Valley Grange Makes Fabric Hugs

Valley Grange of Guilford is sponsoring a blanket-making event on Saturday, May 14, 2022,  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 and tie a simple knot you can become a ‘blanketeer’ and help support Project Linus.”

Project Linus, a non-profit organization, provides homemade blankets to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need. Similar events have resulted in dozens of blankets being made by a diverse group of volunteers. Engstrom hopes to see the number of blankets made increase.

“We have a great time doing this and truly just about anyone can help. We created quite a production line, and it sometimes gets competitive! It’s exciting to realize we’re providing love in the form of ‘blankies’ representing love, security, warmth, and comfort to kids.”

Light refreshments will be served.

Supplemental Food Program for Seniors

MSG Comm Department Logo
This article is reprinted with permission from an e-newsletter published by Paul Davis, State Senator for District4.

The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), also known as Senior Brown Bags, Commodity Boxes, or Senior Boxes, is a federal program that works to improve the health of low-income elderly people at least 60 years of age by supplementing their diets with nutritious USDA foods.

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (ACF) collaborates with organizations statewide to distribute units of food monthly to over 8,000 seniors across the state. Seniors in all Maine counties can access nutritious monthly food boxes by applying through their county’s supporting agency.

Each food box, valued at $50 and freely available to eligible seniors, contains a variety of canned fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, poultry, pasta, rice, peanut butter, juice, shelf-stable milk, cereals, and cheese. Participating seniors pick up their boxes at a designated time and place each month.

Seniors need only be aged 60 and older, live in Maine and meet income guidelines. To apply, view the list of supporting agencies and contact the one serving your county.

For more information about the program, visit the Maine ACF website.

Grange Heirloom — April 2022

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 responses link at the top right and share it!

Grange Heirlooms are snippets from the lessons of the Grange as taught in the Rituals and Declaration of Purposes.

For additional information and resources regarding the Heirloom Program, visit the Heirloom Resource Page on the Maine State Grange Website.

White Rock Grange Vendor & Craft Fair

Over two dozen crafters and vendors are coming together to offer items for Easter, Mother’s Day, Hostess Gift, Just Because Gifts, and more.

Follow us on Facebook for more details: https://www.facebook.com/whiterockgrange380/

Highland Lake Grange Turkey Supper

Saturday, April 9, 2022 4:30 to 6:00

Highland Lake Grange will be having a roasted turkey drive up, take out only, dinner on Saturday, April 9, 2022, 4:30-6:00. There will be roasted turkey, green beans, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, bread, cranberry sauce, and cake. The cost is $10.00 per person. Please have the exact price for the meal(s) you want.. You will drive up, pay and receive your meal. No substitutions or pre-orders. Serving may start earlier in the case of a long line of cars for safety. The Grange is located near the corner of Rt 302 and Hardy Road, Westbrook.  FMI Joann Levesque 207 233 7119.

Parkman Grange Mother’s Day Tea

white ceramic teacup
Photo by George Dolgikh @ Giftpundits.com on Pexels.com

Parkman Grange is pleased to announce the return of a favorite springtime tradition, their popular Mother’s Day Tea.  This twentieth anniversary will celebrate Tylene Kimball as the guest of honor.  In 2000 she came up with the idea of a Tea and it continued to grow with a pause in the last two years.  The Tea will be on Saturday, May 7, 2022, from 10 AM to noon.  Entertainment will be provided by Bobby Kimball, and Julie Harrington will lead fun sing-along songs.  There will be a lot of door prizes to win and a 50/50 raffle. Included will be time to chat and catch up with family and friends.  Tea sandwiches, sweet treats, and coffee, tea, or lemonade will be served.  The Grange is located at State Highway 150 and North Dexter Road.  Admission is $5, and children under five are free.  Seating is limited. Reservations are necessary and can be made by calling Sue Manchester at 207 277-3942.

Lyme Disease Awareness Poster Contest

MSG Comm Department Logo
This article is reprinted with permission from an e-newsletter published by UMaine Cooperative Extension

Each year, Maine CDC hosts an annual Lyme Disease Awareness Month poster contest for K-8th graders in Maine. Despite COVID-19, ticks and tickborne diseases are still a threat, especially among children in this age group. The topic of this year’s contest is “Tick Wise,” reminding everyone to be “tick wise” and take steps to prevent tick-borne diseases, including Lyme disease.

The contest rules and release can be found under the “Lyme Disease Awareness Month” heading at www.maine.gov/lyme.

Posters will be accepted through Friday, April 29, 2022. Only one poster per participant will be accepted and posters must be accompanied by a signed release waiver. Winners in each category (K-1st grade, 2nd-3rd grade, 4th-5th grade, 6th-8th grade) receive a one-day park pass to any Maine State Park for their family and tick removal kits for their classroom. One grand prize-winning poster will be chosen to feature as the 2022 Lyme Disease Awareness poster for Maine CDC.

Please contact Maine CDC’s Vectorborne Disease Health Educator with any questions at megan.porter@maine.gov.

Androscoggin Pomona Celebrating Degree Day

Sunday, April 24, 2022, 4 PM at Danville Junction Grange

Androscoggin Pomona Grange #1 will be offering the first Four Degrees at Danville Jct. Grange #65 in Auburn on Sunday, April 24, 2022, starting at 4 PM.  At this point, we have candidates from three different Granges and expect more. 

We are also looking for people to be the officers for these degrees. If you or someone you know can help us on that day please call Maynard Chapman at (207) 312-5591.

Grange Songs on the Promenade

On May 30, 2022, Memorial Day, at 3:00 pm at the bandstand in Ft. Allen Park on the Eastern Prom, Munjoy Hill, Portland, Mr. Brian Dewan will be giving a performance singing “Songs of the Patrons of Husbandry” and “Songs of Land & Sea,” accompanied by accordion and autoharp.

Some decades ago my family belonged to the Grange and 4-H and I was an officer in the Future Farmers of America. So I have a long-time appreciation of the music and the struggle.

I have heard Mr. Dewan, an “old” friend, perform and when he told me he was going to be passing through Portland after performing Down-east Memorial Day weekend for the Greenhorns it occurred to me the opportunity for this entertainment should be available to some Grange members in Southern Maine, as well as some of my neighbors who appreciate this kind of music.

Would you be so kind as to circulate this invitation in some fashion to your local membership?
Attendees might want to bring a blanket or lawn chair as there is no built-in seating around the bandstand. If a hot day perhaps also a water bottle.

Article by R. John Wuesthoff

Webmaster’s note: With sincere appreciation to an anonymous benefactor, this event is being offered at no cost! Grangers! Since there are nearly two months until the concert, there’s time to purchase and wear Grange T-shirts (if your Grange doesn’t already have them)! Show your Grange pride and support! Bring friends! Spread the word to your members and other Granges.

“I don’t sing because I’m happy; I’m happy because I sing.” 

William James



Notes from National – March 2022

Important Trademark Information

Remember that the Grange emblem is a registered trademark, so the full Grange emblem should always include the (R) symbol. Many publications and other locations only have the old TM included, which is no longer correct. To ensure that our trademark is protected, it’s important to get this updated on websites, social media, program guides, and more. Meanwhile, the Grange Youth and Junior Grange logos are only trademarked by the Grange, so only have the TM options. The current logos are available here.

Grange Month Calendar

As a reminder, the “Raised Right Here” theme lasts through 2023, so if you didn’t think about using the theme in this year’s Grange Month programming, be sure to start thinking about it for 2023!

National Grange Heirloom Program

The Grange Heirloom Program is underway–just in time for Grange Month! Grange Heirlooms are snippets from the lessons of the Grange as taught in the Ritual and Declaration of Purposes. Please share “success stories” about the use of the program with us, or if you come up with other innovative ways to incorporate the Program in your Granges. Information and materials are now available on the National Grange Website.

New Member Recognition in Good Day Magazine

Want to see your new members recognized in Good Day Magazine? Anyone who has not been recognized as a new member in the past year can be included. Use this link to share the news. The deadlines for each issue are:

  • April 30, 2022
  • June 30, 2022
  • August 30, 2022
  • November 30, 2022

156th National Grange Session is scheduled for November 15-19, 2022 in Sparks, NV