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!
for a wide variety of tasks and projects… all designed to prepare our hall for our big community celebration coming soon! Inside tasks will include sweeping, dusting, wiping, rearranging, and setting up chairs… outside tasks will include raking and pruning… maybe some painting if the weather’s right!
Bring your favorite tools and labor-saving devices. Come any time after 2:00 pm… or before if you can see what needs doing and don’t mind working alone! Better yet, bring a friend! Many hands make work light.
For more information call Walter at 207 343-1842 or Mary at 207 564-0820.
Traditions can be great, and that certainly applies to our annual “Breakfast for Supper” program every year. We also have some great treats as members and friends put together a smorgasbord of breakfast dishes that may include an Apple French Toast Casserole… crispy bacon… lots of homemade muffins… an egg casserole or two…there’s always plenty to eat but bring a contribution if you can. And you can even come in your Jammies–we’ll have the hall plenty warm, and the season’s warmth will help.
Guests are welcome but not obligated to stay for our short meeting and Christmas Program starting at 7 pm. We’re usually finished and on our way home by 8:15 pm.
Do plan to join us for a relaxing and fun time! Questions regarding food arrangements can be addressed to Mary (564-0820) or Janice (876-4131). Weather permitting, you can come by car, sleigh, snowmobile, or, if you live close enough, skis and snowshoes!
It’s cool to cool off–at least some! We’re particularly interested in the forecast for Saturday, July 30, 2022, because that’s the day of Riverfest!
The current NOAA forecast is “sunny and in the low 80’s.” I’m not sure we can ask for anything much better than that! Valley Grangers will be there, talking about Grange Membership, handing out pins, and selling raffle tickets! See the complete schedule of events on the Riverfest Facebook Page. The parade starts at 9:30 am and vendor tents open at 11:00 am. Stop by and say “Hi!”
Alumni of the Valley Grange Bookworm Program and Dictionary Recipients are especially welcome!
If, for some reason, you can’t make it and would like to buy a raffle ticket, contact any Valley Grange member. It’s your chance to win up to $100 and support the many Valley Grange Programs, including:
Words for Thirds–Third graders in four area school districts receive a dictionary that is theirs to keep! Nearly 4,000 have been distributed to date.
Bookworming–Volunteers visit school and listen to second and third graders at PCES read.
GrowME–An annual program of hands-on activities in local schools, promoting agricultural literacy.
Veterans Honor Program–In conjunction with the Community Health and Counseling Hospice program, we collect lap quilts and afghans as part of a celebration for individual vets.
Blistered Finger Knitters–Knitters create lap robes for seniors and hats and mittens for local school children.
Sock It to Us!–We collect socks and distribute them to six local elementary schools.
Project Linus–We host an annual “blanketeers” day to make blankets for kids and members participate in Project Linus Day.
Hall Use for non-profits–Past use has included 4-H, Guilford Historical Society, D.A.R, Spirit of America Foundation…
Newspapers in Education–Contest encouraging fourth graders to explore commercial art and advertising.
Garry Owen House–We support this transitional shelter where homeless veterans can find hope for the future.
Bikes for Books–We support this Mason’s Program that encourages literacy both financially and through our Bookworm Program.
Community Citizen Award–An annual celebration of community and recognition of “boots on the ground” service to our communities.
Kiddy Ditty Bags–We provide the local courts with these activity bags designed to entertain children who must sit in courtrooms.
Teddy Bear Parade–We provide teddy bears to local law enforcement agencies as requested.
Special Programs–“If you have the passion, Valley Grange is the place.” We are always willing to consider addressing community needs and opportunities… and we have annual programs including an annual fellowship breakfast, balloons and baked stuff at Piscataquis River Festival, an annual picnic fun and fundraiser…
Some programs have been temporarily suspended due to COVID mandates and restrictions—we can’t wait to get them going again!
For many years, May has been the month we recognize and celebrate at least one Community Citizen of the Year. Last year we set a new record by giving the award to the many school employees throughout the area. Well, we’re going to break that record this year. We’re considering everyone a Community Citizen of the Year in honor of the spirit that held our communities together for the past two years!
While it won’t be practical to award individual certificates, we will recognize friends and neighbors with a free community supper. And we’re relying on the great Grange tradition by serving up a Grange Bean Supper!
Supper will be served from 5:30 — 7:00 or until the food runs out, so come early. Our upstairs hall will be turned into a social center and game room so you can visit with your neighbors, play a game, build a puzzle… have some good old-fashioned fun! This is a celebration of community–a gathering of friends, neighbors and strangers., (You won’t be a stranger for long!) All are welcome! We have a Busy Box and Book Bin for kids! If you have a favorite board game, bring that along and challenge others.
If you’d like to help with the supper, call Mary at 564-0820 or Janice at 343-1842. If you’d like to help us spread the word, download and print this flyer/invitation. Give it friends, post it where you can!
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!
Please join us! Breakfast for Supper starts at 6 PM… it’s not exactly a potluck but we’ll appreciate help with the food. Just letting us know you’re coming will help with planning–use the form below. If you have a special breakfast casserole or dish to share, great! If you’d like to help with the menu, contact Mary Annis (564-0820) or Janice Boomsma.(876-4131). This is family-friendly and kids are welcome!
We had our annual election of officers… the site has been updated but there weren’t many changes! Amy Larrabee was elected Ceres, Kevin Annis was elected Steward, and Janice Boomsma was elected to the Executive Committee. Kevin Annis was appointed Membership Director. You can check out a list of leadership positions and responsibilities here!
Pat Engstrom reported that she delivered 21 Linus Blankets–work resulting from our “Blanketeering” event back in April and several individuals who’ve been working on them sense. Thanks to Pat’s “blistered fingers” we are also delivering three lap robes to the CHCS Hospice Program. Walter admits he’s become a big advocate of the program, particularly the service they are providing veterans. Lap robes (afghans) and quilts are needed! If you’d like to help, contact Pat or Walter!
As a reminder, we substitute the Piscataquis Pomona Picnic Fun and Fundraiser for our July meeting. It is scheduled for July 13, 2021 at the Boomsma Abode! For more information, contact Janice or Walter.
We also voted our annual donation to House in the Woods and Home for Little Wanderers from the CWA Fund.
While it presents some challenges, we also agreed that we will create a fair display this year–both for Valley Grange and for Piscataquis Pomona. We need ideas for the Valley Grange display—and willing workers for setting up (August 25, 2021) and tearing down (August 29, 2021). Mary and Janice will be organizing, please let them know you are willing to help!
Help is one thing we always can use more of! And members! For various reasons, we recently lost several and we truly need to consider a “membership drive” of some sort. Joining Valley Grange is not difficult or expensive. Just ask any member!
As things return to “normal,” we are looking forward to gearing up more of our traditional programming such as Bookworming, GrowME… our community celebrations… and we hope you’ll want to be part of it!
During a very “non-traditional” Community Celebration, Valley Grange Secretary Mary Annis announced recent membership recognition awards. Referred as “Golden Sheaf Members,” William Baird, Sherry French, and Joan Wright were all recognized for fifty years of continuous membership. Carolyn Campbell, unfortunately recently passed away just short of her seventieth year of membership.
Somewhat at the opposite end of the membership spectrum, Program Director Walter Boomsma congratulated Kylie Warman “for being the first baby born to a Valley Grange Member in forty two years.” Kylie is the daughter of member Heather Burgess and Charlie Warman. The award was accepted by her great grandmother, Pat Engstrom.\
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
Don’t miss this!
June Meeting NightJune 9, 2023
6days to go.
Check out the "Meeting Schedule" Tab at the top for more information about upcoming programs!
Walter Boomsma
Valley Grange #144 