Blaisdell named to president’s list

Benjamin Blaisdell of Benton, has been named to the President’s List at Western New England University, in Springfield, Massachusetts, for the Spring 2018. Blaisdell is working toward a degree in marketing.

 

 

 

 

Sarah Smith named to dean’s honor list

Sarah Smith, of Whitefield, has been placed on the Gettysburg College dean’s honor list, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, for outstanding academic achievement in the Spring 2018 semester.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Local students named to Ithaca College dean’s list

The followinglocal students graduated from Ithaca College, in Ithaca, New York. Gabrielle Bridger, of Fairfield, graduated Magna cum Laude with a BA in sociology; Mia Fairman, of Waterville, graduated with a BA in sociology.

 

 

 

 

I’M JUST CURIOUS: Farmers’ Almanac fan

by Debbie Walker

Just about anyone who listens to TV News must have heard the Farmer’s Almanac came out last week. I ordered a 2015 and a 2019 and they were delivered in just a couple of days. Yehaw! Can you tell I am a fan?

We all know by now that I get excited about some strange things. So you won’t be surprised when I tell you I couldn’t wait to get a hold of my copies of THE almanac! My excitement was not so I could figure out if it would snow on my birthday in January! My excitement was to read the included articles, and I have not been disappointed!

If an almanac was on the table right in front of me, for many years I wouldn’t have even picked it up. I’ve never been overly interested in the weather. It is what it is. I don’t plant a garden so I wasn’t interested what you plant during what moon. I just couldn’t see why I would be interested in the publication.

I am sure Patsy must have been behind my finally picking one up to look at. OMG! They got my interest! and have kept my interest for a couple of years now. As I said I also ordered 2015. I plan to buy more of the older ones, especially if I run out of my own ideas for columns.

Almost forgot to mention the on-line newsletter I get every month and the little specialty notes now and then. It can be said they know how to keep my interest.

This latest edition now has 20 hot pink book marked pages with titles such as: The Language of Flowers, Keep Those Pests Out Naturally, Air Conditioning (?) and A Man Who Could Make It Rain, just to name a few. You can also check them on-line at Farmer’s Almanac.com.

Do you have any magazines that keep holding your interest, issue after issue? How about sending me the name and why it continues to please you.

I enjoy some of the old sayings I read in the 2019 issue about weather:

Cold is the night when the stars shine bright. — If a circle forms ‘round the moon, ‘twill rain or snow soon. – When the dew is on the grass, rain will never come to pass. – Trout jump high, when rain is nigh. And when sounds travel far and wide, a stormy day will betide.

I also got a chuckle from reading The Language of Flowers. I think you could write a letter using the names of flowers, their colors and their description as code words:

Baby’s Breath: Innocence Carnation (white): Innocence, faithfulness, sweet and lovely, pure love, Good luck.

Iris: Wisdom, your friendship means so much to me.

Rose (white): Innocence, purity, secrecy, or friendship.

So put a bouquet of those flowers together for a gift for a newborn and you have wished them a wonderful future. OR maybe a gift for your first love. (More some other day!!)

I’m just curious what ideas you might come up with. Please, send questions or comments to dwdaffy@yahoo.com. Thank you for reading and don’t forget we do have a website!

REVIEW POTPOURRI – Singer: Sarah Vaughan

Peter Catesby Peter Cates

Sarah Vaughan

Sings the Mancini Songbook
Mercury, 61009, stereo LP, recorded 1965.

Sarah Vaughan

Billy Eckstine

This very fine album, a bringing together of one of the finest singers and composers in American music history, was a collaboration that never got the attention it truly deserved. Singer Sarah Vaughan (1924-1990) brought thorough professionalism, exquisite taste, and vibrant heart and soul to her vocal art; if she made a bad record, I don’t know of it. Her early jazz sides during the mid-forties, some Columbia singles with arranger Percy Faith released after 1950, the mid-’50s Roulette LPs and ten years of Mercury vinyl beginning in 1957 that had duets with Billy Eckstine, and other entries too numerous to mention add up to a priceless legacy. After 1980, two personal favorites were the South Pacific CBS CD with Kiri Te Kanawa and Mandy Patinkin and the extraordinary Mystery of Man, a song cycle recorded in Germany and based on the poetry of a young man who later became Pope John Paul II.

Percy Faith

Henry Mancini

Henry Mancini produced a large, largely superb body of work noted for its own special beauties – soundtracks for Peter Gunn, Mr. Lucky, the Pink Panther, Romeo and Juliet, Charades, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, etc. forever; jazz and mood music arrangements; and the songs – Moon River, Dear Heart, Days of Wine and Roses, just three of the dozen songs on this week’s album, one most highly recommended.

Several selections can be heard on YouTube!

COMMUNITY COMMENTARY: Sheepscot Lake annual water quality update

teens sailing on Sheepscot Lake

David Tyndall, of Kittery, photographed these teens sailing on Sheepscot Lake, in Palermo.

by Carolyn Viens
Sheepscot Lake Association

Water quality testing on Sheepscot Lake has been done since 1977, initially by the Maine State DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) and for the past eight years by the Sheepscot Lake Association (SLA). Again this year, as with previous years, the testing has demonstrated the outstanding health of the lake we all enjoy throughout the year.

Approximately every two weeks from June through September the SLA tests for water clarity, dissolved oxygen from the surface down to the deepest part of the lake, and for phosphorous. The testing is done by a Lake Steward of Maine Certified Lake Monitor from the SLA Board of Directors. The water clarity is tested using a Secchi disk and scope. The Secchi disk is a plain black and white circular disk 30 cm (12 inches) in diameter used to measure water transpar­ency or turbidity in bodies of water. The disc is mounted on a tape measure, and lowered slowly down in the water. The depth at which the disk is no longer visible is taken as a measure of the transparency of the water. This measure is known as the Secchi depth, and is considered the standard methodology for measuring water clarity.

The SLA Monitor also tests for dissolved oxygen using a YSI Pro 20 dissolved oxygen meter, and collects standardized samples for phosphorus which are analyzed in state labs to determine the amount present. The measure of total phosphorus in Sheepscot averages 7 ppb (parts per billion). The state average for tested lakes is 12 ppb. This is good news as phosphorus is a nutrient that feeds algae and other aquatic plants, all of which can become a nuisance; even to the point of requiring physical cutting and removal to allow recreational and sport activities. Fortunately, this has not been a problem in Sheepscot Lake. When this natural element lands in the water algae thrives on it. Phosphorus comes from soil that is washed into the lake from rain and snow melt as well as from fertilizer and leaking septic systems. Human development along lake shores results in five to 10 times more phosphorous than from undeveloped land. There is also a threat of additional phosphorous from fish die-offs, such as when alewives, should they be in a lake, spawn and, during low water years, cannot leave the lake at the end of their cycle.

Meanwhile, the LakeSmart program is available to any lakefront homeowner who is interested in learning how their property impacts the lake. The program provides education on how to minimize runoff from lakefront properties as well as recommendations and certification for lakefront properties. If you are interested in having your property evaluated at no cost or obligation, please email the lake association at sheepscotlakeassoc@gmail.com. Some general guidelines for minimizing impact to the lake is to leave trees in place as they slow down rain water, create a shorefront buffer of natural leaves, pine needles, ground cover and native shrubs. Mow grass to a three-inch height minimum and leave the clippings on the ground. Or, better yet, eliminate grass and encourage native vegetation to hold the soil back from entering the lake. Make paths meander so water won’t rush straight down into the lake. Maintain camp roads to slow down erosion.

In addition to the lake quality testing regularly performed and the LakeSmart program, SLA also manages an invasive plant patrol. This courtesy boat inspection (CBI) program is funded mostly by grants from the town of Palermo, Maine DEP and SLA member dues. The CBI program regularly inspects boats entering and exiting Sheepscot via the boat launch. The goals are to identify any invasive species plant parts hitchhiking into the lake by accident prior to a boat being launched and to emphasize boat self-inspection. Fortunately, Sheepscot Lake does not have any known invasive plants at this time. Lakes with this problem often spend thousands of dollars each year to control their infestation. The Sheepscot Lake Association can help you understand the threats and the solutions. You do not need to be an association member to receive these benefits.

Sheepscot Lake continues to be a wonderful resource for all Palermo residents and visitors to enjoy. With the continued attention on the health of the lake by us all, we will help it thrive for many, many years to come. To learn more about how you can help protect Sheepscot, please contact the lake association at sheepscotlakeassoc@gmail.com.

Enjoy the remainder of the summer!

Area students on URI dean’s list 2018

The following students have been named to the dean’s list at the University of Rhode Island, in Kingston, Rhode Island.

Alexandria M Jarvais, of Madison, Rachel Cambridge Pratt, of Cornville, and Kristen Elizabeth Prelgovisk, of Oakland.

Local students on dean’s list at Dean College

Dean College, in Franklin, Massachusetts, is pleased to announce the students that have earned a place on the dean’s list for the Spring 2018 semester.

Kiara Andreozzi, of Waterville, and Joshua Veilleux, of Winslow.

Lawrence soccer seniors 2018

The 2018 Lawrence High School, in Fairfield, boys soccer seniors and coaches are, from left to right, Coach Bob Towne, Drake Zimba, Alex Owens, Christian Adams, Nick Ellis, Jackson Dudley, Sebastian Nebauer and Coach Ryan Mountain.(Photo by Missy Brown, Central Maine Photography staff)

Lance’s Trivia Question for Week of September 6, 2018

What is the maximum Social Security wage limit for 2018? A. 108,750 B. 128,700, C. 132,570, or D. 142,250?

Answer:

B – $128,700