May 30, 2022, 3 pm
Note this adds an alternate location in case of rain.
Songs of the Patrons of Husbandry
Victor Grange Shares News
Not only does the spring issue of Victor Grange’s newsletter list all their meetings and events, but there’s also some exciting news in this issue! You’ll want to read it! You’ll learn how Victor received an AED (automated external defibrillator) and maybe wonder just how many Granges in Maine have one. You’ll meet seven relatively new members who have finally been officially recognized. Where did 100 new chairs come from? (And what’s special about some of the ones being replaced.)
Victor Grange describes itself as “The Grange built by the community, for the community to fill the needs of the community.”
Valley Grange of Guilford Celebrates Community!
Supper will be served from 5:30 — 7:00 or until the food runs out, so come early. Our upstairs hall will be turned into a social center and game room so you can visit with your neighbors, play a game, build a puzzle… have some good old-fashioned fun! This is a celebration of community–a gathering of friends, neighbors, and strangers., (You won’t be a stranger for long!) All are welcome! We have a Busy Box and Book Bin for kids! If you have a favorite board game, bring that along and challenge others.
If you’d like to help with the supper, call Mary at 564-0820 or Janice at 343-1842. If you’d like to help us spread the word, download and print this flyer/invitation. Give it friends, post it where you can!Maine Animal Health Officials Respond to Bird Flu Cases
Due to multiple detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Maine and New England, Maine Animal Health Officials announced an advisory recommending cancellation or postponement of competitions, exhibitions, shows, swaps, or other in-person events encouraging the gathering or comingling of domestic fowl or poultry.
Advisory: The risk for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) remains high, and bird owners are advised to keep birds indoors to prevent the spread of this disease. The trends observed with past North American HPAI outbreaks are that we often see a reprieve in the summer months. This is because summer is when the virus present on the landscape (outdoors) is degraded by sunlight and heat. Animal Health Officials from the six New England States recommend that all competitions, exhibitions, shows, swaps, or other in-person events encouraging the gathering or comingling of domestic fowl or poultry be postponed until July 1, 2022, or later.
“The best way to prevent spread of HPAI from infected poultry to healthy poultry is to avoid unnecessary mixing of groups of domestic birds,” said Maine State Veterinarian Dr. Michele Walsh. “With the risk of HPAI considered high in Maine, we are confident that a smart tactic to control the spread of HPAI is to recommend canceling or postponing poultry events through July 1, 2022, and re-evaluating the HPAI threat to domestic poultry and pet birds at that time.”
For a complete snapshot of HPAI in Maine, the state’s response, a list of frequently asked questions, and additional HPAI resources, visit maine.gov/dacf/hpai
To report sick poultry or unusual domestic bird deaths, call the USDA’s toll-free sick bird hotline at 1-866-536-7593.
To report a strange-acting or dead wild bird, call the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife at 207-287-8000.
Teacher Appreciation Week Is May 2 – 6
Some ideas for Granges…
- Send flowers or food to school for the teacher’s lounge
- Hold a teacher’s car wash at the Grange Hall
- Print and sign this poster and hang copies around the community.
- Wear red on National Teacher Day (May 3, 2022)
- Post messages of appreciation on social media
- Put together this cute and crafty “chill pills” gift for the office or teachers’ lounge
- Ask local restaurants, bakeries, shops, or spas to partner with you to provide teachers with a free item or small gift card
- Draw and write chalk messages on the sidewalks outside the school*
- Visit the staff parking lot and clean car windows during the school day; leave a note under the wiper*
- Write a letter to the editor of local newspapers
*Communicate with school administration and get permission, especially for anything you’d like to do on school property. If you’ve got a really neat idea, add it as a comment here.
Raising Backyard Chickens at White Rock Grange
Saturday, May 14, 2022, 3:00 – 5:00 PM
Join Windham Blue Seal and November’s Harvest in this event to discuss raising chicks, how to raise chicks, and common problems. Choosing a breed, where to buy, and how many. Getting ready for your chicks: what supplies do you need to get started, shelter, nesting boxes, and more. White Rock Grange is located at 33 Wilson Road, Gorham ME. For more information, visit the White Rock Grange Facebook Page.
Cooking for Crowds
Food Safety Training for Volunteers:
Many organizations and community groups rely on volunteers like you for a variety of food events for fundraising, fellowship, food pantries, or other services to the community. But cooking for a crowd is tricky! How do you store all that food? When is the food completely cooked? How long can you leave food on the buffet table? Now there is a workshop on Safe Food Handling designed specifically for Volunteers.
This class meets the Good Shepherd Food Bank food safety training requirements.
Starling Hall Update
Loyal website visitors and subscribers with a great memory will perhaps remember a post a while ago regarding Starling Hall located in Fayette, Maine. That post told the “wonderful story of a former Grange Hall because of a group of dedicated volunteers.” In summary, the hall was acquired by the town and a group of volunteers in 2015 formed “Friends of Starling Hall” (FOSH) as a 501(3)C. Their efforts are described as “uniting history and purpose–restoring a treasured former Grange hall for use as a community center.”Since then, much progress has been made toward restoring the hall to its former glory.
You can read about some of the improvements and ongoing work on the Starling Grange Hall Website. These have not been easy tasks! A 2021 news article in the Kennebec Journal details much of the history and costs to date.
In order to keep the project moving forward, FOSH is currently seeking federal funding to supplement their local fundraising efforts. Certainly, Grangers understand the importance of “uniting history and purpose” and appreciate the value of maintaining heritage and history. You will enjoy the video below!
CWA Letter — April 2022
By Margaret Henderson, Director
Committee on Women’s Activities
207 948-2762
Webmaster’s Note: Quilt Block Information can be found on the Program Books and Information Page in the National Grange Contest Section
More Grange Music–Right in Your Home!
Some folks may have heard Katherine Rhoda play at a few Grange events around Maine over the past few years. If not, here’s your chance!
On Saturday, April 23, 2022 at 10 AM, Katherine will offer a 50-minute online performance of Vintage Grange Songs as part of the New England Folk Festival, which is happening on Zoom. As the program notes say, “Founded shortly after the Civil War, the Grange has a rich heritage of songs celebrating agriculture and advocating for farming communities. Katherine Rhoda sings from vintage Grange songbooks.”
Info about the festival is at https://www.neffa.org. For those unfamiliar with Zoom technology, there is an orientation to using Zoom: https://www.neffa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/How-to-Zoom-Be-Prepared-to-Fully-Enjoy-your-Event.pdf. The online festival is free, though donations are welcome, to be split among the performers and tech team.
Katherine plays “heartfelt music fostering authentic human connection.” Visit her webpage about Grange songs at https://katherinerhoda.com/offerings/vintage-grange-songs/