BEP Reopens Public Comment on Elective Vehicle Sales Mandate

AUGUSTA – The Maine Board of Environmental Protection (BEP) has reopened Public Comment on the Chapter 127-A: Advanced Clean Cars II Program, also known as the “California Rule.” The public comment period extends until February 5, 2024.

In response to a citizen petition, this new rule was proposed to establish motor vehicle emission standards for new passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty vehicles by incorporating the requirements of the California Advanced Clean Cars II regulations, beginning the model year 2027.

A public hearing on the proposed Chapter 127-A was held on August 17, 2023, and the comment period closed on August 28, 2023. A final vote on the proposed rule was scheduled for the Board meeting on December 21, 2023. However, due to the state of emergency resulting from the December 18 storm, that meeting was canceled. This prevented a Board vote on whether to adopt the proposed rule and forced any potential adoption beyond the rule’s proposed effective date of January 1, 2024. This also prevents the rule from taking effect in time to apply to the 2027 model year. Therefore, the proposed rule has been amended to begin with model year 2028, and the Department is now requesting comments from the public concerning this substantive change. The Department has also proposed other non-substantive changes to the proposal.

Since the public hearing was already held in August, comments may be made by email. The deadline for commenting is now February 5, 2024.

Email a public comment on the rule

Communications Director’s Note: To the best of my knowledge, the Grange has not taken a position on the adoption of this rule. Since this is a very substantive change, I am providing this information for those who wish to share their personal thoughts and opinions. If you do so, please do not imply or claim you represent the Grange!

UPDATE: According to an article in the Portland Press Herald, the BEP will ask the Legislature to revise state law to authorize lawmakers, not state agencies, to adopt and enforce standards deemed as “major substantive” changes rather than have them handled by an agency. Most recently, however, there has been some discussion suggesting that the requested revision would NOT impact the existing potential rule change since it is already under consideration. The revision requested would only apply to future rule changes and adoptions.

2024 Maine County Teachers of the Year

Call for Nominations

Do you know an exceptional teacher? A teacher who inspires students? A teacher who is a leader in the profession and deserves recognition for their great work with students? Here is your chance to nominate them for County Teacher of the Year!

teacher asking a question to the class
Photo by Max Fischer on Pexels.com

Teachers may be nominated by students, parents, teaching colleagues, principals, superintendents or anyone from the community who wants to honor an outstanding educator. (Self-nominations and nominations by family members are not accepted) Granges who recognized (or plan to recognize) an “Educator of the Year” may want to nominate him or her for this recognition! The deadline for nominations is 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 31, 2024.

To be considered, the teacher must: 

  • have a minimum of five years of teaching – three of which are in Maine.
  • hold the appropriate professional certification for their teaching position.
  • be a certified, in good standing, PK-12 teacher in a state-accredited public school, including a career and technical and adult education center, a public charter school, or a publicly supported secondary school (a private school that enrolls 60 percent or more publicly funded students, sometimes referred to as “town academies”).
  • be actively teaching students at least fifty percent of the workday at the time of nomination and during their year of recognition.
  • maintain their teaching position and remain in the County for which they are selected throughout the year of recognition.

The Maine Teacher of the Year program is administered by Educate Maine in partnership with the Maine Department of Education. 

The Maine State Teacher of the Year represents Maine at the national level and becomes eligible to become the National Teacher of the Year.

Please contact Kaitlin Young at Educate Maine if you have questions or want more information on the process. 

Please don’t miss this opportunity to honor and recognize a great Maine Teacher!  Meet the 2023 County Teachers of the Year here and learn more about the Maine Teacher of the Year program.

Click Here to Nominate a Teacher

Some information for this post was provided by Bangor Savings Bank, a strong supporter of the program through their partnership with Educate Maine.

A Special Report – Pie and Coffee

By Walter Boomsma, Communications Director

close up shot of a cup of coffee beside a pie on a plate
Photo by Feyza Daştan on Pexels.com

We have an amazing family in our community not too well known for their generosity and compassion. They tried something this Christmas that not only was selfless; it didn’t sound like it would work.

They booked their church dining hall for Christmas Day and invited folks to stop by between 1 and 5 pm for free pie and coffee or cocoa- a sort of break from the holiday festivities and a chance to see friends and neighbors.

I was a doubter based on the assumption that many people would be traveling or busy with their own celebrations on Christmas Day. Our decision to go was based somewhat on wanting to show support and somewhat on curiosity. Would anybody show up on this most wonderful day of the year?

Not only were there a number of people there, but there was a consistent flow of people coming and going. There was plenty of hugging and handshaking. I got to see a relatively new friend–she’s only three years old and quite the conversationalist. While she was helping me pick my second piece of pie, a tap on my shoulder came from some people I hadn’t seen for a couple of years. Of course, one of the benefits of rural living is that we know more people than we think.

Even though no contributions were expected by the hosts, many people arrived carrying a pie, so there was plenty to sample. My second piece was a blueberry cheesecake pie. My new friend warned me that I shouldn’t try too many because I might get a bellyache.

There’s a lot to consider and learn here. As we were driving to the church, I realized that it was the first time in some years we had left the house on Christmas Day–a day that is traditionally quite quiet at our house. But it wasn’t just us old folks who went. Kids came. Some made ornaments. My friend did bring several of her presents with her to play with, but she spent just as much time talking with others.

The pie was great, but being together was better.

We need each other, and finding simple ways to facilitate being together should be high on our priority lists. Remembering that the fraternal and social aspects of the Grange are foundational, maybe it’s time to find more ways to be together. People who won’t come to a Grange meeting might just stop by for pie and coffee. Keep it super simple. Make it easy. Consider calling it a Potluck Pie Party. Give us an excuse to get together because, despite those busy schedules and multiple priorities, we really want to do just that.

Communication Shorts 12-30-2023

By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842

Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Send us your ideas and thoughts!

January Bulletin Reminder

Articles and columns for the January printed Bulletin are due before January 15th. Remember, you can always find recent issues of the Bulletin on the Program Books and Information Page.

Welcome to the New Year!

Yes, we’ll have trouble remembering to write “2024” for a while. Technology may help, but we’ll still want to pay attention to our dates!

Don’t Forget!

Don’t forget to submit the details for a website post and event calendar listing! This is not difficult and you get lots of free publicity!

83rd Annual Maine Agricultural Trades Show Gears Up

Visit the show at the Augusta Civic Center. This year’s show is set to elevate learning, planning, and networking to unprecedented levels. Visit https://www.maine.gov/dacf/agtradesshow for show news, schedules, participant directory, and venue map. Doors open daily at 9 a.m., with no entry fee.

Ideas for Granges

Swap or trade programs are becoming increasingly popular. I’ve recently seen events for musicians, readers (books), cooks (recipes), and even spices! Bringing people together with a purpose sounds like a great cabin-fever reliever!

Thought for You…

“Just when the caterpillar thought her life was over, she became a butterfly.”

Unknown

Do You Love the Grange?

The world wants to hear about it! Fill out the simple I Love the Grange Form… it only takes a couple of minutes! Thanks to all who have shared so far!

Online Directories Available 24-7

  • The ODD Directory features all state officers, directors, and deputies with contact information.
  • The Directory of Granges features all Granges in the state with a contact person. Please make sure your listing is correct!

Do You Have FOMO?

“FOMO” is, of course, a Fear Of Missing Out. One strongly recommended treatment is to subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website. We’ll send you a daily summary whenever news and columns are posted, and we won’t share your email address with anyone!

Subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website

2023 – A Grange Retrospective

Happy Holidays!

Maine State Grange
Communications Department

It’s been said, “You live life looking forward; you understand life looking backward.”

So, the MSG Communications Department is happy to offer you this opportunity to “look back” and reflect on Grange Life in 2023 with some brief reminders of thoughts and events that have taken place throughout Maine. These things reflect the “Grange Way of Life.”

As we look forward to life in 2024, we continue to celebrate the Grange Way of Life in our hearts and minds–and on our calendars. Use the online directory to find a Community Grange near you and the Grange Events Page to find opportunities to celebrate.

Subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website

Subscribers receive a summary of posts — not more than once per day! We do not share your contact information with others. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Junior Grange December Meeting Held

By Marilyn Stinson

Maine State Junior Grange #17 met at Danville Junction on December 16, 2023, for their monthly meeting and to work on a Community Service Project.

The Junior Salutation is: “Junior Grange Members will be true to each other and keep their pledge.”

Committee members helped fill the chairs as they opened the meeting the traditional way, then worked through the order of business, stopping now and then to explain or discuss a procedure for new people, and closed with the alternative way. The alternative is a shorter form.

After the Pledge of Allegiance, the kids learned that there is no punctuation between “one nation” and “under God.” It is all one phrase, and we shouldn’t pause at that point when we are saying it. Anyone having difficulty using God’s name can just omit it.

Many thanks to Kathy Gowen for helping us with our Junior Salutation. She remembers the hand clasp and crossing the arms and hands over our chests for it. Since we seldom say or do it, we have difficulty remembering it.

In 2023, we earned $547.00 in Fair Premiums (used for the trip to Niagara) and discussed possible themes for the coming year. The National Junior Grange theme for the coming year is ‘Corn,’ and we can do some crafts and print our learning experiences for displays. Maine State Lecturer’s Theme is ‘Hands,’ and we can easily follow that theme. We use the fair displays to explain and promote Juniors and our activities and give the kids an opportunity to show off their art and craft talents. Any poetry they’ve written goes to the State Lecturer by March 1st.

Director Betty brought material home from the National Session and, during the Lecturer’s Program, shared information with us. Also, for the Lecturer’s Program, Edith recited a poem she memorized called “Dragonette Prophesy” and sang a dragon song. The kids attending the meeting shared their “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” poster and song while Director Betty signed it. Ta Da!!! Good for them!

After closing, we went downstairs to make fleece scarves for the Lewiston Homeless. Other Juniors around the state can get together in their Granges and make similar scarves for the cold in their areas. Because we are so spread out, helping their local Community Granges with their services seems the easiest way to work out that problem. 

Our meetings are scheduled for the 3rd Saturday monthly, and our January meeting will be at MSG Headquarters in Augusta on January 20th.

Please let the Junior committee know about any +1 Juniors your subordinates have accepted. We need their contact information!

Life at Quill’s End Farm

Site visitors and subscribers enjoy the monthly column “View from the Farm” featuring the adventures and thoughts of Quill’s Endians. We know them as farmers and also as dedicated Grange Members. Heather is a Past Master of Halcyon Grange #345, and the family actively supports the Grange.

They and their farm were recently featured on Farm Drop Stories, a filming project featuring small-scale farming. We’re happy to share their story with you and provide this opportunity to “meet” Heather and Phil.

Webmaster’s Note: Subscribers may need to visit the MSG website to access the video. If the embedded video does not work for you, click this link.

Visit Quill’s end farm on Facebook

Promoting the Grange Is Fun!

Mill Stream Grange members Jill Sampson (l) and Lisa Goucher at the Grange table during the Mt. Vernon Craft Fair on Nov. 25.  Grange information was shared, a raffle for a wall-hanging was held, free kids books were passed out, and small handmade craft items were sold. It was a fun and successful day!
Communications Department Logo

Craft fairs may be an untapped market for Granges–not just to sell crafts but to “sell” the Grange! People interested in crafting are great candidates for getting involved in a Grange! Mill Stream’s participation in the Mount Vernon Craft Fair gets a lot of things right! Remember, fundraising in any form is also an opportunity to promote the good work you are doing as a Grange. It’s possible to raise money and members. Congratulations, Mill Stream Grange!