REVIEW POTPOURRI: Kurt Masur

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Peter Catesby Peter Cates

Kurt Masur

Brahms 4 Symphonies, Tragic Overture, Academic Festival Overture, Haydn Variations, Schicksalslied; Kurt Masur, New York Philharmonic; Teldec 0630-13565-2, four cds, recorded between 1991 and 1996.

Kurt Masur

Kurt Masur (1927-2015) was forced as a teenager to fight in the German army when the Nazi government was feeling increasingly desperate on both sides after the 1944 D-Day invasion and the Battle of Stalingrad. He was one of 150 boys in his unit, of which only 27 survived.

Living in East Germany after World War II, Masur’s first important post was Music Director of the Dresden Philharmonic starting in 1957 and then in 1970 he moved upward to a crown jewel, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra which was established by composer/conductor Felix Mendelssohn in 1844 and became second only to the Berlin Philharmonic in its musical and technical excellence. Masur started building his own reputation in the United States as a uniquely outstanding interpreter of Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Schumann and Brahms via his recordings on such labels as Vanguard, Musical Heritage Society and Philips.

I first became interested in his conducting when his first set of the Brahms 4 Symphonies with the Leipzig was released on Philips during the late ‘70s, bought it in 1979 and was very impressed with his very poetic and understated approach to this music. The growling intensity of the First Symphony was toned down perhaps a bit too much but its lyrical beauties emerged; the gentle lyricism of the Second, the joyous abundance of the Third and the combination of wistful sentiment and visionary power in the Fourth contributed to a cycle that stood out against several very good sets by other conductors – Toscanini, Walter, Klemperer, Giulini, Bernstein, Ozawa, Solti, Bohm, Steinberg, Szell, Jochum etcs.

Other very good Masur records include a sublime Beethoven Violin Concerto with Salvatore Accardo and remakes of the same composer’s Eroica and 5th Symphonies from the early 1990s.

In 1989, Masur gave his public support to a huge demonstration against the East German government at a risk to his freedom. Along with his guest conducting of the Boston, Chicago, and Dallas symphonies and other American orchestras starting around 1980, he came to the favorable attention of the New York Philharmonic Board of Directors when it was searching for a replacement to Zubin Mehta and he became Music Director of the Orchestra from 1991 to 2002.

The above set of Brahms Symphony remakes is yet another outstanding example of Masur’s outstanding musicality with this composer, this time with the bracing enthusiasm of the New York Philharmonic at its best. One outstanding example is its playing of the First Symphony, a performance that roared with eloquence and excitement.

Opinions of Masur’s leadership during his 11 years ranged from admiration for his total preparation at rehearsals and giving of himself to his reputation for a bad temper. Interestingly in his interviews, Masur came across as a sweet Teddy bear in which he would frequently say how the playing of the of the Philharmonic musicians made him “So happy!”

Unfortunately, Masur and the Philharmonic Manager Deborah Borda had a falling out and his contract was not renewed, a move which left the Maestro very bitter. In compensation, he was given the lifetime title of Music Director Emeritus .

In 1972, Masur sustained serious injuries in an automobile accident on Germany’s already treacherous Autobahn where speeds of up to 120 miles an hour are routine among the motorists. His wife, the second of three women he would marry, was killed, he was several months in recovery and the circumstances of the accident were under investigation for several years.

On a happier note, his third wife who survives him was originally a soprano whom he heard singing Puccini’s Madame Butterfly. When they tied the knot, she gave up her career to attend to his domestic needs. Their son Ken David became a conductor and is now Music Director of the Milwaukee Symphony.

After leaving, Masur had positions with the London Philharmonic, Orchestra National de France and the Israel Philharmonic, with whom he recorded a magnificent set of Mendelssohn’s oratorio, Elijah. In 2012, he announced that he was retiring from conducting due to Parkinson’s disease and died from it in 2015.

Michael Rennie

The Third Man

Just started an old 1960s TV series The Third Man, starring Michael Rennie as Harry Lime on YouTube. More details in a future column. A totally different Harry Lime from the evil one Orsen Welles portrayed in the 1949 film classic based on a script by Graham Greene, Rennie’s is a detective who is honest in his investigations of crime on the domestic and international scenes.

FOR YOUR HEALTH: Menopause and Dry Eye: What Women Need to Know

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It would be wise for women with dry eyes to see their ophthalmologist.

(NAPSI)—It may seem surprising to some but dry eye is one of the most common conditions women going through the menopause experience.

“Dry eye is a complicated eye condition with various causes. It affects men and women of all ages, but women entering menopause are more likely to experience dry eye because of hormonal changes affecting the eye,” said Purnima Patel, MD, an ophthalmologist and volunteer for EyeCare America®, a program offering no-cost eye exams to uninsured or underinsured Americans.

Dry eye disease is a common condition that happens when your tears don’t adequately lubricate your eyes. When you blink, tears spread over the surface of the eye. This keeps the eye smooth, clear and comfortable. Dry eye can happen when you don’t produce enough tears, when you produce poor-quality tears, or your tears dry out too quickly. It can lead to red, irritated, tired or painful eyes.

Why Is Dry Eye More Common During Menopause?

During menopause, the body produces less of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Hormonal changes during menopause are likely linked to dry eye disease, but the exact mechanism is not known, and more research is needed. In general, dry eye can result from lower tear production and reduced lubrication from the eye’s oil glands. This can cause a scratchy feeling or light sensitivity, making it hard to read or drive at night. It can also cause blurry vision.

What Should You Do if You Have Dry Eye?

Artificial tears, also known as lubricating eye drops, are the most common treatment for dry eye. Most are available without a prescription. It’s important to note that drops with preservatives can irritate your eyes if you use them too much. If you need artificial tears more than a few times a day, use drops without preservatives. These come in single-serving droppers. Warm compresses on the eyelids are another at-home treatment.

For some people, a few simple lifestyle changes can resolve dry eye. If you live in a dry place, consider using a humidifier. Direct fans away from your eyes. Take regular breaks from computers and smart phones. Protect your eyes from the wind by wearing wrap-around glasses outside. If you wake up with dry and scratchy eyes, use thicker eye drops such as an artificial tear ointment or gel just before you go to bed.

When Should You See a Doctor About Dry Eye?

If your dry eye is severe, visit an ophthalmologist to help determine the cause and the best treatment options for you. Based on your examination, your ophthalmologist may recommend a prescription eye drop or ointment, tiny plugs inserted into the eyelids to help keep tears in the eye longer, or other medications.

Ophthalmologists are physicians who specialize in medical and surgical eye care. During an eye exam, an ophthalmologist will look at your eyelids and the surface of the eye and determine the amount and quality of your tears.

“Not sure why you’re experiencing dry eye? Maybe you’ve tried over-the-counter drops, but your eyes are still bothering you? It’s best to see a doctor to figure out the cause of dry eye,” Dr. Patel said. “If you already use eye drops for dry eye and have been using the drops more than three times a day, that may be a sign to check in with your ophthalmologist about an additional treatment option that may work better for you.”

Can’t Afford an Eye Exam? EyeCare America® Can Help

Individuals who are uninsured or underinsured may be eligible for a no out-of-pocket cost medical eye exam through the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s EyeCare America® program. This public service program matches volunteer ophthalmologists with eligible patients in need of eye care across the United States. To see if you or a loved one qualifies, visit www.aao.org/eyecare-america/patients.

MAINE-LY GARDENING: Flowering shrubs for Central Maine – summer into fall

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Panicle hydrangeas

by Jude Hsiang

After considering some spring flowering shrubs we’ll be enjoying soon, let’s think about shrubs that will provide us with floral displays during the coming months. Previously I wrote about the big-leaf hydrangeas because the correct time for pruning – if needed at all – depends on when the leaves appear on the stems that can look like dead sticks. Many people have learned the hard way to wait for the leaves to appear before assuming the stems are dead. The result is few or no flowers because the flower buds had been formed in the previous fall.

There are other species of Hydrangeas that are less confusing. The large panicle hydrangeas are very cold-tolerant shrubs we see thriving well north of us. They are named for their cone-shaped flower clusters – panicles – which open white (or even pale lime green, then change to rosy shades as the weather cools. The flowers can then be clipped off in fall, allowed to dry for long-lasting arrangements, or just left on the plant all winter. If punning is necessary – and it may never be needed – it’s best done in late winter-early spring because the new flower buds will be formed in spring.

Climbing hydrangeas can be grown on a trellis or against a tree. They will grow to be quite large – up to 50 feet – so they will need some planning before planting. Another easy-care plant, this vine doesn’t need pruning unless it begins to grow to large, when winter or early spring is best.

Oakleaf hydrangeas are another larger shrub maturing to be wide and rounded, unlike the taller panicle species. They are named for the large, toothed leaves reminiscent of oak leaves. Unlike the species mentioned previously which originated in East Asia, they are native to the southeast of us. Generally white flowered, some varieties have pink to red-pink flowers in their large clusters. In recent years smaller oakleaf varieties have come on the market making them more easily used in smaller spaces. Like the hydrangeas mentioned in this article, they can be pruned in late winter, should they ever need it.

One more type of hydrangea that is easily grown in our area is the smooth hydrangea which is native to the East Coast from southern New York and further south. Their care is similar to the other hydrangeas in this article. There is such a wide range of hydrangea species, with new varieties being introduced to the nursery trade, that almost any garden can host one or more.

Hydrangeas take center stage in summer, but several other native shrubs whose flowers are easily ignored can have a place in the garden. The famous Maine lowbush blueberries that carpet the barrens have taller cousins that make good additions to the garden. Different named varieties produce the fruit at different times over the summer so by planting several of them, we can have a long blueberry season. Of course, we have competition from the birds who love them so much that they don’t even wait until the berries are ripe. If fruit is the most important reason for having these native shrubs, you may need to use bird proof netting, available at garden centers. If the netting is simply draped over the plants, birds will sit on the net and reach right through to grab the berries. But if you are willing to share, high bush blueberries will reward you with some of the fruit and beautiful red fall foliage.

Another native shrub to consider is winterberry. The red berries appeal to us for their beauty, and they aren’t high on the list of favorites of most birds either. We usually see them in wet areas like the edge of a pond or swamp, but they will do fine in average garden soil, too. Winterberries are part of the holly genus and most members of the group have separate female and male plants. Horticulturalists routinely give them names according to their gender, like the male known Jim Dandy. Another characteristic of winterberries is that there are some varieties found in our northern area, while others are common further south. For best results, a knowledgeable nursery or garden center will guide you in purchasing a pair, for more, of plants that will guarantee lots of berries on your female winterberries.

There is another native shrub that is a fun addition if you have a wet area in your yard. You may have seen button bushes with their spikey, round white flowers that look like sputniks. They can grow right at the water’s edge and surprise visitors to your garden.

© Judith Chute Hsiang
Jude Hsiang Is a retired Extension Master Gardener instructor and member of the China Community Garden.

SCORES & OUTDOORS: Watch for those turtles crossing the roads

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Snapping turtle

Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee

“It’s that time of year, again.” Probably one of the most over used phrases in the English language, and one that I loathe to hear. Why? Because when you come right down to it, everyday is that time of year for something. Anyway, here we go.

It’s that time of the year again when snapping turtles appear everywhere to lay their eggs. Snapping turtles, Chelydra s. serpentina, range across the eastern United States to the Rocky Mountains, from southern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, and into Central America.

The snapping turtle can be easily recognized by its dark upper shell with a deeply serrated back margin, and a small bottom shell that does not completely cover all of the animal’s flesh. The upper shell can measure between 8 – 12 inches in length on average in adults, and it can weigh between 10-35 pounds. These turtles have long tails, often measuring as long or longer than the shell, and is covered with bony plates. They also have a large head, long neck, and a sharp, hooked upper jaw. This hard beak has a rough cutting edge that is used for tearing food.

Once turtles mature and their shell hardens, they are virtually predator-free.

If you see a snapping turtle crossing the road, and decide to help it out, always make sure you relocate it on the side of the road in which it was headed. If not, it will only try to cross the road again. It’s obviously headed in a direction that is important to it. Always use caution when picking up one. Place your thumbs in the center of the upper shell, and the rest of your hand on its stomach. Be careful not to make contact with its mouth. It could be painfully uncomfortable if it were to bite you.

Never use a broom or shovel to help it along, as you could injure the turtle.

The female turtle will lay eggs in sandy, soft soil between April and November, depending on its location. In our area, they usually lay their eggs in May and June. That is why the shoulder of a road looks inviting to them. Be on the lookout, and try to avoid the nest. The female will generally lay between 10 and 50 eggs, and they take three to four months to hatch. Interestingly, eggs incubated at 68 degrees will produce only females; eggs maintained at 70-72 degrees will produce both male and female and those incubated at 73-75 degrees produce only males.

The female will dig a nest, lay the eggs, using her back feet to position them, and then bury the clutch. That makes the nest extremely vulnerable, and is usually a target for raccoons who consider the turtle eggs a delicacy. Skunks, crows, dogs and other mammals are also culprits. It is estimated that up to 90 percent of the nests are destroyed by predators. Countless turtles are also killed or injured on roads during their terrestrial treks. Despite this high rate of mortality, snapping turtles are not endangered, although some states have placed a ban on harvesting them.

Despite pleas from Maine top turtle trappers, the advisory council of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIF&W) has voted unanimously to outlaw the commercial harvest of snapping turtles. The commissioner has been a consistent supporter of a ban, to ensure the sustainability of snappers, which don’t breed until 20 years of age in the north. Although there seems to be no reason to believe snapping turtles are threatened with extinction in Maine, there is reason to be concerned about the viability of the population,.

Snapping turtles typically live until between 20 and 50 years of age in captivity, although records are poor as to the actual longevity of turtles in the wild. Some studies have indicated that snapping turtles can live well over 100 years.

However, turtles are not innocent victims. They may cause depredation at privately-owned ponds, fish farms, or waterfowl sanctuaries and control methods may be warranted. They will feed on plants, insects, spiders, worms, fish, frogs, small turtles, snakes, birds, crayfish, small mammals and carrion.

It’s important to be on the lookout for turtles this time of year. By driving defensively and keeping alert to conditions on the road, motorists should be able to avoid hitting a turtle.

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

Which Red Sox shortstop’s .372 batting average (529 at-bats, 197 hits in 2000) is the best in team history by a right handed hitter?

Answer
Nomar Garciaparra.

Quinn Minute: Special abilities

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by Rix Quinn

I’ve always been jealous of people who discover their talents early.

There was this kid in my middle school class named Karen. She drew nature scenes better than anybody.

Any time the school needed pictures of flowers, vegetables, baked goods – or even background scenery for school plays – they called on Karen.

Sadly, she left school because the family moved back to their home state.

We often asked ourselves: Why did she have to leaf? Did she branch out into other types of art?

Then, there was the big question: If she specialized in painting bread only, could she make a lot of dough?

A guy named Charlie could swallow air, then burp for up to 45 seconds (we timed him). He saved his most spectacular outbursts for the cavernous auditorium. The sound echoed throughout the seats, and students broke into applause.

Charlie even bet several people that he could recite the alphabet in one burp. He mostly won, but occasionally ran out of gas at “w.”

Dan – who moved out of town in fifth grade – brought his pet parakeet Gertrude to show-and-tell. He asked the bird questions, and Gertrude replied with short answers.

Dan even entered her in the talent show, which Gertrude won by singing Surfer Bird. But during that performance, a teacher noticed that the bird’s mouth never moved.

It turned out the real Gertrude had flown away, and this bird was a silent imposter. Dan spent so much time training the parakeet, he became a first-rate ventriloquist.

The judges disqualified the bird imposter for singing. But they awarded Dan a special recognition for Fowl Sounds.

Were you born between 1946-1964? Would you like to know more about the generation called Baby Boomers? You can order Rix’s book on that generation today. Just go to this link: https://www.amazon.com/BABY-BOOMERS-SPEAK-learned-whatever/dp/1419683039?sr=8-1.

REVIEW POTPOURRI: Edith Wharton

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Peter Catesby Peter Cates

Edith Wharton

Edith Wharton

A paragraph from chapter one of the 1920 classic novel The Age of Innocence, by Edith Wharton (1862-1937), depicts the late arrival at the opera of a rich, spoiled central character, Newland Archer:

“When Newland Archer opened the door at the back of the club box the curtain had just gone up on the garden scene. There was no reason why the young man should not have come earlier, for he had dined at seven, alone with his mother and sister, and had lingered afterward over a cigar in the Gothic library with glazed black-walnut bookcases and finial-topped chairs which was the only room in the house where Mrs. Archer allowed smoking. But, in the first place, New York was a metropolis, and perfectly aware that in metropolises it was ‘not the thing’ to arrive early at the opera; and what was or was not ‘the thing’ played a part as important in Newland Archer’s New York as the inscrutable totem terrors that had ruled the destinies of his forefathers thousands of years ago.”

Wharton so powerfully dramatized these “totem terrors” in the “high society” of this novel and in the life of a farmer in the bleak rural Massachusetts of the shorter novelette Ethan Frome.

Benjamin Britten

Benjamin Britten: Albert Herring (1947 comic opera); vocalists Christopher Gillette, Josephine Barstow, Felicity Palmer, Robert Lloyd, Gerald Finley etc.; Steuart Bedford conducting the Northern Sinfonia. Collins Classics 70422, recorded August 11-15, 1996, two compact discs.

Benjamin Britten

English composer Benjamin Britten scored this opera in 1946; its plot is based on a short story by Guy de Maupassant in which villagers celebrate its annual May Day by awarding a cash prize to a village maiden who has remained modest and virtuous in her demeanor and reputation.

The problem is that no worthy candidate is to be found among the young women that particular year so the committee chooses an eligible young store clerk Albert Herring as their honoree for his decorum and moral purity.

Britten’s music has a light-hearted charm and poignance while the performance and recording are splendid. For beginners, though, I would recommend the composer’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, a beautifully colorful showpiece which displays every instrument in the solo virtuoso spotlight; the four sections of strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion; and at the beginning and end, the full orchestra in all its glory. As a basis for development, Britten chose a passage from English composer Henry Purcell (1659-1695) and worked it with phenomenal imagination.

Afterwards, the listener could move on to the very atmospheric Four Sea Interludes from his opera masterpiece Peter Grimes and then his eloquent War Requiem.

Britten was also a very gifted conductor and left recordings of each work.

Finally I have recordings of Britten conducting Mozart’s Piano Concertos 20 and 27 with Sir Clifford Curzon, Schumann’s Scenes from Faust, Haydn’s 95th Symphony and the Mahler 4th.

Unfortunately, on a personal note, Britten had a tendency to abruptly cut off friendships of long standing due to some real or imagined slight and those former friends were referred to as “Britten’s corpses.”

Will Trent

I have been enjoying the first season of ABC’s series Will Trent which has a detective who has the brilliance of Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot but who is dyslexic.

Frankie Laine

Frankie Laine – The Day Isn’t Long Enough; Isle of Capri – Harry Zeller conducting with pianist Carl Fischer. Mercury 5685, recorded June, 1951, seven inch 45.

In the Beginning; Old Shoes – Paul Weston conducting. Columbia 4-40878, recorded November, 1954, seven inch 45.

Frankie Laine

For me, the greatest strength of Frankie Laine (1913-2007) was his ability to sing in the style of the great blues vocalists, such as Jimmy Rushing, Billie Holiday, Eddy Howard and Johnny Mercer, whatever the musical category of the particular song- gospel, folk, jazz, pop.

Francesco Paolo LoVecchio was born in Chicago’s Little Italy to Sicilian parents. The family had connections to organized crime, his father serving as Al Capone’s barber while his grandfather was murdered by rival gangsters.

Francesco changed his name to Frankie Laine when he got a job in 1938 as vocalist with a New York City radio station. He numbered Caruso, Bessie Smith and Al Jolson among his favorite singers.

By 1949, when his own records for Mercury (Mitch Miller signed Laine to the label) were best sellers, Jolson (1886-1950), already a fan, told Laine that he would be putting all the other singers out of business.
Both 45s are classy examples of Frankie Laine’s phrasing, timing, delivery and ability to communicate beauty and inner meaning to the listener.

With respect to Laine’s Columbia recordings, when Mitch Miller moved to that label, he took Laine with him.

I interviewed Mitch at Houston’s Lancaster Hotel in 1992 where he told me of his parents’s belief that “You’re not a success unless you bring other people along with you.” He lived by that principle with the success he brought as a producer to such pop artists as Frankie Laine, Tony Bennett, Patti Page, Doris Day, Vic Damone, Guy Mitchell, Percy Faith, the Four Lads, the Brothers Four, Jerry Vale and Johnny Mathis.

FOR YOUR HEALTH: 5 Healthy Aging Tips Every Woman Should Know

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As a woman, you may have many responsibilities on your plate, but your health should be a top priority.

Women are often the first line of defense when protecting their family’s health, but in doing so tend to put their concerns on the back burner.

These quick tips can help keep you happy and healthy as you juggle your everyday responsibilities.

1. Get breast cancer screenings every 1 – 2 years

One in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer, making it the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and this risk increases with age. Mammograms are the best way to screen for breast cancer, especially during the early stages. The good news is that breast cancer can usually be treated successfully when found early. Medicare covers a free yearly mammogram screening. Learn more about how to prepare and what to expect during the exam.

2. Routine pap exams are the best way to detect cervical cancer

Known as the “silent killer,” cervical cancer is one of the most common types of cancer for American women, but thanks to widespread use of the Pap test, early detection has significantly improved and boosted U.S. survival rates. Cervical cancer may not have any signs or symptoms, so it’s recommended women ages 21 to 65 get routine test about every three years. Medicare covers cervical and vaginal cancer screenings once every 24 months or every 12 months if you are at high risk.

3. Exercise will improve your overall health

Roughly 150 minutes (2.5 hours) of moderate exercise a week could improve not only your physical but also mental health. Being active helps improve moods and reduce feelings of depression. It can also help manage diabetes, heart disease, and osteoporosis.

4. Focus on your mental health

Approximately 15 percent of adults aged 60 and over suffer from a mental illness, depression being one of the most common. There’s often confusion around what exactly depression is, especially since many older adults experience major changes in their life like the death of loved ones or medical problems that could cause sadness. The difference is that the feeling is only temporary. If your feelings of sadness begin to interfere with daily life and normal functioning, you may be experiencing depression. Start by speaking with your doctor and determine if a Medicare depression screening is right for you.

5. Healthy eating can prevent serious health conditions

Proper nutrition is essential for the body. As you get older you lose muscle mass, bone density, and burn fewer calories. It takes extra effort to make up for the natural changes of your body which is why eating high nutrient foods make a big difference. Decreased bone density can result in one of the major health concerns affecting about 8 million women, osteoporosis, due to calcium deficiencies in diet.

“Take care of your body now and your body will take care of you for the long haul. When you invest in your well-being, you’ll set yourself up for healthy aging success,” says Gretchen Tanbonliong, Associate Director for Health & Wellness at NCOA. As a woman, you may have many responsibilities on your plate, but your health should be a top priority.

QUINN MINUTE: Who’s calling?

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by Rix Quinn

The phone rings several times a day at my “office,” a place under the stairs where we used to store cleaning supplies. I equipped it with a TV tray to hold my computer, and a carboard box to house my “research materials.”

My hope was to attract customer calls for writing assignments. But each time the phone rings, the caller starts by saying “This conversation may be recorded for training purposes.”

A couple weeks ago, I started writing down what each caller discussed. Here’s a recent sampling:

A lady with a strong southern drawl said that her company would like to buy our house for cash. I asked her how soon she could get here, and if she could pay in small bills. She hung up.

A dude with a deep baritone asked me if I felt my yard needed mood lighting. I told him I was in no mood to continue our conversation.

Another male voice asked me if our air conditioners were prepared for summer. I told him they were hibernating now, and I would call him when we woke them up in May.

A lady greeted me by asking the condition of our bathroom. She said she could modernize it in one day.

I said if she could do it real cheap, I would flush with excitement. She also hung up.

Finally, one day ended with a man offering ventriloquist lessons. “How do I know they work?” I asked.

“Because right now I’m drinking water,” he said, “and the dummy is talking to you.”

THE BEST VIEW: Expiration Date

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by Norma Best Boucher

“I’d say you have another 10 years,” the doctor said casually.

He stared at his computer. I stared at him. His facial expression never changed, but my mouth opened into a big O-shape, and my eyes opened extra wide.

His “You’ve got a lot of life left in you.” was my “OMG! I have an expiration date!”

The rest of the visit was a blur with his telling me to see him again in six months. I made the next appointment but completely forgot to get the paperwork for my next cholesterol test which is the real reason for these biannual visits.

I walked to my car, got in, locked the doors and just sat there.

I imagined every scenario. Will I sour like milk? Will I harden like brown sugar? Will I melt, reform, and turn white like a sun heated chocolate bar? I already had white hair. What was the next stage?

My good health results had turned into a Pandora’s Box of unknowns. Instead of my life passing before my eyes, I saw flashes of myself turning this way and that to avoid the unavoidable.

To say I was overwhelmed at that point is an understatement. It seemed like only yesterday I was young.

I closed my eyes and relaxed a little.

Wait a minute. What was going on here?

I was the same person walking out of that office as I had been walking into that office. Nothing had changed. Nothing except my attitude, that is.

Memories started to break through the negativity. When I was 11 years old, my father had the first of his many heart attacks. He was only 43 years old at the time. Doctors gave him five years to live. He defied them all and lived 15 additional good years.

My maternal uncle retired to Cornville, ME at age 65. He grew and ate his own vegetables and fished every day that it was legal to fish. He outlived all other family members in his generation and passed at age 94.

I have a photograph of my paternal great-grandfather with his four adult children standing in front of their farm in Ontario, Canada. He was 101 at the time and still working on the farm. To repeat the family’s cliché definition of him, “He was still sharp as a tack and fit as a fiddle.”

What a healthy gene pool I have inherited. What positive lives I have to follow. What great attitudes I have to emulate.

My initial shock was wearing off.

I re-adjusted my attitude and stopped the wild thinking.

Reality tells me that although death is inevitable, expiration dates belong in the refrigerator.

I took a deep breath, started my car, and drove head on into my future.

There was no time to waste.

SCORES & OUTDOORS: The debate over mountain lions in Maine continues

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Mountain Lion

Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee

Over the last several months I have been receiving emails, doing research and gathering information on the possibility of mountain lions in Maine.

Of course, the first question is “are there mountain lions in Maine?”

Here is an email I received and published in the September 20, 2023 issue of The Town Line:

It came from Brian and Colby Prescott, of Windham:

“Was reading an article you wrote about mountain lions in Maine from a couple years back and thought I’d relay a sighting from the other day, September 1, 2023.

“My son and I were camping at the Bemis Stream Prospect Camp location just north of Byron off Route 17. It’s right where Bemis Road crosses Bemis Stream.

“We were at the first camp site that’s down lower than the road. The brook was high and the water was fairly loud. We were huddling around the Coleman burner to warm up at about 6:30 in the evening, and my son tapped me on the shoulder. I looked up towards the road and sure enough, a mountain lion walked by. It was unmistakable. The size was approximately 150 lbs. It had giant paws and the tail was absolutely enormous. Thick, and it curved down to almost the ground. We were able to view the large cat for only five seconds or so, so unfortunately, no picture. The color was a sandy brown. Needless to say, I was in shock for several seconds. We waited for 20 minutes in the truck before settling into the tent for the night!

“My son and I looked for tracks early the next morning, but only found bear tracks with five claws. We got pictures of the paw print, but pretty sure it was just a bear.

“I met a neighbor from Mooslookmeguntic Lake walking his dog and immediately mentioned the sighting, although I knew the chances of it being nearby were very slim. He was very interested and said he would look for signs of the cat. Meanwhile, we drove over to Devil’s Den to explore that area.

“This person walked by our camp site later in the morning and mentioned he found some scat and was hoping to get it tested to see if it was from a mountain lion. I unfortunately did not think to get his name or number at the time. Needless to say, my son and I were super excited to have experienced the sighting. I never in my 16 years of camping in that area ever experienced anything like that!”

So, are there Mountain Lions in Maine? Maybe, Maybe Not . . .

The short answer is no. According to a-z-animals.com, at one point, in history mountain lions did actually walk the ground in Maine. Luckily for our smaller pets, they no longer have a place here. They are officially listed as extirpated from Maine, and the state’s last known mountain lion died in 1932.

Mountain lions, also called cougars, catamounts or pumas, are large felines that are native to the Americas. They once roamed from coast to coast in the United States, but today they are mostly found in the western states.

Now, that brings us to recent emails.

Photo of paw print sent by Donalee Dolan.

Donalee Dolan, of Nobleboro, sent along this note, with photos. “ The scat was on the same property in Nobleboro where I found the track I previously sent picture of. My neighbors have reported seeing the cat. I’m fairly sure I heard it one night around 3 a.m.

I have since been sitting outside at 3 a.m. and heard tramping through the brush and a series of cries that gave me a primordial fear. I slowly went back inside.”

There have been occasional sightings of Maine mountain lions over the years, but it is uncertain whether there is a breeding population in the state.

So, are there mountain lions in Maine? One thing is for sure: if there are any cougars in the state, state wildlife experts contend they are most likely solitary animals that are just passing through.

Several years ago, my son, who lives in a remote area of Rome, told me of seeing a large, buff colored cat, with a long, club-like tail, with a black tip, that dragged on the ground, crossed his driveway from the woods on one side, to more woods on the other.

Credible witnesses with lots of outdoor experience insist on the presence of mountain lions in Maine. So, unfortunately, there is no easy definitive answer, yet. Officially, according to state wildlife experts, there are no mountain lions in Maine. However, there has been at least one official sighting and one Class 2 confirmation of mountain lions in Maine.

Picture of scat sent by Donalee Dolan.

Mountain lions were classified as extinct in the 1920s and 1930s across the eastern states. In Maine, the last official mountain lion was shot by a hunter in 1938.

I have researched this subject many times and keep coming up with the same conclusion. Credible eyewitnesses vs. the state biologists: Which do you want to believe? There are photographs out there, but mostly are pooh-poohed by state “experts”. “Inconclusive photos”, hoaxes or staged. Those are the answers you will get from state officials. And now, with AI, will it ever be certain.

I for one, believe there are mountain lions in Maine because, even though I have never actually sighted one, have seen their tracks in snow and mud, in the northern area of Harrington Lake. Unmistakable, feline prints, the size of my hand. That is not a house cat, and too large to be bobcat or lynx.

But, unofficially, the jury is still out.

So, now, we’ll take a look at another email I received:

Betsy Jackson, of the Toothaker Road, in Phillips, wrote this:

“Tonight about 8 p.m., my son and I saw something cross the road, neither of us knew what it was. We went back and looked where he went in the woods. I had a flashlight and spotted it. It was quite close to us, maybe 15 feet or so, had a very long tail, and was large. It was just sitting there looking at us, then got up and walked away, so I got a good look at him. He looked like a real lion and was quite large. The thing that identified him was his very long tail, which he dragged behind him on the ground. I’m sure this was a mountain lion.”

But state biologist insist there is no known breeding population of mountain lions (also called cougars or pumas) in Maine. While cougars were once native to the state and were extirpated in the late 1800s, there are no established populations currently. However, there have been reports of cougar sightings in Maine, and some people believe there may be a small, dispersing population, according to University of Maine at Presque Isle..

The Canada Lynx is claimed to be the largest feline in Maine and has been listed in Maine as a federally threatened species.

Now, V. Paul Reynolds, of the Northwoods Sporting Journal, wrote in an article:

“As editor of the official magazine for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIF&W), the same question was addressed by me in an article that sought to dig deep and find credible answers.

“At the time, despite a number of anecdotal cougar-sighting reports from citizens, state and federal wildlife biologists and research people remained highly skeptical. On one occasion, a Maine Allagash Waterway visitor insisted that he had seen a cougar crossing the waterway. The “witness” had taken what he claimed was solid evidence: a color 35 mm slide. Biologist and wildlife director Ken Elowe agreed to study the image carefully and render a verdict.

“As information officer for MDIF&W I was included in the effort to carefully study the photo of what was claimed to be a mountain lion standing on the banks of the Allagash Waterway. My recollection is that the Department borrowed a special forensics microscopic device from the Maine State Police. Biologists used the device to really zoom in on the mysterious critter. The device also had an enhancement option that brought some induced clarity to the somewhat fuzzy photo.

“The official verdict? Not a lion, a fisher. My further recollection is that the well-intentioned fellow who saw his “cat” and took the photo was not pleased with the official determination, and left in a huff, and like so many others who have reported to have seen the elusive cats, insisted, “ I know what I saw. It sure as hell was not a fisher, it was a cat!”

“Not a lot has changed in 25 years, at least not in terms of empirical evidence or the official positions of Maine and federal wildlife biologists when it comes to the presence of mountain lions or cougars in Maine.

“Two key players from the biologists ranks are Mark McCollough, the endangered species specialist from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service, in Orland, and Nathan Webb, wildlife director for MDIF&W. Webb’s Department, lists its cougar position in one short sentence on the MDF&W website: ‘No known cougar populations exist in Maine.’”

The big question is, what will we solve first, the presence of mountain lions in Maine or the existence of Sasquatch?

So, are there Mountain Lions in Maine? Officially, no. Unofficially, ??????.

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

Who was the last Boston Red Sox to lead the American League in home runs, Manny Ramirez or David Ortiz?

Answer
David Ortiz hit 54 home runs in 2006. Manny Ramirez led the league in 2004, with 43 home runs.