Wrestling action in central Maine

 

Skowhegan youth wrestling tournament action with Elijah Wilkinson, top, attempting to pin his opponent.

Pre-K wrestler Conner Nadeau gets the upper hand on his opponent.

Photos by Kevin Giguere, Central Maine Photography staff

GARDEN WORKS: Wondering what to do now? You’re not alone!

GARDEN WORKS

Emily Catesby  Emily Cates

Help! I’m confused! Usually this time of year, I am planting trees and maybe peas. Normally, by now, maple sugaring has flown by, and I’m kicking myself for not pruning the entire orchard which has broken bud and is leafing out. And it’s usually on the late side for grafting and propagating. But wait! Hold it there! Is this really April as I type? Sure ­– it’s a glorious day, with the golden sunshine kissing everything outdoors with it’s luminous rays. The heady scent of thawing earth dances in my nostrils. But what is it with all the snow? A foot of it still blankets some parts of my yard and the ground is still frozen solid. Though in the warm spots there is mud, ice surely lurks beneath. The sap is still running in the maple trees without signs of budding yet. The bugs outdoors have awakened and buzzed around bewildered, seemingly not sure what to make of the snow. I must admit that neither do I!

“Son, this is a cold, gray day but spring is just around the corner….”

One thing that is a sure bet with our weather is unpredictability. We know that anyways, but sometimes it helps to be able to know the right time to do things. Otherwise, we can be paralyzed by uncertainty. This spring I am reminded of Ecclesiastes 11:4 where it says, “The one who watches the wind will not sow seed, and the one who looks at the clouds will not reap.” Really, if we keep waiting for the opportune time, we just won’t get it done. In situations like a never-ending winter, perhaps it’s best to follow nature’s lead: Is the sap still running? Well then, keep collecting it. Are those fruit trees, vines, and shrubs still dormant? Go ahead and prune them. And while you’re at it, why not take some cuttings to propagate? What? Is the ground still frozen? How about trimming up that blackberry patch and clearing out those pucker-brushes and such you told yourself you wanted to get rid of!

A real dilemma that could crop up might occur when an order arrives in your mailbox with a box of trees and other goodies from your favorite catalog. If the ground is frozen, where should they go? A savvy gardener knows there are options. If there’s enough thawed dirt somewhere to heel in the roots of these plants, they can be temporarily placed in this area until a preferred area is warmed enough to plant. Check the compost pile or a southern facing slope. No luck? A sawdust pile might do. Or, if these options are unavailable, take a bag of potting soil and put the plants into containers, covering the roots with the soil and watering well. Keep moist, but not waterlogged, and transplant when a spot is ready. Alternately, these plants can be kept in containers for a season or two if it is desirable to do so, especially if they need to grow bigger and get established. As long as they have enough supplemental watering and proper light, they should be OK. Oh, and be sure to keep tender plants and seedlings from freezing, even if you have to haul them indoors every night.

One benefit from a late snowpack is that many fruit trees will wait until later to flower, possibly escaping late spring frosts. Those of us who grow marginally-hardy peaches, plums, and apricots do appreciate it when these trees burst into bloom after frosts, thereby avoiding damage that could mean few or no fruits.

So look on the bright side! Yes, I’ve got spring fever too, but we all know – just as Frog’s father said to Frog in “The Corner,” in Arnold Lobel’s Frog and Toad All Year – “Son, this is a cold, gray day but spring is just around the corner….”

Legal Notices, Week of April 6, 2017

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 is April 6, 2017

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.

2017-065 – Estate of ARMANDE M. NELSON, late of Salt Lake City, Utah, deceased. Valerie A. Larabee, 375 Spencer Way, Farmington, UT 84035 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-066 – Estate of GERALDINE ALLMENDINGER HENDERSON, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Bonnie Y. Rogers, 157 Rogers Road, Clinton, Me 04927 appointer Personal Representative.

2017-067 – Estate of NEIL C. ROBERTSON, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Liam C. Hodgdon-Robertson, 325 Main Street, Waterville, Me 04901 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-068 – Estate of DOROTHY S. MARSH, late of Bloomfield, CT deceased. James J. Marsh, 28 Brook Drive, Simsbury, CT 06070 and Ralph Perham Marsh, PO Box 966, Windsor, CT 06095 appointed Co-Personal Representatives.

2017-069 – Estate of EDITH M. WIETZKE, late of Hartland, Me deceased. Dale T. Wietzke, 18725 State Highway 106, Spc 9, Jamestown, CA95327 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-070 – Estate of RICHARD ARTHUR CLARK, late of Canaan, Me deceased. Pamela Jean Corson Clark, 94 Moores Mill Road, Canaan, Me 04924 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-071 – Estate of CECELIA A. BURKE, late of West Bridgewater, MA, deceased. Diane Correia, 7 Loralei Way, West Bridgewater, MA 02379 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-073 – Estate of GARDNER H. SALISBURY, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Diane L. Salisbury, 120 Chadbourne Road, Harmony, Me 04942 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-074 – Estate of JANE PARKER CARLSON, late of Fairfield, Me deceased. David P. Carlson, 65 Crestwood Drive, Gorham, NH 03581 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-075 – Estate of MARY C. GOODRICH, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Paul K. Goodrich, 2196 Sanford Road, Unit 31, Wells, Maine 04090 appointed Personal Representative..

2017-085 – Estate of JUNE O. SHAW, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Michael W. Shaw, 5413 Ignacio Frias Drive, El Paso, TX 79934 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-088 – Estate of ELMOTH A. KURRO, late of West Springfield, MA deceased. Eian A. Kurro, 5172 Velasko Road, Syracuse, NY 13215 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-089 – Estate of EDITH M. McGINNIS, late of Detroit, Me deceased. Mary L. Tuttle, 61 Tuttle Drive, Corinna, Me 04928 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-090 – Estate of DENNIS K. MOODY, late of Fairfield, Me deceased. Janet Moody, 328 Center Road, Fairfield, Me 04937 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-092 – Estate of CHARLES L. POOLER, late of Bingham, Me deceased. Rance A. Pooler, 26 French Hill Road, Solon, Me 04979 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-031 – Estate of JOHN A. MONROE, late of Fairfield, Me deceased. Christopher Monroe, 2793 Hallowell Road, Litchfield, Me 04350 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-097 – Estate of LINDA D. CORSON, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Stacy L. DeMerchant, PO Box 714, Norridgewock, Me 04957 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-098 – Estate of ADAM W. LITTLEFIELD, late of Hartland, Me deceased. Dwayne Littlefield, 2745 Athens Road, Hartland, Me 04943 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-099 – Estate of DANIEL R. LONG, late of Canaan, Me deceased. Pamela J. Dunphy, 122 Lincoln Street, Pittsfield, Me 04967 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-081 – Estate of AMANDA J. CARTER, late of Embden, Me deceased. Amy Carter, 150 Meadowbrook Road, North New Portland, Me 04961 and George Carter, Jr., 247 Fox Hill Road, Athens, Me 04912 appointed Co-Personal Representatives.

2017-101 – Estate of RICHARD H. LONGLEY, late of Embden, Me deceased. Holly D. Cianchette, 1116 West Baffin Drive, Venice, FL 34293 appointed Personal Representative.

To be published on April 6 & 13, 2017
Dated: March 31, 2017 /s/ Victoria Hatch
Register of Probate

(4/13)

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, on April 19, 2017. 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.

2017-076 – Estate of DEBRA ANN SOUTHARD, adult of Hartland, Me. Petition for Change of Name (Adult) filed by Debra Ann Southard, 2004 Athens Road, Hartland, Me 04943 requesting her name be changed to Debra Ann Smith for reasons set forth therein.

2017-078 – Estate of ZHONGLING CAO, adult of Madison, Me. Petition for Change of Name (Adult) filed by Zhongling Cao, 203 Ash Street, Madison, Me 04950 requesting that her name be changed to Zhongling Cao Elias for reasons set forth therein.

2017-082 – Estate of CORREY ANN ZEOLLA, adult of Concord, Me. Petition for Change of Name (Adult) filed by Correy Ann Zeolla, 5 Jackson Pond Road, Concord, Me 04920 requesting her name be changed to Correy Ann Gordon for reasons set forth therein.

2017-094 – Estate of SHAUNNA RAE JAMES, adult of St. Albans, Me. Petition for Change of Name (Adult) filed by Shauanna Rae James, 34 Nokomis Road, St. Albans, Me 04971 requesting her name be changed to Shaunna Rae Malcolm for reasons set forth therein.

Dated: March 31, 2017 /s/ Victoria Hatch,
Register of Probate

(4/13)

I’m Just Curious: What a week! (Scams)

I’m Just Curious

by Debbie Walker

Now I don’t want you to be jealous of my luck this week but I do want to share this information with you. I didn’t realize at the first of the week how my week would be so blessed.

I got an email letter from the U.S. Department of State. At the very top it said Green Card Lottery Winning letter. Can you believe it, I won something! My family and friends will be so happy knowing that I may be able to stay here.

They tell me this green card is proof that I am officially granted immigration benefits (?) and includes permission to reside and work in the U.S. Imagine that, I can work!

The first step to getting my green card is applying for some immigrant visa. With that I’ll be able to travel to the U.S. (?) Oh yeah, and my family will be allowed to come too. I’ll bet mom will be relieved! All I have to do is fill out some form DS-230, not to worry; it is included as a download attached to the special letter.

There is a little “Ooops” involved here, having to do with an “Affidavit of Support” fee of $420. (It’s not free?)

Oh wow, I just realized the deadline for all this is April 3, 2017. Guess I need to get on the ball here! Oh and as a “Winner” I will get a free airline ticket to the USA. Hey, where do they think I live anyway?

Nuts! Wouldn’t you know I would win something I can’t qualify for! However, they have my information in their data base. Maybe there will be another contest.

Okay, so having been offered my green card the next experience this week was a call from Jennie Wilson, of the Internal Revenue. She was a recording and wanted a call back at 305-407-3323. Imagine the dilemma that Ken and I had on our hands since she didn’t say who the call was for. She warned us that an arrest warrant was being processed but we don’t know who for! At this printing we are still waiting to see who is going to prison, me or Ken.

You know I like to talk foolishness and these were funny to us. However, I read a list of 10 scams taking place in Maine now and my two were not on the list, so the count is at least 12 now.

Beware of answering your phone and answering even the question “are you so and so?” Don’t answer because some of these scammers are recording your voice answering “yes.” They can use that one word as proof that you okayed a charge. I know it shouldn’t be possible but it is. If you have a phone with caller ID, look, if you don’t recognize the area code or the number, don’t answer. Let them leave a message. If it is anything serious you can tell by the message they might leave. I got one yesterday that was supposedly an answer to a call I made checking into a back brace. Didn’t happen folks.

I will always be “just curious” and more and more lately, “careful.” Thanks for reading! Contact me at dwdaffy@yahoo.com.

REVIEW POTPOURRI: Composer: Dvorak; Film: Cry, Danger

REVIEW POTPOURRI

Peter Catesby  Peter Cates

Dvorak

Symphonies 4, 5, and 6; Overtures
In Nature’s Realm, My Country and Carnival; Istvan Kertasz conducting the London Symphony Orchestra; Vox Box SVBX 5138, three 12-inch LPs, recorded 1967.

Back in my early classical record collecting days during the ’63-’64 years, a peak listening experience was the 9th Symphony, better known as “From the New World;” followed within three years, as I could afford the records on my dollar a week budget, by the uniquely sweet goose-bumpish beauties of Symphonies 8, 7, and 6 and the Cello Concerto. My records of these were pretty torn up, mainly from the tone arm of my 32 dollar RCA Victor manually operated three- speed player. But, even with such crude reproduction, this music stood the test of time and still does with much better home reproduction and a variety of different recordings of each piece.

The above set features Symphonies 4, 5, and 6, via recordings leased from the Decca/London label of the late, exceptionally gifted conductor, Istvan Kertesz (1929-1973), one Maestro from whom I have not heard a single record that was never less than very good. During the spring of 1973, he was appointed music director of both the Cologne, Germany, Orchestra and Opera, the kind of challenge that Kertesz relished and, in the opinion of many, would have made a very good fit. Unfortunately, within two or three weeks while on a much-needed vacation to Israel with his wife and two children, he was caught by an undertow while swimming in the Red Sea.

The three symphonies and companion overtures are, in typical Dvorak style, a feast of dramatic excitement and charming melody, and performed in a superb manner. A highly recommended trio of LPs !

Cry, Danger

starring Dick Powell, Rhonda Fleming, Regis Toomey, William Conrad, etc.; directed by Robert Parrish; RKO Radio Films, released February 3, 1951, 79 minutes.

Dick Powell

Dick Powell (1904-1963) portrays, with commendable presence, Rocky Mulloy, a man freshly released from prison after serving five years of a life term for a robbery and murder he didn’t commit and then exonerated by a man who comes forward suddenly with a much-needed alibi for Mulloy’s whereabouts the day of the crime. The justly popular, alluring siren of fifties melodrama, Rhonda Fleming (1923-), is Nancy Morgan, Mulloy’s ex-girlfriend and now wife of his good friend Danny, who is still imprisoned unjustly for the same crime. Regis Toomey (1898-1991) weighs in as Lt. Gus Cobb, an investigator who’s still convinced Mulloy is not only guilty but knows where the unrecovered loot is; but he is also fair with people under investigation and keeps an open mind, just the type of role Toomey did so well in The Big Sleep with Humphrey Bogart.

Finally, William Conrad (1920-1994), best known as a radio actor, a narrator, a director of numerous episodes for various TV shows and star of the ‘70s hit series, Cannon, is Louis Castro – a bookie, another suspect for Mulloy’s crimes yet untouchable, and a leader of his own formidable gang, a character he deploys with commendable professionalism.

Rhonda Fleming

The story has its share of false leads, double crosses and violence but the events contribute to a pretty decent climax as Mulloy’s life is finally relieved of one bad monkey on his back. And 1951 Los Angeles is revealed in all of its pulsating ambiance – the train station and tunnel; the sleazy and semi-sleazy bars; a quaint yet sinister trailer park with year-round balmy weather; the majestic thoroughfares glutted with now-vintage automobiles, trucks and city buses; and the old hotel/apartment buildings with tobacco shops and newsstands. One solid 79 minute piece of newly-remastered black and white entertainment in its DVD incarnation.

Local scouters receive honors at district dinner

Waterville Elks Exalted Ruler Alanson P. White III, second from right, receives the “Partners in Scouting” award from Kennebec Valley District Key 3. From left to right, District Commander Charlie Ferguson, of Winslow, District Chairman Rick Denico, of Vassalboro, White, and District Director Matt Mower. Photo courtesy of Charles Mahaleris

Three local Scouting volunteers received the District Award of Merit, the highest award a local Scouting district can bestow upon a Scouter, at the Kennebec Valley District Annual Scout Leader Recognition Dinner held on March 25, at the Waterville Lodge of Elks. The three were selected by other Scouters for this high honor.

Jared R Bolduc, of Oakland, is currently the committee chairman of Troop #454 where he has also served as an Assistant Scoutmaster, earned his Eagle Scout rank, is passionate about the Order of the Arrow, and served on staff at various Scouting Camporee including Maine Jam but most know him through his work at Camp Bomazeen, in Belgrade, where he volunteers as assistant ranger doing everything from getting fires going at cabins for troops who rent the building in the winter to performing maintenance and construction projects. He was nominated by Karla McAtee Talpey, of Jackman, and was joined at the awarding ceremony by girlfriend Blair Rueger, of Waterville, and his mother, Kathy Bolduc, of Oakland.

Award of Merit recipients from the Kennebec Valley District are, front row, from left to right, Jared R Bolduc, Clarence”Buster” Nutting and Raymond “Jim” VanAntwerp. Second Row, Blair Rueger, Kathy Bolduc, Gayle Nutting and Wendy VanAntwerp. Back, District Chairman Rick Denico, Jay Pfingst, Pat Couture and Chuck Smith. Contributed photo

Raymond “Jim” VanAntwerp is currently the Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop #433, in Winslow, and formerly a Cub Scout leader in Pack #445. He’s taken training classes to expand his Scouting knowledge and to help him improve his delivery of the programs of Scouting. He has spent the past six summers instructing youth on the safe and responsible method to handle, load, aim, fire and maintain a firearm as the shooting sports sirector at Camp Bomazeen – always one of the most popular areas at camp. Patience and a deep desire to see the youth learn to appreciate the skills involved in shooting, Jim is always ready to work with his son and every other Scout that comes to the range. He was nominated by Scoutmaster Jay Pfingst, of Troop #433, and was joined by his wife Wendy for the award ceremony.

Kennebec Valley District delivers Scouting to youth in the following counties: Kennebec, Lincoln, Knox, Somerset and Franklin. The leadership of the district is Chairman Rick Denico, of Vassalboro, Commissioner Charlie Ferguson, of Winslow, and District Director Matt Mower. Past District Award of Merit Reci­pient Pat Couture, of Manchester, led the ceremony.

The third recipient was Clarence “Buster” Nutting, of Strong.

SOLON & BEYOND, Week of April 6, 2017

Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percyby Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percy
Solon, Maine 04979

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

The Solon Congregational Church will be having their annual Spring Inside Yard and Craft Sale on Saturday, April 29, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., at the Solon Elementary School. They are still looking for yard salers and vendors to take part in this popular event featuring many crafters, vendors and second hand tables! New this year is a plant sale, 50/50 Raffle and Spring Themed Guess the Amount Baskets. The kitchen will be open for breakfast and lunch with homemade items. Homemade baked goods table. Spring is here, Don’t Miss Out!!

Much to my horror, when last week’s paper came out, I had failed to put in the date of the very ‘Important Dinner to benefit the Timdall Family! Of course I started to worry that my failure to write the day would keep people away from such an important endeavor! But…when Lief and I arrived for the meal, it was almost impossible to find a place to park, there were so many vehicles! ( Someday, my prayer is that I will stop worrying! Wish me luck!). There had been lots of posters posted around also and there was a huge crowd enjoying the fellowship and wonderful food in abundance. We left before the auction but I hope to find out more about the whole affair before I write this column next week.

Every year when I turn the page on a calendar to April, I start thinking about age. In my dictionary it describes ‘aging’ as “to grow old, to show signs of age. 2 to become mature, heavy wines age slowly. 3 to cause to become old, worry aged him rapidly, 4 to allow to mature. Act your age, behave more sensibly. ( I’ve been told that I don’t act my age, and I totally agree, and I continue to work on that problem!)

But as I get older every year, it impresses me more and more when I find out what other people are still doing in their lives. I can’t say enough about the great job the person who delivers our daily paper does, especially in the winter, (with all the snow storms and blizzards we’ve had this winter!)

Her name is Mary Reed and when I found out last week that she had just had her 80th birthday, my admiration at all she still does was beyond measure. She has been delivering the Morning Sentinel for 37 years. She also delivers the Bangor paper Monday through Saturday and the Portland Sunday paper as well! She said she worked at a shoe shop before starting to deliver papers.

She and her mother found a place to live on Fire Road 15 on the lake, she loved it there, but after her mother died she had to sell the place because the taxes went up. She then bought the place where she now lives in East Madison. She said she made it into a nice house, it was going to be a place to fix cars. She has lived there for 37 years and at one time did do some wood working projects and sold them.

She said she had cancer a couple of years back but was cured. She spends most of her time planting roses, her mother loved them. She wrote on a note to me that, “I love your roses, I watch them grow.”

But again I can’t say enough about how much we appreciate the great job she does in delivering our paper right to our door. (Our driveway curves up a hill and unless there is an ice storm or a blizzard it is there, but if not, it is a tube on South Solon Road. Thanks Mary for a job well done!

I’m sure Percy probably watched Mary’s lights coming up the driveway around 3:30 or 4 a.m. on many a morning, his memoir is to Keep Going: There’s no skill in easy sailing When the skies are clear and blue. There’s no joy in merely doing Things that anyone can do. But there is great satisfaction, That is mighty sweet to take When you reach a destination That you said you couldn’t make.

TECH TALK: 7 killer Ways to Get the Most Out of Our website

ERIC’S TECH TALK

by Eric W. Austin
Computer Technical Advisor

*** THIS ARTICLE IS UP TO DATE AS OF APRIL 6, 2017. It may not reflect site changes after that date! ***

The Town Line launched its website back in 2016 and it’s been a huge success.

But for those of you who still haven’t made the digital leap, I’d like to point out a few reasons you should log on and give it a gander.

1. Get it first! The website is usually updated before the print edition is available. Generally, townline.org publishes the new edition by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, whereas you’ll have to wait until Thursday morning for the paper version!

2. Join the Conversation! Got a grievous grumble caught in your gullet? Unlike the paper, the website allows you to post your comments on every story! Just remember that we at The Town Line follow the BNBR (Be Nice, Be Respectful) policy, and any comments that breach this will not be approved!

3. Clickable links! Every link you see in the paper — including on the Our Town’s Report and Calendar pages! — is clickable on the website. No more squinting at the paper while typing a link into your browser. Just locate the article on townline.org and click the link to have it open in a new page!

4. Browse past issues! Did you miss last week’s issue? No problem! While our Homepage will always display the current edition of The Town Line, we’ve made it easy to find a past issue. Just hover your mouse over the first menu item at the top of the page that begins “Week of…”. A menu will pop open with a list of previous issues. It’s like traveling back in time, only without the math. Eat your heart out Einstein!

5. Save yourself a stamp! Have some local news to share, or want to send a Letter to the Editor? Do it straight from our website! Hover your mouse over the “About Us” menu item at the top of the page for an option to “Contact Us.” Just fill out the contact form (even attach a photo if you want) and click submit! There, you saved 49 cents! You’re welcome!

6. Share the Love! On townline.org, we’ve made it easy to share articles with your friends. At the bottom of every article, you’ll find share buttons for Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and other popular social media sites. Simply click the appropriate button, type some witty commentary and share it with the world!

7. Support your local businesses! All of the ads you see on townline.org are local businesses. The Town Line has always been a locally-supported newspaper. Clicking on one of our ads will take you to that business’ website. If you use an ad-blocker extension in your browser, consider turning it off when visiting townline.org. Our ads are not obtrusive and without their support we would not be able to provide you with free community news and information!

And in the coming weeks we’ll be adding a new “Local Business Directory” to make it easier for you to find services and support your local merchants!

If you’re a business and would like to advertise on townline.org or want to be included in our new Local Business Directory, send us an email through the contact form on the website or call our resident ad-lady, Kathy Duhnoski, at 691-2332 or kduhnoski@myfairpoint.net.

Next time we’ll return to our topic of online privacy with a look at two essential technologies that you really can’t afford to live without!

Eric W. Austin is a marketing and technology consultant specializing in small business. He can be reached by email at ericwaustin@gmail.com.

Violette accepted to Delaware Valley University

Nathan Violette, of Oakland, has been accepted for admission at Delaware Valley University, in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.

IF WALLS COULD TALK, Week of April 6, 2017

Katie Ouilette Wallsby Katie Ouilette

WALLS, I looked out the lakeside window and saw the book he had written about Lakewood on the small table there. Then, I turned to the obituaries in the Morning Sentinel and, lo and behold, there was the photo and write-up of his life, which included his involvement with our own Maine Lakewood Theatre. Yes, it was one and the same John Oblak that had visited his family in Little Falls, New York. Wow! We really had walked in each-others moccasins, as Lew and I had just moved into our house in Little Falls. Needless to say, I called John’s family immediately, but he and his wife had just left after their visit.

Now, our faithful readers may want to ‘fast forward’ to today and learn that Lakewood was a mere drop in John Oblak’s theatrical life. Yes, he was technical director at Lakewood from 1965-1967, he pursued his theatrical education and, even in retirement, he continued to work with theatrical presentations as recently as 2016.

Yes, I have the book that he wrote entitled Bringing Broadway to Maine and the listings of presentations and performers bring wonderful memories every time I thumb through it. Oh, yes, I have a copy of the first play ever performed at Lakewood in 1901 entitled Private Secretary, thanks to an actor who told me he would find it so that we, who owned the theater would be able to produce it for the centennial year of 1975. Yes, and Grandma Zelia Valliere is listed among the performers as Celia Vallier. How many times she told me about her experience of acting at the Lakewood Theatre after getting excused from school and taking the trolley to Lakewood for rehearsals. Yes, she was a sailor-boy in the 1901 play, but grew up for another part in 1903. Oh, WALLS, the ‘we’ I spoke of was Joe Denis and I who owned all of Lakewood from ‘1971 through 1975’.

Yes, WALLS, those who have had Lakewood in their lives over the years will get surprised by the changes there, but a bit ago there was a notice that auditions are being planned for the 2017 season of the theater.

Well, WALLS, you’ve told folks a little bit about Lakewood on Lake Wesserunsett, but surely there will be more as summer gets in full bloom. You will surely tell more about Lakewood’s growth from an Abnaki Indian Reservation to what has become known as one of the oldest summer theaters in our USA. Surely, there are changes that, frankly, happened when Herbert Swett would visit his Bowdoin classmates in New York City and they would all sit at the Lakewood table at the hotel where they met and reminisced and, yes, planned for a dreamed-of theater season. With a trolley line that had just been introduced, of course, the theater would become an attraction for folks far and near.