Mid-Maine Chamber hosting super raffle

The Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the Coldwell Banker Plourde Super Raffle on October 3, at the Waterville Elks Lodge, 76 Industrial Street, Waterville. In celebration of Coldwell Banker Plourde Real Estate doing business for 30 years in the Waterville area, hundreds of prizes have been donated by Chamber member businesses. The event will begin with a social hour at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased by contacting the Chamber at 207.873.3315 or programs@midmainechamber.com. Tickets are limited.

2019 Event sponsors: Coldwell Banker Plourde Real Estate, Bar Harbor Bank and Trust, Choice Wealth Advisors and New Dimensions Federal Credit Union.

ABOUT THE CHAMBER: Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce is dedicated and committed to promoting, educating and advocating for business prosperity and regional economic improvement. Its membership region includes Albion, Belgrade, Benton, Burnham, China, Clinton, Fairfield, Hinckley, Oakland, Rome, Shawmut, Sidney, South China, Thorndike, Unity, Vassalboro, Waterville, Weeks Mills and Winslow. For more information call 873-3315 or visit www.midmainechamber.com.

I’M JUST CURIOUS: October crazy holidays

by Debbie Walker

Wow! We are moving into the fall months fast!!! I am reasonably sure that most of you have special activities all thru the fall. I’d love it if you would drop me a line and share some of them with me. Hopefully you will enjoy the following:

Oct 1. International Coffee Day – Wake up and smell the coffee. And if you are CRUMPY without it, put it on speed perk!

Oct. 5. International Frugal Fun Day – a day to enjoy fun activities that are free. Use your imagination!

Oct. 9. Curious Events Day – Hold some kind of event that peaks one’s curiosity.

Oct. 11. It’s My Party Day – Make it simple or elaborate. You could always sing the words to “It’s My Party” (and I’ll cry if I want to), but without the tears!

Oct. 12. Moment of Frustration Day – This is the day to get rid of your frustrations. Think, what will let your frustrations out in a constructive manner. No arguments, please. Try singing, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.

Oct. 14. Bald and Free Day – Celebrate the Bald people. They don’t have to have haircuts, hair crème, I think maybe they don’t even have to shampoo.

Oct. 16. Dictionary Day – Celebrate Noah Webster’s birthday, the father of American Dictionary. Encourage children to use the dictionary. I have a big one at my desk and I have downloaded one on each tablet I own. I don’t have to use one often, but I am grateful when I find my answer.

Oct. 17. Wear Something Gaudy Day – It is your chance to stick out in a crowd. Wear something bright, cheap, showy, outlandish or otherwise not in good taste. I must celebrate this holiday every day!

Oct. 21. Babbling Day – Blatherskites (a person who is prone to speaking nonsense) this is your day. You will know them because they never stop talking nonsense. Babble away the day. This is your day!

Oct. 22. National Nut Day – This day honors all the nutty people of the day. It also celebrates nuts that are nutritious and flavorful. Then there is also the nut that screws onto a bolt. Don’t eat those, they have other uses!

Oct. 26. National Mincemeat Day – I am hoping everyone who reads this knows what mincemeat is. That would not be the case here in Florida. The truth is a whole generation, after 1900, didn’t know what this was. If you are one of those, just ask your neighbor, they may know. Yum!

Oct. 30. Mischief Night – This is the evening of mischief, not Halloween, according to the information I found. Law Enforcement discourages the activities of the past such as soaping windows, egging cars, etc. If you choose to honor mischief night, don’t do anything you wouldn’t want done to yourself.

Oct. 31. Halloween – the information I found stressed this as being the best holiday because it does not cause stress (?), no overload, and no holiday depression. Adults have been known to gain weight from this holiday, Beware!!

I’m just curious what your favorite day will be this month. Let me know your favorite date and why. I will be waiting at dwdaffy@yahoo.com for your questions or comments. Thanks for reading and have a great week!

REVIEW POTPOURRI: Budapest String Quartet

Peter Catesby Peter Cates

Budapest String Quartet

Op. 59, No. 3
Budapest String Quartet, Columbia MM-510, 4 12-inch 78s, recorded September 15, 1941.

The Budapest String Quartet began in 1917 when Budapest, Hungary, was a major center for classical music education with composers Bela Bartok and Zoltan Kodaly and violinist Jeno Hubay and others. Four unemployed instrumentalists founded it and gave its debut concert in December of that year.

Previous personnel issues, finances and other such obstacles of living confounded the group. The life stories of every member in the lengthy Wikipedia article make fascinating reading.

After years of just barely escaping destruction at the hands of evil governments in war-torn Europe, the quartet members were finally able to settle in the United States and achieve much success with their concerts, recordings and teaching that would last for the remaining years until they disbanded as a group in 1967. They had already recorded discs for RCA Victor since 1932 but left that company in 1940 to record for Columbia Masterworks with greater success in worldwide fame, record sales and spreading chamber music gospel.”

The Budapest String Quartet for its last three decades consisted of first violinist Josef Roisman, 1900-1974; second violinist Alexander Schneider, 1908-1993; his older brother, cellist Mischa Schneider, 1904-1985; and violist Boris Kroyt, 1897-1969.

The Beethoven String Quartet listed above, like the composer’s other works, has a concentration of power, beauty, harmonic development, and rhythm and, above all, a range of human emotion that is unique . The string players were in peak form in this 1941 78 set and I have listened to it often in recent days,

A large number of other performances are available to hear on YouTube and elsewhere and free for auditioning.

The sixth season of Black List just became available on Netflix. I have already watched three episodes in a row.

LEGAL NOTICES for Thursday, September 26, 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 September 26, 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.

2019-286 – Estate of JOSEPH G.L. QUIRION, late of Canaan, Me deceased. Cynthia M. Daigle, 28 Towne Road, Madison, Me 04950 and Brandi A. Smith, 511 East Madison Road, Madison, Me 04950 appointed Co-Personal Representatives.

2019-288 – Estate of LAURA LOUISE HAMMOND, late of Wilton, Me deceased. Tammi Lynn Becker, PO Box 66, East Dixfield, Me 04227 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-289 – Estate of LAWRENCE N. LEE, late of Weld, Me deceased. Craig Hutchinson, 22 Ridgecrest Drive, Wilton, Me 04294 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-290 – Estate of BEATRICE A. KARLON, late of Rangeley, Me deceased. Claire Halley 41 Hampton Meadows, Hampton, NH 03842 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-292 – Estate of RAELYNN LAUREN BELL, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Charity Chillington, 30 Mechanic Street, Skowhegan, ME 04976 and Michael Bell, 426 Libby Hill Road, Palmyra, ME 04965 appointed Co-Personal Representatives.

2019-294 – Estate of KATHY M. COUSINEAU, late of Madison, Me deceased. Jean Pascucci, 35 Paul Road, Holliston, MA 01746 and Edmund Seeley, 23 Jones Street, Madison, ME 04950 appointed Co-Personal Representative.

2019-295 – Estate of NOME L. KAUPIN, late of Enfield, Hartford County, CT deceased. Chase C. Kaupin, PO Box 496, Biddeford, ME 04005 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-296 – Estate of COLLEEN J. MORRIS, late of Fairfield, Me deceased. Debra Hitchcock, 137 Martin Stream Road, Fairfield, ME 04937 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-298 – Estate of PETER JOHN MAGINNIS, late of Madison, Me deceased. William G. Maginnis, 61 Creamer Road, Embden, Me 04958 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-299 – Estate of REXFORD B. ST. LEDGER, late of Pompano Beach Florida. Chase C. Kaupin, PO Box 496 Biddeford, Me 04005 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-302 – Estate of PHYLLIS A. CORSON, late of Madison, Me deceased. Daniel J. Corson, 451 White Schoolhouse Road, Madison, Me 04950 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-304 – Estate of CHERYL McAFEE, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. John L. McAfee, 30 Silver Street, Skowhegan, Me 04976 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-309 – Estate of EDWARD H. LEEMAN, late of Madison, Me deceased. Scott A. Leeman, 1019 Five Islands Road, Georgetown, Me 04548 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-310 – Estate of CAROL I. BEAL, late of St. Albans, Me deceased. Charles W. Cox, 175 Exchange Street, Suite 200, Bangor, Me 04401 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-311 – Estate of BARRY K. MORRISS, late of Madison, Me deceased. Marion Morriss, 1 Dore Lane, Madison, ME 04950 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-312 – Estate of MARILYN J. HEGARTY, late of Jackman, Me deceased. James J. Hegarty, PO Box 269, Jackman, ME 04945 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-329 – Estate of RANDY L. RAYE, late of Palmyra, Me deceased. Audrey L. Raye, 6 Prentiss Street, Bangor, Me 04401 appointed Personal Representative.

To be published on September 26, 2019 & October 3, 2019.
Dated: September 23, 2019
/s/ Victoria Hatch,
Register of Probate
(10/3)

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 October 9, 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.

2019-287 – Estate of RAEGAN MARIE STEWARD, minor of Fairfield, Me. Petition for Change of Name (Minor) filed by Katlyn Kylea Robb, PO Box 244, Shawmut, Me 04975 requesting minor’s name be changed to Raegan Marie Robb for reasons set forth therein.

2019-291 – Estate of MEGAN ELIZABETH CROWE, adult of Norridgewock, Me. Petition for Change of Name (Adult) filed by Megan Elizabeth Crowe, 86 Waterville Road, Norridgewock, Me 0957 requesting her name be changed to Megan Elizabeth Pinkham for reasons set forth therein.

2019-300 – Estate of PAISLEY RAE BATHGATE, minor of Skowhegan, Me. Petition for Change of Name (Minor) filed by Jaclyn Spencer, 2 Mitchell Street, Apt 2, Skowhegan, Me 04976 requesting minor’s name be changed to Paisley Rae Spencer for reasons set forth therein.

2019-301 – Estate of ATHENA ELIZABETH COLE, minor of Skowhegan, Me. Petition for Change of Name (Minor) filed by Hilarie J. Cole, 19 Cedar Ridge Drive, Skowhegan, Maine 04976 and Roger E. Foster, III., 15 Glenn Harris Road, New Sharon, Maine 04955 requesting her name be changed to Hannah Elizabeth Cole for reasons set forth therein.

2019-305 – Estate of NANCIE BREAU McLEOD, adult of Pittsfield, Me. Petition for Change of Name (Adult) filed by Nancie Breau McLeod, 144 Washington Street, Pittsfield, Me 04967 requesting her name be changed to Nancie Jean Breau for reasons set forth therein.

2019-306 – Estate of CURTIS WILLIAM McLEOD, adult of Pittsfield, Me. Petition for Change of Name (Adult) filed by Curtis William McLeod of 144 Washington Street, Pittsfield, Me 04967 requesting his name be changed to Curtis William Breau for reasons set forth therein.

2019-307 – Estate of ADALYN RAE COLLINS, minor of Skowhegan, Me. Petition for Change of Name (Minor) filed by Brooke Collins, 43 French Street, Skowhegan, Maine 04976 and Dustin Lancaster, 8 Hinckley Road, Clinton, Maine 04927 requesting her name be changed to Brooke Rae Lancaster, for reason set forth therein.

2019-313 – Estate of JESSICA LYNN THIBODEAU. Petition for Change of Name (Adult) filed by Jessica Lynn Thibodeau, 5 Corson Road, Mercer, Me 04957 requesting her name be changed to Jessica Lynn Smith for reasons set forth therein.

2019-322 – Estate of TAYLOR ELIZABETH-ROSE YOUNG, adult of Pittsfield, Me. Petition for Change of Name (Adult) filed by Taylor Elizabeth-Rose Young of 1239 Main Street, Pittsfield, ME 04967 requesting her name be changed to Ryder Avery Young for reasons set forth therein.

Dated: September 23, 2019
/s/ Victoria Hatch
Registrar of Probate
(10/3)

Kennebec retired educators support classrooms

The Kennebec Retired Educators Association (KREA) is awarding two $150 grants to two educators in Kennebec County for classroom use. The grants will supplement expenses for student-centered, inter-disciplinary projects and may be expended for materials used in the classroom, speakers’ fees, project development and related travel expenses, etc.

Grant criteria and applications have been disseminated to every principal in all elementary, middle, and high schools. The principals have made them available to the classroom teachers. Grant applications are to be submitted by October 30 to George Davis, committee chairperson. The winning applicants will be notified by December 1 and will receive the grant money at that time.

“Students remain our primary focus long after we leave our classrooms,” says George Davis of Skowhegan, chairperson of the Innovative Classroom Grant Committee and retired principal of Winslow High School.

KREA is comprised of retired educators from 60 schools in 31 cities and towns. In an effort to give back to the schools where they taught for many years, members of KREA also participate in the annual statewide “Day of Caring” volunteerism program that assists teachers every August in preparing for the opening day of school. Teachers in many Kennebec County schools have benefited from their assistance.

Further information may be obtained from George Davis at 207-612-2639.

Kennebec Federal Savings named to “Best Places to Work in Maine” list for sixth straight year

For the sixth year in a row, Kennebec Federal Savings has been named to the list of “Best Places to Work in Maine” by The Maine State Council of the national Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM).

Established in 2006, The “Best Places to Work in Maine” Awards recognize small, medium-sized, and large organizations that consistently cultivate outstanding workplace environments. The organization that manages the program, Best Companies Group, compiles information and data from all registered organizations, particularly focusing on each company’s workplace policies and employee benefits, along with responses from employees to a comprehensive satisfaction survey.

“All of us at Kennebec Federal Savings are honored to be recognized for the 6th year in a row as a Best Places to Work in Maine company,” said Allan Rancourt, President of Kennebec Federal Savings. “Kudos to the great team at KFS for making this a great place to work. Congratulations to all the 2019 Best Places to Work in Maine companies.”

The “Best Places to Work in Maine” winners—split into company-size categories and ranked up to the #1 winner—will be revealed at a special Awards Celebration on Wednesday, October 2, at the Augusta Civic Center. A complete list of the top companies will be featured in a statewide publication produced by Mainebiz: Maine’s Business News Source.

Kennebec Historical Society honors archivist Plummer

The Kennebec Historical Society’s Personnel Committee has picked longtime archivist Ernest L. Plummer, of Pittston, as the first recipient of the society’s newly-established W. Scott Hill Service Award.

Plummer resigned this month after having volunteered in a variety of KHS positions over 16 years, including two terms as president. He and his wife, Joan, plan to move closer to his daughter’s family in Massachusetts.

Ernest L. Plummer

A native of Buffalo, New York, and a retired industrial chemist, Plummer has upgraded and maintained the KHS collections database, enabling catalogers to embed photographs and scanned images or original written documents into the record. The improvement in quality and quantity of society holdings has effectively opened KHS files to many more researchers seeking to learn more about some aspect of Kennebec County history.

Plummer became KHS vice president in 2007 and was elected to two-year terms as president in 2009 and in 2013. Under his leadership, the society pressed forward with efforts to retire the $190,000 mortgage on its present home, the Henry Weld Fuller Jr. house in Augusta, a goal that was achieved less than four years later. He also has been the society’s executive director and treasurer, and he recruited his wife to manage the society’s membership database, which she has done for several years.

He also spent much of his time assisting researchers and fostering cooperative relationships with other historical societies in the county. He clocked several hundred volunteer hours per year for the society’s benefit. As he winds up his years of service, he is training six volunteers to carry on his work of cataloging materials in the database.

For these achievements and others, the KHS Personnel Committee selected Plummer for the Hill award, which was established this year to honor society members who have initiated or organized landmark improvements in the society’s operation, reputation or contributions to the community. The award is named for W. Scott Hill, an Augusta physician who was one of the society’s co-founders and its first president.

The 560-member Kennebec Historical Society, a private, nonprofit organization, was founded in 1891. Its mission is to collect, preserve and make available to the public historical documents and illustrations that pertain to the history of Kennebec County and its 30 municipalities. The society hosts monthly historical lectures in a variety of locations in the county.

For more information, please contact KHS Administrative Director Scott Wood at 622-7718.

SOLON & BEYOND: Pine Tree Club holds last meeting of the club year

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

The Solon Pine Tree Club met on Saturday, September 22, for their last meeting of the club year.
The 16 members sent over 120 exhibits to each of four fairs this year. They also did an educational exhibit at Skowhegan Fair on 4 – H is for everyone.

The members worked on their record sheets at the meeting.

The members are planning to put items in the Coolidge Library in observance of National Club Week the first week in October.

After the meeting the members, parents and leaders went to North Star Orchard to pick apples. This is a fun activity to end the club year.

The next meeting will be on Saturday, October 12, at 9:30 a.m., at the Solon Fire Station. They will be reorganizing at this meeting and if someone is nine years or older, and would like to join please come and bring a parent.

Solon Elementary School has a very active PTO, which has provided lots of special activities and items for the students over the years. Please consider joining the PTO. For information, contact PTO President Kylee Dixon or the school.

Remember to send in your BoxTops for education labels! Every boxtop helps the PTO raise money for school activities.

The PTO is looking for new parents to join them. They look forward to new members from the new families.

Now I must apologize to several of you, I am so sorry that half of my news of upcoming events in this area didn’t get in last week’s paper. As far as I knew, it had all gone and would be printed in the paper last week! Much to my surprise, when I opened the paper on Thursday, only half of it was there! It must be that temperamental computer of mine! This morning when I printed last week’s column it was all there. As you may have guessed, I am not too skilled with these new fangled instruments!

It made me think back to the old days when I was writing for Skowhegan papers and I delivered my column, (hand written) in person. And then I got my first little typewriter and pecked away on that. What a blessing!

But… I’ve got to tell you about one of my dreams coming true! Have always hoped that someone would read one of my columns and contact me about something that interested them. It has happened more than once, and I do like to hear their stories….. but never before has it been a long lost relative! That happened recently, he happened to pick up The Town Line paper and e-mailed me asking if we could be related, and we are! And the e-mails are going back and forth!

Lief and I went to North New Portland Fair recently and while there we saw the wonderful exhibit presented by the Lexington/Highland Historical Society. Their museum is open every Tuesday from May 21 through mid October, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Also open the following Saturdays, the ones left are September 28 and October 12. Believe me, it is well worth the trip!

Now I’m going to end this column as I did in last week’s paper; Since I’ve heard from many of you that you like Percy’s memoirs, here is this week’s: “Seeds of Hope.” When the world is upside down , brush away the tears, the frown, say a little prayer, and soon a ray of hope will conquer gloom. Our lot is easier to bear when we talk to God in prayer, and like a beacon shining bright, Prayer will soothe the grievous plight. Tales of woe, like useless weeds serve no purpose, but the seeds that enable us to cope are the prayers of faith and hope. (words by Elsie Natalie Brady.)

VETERANS CORNER: For the most part, veterans in a happy place

by Gary Kennedy

For the most part most of we veterans are in a happy place, our pension rate is up and we had a decent cost of living increase this past year. Irrespective of one’s political persuasion, we have had a great past couple of years under this particular president. Veterans along with other service to mankind organizations such as police, fire and rescue organizations, etc., have been recognized and treated with great respect. “Thank you for your service” is heard frequently. This kind of attention should make one very comfortable and pleased.

Recruitment for the military is up and the other service organizations are having no problem with recruitment. It almost seems that the disgraceful political array of issues have brought many people more aware by causing the thought process to kick in. Although some we see lately, people will never change because their world only operates on conflict instead of common sense realism; it is what it is.

This has been a very fast summer. It seems we have actually skipped spring. Everything in my garden is late. I am in hopes for a long warm fall. This year is very rapidly coming to an end.

Getting back to the VA and the veterans, I need to address some of the positives and negatives. Each year the veterans administration is allocated an amount of money which is initially requested by each unit. It takes a lot of variables brought to mind to bring about a proposed budget for this sort of fleeting business.

So many things can happen that require copious amounts of money; millions even billions. I never realized how intense this function could get until this year. Being someone who works with veterans and is involved with staff, there isn’t much that escapes my attention. I have heard so many things such as, “but I broke my teeth because of a service connected disability. I should be covered for that.” (Gray area) Sometimes I agree. Another example is, “thank God for the VA,” I would never have been able to pay this medical bill. This particular bill was quickly approaching a half million dollars. Given just a couple examples and realizing that the VA services thousands of patients, how can you possibly come up with a budget?

The other expenses are much more fixed expenses, electric, gas, fuel, water and repair to that which already exists. Last but not least are all the aspects of growth. New vehicles, buildings and associated expenses. I haven’t even mentioned the ever increasing salaries and benefits. After all the miscellaneous expenses are thrown into this pot, what is remaining and what do we need to do with it. Well, I will tell you my feelings on this end of it and that is making the entire situation, start with what we know is needed.

My research has led to many conversations and, of course, all goes back to management. Who is running the show and do they know what they are doing or are they just a ladder appointment. A good question is, do you know the person that preceded you? You would be surprised where that will lead you.

I don’t want to sound like this is a cynical situation but motivation can be so important regarding these situations.” Murphy’s Law” is alive and well in the VA system. Just look around and ascertain what you would do in situations you will discover. Examples: A doctor is hired and stays for less than one month, why? You are sent to a specialty department and the equipment needed to effectively operate that department is all broken, so the patient is outsourced and we pay the dysfunctional doctors in these department as well as the out sourced practitioners. This doesn’t make much sense, does it? (Expensive). Sensitive surgery is performed only to find it can’t be completed because of lack of equipment on the surgical tray; a veteran’s money is given control to a third party due to the veterans inability to handle his/her own affairs without total due process and/or understanding.” These are just a few things that I have noticed. I should also add overbooking is common and patients are allowed inadequate amounts of time in many cases. Don’t take me wrong, some outsourcing is necessary because of complexity or distance.

The VA needs so much in all aspects of its existence yet we are praising the government for all they do, VA is over extended with not enough doctors, nurses, specialists, and equipment. Now we are being shipped out to places that have almost as long a wait as we experience at Togus. It’s time we bring in the thousands of professionals who would love to come here, from other countries, especially doctors, nurses, physical therapists and dentists. They are happy with less and we could sure use them. We have 500 acres that the administration just plays with. We know this works as we have brought these folks into our military and they have made fine soldiers. We just offer them citizenship for several years of faithful service. It’s a great opportunity for them and a wonderful solution for us. I hope I didn’t ruin your day. There is a always a light at the end of the tunnel. I wish I was the smart guy who thought that up. There is always a solution and a better way. Have a great week and God be with you and yours.

Lasell University Welcomes New Students 2019

Lasell University, in Newton, Massachusetts, welcomed more than 580 new students to its Newton, Massachusetts campus this month.

Mya Maxim, of South China, became a psychology student at Lasell this fall.

Dylan Presby, of South China, became a sport management student at Lasell this fall.