THANK YOU to Manchester Grange once again for allowing us to use your hall for our annual fundraising yard sale event. Thank you to all the folks who came to support us, and/or helped. We appreciate your participation, efforts, donations, and hard work. We had a wonderful day, and the weather cooperated.

ELECTIONS are at hand; June is the time for electing officers. Our State By-Laws require every Grange to have full elections every year and yes, we use paper ballots for each officer with names being presented for each, one officer at a time prior to the ballot. Please consider the officers/leaders of your Grange, are you ready for a change, what is best for your Grange, are there others who would make good officers, are you helping others learn the different duties of the offices, or are you pushing too hard?  Some offices are more involved than others. Some committees are more involved than others. 

After the election, the reelected or newly elected Master/President shall appoint/select the Committee Chairs and committee members for their Grange. This should be done right away; there is no need to wait for the installation of officers to get your committees set up. Some of the most common Committees in our Granges are: Legislative-Agriculture; Women’s Activities; Youth; Junior; Community Service; Family, Health & Hearing; Membership and Others. Committee terms begin upon installation of officers. Other Committees may be named as needed that may be specific to your Grange. Special Committees are established as needed for a special event or activity. Please tell your Secretary who the chairman will be, so they can report the roster information to the office.

ROSTER INFORMATION is to be sent to the State Grange office as soon as possible after your elections are completed. Grange Secretaries will receive the 2027 Roster forms next week. Please fill them out legibly and return them to the office as soon as possible. If you want to type the information out separately and mail or email it to us, that would be fine also. 

We will be looking for the following information to be provided to us for each Grange:  Grange Name and Number; Street Address and Town of Grange Hall; Meeting Day(s) and Time; Supper or Refreshments and Time.  (Maine State Grange By-Laws:  ARTICLE XXII – MEETINGS  Section 1.  The Bylaws of each Subordinate Grange should definitely fix the day and hour of all regular meetings.)  Plus the following information for Officers and chairmen.

• Master/President: Name; Address; Phone; (Cell if they want it listed); and e-mail address.
• Lecturer: Name: Address; Phone; (Cell if they want it listed); and e-mail address.
• Secretary: Name: Address; Phone; (Cell if they want it listed); and e-mail address.
• CWA Chairman: Name; Address; Phone; (Cell if they want it listed); and e-mail address.

RESOLUTIONS are due in the office August 15, 2026, either by email to mainestategrange@gmail.com or by standard mail to 36 Anthony Ave, Suite 102, Augusta, 04330. Submit both ways to ensure we receive them.  Resolutions must have a title provided by the Grange; we cannot assign one. The Title reflects the issue you are proposing, the “whereas” section(s) explains the issue and includes facts or information and the “resolved” section(s) explain how you propose to correct the issue. The entire resolution must be written out, if you use initials in your resolution, the words must also be written out. The resolution must be voted on & supported by the Grange to be submitted to the State Grange. Any resolutions to make changes to State or National Grange By-Laws must refer to the Article number, Section number, and sub-section number(s) and be written out in full as it currently appears in the State or National By-laws, then the new change written out in full with the change(s) to be made.  

We then have to print everything and mail all resolutions back to each Grange, after the August 15^th deadline. The Delegate Registration, Meal forms, Schedule, etc., also will be sent in August. This all takes time.  State Session is October 30 & 31 at Black Bear Inn in Orono.

Officer and Department Reports are due in the office no later than September 15th. (written or emailed to the office and to my email  SHarriman@twc.com).  I prefer emailed reports. These dates may seem early, but getting everything put together for the session takes time. 

University of Maine Cooperative Extension has released a new fact sheet to support individuals who are starting farm enterprises, an effort that often comes with a steep learning curve.

Bulletin #1215, Avoiding Common Mistakes of Beginning Farmers outlines the challenges often faced by new farmers and offers research-based guidance to help growers and producers reduce risk and build a strong foundation for long-term farm success. Topics include developing a business plan, assessing land and soil resources, evaluating equipment needs, establishing recordkeeping systems and identifying markets. The fact sheet is intended for aspiring and early-career farmers seeking practical information to inform decision-making during the startup phase of farm operations. The publication is available free of charge on the Cooperative Extension Publications webpage. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Nicholas Rowley at 207.778.4650 or nicholas.rowley@maine.edu.

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 “leave a comment” link at the left and share your comment with us!

For additional information and resources regarding the Heirloom Program, visit the Heirloom Resource Page on the Maine State Grange Website.

After toll road scams spread last summer, a new version is surging—texts claiming you owe money for a traffic or parking violation.

These messages often include an official-looking notice offering a court date or a small fine (around $6), with a QR code for immediate payment to avoid penalties. They may mention your location or use fake case numbers to appear legitimate and create a sense of urgency.

If an unexpected message like this sparks strong emotions and demands urgency, treat it as a potential scam. Report the message as spam and avoid responding, clicking links or scanning QR codes. If you think the claim may be real, contact the court or agency directly using trusted contact information.

Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.

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Recently, Mill Stream Grange members Jill Sampson, Lisa Goucher, and Paula Hanley visited teacher Melanie Hall’s kindergarten class at Mt. Vernon Elementary School to share information about the Grange and farming.  Each child was given a new book titled “Farming” by Gail Gibbons, a coloring book on farming, and animal stickers. Jill read “Farming” to the students, then Lisa and Paula helped each of them to plant sunflower seeds, which were placed on the windowsill in the sun.  

Farming by Gail Gibbons is a popular nonfiction children’s book that uses clear, colorful illustrations and diagrams to explain the year-round work on a farm, from planting and harvesting crops to caring for animals and dealing with seasonal changes. An updated edition includes new safety equipment and procedures, making it an engaging and educational resource for young readers (ages 4-8) about agriculture, tractors, and where food comes from. It is available from Amazon.

What’s not to love about Jill’s apron? “Romaine Calm and Carrot On.”

Sagadahoc Pomona held their May meeting at Topsham Grange where Lecturer Sharon had an interesting program for her agriculture report. What do elephants and fireflies have in common? They are both “keystones” for our environment. We learned how to help reduce the light pollution that is harming our ecosystem.

Marilyn has been saying that she would rather Enterprise Grange (in Richmond) get a red or white ribbon for the exhibits they earn at the fair than a blue one, because there is no competition. Well, we also learned that Merriconeag (in Harpswell) is having secret meetings to come up with the best exhibit with the Poultry Theme that MAAF has given all Granges to use.

Ta Da!! A friendly challenge is accepted. It will be fun to see how the different Granges in our state respond to the second year of the Maine Fair Association directing our common theme.

Monmouth Fair is the first and has to be set up before June 24th, which is our meeting date. Pittston is second in July, then Windsor, Topsham, and Litchfield for the fairs in our area.

Sagadahoc will have a Memorial program and Elections on June 24th, no meeting in July, and our picnic at James Mitchell Park on the ocean in Harpswell on August 29th. See you then!

Note the “S” and “G” on the new porch railings, placed as a reminder that the building was originally the Starling Grange.

If you’ve been following the story, you know that a lot has been happening with the former Starling Grange Hall in Fayette, Maine. Thanks to a group of volunteer friends, Starling Hall is shining again! Among those friends, Maine Cabin Masters has completed several important restoration projects, including a new entrance, restored exterior, and even a handcrafted cedar flagpole from right here in Fayette.

The hall looks amazing, and continues to host many events, meetings, and fundraisers in this beautiful, revitalized space. The Friends of Starling Hall is organized to preserve, restore, and improve the historical integrity of the renovations of Starling Hall, Fayette’s former Grange building. The Hall was used for the community over 90 times during the year. This includes Select Board meetings, Quilting Club, All Age Friendly, Parks and Rec meetings, Pond Association meetings and FOSH events. Tune in Monday, June 15, 2026, at 9:00 pm on the Magnolia channel to watch the episode documenting the Starling Hall Projects.

Visit the Friends of Starling Hall website to learn more! Additional information about the Maine Cabin Masters is available on their website.

The Friends of Starling Hall are now working on grant applications to secure funding for an elevator to the second floor and a rural fire suppression system for the entire building.  Jon Beekman reports that the Cabin Masters Program will explore the second floor, which he believes Grangers will find exciting. “It has really been untouched for 100 years and is really magnificent. The tapestry curtain on the stage has phone numbers advertising businesses in Livermore Falls with three and four-digit telephone numbers!”

It’s a sure bet that a lot of Grangers around the state would love to have some friends like Starling Hall does!

By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842

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

The Maine State Grange Office is located at 36 Anthony Avenue, Suite 102, Augusta, ME 04330.
 mainestategrange@gmail.com.

June Bulletin

Articles for the June Bulletin are due by the end of the day, June 14th.. Recent issues of the Bulletin are available on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.

Website Status

No more outages! The site seems to be running faster! We still are occasionally run into missing items and links not working. If it happens to you, please let the webmaster know!

Great Grange News

Ocean View Grange reports they have been highlighted for their Fuel Assistance Program in this issue of the St George Community Development Corporation newsletter. They are happy that their efforts are noted and proud that the Ocean View Grange members are part of helping our community.

Election Stress Getting to You?

Set strict media boundaries: Stop doomscrolling by scheduling 15 to 30 minutes a day to check the news, and use news-free zones (like your bedroom) to disconnect. The June Primaries are only the beginning.

Fryeburg Fair Opportunity

The Fryeburg Fair is seeking a nonprofit to take over the New Church Booth. The New Church group had operated the booth for seventy-three years! The Fair provides an opportunity for over 20 non-profits to earn funds through the operation of various booths. Who is up to this challenge?

What’s Going On?

Don’t forget to submit your special events and programs for our event calendar! We want people to know the Grange is thriving! Surely, there are lots of things happening in Maine, especially in the summer. We also love photos and reports of events that have happened. What’s your meeting magic?

To Ponder…

Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.

Howard Zinn

An Idea for Your Grange

How about sponsoring a Patriotic Flower Contest in your community? This could be done in conjunction with an Independence Day parade or as part of your 250 Celebration. One option would be to follow the model of a Christmas lighting contest. Another would be to create a garden tour with a patriotic theme.

Subscribe!

Remember, we don’t share your email address with anyone, and you get a weekly summary of what’s been posted. Subscribe here! Share that link with your members and Grange friends!

Online Directories Available 24-7

Thanks to those who help us keep these directories current by letting us know of changes!

• The Directory of Granges features all Granges in the state with a contact person. Please make sure your listing is correct! Visitors to the site frequently consult these directories.
• The ODD Directory features all state officers, directors, and deputies, along with their contact information. Updated January 16, 2026.

On May 15th, a devastating fire and explosion occurred at the Robbins Lumber mill in Searsmont, Maine, after crews responded to a fire in one of the mill’s silos. The incident prompted a mass-casualty response involving multiple fire departments, first responders, emergency agencies, and hospitals across Maine. Firefighter Andrew Cross tragically lost his life, at least 11 individuals were injured, and several people remain in serious and critical condition following the explosion. 

Many individuals, families, firefighters, and first responders are now facing the physical, emotional, and financial impacts of this tragedy. Recovery from injuries, time away from work, travel for medical care, funeral expenses, and other unexpected hardships may place significant strain on those affected in the days and weeks ahead. 

The Maine Strong Memorial Foundation has launched this designated Emergency Relief Fund to support the confirmed individuals and families impacted by the Searsmont lumber mill explosion. This fund will help provide immediate financial relief during this difficult time. 

The Foundation is continuing to work directly with Town of Searsmont officials, local contacts, community representatives, and affected families throughout the campaign in a collaborative and unified effort to help confirm impacted individuals, coordinate support efforts, and ensure funds are distributed responsibly and transparently as additional information continues to emerge. 

As part of this effort, the Maine Strong Memorial Foundation will also provide up to an additional $1,000 in support for each confirmed individual directly impacted by this tragedy, including the family of firefighter Andrew Cross. 

100% of all donations made through this campaign will go directly toward supporting the confirmed individuals and families impacted by this tragedy.

Chances are you’ve signed up for a rewards or loyalty program at some point—even if you rarely check your account. These are popular targets for this very reason—loyalty account owners don’t tend to monitor their balances the way they might monitor financial accounts.  

Criminals hack into loyalty and rewards accounts through phishing messages, malware-infected sites that collect your data, and stealing username and password combinations. Once inside, they transfer the points or redeem them.

Protect your rewards by protecting your accounts with strong, unique passwords and turn on multi-factor authentication whenever possible. Sign up for account alerts so you’re notified of any changes or suspicious activity. And if something looks off, contact the loyalty program directly through your account or a phone number you know is legitimate.

Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.

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