We’re looking for volunteer help! On Wednesday, April 24, 2024, members and friends will celebrate Sparkle and Shine Day. Members and friends will meet at the hall between 3:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to do interior light cleaning (sweeping, dusting, wiping things down) and outside sprucing up. If you can lend a hand, come anytime!
If you have favorite tools (cleaning stuff, rakes, etc.) bring ’em along. Many hands will make the work light, and we’ll sparkle and shine quickly. Ambitious kids are welcome–we are family-friendly and should be able to find tasks for everyone!
“The objective of cleaning is not just to clean, but to feel happiness living within that environment.” — Marie Kondo
Students looking for community service hours–here’s your chance to gain some!
We covered a lot of ground at our February Meeting! We even had some special guests stop in–they were out for a walk and saw the lights on!
Community Service
Several bags of “goodies” were packed for the Boutillier Family. Pat and Janice will deliver them to the Red Maple Inn on Wednesday. (And probably have lunch!) As a reminder, the family is still looking for a rental in the SAD 4 School District. If you have any leads, please let us know!
Meeting Schedule
Due to some schedule conflicts, we voted to change our meeting nights for April and June. We will be meeting on Wednesday instead of Friday! We will meet:
Wednesday, April 17, for potluck supper at 6 pm and meeting at 7 pm.
Friday, May 17, for our Community Celebration starting with a community potluck supper at 5:30 pm and recognition of our community citizens at 7 pm.
Wednesday, June 19, for potluck supper at 6 pm and meeting/election of officers at 7:00 pm.
Watch Your Eyes!
Family Health and Hearing Chair distributed the pairs of glasses that would enable folks to view the Eclipse Safely, together with some precautionary advice.
Community Celebration
Plans are well underway to recognize our Piscataquis County Dispatchers and community citizens of the year. It is time to acknowledge their contribution to our community’s safety and well-being. Please save the date and plan to attend! We’ll be releasing flyers and posters soon–please help us spread the word! We’ll also be looking for some help with our potluck supper that night. Stay tuned!
River Festival
We sadly agreed that, due to scheduling challenges, we will not be able to have a presence at River Festival this year.
Emmy’s Request
We discussed the request of a third grader from Virginia for “information about Maine and its people.” Several members have already started assembling packets for mailing. If you’d like more information or to help, contact Mary Annis or Pat Engstrom. Emmy needs the material before May.
“That’s a lot of years,” Basil Clements said when he received his certificate from Maine State Grange Communications Director Walter Boomsma in a “sort of” Grange Meeting held at Emilio Estates in Corinth. While distance has prevented active involvement, Basil speaks of his Grange membership every day, and his room is decorated with certificates and Grange memorabilia.
Front Row: RN Breanna, Basil Clements Back Row: Walter Boomsma, with Valley Grange Members Janice Boomsma, Mary Annis, and Jim Annis
The “sort of” meeting was attended by a support team from Valley Grange, several of Basil’s nurses and Emilio staff, a niece and her husband, and at least one resident of Emilio Estates. Boomsma explained that since circumstances have put some distance between Basil and his home Grange in Castine, Valley Grange has adopted him. “But we aren’t charging you dues.” Basil noted proudly that, as a Golden Sheaf (fifty-year) member, he hasn’t paid dues for some years but recalled when he did pay them, they charge was $1.25 per year. He also wasn’t sure when he last attended a meeting.
“We brought a meeting to you,” Boomsma explained, conducting some of the opening and closing ritual, including the familiar Grange Salutation. During the meeting, Basil’s nurse, Breanna Bowman, was also presented with a special Certificate of Appreciation for her assistance with the meeting preparations and support. “You demonstrate Grange Values, and we are now considering you an ‘almost’ Granger.”
In good Grange fashion, the event included some socializing. When the event ended, Boomsma noted, “We’re Grangers. This is what we do. We take care of our communities, and we take care of each other.”
Those who would like to send Basil a card of congratulations may do so by addressing it to Basil Clements, Emilio Estates, 65 W Corinth Road, Corinth, ME 04427. He first joined the Grange on March 20, 1943 and will begin his 81st year soon!
On Friday, February 2, We’re ISOG (In Search Of Grangers) to join us at Emilio Estates in Corinth at 1:15 pm. I’ve finally got the information and certificates needed to recognize Basil Clements, our somewhat adopted Granger. We “owe” him at least two certificates–his 75 and 80-year recognitions. Basil joined Castine Grange on March 20, 1943! This will be a brief ceremony–if you’d like to help out, all you have to do is wear a sash and look happy! Call Janice or me and we’ll fill you in. It’ll be a fun, meaningful and memorable time!
Third graders at Brownville Elementary School received lots of words recently in the form of brand-new dictionaries from Valley Grange. The students learned a little bit about Valley Grange, farming, and agriculture, not to mention how to use a dictionary. Since there is a lot more than words in their books, we even said “Hello” to each other using sign language.
Mr. Boomsma demonstrates the shepherd’s hook.Is that hand going up or down?Students really get into their dictionaries.Getting ready for a dictionary race–who will find the word first?The welcome mat is out!
The Dictionary Project is designed to aid third-grade teachers with their goal of seeing all their students leave at the end of the year as good writers, active readers, and creative thinkers. The dictionary is for the student to keep, take it into the fourth grade, and use it throughout his or her entire school career. “The kids become really engaged,” Valley Grange Program Director “Mr. Boomsma” notes. “I think they like the idea that people in the community care about them and, as we explain, they own the dictionary and all the words in it.”
The Valley Grange program extends across four districts and five schools. This is our 24th year and we’ve given out close to 4,000 dictionaries since starting the program. Additional Dictionary Days are being scheduled at SeDoMoCha Elementary in Dover Foxcroft, PCES in Guilford, Harmony Elementary, and Ridgeview Elementary in Dexter.
Bangor Saving Bank has announced its annual Peanut Butter and Jelly Drive, encouraging folks to “go nuts and have fun! Valley Grangers have no problem with that. In fact, we plan to support it!
In short, we’ll be collecting jars of peanut butter and jelly to contribute to the drive. As Bangor Savings explains, “Peanut butter, a protein-rich food item, is too often in short supply and high demand at local food insecurity programs. And what’s a more classic pair than peanut butter and jelly? Something as simple as donating a jar can make a big difference to a neighbor in need. And with school back in session, we can support our local schools and backpack programs by donating a jar of peanut butter or jelly!”
You can, of course, drop off your donations at any bank branch. For our part, we’ll have a collection box on the porch of the Valley Grange Hall (172 Guilford Center Road, corner of Butter Street). This worked well during last year’s “Sock it to us” collection. We’re also asking Grange Members to collect. We’ll complete the collection at our September 15th meeting and deliver what we’ve collected to the Dover Foxcroft Branch before the September 30th deadline.
Last year, we had a boxful! Will we need a bigger box this year?
Bangor Savings will be matching donations–for every jar received, one additional jar will be donated to local food insecurity programs.
We have a few ideas for going nuts and having fun, so stay tuned!
Chief Valley Grange Fair Booth Creators included Mary Annis, Janice Boomsma, Irene Thomas, Judy Ricker, and Pat Engstrom. They came up with something different this year–a display featuring information and items relative to all the different programs and projects Valley Grange does! The Pomona Grange Booth includes information about the Granges in the area. (Click on any image to see it enlarged.)
Twice a month, the employees from each of the six offices of Maine Highlands Federal Credit Union dress casual for “Caring for Community.” Each employee pays $3 for the privilege of wearing jeans and a Caring for Community Shirt. The total funds collected on these dress casual days benefit a local non-profit organization. Valley Grange was recently named the recipient of those funds. Thank you, Maine Highlands Federal Credit Union Employees for supporting our programs! Members and friends of the Grange, please say “thanks” when you visit one of the MHFCU offices!
During their recent celebration of community, Valley Grange named Roger Ricker Community Citizen of the Year. Roger passed away last December but left behind a legacy of constant and lifelong support for his community.
After honoring Roger, Valley Grange Program Director Walter Boomsma challenged attendees to consider the impact of spending just five minutes a day in support of their communities. A five-minute video provided examples of the Guilford Grange’s programs and supporters. Boomsma noted, “If you buy a raffle ticket from us, you’re also buying a dictionary for a third grader.”
“We are restarting some of our programs suspended due to COVID. You don’t have to be a member to help and support us. When we asked people to ‘Sock it to us’ with donations to help provide socks to kids throughout the county, we received support from as far away as Pennsylvania and West Virginia.”
He also pointed out that five minutes a day isn’t much. “But it adds up. If there are 2,000 people in your community and just half (we’ll excuse young kids and people over 80) of them give five minutes per day, that equates to having nearly thirteen people working full time, making your community stronger. Based on the average salary in Maine, that’s worth over $700,000 to your community. Just five minutes every day. Of course, the ultimate value is not in dollars and cents. It’s in the difference you will make in individual’s lives.”
You’re invited to a wonderful celebration planned for our community. This is a special event that will bring us all together to celebrate our achievements, share our stories, and strengthen the bonds that unite us. It’s a great chance for us to come together and show our support for one another. We’ll start with a potluck supper (bring a casserole or dessert to share). Our program will include recognition of our community citizen of the year and include mention of folks who have supported and contributed to our great way of life. We look forward to seeing you all there!
Valley Grange is located at the corner of Butter Street and Guilford Center Road in Guilford. For additional information please visit our “About” Page.
Send mail to
Mary Annis, Secretary
28 Orchard Road
Dover Foxcroft ME 04426
Walter Boomsma
Program Director
17 River Road
Abbot ME 04406
Walter Boomsma
Valley Grange #144 