What’s the Number for 2-1-1?

MSG Comm Department Logo
This article is reprinted in part with permission from an e-newsletter published by Paul Stearns, State Representative for District 119.

February 2022 was officially recognized as 211 Month by the Maine Legislature, with the resolution passing in the Senate and House with bipartisan support. Finding help for complex needs like shelter, substance use, mental health, or food access can be hard for many Mainers. Fortunately, there is a Maine-based resource that can help.

In addition to helping Mainers connect to the spectrum of health and human services, 211 continues its involvement in specific initiatives, including Maine’s Opiate Helpline to provide confidential referrals to treatment options, fielding questions about prevention, treatment, and mitigation of browntail moth caterpillars and moths, answering the Maine Problem Gambling Helpline, and co-hosting the first Maine Virtual-

Veterans Experience Action Center (V-VEAC) with Veterans Affairs, Bureau of Veterans’ Services, and other partners.

Specialists are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week by texting a Maine zip code to 898-211 or by dialing 211. 211 Maine is a collaborative effort of the United Ways of Maine, the State of Maine, and The Opportunity Alliance as the Contact Center Partner.

Webmaster’s Note: Good information to include in your Family Health and Hearing Report?

Grange Heirloom — March, 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.

Grange Heirloom Program Kicks Off

Resources for Granges

produced by the
Maine State Grange Communications Department

Warning! This is a long video! You may decide to watch it in stages or steps but you will definitely want to watch it. This is a truly amazing program that will end up spanning a five-year period and it’s been over 150 years in the making.

Important additional resources for you:

Check out:

  • More Resources for Granges — Program Information and Inspiration
  • Program Books and Information –Information arranged by committee and topic.

From the Deacon’s Bench — March 2022

By Clay Collins, MSG Chaplain
207 837-0564

“Being forty days tempted of the devil And in those days he did eat nothing; and when they were ended, He afterward hungered. And the devil said unto Him, ‘if thou be the son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.’ And Jesus answered him, saying, ‘it is written, that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’”

Luke 4:2-4

I am here writing this month’s article looking at the snowy field and the snow-covered woodpile beside my house thinking that soon it will be spring, then summer, and I will be out there restacking what wood there is left getting ready for another delivery for next year’s heating season. Thinking of how I can make it easier to store and retrieve when needed.

We all should be looking to the future planning always how to make things easier. I know, this sounds like the beginning of a commercial for retirement planning, but I promise, it isn’t! 

Although planning for the future is important, planning for the here and now is just as important! By this, I mean following God’s plan. Like the Bible passage this month states: When Jesus was tempted by the devil to turn the stone into bread, Jesus told him that it is written that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

By following God’s word, we can have faith that the present will be good, we can have hope that our future will be secured in His love, and we will be able to bask in His charity. God only asks for our fidelity to Him and only Him!

I mention every month during these cold winter days and nights that we must not forget our neighbors who might be less fortunate than we are. I continue to ask all of you that are able to please, check on them to see that they are all right. This is one way to show our fidelity to the One that loves us dearly!

By the way, happy St. Patrick’s Day (March 17). On this day, everyone is Irish for the day!

May the sun shine, all day long,
           Everything go right, and nothing wrong.
                    May those you love bring love back to you,
                    And may all the wishes you wish come true.

Until the next time, “Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.”

DON’T FORGET TO THANK A VETERAN AND ALL FIRST RESPONDERS FOR THEIR SERVICE!!

Benediction: “May the good saints protect you and bless you today, and may troubles ignore you each step of the way.  Amen.”

Thought for the month:
God between us and all harm.

An short Irish Blessing

BioME Scholarships Available

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This article is reprinted with permission from an e-newsletter published by Paul Stearns, State Representative for District 119.

The BioME Scholarship Program offers an opportunity for high school graduates, undergraduate and graduate students in the field of life sciences to realize and accomplish their academic goals. This program is available for Maine residents or students enrolled in Maine academic institutions only.

All four scholarship applications are now OPEN, and we would greatly appreciate your help in sharing this opportunity with your colleagues, friends, and families! Please note that application deadlines for the Academic Scholarship and Summer Internship Award are both in March.

BioME Academic Scholarship ($4,000)
Applications Open: February 1, 2022 – March 25, 2022

BioME Summer Internship Award ($4,000)
For undergraduate and graduate students who are interning at an unpaid or minimally funded internship with a Maine employer. Funding to cover costs associated with internship and additional room and board. Applications Open: February 1, 2022 – March 18, 2022

BioME Seed Grant (up to $5,000)

For undergraduate and graduate students conducting original life sciences research. Funding to cover costs associated with research-related expenses. Applications rolling. Reviewed on a quarterly basis.

BioME Travel/Conference Award (up to $2,000) 

For undergraduate and graduate students who have had their research accepted for presentation at a professional life sciences conference. Funding to cover costs associated with attendance. Applications rolling. Reviewed on a quarterly basis. Apply up to 90 days before or after attending the event.

For more information, please visit their website at BioME Scholarship Program: Awards & Grants (biomaine.org)

Notes from National – February 2022

Contest Deadlines

Please note that the June deadline is only true for certain, specific contests, including the Quilt Blocks, Photography, Publicity Items, and certain contests in the Junior and Youth Departments. Please consult the National Grange website or program guides for other deadlines. We will continue using social media and the Patrons Chain (as well as Good Day! magazine) to list upcoming deadlines.

National Grange Heirloom Program

The Grange Heirloom Program gets underway in March–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

National Grange Rosters

This roster lists the state officers for every State… it’s available in booklet form (as a pdf) and as a spreadsheet.

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

Avian Flue in Knox County

flock of hens on green field
Photo by Alexas Fotos on Pexels.com

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) Animal Health Division announced today that it is working closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to respond to the H5N1 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza detected in a small flock of non-commercial backyard birds (non-poultry) in Knox County. APHIS announced Sunday that it had confirmed the presence of the virus in Maine. Avian influenza does not present a food safety risk; poultry and eggs are safe to eat when handled and cooked properly. No cases of this particular strain of the avian influenza virus have been detected in humans in the United States. And according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recent detections of this strain of influenza in birds in Maine and several other states present a low risk to the public.

This weekend, animal health officials from DACF worked with a farm in Knox County to control the potential spread of avian influenza. DACF placed the property under quarantine and euthanized affected birds humanely. DACF also implemented additional safety measures, such as monitoring properties with domestic flocks within a 10 km radius of the initial property and notifying bird owners of the importance of proactive safety measures to help prevent disease.

DACF’s animal health officials are also working closely with the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC). Though this strain of avian influenza has not been detected in humans in the United States, Maine CDC is monitoring the health and wellbeing of Animal Health staff and flock owners who were exposed out of an abundance of caution. Signs and symptoms of bird flu infections in people can include: fever (temperature of 100ºF or greater) or feeling feverish, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, fatigue, headaches, eye redness (or conjunctivitis), and difficulty breathing. Other possible symptoms are diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. As with seasonal flu, some people are at high risk of getting very sick from bird flu infections, including pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems and people 65 and older. The U.S. CDC provides information on avian flu transmission at this link. The Maine CDC’s Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory is prepared to process samples and quickly provide results for anyone potentially exposed to the virus.

According to the USDA, all bird owners, whether commercial producers or backyard enthusiasts, should:

  • Practice protective security measures to help prevent disease
  • Prevent contact between their birds and wild birds, and
  • Report sick birds or unusual bird deaths to State/Federal officials, either through your state veterinarian or through USDA’s toll-free number at 1-866-536-7593.

 Resources for backyard and commercial poultry producers:

  • USDA has many resources available for commercial poultry producers and backyard bird owners through its Defend the Flock campaign.
  • Information about this campaign and links to toolkits containing biosecurity checklists, videos, and more, are available here.
  • Additional information and resources about HPAI and foreign animal disease preparedness are available here.

Resources to Help With Electric Bills

MSG Comm Department Logo
This article is reprinted with permission from an e-newsletter published by Paul Stearns, State Representative for District 119.

If you’re having difficulty managing your energy bills, there are free programs and services available to help you get caught up and manage your energy costs.

Below are just a few resources designed to help. For a full list of programs, please visit www.cmpco.com/helpwithbill or www.versantpower.com/residential/programs-and-services

  • If you rent your home and need assistance with your electric bill, funding is now available through Maine’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program. For more information about the program please visit: mainehousing.org.
  • The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federal grant program that helps income-eligible households pay for energy bills, repairs, and weatherization. Please contact your local Community Action Agency to apply for HEAP. Qualifying for HEAP is the first step to be eligible to apply for programs.
  • If you have fallen behind, call your electricity service provider. They have payment plans that will help you get back on track. In addition, the Electricity Lifeline Program offers eligible customers a credit on their electric bill. Arrearage Management Program helps eligible customers reduce their past due balance.

Valley Grange Gram — We Came, We Saw…

Valley Grange is located in Guilford, Maine

Our February Meeting included a number of guests, some great food, good conversation and a good time! We were especially pleased to “obligate” our newest members, Sarah Mahan and Nick Jackson. Some of us got to try lamb for the first time, thanks to their potluck contribution and most of us went home with some eggs! For those of you who didn’t come and haven’t seen it, you must watch this video. Not only will you get to meet the family, but you’ll also find their regeneration techniques fascinating.

In other news, we approved the new Hall Use Agreement. A copy will be uploaded to the website soon. We also began discussing Grange Month (we celebrate in May) and Community Citizen of the Year. If you now someone in the area who deserves recognition for their service to our communities, contact Mary Annis or Walter Boomsma. We’re looking for an unsung hero.

We received socks and have more on the way. Thanks to Helping Hearts Ministry in West Virginia for their generous donation! We’ll likely be making our final delivery for this year next week… if you intend to “Sock it to us,” please do so soon!

Thanks also to Phyllis Lyford from the Dover Foxcroft Historical Society for her donation of two patriotic lap afghans for the Operation Gratitude Hospice Project for Veterans.

We started to get writer’s cramp signing thank-you cards and notes. We’ve been so fortunate this winter to members of our communities who have helped us keep our hall open. I’m afraid I’ll forget someone, but thanks to Brian and Cindy Woodworth, Jimmy French, John McKusick… the anonymous donor who left socks in the tote on the porch… with all this help, we were able to come to the February meeting, see the fruits of our labor and have a certain sense that we conquered winter.

Our new Busy Box was put to good use! As a reminder, we are still looking for puzzles, games, etc. suitable for kids. I recently was able to replenish our Book Bin after a visit to the Abbot Liberry. Now that we have kids attending, we welcome any contributions to both! If you can’t come to a meeting, you can leave them in the tote on the front porch.

I stopped at the hardware store on the way to the hall to start the furnace. One of the clerks asked if he could ask a question. “Are you the guy who does that bookworm club thing?” I was able to explain that COVID has our Bookworm Program on hold, but yes, Valley Grange has bookworms who listen to the kids read at school. He complimented the program and said how great it was. (Little does he know that he’s on my list of potential volunteers when we get started again!)

These questions and the support we receive help us remain committed “…to labor for the good of our Order, our country, and mankind.” Thank you!

And if you want to experience the warmth and welcome of the Grange, our next meeting is Friday, March 18, 2022. Potluck is at 6 pm–bring a dish to share if you can. Our meeting and program start at 7 pm and we are usually finished by 8:30 pm. Come as you are and bring a friend! Remember, we are kid-friendly!

There’s Still Time!

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

The new Heirloom Program kicks off in March. If you haven’t heard about it yet, it’s an exciting program designed to remind seasoned members and introduce new members to the values and lessons of the Grange. National Membership and Leadership Development Director Amanda Brozana Rios is hosting several introductory Zoom meetings to provide more details about the program and its use, answer questions, and brainstorm how Granges may build from this great resource. Several sessions have been scheduled to ensure everyone who wants to attend can. Each of these sessions will cover the same material, so you need only attend one.

Each Grange that sends a representative to attend one of the meetings will receive a certificate of recognition and a prize. The State Grange with the highest percentage of Granges attending meetings AND with at least one of the following attending will also receive a prize (President; Lecturer; Secretary; State Communications Director or Newsletter Editor; State Membership Director). You can attend any of the scheduled meetings by clicking this link a few minutes before the meeting.

We’ll be adding a resource page to the Maine State Grange Website soon. It will include all of the information you need to take advantage of this great new program. We’ll also be posting a Grange Heirloom every month. Make sure every member in your Grange knows about this! It’s a great time to subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website!

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