diversity to their current offerings (i.e., cheese, mushroom, seafood, fiber, and prepared foods). We are looking for all vendors except vegetable vendors. The market runs May 20 – Oct 28, Fridays 9 a.m.- noon.

Contact Derek DeGeer to apply: hootenannybread@gmail.com
Application and by laws on Website: http://www.damariscottafarmersmarket.org

Internet Safety Day

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Great activities for your kids, grandkids, and Junior Grangers

Just in time for Safer Internet Day (February 8), NetSmartz is proud to announce the release of Cloud Quest- an interactive online safety adventure! Built as an e-learning module, this activity guides kids through each episode of season 1 of Into the Cloud with Clicky by their side acting as trusted adult and teacher to highlight important learning. Each video is accompanied by “Think About It” questions and fun activities like word searches, build-a-letter, picture puzzles, and more.

Clicky and the cast of season 1 of Into the Cloud lead students through:

  • What to do when dealing with cyberbullies
  • How to find trusted adults and helpers
  • How to protect online privacy
  • How to spot trustworthy information
  • What to do if you find something online that makes you sad, scared or confused, and
  • What to do if someone acts inappropriate online

Upon completion, students can print out or save a certificate of completion!

Don’t let Safer Internet Day go uncelebrated! Share Cloud Quest with your kids, grandkids, and Junior Grangers today!

Mill Stream Grange Dictionary Day

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Take a dictionary to lunch day?

“…students were very excited to receive their own personal dictionary, and even took them to the lunchroom that day.”

Mrs. Watkins, Mt. Vernon Third Grade Teacher

Mill Stream Grange members Debbie Lavender (l) and Jill Sampson delivered dictionaries to the third grade of Mt. Vernon Elementary School. Due to Covid concerns, they were unable to present them in person.

DOE Kicks Off Read to ME Challenge

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This article is a media release from the Maine Department of Education

Webmaster’s Note: Is this an opportunity for your Grange? (Think Community Service, Family Health and Hearing.) Check out the link to the toolkit in the last paragraph.

Solon, ME—Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin kicked off the state’s Read to ME Challenge at Solon Elementary School today by reading Mel Fell to Mrs. Currie’s second grade class. This is the seventh year that the Maine Department of Education is collaborating with community organizations and schools on this month-long public awareness campaign to promote the importance of literacy for all of Maine’s students, regardless of age.

The Read to ME Challenge encourages adults to read to children for 15 minutes, capture that moment via a photo or a video, and then post it to social media and challenge others to do the same using the hashtag #ReadtoME. The Department of Education will be highlighting Read to ME Challenge events throughout the month, including with Deputy Commissioner Dan Chuhta and Maine Department of Inland Wildlife and Fisheries Commissioner Judy Camuso.

“Read to ME is a simple yet powerful challenge that promotes literacy and a lifelong love of reading for children—and it’s fun,” said Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin. “When you read aloud to a child it helps them build their own reading and vocabulary skills, exposes them to the world, establishes reading as an enjoyable and valuable activity, strengthens their bonds with trusted adults, and provides a foundation for future success as adults. I encourage everyone to join educators, parents and others across the state by completing the Read to ME challenge and making a difference for Maine children.” 

The simple act of reading aloud to a child 15 minutes a day for five years results in 27,375 minutes of language exposure, which can put children on the path to high literacy achievement and helps them build knowledge and vocabulary. Research demonstrates a number of benefits to reading to children, from birth through their childhoods and even teenage years, including modeling reading as an enjoyable lifelong activity, stimulating brain development, reducing stress and anxiety, building knowledge of the world, and helping develop the skills necessary to succeed in their lives. 

Schools and community organizations can find a toolkit and resources on the Department of Education website and the Department will be sharing videos, photos, and updates from the challenge all month long on social media. Participants in the challenge are reminded to use the hashtag #ReadtoME and to tag the Maine DOE at @mdoenews on Twitter, @MaineDepartmentofEducation1 on Facebook, and @mainedepted on Instagram.  

February is Browntail Moth Awareness Month

Follow the Four Rs to Knock Out Browntail in Our Communities and Reduce the Itch!

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Information from the Maine DACF.

Encounters with hairs from browntail moth caterpillars can cause mild to severe rashes and respiratory issues. Browntail moth caterpillars overwinter in webs that may have from a couple dozen to several hundred caterpillars each. Winter is the best time to spot an infestation and take steps towards controlling the caterpillars and reducing the itch. Learn how with these Four Rs: Recognize, Remove, Recruit and Reach Out.

Event Listing and complete details.

Could your Grange create a “Browntail Moth Patrol?”

No Bouncing?!

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Webmaster Walter shares an article that just might be about the Grange!

Here’s a link to an article by LaRae Que on “Becoming More Resilient.” I enjoyed the introduction because it challenges us not to try to “bounce back, but to “look for the deep healing…”

The article includes four quite specific and actionable ways to become more resilient in 2022. When I read the second one, I was almost expecting the last one to be “Join an active Grange and get involved in their programs and events.”

So the article has value to individuals. But it also suggests that we consider this question. “What is our Grange doing to help and support people as we “move through” the pandemic?”

“How you can become more resilient” is published by Smart Brief an organization offering B2B content solutions.

Read “How You Can Become More Resilient in 2022

Webmaster’s Note: There’s been some weirdness with the link to the article that I’ve been unable to correct… You may get a “404” (not found) message, but if you look below the message, a link to the article is right below “similar results.”

Valley Grange Gram

Grab a coffee or cocoa, get comfortable; we’ve got lots of exciting news for you!

Valley Grange is located in Guilford Maine. The Grange Gram is edited by Walter Boomsma, Valley Grange Program Director.

January Meeting

Sometimes just holding a meeting feels like a significant accomplishment! Special thanks to Snow Angels Brian and Cindy Woodworth for helping keep us plowed and shoveled for this meeting. We had a frozen well and frozen furnace—got the furnace running and carried water. While getting the hall ready, I kept reminding myself that we still have it a lot easier than our forebears!

The books were audited and found in order, so the treasurer is not under suspicion, and we are applying for renewal of our bond. The treasurer’s report for calendar year-end included an observation that our revenue was up 43% and expenses were up 29%. Still, it’s important to remember that this is over 2020, an exceptional year in every respect. In 2021 we actually spent $80 more than received and will likely need to consider a fundraiser in 2022. If you’d like a copy of the treasurer’s report, just let me know.

We tabled further discussion of hall rental until the February Meeting.

Our “Sock It to Us” program seems to be going somewhat viral! WABI-TV5 did a story that aired the same night as our meeting. (The link is on our website.) We have sox, hats, and mittens on the way to us from Sandy Williams in Pennsylvania… and the Jazz Hair Salon in Newport is collecting for us. Our next delivery is scheduled for mid-February, so keep collecting! Pat Engstrom noted that we should probably add Milo Elementary to our distribution—they house K-grade two students in that district.

Welcome New Members

The big news is that we are gaining new (affiliate) members! We were happy to welcome Nick Jackson and Sarah Mahan and their children to our meeting. It sure was nice to hear the “pitter-patter” of little feet in the hall! They are from Atkinson, where they operate Jackson Regenerational Farm. Check out their most recent newsletter and website to learn more about them—and see how they are already supporting the Valley Grange Sock Drive! Come to the February Meeting to meet the family! Emily is 7, Maverick is 6, and Olin is 2.

Town Meeting Support

We’re admittedly a bit behind schedule, but Mary Annis and I are working on the letters to area towns asking for support. Last year we received financial support from Abbot, Dover-Foxcroft, Ripley, and Wellington. As a reminder, it helps our cause if a member attends town meetings to speak about our request and answer questions. Help us put together a list of town meeting dates, and let us know if you are willing to help! We’ll be updating our project list and can help you with “talking points” if you’d like to represent Valley Grange.

February Pomona Meeting

Since we’re the only Grange in the area that manages to keep our hall open during the winter, we’ll be hosting the February Pomona Meeting on February 3, 2022. You do not have to be a Pomona Member to attend! For that matter, you don’t have to be a member! We’ve discontinued the potluck supper. We just ask for snacks and desserts and start at 7 pm.

February Valley Grange Meeting

The meeting Is on the third Friday, February 18, 2022, with a potluck supper at 6 pm and meeting at 7 pm. Grange Bees for this meeting are Janice and Walter. This meeting will be a “Cabin Fever Reliever” event… meet our new members, eat well, be happy! We’ll be discussing hall use procedures and our Community Citizen of the Year, including the Community Night Program in May. (I will be teaching in Augusta this day and not available to start the heat, etc. Volunteers to help Janice?)

Whatcha Got?

We need a few things for our hall! We keep a crate of children’s books—when kids visit they are encouraged to take home a few. We can always use a few more—all grade levels. We also would like to start an “entertainment bin” that would include activities especially for kids who attend meetings and events… coloring books, crayons, board games, and puzzles. (How cool would it be to have a puzzle going on one of the dining room tables?) I’ll grab a tote to fill… we can christen it as part of our February Cabin Fever Reliever Program!

Looking ahead

Of course, we’re somewhat at the mercy of COVID mandates and restrictions, but let’s keep in mind programs like GrowME, Newspapers in Education, and Bookworming! Wouldn’t it be great to “reactivate” some of those this spring? We’re still looking for a creative name for our Lap Quilts for Veterans Program… and Pat Engstrom says we should plan a “Blanketeering” Program soon… maybe in March? Attached is a program and meeting schedule as we know it!