Give Us Your Best Shot! for Thursday, October 31, 2019

To submit a photo for this section, please visit our contact page or email us at townline@fairpoint.net!

SPECTACULAR: Stephanie Vinson, of China, photographed this spectacular sunrise over China Lake recently.

COLORFUL: Tina Richard, of Clinton, captured this fall foliage scene from the gazebo, in Fairfield.

FOR YOUR HEALTH – Medicare Enrollment Season Is Here: 5 Tips To Make Sure You’re In The Right Plan

(NAPSI)—Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 to December 7, 2019. This is your yearly chance to shop for insurance coverage that best meets your needs. People covered by Medicare will have even more plans with a host of new benefits to choose from for 2020.

Here are five things to keep in mind for Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period.

  1. Review your 2020 coverage options. Medicare Advantage plan details change each year, so the policy that was the least expensive or best match for you in 2019 may not be right for 2020. Changes to premiums, deductibles and co-pays can be costly. A recent eHealth analysis of people using eHealthMedicare.com to compare Medicare plans found that fewer than one in ten were enrolled in the lowest cost plan for their personal prescription drug regimen. Those who switched to their optimal drug plan stood to save an average of $900 per year.
  2. Look out for drug coverage changes. It’s common for insurance companies to tweak their list of covered drug and prices. That can mean higher out-of-pocket expenses. Check to make sure that the medications you need are still covered by your plan in 2020, and pay close attention to any special rules you need to follow to get the most coverage for your medications. Online tools, including eHealthMedicare.com’s prescription drug coverage comparison tool, can help you find the best option for 2020.
  3. Make sure your doctors are still covered. The doctors and hospitals that participate in your Medicare plan’s network often change each year as well. Make sure your preferred providers are covered under your current plan or any new plan that interests you. The amount you’ll pay when you get care from a doctor or hospital that does not participate with your plan will be higher than what you’ll pay if you stay within your plan’s network, and some health insurers won’t cover out-of-network providers at all, except in an emergency.
  4. Compare benefits. Along with price comparisons, be sure to review the full range of services and benefits offered by competing Medicare plans. These can include everything from preferred pharmacy and mail-order prescription discounts to dental, vision, hearing and even fitness benefits. And for 2020, many Medicare Advantage plans will offer supplemental benefits that provide additional assistance to people with chronic illness, such as non-emergency transportation, virtual medical visits, caregiver support, nutritional counseling and meal delivery, and air conditioning, among others.
  5. Work with a professional to understand your choices. To make sure you’re viewing a wide range of plans available on the market, work with an expert in Medicare products that represents more than just one insurance company. It doesn’t cost anything extra. A licensed agent can help you understand and make sense of all your options and select coverage that best matches your needs, budget, and lifestyle.

Santa headed to central Maine, again, on Friday, November 29

Santa is already checking his mail box at the North Pole, looking for letters from all the children of central Maine. (photo by Central Maine Photography)

by Mark Huard
Central Maine Photography

A message from the North Pole to the good people of Kringleville, Maine USA! Thanks to the welcoming folks in the booming city of Waterville, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at the Kringleville cabin again this Christmas season. Last season was full of Christmas magic in the Claus Cabin at Castonguay Square.

Santa knows that you’ve been busy this year with new talents like cooking, and arts and crafts, and learning how to help clean the yard, the house and even the car, learning to play with others, play an instrument or play a sport and more. Mrs. Claus knows that you are all trying to mind your Ps & Qs and are trying your very best to be kind to others whether at home, at school, at dance, at karate, at gymnastics, at swimming, at soccer and so many more places that you are doing your best to be nice.

Santa and Mrs. Claus look forward to visiting with the Kringleville area residents, as well as so many who travel miles and miles to share stories with Santa and see Mrs. C, too. We love that you all continue to be part of the Kringleville story season after season and keep the tradition in such a wonderful city.

Again this year, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be greeting youngsters at their cabin at Kringleville, in Castonguay Square, in downtown Waterville. (photo by Central Maine Photography)

Year after year, Kringleville has more and more visitors line up to visit with Jolly Old Santa. Last season, visitor after visitor commented to Santa and Mrs. Claus that though the wait can be long, once you’re inside the cabin you truly feel the magic of Christmas making it well worth the wait. Hearing it is “Worth the Wait,” again and again makes Santa and Mrs. Claus feel like visitor’s time in the cabin is special for each individual. Mrs. C wants to remind all visitors of all ages, please dress appropriately for the weather. While waiting in line, you should have warm footwear, a warm hat, mittens and, of course, a warm jacket. Always prepare for the unexpected and bring an umbrella, too.

Kringleville continues with the support of The Children’s Discovery Museum led by Executive Director Amarinda Keys. Santa’s elves are already hard at work in the North Pole making toys for all the good little boys and girls. Thanks to the generosity of Central Maine Photography, Elves Cinnamon and Cinnamon Stick will be at the cabin again this season to offer photos of visitors with Santa. Central Maine Photography is a proud annual supporter of Kringleville. Thank you again to last season’s supporters; The Children’s Discovery Museum, Central Maine Motors Auto Group, Colby, Selah Tea Café, GHM Insurance, Portland Pie Company, Technology Solutions of Maine, Kennebec Behavioral Health, Marden’s, the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce, the Bankery and others who shared the Christmas spirit with Christmas caroling, hot chocolate and more.

All of us at the North Pole, appreciate the generosity of Cen­tral Maine Motors Auto Group being Kringle­ville’s major sponsor again this season! If you or your business would like to contri­bute to the success of this timeless Waterville tradition, please contact Ama­rinda Keys at The Child­ren’s Discovery Museum at (207) 622-2209 or email amarinda@childrensdiscoverymuseum.org to ask how you too can be a part of the magic of Christmas at Kringleville.

Kringleville is a proud supporter of the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Again this season, proceeds from Santa and Mrs. C’s hand-painted annual Kringleville collectable ornaments will help children in need.

The parade of lights is always scheduled for the Friday after Thanksgiving and is a jolly good time for Santa when he arrives to Kringleville from the North Pole.

Santa wants everyone to keep in mind that Christmas isn’t something you should have in your heart only once a year. The spirit of Christmas should live in your heart year-round. So, take Santa’s advice and be good to your brothers and sisters, your friends and neighbors, and all who you are with until Santa sees you again…That means mom and dad, too! Remember, he knows if you’ve been bad or good, which makes a difference for his naughty or nice list. So, be good listeners and be kind to one another always. Santa and Mrs. Claus look forward to seeing you all soon when they arrive for the 2019 Parade of Lights.

I’M JUST CURIOUS: Those crazy November “holidays”

by Debbie Walker

It is almost over, all these holiday reminders. Hope you have found some new holidays to look forward to, let me know the special ones to you.

Nov 2: Book Lover Day – This should be my birthday! It is a day for finding a comfy seat either in the sun or shade, depending on your liking. Find that place to relax with a good book.

Nov. 3: Housewife Day – Thank all the ladies who stay home and tend to the house and family. It was the way of things some years ago when one income could support a family. The “good ole days.”

Nov. 6: Marooned Without a Compass Day – I would say the GPS has changed things for some of the compass carrying folks. When I drove to Ohio the first time my 28-year-old granddaughter said, “Nana, how did you find your way to Steve’s with no GPS? I introduced her to the Atlas and Compass. And they don’t need batteries nor Wi-fi!”

Nov. 7: National Men Make Dinner Day – This is to give the ladies a break from some daily chores. (This includes cleaning dirty dishes, clean off table and sweep the floor). It is also to encourage men who don’t know how to cook to learn!!

Nov. 8: Chaos Never Dies Day – If you think your life is chaotic today, just wait until the holiday season arrives!

Nov. 11: Veterans Day – It is to honor all members of the Armed Forces who served this country valiantly. Thank you all.

Happy Birthday Brother Blake. Rest in Peace.

Nov. 13: Sadie Hawkins Day – Do you remember Al Capp’s “L’il Abner Cartoon”? Sadie Hawkins Day started because the Mayor of Dogpatch wanted to marry off a daughter. The only way this girl was going to get a guy was by catching him in a race! Catch him and he must marry you!

Nov. 15: Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day – Use this day to clean out the refrigerator from top to bottom. Use the old saying for your guide: “When in doubt, throw it out’!

Nov. 20: Absurdity Day – Celebrate this in an absurd manner. Find things to do that are somewhat, if not wholly, illogical. Have fun with it. Have a wonderful, mind boggling and absurd day!

Nov. 27: Pins and Needles Day – This was the name of a pro-Labor play on Broadway on this day in 1937. This is a “Pins and Needles” Day when you are waiting for a special event. Relax and enjoy!

Nov. 29: Buy Nothing Day – On the day after Thanksgiving in recent years, people have celebrated the day by insane shopping for Christmas. Buy Nothing Day is to promote a little bit less craziness and a few less gifts to celebrate the Christmas holidays. We have gone crazy in debt for this holiday.

Nov. 30: Stay at Home Because You are Well Day – Celebrate this with caution. Your job may depend on it. Good Luck

I’m just curious which holidays you will choose to celebrate. Let me know how you did, please. This information came from a website called Holiday Insights. I hope you enjoyed the column. Contact me at dwdaffy@yahoo.com.

REVIEW POTPOURRI: Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6

Muir Mathieson (1911 – 1975), Scottish conductor, film score composer and director of musical documentaries, pictured while conducting, 1954. (Photo by Baron/Getty Images)

Peter Catesby Peter Cates

Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6

“Pathetique”; Muir Mathieson conducting the Sinfonia of London. Camelot CMT 102, stereo LP, recorded 1958.

Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s 6th Symphony was given its world premiere on October 28, 1893, nine days before he died at 53. He wrote a letter to his nephew that year describing his feelings about what would be his last work :

“It would not surprise me in the least if this Symphony meets with abuse or unfavorable criticism. It would not be the first time. I myself regard it as the best and most sincere of all my works. I love it as I have never loved any other of my musical offsprings before.”

As in so many of his major works – the 1st Piano Concerto, Violin Concerto, Swan Lake and Nutcracker ballets, Romeo and Juliet, 4th, 5th and Manfred Symphonies etc.; – the composer so brilliantly poured his entire heart and soul into the Pathetique Symphony (his own meaning of the word vaguely hinted at as ‘private and personal’.). He also utilized the entire range of dynamics from softest to loudest.

The Symphony has been performed and recorded infinitely countless times; I have scads of different performances ranging from A-plus to bad. It has never gone sour for me and even the worst performance has something interesting.

Muir Mathieson (1911-1975) was best known for composing soundtracks for English movies and conducting those of other composers. This recording is superb and stands out in a very distinguished catalog; it can also be heard on YouTube but the Symphony’s four movements are posted separately.

WOH to host live Metropolitan Opera

The Waterville Opera House is hosting live links from the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. The next one is Puccini’s Madame Butterfly on November 9. I attended Puccini’s last opera Turandot on Saturday, October 12, and Massenet’s Manon this past Saturday, October 26.

Highly recommended. Check the Waterville Opera House website for times.

Best places to work in Maine

Kennebec Behavioral Health was recently named as one of the 2019 Best Places to Work in Maine in the large business category. The awards program was created in 2006 and is a project of the Society for Human Resource Management – Maine State Council (MESHRM) and Best Companies Group.

Kennebec Behavioral Health’s Chief Executive Officer Tom McAdam expressed that the organization’s designation as one of the 2018 Best Places to Work in Maine validates the purposeful attention that the agency has made around recruitment and retention. McAdam stated, “We are very pleased that our staff participated in the Best Places survey. They have acknowledged our efforts to create a workplace where people feel valued and enjoy coming to work every day. We also recognize the competitive workforce environment and will continue to do more for our staff around culture, compensation and benefits.”

For more information on the Best Places to Work in Maine program, visit www.BestPlacestoWorkME.com or contact Jackie Miller at 717-323-5237.

Kennebec Behavioral Health was founded in 1960 and operates clinics in Waterville, Skowhegan, Winthrop, Augusta and Farmington. For more information, or to schedule an appointment for any KBH service, call 1-888-322-2136. Information can also be found at www.kbhmaine.org.

LEGAL NOTICES for Thursday, October 31, 2019

STATE OF MAINE
PROBATE COURT
COURT ST.,
SKOWHEGAN, ME
SOMERSET, ss
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 October 31, 2019

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.

2019-330 – Estate of THURMAN ALLISON CUMMINGS, late of Hartland, Me deceased. Victoria J. Lord, 74 Academy Street, Hartland, Me 04943 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-332 – Estate of CLIFFORD L. ADAMS, late of Jay, Me deceased. Lili T. Admas, 8 School Street, Jay, Maine 04239 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-333- Estate of RONDA L. LaPORTE, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Robert J. LaPorte, 293 Bellsqueeze Road, Benton, Me 04901 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-334 – Estate of JUSTIN O. HUMPHREY, JR. late of St. Albans, Me deceased. Shizuko M. Humphrey, 168 Ripley Road, St. Albans, Me 04971 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-335 – Estate of ANTHONY P SHUSTA, II, late of Madison, Me deceased. Trudy Shusta, PO Box 3034, Skowhegan, Me 04976 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-336 – Estate of RUFUS L. COOLEY, late of Ripley, Me deceased. Marcia M. Dean, 26 Cooley Drive, Ripley, Me 04930 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-337 – Estate of ELIZABETH A. VON HUSEN, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Gloria A. Paradise, 14 Pine View Drive, Skowhegan, Me 04976 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-338 – Estate of MARION LOUISE PARSONS, late of Palmyra, Me deceased. Todd E. Parsons, 482 Madawaska Road, Palmyra, Me 04965 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-339 – Estate of JOEL DAVID DAVIS, late of Hallowell, Me deceased. Sarah K. Shed, 72 Middle Street, Hallowell, Maine 04347 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-344 – Estate of MAURICE R. DORE, JR., late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Jennifer L. Dionne, 96 Blue Heron Lane, Skowhegan, Me 04976 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-346 – Estate of SYLVIA C. ANGEL-CURRIER, late of Hartland, Me, deceased. Lucas Angel, 342 Mattawaska Road, Palmyra, Me 04965 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-347 – Estate of MEREDITH E. RANDLETT, late of Hartland, Me deceased. Rae Fuller Randlett, PO Box 479, Hartland, Me 04943 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-348 – Estate of ELY SIMONOFF, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Mary Simonoff, 24 Pleasant Street, Apt 1, Skowhegan, Me 04976 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-349 – Estate of CHRISTINE ANN MCKENNEY, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Amy L. Noble, 313 Water Street, Skowhegan, Maine 04976 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-355 – Estate PAULA T. WING, late of Madison, Me deceased. Justin Michael Grant, 790 Bellsqueeze Road, Clinton, Maine 04927 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-357 – Estate of HOWARD F. STUART, JR., late of Madison, Me deceased. William P. Dubord, Esq., 44 Elm Street, Waterville, Me 04901 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-358 – Estate of PAULINE A. RUNNELLS, late of Canaan, Me deceased. Debbie Ann Runnells, 209 Bryant Road, Unity, Me 04988 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-359 – Estate of IDYLLENE S. WARREN, late of Harmony, Me deceased. Stephen G. Bassett, PO Box 108, Harmony, Me 04942 and Joan L. Rush, 178 Goff Road, Sangerville, ME 04479 appointed Co-Personal Representative.

2019-324 – Estate of KEVIN PAUL WILLETTE, late of St. Albans, Me deceased. Peter J. Willette, 122 Wilcox Street, Apt. 103, Rochester, MI 43307 appointed Personal Representative.

To be published on October 31 & November 7, 2019.
Dated: October 28, 2019
/s/ Victoria Hatch,
Register of Probate
(11/7)

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 November 13, 2019. 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.

2019-331 – Estate of RAY DINSMORE JUDKINS. Petition for Change of Name (Adult) filed by Ray Dinsmore Judkins, 420 Browns Corner Road, Canaan, Me 04924 requesting his name be changed to Ray Billy Judkins for reasons set forth therein.

2019-361 – Estate of HOLLY LYNN McCANN. Petition for Change of Name (Adult) filed by Holly Lynn McCann, 12 Western Ave., Fairfield, Me 04937 requesting her name be changed to Holly Lynn Carey for reasons set forth therein.

2019-362 – Estate of LYDIA JO McCANN. Petition for Change of Name (Minor) filed by Holly Lynn McCann, 12 Western Ave., Fairfield, Me 04937 requesting minor’s name be changed to Lydia Jo Carey for reasons set forth therein.

Dated: October 28, 2019
/s/ Victoria Hatch
Registrar of Probate
(11/7)

OPINIONS: China firefighters yet to receive citizen-approved stipend check

by Sheldon Goodine
Retired Chief of SCVFD, Inc.

To the editor:

At the town meeting on April 6, 2019, the town approved article 9 with the addition of $7,000 to the $33,0000, for a total of $40,000, for stipends for fire and rescue services. As of this date, October 28, 2019, the fire departments have not received checks. This is almost seven months since the town vote. When the subject of stipends for firefighters came up, it was done by the select board without input from the fire departments. A lot of meetings and letters on the subject have done little to solve a perceived problem. Most of the firefighters who are volunteers did not favor the stipend but thought that it would be a nice way for the town to thank us for our service.

“The way I see it,” if the town has a problem with paying stipends, they can shove it where the sun don’t shine. It was written in The Town Line (Oct. 24, 2019) that select board member Ronald Breton said that the fire department representatives (fire chiefs) have not signed the memorandum and the $40,000 should not be handed over until they do. The voters of the town did not require this memorandum when they voted to approve the #9 article. This was done by the select board so they could have control over how the money was spent and who gets how much. When in reality the chiefs of the departments know best how to disperse the funds as they know who puts in the most time and effort into the workings of the department. How can an appointed town official have more authority over an expenditure than the voters of the town? The select board serves the town by a vote of the people and the town manager serves the board of selectmen. We can solve some of the issue in the upcoming election on November 5, 2019, by electing new people to serve on the select board. Look well at the ballot and choose candidates that will take charge and hold the town manager to only operate as the select board dictates.

I talk to a lot of people from all around the state of Maine and when they find out that I am from the town of China, they ask me, “what is wrong with the town of China?” I respond to them that there is nothing wrong with the town of China, it’s just the select board and the town manager that is the problem.

Town manager explains town’s position on stipends in e-mail to fire chiefs

by Dennis Heath
China Town Manager

I watched the LiveStream video of the select board meeting yesterday and have since spoken with the select board chairman. It was apparent that my initial request of Mr. Evans was well-founded to provide what was going to be discussed in writing, since the lack of that information was detrimental to a healthy discussion of the concerns. However, I am writing this to help answer the questions I took from the video. Rather than quote chapter and verse, I have attached the two documents that were mentioned at the meeting.

1. The attached FLSA manual, which I am grateful to Bill Van Wickler for emailing to us, provides a comprehensive discussion of the requirements (including the various statutory references) the town will follow and require before stipend funds are disbursed. While it may have been thought that standby time can be used to calculate stipends, and that may be part of the disagreement here, being on standby is nothing more than the indication of a volunteer’s willingness to be available around the clock. Stipends are expected to acknowledge actual participation in firefighting activity. What I take from the FLSA manual is that if you have a volunteer assigned to a shift at the fire station, that would be an appropriate determination for stipend calculation. To date, your respective practices have been to record responses to calls. It is my understanding that all personal equipment is provided by the fire department, so the only things left for calculation are total hours, total miles and total calls and trainings. Those are what are included in the spreadsheet attached to help determine the total department stipend request. I put in the provision for the individual expense items in the event you have such occurrences, but the receipts must be provided to support that.

2. It was mentioned that the town meeting approved the budgeted amounts, and it is now the responsibility of the town to give those moneys to the departments. A budgeted amount is just that; an amount authorized for disbursement. However, the treasurer is responsible to see that sufficient detail underlies the expense request to recommend it to the select board on the warrant. While the departments may feel this is “not trusting us,” it should be understood that there has not been sufficient evidence to show that the amount requested is valid. One of Mr. Evans’ questions had to do with interpretation of the statutes/regulations. With respect to my duties as treasurer for the town, I am operating under the following: “The treasurer of any municipality shall not pay out any funds for an account or claim against the municipality unless the account or claim is itemized and declared to be a public record. Notwithstanding Title 17-A, section 4-A, violation of this section is a Class E crime, punishable by a fine of not more than $300 or by imprisonment for not more than 30 days, or both.” (30-A MRSA 5604) The requests of the departments for funds are viewed by me as a claim against the municipality, and therefore must be itemized to my satisfaction. The operational funds requested are sufficiently itemized, but the stipend requests are not. As you all know, at our last collective meeting I showed how the stipend amounts would be calculated using data you supplied to me, and that total for the past year and a half was short of $10,000 for the three fire departments and the rescue department combined. That informs me that the taxpayers of the town have now provided more than $63,000 for stipends in two fiscal years, but only about $10,000 can be validated under the provisions of the regulations when using the data supplied by the departments.

3. For now the second time, it has been suggested that we ignore the requirements for proper calculation of these stipends since it would be unlikely enforcement action would occur. This suggestion is irresponsible and rejected outright, because it indicates a lack of professional ethics and disrespect for the law. As town manager and treasurer, I took the following oath: “I, Dennis L. Heath do swear, that I will support the Constitution of the United States and of this State, so long as I shall continue a citizen thereof, and will faithfully discharge, to the best of my abilities, the duties incumbent on me as [Town Manager and Treasurer] according to the constitution and laws of the state so help me God.” Failure to properly discharge my duties exposes me to administrative and civil punishment that I am unwilling to face for the convenience of this suggestion. (30-A MRSA 2607) Each of the fire chiefs took the same oath when appointed as chief of your respective volunteer fire department, so I am confident you are equally determined to uphold that oath.

4. The recurring argument that the fire/rescue departments are independent corporations not subject to the authority of the town was mentioned. It is well understood that the fire/rescue departments are independently incorporated volunteer organizations. However, the moneys requested are public funds subject to public accounting and audit. As mentioned in paragraph 2 above, it is the responsibility to the public that drives me to require the stipend calculation be provided prior to disbursing those funds. If the fire/rescue departments are unwilling to provide the substantiating calculations for the stipend request, then the funds disbursement will not be recommended to the select board on a warrant.

5. Finally, it was the question of Mr. Evans as to whether the select board “intends to unlawfully withhold funds from the volunteer departments.” The select board fully intends to approve disbursement of funds to the volunteer fire and rescue departments, but within the constraints discussed above. Any delay in disbursement will not be the responsibility of the select board or the town. The departments have been equipped with the ability to provide the required substantiation for the stipend funds, so it is in their control as to whether the disbursement of those funds is delayed or not.

I am hopeful this will answer some of the questions from Monday evening and make clear what is required for disbursing the stipend funds. I welcome productive discussion for implementing this in advance of the new fiscal year to avoid any delay in disbursing these funds.

SOLON & BEYOND: Teacher-less painting classes continue at adult ed

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

Good morning, my friends. Don’t worry, be happy!

The 30th annual craft fair , hosted by North Anson Snowmobile Club, on Saturday, November 2, from 9 a.m.to 2 p.m., at Carrabec High School, in North Anson. There will be hot food, donuts and pies for sale along with over 70 crafters!

I copied the above information from a poster on the wall at Griswold’s. It is really a great opportunity to find Christmas gifts and many other things for yourself or friends.

I have always had a table there from the beginning, but this year I listened to friends and family who convinced me that maybe I should slow down a bit! And so I passed on my space to my granddaughter, Amanda Walz, who has been making lots of different goodies. I will be there helping her some, and will have a few things that I have made. Hope to see you all there!

And the above is all the recent news I could round up, so many of you have been asking me how many years I have been doing the teacher-less project at the Skowhegan Adult Ed classes. I really don’t know for sure but I found some information on a poster I had made about that club. It was an article I had written for The Town Line back on April 13, 2006, about this, with a picture they had taken of club members at that time. (That was a meeting when we were going to come up with a name for this club, so it had been going on for some time before that.)

These are the words I used in the newspaper article: “For the past few years I have been taking the oil painting classes at Skowhegan Adult Education and enjoying them immensely. Peggy Riley was the teacher and I had learned many new techniques through her instruction, and had made many new friends. Peggy decided that she wouldn’t be teaching when the January sessions started up again, and when I saw that the classes weren’t going to be offered for that semester I was disappointed.

(The article was too long to get in this column so this is a shorter version of the one that was printed.) I came up with the crazy idea of having a teacher-less painting club. I went to the administrator’s office and asked them if they would let me do this with a teacher-less person running it. Was very, very happy and pleased when they gave their permission.

When I arrived the first night I was given the attendance folder with M. Rogers, instructor, on the cover. The word “Instructor” went to my head a little, and one night when one of the members was misbehaving, I gave him a push and he nearly fell over, bending his glasses in the near fall. Since then I don’t rule with an iron hand!

Some people would not agree with that statement, I’m pretty sure! I have stressed, (without any violence) that I would prefer that there wouldn’t be any discussions on two topics, politics and religion while we are there so that those who love peace while they paint, can enjoy their stay there! Have had a fear that that is probably against “Freedom of Speech,” but I do know it can get pretty rowdy and loud with some discussions!

And now back to the picture and write up about this teacher-less painting class! Members at that meeting were Suzanne Currier, Shirley Foxwell, Linda Sullivan, Gerda Pilz, Betty Dow, Dana Hall, Linwood Turcotte, Peter Foxwell, and me. The column ended with these words: “We meet every week for three hours of relaxation in a pleasant atmosphere and I know I look forward to our Monday night sessions. I’m pretty sure the other nine members feel the same way. I am so happy that the Skowhegan Adult Education had enough faith in us to try this experiment with a teacher-less club, and my thanks go out to them.”

And now for Percy’s memoir: Enthusiasm may mark the difference between success and failure. Undertakings entered into half-heartedly often lack the extra or the plus that can lift them over the hurdle. A whole heart comes with confidence and with belief in what you are doing. As St. Paul said, “Whatever you do, put your whole heart and soul into it, as into work done for God.”