Jonesboro Grange Gets the Blue!

Jonesboro Grange #357 earns a Blue Ribbon at the 2022 Washington County Fair in Pembroke, Maine. 

Pictured with the display are (L) Jonesboro Grange Vice President Muriel Gay holding the blue ribbon and (R) Jonesboro Grange President John Cox Jr.

The three active Granges in Washington County, which include Jonesboro, Alexander, and Perry, each set up a display for fairgoers. 

The Jonesboro Grange display included vegetables grown in the Jonesboro Grange garden, a quilt made by Jonesboro Grange members, as well as resin art, a wire skidder & dump truck, woodworking, handmade bags, and pot holders, and delicious home canned goods – all from our talented Jonesboro Grange members! WOW! We also brought along our 2021 Grange scrapbook, photo board, and membership information! 

Next stop for the Jonesboro Grange is the Bluehill Fair!

Dale loves the Grange!

I love the Grange because we are continuing a tradition 150+ years old of inclusion and equality.

Dale Holst, Alexander Grange #304

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!

Vicki loves the Grange!

“I would say my biggest and best benefit is the extended family I have found in the Grange. Where else can you go and have so many brothers and sisters? I have met so many people in my Grange travels, and they are all family.”

Vicki Huff, 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!

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protects Maine’s natural resources and prevents agriculture pollution by promoting the safe and proper disposal of outdated, unused, or unwanted pesticides.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