Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.
Gift cards are popular and convenient for consumers—and for criminals who favor them as easy and hard-to-trace forms of payment.
They may claim the fastest way to fix an urgent financial problem is to go to a store, load a specific amount of money onto one or more gift cards (sometimes called electronic vouchers), and then share the activation numbers from the back of the card. No legitimate government agency or business will ever accept payment this way.
If you or someone you love has experienced this financial crime, turn the card over and call the issuer at the number provided; they may be able to freeze the card before some or all of the funds are drained. You should also report this crime to law enforcement to document what happened should there be a means of restitution down the road.
Fraud affects every generation, and AARP Fraud Watch Network is helping people fight back—one community at a time. By learning together and sharing information, we can better protect one another.
Reprinted from an e-newsletter by State Representative James White,
With Sunday, May 10, having marked 30 days until the primary election on June 9 and absentee voting now underway statewide as of Monday, May 11, the Office of the Secretary of State provided an update about Maine’s election processes for this stage of the election cycle.
Key Dates to Know
Registering in person: Close of the polls on Election Day.
Registering by mail or third person: Received by the voter’s town or city by close of business 21 days before Election Day. (For June 2026 primary — May 19, 2026)
Registering online: 5 p.m. on the 21st day before Election Day. (For June 2026 primary — May 19, 2026)
Registration through Automatic Voter Registration at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles: Midnight on the seventh day before Election Day. (For June 2026 primary — June 2, 2026)
UOCAVA voters in Title 21-A, §777-A by mail or electronically: By noon the day before Election Day (For June 2026 primary — June 8, 2026)
Deadline to request absentee ballots from a municipal clerk: Request must be received by the voter’s town or city three business days before Election Day (For June 2026 primary — by close of business in a voter’s town or city on Thursday, June 4) unless special circumstances exist.
In-person absentee voting: For June 2026 primary — began Monday, May 11, until close of business on Thursday, June 4, subject to office hours by town or city.
For additional details with respect to voter registration, absentee voting, voters with disabilities, absentee ballot processing, ranked choice voting, photography or filming in/near polling places, and media interviews in/near polling places, please click here.
Spring has sprung and Primary Elections are coming right up on June 9. Participating in the primary is important step in our election process. By participating in the primary process, you have the best opportunity to choose the candidate that best represents your personal point of view. As always, do your research and vote your conscience. I mentioned at a meeting one day during refreshments that we here in Maine politically are a purplish blue state, and one of the members didn’t understand what I was referring to. She had heard the terms “red” states and “blue” states, but didn’t understand what they meant. It started with the 2000 Presidential election, the major networks agreed when calling the various states in the Presidential elections that states won by a Republican candidate on the maps would be colored red, and those won by the Democratic candidate would be colored blue. Apparently, major networks had been using color-coded maps on Election night since the 1970’s, but in 2000 agreed that, across all networks, red would represent Republicans and blue Democrats. There are states that almost always vote Republican or Democratic during most elections. The other states, according to political commentators, are purple or swing states as they tend to change from election to election. We here in Maine are mostly in a blue state with a weird red streak, so we are purple(ish) in my view. What does this mean for every Mainer? We are going to spend the next six months or so getting bombarded by political ads, signs, and mailings. It is nice to have an independent streak, but it comes with a lot of political noise.
So, I hope everyone is thinking about and writing resolutions for the State Grange session this fall, the deadline for resolutions to be considered at theState Grange Session is August 15. As a reminder, the whereas sections of a resolution outline the problem or issue you want to address, and the resolved section more or less covers the solution to the problem. This is resolution writing in an extremely small nutshell. Please reach out if you need some help getting your ideas into resolution form. I have some significant experience with this. I might not necessarily agree with your resolution, but I promise to help you get the correct form for presentation to your Grange. All resolutions must be passed or adopted by a Subordinate or Pomona Grange to be submitted to the Maine State Grange for consideration. (Note: certain Maine State Grange committees can also submit resolutions.) I also wanted to note that hundreds of resolutions are submitted to the National Grange every year for consideration. Resolutions regarding public policy, not internal Grange policy, do not automatically become the policy of the Maine State Grange unless adopted by the delegates at a session of the Maine State Grange. Until next time….
Mill Stream Grange members (l-r) Karen Locke, Kirsten Heck, Jill Sampson, Debbie Lavender, Allan Harville and Natalie Heck placed over 100 flags at three area cemeteries to honor Veterans, including several Revolutionary War soldiers. Member Paul Lavender took the photo.
Natalie Heck contributes joyfullyGrangers serve
This is the sort of community service that brings Grangers together and demonstrates purpose. Congratulations and thanks to Mill Stream Grange #574!
It is my sad duty to inform you that Sister Gladys Chapman, Past Chaplain of the Maine State Grange, wife of Chief Deputy Maynard Chapman, passed away on May 9, 2026.
All services will be held at the Auburn United Methodist Church on Park Avenue, Auburn. Visiting hours will be held on Friday, May 22, 2026, from 2-4 and 6-8. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at 2 pm.
Cards may be sent to Maynard Chapman at 84 Lisbon Street, Apartment 6, Lewiston, Maine 04240.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Danville Jct. Grange, 48 Pond Road, Raymond, ME 04071, United Methodist Church, 439 Park Avenue, Auburn, ME 04210, or The Hospice House, 236 Stetson Road, Auburn, ME 04210.
Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.
Reports of sweepstakes scams to the AARP Fraud Watch Network™ Helpline are on the rise. The prospect of a big financial windfall or amazing vacation plays on our emotions. Criminals count on our excitement to deceive us into paying a fee or divulging sensitive information.
Know that no legitimate sweepstakes or contest requires payment in advance or sharing your Social Security number or bank account details.
If an unexpected message sparks strong emotions and demands urgency, treat it as a potential fraud attempt. Take an “active pause”—an intentional step back to consider the scenario and reflect on what you might know about it. That moment could lead you to recognize the scam and protect yourself and your assets.
Fraud affects every generation, and AARP Fraud Watch Network is helping people fight back—one community at a time. By learning together and sharing information, we can better protect one another.
Busy night at Highland Lake Grange. 37 people turned out, including Grange members and guests, to celebrate this year’s Community Citizen Award recipient: Suzanne Joyce. We also recognized six members of Highland Lake Grange for their dedication and membership over many decades. Maine State Grange Assistant Steward, Membership Director, and Past Master/President Rick Grotton presented the certificates with the assistance of Judy Meserve, Maine State Grange Ceres, and Jim Meserve, Maine State Grange Executive Committee. It was a wonderful evening of celebration, conversation, laughter and, of course, food!
Educational Aid and Howes Nurses Scholarship Funds
Nancy Farrington, Secretary – Treasurer 317 Holman Day Road Vassalboro, ME 04989 207-623-0395
May 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
It is imperative to get the current application out to the college students in your area and make them aware of our scholarship’s availability. The Trustees of the scholarship funds have developed updated criteria, opening the application to any college student seeking assistance and helping the trustees decide who should receive scholarships. Students today need all the help they can get. Won’t you help them? The Trustees of the Educational Aid & Howes Nurses’ Scholarship Funds, ask for your support as we continue our annual appeal for financial help!
Please include the following information with your donation.
The current criteria and scholarship application are available on the website in the event you have an eligible applicant in your Grange area. Please return the completed application and college transcript to the above address by September 15, 2026. (Make as many copies as you wish and share them.)
Please destroy application forms that do not have the revision date of 5/2026.
