Well good morning anglers of the elusive fish of the running waters of  the Sacramento River Delta system. I went out yesterday with a friend ,but came back after a short while. Even though it was for a couple hours we still landed a 16 1/2 inch striper. We used a clouser along the tulles out side of Lauritsens Harbor. The weather was nice,slight breeze with the sun shine and incoming tide, what more could you want? More fishing time! Oh well thats the way it goes sometimes.

   Any one go out yesterday or today? Drop me line ,get it, drop me a line heh! heh! heh! Okay ,anyway let me know how you did and maybe I’ll see you on the water and we can swap info or fish tales, get it ,yeah! yeah! yeah! I know.

   Here are the tides for today and the next few days I hope you get to go out and wet a line.

   Until then see ya!

   Grumpus  Grange

Tides for Antioch starting with December 18, 2009.

Day        High      Tide  Height   Sunrise    Moon  Time      % Moon
           /Low      Time    Feet    Sunset                    Visible

F   18     High   5:12 AM     3.2   7:18 AM    Rise  9:03 AM      1
    18      Low  10:15 AM     1.8   4:50 PM     Set  7:00 PM
    18     High   3:13 PM     3.9
    18      Low  11:30 PM    -0.3

Sa  19     High   5:53 AM     3.2   7:19 AM    Rise  9:36 AM      5
    19      Low  11:00 AM     1.7   4:50 PM     Set  7:59 PM
    19     High   3:53 PM     3.7

Su  20      Low  12:00 AM    -0.2   7:19 AM    Rise 10:04 AM      10
    20     High   6:30 AM     3.1   4:51 PM     Set  8:58 PM
    20      Low  11:46 AM     1.6
    20     High   4:37 PM     3.5

When making plans for this weekend, we suggest that you ask yourself one question: When was the last time you saw a two -foot tall gingerbread house?

This Sunday at 2 p.m. local culinary schools will compete in the Gingerbread House Throwdown, hosted by the Downtown Sacramento Partnership at the Carnival at St. Rose. During the two hour event, teams from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, the Institute of Technology and The Art Institute of California – Sacramento will assemble their gingerbread masterpieces up to two- feet tall to be judged by a panel of distinguished Sacramento chefs. Judges include Chef Andrea Reiter of Ten22, Chef Elaine Baker of Grange and Chef Russel Michel of the Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel. Oh, and did we mention that Sac Foodie Julie Berge will be the Emcee??

The winning team will be awarded the opportunity to shadow one of the chef judges on the job in their restaurant kitchen and, of course, earn bragging rights for their school. The audience will take on an important role in the judging process by honoring one of the teams with the People’s Choice Award.

The Carnival at St. Rose is located at 7th & K streets. Admission is $6 for children under 12 and seniors over 55 and $7 for adults and includes unlimited access to the carnival games, arcade and rides. For more information visit the Downtown Sacramento Partnership Web site.

Our first annual fellowship breakfast

The hall was toasty; the food was great… and the fellowship was warm as Grangers gathered for their first annual “Fellowship Breakfast.” One of the highlights of the program was the gift table for our Piscataquis Santa.. There wasn’t any cookies and milk, but there was quite a pile of assorted gifts! One of the sounds of Christmas for Grangers is clicking needles! Many of the gifts were hand-made mittens and hats… there were lots of books and some stuffed bears… It took Tim and Susan a few trips to “load up” for delivery on Monday. Thanks to all who helped… and remember–it’s not too late!

Laura Pratt reported during the meeting that she had knitted mittens for everybody in her grandson’s class and was thoroughly enjoying the thank-you notes from the kids and teacher… it does seem like everyone has the Christmas Spirit! Our program for the morning included folks sharing special memories or Christmas stories… we had a few wet eyes and a lot of warm feelings.

I’ve called this our FIRST annual fellowship breakfast because I suspect it will become a tradition. We had fun cooking together, working together, and sharing memories and thoughts! Isn’t that an important part of Christmas? Shouldn’t spend some time with family and friends… cooking (and eating!) together and working together and sharing together?

By DES HOUGHTON

A $32 bottle of WA shiraz has controversially outscored the legendary $550 Penfolds Grange in a respected wine guide. In a decision sure to send the nation’s wine lovers scurrying for bargains, The Penguin 2010 Good Australian Wine Guide gives the 2007 Voyager Estate Shiraz 96 points and the 2004 Penfolds Grange 95 points.

The guide’s author, Nick Stock, rates 19 other varieties of Australian and New Zealand shiraz ahead of the Grange, including a $40 bottle of 2007 Shaw and Smith Shiraz, a $60 bottle of 2006 Seppelts St Peters Shiraz and a $60 bottle of d’Arenb erg 2006 Dead Arm Shiraz. Mr Stock, a Melbourne-based wine judge, also gives a $30 bottle of 2007 Church Road Reserve Syrah from Hawke’s Bay in NZ equal marks to the Grange.

Alex Wright, 35, whose family owns the Voyager Estate vineyard in Margaret River, said the result was “mind-boggling”. “It’s very humbling and exciting at the same time,” Ms Wright said. She said the survey showed that not all the nation’s great reds come from South Australia. Ms Wright described the Voyager Estate Shiraz as having a lovely perfume with the flavours of blood plumes, mulberry, blackberry spice with a hint of anise and well-balanced oak. She said it was a perfect accompaniment to venison or shanks.

Mr Stock said he tasted more than 8000 wines before making his selections. He names the 2007 Cullen Kevin John Chardonnay ($70) his wine of the year and its creator, Vanya Cullen, his winemaker of the year.

In his book, Mr Stock pokes fun at the mystique surrounding Grange. “Another year, another Grange and another formidable PR campaign,” he wrote. But in an interview, Mr Stock said: “Let’s not turn this into a Grange-bashing story because that’s not what the book is about. “I find the Grange very, very impressive, but there are many wines at a fraction of the price that outperform and out-finesse it.,, Mr Stock seems enraptured by the 2005 Henschke Hill of Grace, which he awards 99 points. It, too, is an iconic Australian red selling for $550. It is at the top rung of Australian shiraz, he said. He raves about its striking blackberry fruits, a spicy complexity, hints of fragrant rose petals and other profound aromas and an impressive complexity and harmony.

Penfolds chief winemaker Peter Gago was unperturbed by Mr Stock’s ratings. He pointed out that James Halliday, the doyen of Australian wine critics, had recently awarded the latest Grange 98 points, as had Huon Hooke, a respected critic and judge. And one of Europe’s most influential critics, Jancis Robinson, awards it 19.5 points out of 20, saying it was one of the great vintages of all time.

In the latest edition of the Australian Wine Companion (Hardie Grant Books), Halliday said the 2004 Grange had “amazing depth”, comparing it with the finest Grand Cru red burgundy. He gave the Hill of Grace 96 points, describing it as “second only to Penfolds Grange”. Halliday also gives 96 points to Peter Lehmann 2004 Stonewell Shiraz, another red wine with a cult following.

Last month a $25 Margaret River shiraz trumped the nation’s best wines to win best dry table red at the National Wine Show in Canberra. Sandalford’s 2008 Margaret River Range shiraz shared the accolades with Penfolds, which claimed the best table wine and best white table wine gongs for its 2008 Reserve Bin 08A chardonnay which will be released for $90 in May.

cocoons, originally uploaded by sizzled.

nuit blanche=generally befuddling

Das Herz der Hölle von Jean-Christophe Grangé

Klappentext: Mathieu Durey, Polizist bei der Kripo in Paris, ist einem mysteriösen Fall auf der Spur, einer ebenso erschreckenden wie merkwürdigen Mordserie. Teuflische Symbole zieren die Schauplätze des Verbrechens, und alle mutmaßlichen Mörder haben eines gemeinsam: Sie waren schon einmal tot, sind aus dem Koma ins Leben zurückgekehrt…

Das Buch hat mich sofort in seinen Bann gezogen, ich mag Kriminalgeschichten mit einer Mischung aus Religion und Grauen. Es war bis zur letzten Seite spannend, auch wenn ich schon ziemlich zu Beginn eine Ahnung davon hatte, wie es endet. Als sich meine Ahnung dann am Ende bewahrheitete, bekam ich plötzlich Herzrasen vor Aufregung. Ich kann diesen Thriller nur empfehlen, zu zart besaitet sollte man allerdings nicht sein, Grangé beschreibt sowohl die Abgründe der menschlichen Seele als auch die Leichen sehr bildlich. Ich möchte gar nicht zu lange darüber nachdenken, was jeden Tag in dieser Welt passiert.

Mein nächstes Buch ist übrigens auch wieder ein Thriller, dieses Mal von Dan Wells und zwar: Ich bin kein Serienkiller. Ich bin gespannt.

WABI-TV Five called it an Awesome Dictionary Day at Brownville Elementary. If you click that link you can read and see their story! When I checked it this morning, there seemed to be a problem with the sound track. I did send an email to the station about it… so if it doesn’t work for you, you might consider checking back Monday or Tuesday. (And when you check, you might feel compelled [Hint] to leave a positive comment, thanking WABI for their support. They have been extremely supportive of local communities in general and our Grange specifically!

Lagrange Scholars learn to "look it up!"

It was an awesome day… and inspite of the fact that it rained (indoor recesses) and kids being excited about Thanksgiving Vacation… all the presentations went extremely well. The opening line of the story says it all… when we hand the kids a new book chock full of knowledge, it’s not hard to keep the kids entertained. They actually entertain themselves! Well, that might be a bit of an over-statement… but they sure do love their new dictionaries.

Thanks to Grangers Jim Annis and Merna Dunham for helping out… and a special thanks to teachers and administration at the schools. They are super cooperative and helpful in putting together a schedule that makes it possible for our Grange Team to get the dictionaries out in one day/one trip. Working closely with the schools as a bookworm and with the dictionary project gives me a special appreciation for how difficult scheduling can be… it is no small task for A teacher to adjust–let alone three schools and four classes on the same day!

This does complete our distribution for this year–at least sort of! We will continue to make dictionaries available to home-schooled third graders and, of course, any students moving into the area. Parents can check with the school or contact the Grange. (I am working on a method for folks to contact us through this site… in the interim you can email grange at boomsmaonline.com–you’ll have to leave out the spaces and change at to @. I’m also waiting for some photos… more to come!

Tuesday, November 3 Dexter Farm Project meets at 7 PM at Town Council Chambers, Dexter. For more information or to be added to their email list, contact Judy Craig.

 November 5 Garland Grange will host the Piscataquis Pomona Meeting with a pot luck supper at 6 PM followed by the meeting at 7 PM. More information from WM Bill at 924-3437.

Saturday, November 7 Ripley Grange presents service awards to eighteen members… program begins at 2 PM.  

Friday, November 13 Valley Grange helps out at SeDoMoCha with the “Reading is Fun” Program… Volunteers are needed… if you’d like to join us by reading a short book to a class, email Walter.

Friday, November 13 Garland Grange serves their famous Hunters’ Public Supper. Menu includes baked beans, bbq ribs, hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, pasta dishes, homemade bread and desserts. ALL YOU CAN EAT. Price is $6.00 for adults, $3.00 for children ages 5-12, under age 5 FREE. Families welcome and ask about family rates. Takeout is also available. Proceeds to benefit Garland Grange Building Fund. For more information please call 924-6954.

Saturday, November 14 Garland Junior Grange meets at 1 PM. For more info contact Andrea Rollins, call 924-6954 or see their Facebook Page. They’ll be decorating the hall for the holidays and enjoying some games and snacks!

Saturday, November 14  Dirigo #98 in Freedom Maine will be conducting a Degree Day. They will complete two beginning at 9:30 AM, break for a short lunch, and complete third and fourth. For additional information contact Lois Zezima.

Monday, November 16 there will be a public hearing with the County Commissioners regarding funding the Piscataquis County Extension Service Office beginning at 7 PM at the Superior Court Building in Dover Foxcroft. For more information contact Donna Coffin.

Tuesday, November 17  Dexter Farm Project meets at 7 PM at Town Council Chambers, Dexter—special meeting for farmers. For more information or to be added to their email list, contact Judy Craig.

Thursday, November 19 Lakeside Grange in Harrison Maine will conduct four degrees starting with a supper at 6:30 PM.

Friday, November 20 Valley Grange conducts Dictionary Day at schools throughout S.A.D. 41… for the complete schedule and more information contact Walter.

Friday, November 20 Valley Grange conducts its annual “Homecoming” starting with a spaghetti suppah at 6 PM ($6, kids under 12 $3 and toddlers are free!). Musical entertainment by the Back Porch Bluegrass Band will begin at 7 PM (by donation). Come “home” to good old-food and fun . Bring the whole family, this is affordable family fun! Don’t forget to get your “Meat or Heat” raffle tickets before this! Drawing will be held during the program!

Saturday, November 21 Garland Grange will hold a Flea Market and Craft Fair at the Garland Grange Halll from 9 AM – 4 PM. Rent a table for  $10.00 each. Call Lisa Newman at 924-4010 or Sherrill Burdin at 564-3003 to reserve your space. Refreshments will also be sold.

Sunday, November 22 Bangor Grange will host The YPlayers and Gospel Train for a concert at 2 PM. $8 donation includes goodies during intermission. For more information, contact Rolf Staples at 973-3976.

 Thursday, December 3  South Sangerville Grange hosts Piscataquis Pomona for a Potluck Supper at 6 PM meeting and Christmas Celebration starts at 7 PM. For more information contact WM Bill Bemis at 924-3537.

Last weekend football in the state of Illinois (college and pro) was a complete train wreck. Derailed. Disastrous. Debacle.

This weekend? Pretty damn good.

I refrained all week from posting about anything having to do with football in the state of Illinois. I know my “About” section said I would discuss Illini Sports, but I haven’t made a single post yet about Fighting Illini Football due to their under-performing season (ya it’s that painful). But once in a blue moon, the stars align and shine down on a Halloween Weekend to give rise to the Monsters of Midway on the gridirons of Illinois’ football. For the visiting teams it was a frightening nightmare to step foot on such a weekend in Illinois.

Fighting Illini Football has been a large disappointment all season – and that is an understatement. On this 2009 Halloween Weekend, the Michigan Wolverines were looking to continue their success against Illinois at Memorial Stadium. For the Illini, they have not won a home game against Michigan since that magical 1983 season – coincidentally also a Halloween Weekend. That 1983 Halloween Weekend victory against Michigan clinched a Rose Bowl berth that set campustown into a wild weekend frenzy…and today remains one of the fondest memories amongst Illini fans. This 2009 Halloween Weekend victory against Michigan did not clinch a post-season Bowl berth. Instead it was reminder of what could be of this once storied football program. The “fighting spirit” of Dick Butkus took over freshman CB Terry Hawthorne to chase down a streaking Roy Roundtree and stop him at the Illinois’ 1 yard line to set up a game-changing goal line stand. Then the “galloping ghost” of Red Grange empowered RB Mikel LeShoure to bust up the middle for a 70 yard touchdown and break the game open. Illinois went on to run over Michigan for 377 running yards, 500 total yards, and a 38-13 win. The victory over Michigan gave Illinois its first Big Ten win of the season, its first home victory against Michigan since 1983, and its first back-to-back wins against Michigan since the 1957-58 wins. There were no goal posts torn down, no midfield celebrations, and no post-season berth. But it was a victory against Michigan…and I’ll take it.

For the Chicago Bears, they were heading home to Soldier Field hoping to dispel any notion that the Bengals beatdown exposed the Bears as a “wannabe team” in the suddenly competitive NFC North. The Monsters of Midway looked like they were back as they forced 5 Cleavland Browns turnovers. One of them was a ridiculous diving interception by Danieal Manning. Matt Forte ran decently for 90 yards and two touchdowns. However, Cutler was still harassed all afternoon by the lowly Browns that has raised more doubts than anything about the Chicago Bears. Again the offensive line struggled to protect Cutler as they gave up 4 sacks. While Forte had 2 TDs and 90 yards, it took him 26 carries for paltry 3.5 average. This is the Browns remember. Nevertheless it was a victory…and I’ll take it too.

To top it off, we ended our Sunday football season with a 10-0 shutout and finished the season strong with 3 straight victories. I struggled in the first half as some of my snap sailed too high for the quarterback, and I did get flattened for the first time all season. But in the second half I got my snaps down, got two more pancakes, and I did make a ridiculous one-handed catch on 4th down play that led to the game-clinching touchdown. I hate to gloat, but I gotta say my catch was the shit…and we got it on film! I loved playing football again and thanks to Nick, Joe, Tomasz, and the rest of the team for some fun Sunday mornings. Here’s to next season.

Even though I wasn’t even alive, watching this is electrifying and exhilarating. Look at that crowd…electric.

This is the third time I threw my remote and let out a primal scream this season because the badass-ness of the play (1st time was when Olsen got leveled in the Steelers game. 2nd was when Adrian Peterson ran over Gay). Thank God Comcast makes durable remotes.

Speed kills. Hust-la… hust-la…

There’s no doubt that all the cheap deals on offer have tarnished big wine brands – many of them Australian. Some deserve it. An ocean of sub-standard plonk has made its way from Down Under, proving that Australia isn’t positioned to produce really good wines at rock-bottom prices any more.  But, leaving very low prices aside, some of the biggest names in Australian wine still do a pretty good job. One of them is Penfolds.

Two recent Dublin tastings have been a useful reminder not just of the breadth and quality of the Penfolds range (from the everyday stuff right up to Grange), but of the worthwhile experimentation being undertaken by this giant sheltering under the Fosters umbrella.  Peter Gago – one of the most personable winemakers on the planet as well being among the most intelligent – introduced two smashing examples of the Cellar Reserve range which gives his winemaking team an opportunity to play around. Let’s hope that both the meaty Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir and the perky Barossa Sangiovese become available in Ireland soon. Meanwhile, Penfolds is about to release its first Tempranillo and an old-vine Zinfandel is being trialled.

Gago also brought news of a new glass wine stopper which his company is developing – a bit like the Vinolok but minus the plastic cushion under the rim.  With this one, glass bottle and glass stopper will sit tight against each other – a better bet, he believes, for wines which require long ageing. Although he is a major fan of screwcaps for white wines, Gago is not convinced that they will prove suitable for reds over the long term. ‘The chemistry of red wine is very different from that of white wine,’  he says. As an ex-science teacher, he should know.

Grange 2004 was poured at this tasting; Grange 2000 at a second Penfolds event a few weeks later. Without wanting to sound ungrateful, these were rather wasted on me. I’ve always found the magnificent (and less macho) St Henri Shiraz a much more thrilling wine. But the second tasting was fascinating for other reasons. Examples of that Penfolds stalwart, Koonunga Hill Shiraz-Cabernet, from 1990 (gloriously elegant), 1996 (a bit clumsy) and 2002 (silkily delicious) showed how astonishingly well this everyday red at just €12.99 can age. And good old Bin 389 Cabernet-Shiraz, a cracking wine at around €30, stood up remarkably well to the more exalted company of Bin 707 and Grange. It’s Peter Gago’s favourite in the whole range. Good man.

Sergeant Eric Boothroyd and Mrs. Mary Annis talk with the children about the Civil War Era.

Over forty third graders from Guilford Primary School descended on the Valley Grange Hall to receive their new dictionaries along and some history. Special thanks to our Civil War Sergeant Eric Boothroyd for helping out. His experience proves the unpredictability of kids. This time he measured his sword in anticipation, but nobody asked how long it was! Mary Annis wore her era dress and also spoke with the kids about the times.

The Guilford part of our Words for Thirds Program is cosponsored by South Sangerville Grange. It hardly seems possible, but this is our sixth year providing dictionaries to Guilford students. (Yikes! That means the first recipents are now freshmen in high school!)

Anxious Guilford scholars learn a little history.

Parents of homeschooled third graders are reminded that dictionaries are available for them by contacting the school or a Valley Grange Member.

We now begin scheduling presentations in SAD 41 at the Cook School in LaGrange plus Milo and Brownville. Also, we are currently working with the DAR Tisbury Manor Chapter in Monson. They will be looking to establish a program in the Greenville area in the near future.  There will be lots of the familar red dictionaries throught Piscataquis County!

During the recent State Grange Conference in Augusta, Valley Grange took second place in a statewide contest for excellence in Community Service. In addition to the honor, Mary Annis, Community Service Chairperson, accepted a prize check from the Maine State Grange which has since been added to our treasury.

Mary assembled the 5″ binder that became the entry, noting that “I couldn’t make this binder if it weren’t for what everybody in our Grange does.” (The binder is now on display at the Grange Hall.) Mary admitted that winning was great, but tempered a bit by the fact she had to speak in front of the entire State Convention and describe our Grange’s Community Service Program.

One difference this year is the fact that judging was done by “non-Grange” people–community leaders and business folks. The competition for these awards is always fierce. Master Jim described the tension during the presentations. “When they announced fourth place I thought, ‘I could live with that.’ When I didn’t hear our name I thought, ‘Well third will be okay.’ As the number climbed I foolishly thought our chances of a prize were diminishing. Now I’m not so sure but what we just might take first place next year!”

Valley Grangers are certainly proud of our award, but even more proud that we are part of an organization that makes service to our communities such an important effort.

If you’ve been enjoying Preserving Traditions events, you might consider joining the Grange! The Grange is full of folks who are interested in old-fashioned food and friendship…it’s part of the reason Preserving Traditions has been such a great fit.

As a member of the Grange, you’ll attend all Preserving Traditions events for free and get first chance to sign up for our most popular (and space-limited) events, like canning work days and farm visits. As a member of the Grange, you’ll have be able to participate in monthly potlucks and hear interesting presenters. There’s also a discount on the Grange’s family dances, and membership in the national Grange organization, as well, giving you a voice in local, state, and national Grange business. (And yes, there is actually a secret handshake!)

Annual membership is $40 (or $70 for the whole family), but we’re running a “special” this year: if you sign up before December, we’ll extend your membership through December 2010. You can download an application and mail it to our membership director, Joan Hellmann (info is on the application).

Sept. 26^th was Apple Day at the Grange.* This is an annual event that features all things apple. Inside, we had an apple-themed bake sale. Apple-rhubarb pie, a variety of apple cakes, apple baklava, and any number of cakes and cookies with applesauce in them. There was also an apple tasting – 15 or so varieties of apples, both fresh and dried crispy, many of which I’d never heard of before. And finally, some craft activities and displays (including one on food preservation methods that I set up).

Outside was where the real action was happening: a demo of making apple sauce and apple butter, and the make-your-own-cider activity. The apple sauce was made in batches throughout the day and doled out in paper cups to anyone who wanted them. We probably sauced 50 pounds of apples for sampling. Follow the cut for a visual tour of how to make your own apple cider! I would guess 50+ people came for the cider-making…and I have to say, it was really, really cool. I hadn’t reckoned just how neat it would be to make my own cider. I brought a tubful of apples from a neighbor’s tree. They were sweet, but lumpy, the way backyard trees often are. Farmer Lutz was there, selling several varieties of apples, so I picked a peck of something green and tart…I don’t remember the variety, but it might have been a Greening. In any case, I figured one part tart and two parts sweet apples would probably make a pretty good cider.

First, you dump all your apples into a milk crate set on a pallet and hose them off. Then you grind the apples into a pan. There were two grinders set up – one with an old-fashioned flywheel handle, and one on an electric motor. The motorized grinder was quite fun to use. You toss the apples in and zzzzrpt! It’s pulverized in half a second, spraying tiny bits of apple into your hair. It’s far more satisfying than using a document shredder, but a similar sort of glee. (See videos of the electric and manual apple grinders.)

Then take your pan of apple mush to the press. Pour the mush into a strainer bag, place the squeezer board on top, and start closing the press. Cider pours out the spout into a bucket, and when it’s done, you pour the cider through a strainer and a funnel into your jug. Pressing a gallon of cider required about half a bushel of apples and took under ten minutes. As soon as I was done, I wanted to do it again!

How did it taste? Pretty darn good. I could see myself really getting into cider-making, experimenting with different kinds of apples and chasing the elusive “prefect balance.” But really – mixing a few tart apples into your sweets makes a really good cider, no muss, no fuss. I might do 3:1 (sweet:tart) instead of 2:1 next time, but it’s fine.

If you are jonesing to press your own cider this year, check out Parker Mills park on October 17-18. You’ll need to make an appointment (on the half-hour between 9 and 5), but you’ll have the use of old-fashioned grinders and presses for the full half-hour. Bring lots of empty jugs!

When I can move my arms again, I’ll tell you all about Apple Day at the Grange (including making cider) and the chicken harvest workshop.

The Grange is a fun organization… and that includes friendly competition and general playfulness. So far Valley Grange is the only local Grange with it’s own web site… We’re pretty smug about that! But our very first comment comes from “some one” associated with neighboring Bangor Grange… and he figured out how to use OUR site to promote one of THEIR events!

Actually, there’s a lot of playfulness in that complaint, because Grange is really all about cooperation. So while the focus of this site will be Valley Grange and it’s activities, where possible I’ll try to occasionally post what’s going on around the area… and even a little beyond. Some of these events will be fairly “Grange Specific” and others (like Garland Grange’s Public Suppers and Bangor Grange’s Concerts) will be of interest to everybody!

I’ll do my best to make sure everything is accurate… but dates and details can change, so it’s always a good idea to confirm. If there’s no contact information or you need help locating a Grange, send me an email  and I’ll try to help.

This is the schedule through November…

Saturday, September 19th Bangor Grange is hosting Evergreen Evergreen in Concert at 7 PM… This is great American Roots Music. The suggested donation is $10. Kids 5-12 are $5. The Hall is located at  1192 Ohio Street. For tickets and info, please call 973-3976.

Garland Junior Grange meets at 1 PM. For more info contact Andrea Rollins or see their Facebook Page!

Sunday September 20th Sabbath Day Lake Grange hosts Androscoggin Pomona for a Degree Day. All four degrees will be conferred starting at 4 PM.

Saturday, September 26th Maine State Grange hosts Annual Lecturer’s Conference, 9 AM – 3 PM.

Saturday, September 26th East Eddington Grange hosts Penobscot Pomona for a Fifth Degree Conferral. Paid supper starts at 6 PM, Degree Program at 7 PM.

Thursday, October 1st Piscataquis Pomona meets at Valley Grange. Potluck Supper at 6 PM, regular Pomona meeting at 7 PM. FMI contact Master Bill at 924-3537.

Friday, October 9th Garland Grange boils up a public Supper. Enjoy a New England Boiled Dinner anytime between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM… admission is $6.00.

Saturday October 10th Cushing Grange hosts Knox Pomona for a Fifth Degree Conferral starting at 10:30 AM. Contact Sherrill Snowdeal at 236-3270 for more information.

Saturday, October 10th Bangor Grange will host Zevulon in Concert on at 7 PM. Suggested donation: $10 in advance. Kids 5-12, $5. Bangor Grange hall, 1192 Ohio St. For tickets and info, please call 973-3976.

October 15 – 17th Maine State Grange 136 Annual Session will be held at the Augusta Armory! Secretaries and Masters should have additional information regarding banquet and schedule….

November 5th Garland Grange will host the Piscataquis Pomona Meeting with a pot luck supper at 6 PM followed by the meeting at 7 PM. More information from WM Bill at 924-3437.

Friday, November 13th Garland Grange serves their famous Hunters’ Public Supper. Eat anytime between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM… admission is $6.00.

Saturday, November 14th Garland Junior Grange meets at 1 PM. For more info contact Andrea Rollins or see their Facebook Page.

Friday, November 20th Valley Grange will sponsor their annual “Grange Homecoming and Reunion.” Details are still in the works, but this is always a fun night! More information from Walter at 876-4131.

Bitirmedim henüz. Az kaldı gerçi, bitirmeden yazmamın sebebi, sonunu benim de bilmediğim içni spoiler verme riskimi azaltmak istemem. Neyse.

Koloni, Grange’in son kitabı. Okuyanlar okumuştur. Kitapları uzaktan takip ettiğimden olsagerek, elime yeni geçti arkadaş vasıtasıyla. Taş Meclisi ve Şeytan Yemini dışındaki kitaplarını    okumuştum, bunu da okuyayım dedim.

Şu ana kadar okuduğum 300 sayfalık bölümde, eski kitaplarındaki performansını koruyor yazar. İnsanı içine çeken konusu ve her şeyden önce muhteşem anlatımı sayesinde elinizden  bırakmanız zor oluyor. Benki kitabı zor okuyan şahıs, 2 günde 300 sayfa okudum, yaa.

Alın okuyun işte.