Emergency services discussed by China residents; MacFarland elected board chairman

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by Mary Grow

Discussion of emergency services stipends at the Nov. 13 China selectmen’s meeting led to discussion of related issues: recent legislation, a new local requirement and how to make sure residents are safe during power outages and other emergencies.

In March, town meeting voters appropriated up to $40,000 to compensate China fire and rescue volunteers for their time. Selectmen approved a plan developed by the three fire departments and China Rescue providing fixed stipends for officers and per-call stipends for other volunteers.

At the Nov. 13 meeting, Fred Glidden, treasurer of the South China volunteer fire department, presented a draft requisition form he proposed to request the stipends for the first half of the fiscal year. Weeks Mills department spokesman David Van Wickler said his department could use the same form; China Village was not represented. Selectmen unanimously approved submission of forms – China Village officers are not obliged to match South China’s – by Nov. 30 and June 30 of each year the stipend program continues.

South China Chief Richard Morse started discussion of LD 150, a new state law presented by state Representative and China Village Fire Chief Tim Theriault, that allows towns to give each department its voter-approved annual funding in a lump sum. Until now, fire and rescue bills have gone through the town books with the town paying bills for the departments from each department’s funds.

In March, voters appropriated $22,000 for China Village, $21,000 for South China, $17,370 for Weeks Mills and $20,950 for China Rescue, plus money for dispatching and emergency services insurance.

Selectman Jeffrey LaVerdiere said the departments would need “financial reporting” if they were to get lump-sum disbursements. Morse said LD 150 requires that the appropriations, not necessarily the expenditures, be itemized.

LaVerdiere then cited the local requirement approved by voters in November that “all nonprofit organizations” receiving town funds provide “their most current respective financial statements” in order to be considered for funding. China’s emergency services are nonprofit organizations.

Morse, Selectman Irene Belanger and resident Lynne O’Connor were dismayed to realize that the requirement applies to the emergency services – they had assumed it applied only to out-of-town nonprofits like the Red Cross.

Morse and Van Wickler feared they would be asked for additional and more detailed bookkeeping. China Rescue spokesman David Herard said there have been 289 rescue calls since the beginning of 2017 – he has enough to do keeping those records without adding financial reporting.

LaVerdiere said repeatedly he had in mind a simple single-page report that would let selectmen fulfill their responsibility to oversee expenditures of town funds. Town Manager Daniel L’Heureux said whatever was done would have to satisfy the town’s auditors.

Selectmen postponed further discussion until they talk with Theriault about his intention when he proposed the state law and perhaps until they get legal advice.

While the firefighters were there, Selectman Neil Farrington asked if they could do wellness checks, making sure people living alone, the elderly and residents with medical needs are all right during major storms, power outages and the like.

Van Wickler and Morse said firefighters are not qualified, especially to interpret medical conditions. Van Wickler said while clearing roads after the windstorm he visited a couple people he knew were alone.

L’Heureux said the town’s health nurse can make wellness checks in some cases. Belanger added the China for a Lifetime Committee is working on the issue, tentatively considering a program of neighbors looking out for neighbors.

In other business Nov. 13, L’Heureux said the town’s plan to buy part of Susan Bailey’s property at the head of China Lake’s east basin to provide parking for the boat launch was stalled, because the lot cannot be separated from her larger property on the east side of Route 202. The Four Seasons Club is interested in part of the east-side land for trail parking, and it could also provide space for a new China Village fire station, he said.

L’Heureux said Bailey is willing to sell all the land for $120,000. Despite concerns about wetlands and other issues, selectmen unanimously authorized him to draft a proposal that could lead to a request to voters to approve the purchase.

Belanger said China needs a second representative and a substitute to serve on the Kennebec Valley Council of Governments board. L’Heureux said a second Kennebec Regional Development Authority representative was also needed; board members unanimously appointed former selectman Ronald Breton, conditional on his accepting.

L’Heureux said about 180 residents had returned the China for a Lifetime Committee’s surveys. A committee meeting tentatively scheduled for Nov. 16 might be postponed to give time to review survey results, he said.

Selectmen elected Robert MacFarland the new board chairman on a 3-2 vote, with LaVerdiere, MacFarland and Donna Mills-Stevens the majority and Belanger and Farrington opposed. Belanger was unanimously re-elected board secretary.

Selectmen scheduled their annual visioning session for 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 27, before their next regular meeting.

Give Us Your Best Shot! Week of November 16, 2017

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RARE VISIT: While working in her hayfield this past summer, Joan Chaffee, of Clinton, spotted this Eastern Red Tailed Hawk searching for a meal.

 

LEADING THE WAY: This momma mallard was seen leading her chicks this past summer by Michael Bilinsky, of China Village.

 

HAVE A SEAT: Davida Barter, of Skowhegan, saw these colorful tractor seats on display while driving along “The Airline” from Baileyville.

Waterville ‘Parade of Lights’ set for Nov. 24

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Image credit: City of Waterville/Kringleville.org

by Mark Huard

Downtown Waterville’s Annual Holiday parade held the evening after Thanksgiving has drawn thousands of families to Main Street for many years and serves as a fun and festive kickoff to the holiday season. The Children’s Discovery Museum is excited to be adopting this wonderful event. The museum has been a staple in the Central Maine Community for many years and will be relocating to a large space in Waterville in the spring of 2019.

While the staff of the Children’s Museum waits to open the doors of their new location, they are excited to be hosting such a wonderful family event for the community.

The 12th Annual Parade of Lights will be held on Friday, November 24, at 6 p.m. New this year floats will assemble at the Waterville Legion Parking Lot, at 21 College Ave., and travel down Main Street and continue to the Castonguay Square with the lighting of the giant spruce tree and Santa’s arrival at Kringleville. Central Maine Photography will be offering light up wands at the parade for anyone who is interested.

What a great time of year to get together and show our community spirit and support for one another.

Santa will visit with families and children on the following dates:

November 24 – after parade until 9 p.m.; December 2-3, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; December 9-10, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; December 16-17, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; December 20-22, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Educators help to provide necessities for needy

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From left to right, Kappa members Mary Whitten, of Gardiner, and Betty-Jane Meader, of Waterville, load the car for delivery of a variety of items to The Essentials Closet. Contributed photo

Members of the local Kappa Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma International recently donated a variety of items to The Essentials Closet at the First Congregational Church on Eustis Parkway in Waterville.

Pastor Mark Wilson initiated the idea of The Essentials Closet about a year ago, noting that we have the local soup kitchen, evening sandwich program, the food pantry, and homeless shelter. In none of those places can people get the essentials — laundry detergent, toilet paper, dish detergent, shampoo, paper towels, tissues, bath soap, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, toothbrushes, diapers, baby wipes, and toothpaste.

“Furthermore, these items cannot be purchased with their EBT cards and state assistance programs,” explained Pete Downing, director of the program with his wife Lora, of Sidney.

Some members of St. Mark’s Church have chosen to fill the needs of diapers and feminine hygiene items. “We recently had 1,500 diapers delivered by this church. This is a huge blessing and will be of such great help to many of your young mothers,” says Lora.

“People need to feel clean and have clean clothes in order to go to work and have their children go to school bathed and in clean clothes,“ commented Lora.

The Essentials Closet is staffed by three or four volunteers and is open the last two weeks of every month—Mondays, 5 to 7 p.m. and Wednesday and Friday from 9 to 11 a.m. Since April 17, they have served 580 different people, and some come every month. “We average about 180 people per month from all over Central Maine,” said Lora.

Delta Kappa Gamma is an international organization of women educators from around the world. One of the primary strands of the mission is service to local communities. There are 16 chapters in the State of Maine.

For Your Health – Surprising Perks Of Your Medicare Plan

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For Your Health

(NAPSI)—With more than 10,000 baby boomers turning 65 each day, the number of people eligible for Medicare is growing rapidly. Medicare Open Enrollment starts Oct. 15 and runs through Dec. 7, a time when millions of people are evaluating their health plan options to ensure their coverage meets their retirement lifestyle.

When looking at Medicare plans, people check to make sure their physician is included in the plan’s network and prescriptions are covered, but it’s important to see which unique benefits and perks a plan offers to take full advantage of the program. There is much more than standard health care available.

Medicare plans can offer benefits including a free gym or fitness facility membership through programs such as SilverSneakers, the nation’s leading community fitness program designed specifically for older Americans. Exercise is key to helping people live their best lives as they age, maximizing their health and well-being to maintain an active lifestyle. No matter a person’s goal—from running a marathon for the first time to keeping up with grandkids—SilverSneakers members enjoy the many benefits of the program, including:

• Membership to more than 14,000 fitness locations: SilverSneakers members have unrestricted access and unlimited visits to every fitness and wellness facility in the national network, including each location’s basic amenities, such as weights, treadmills, pools and more.

• Specialized fitness classes: SilverSneakers offers a variety of classes in partnering locations that are designed to accommodate all fitness levels and interests. Led by certified SilverSneakers fitness instructors, classes range from SilverSneakers Classic and Splash, to SilverSneakers BOOM®, a fast-paced, higher-intensity class designed for baby boomers and active older adults.

• Friendship and community: So much more than an exercise program, SilverSneakers helps foster new friendships with a welcoming and supportive member community that becomes one of close friends.

• Quality of life: The program changes lives by engaging participants in physical activity to help them do more of what they love. In fact, 91 percent of members say SilverSneakers has improved their quality of life.

More than 14.5 million people are eligible for this program offered at no additional charge through the nation’s leading Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement and group retiree plans. You can check your Medicare plan to see if you are eligible for the program and claim your free fitness membership at www.silversneakers.com.

Huard’s Karate Kreatures

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Huard’s Martial Arts Little Dragons Halloween class. Photo courtesy Central Maine Photography

SCORES & OUTDOORS: Update on birds

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Roland D. HalleeSCORES & OUTDOORS

by Roland D. Hallee

As an update to my column of two weeks ago about the disappearance of birds from our backyard feeders, I have done some more research, and received some feedback from readers.

Through the dog days of August, it is not unusual to see and hear fewer birds. The nesting season has ended. So, young birds and their parents have dispersed and left their nesting territories (your yard). If natural food is plentiful, they are less likely to supplement their diet with your feeders. Migration has also started. Backyard birds with long migration routes will start leaving early in more northern areas of the country as insect populations start to fall off. Midday heat will make birds more inactive. Summer temperatures will often cause birds to be less active during the middle of the day. So, it’s possible that the warm fall we are experiencing has something to do with it. So, they won’t come to feeders as much.

“Things are going wrong with our environment,” writes John Terborgh, a James B. Duke Profesor of Environmental Science at Duke University. “Even the parts of it that are nominally protected. If we wait until all the answers are in, we may find ourselves in a much worse predicament than if we had taken notice of the problem earlier. By waiting, one risks being too late; on the other hand, there can be no such thing as being too early.”

For some interesting insight, read Terborgh’s book, Where Have All the Birds Gone?: Essays on the Biology and Conservation of Birds that Migrate to the American Tropics.

Is this talk about national bird declines just hot air? No. As well as all these apparent disappearances of birds, there has been a serious, countrywide, decline in the numbers of many birds, including many well known and loved species. This decline has been slow and gradual, rather than sudden. Extensive research has shown that these declines are caused primarily by changes in agriculture.

According to ArkWildlife, a respected online trading bird food and wildlife habitats company, and 24 years of history with a passion for garden wildlife, “don’t panic, nothing’s gone wrong. The birds are simply following the natural seasons, food availability and their natural behaviour. Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, birds can suffer real food shortages during the summer months at a time most vital to them – the breeding season. Wet weather or a late spring can all mean a lack of insects to forage for when the trees and hedgerows have long since been stripped of berries and seeds. So birds turn to our gardens in huge numbers to supplement their diet and even bring fledglings directly from the nest to the feeder.”

Although we don’t see it very often, there is a year-round cycle within the bird world. As we transition into fall, birds go into different feeding patterns.

Don’t worry, according to many bird research sources, they will come back. So don’t take down those feeders yet. Keep them filled, the birds will love you for it.

Here are a few responses we received on our website:

Janie says: It appears the loss of birds is quite widespread…not just in Maine. I live in upstate New York… Catskill Mountains region; and we haven’t had any birds, at all, for over a month. We went for about a 45 minute drive to admire the autumn foliage, and we did not see even one bird spotted flying during the drive… and we were specifically watching to see if another area had birds. My relatives and I feed them year round… and usually have to refill the feeders on a daily basis. There have always been lots of birds year round… this has not happened before in over the 25 years I have lived here. On a positive note, we noticed this weekend a few birds have started to return from wherever they had gone! It is so nice to hear and see them again!

JHM says: I have had a feeder in Waterville, Maine, for many years. The first few days in September the hummingbird sat at the nectar feeder almost all day and evidently left that night on his southern journey. Until about that date my seed feeder had many daily bird visits from tufted titmice, several male and female cardinals, many chickadees, gold finches and house finches, and others. But right about that time in early to mid-September I realized my feeder was staying full and there were no birds, only an occasional squirrel. I cleaned the feeder and bought new seeds, but still no luck. I kept a look out for predators and did see a cat several times. But, that is not unusual. I have seen an occasional titmouse and cardinal but that is it. I have seen some birds in the trees, but not as many as I have seen in the past. I hope they will come back as the birds are a bright spot by my kitchen window during the long winter.

Caroline says: I was just googling “where are the birds” and this article was high in the search. I live in Southport, North Carolina. Usually my feeders are covered with many types of birds, especially House finches. But for the last month or two, I have a couple of chickadees, cardinals and nuthatches. This area is rich in bird life, especially water birds (egrets, herons, etc) and those birds seem to be about the same. But I am very shocked at the decrease in feeder birds. We have a lot of insects here. I have noticed no decrease in them. I am very concerned to find an article from Maine that describes a similar situation.

Legal Notices, Week of November 9, 2017

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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 is November 2, 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.

2017-348-1 – Estate of JOSEPH CHARLES MITCHELL, late of Madison, Me deceased. Stephen R. Knox, 119 Walnut Street, #9, Montclair, NJ 07042 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-147 – Estate of JOSEPH G. VARRICCHIO, late of Palmyra, Me deceased. Joseph A. Varricchio, 55 Main Street, St. Albans, Me 04971 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-287 – Estate of VIOLA M. COOKSON, late of Cambridge, Me deceased. Frances Murray, 10 Dean Road, Clinton, Maine 04927 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-288 – Estate of MAXINE SHIRLEY PETERS, late of Solon, Me deceased. Mickey C. Furbush, PO Box 492, Oakland, Me 04963 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-259 – Estate of MARLENE F. AUSTIN, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Marion A. Rexford, PO Box 173, Whitefield, NH 03598 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-292 – Estate of JAMEY SCOTT SANBORN, late Skowhegan, Me deceased. Valerie Sanborn, 155 Manktown Road, Waldoboro, Me 04572 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-293 – Estate of SPENCER R. GAGNON, late of Fairfield, Me deceased. Iris J. Gagnon, 26 Winter Street, Fairfield, Me 04937 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-296 – Estate of PETER H. O’MEARA, late of Athens, Me deceased. Karla Bailey, PO Box 77, Athens, Me 04912 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-298 – Estate of JUDITH M. DELFRANCO, late of Fairfield, Me deceased. Lori DelFranco, 101 Main Street, #2, Fairfield, Maine 04937 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-254 – Estate of DANA ALBERT CLARK, late of Palmyra, Me deceased. Amy Beth Clark, 13730 Chauny Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224 and P.O. Box 251, Palmyra, Maine 04965 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-299 – Estate of FRANKLIN C. McIVER, late of Fairfield, Me deceased. Linda J. McIver, PO Box 174, Shawmut, Me 04975 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-300 – Estate of HILMA M. WILBER, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Cynthia W. chase, 339 Bigelow Hill Road, Skowhegan, Me 04976 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-301 – Estate of JUDITH M. BACON, late of Pittsfield, Me deceased. Sara M. Goodridge, 273 Hamilton Terrace, Pittsfield, Me 04967 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-302 – Estate of ROBERT LAWRENCE LIBBY, late of Hartland, Me deceased. Diane L. Libby, P.O. Box 25, Hartland, Maine 04943 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-304 – Estate of BERNARD F. DOZIER, JR., late of Cambridge, Me deceased. Patricia S. Dowse, 946 Dexter Road, Cambridge, Me 04923 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-306 – Estate of EARLENE F. WAUGH, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Sharon C. Adams, 1691 Industry Road, Industry, Me 04938 appointed Personal Representative.

To be published on November 2, 2017 and November 9, 2017.
Dated: October 30, 2017 /s/ Victoria Hatch,
Register of Probate
(11/9)

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 November 15, 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.

2017-303 – Estate of KELLIE LYNN MELLOWS. Petition for Change of Name (Adult) filed by Kellie Lynn Mellows, 335 Green Road, Fairfield, Me 04937 requesting her name be changed to Blake Lynn Nye for reasons set forth therein.

2017-305 – Estate of CHARLES JOSEPH KAVANAGH. Petition for Change of Name (Adult) filed by Charles Joseph Kavanagh, 650 Old Ferry Road, Hartland, Me 04943 requesting his name be changed to Cathal Joseph Kavanagh for reasons set for therein.

IN ADDITION: The following Estate was filed in the Franklin County Probate Court, 140 Main Street-Suite 6, Farmington, Me 04938 – Hearing scheduled for November 17, 2017 at 10:00 a.m.

Docket No. 2017-0189 – Estate of GEORGE H. TAYLOR, late of Fairfield, Me. Petition for Formal Probate of Will and Appointment of Personal Representative. George A. Taylor, 171 Back Road, Skowhegan, Me 04976

Dated: October 30, 2017 /s/ Victoria Hatch,
Register of Probate
(11/9)

STATE OF MAINE
PROBATE COURT
SOMERSET, SS
NOTICE TO HEIRS
Estate of
Estate of JUDITH M. BACON
DOCKET NO. 2017-301

It appearing that the following heirs of JUDITH M. BACON, as listed in an Application for Informal Probate of Will and Appointment of Personal Representative is of unknown address as listed below:

Camilla O’Brien
Tyrone Roy

THEREFORE, notice is hereby given as heir of the above named estate, pursuant to Maine Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 4(d) (1) (a), and Rule 4 (e) a.

This notice shall be published once a week for two successive weeks in The Town Line, with the first publication date to be November 2, 2017.

Names and address of Personal Representative: Sara M. Goodridge, 273 Hamilton Terrace, Pittsfield, Me 04967.

Dated: October 30, 2017
/s/ Victoria Hatch,
Register of Probate
(11/9)

STATE OF MAINE
PROBATE COURT
SOMERSET, SS
NOTICE TO HEIRS
Estate of
Estate of PETER H. O’MEARA
DOCKET NO. 2017-296

It appearing that the following heir of PETER H. O’MEARA, as listed in an Application for Informal Probate of Will and Appointment of Personal Representative is of unknown address as listed below:

Kimberly O’Meara Schmidt

THEREFORE, notice is hereby given as heir of the above named estate, pursuant to Maine Rules of Probate Procedure Rule 4(d) (1) (a), and Rule 4 (e) a.

This notice shall be published once a week for two successive weeks in The Town Line, with the first publication date to be November 2, 2017 & November 9, 2017.

Names and address of Personal Representative: Karla Bailey, PO Box 77, Athens, Me 04912.

Dated: October 30, 2017
/s/ Victoria Hatch,
Register of Probate
(11/9)

I’m Just Curious: Really?

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by Debbie Walker

I’m not sure how this “New Tiny Houses” thing came about; it has become the newest in home ownership. Newest? That’s my “really?” question.

Well, I don’t believe “new” should be included in the term. When I was driving home the other day I saw at least three “tiny houses.” These homes probably were not as fancy as the ones on that Sunday night TV show. However, it is a way for people to have a “home” and not pay rent. It has been going on for a long time.

We have a friend who built what he calls a “camp.” It is small and he works on it as he can afford it. The difference is some of the “tiny houses” are meant to travel, the ones on the way home were not, nor is our friend’s.

I know I am probably not seeing the whole picture but I am seeing some serious problems with moving some of these little “Tiny Houses” down the road. If they want to move around what is wrong with some of the travel trailers?

There are some beautiful “homes” (a home is whatever size and structure you are fond of). The trailers are built for going down the road, wherever your heart desires and to live in with comfort. Some are luxury and some are suited to a rugged camping experience. Storage is everywhere, inside and outside under the trailer. I believe with most companies you can do some customizing, my in-laws used to design their fifth wheel according to their (her!) needs.

I am kind of wondering if this “Tiny House” thing will last a long time. The TV show certainly will not have the run time of “Captain Kangaroo.” I lived in a travel trailer some years back, for a year, and I enjoyed it. We were in Florida and spent a lot of time outside. But even in “weather” we were comfortable. Ken and I spent at least three summers up here in our motor home. We did enjoy those summers even though Ken wasn’t quite as happy as I was contented.

Well anyway, that’s my rant about the “Tiny Houses.” Please don’t hesitate in letting me know your thoughts.

WEATHER

(Copied from The Old Farmers Almanac for Kids)

Little Girl’s Poem About Snow

Charley looked at the snowflakes fair,
Falling so swiftly through the air.
With wonder in her big blue eyes
She looked at the fairies from far-off skies.
Soon she called, “Momma, come look at these things,
Floating as softly as if they had wings
I guess, Momma, the angels up there
Are combing the dandruff out of their hair.

by Cora E Talbot (1865-1938)

With that cute little poem I am trying to build myself up for what is sure to come soon, after all this is Maine. Please contact me at dwdaffy@yahoo.com with questions or comments. Don’t forget to check out our website. Thanks for reading!

REVIEWS: Composer: Johannes Brahm; Film: Hitch, starring Will Smith, Eva Mendes, Kevin James

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Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates

How I Started Collecting Records — Continued!

Along with the Burl Ives records, there were others given to me. Numerous titles from such labels as Golden Records, Peter Pan and Children’s Record Guild abounded. I remember a Johnny Ray Columbia 45 hit — Just Walkin’ in the Rain – that I heard a lot on the radio. One day Mom bought me a copy of it — my first example of owning a record I had already grown to like from listening to the radio but far from being the last one.

Although I didn’t add any more of Ray’s records until more than 40 years later, I continue to regard him as an intriguing singer with a very individualistic style of delivery. I would also recommend watching the Jack Benny skit on YouTube, in which the comedian visits the singer’s home, as one of the funniest ever produced! (To continue next week…)

Brahms

Piano Quintet
Leon Fleisher, piano, with the Juilliard String Quartet; Odyssey Y 35211, 12- inch stereo vinyl LP, recorded early ‘60s.

Johannes Brahm

This composition was originally scored and performed as a Quintet for five string players and a Sonata for two pianos but Brahms and his two closest friends, violinist Joseph Joachim and Clara Schumann, widow of the great composer, Robert Schumann, felt something was missing. It was then rescored for piano and four string players and became a success that continues to be performed to the present day, with a large number of fine recordings.

It has a kind of special beauty, rhythmic power and sense of tragedy that combine into a unique musical experience. The pianist Leon Fleisher and his Juilliard colleagues gave their all, making this recording one that will reward numerous hearings.

Hitch

starring Will Smith, Eva Mendes, Kevin James, Allegra Cole, etc.; directed by Andy Tennant; Columbia Pictures; 118 minutes; 2005.

Will Smith

Eva Mendes

This film deals with the activities of a matchmaker, Hitch (Will Smith); his would-be girlfriend, Sara (Mendes), who is also a gossip columnist; a paunchy, klutzy stockbroker, Albert (James) ; and Albert’s girlfriend of a lifetime, Allegra (Valletta), who is beautiful, filthy rich, and very down to earth, an unusual combination. The stars do magnificent work in a very funny film, my favorite being Eva Mendes, who, as Sara, does a wonderful scene of emotional vulnerability in opening up to Hitch about her childhood when she felt really hurt – the kind of honesty in acting that is so rarely seen at anytime in a film of today without the hysterics.

In other words, one superb film!