Maine Collecting Unwanted Pesticides Free of Charge

Press Release from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry.

Augusta, MAINE – The Obsolete Pesticide Collection Program protects Maine’s natural resources and prevents agriculture pollution by promoting the safe and proper disposal of outdated, unused, or unwanted pesticides. The program is made possible by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Board of Pesticides Control (BPC) and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. The program is open to homeowners and family-owned farms who are encouraged to bring unwanted pesticides— including herbicides, insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, and similar products used in agricultural production or around the home to collection sites in Presque Isle, Bangor, Augusta, and Portland.

  • The next obsolete pesticide collection days will be held during October 2022, one day each in Presque Isle, Bangor, Augusta, and Portland.
  • More details coming soon, including drop-off locations.
  • Pre-registration is required by September 26 to participate, drop-ins are not permitted. 

Details including registering and supplying the obsolete pesticides inventory form, a list of banned and unusable products, storage and transportation guidelines, other disposal options are found on the BPC website www.thinkfirstspraylast.org.

Jessica loves the Grange!

I love all of the activities and events that the grange does throughout the year.

Jessic Thurston-Creations Custom and Homemade, LLC, Hollis Grange #132

What about you?

Do you love the Grange? Can you explain what’s great about being a member? It only takes a minute to click the button and tell the world!

I love the Grange!

At the Fair

Piscataquis Pomona and Valley Grange Show Their Stuff

Valley Grange Display
Piscataquis Pomona Display

Folks attending the Piscataquis Valley Fair found two Grange Booths to admire and study. The Valley Grange Booth demonstrated what it takes to get wool from “sheep to shawl” and how members use those skills to benefit their communities. The Piscataquis Pomona Display focused on general Grange information such as who we are and what we are about. It included some of our Grange Heirlooms!

Maine State Library Launches”Bendable Maine”

This article is reprinted with permission from an e-newsletter published by Paul Davis, State Senator for District 4.

On Aug. 23, the Maine State Library in conjunction with the Drucker Institute will launch Bendable Maine, a robust learning marketplace that allows residents of all ages and backgrounds to easily discover and access content that is just right for them on a wide variety of subjects. It will also allow users to acquire new knowledge and skills through online courses as well as local, in-person learning opportunities.   The vast majority of the learning available through the platform will be free to state residents. When there is a cost to the user, it will be clearly indicated.   Attaining new skills to improve job prospects is important, so much of the learning on Bendable Maine is work-related. The platform includes career pathways – backed by Maine employers – where users can earn a digital badge, thereby giving them a leg up in their job search.   At the same time, Bendable Maine has resources on a wide variety of topics, including cooking healthier meals, handling personal finances, fixing things around the house, understanding technology, and even foraging for mushrooms.   The platform features personal learning playlists from individual residents across Maine. It also has a lot of resources from state and local providers, including the University of Maine and community college systems, Maine CareerCenter, adult education programs, music schools, art museums and many others, along with a wide range of national providers, including Study.com, edX, GCFGlobal and a dozen more.   Check out Bendable Maine

Willow Grange Honors 700 Years of Service

By Paula Roberts

Willow Grange #366, of Jefferson, presented membership awards to (from left) Henry Post (70), Leo Glidden (65), Sharon Morton (50), Nancy Post (55), Gladys Glidden (65), Norman Hunt (55), Judy Hunt (25), Patricia Moody (50), and Dottie Parker (60). (Laurie McBurnie photo)

On July 28, 2022, Willow Grange master Ed Worthley and secretary Laurie McBurnie presented membership awards to Judy Hunt (25 years), Norman Hunt (50 & 55), Patricia Moody (50), Sharon Morton (50), Nancy Post (55), Dottie Parker (60), Gladys Glidden (65), Leo Glidden (65), and Henry Post (70). Member earning awards earned but unable to attend were Wilfred Manley (50), Kathryn Brown (65), Hazel Kleinschmidt (75), and Madelyn Creamer (85).

Dorothy loves the Grange!

I love the Grange because it gives me an opportunity to meet new people as I join others in creating and doing community events. It’s the giving and learning .

Dorothy St Hilaire, Winthrop Grange #209
Why I love the Grange

Rural Suicide Awareness and Prevention

Presenter: Monica Kramer McConkey, Licensed Professional Counselor Ms. McConkey has 25 years of experience in the behavioral health field as a counselor, program supervisor and administrator. She has a Masters Degree in Counseling and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Minnesota. Her focus throughout her career has been to increase access to, and remove the stigma often attached to mental health services in rural underserved areas. Register here:

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SVvxvmJrTam_uLo1jyW4rA

Ann Bercher, National Grange Rep at MSG Convention

Ann Bercher, National Grange Lecturer/Program Director

Ann Bercher will be the National Grange Rep at the 2022 149th Maine State Grange Convention. Ann has been a Grange member for 22 years. She is a member of Sunbeam Grange #2 in Elk River, MN where she holds the office of Lecturer/Program Director. She is currently the State Grange of Minnesota President, having served since She has also held the offices of State Grange of Minnesota Lecturer and Pomona.

Ann served as a Communications Fellow at National Grange Conventions in 2018 and She is currently in her first year as National Grange Lecturer/Program Director. Ann attended Iowa State University and received a B.A. in Landscape Architecture. She worked for 25 years at the Oliver Hudson Kelley Farm in Elk River, MN as a garden and farm interpreter, Assistant Site Manager and Program Manager. She also attended LeCordon Bleu and is a classically trained chef. Ann is currently employed at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum as the Education Culinary Specialist. Outside of Grange and employment, Ann is a member of Plymouth Church in Minneapolis, an avid gardener, inquisitive chef, and in spare time designs and sews quilt tops, and occasionally plays her piano. She has three children (Chris, Ben and Mikaela) and 6 grandchildren (Finn, Theodore, Maverick, Josephina, Silas, and Leona.)

Welcome New Members in Maine!

Note that our source of information is the August 2022 issue of Good Day! magazine… please send any additions or corrections to the webmaster.

Branch Mills #366
Will Armstrong
Angela Haiss
Joshua Haiss
Allison Luciano
Nancy Thomas

East Sangerville #177
Andrew Robinson
Sarah Robinson

Jonesboro #357
Marilyn Dowling
Kassandra Holmes
Mary Vokey
Wayne Vokey

North Jay #10
Breanda Deojay
Sean Hennessy

Norway #45
Kathy Colby
Tonya Gleason
Everett Parlin
Darrell Thibodeau

Castine #250
Paul Norris

Enterprise #48
Judith Gross

Excelsior #5
Rosemary Johnson

Golden Harvest #33
Robert Sibley

Lakeside #63
Lloyd Sweetser

Mill Stream #574
Kristin Thompson
Richard Thompson

Norway #45
Kathy Colby
Tonya Gleason
Everett Parlin
Darrell Thibodeau

Saco #53
Amy Denis
Gordon Frohloff
Tina Giacollo
Kaylinda Libbey