FOR YOUR HEALTH: Protect Your Health By Protecting Your Retirement Savings

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(NAPSI)—Anyone who has ever seen a retirement account take a hit during a recession or stock market correction knows firsthand that it takes a mental and emotional toll. New research, however, has discovered that it also makes you sick.

An article published in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association, based on a study of how 8,714 adults fared over a 20-year period, concluded that a “negative wealth shock” can increase an individual’s risk of dying within the next two decades by more than 50 percent.

As The Wall Street Journal explained, “losing one’s life savings in the short term might curtail one’s life span in the long term.”

What Can Happen

It’s not entirely clear to researchers how the loss of retirement savings can damage your health—perhaps it’s related to increasing blood pressure or cardiovascular events—but the scientific findings are consistent with a growing body of knowledge:

  • The Population Reference Bureau studied the effects of the Great Recession of 2007 to 2009 on older Americans’ health and well-being and found that financial losses during that time translated into a higher risk of mental and physical health problems with potential long-term consequences.
  • The Federal Reserve released a briefing paper in 2013 that found “lower levels of life satisfaction” correspond to “greater levels of financial stress”—58 percent of older adults who said they were not very satisfied with life also reported having major financial stress.

What You Can Do

There is no magic bullet to prevent your retirement savings from being depleted by a major financial shock. Economic downturns are inevitable, stock market volatility is rising and unexpected expenses—such as a sudden hospital bill or home repairs—can wreak havoc on even the very best retirement funding plans. One option for coping with a negative financial shock is to unlock hidden value from everyday assets you may no longer need.

For example, many seniors are surprised to learn that one potential asset for generating immediate cash is a life insurance policy. A life insurance policy is considered your personal property, so you have the right to sell that policy anytime you like. When a consumer sells a policy—something called a “life settlement” transaction—the policy owner receives a cash payment and the purchaser of the policy assumes all future premium payments, then receives the death benefit upon the death of the insured. Candidates for life settlements are typically aged 70 years or older, with a life insurance policy that has a death benefit of at least $100,000.

If you own a life insurance policy you no longer need or can afford, you may be able to protect your retirement savings—and your personal health—by selling that policy for immediate cash.

Learn More

For more facts about life settlements, visit www.LISA.org or call the LISA office at (888) 793-3946.

Roland’s Trivia Question for Week of July 19, 2018

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In the 2004 ALCS between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, who was named the series MVP: Derek Jeter, David Ortiz, Derek Lowe, or Mariano Rivera?

Answer:

David Ortiz

SCORES & OUTDOORS: Challenge met: mystery moths identified, and a bonus

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Bronze-copper butterfly (photo: John V. Calhoun)

Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee

Back in the June 21, 2018, issue of The Town Line, I showed a couple of photos of moths which I could not identify, and asked for help from our readership.

The following week, I received an email from John V. Calhoun, Research Associate, at the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, Florida Museum of Natural History, at the University of Florida, in Gainesville. He has studied butterflies and moths for 45 years, and has authored many scientific publications on the subject.

His wife was born in Waterville, and they own a camp in Oakland where they visit for a few weeks each summer.

Baltimore Snout Moth, Hypena baltimoralis

Challenge A was a photo I took of a moth on my screen door at camp. I had never seen one before. John informed me, with the assistance of a colleague, James K. Adams, professor of biology, Dalton State College, in Dalton, Georgia, that it was a Baltimore Snout Moth, Hypena baltimoralis, which is a common species in much of the eastern United States. Adams is an expert at identifying many obscure moths, and is the long-time editor of the News of the Lepidopterists’ Society, which Calhoun served as president in 2016-17.

The caterpillars feed on maple trees. Maybe that is why I have not seen one at camp; there aren’t any maple trees around me. I am surprised I have not seen it at my home seeing that I have several maple trees on my property.

However, I can’t write too much about that particular moth because I could not find any information in all the research I have done. The internet has many photos and illustrations, but no information.

Io Moth closed

The second challenge, a moth that I photographed in 2015, was identified by John as the male Io Moth, Automeris io. Now, that moth I have seen before, just never in that position.

The Io moth is a colorful North American moth. It is found in a large part of the United States, and Canada.

Adult Io moths are strictly nocturnal, flying generally only during the first hours of the night. The females wait until nightfall and then extend a scent gland from the posterior region of the abdomen, in order to attract males.

Io Moth opened

The caterpillars are gregarious in all their instars, many times traveling in single file processions all over the food plant. As the larvae develop, they will lose their orange color and will turn bright green, having many spines. These stinging spines have a very painful venom that is released with the slightest touch.

Just this past week, John sent another photo. That of the Bronze Copper butterfly, which he photographed on June 29, in Benton. I guess you never know what you will find in nature. I have seen many different types of butterflies and moths, but again, never one like this.

Their range is widespread, from Alberta to northern Nevada in the west through to the east coasts of Canada and the United States. It is listed as a species of special concern in Connecticut, by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Adults have been observed feeding from blackberry and red clover.

So, that is our lesson on moths and butterflies for this week. I continue to be intrigued by what actually goes on in the natural world around us. So many different species of bugs and animals that are either obscure to us or with which we have little contact.

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

In the 2004 ALCS between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, who was named the series MVP: Derek Jeter, David Ortiz, Derek Lowe, or Mariano Rivera?

Answer can be found here.

Legal Notices, Week of July 19, 2018

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STATE OF MAINE
PROBATE COURT
41 COURT ST.
SOMERSET, SS.
SKOWHEGAN, ME
PROBATE NOTICES

TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN ANY OF THE ESTATES LISTED BELOW

Notice is hereby given by the respective petitioners that they have filed petitions for appointment of personal representatives in the following estates. These matters will be heard at 10 a.m. or as soon thereafter as they may be, July 18, 2018. The requested appointments may be made on or after the hearing date if no sufficient objection be heard. This notice complies with the requirements of 18-A MRSA §3-403 and Probate Rule 4.

2018-176 – Estate of HAROLD JAMES LARLEE, JR., Petition for Change of Name (Adult) filed by petitioner Harold James Larlee, Jr., 186 Fahi Pond Road, North Anson, Maine 04958 requesting his name be changed to Hal James Larlee for reasons set forth therein.

2018-178 – Estate of DANTE ACHILLE LAMBERT, Petition for Change of Name (Minor) filed by Greg and Beth Lambert, 68 Davis Road, Fairfield, Me 04937 requesting minor/s name be changed to Lillian Achille Lambert for reasons set forth therein.

Dated: July 2, 2018
/s/ Victoria Hatch
Register of Probate
(7/19)

STATE OF MAINE
PROBATE COURT
Court St., Skowhegan, ME
Somerset, SS
Location of Court

NOTICE TO CREDITORS
18-A MRSA sec. 3-801

The following Personal Representatives have been appointed in the estates noted. The first publication date of this notice July 19, 2018.

If you are a creditor of an estate listed below, you must present your claim within four months of the first publication date of this Notice to Creditors by filing a written statement of your claim on a proper form with the Register of Probate of this Court or by delivering or mailing to the Personal Representative listed below at the address published by his name, a written statement of the claim indicating the basis therefore, the name and address of the claimant and the amount claimed or in such other manner as the law may provide. See 18-A MRSA 3-804.

2018-184 – Estate of KATRINA A. HUTCHINSON, late of Palmyra, Me deceased. Linda Morgan, 59 Karen Street, Palmyra, Me 04965 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-185 – Estate of ROBERT DOUGLAS THERRIEN, late of Solon, Me deceased. Rosemary Stegenga, 11 B Rose Lane, Oxford, MA 01540 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-186 – Estate of DOROTHEA E. LADD, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Peter Breingan, 18 Adams Street, Skowhegan, Me 04976 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-187 – Estate of MAUREEN SWANTEK, late of Cambridge, Me deceased. Dominick Aloi, 2324 Rockwood Avenue, Baldwin, NY 11510 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-189 – Estate of LILLIAN F. JOHANNES, late of Fairfield, Me deceased. Christine Stratton, 40 Pine Street, Madison, Me 04950 and Gail Wilcox, 3493 N Belfast Avenue, Augusta, Me 04330 appointed Co-Personal Representatives.

2018-190 – Estate of RICHARD L. NORTON, late of Harmony, Me deceased. Brandy Boutilier, 17 Cooley Road, Harmony, Me 04942 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-191 – Estate of ROBERT O. WEESE, late of Solon, Me deceased. Linda Jean Howard, 1184 South Solon Road, Solon, Me 04979 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-199 – Estate of DEAN F. CATES, late of Anson, Me deceased. Linda M. Cates, 628 Valley Road, Anson, Maine 04911 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-200 – Estate of MILDRED COOLEY SANBORN, late of Palmyra, Me deceased. Kimberly Tozier, 1040 Warren Hill Road, Palmyra, Maine 04965 and Philip Sanborn, 376 Beans Corner Road, Hartland, Maine 04943 appointed Co-Personal Representatives.

2018-201 – Estate of JOYCE B. SALLEY, late of Pittsfield, Me deceased. Steven H. Salley, 313 Somerset Avenue, Pittsfield, Maine 04967 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-203 – Estate of DENNIS A. OGDEN, late of Madison, Me deceased. Dennis J. Ogden and Adam F. Ogden, 11 Clifton Street, Madison, Me 04950 appointed Co-Personal Representatives.

2018-204 – Estate of RONALD E. MOULTON, SR., late of Bingham, Me deceased. Sherry L. Moulton 93 Howard Road, Moscow, Me 04920 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-206 – Estate of JAMES O. MESSER, late of Concord Township, Me deceased. Ellingford Leroy Messer, 2596 Kennebec River Road, Concord Township, Me 04920 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-208 – Estate of FRANCIS G. SMITH III, late of Norridgewock, Me deceased. Clara Jean Smith, PO Box 903, Skowhegan, Me 04976 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-209 – Estate of KATHRYN H. SENNETT, late of Harmony, Me deceased. Gail E. Lamb, PO Box 99, Harmony, Me 04942 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-210 – Estate of MARJORIE E. MacPHERSON, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Scott K. MacPherson, 111 Pinelake Drive, Kings Mountain, NC 28086 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-212 – Estate of CAROL A. ADLER, late of Pittsfield, Me deceased. Candace Smith, 364 Ledge Road, North Yarmouth, Me 04097 appointed Personal Representative.

To be published on July 19, 2018 and July 26, 2018
Dated: July 16, 2018 /s/ Victoria Hatch,
Register of Probate
(7/26)

I’M JUST CURIOUS: Summer drinks: kind of old ones

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by Debbie Walker

Have you ever heard of Switchel or Shrubs? I never had. I know what a switch is and a shrub but they were nothing like what you will be reading. Mom’s friend Debbie knew what I was talking about. It may be because Debbie is celebrating 92 years now! I love asking her questions but that is another story!

I was reading my e-mail newsletter from Farmer’s Almanac. I got to the section about “Old Fashioned Lemonade Recipe” and that led to the “Switchel” drink mix. Later I found the “Shrubs” recipe on Kitchen.com and it was posted by Emily Han.

“Switchel” has been around from the 1700s into the 1900s. Early American colonies recipe might have come from the Caribbean before it got here. This vinegar and ginger drink was known as “Haymaker’s Punch” in the early 1900s and used for the field workers.

It is supposed to be better for us than any soft drink or sports drink. It is said to be high in potassium if molasses is used. It is supposed to replace electrolytes. But do me a favor and don’t trust me, check it out before you try the recipe that follows:

Switchel

Basic Recipe: 1 Cup water, 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 4 teaspoons ground ginger or 1 teaspoon fresh grated (sifted) ginger. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to a day. Pour over ice or mix with soda water.

So maybe if you are working in the field and someone brings you a strange drink, maybe it will be this one. If not it might be ….

Shrubs

Basic Recipe: 1 Cup Elderberries (or raspberries or stone fruit), 1 Cup apple cider vinegar (red wine vinegar tastes sweetest, champagne vinegar tastes grape-y), Soda to serve.

Wash and dry berries, put in pint size jar, lightly crush with fork or masher. Add vinegar and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate for at least 24 hours, occasionally shake or stirring. Give mixture a good shake- strain using fine mess strainer or cheesecloth. Discard solids. Measure liquid. For every cup of liquid use 1 cup of sugar. Combine liquid and sugar in a saucepan. Bring to boil over medium-low heat. Stirring to dissolve sugar. Boil for 5 minutes and remove from heat. Let cool, bottle and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks, (possibly much longer).

Serve with sparkling water, Start 1 part shrub to 6 parts sparkling water and adjust to taste. The syrup may also be mixed with water or used in cocktails.

Please let me know if any of this is familiar to you. I had never heard of it but I am fairly confident that I will have to try these. We will say my need to try this is for “a history” experience. However I don’t feel the need to go out to the hayfields. I’ll skip that part.

I’m just curious what I will hear from you. Contact me at dwdaffy@yahoo.com and don’t forget we are on line and have archives, too. Thanks for reading!

REVIEW POTPOURRI – Album: Scandinavia; Group: The Rays; Opera: Verdi

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Peter Catesby Peter Cates

Scandinavia

Laserlight, 79 675, cassette, released 1991.

Jean Sibelius

The Laserlight label began releasing very inexpensive cassettes and CDs during the late ‘80s and focusing mainly on classical music.

Scandina­via, a musical grab bag centered on Norway, Sweden and Fin­land, contains the 2nd Peer Gynt Suite and two Elegiac Melodies of Norway’s Edvard Grieg and the Swan of Tuonela and Finlandia of Finland’s Jean Sibelius, along with three shorter pieces. The performers include the very gifted conductors, Janos Sandor, Yuri Ahronovitch, Herbert Kegel, Geoffrey Simon and Rouslan Raichev; pianist, Jeno Jando; and, for orchestras, the Hungarian State, Budapest Strings, Vienna Symphony, Philharmonia and Dresden and Plovdiv, Bulgaria, Philharmonics – all first class ensembles. A nice cassette for classical beginners.

Amazon prices begin at one cent for CDs while the cassette is not available for now.

The Rays

Silhouettes; Daddy Cool
Cameo 117, 45, recorded 1957.

The Rays

The Rays were formed in 1955 and scored a #3 hit on the charts with the doo wop classic, Silhouettes, which sold 3 million copies. It has sustained its status as a captivating song and been covered by other artists. The side B is a throwaway.

Verdi

Otello
Sixten Ehrling conducting choir and orchestra with tenor Set Svanholm, soprano Aase Nordmo-Lovberg and baritone Sigurd Bjorling, etc.; Preiser 90754, three CDs, 1953-54 Stockholm Opera production, with extra cd of Verdi’s Don Carlo excerpts, with same forces from 1956.

Sixten Ehrling

Set Svanholm

This set will appeal to a surprisingly sizable number of those who collect historic opera broadcasts. The performance has a sterling cast with Svan­holm’s jealous Otello, Nordmo’s doomed Desdem­ona, and Bjor­ling’s treacherous Iago, while Verdi’s setting of the original Shake­speare play has made for one of the finest opera experiences in the genre’s history. Sixten Ehrling had a very unpleasant personality by most accounts but his conducting of most everything I have heard was very exciting, as was the case with the Don Carlo excerpts.

Update on Sheepscot Lake dam opening

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Submitted by Carolyn Viens, Sheepscot Lake Association

Sheepscot dam

In March of this year, the residents of Palermo won a major battle in the opposition to LD922, the legislative bill mandating the opening of the Sheepscot Dam to Alewives, and other migrating fishes which would have had a negative impact on the health of the lake. Representative Jeffrey Pierce, of the Maine House of Representatives, and sponsor of LD922, withdrew the bill which is now tabled in the Maine House upon request of Governor LePage.

It was determined that several expensive steps would need to be taken before such legislation should be considered. These steps include the addition of appropriate biosecurity systems deemed necessary to adequately protect the Palermo rearing station, the securing of funding from private sources to assist in installation of a system meeting the DIFW criteria, and the determination of the appropriate timeframe to reopen the fish passage for sea run alewife once the necessary measures are in place at the Palermo rearing station. These steps would be extremely expensive and time consuming to complete, and as a result the legislation was pulled and the removal of the fish gate will not be permitted until needed infrastructure is in place.

The indefinite postponement was a direct result of the citizens of Palermo and the Sheepscot Lake Association (SLA) showing their concern repeatedly during town meetings, as well as through communication with government representatives. It would not have been successful without the ongoing involvement of Senate President Michael Thibodeau, who continually gave support throughout this process.

The Sheepscot Lake Association is continuing efforts to explore the impact of alewives and other species in Maine lakes. We have been working with representatives from other lakes, including Dennis Brown, of the Highland Lake Association (located outside Falmouth), regarding their experience with alewives and the impact on their deteriorating water quality, especially in seasons of low water levels associated with global climate change. Dennis will be discussing his experience at the SLA annual meeting on Wednesday, July 25, (7 p.m., Palermo Town Library).

Let’s all keep up our efforts to keep Sheepscot the beautiful, pristine, and healthy lake shared by so many each year! Thank you for your ongoing support and hope to see you on July 25th!

SOLON & BEYOND: Solon celebrates class reunions; thrift shop to close

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Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percyby Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percy
grams29@tds.net
Solon, Maine 04979

Good morning, dear friends. Don’t worry, be happy.

Reunion Day for Solon graduates is Saturday, July 21, at the Solon Elementary School. 9:30 a.m., starts the registration and coffee hour with the business hour starting at 10:30 a.m. The auction will follow the business hour. Please remember your auction item. Last year the amount raised from the auction was $750. Diane Oliver Poulin was the auctioneer.

Fifty-eight alumni and guests attended last year. The class of 1968 will celebrate their 50th reunion. Members are Kathy Adams Swett, James Bubar, Dianne Hall Lamb, Betty Heald Price, Laurel Perry Duggan, David Rogers, Brenda Whitney Padham, Brian Whitney and Diane Oliver Poulin.

Lunch will begin at 1 p.m., and will be catered by the Solon Pine Tree 4 – H Club.

Last year, the class of 1967 celebrated their 50th with seven members, Cheryl Hanson Edgecome, Eunice Waugh Kenn, Dottie Padham Dunphy, Brent Brown, Michael Bishop, Maurice Robbins and Bill McDonough. Others celebrating were Alice Davis Heald, 77th, Arlene Davis Meader and Albert Starbird 76th, Mary Heald Bishop, 74th, Theona Brann Lagasse, 70th and Marie Boynton Poulin, 68th. Kim Willette received a check from the scholarship fund for $1,100.

Deaths reported were Alma Kelly Withers French class of 1937, Arlene Davis Meader, 1941, Phyllis Hilton Whitney 1953, James L. Mayhew, Jr.,1957, Earlene Waugh Peters, 1967, Vernal Hight Jr., 1963, Dana Hall, 1967, Lynda Russell Staples, 1969 and Zachary Corson 2000 from Carrabec.

Now for some sad and shocking news about the Solon Thrift Shop and Food Cupboard on Pleasant Street in Solon.

Could not believe it when I first heard about it, but it is true! The workers there received a notification from their home office there are plans in the works to close the Solon Thrift Shop and Food Cupboard at the end of October. The workers there do not want to see this place close. They are asking for help from anyone that wants to see the thrift shop and food cupboard stay open.

I talked with Linda French who manages the above, and she said the building needs to be weatherized so it will be easier to heat. Someone has been stealing fuel, so the fuel needs to be secure. Someone has donated lumber to enclose the fuel tank and that will be a big help.

They are looking for any help that people can give to keep this very important thrift shop and food cupboard open. Linda said that to close it as fall and winter approaches is the worst possible time to be without it. Linda said, “Closing the thrift shop and food cupboard at this time of year would create a hardship for families that rely on the shop and cupboard for holiday meals and Christmas. Many families would not have a very good Christmas without them.”

And so I hope all those of you reading the above will stop in and tell them of your support and appreciation for this wonderful thrift shop. Many of my clothes have been purchased there and I would surely miss it very much. It is open Tuesday – Saturday from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. The Food Cupboard hours are second and fourth Thursdays and Fridays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Emergency and by appointment call 643-2855.

The building is owned by United Methodist Ministry.

The town of Solon had two churches when we moved there in 1950, the Congregational Church on North Main Street and the Methodist Church (where the Thrift Shop is located. on Pleasant Street.) It was Federated Congregational and Methodist, we had Sunday services in the winter at the Methodist Church and summer services at the Congregational Church. There wasn’t any kitchen at the Congregational Church, but there was one at the Methodist Church so all public suppers etc were held there. Ministry was divided up evenly, a Methodist minister for awhile and then a Congregational minister. After awhile we lost the Methodist Church to the United Methodist Ministry and they started the United Methodist Ministry Thrift Shop in Solon around 1990.

And now for Percy’s memoir entitled God’s Design: Philosophers may reason why But I won’t take the time, I only know I’m here on earth Because of God’s design. So I will just continue on And do the best I can, And know that God will do the rest Because He made the Plan. (words by Ed Kane.)

Fishy Photo: Nice trout caught at “hush-hush” pond

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Kayden Painchaud, 11, of Vassalboro, shows off a 24-inch brown trout he caught on July 14, at a pond he did not want to reveal.

Local youth meets favorite WWE star

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Isaiah Vear, 12, of Waterville, met his favorite WWE star on July 9 when Jeff Hardy arrived at the Augusta Civic Center for the WWE show. (Photo courtesy Central Maine Photography)